Preparation and Maintenance: Cleaners, Glues, Sealers, Adhesives

One green site we know counts the number of commercial cleaners as one component to consider in tallying one's green footprint. This makes sense: many of these cleaners add toxicity to already questionable environments. People have become insensitive to the number of chemicals in our society - and we use chemicals to mask unfortunate effects of other chemicals.

Before you paint, grout, stain, or plaster a surface, you often have to clean it - and after you create your space, you still need to maintain it. Here we present products that let you continue and maintain your green vision as you live with it. These products keep your vision green. And some of these products even help you if you live or work in an environment that has less than green components.

 

Cleaners

AFM Concentrated Super Clean

SafeChoice Super Clean is a highly concentrated, all-purpose cleaner/degreaser. It is not toxic, odor free, dye free and biodegradable. It contains no phosphates, alkalines, acids, ammonia, butyl ethers, chlorine bleach, nor any chemical scents used to mask the odors caused by such harsh compounds. It will not irritate sensitive skin, nor does it give off noxious fumes. Yet it is strong enough for industrial strength cleaning chores.

• Odorless, non-offensive to user and occupant. Especially welcomed by professional cleaners and occupants of enclosed, centrally-ventilated buildings where occupants are subject to the effects of all toxic discharges within the building, including those from building and maintenance products.

• Safely used by and for the chemically sensitive.

• Absorbs and helps eliminate odors - even from tobacco, animals and smoke and soot damage.

The beauty of this product is that you can use this in dilutions from 20:1 to  full-strength, depending on the cleaning job at hand.

Comes in quarts and gallon sizes.

 

Bio-Shield Floor Soap

This floor soap is made from a mixture of precious plant soaps containing soy and palm oil. It also contains fats for surface revival, and resins that will aid in the protection of floors. Just four ounces per gallon and a damp-mopping on a regular basis is all it takes to begin a program of exceptional care.

Usage: BioShield Floor Soap will clean and protect interior floors made of wood, cork, linoleum, and stone. It is gentle in nature and can be used for the cleaning of oiled and waxed floors.

Ingredients: Plant Oils, Water, Linseed Oil, Wood Oil, Resins, and Orange Terpenes.

 

RigoStep Floor Polish and Clean Gloss

This Dutch product is designed to give a final polish to floors which resists the penetration of dirt into hardwood floors. It delivers a satin, gloss or matt finish. It protects and restores the coating for easier maintenance. The Clean Gloss is especially for laquer or polished floors.

 

Green Building Supply Products

We have a selection of one gallon size jugs of Green Building Supply's Industrial Cleaner and Mold, Mildew and Algae Cleaner. The Industrial Cleaner removes paint, graffiti, tar, acrylic coatings, floor wax, dirt and oils. Both products are environmentally safe, non-flammable, and non-toxic.

 

 

Sealants

Safecoat® Grout Sealer

Safecoat Grout Sealer is a clear, moisture resistant sealer for porous tile grout and other cementitious surfaces. It actually reacts with and becomes a part of the grout, increasing water resistance and minimizing the penetration of liquids, helping to prevent staining and giving a wearable, washable surface. Like all Safecoat products, it is as safe and not toxic as possible, formaldehyde free and virtually odorless, giving off no offensive chemical fumes. Dries clear without discoloration. Zero VOC content, meets or exceeds all federal and state air quality regulations, including California. Contains no formaldehyde.

 

AFM Carpet Seal

SafeChoice Carpet Seal (formerly SafeChoice Carpet Guard) is a unique sealer designed to prevent the outgassing of harmful chemicals used in carpet backing. These chemicals include such known carcinogens as formaldehyde, toluene, benzene, xylene and styrene. Carpet Seal is odor-free and, when properly applied, effectively blocks outgassing for up to five cleanings or one year. SafeChoice Carpet Seal sealer is designed to be used in conjunction with SafeChoice Carpet Shampoo (to clean) and SafeChoice Lock Out (to seal carpet fibers and repel dirt and stains). This three-part system cleans out and seals in the harmful chemicals found throughout a typical carpet.

USE ON: SafeChoice Carpet Seal is generally suitable for all synthetic carpets and rugs. Because of variations in materials and production processes used by different manufacturers, you should always spot test to insure compatibility with your carpet. Wool fibers generally do not react well to water based products, so SafeChoice Carpet Seal is not recommended for wool.

 

AFM Safecoat® MexeSeal

Safecoat MexeSeal is a low odor, waterbased, medium gloss clear sealer. It is suitable for use on porous interior tile or masonry surfaces where oil and water repellency are desired. It is ideal for long term protection against food, oil and water stains on residential or commercial floors. Safecoat MexeSeal is non-hazardous and non-flammable - a total replacement for high solvent content systems. SCS CERTIFIED - LEED QUALIFIED.

USE ON: Safecoat MexeSeal is recommended on substrates such as the following; unpolished marble, limestone, granite, sandstone, slate, fireclay (brick, tile, terra cotta, pavers), concrete (brick, tile, precast panels, cast in place). Always test in small, inconspicuous places before full application. Safecoat MexeSeal is generally not suited for polished surfaces; test first. Not recommended for use on modern satillo or quarry tiles without special care. Satillo or quarry tiles generally contain salts and other contaminants sensitive to application of water based products. White efflorescence flushing may occur. It may be necessary to repeatedly remove contamnination and repeat MexeSeal application until all contaminants are extracted.

 

AFM Safecoat® Safe Seal

Safecoat Safe Seal is a multi-use, waterbased, low gloss sealer for highly porous surfaces such as particle board, plywood, processed wood and porous concrete. Used primarily to reduce toxic outgassing: in particular, it is highly effective at sealing in formaldehyde outgassing from processed wood such as plywood, particle board and pressed wood. Safecoat Safe Seal is virtually odorless on application and odorless once cured.
SCS CERTIFIED - LEED QUALIFIED.

USE  ON: Porous surfaces such as processed wood products, concrete, wood, new drywall, grout and plaster. If used as a grout sealer, wipe excess off tile with a damp cloth or sponge while still wet. Test surfaces first in inconspicuous areas to be sure product absorbs into surfaces completely. Excellent at controlling formaldehyde emissions of open faced and faced fiberglass batt insulation - simply fog spray surfaces.

 

AFM Safecoat® Chalking Compound

Safecoat Caulking Compound is a not-toxic, water-based, elastic emulsion type caulking compound designed to replace oil caulk and putty for windows, cracks and general maintenance work. It will not dry out or crack and does not release any solvents or obnoxious odors. Safecoat Caulking Compound provides a water resistant, flexible, easy to install, non sag sealant with excellent initial and permanent adhesion. As a ready-to-use, pigmented elastomer, Safecoat Caulking Compound has thixotropic properties which enable the application to be made with ease with no stringiness and yet maintains flexibility and toughness with rapid drying characteristics. It may be applied to a variety of substrates and has high durability. Resin rich formula affords maximum bond strength.

USE ON: Use for chalking windows, sealing cracks, filling holes, door perimeters, walls and woodwork, air duct openings, venting and plumbing areas, siding openings and masonry cracks.