Had a customer ask if carpet cleaning caused death?

[Matthew]

Had a man call me the other day and asked me what I thought about John Travolta's son dying. He said the chemicals inhaled developed a rare disease that eventually killed John Travolta's son. He told me that his wife was concerned about her baby crawling on the floor after cleaning. Basically his wife convinced him that the excessive carpet cleaning had something to do with Jett Travolta's death. I wasn't sure what the cause of death was, but is that possible? Can our chemicals cause a person to get a life threatening illness?

 

[packfancjh]

To my knowledge there has not been a case that has been proven that carpet cleaning caused Kawasaki Syndrome. Kelly blamed carpet cleaning chemicals for her sons sickness but it is not true.

 

[Walt]

Tell them -

Studies are inconclusive as to what causes Kawasaki syndrome. Mrs. Travolta is not a scientist nor an expert. Her claims are hers. That all said that is why you are glad to offer a safe alternative -

BioKleen

Planet Guard

What ever.

 

[DRScrivner]

If carpet cleaning was proven (or even highly suspected in the scientific community) to cause Kawasaki Disease/Syndrome then I would think that one of the main supporters of warning consumers of this would be the Kawasaki Disease Foundation- makes sense right?

Here is a paragraph from their own pamphlet…

What causes KD?
In some ways, KD is a mysterious illness. The precise
cause is unknown. Researchers believe that some kind
of infection, as yet undefined, or an unknown environmental
factor may trigger the illness in individuals who
have a genetic predisposition. Various reports have
linked KD to a number of possible causes, including a
prior respiratory illness, exposure to carpet-cleaning
chemicals, use of a humidifier or living near a stagnant
body of water. However, there is no firm evidence that
any of these factors causes KD.

Here are some additional links to articles about KD…

http://www.kdfoundation.org/forms/kdfbrochure.pdf (the brochure the paragraph came from)

http://www.kdfoundation.org/

http://www.icsmag.com/CDA/Archives/8b05 ... 32a8c0____

http://www.cleanprosonline.com/Kawasaki.html

http://www.jondon.com/kawasaki.htm

http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/edu ... ain_id=442

http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/edu ... ain_ID=443

http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/edu ... ain_id=618

http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/edu ... ain_id=618

http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/he ... asaki.html

Now for some media coverage:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0, ... 75,00.html

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-home ... son-460109

http://www.thedailygreen.com/print-this ... on-460109#

http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/ ... nnSTCVideo

And for a web site that is very extreme on it’s views of chemicals;

http://www.kidsneedus.com/index2.html

 

[Matthew]

A study was performed of an outbreak that occurred in Colorado in December of 1982. In 11 of the 23 confirmed Kawasaki Disease cases, the carpet had been shampooed within 30 days of the onset of symptoms.

However, four subsequent investigations, as well as laboratory studies, found no connection between KD and carpet cleaning products. In fact, in those 11 confirmed cases of Kawasaki Disease in the 1982 Colorado study, the carpets were cleaned by do-it-yourself cleaning or spot removal. Only one individual had the carpets cleaned by professionals.

The above is from Jon Don. That makes Rug Doctors look really really bad!!!! It caused basically 50% of shampooed carpets to spread a disease. Wow what a strike against Rug Doctors. I will definitely be telling my customers about this information.

 

[Dolly Llama]

A study was performed of an outbreak that occurred in Colorado in December of 1982. In 11 of the 23 confirmed Kawasaki Disease cases, the carpet had been shampooed within 30 days of the onset of symptoms.

However, four subsequent investigations, as well as laboratory studies, found no connection between KD and carpet cleaning products. In fact, in those 11 confirmed cases of Kawasaki Disease in the 1982 Colorado study, the carpets were cleaned by do-it-yourself cleaning or spot removal. Only one individual had the carpets cleaned by professionals.

The above is from Jon Don. That makes Rug Doctors look really really bad!!!! It caused basically 50% of shampooed carpets to spread a disease. Wow what a strike against Rug Doctors. I will definitely be telling my customers about this information.

Matt, don't be a gOOber.
a rug doctor didn't cause the disease.
further, don't perpetuate rumors with inconclusive data to bash any method or equipment.

..L.T.A.

 

[Matthew]

What I meant was the blame is now off the professionals and back on the do-it-yourselfers! I wouldn't use the information unless someone else asked me. I don't want to be an over-the-top Goooooberrrrrr! But I felt uncomfortable answering my potential customers questions. Now I can answer with confidence. I didn't like the idea that I could possibly be causing health problems, it makes me feel a little guilty.

 

[hogjowl]

Chill, Larry. There's room for more than one goober on this board. He's no threat to you.

 

[harryhides]

Larry is right and ANY connection between KS and carpet cleaning is bad for us.

Think about this for just a second.
It was discovered in Japan where this disease is the most prevalent. OK, one slight problem is that hardly ANYONE in Japan has wall to wall carpet.
Second problem - what group of people has an all day, every day exposure to the so-called problem chems ?
Why, carpet cleaners, that's who. And guess when was the last time you ever heard of a carpet cleaner with KS ?

Who has more reason to be concerned about the chems we use than we ourselves ?
The fact that we are all alive is pretty strong proof of how much bullshit this all is.

Good grief.

