Introduction of new technology – new capabilities
The Esporta Wash System is a revolutionary soft contents restoration system capable of restoring 85% of the soft contents and laundry typically considered non-restorable.
Restoring soft contents using the Esporta Wash System rather than providing a cash settlement has a significant impact on policyholders, the environment, and insurance companies.
Policyholders benefit because they experience a simpler and faster claims process. Plus, they get back more of their possessions which were impacted in the loss, including those items with high sentimental value such as a wedding gown or a family heirloom. Policyholders also benefit from restoration versus replacement because it helps to keep costs down which can help them keep within their insurance limits.
The environment benefits because we are not unnecessarily sending soft contents and laundry to the landfill. It is estimated that since November of 2007, CCRN members using the Esporta Wash System have kept 415 tons of soft contents from unnecessarily going to landfills across North America. Plus, the detergents used in the Esporta Wash System are environmentally friendly and are effective at low water temperature which means less energy is used for the wash process.
Insurance companies benefit because their customers are happy and they experience a simpler and faster claims settlement process for the soft contents and laundry. In addition to this they save on the amount of money that it costs to close the claim because they are only paying for restoration rather than replacement.
Science of Modern Restoration Technology
The Esporta Wash System is a patented wet wash system which features a soft hold technology which holds items in place and forces them through detergent and disinfectant laden water.
Mechanics of the process
The patented technology is comprised of a large steel drum which is approximately seven feet tall. A wheel shaped cage, of nearly the same diameter, is made up of eight pie shaped compartments with stainless steel construction and turns inside the drum on an axle. The operator controls the technology through a touch screen control panel featured on the front of the machine.
Validation
Hydroqual Study
A study designed to test the third stage of cleaning agent used exclusively in the Esporta Wash System. The percentage kill of four bacterial species representing common pathogens were tested. The results of this study show that Stage 3 kills bacteria upon contact.
University of Alberta Study
A study designed to test the effectiveness of the Esporta Wash System at removing non–organic contaminants. In addition, this study tests the Esporta Wash Systems ability to safely launder sensitive items such as fire bunker gear. The results of this study showed that the Esporta Wash System was highly effective at removing non-organic contaminants and that it was five times more effective at soil removal than traditional front loading washing machines.
Wonder Makers Environmental Sewage Study
A study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Esporta Wash System in cleaning soft goods impacted by sewage contamination. The results of the study showed that the Esporta Wash System is effective at removing the bacterial contamination found in soft goods impacted by sewage contamination.
Capabilities of Modern Soft Contents Restoration - Overview
- Sports Equipment – Hockey, football, lacrosse, Ski boots, boxing equipment, and many other types of sporting goods.
- Wash & Fold – T-shirts, sweaters, jeans, socks, underwear, bras, and many other types of laundry.
- Leathers – running shoes, stilettos, dress shoes, football cleats, and work boots, belts, purses, and sometimes even jackets.
- Linens - bedding
- Unusual Items – tents, rubber dinghy’s, and saddles
- Cautions and Limitations
- Dry clean only items – Restoration of these types of articles should only be attempted if the goods would otherwise be considered non-restorable.
- Leather jackets - Restoration of leather jackets should only be attempted if the goods would otherwise be considered non-restorable.
Use of cleaning agents
The Esporta Wash System utilizes a combination of four proprietary cleaning agents which are automatically injected into the wash drum at precise levels at different times throughout the wash process depending on the wash program or “recipe” selected. The four key cleaning agents include:
Stage 1 – This detergent contains non-pathogenic (good) bacteria. When the bacteria come into contact with protein oils, sweat, blood or fungi they secrete an enzyme that emulsifies and breaks down the soil source allowing it to be easily removed from the fabric. At the same time, stage 1 overpowers the food source of the bad bacteria such as staphylococcus weakening them and allowing them to be easily eliminated by our stage 3 disinfectants. During this process, odor bonds are also broken.
Stage 2 – This stage contains a synergistic blend of detergents and detergent builders. It contains two distinct biodegradable surfactants that reduce water surface tension and allow stage 1 and the balance ingredients in stage 2 to break down the matter. The water soluble solvents emulsify the oil based soils, releasing them from the fabric.
Stage 3 – This stage is made up of organic hydrogen peroxide which is made when sun and water react. This natural disinfectant is combined with acetic acid (vinegar) to produce peroxyacetic acid. This combination will kill bacteria and viruses on contact.
Stage 4 - This is an optional fragrance stage which is made from a combination of 140 natural oil extracts including mint, orange peel, and the vanilla flower. This fragrance is added because it smells nice – not as a masking agent.13 ©2011 Certified Contents Restoration Network
None of the Esporta detergents contain any of the following harmful chemicals which are commonly found in commercial laundry detergents:
- Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)
- A major concern of the Environmental Protection Agency
- A major contributing factor to ozone, a common air pollutant which has proven to be a public health hazard
- Chlorine bleach
- Can create VOC’s when exposed to certain organic compounds
- Phosphates
- Contributes to increased levels of nutrients and a phenomenon called “eutrophication” and increases the growth of algae.
- Alkyl phenol ethoxylate (APE) or nonyl phenol ethoxylate (NPE)
- Mimics the action of estrogen
- Leads to the feminization of wildlife
- May also have effects on humans through usage of grey water in agriculture
- Ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA).
- A persistent organic pollutant
- Degrades to ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, which then cyclizes to a cumulative, persistent, organic environmental pollutant.