Sanitizing?

A commercial client called last PM and wants a price on cleaning and "sanitizng" a W>W carpet that has had sewage on it.(It is presently dry) I normally use a pre-spray and an extraction detergent. Is there something else I need to use to kill the bacteria? Do I need to kill bacteria? Any suggestions? I have to go bid in a few hours this AM. so quick responses will be greatly appreciated.

BTW, I'm in upstate NY , not the UK.

Thanks, Steve Levine

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Tearing it out was my first thought too. The "carpet" is actually some old nasty W>W carpeting that's been laid on a concrete cellar floor without benefit of any padding, or wooden sub-flooring. The room is 15' X 40' and is 1/2 filled with file cabinets. So ripping it out would be tough. There wasn't actually a flood of sewage, just a drip of sorts from a backed up line. So only around 50 Sq Ft is actually contaminated.(Stained, it looked like it had been wet at one time). I couldn't see or smell anything offensive this A.M. when I inspected the place. And I have a pretty good nose for smelly carpet.

You guys are probably right. This might even be under the county health dept rules if they knew about it. The bldg houses a publishing venture, and has many offices, and public visitors. The cellar though is strictly dead storage of files.

The job entails 2 other floors upstairs of 600 Sq Ft each, so I don't want to blow the job.

I'm now thinking about using a microbial pre-spray and extract detergent. These products allege that they're for hospitals, and can be used on organic matter and sewage. Is this stuff "snake oil" or will it work?

Edited by stevnlevine - 05/June/2008 at 1:07pm

Cover your ass and tell them the contaminated carpet needs to be removed. You live in a country where frivolous lawsuits are a regular occurence.

You should be able to change your location in your profile

The STD Meter

What sort of sewage was it? Just "grey water" or the real McCoy with lumpy bits? If Grey water, a good anti-microbial will do the trick eg Milgo, but if the water had "floaters" in it, go Cmaster's way. Here in Australia (and yes I am in the right country LOL

), it is actually against Health Department regulations to even attempt restoration, as it is for contamination with body fluids as well, in which case it is rip it out, treat the subfloor with anti-microbial, dry out with dehum if moisture reading is too high and preferably seal it before re-laying new carpet.

Don't go the cheap option for the sake of getting the job, if anything goes wrong insurances won't cover you as you'll be deemed "at fault" and you will most likely end up losing a lot of $$$'s.

suck out the water, get the cash and run. that is what 95% of the toronto "carpet cleaners" would do.

Milgo and Microban. If that doesn't work NOTHING will.

I would charge as much as I could get. $1/ sq. foot would be ideal. Of course if it's thousands of SQ Ft. then you'll want to charge a bit less but it's a BIG job.

However MAKE SURE you tell the customer that after 72 hours the carpets get what is called "carpet sour" and the I I C R C states to tear it out. Explain that 80% of the cases you run into after the 72 hour period can be restored successfully but you cannot guarantee anything other than to do the best job humanly possible.

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stevnlevine Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30/April/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 29	Post Options Post Reply Quote stevnlevine Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Sanitizing? Posted: 05/June/2008 at 6:23am
	A commercial client called last PM and wants a price on cleaning and "sanitizng" a W>W carpet that has had sewage on it.(It is presently dry) I normally use a pre-spray and an extraction detergent. Is there something else I need to use to kill the bacteria? Do I need to kill bacteria? Any suggestions? I have to go bid in a few hours this AM. so quick responses will be greatly appreciated. BTW, I'm in upstate NY , not the UK. Thanks, Steve Levine

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cmaster Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List IICRC Instigator Joined: 29/January/2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 29693	Post Options Post Reply Quote cmaster Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05/June/2008 at 8:40am
	Forget it. You can't save a carpet that is sewage contaminated. They will hold you responsible if someone gets sick later on. Tear it out
	The STD Meter

Ken_Is_OK Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Carpet Cleaning Specialist Joined: 13/February/2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 523	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ken_Is_OK Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05/June/2008 at 9:12am
	use Mold Blaster

John L Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Carpet Cleaning Guru Joined: 29/November/2004 Location: I'm Right Here! Status: Offline Points: 4013	Post Options Post Reply Quote John L Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05/June/2008 at 12:44pm
	Concur what cmaster said..

