How to Stay Clean in Space

At Morantz, we love talking about different kinds of cleaning. In this post, we discuss issues with keeping clean in space. As it turns out, it’s a big problem.

NASA LogoOne of the challenges of space missions is keeping clean. While personal hygiene is difficult enough in space, future missions to the Moon and Mars are going to encounter another, very difficult cleaning problem; dust contamination.

Most people don’t realize this, but space is a very dusty and dirty place. Comets are often described as “dirty snowballs” and the Apollo astronauts experienced significant problems on the Moon with lunar dust (see: NASA’s Dirty Secret: Moon Dust , and What a Little Moon Dust Can Do).

On January 16, the Mars Society posted to space.com about the problems they’re having keeping their “mock” Mars base clean. The Mars Society is conducting a mock “mission” to learn about how astronauts might live on Mars at their Desert Research Station near Hanksville, Utah (for full coverage, click here). The problems they’re having with dirt and dust contamination are pretty serious. These problems include the amount of time it takes just to clean their equipment. Another is that the dust is getting everywhere. And that’s here on Earth (under gravity). Imagine what can happen when the dust is floating around your spaceship.

What’s a wayward astronaut to do?

At Morantz, we’ve provided ultrasonic cleaning systems to NASA for various applications and we’ve identified three problems with dirt and dust in space:

  1. It wears down critical components: Not only can the static electricity damage valuable and critical equipment, the dust itself gets into seals and wears them down. When you’re floating around an asteroid, you don’t want your spacesuit leaking.
  2. It creates health risks: Even after roughly fifty years of space travel, we really don’t know what’s in all that dust, that’s why we want to go and collect samples. While most people worry about little alien space viruses, the chemicals that make up the dust itself could be poisonous. The astronauts on the Moon said that lunar dust smelled and tasted like gunpowder. Nasty!
  3. The unknown: Who knows what else could happen? Space, buy it’s nature, is unpredictable.

Astronaut Gene Cernan on the Moon in December 1972. His spacesuit is blackened by lunar dust. According to NASA, “a real hazard that might have caused hatch and spacesuit seals to fail on a longer surface mission.” [NASA/JSC]
Astronaut Gene Cernan on the Moon in December 1972. His spacesuit is blackened by lunar dust. According to NASA, “a real hazard that might have caused hatch and spacesuit seals to fail on a longer surface mission.” [NASA/JSC]
Considering the problems and potential dangers for dust contamination and the limited water supplies (astronauts have to bring everything with them), the solution is both obvious and simple; they need to use Ultrasonics to clean their equipment.

Now, Ultrasonics does require water, something that’s in limited supply in space. That means they would have to bring an extra supply with them, but that water can be filtered (ask us about our filtration systems) or recycled using reverse osmosis. But the benefits outweigh the costs of bringing that water with them. This is because Ultrasonics will remove all of the dust and dirt (and mud and whatever other contaminants they have to deal with) in just a few minutes without the need for toxic chemicals. This leaves the astronauts with more time doing science, and whatever else astronauts do, instead of scrubbing boots.

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FEATURED SUCCESS STORY: Cleaning up in Italy!

Buongiorno and welcome to Milan, Italy! We bring you all the way around the globe to meet Michele Lazzarotto, owner of Elle Emme custom window treatments and LavareTutto (literally translated from Italian to mean “Wash All“).

Michele Lazzarotto with his Morantz B-136 "Baby" Blind Cleaning Machine.
Michele Lazzarotto with his Morantz B-136 “Baby” Blind Cleaning Machine.

Michele and his family operate several businesses all over Italy that custom manufacture window treatments of all types including blinds and curtains. He has owned and operated his famous shop in Milan for nearly 25 years.

How He Got His Start

Michele first learned about Morantz’s blind cleaning equipment in 2008 while researching on the internet ways to properly clean blinds for his clients. Amazed with what he saw, Michele booked his flight to Philadelphia to see the machines in action. He even brought samples of fabrics and blinds to test clean. Excited by the results, Michele placed his order for equipment.

I could not believe the opportunity I had come across when I saw the Morantz blind cleaning machine working, exclaims Michele. “No one in Italy was offering to clean blinds. The market was wide open and desperately in need of this type of cleaning“.

One of the many micro-mini blinds Michele has cleaned.
One of the many micro-mini blinds Michele has cleaned.

Michele let all of his long-time customers know that he can now service all the window blinds he had sold them. He also created a separate company and website, Lavarre Tutto, to start promoting everything he could clean. Soon he had jobs not only cleaning blinds, but items such as hubcaps, wood stools, metal parts (including engine parts), light diffusers and much more.  Here are some photos he sent us to share with our readers, Prima (Before) and Dopo (After):

Hub Cap Before Hub Cap After

A Machine Called “Money!

