Because of the porous structure of its fibers, bamboo is extremely absorbent. The absorbent nature of the fiber is something moms have known, making bamboo a popular material for certain kinds of diapers. Bamboo is extremely effective at wicking away moisture which, if used in a cleaning capacity, means surfaces will be left drier and more chemical can be removed from all surfaces. Bamboo also has exceptional odor absorption qualities, able to absorb harmful chemical byproducts such as formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, ammonia and other harmful substances. Knowing what we know about the affects these chemicals can have on a person’s health, it would be advantageous to clean with materials that help to eliminate these health risks. Choose 1 Product with 9 Uses! 1. Cleans 2. Degreases 3. Disinfects against viruses in 30 seconds An Uphill Battle While bamboo has its obvious pros, it is not yet a material that has caught on in the cleaning industry. A few companies are beginning to move toward having bam-boo-based products on in their inventory, but they are few and far between. Some of the battle has to do with certain regulations that have been put in place, both by the U.S. and Canada, regulating what can be sold and marketed as all-natural bamboo. Typically, most bamboo products consist of some form of rayon. This process requires the bamboo fibers to be broken down and chemically altered, often with lye carbon disulfide or other strong acids. But, keep an eye on the horizon; it might not be too long before bamboo equals or even surpasses the popularity of microfiber. 4. Disinfects against bacteria in 45 seconds 5. Sanitizes in 10 seconds 6. Kills fungus in 3 minutes 7. Deodorizes 8. Controls mold & mildew 9. Removes stains Bamboo As A Textile Because the fibers of bamboo are very short — less than 3 mil-limeters (mm) — it is nearly impossible to use a natural process in order to turn the bamboo in to a yarn. The usual process by which textiles labeled as being made of bamboo are produced is with the heavy employment of chemi-cals. To accomplish this, the fibers are broken down with chemicals and extruded through mechanical spinnerets; the chemicals used include lye, carbon disulfide and various other strong acids. Retailers have sold both end products as “bamboo fabric” in order to cash in on bamboo’s current ecofriendly trend; however, the Canadian Competition Bureau and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as of mid-2009, have begun cracking down on the practice of labeling bamboo rayon as natural bamboo fabric. Under the guidelines of both agencies, these products must be labeled as rayon with the optional qualifier “from bamboo.” CM For more information, visit our website at www.spraynine.com Follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/spraynine Spray Nine is a TM of Illinois Tool Works Inc. Copyright © 2012. Permatex, an ITW company. All rights reserved. 1201-005 Product Information no. 202 on page 24 www.cmmonline.com 27
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