stevnlevine Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30/April/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 29	Post Options Post Reply Quote stevnlevine Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05/June/2008 at 1:05pm
	Tearing it out was my first thought too. The "carpet" is actually some old nasty W>W carpeting that's been laid on a concrete cellar floor without benefit of any padding, or wooden sub-flooring. The room is 15' X 40' and is 1/2 filled with file cabinets. So ripping it out would be tough. There wasn't actually a flood of sewage, just a drip of sorts from a backed up line. So only around 50 Sq Ft is actually contaminated.(Stained, it looked like it had been wet at one time). I couldn't see or smell anything offensive this A.M. when I inspected the place. And I have a pretty good nose for smelly carpet. You guys are probably right. This might even be under the county health dept rules if they knew about it. The bldg houses a publishing venture, and has many offices, and public visitors. The cellar though is strictly dead storage of files. The job entails 2 other floors upstairs of 600 Sq Ft each, so I don't want to blow the job. I'm now thinking about using a microbial pre-spray and extract detergent. These products allege that they're for hospitals, and can be used on organic matter and sewage. Is this stuff "snake oil" or will it work? Edited by stevnlevine - 05/June/2008 at 1:07pm

stevnlevine Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30/April/2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 29	Post Options Post Reply Quote stevnlevine Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05/June/2008 at 1:09pm
	PS can anyone suggest how I can change my location from UK to NYS in the USA? I've never even been to the UK, and certainly haven't ever cleaned carpets there.

cmaster Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List IICRC Instigator Joined: 29/January/2004 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 29693	Post Options Post Reply Quote cmaster Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05/June/2008 at 4:09pm
	Cover your ass and tell them the contaminated carpet needs to be removed. You live in a country where frivolous lawsuits are a regular occurence. You should be able to change your location in your profile
	The STD Meter

John L Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Carpet Cleaning Guru Joined: 29/November/2004 Location: I'm Right Here! Status: Offline Points: 4013	Post Options Post Reply Quote John L Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05/June/2008 at 4:32pm
	Concur what cmaster said..

FreshAire Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Journeyman Joined: 13/May/2008 Location: Perth W. Aust Status: Offline Points: 251	Post Options Post Reply Quote FreshAire Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05/June/2008 at 9:10pm
	What sort of sewage was it? Just "grey water" or the real McCoy with lumpy bits? If Grey water, a good anti-microbial will do the trick eg Milgo, but if the water had "floaters" in it, go Cmaster's way. Here in Australia (and yes I am in the right country), it is actually against Health Department regulations to even attempt restoration, as it is for contamination with body fluids as well, in which case it is rip it out, treat the subfloor with anti-microbial, dry out with dehum if moisture reading is too high and preferably seal it before re-laying new carpet. Don't go the cheap option for the sake of getting the job, if anything goes wrong insurances won't cover you as you'll be deemed "at fault" and you will most likely end up losing a lot of $$$'s.

duckcountry Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Master Carpet Cleaner Joined: 29/October/2005 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1082	Post Options Post Reply Quote duckcountry Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 07/June/2008 at 2:28am
	The bid should read "Pass", seriously. Surely there is more work in town.
	Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity?

Ken_Is_OK Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Carpet Cleaning Specialist Joined: 13/February/2007 Location: Canada Status: Offline Points: 523	Post Options Post Reply Quote Ken_Is_OK Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09/June/2008 at 9:08am
	suck out the water, get the cash and run. that is what 95% of the toronto "carpet cleaners" would do.

duckcountry Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Master Carpet Cleaner Joined: 29/October/2005 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1082	Post Options Post Reply Quote duckcountry Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09/June/2008 at 2:20pm
	Then that 95% are either bold, stupid or bold about being stupid. Any job that has a high potential of follow-ups or potential lawsuits should be passed over to make room for higher profit jobs with chances of re-dos. Let those hungry enough fight over the scraps. Jobs like this sewage one keep you busy any cleaner busy enough for his competition to take the job worth having, the one with cleanings every month on a contract.
	Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity?

Atlantis Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12/August/2007 Status: Offline Points: 117	Post Options Post Reply Quote Atlantis Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10/June/2008 at 10:53am
	Milgo and Microban. If that doesn't work NOTHING will. I would charge as much as I could get. $1/ sq. foot would be ideal. Of course if it's thousands of SQ Ft. then you'll want to charge a bit less but it's a BIG job. However MAKE SURE you tell the customer that after 72 hours the carpets get what is called "carpet sour" and the I I C R C states to tear it out. Explain that 80% of the cases you run into after the 72 hour period can be restored successfully but you cannot guarantee anything other than to do the best job humanly possible.

duckcountry Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Master Carpet Cleaner Joined: 29/October/2005 Location: USA Status: Offline Points: 1082	Post Options Post Reply Quote duckcountry Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10/June/2008 at 12:56pm
	Put everything you do in writing. Put everything you SAY in writing. Make sure the person you are doing the job for is an authorized spokesman for the company. They should have a stake in the company or if this is a corporation you need a copy of the minutes that says this person has the power to obligate the company. Everything needs to be signed and dated. Never use generalities, only specifics. They get a copy, you get the original. And if they won't sign it without making one or more changes to the verbage, that is one trap that you successfully avoided. Edited by duckcountry - 10/June/2008 at 1:01pm
	Are you in a high paying business or are you just a self employed low paid grunt who thinks this business provides dignity?

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Sanitizing?