Michele lovingly named his blind cleaning machine “Money,” and the name has stuck to this day. “It is unbelievable how much money this machine continues to make, so the name fits,” Michele said. “My staff is constantly busy with cleaning blinds of all types: Roller shades, mini blinds, vertical blinds and more.”

How He “Sells” It

One of the many ways Michele promotes ultrasonic cleaning to his clients is by hooking them on the technology when they visit his shop. Next to his coffee machine proudly sits his Morantz SZ-400 Table-Top System. During offers to clean his clients jewelry and eyeglasses. While cleaning, he explains that this is the same technology that he uses to clean blinds. “It works beautifully and demonstrates my capabilities for cleaning,” says Michele.

The Morantz SZ-400 table top system, a great demonstration model.
The Morantz SZ-400 table top system, a great demonstration model.

Success, and More Success

Michele was doing so much ultrasonic cleaning that in 2011 he purchased a second machine, the Morantz SM-200-XL. “With the XL machine, I am able to clean a wide variety of items including curtains and even multiple blinds at once. This all-purpose system has really opened up Ultrasonic Cleaning to my company. We have diversified in ways we never dreamed of.

Cleaning vertical blind tracks with the Morantz SM-200-XL.
Cleaning vertical blind tracks with the Morantz SM-200-XL.
The SM-200-XL (foreground) ready to clean a batch of Roller Shades.
The SM-200-XL (foreground) ready to clean a batch of Roller Shades.
The Lavare Tutto staff prepping roller binds for cleaning.
The Lavare Tutto staff prepping roller binds for cleaning.
Cleaning Engine Parts in the SM-200-XL.
Cleaning Engine Parts in the SM-200-XL.
Cleaning light diffusers. This diffuser is half cleaned to show the difference.
Cleaning light diffusers. This diffuser is half cleaned to show the difference.
Cleaning a photocopier in the SM-200-XL.
Cleaning a photocopier in the SM-200-XL.
Photocopier after cleaning with Morantz Ultrasonics for 1 minute!
Photocopier after cleaning with Morantz Ultrasonics for 1 minute!
Cleaning Wooden Stools.
Cleaning Wooden Stools.

Watch Michele clean those wood stools in his SM-200-XL
Note: The video is in Italian, but the results are Universal!
(click here to watch on YouTube)

Expanding his Business

To procure commercial cleaning jobs, Michele takes his machines to tradeshows in Italy including the largest exhibition for window blinds as well as the largest for general cleaning. In this way, he is constantly in front of decision makers showcasing his company’s technology and capabilities. “When I show potential clients how Morantz Ultrasonics works, they can’t believe what they are seeing  I create a lot of excitement at these trade fairs, and have taken on many large commercial jobs as a result of these exhibitions.”

Lavare Tutto showcasing their cleaning capabilities.
Lavare Tutto showcasing their cleaning capabilities.

Michele recently completed a large commercial blind cleaning job for one of the many buildings on the campus of ENI Petrol Company. They were so pleased with the outcome that they have now hired Michele’s company to clean another 5000 blinds this Spring!

One of the many buildings on the ENI Petrol campus, now with clean blinds!
One of the many buildings on the ENI Petrol campus, now with clean blinds!

I Get Calls Every Day

Michele tells us that he is constantly receiving calls for his service. “I get calls everyday,” He says, and with the economy in a major slump in Italy, and with local banks not loaning money, he is glad he invested in the equipment. “Small businesses are closing everywhere in Italy. Companies like mine who manufacture and sells blinds are very slow, so they’re looking to maintain what they own,” He said. “The timing could not be better for me to offer this service for blinds and other items. Ultrasonic cleaning is not only keeping my doors open for business, it’s growing my business.

The Success Keeps Coming

Michele has sent us even more photos including those for the job above. You can see them on our Facebook Page. All of our best wishes for continued success to Michele Lazzarotto and the entire Elle Emme and Lavare Tutto team.

Keep cleaning up in Italy!

Ciao!

Morantz Renews Its Approved Vendor Status with DKI for 2014

DKI-Bronze-Sponsor-Badge-2014_x200Morantz Ultrasonics is proud to announce that we have again renewed our Approved Vendor Status with DKI for 2014.  DKI members will continue to enjoy discounted pricing from Morantz on all equipment and supplies. “We have a terrific relationship with DKI and look forward to a stellar 2014,” said Lisa Morantz, President of Morantz Ultrasonics. “DKI is a great partner and it’s a pleasure to continue offering their franchises the best pricing and service.”

For information on the best pricing, or if you have any questions, please call us at 215.969.0266, or submit the form to the right.