The Legacy of Racine Industries (HOST)

[Jim Pemberton]

I was reflecting on the closure of Racine Industries, the makers of HOST.

Our industry tended to call the company by the name of its product and system of course.

While it is easy to remember them as a company that promoted "dry cleaning" of carpet, I think the lasting influence they had on our industry was their concept of planned carpet maintenance.

My father attended their class in 1979, and while our cleaning company was primarily a hot water extraction and low moisture provider, the concept helped us greatly.

 

[Desk Jockey]

Did Von Schrader also shut down?

 

[Numero Uno]

Sad to see a legacy fold up.

 

[Brian H]

The guy in the first row on the right got teased a lot as a kid I bet!!

 

[Jim Pemberton]

The guy in the first row on the right got teased a lot as a kid I bet!!

That would be the brilliant technical guy for Racine Industries, Geoff Greeley.

 

[Brian H]

That would be the brilliant technical guy for Racine Industries, Geoff Greeley.

I meant the other first row.

 

[The Great Oz]

Before my time, we were the regional distributor for Host products.

Still have a relic that sits on a shelf in my office - which was formerly where the Host machines were repaired. I think I have a few Host-printed little sponges in a box somewhere.

Hadn't noticed until now. That tag line and photo a little suggestive?

 

[Desk Jockey]

Before my time, we were the regional distributor for Host products.

Still have a relic that sits on a shelf in my office - which was formerly where the Host machines were repaired. I think I have a few Host-printed little sponges in a box somewhere.

View attachment 108315

Hadn't noticed until now. That tag line and photo a little suggestive?

lol Odd picture to use. ???
She is thinking "game strategy", he is thinking about a different game.

 

[The Great Oz]

She is thinking "game strategy", he is thinking about a different game.

Could be she can't look at him because he keeps talking about moisture levels. She's smiling, but those cheeks are a little rosy.

They're both having too much fun for a game of backgammon.

Edit: Sorry Jim.
So... back to planned carpet maintenance...

 

[sassyotto]

went to the HOST School about 3 or 4 times myself in the early 80s. Geoff was a top notch guy. I remember that they took everyone out for a nice dinner in the HOST van. Those were the days.

we did a tour of the plant. at one point a person in the class spotted a HOST portable extractor and asked about it. We were quickly whisked away from the area.......

 

[Jim Pemberton]

Edit: Sorry Jim.
So... back to planned carpet maintenance...

No worries!

It isn't like you're the only guy here who changed the direction of a thread here.

Myself included.....

 

[hogjowl]

 

[Tom Forsythe]

I have been reading a book titled "Thinking for a Change" by John Maxwell. He talks of companies built upon a great idea, which did not follow-up with another great idea. Blockbuster's comes to mind. I do not know of any of the details of the company, but I thought the marriage of Host with encapsulation products would have been hard to beat. Low moisture cleaning is still popular and uses a CRB with other cleaning solutions. It seems to me that all companies need to have a low moisture division to cater to those who want and only need a maintenance cleaning service.

 

[Bob Savage]

...and I still use my Host CRB machine.

 

[Willy P]

I just found 7 boxes of Host powder. Let the bidding begin.

 

[Desk Jockey]

$7.00, you pay freight!

 

[Tom Forsythe]

We have a new person in marketing who handles the mechanics of our blog. I gave him a quick one hour hands on course on encapsulation and dry compound. We did upholstery, carpet and an area rug. We only used the dry compound on the area rug. We were both shocked how well it turned out with only using the compound. He had edited and placed the picture's in Dane's blog. My assignment was for him to do this type of cleaning at his mom's house.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I think it works great on moderately soiled carpet. The issues I would have in using the method is cost, for one.

What does dry powder sell for and at what coverage per pail.

Secondly and more importantly, thorough removal of the product is my bigger concern.

While a crb is great at grinding in the corn cobs...uh sponges...corn cob sponges. We are relying on a standard vacuum to remove the product.

Once the product has dried out the product switches sides, from a cleaner to a contaminate.

I don't know if you've ever encountered problems with the method but I've seen dusting problems from its use. Both the organic and synthetic compounds.

I personally have no comfort level when it comes to removal of this type of product introduced to my clients carpet.

