[Chris R]

Cleaned a suite and a couple of polyprop rugs last week. I used solutions number 2 and a fresh water rinse. When finished the drain was blocked so chucked dirty water onto customers lawn. Customer phoned to complain today, when I called around to look couldnt belive it  
A 6ft x 2ft section of the lawn is yellow (DEAD),   
No doubt at all that it was caused by the dirty water, its on a slope and you can clearly see how its run back down,but I have never had a complaint before in 15 years of doing this  
So just a warning to others - beware!
Chris

[paul@ctcs]

Thanks Chris, I have on occasions done the same thing with rental property cleans when no body is there but never had complaints.
Wont do it again!!
it will be interesting to hear from the scientists on the forum as to what may be killing the grass??

Paul

[woodman]

Hi Chris

must have reacted with lawn treatment or previous carpet treatments that had not been neutralised.

Solutions ( and no doubt Nick will put me right if im wrong) contains phosphates which should if anything be good for the grass :-/. I would have thought.

Was the water very hot as this could kill it off, I did this once by accident when my machine toppled off a step on to the lawn spilling the hot contents onto the grass same as you it took 24hrs before they got back to me but they were fine about it

[Dynafoam]

Chris,

I think Trevor got it right about residue from a previous clean, as I have been tipping Solutions on grass for some time without problem.

Since many of my customers live next door to others, I have plenty of opportunity to check the results for myself.

[Chris R]

Hi again,
It was the first clean for the suite. 2 years old, guardsman treated. Didnt notice any obvious "foam up" from household spotters, but you never know. The water was not red hot when emptied.
I am going to do a test on my own lawn (corner   ), if this happened to a customers lawn, they would tell you , it was a right mess.
Chris

[Doug Holloway]

Hi Guys,

All chemicals should be treated with caution.

As I have mentioned in a previous post just because someone drinks something doe'snt make it safe.

E.G  Alcohol

Cheers,

Doug

[Len Gribble]

Chris

Knock over 500mil of no 2 on my block-paving weed/moss still there! Need a stronger solution perhaps a weed killer.

Leave it will soon grow back.

I now question your sanity accidents happen dumping waist water on a garden is deliberate if drain blocked they must have a manhole why not use that!

Len

[dragonet]

I am not a carpet cleaner myself but used to be Head gardener at a 5 star resort in Wales and the problem you described with the lawn was common for me.
I used to get builders, contract cleaners, in house cleaners thinking lawns where there for dumbing there waste I would often find patches of diluted emulsion that the builder had used water to clean there paint brushes etc. Cleaning waste often consisted water rich in all sorts of chemicals,dust piles and have even had sewer waste, so I have vast experience of this problem and I can tell you it takes alot to kill grass. I do not know what chemicals are in your no2 solution so I cannot comment on that but it sounds very much to me that the water was hot, INSTANT KILLER.
If the grass is not completly dead it will recover well this time of year. if it is completly dead you can pick up some grass seed cheap this is the best time to sow seed, it will germinate in about ten days.

Just thought I would post my comments from the other side of the fence

Martin Heames
 

[Derek]

Why Oh Why are we talking about tipping chemicals onto customer's lawns and gardens

As far as I am concerned this is an absolute No No

If I saw a contractor doing this to my lawn or garden then I can assure you harsh words would be spoken.. it shows a total lack of respect

I have probably upset some folks but it had to be said

Derek

[Len Gribble]

Derek

I already questioned their sanity.

Martin Heames

Would be very surprised if the waist water was that hot! More like Luke warm.

Len

[Dynafoam]

Don't worry young Derek,

When I clean your carpets, I'll take the water up to your allotments instead  

[Phil Marlor]

Just what I was thinking Derek, emptying waste on to a customers lawn is not the thing to do.

Phil

[Len Gribble]

Phil

I have never emptied waist contents on a customer’s lawn, but have emptied in a customer hallway.

Len

[Ken Wainwright]

I use One Step, so I bottle the waste water and sell it is Poor Man's Guiness

Wouldn't drink it myself though

Safe and sober drinking:)
Ken