 

[Rex Tyus]

If carpet cleaning causes KS. I wonder what horrible things washing dishes and doing laundry does. Holy shit what about mopping the floor or polishing the furniture. Oh My God don't forget taking a shower. :roll:

Give me a Fn break. I find it hard to believe people are this ignorant in today society.






Well on second thought........not suprised at all.

 

[Craig Lindquist]

If it did then there would be no carpet cleaners....they would all be dead.

There again, I have seen quite a few that look like they are dead.

 

[Greg Loe]

Carpet cleaning doesn't cause death, but death can cause carpet cleaning.

 

[SuperFly]

Kelly could use something real big and hard up where the Sun dont shine..
Then she would have a gOOber reason to talk $hit.........

 

[Matthew]

There again, I have seen quite a few that look like they are dead.

Carpet cleaning doesn't cause death, but death can cause carpet cleaning.

Man some of ya'll should've been comedians, that's some funny shit! LOL. That last quote sounds like something from the "Abraham Lincoln of Carpet Cleaning"

Thanks for the laughs guys

I've seen a few dead lookin ones myself!!

 

[B&BGaryC]

If a customer is that paranoid, don't clean for them.

Did anybody hear about the Chem Sponge court case? The family complained of symptoms resulting from the chemicals used in a light soot removal/smoke odor remediation. Took the company to court. Company gladly went to court with big smiles on their faces because they only used ozone while the building was un-occupied and then used chem-sponges to remove the residue. Since chem-sponges contain no chemical, they were able to prove that they didn't use one chemical or leave any harmful residue in the entire house.

They lost the case because they called the sponges "Chem Sponges" and the thought of harmful chemicals in the people's house caused them emotional distress.

Sorry if I got this mixed up. I got this third hand from a disaster restoration instructor. If anybody has info on the actual story that would be great.

My whole point is that if somebody is paranoid, don't give them a sugar pill to see what sort of symptoms they will develop.

 

[Al]

Carpet cleaning doesn't cause death, but death can cause carpet cleaning.

LMAO

 

[steve r]

Carpet cleaning doesn't cause death, but death can cause carpet cleaning.

that is funny

 

[Matthew]

If a customer is that paranoid, don't clean for them.

Did anybody hear about the Chem Sponge court case? The family complained of symptoms resulting from the chemicals used in a light soot removal/smoke odor remediation. Took the company to court. Company gladly went to court with big smiles on their faces because they only used ozone while the building was un-occupied and then used chem-sponges to remove the residue. Since chem-sponges contain no chemical, they were able to prove that they didn't use one chemical or leave any harmful residue in the entire house.

They lost the case because they called the sponges "Chem Sponges" and the thought of harmful chemicals in the people's house caused them emotional distress.

Sorry if I got this mixed up. I got this third hand from a disaster restoration instructor. If anybody has info on the actual story that would be great.

My whole point is that if somebody is paranoid, don't give them a sugar pill to see what sort of symptoms they will develop.

That sounds like some money grubbing sue happys! Not sure what story your talking about, was that case on the news? Yeh, you right. NO paronoid people will get my service. No ready for getting sued! Just wasn't prepared for that question.

funny how a name like "chem sponges" created such a frenzy. shows how paronoid people really are and non-trusting.

However, I did tell a lady today not to use rug doctors chemicals because they are not cleaning with green products :wink:

 

[Dolly Llama]

However, I did tell a lady today not to use rug doctors chemicals because they are not cleaning with green products :wink:

what "green" products are you using, Matt.
What makes yours "green"
and what's in Rod Doctor chems that makes them any different than yours?

I'm not "trying" to be a gOOber, I promise.

I'm just not an advocate of using SCARE tactics to close a sale.
I'm also curious if even know what's in their juice and yours


BTW, is it the chem or the act of introducing water to the carpet that made carpet cleaning a suspect with Kawasaki?

..L.T.A.

 

[B&BGaryC]

Not sure. It was told to an employee at an IICRC course by the instructor. I wasn't there. I got it third hand. I also got told to never call them chem sponges.

 

[B&BGaryC]

A local vacuum shop scares old ladies into buying seven hundred dollar vacuums because they can be used with host powder. The reason you must use host powder is because ANY time ANY moisture touches the carpet it breaks down the backing of the carpet and begins to destroy it, not only that, but it makes the carpet grow MOLD!

I really want to give each and every salesman on their team a swift kick in the nuts.

 

[Matthew]

Planet Guard Carpet Cleaner and Rinse is 100% detergent free -- no soaps, surfactants, synthetic chemistries, dyes or perfume… just clean carpet!

I was told at Jon Don that you can actually drink this stuff, because it's completely edible. I only use the best! However, I do buy some chemicals from Cobb, but my green line is very safe according to Jony. Just don't care for people or customers dying to talk about their Rub Doctors or store-boughts.

 

[Matthew]

Forgot to mention dug Roctor chemicals are causing damage according to the study I mentioned earlier. Not me!

Sorry not sure what's in dug roctors chemicals, but I'm sure they must be bad to cause the above. Also, Planet Guard doesn't have surfactants, synthetic chemistry - remember man is evil and any time he takes something from nature and tries to isolate chemicals or create his own there is always going to be crap in it that cause some kinda health issue.

 

[DRScrivner]

Did it specifically say Rug Doctor, or Do It Yourself?