Abrasive coarse
coarse-grained abrasive

Abrasive fine
fine-grained abrasive

Accessories
Most of these products that are mentioned in this column can be found in the Kärcher catalogue or in a separate folder „Manual Cleaning Tools".

Acid
See. pH-value

Acid cleaning agents
Cleaning agents with a See:pH-value from 0 to 6. The combination of surfactants and acids effectuate a good cleaning of inorganic (mineral) soiling.

Alkaline
See: pH-value

Alkaline cleaning agent
Cleaning agent with a pH-value >7. The combination of surfactants and caustic solutions (bases, alkalis) offers especially a good cleaning of saponifiable greases and oils, but also of oil black, proteins and other organic soiling.

Alkalis
See: Caustic solution (=bases)

Application of cleaning agents
This column consists normally of 3 data, which are separated by comma.
Example: HD cleaning agent RM 31 – 1+3, 4-10 %, max. 100°C.
The first data "1+3" is valid for pre-dilution. This is used in case of concentrates or solubilization of cleaning agent powders but also for normal liquid cleaning agents which can only be dosed to e.g. HD-machines after pre-dilution.
1+3 means: pre-dilution with 1 part of RM 31 plus 3 parts of water.
The second data of the example "4-10 %" indicates the final dosage of the pre-diluted or dissolved cleaning agent. In case of an application with HD-machines this means a dosage setting between 4 and 10 % (according to the evaluation of the user which is depending on the kind and quantity of soiling).
The third data "max. 100°C" refers to the maximum recommended application temperature. This does not only depend on the ability to cope with temperature of the used cleaning agents type, cleaning appliance or accessory but especially on the ability to cope with temperature of the object to be cleaned. For instance we recommend max. 60°C ability to cope with temperature for glass, max. 80°C for plastics and paints, max. 60°C for textiles. Insensible objects can be treated with the maximum reachable temperatures of the cleaning machines for example 140°C in case of Kärcher HDS-machines.
A universal remark regarding reaction times by means of application in the 2-step-method has not been made.
See: Economy, See: Concentration

ASF
"Abscheidefreundlich" = easy to separate – Kärcher-patent for an environmental-friendly and easy disposal of cleaning agents. After the cleaning process the water/oil emulsion of these cleaning agents can easily be separated in an oil separator. The hydrocarbon quantity of the wash water is after passing through an oil separator under the present legal limits of 20 ml/l and can be led into municipal waste water systems. The separated, on the top swimming oil can be detached and disposed of separately. In case of conventional cleaning agents the water/oil emulsion is solid so that this kind of separation cannot take place or only insufficiently and the water had to be disposed of as expensive hazardous waste.
see: surfactant

Bacteria
Micro-organisms which can, regarding men and animals, cause infectious illnesses such as epidemics. Due to this, it has to be fought against by using See: disinfectants.
See: resistance
Video RM 732/ Video RM 735.

Bases
See: caustic solutions (=alkalis)

Basic cleaning
See. cleaning

BD-machine
Scrubber-dryers - floor cleaning machine with disc brushes or pads.

BR-machine
Scrubber-drier - floor cleaning machine with roller brushes or pads

Carpet cleaning
See: spray extraction, See: removal of stains

Carpet impregnation

Caustic solution
Liquid solution of bases. Alkaline reaction
example: calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide solution
See: pH-value

Cleanern
Through "Cleanern" damaged coatings can be repaired and scratches can be levelled out. Scratch-like soiling can just as well be removed (e.g. shoe or tyre tracks). Our products: WET-Look Cleaner RM 747 (especially well suited to WET-Look-Coating Agent RM 741) and RM 748.
Working method: The cleaner emulsion is thin sprayed on the treated floor by using a spray-bottle. Straight afterwards follows an intensive treatment with a polishing machine with soft polishing tools – BR-machine with white roller pads or BD-machine with red roller pads. Due to the high mechanical power scratch-like soiling can be removed. Further, the emulsion part of the care product forms a balancing on gloss polishable care protection coating.


Cleaning
Especially in the contract cleaning area, cleaning is subdivided into 3 categories: basic, intermediate and maintenance cleaning.
The definitions can in some cases overlap, but they are a very helpful basis for the practice.
- Basic cleaning is a necessary, intensive and fundamental cleaning (for example: before moving into a new building or after a longer period of time if a "spring cleaning behind cupboards" is necessary).
Floor de-coating of hard floors or spray extraction of textiles belongs to the basic cleaning. Normally more aggressive cleaning agents with higher concentrations are used for the basic cleaning.
- Intermediate cleaning is a possible unplanned but necessary measure (e.g. stain removal immediately after the mishap has happened or "Cleanern" of a floor which got scratches due to pushing of a piece of furniture).
- Maintenance cleaning is carried out according to its need "daily cleaning" from cleaning with a broom via dust cleaning to wet wiping.
Normally softer cleaning agents with lower concentrations are used for basic cleaning are taken for the maintenance cleaning.

Cleaning agents sprayer
Appliances: 5 l (plastic) and EK1 10 l (stainless steel) for pre-spraying See:2-step-method and disinfection as well as for the application of care products e.g. carpet impregnation.

Concentration
The following principal is valid: take as less as possible but as much as necessary. This decision can only optimally be made in dependency of the conditions on side and that is why the mentioned concentration for the cleaning agents application can only be guidelines according to our experiences.
See: Application of cleaning agents, See: Economy

Crystallisation
Procedure for regeneration of scratched surfaces on chalky artificial or nature stones (marble, travertine, terrazzo, concrete stone). The effect is based on the acid sensitivity of chalky stones. Through corrosion with a special acid and a renewed drying by using mechanical energy damages get off and are removed by grinding. At the same time detached substances in the acid are build into the stone crystal which give the floor a higher hardness, gloss and resistance than before.
First of all dirt and old care product coatings have to be removed See:floor de-coating See:cleaning/basic cleaning. Then the floor has to be neutralised (See:neutralisation). After that the crystallisation can take place. For that the crystallisation agent RM 749 has to be sprayed on thin and to be spread out with a before moistened mop. In case of marble floors it has to be worked on the surface immediately after application of the crystallisation agent. In case of terrazzo or concrete stone floors the crystallisation agent has to be dried in. The treatment is carried out with a floor cleaning machine with hard GRIT-roller brushes until the entire drying takes place or until the expected gloss of the stone surface is reached (brush rotation 1.500 rpm brush contact pressure > 200 g/cm).
Polishing