 

[hogjowl]

I agree with the Mexican

 

[Desk Jockey]

I agree with the Mexican

Since when?

 

[hogjowl]

Today
Moron

 

[Desk Jockey]

Today
Moron

The name calling is uncalled for...and is hurtful.

Ya idiot!

 

[Cleanworks]

I think it works great on moderately soiled carpet. The issues I would have in using the method is cost, for one.

What does dry powder sell for and at what coverage per pail.

Secondly and more importantly, thorough removal of the product is my bigger concern.

While a crb is great at grinding in the corn cobs...uh sponges...corn cob sponges. We are relying on a standard vacuum to remove the product.

Once the product has dried out the product switches sides, from a cleaner to a contaminate.

I don't know if you've ever encountered problems with the method but I've seen dusting problems from its use. Both the organic and synthetic compounds.

I personally have no comfort level when it comes to removal of this type of product introduced to my clients carpet.

Most of the uses I have seen were improperly vacuumed out. I had a condo building where they used host for 3 years to clean all the hallways. When I did my first inspection, I could see the host residue between the fibres. I used a pile lifter as my vacuum and the manager, hearing the noise came out of her suite to watch. "Wow, I've never seen the carpet so clean" she exclaims. I could have just vacuumed and left at that point but I explained that we were just vacuuming and we're going to steam clean over those areas. Needless to say, she was pretty impressed.

 

[Desk Jockey]

We had several that we eventually got corrected over time.

The worst was a stereo store. They quit using us over a concern with moisture. A year later they were having compound dust on everything in the store.

We tried pile lifters and they helped but it was a couple of years before the dust problem was no longer an issue.

We also had an allergy doctor using it at his residence because he felt HWE would breed mold in his carpet. Compound dust on all the furnishings where it was used.

You would have thought he would have been more concerned with the aerosolized particles he was breathing. Instead he defended himself by saying he was worried about mold spores in the carpet.

 

[hogjowl]

RV time

 

[Desk Jockey]

I think it it happened now I'd reach for the Zipper spinner after some serious vacuuming.
RV does well but Zipper is faster and leaves it drier.

 

[Jim Pemberton]

The cellulose materials used in the currently available dry compounds tend to vacuum out much more readily than those that were more popular in the past.

I've also encountered some horrible residue problems with dry compounds. The synthetic materials have left what looked like talcum powder over every surface in some places. I've noticed accumulations of cellulose materials that have left carpets brown, and cleaners frustrated when they treated for browning, not needed dry residue removal.

....just as I've noticed issues with overwetting and cleaning agent residues.

Its all in using the right process for the right job in the right way.

That said, I've never been a fan of the process, but found it helpful with some unusual materials, circumstances, or expectations.

Any chance we can have Reg chime in on this @Mikey P?

 

[Desk Jockey]

We had a library that wouldn't allow us to use any other process. It looked and smelled great, however I did make sure we used as little product as possible and vacuumed like a mad man afterwards.

I've seen those guys in Vegas do some amazing things with it. I just don't feel comfortable in using it. We have it as another tool when it's the best option.

 

[Reg Rogers]

I too am sad that they have closed their doors. I view them as a pioneer in this method and currently walk the path they created. Very sad

As far as dry compound goes, not all are equal in design. Contrary to popular opinion, no one uses corn cob anymore. Ours definitely doesn’t contain it.

We also found that the smaller the particles, the more difficult it was to retrieve out of the carpet fibers. Our process filters the smaller particles out before it gets into the bucket. This results in very little left behind and superior pickup when used with a crb and catch tray design.

While it’s not for all, some folks insist on the results obtained by a low moisture process.

For me personally, I love the process and of course am a little biased now but the results speak for themselves. I have many years of HWE under my belt and for a lot of situations there is no equal to those results when properly done.

If you haven’t tried dry compound, do yourself a favor and give it a go. It will surprise you as it did me and I was a sceptic from the start.

So back to Host- I was told that someone came in to purchase it but the deal fell through

anyone know the details of why? I heard that the availability or lack of raw materials was part of the issue as why the deal didn’t go through...

 

[Mikey P]

Who will ever forget the HOST process smacking the shit out of the Vortex/hwe and OP methods at the MikeFest skating rink.


The carpet was thick with sugary drinks.