Plastics

What is a gusseted bag?

A gusseted bag has sides that expand for packaging significant quantities of materials or bulky items.  Gussets can be measured from the front to the back of the bag or from the front to the centerfold of the bag.  For example, a bag with a side gusset is either 5” from the front to the back of the bag or 2.5” from the front to the centerfold.

How do I measure the size of a gusseted poly bag?

A trash liner is measured in three dimensions: length x width x gusset.  For example, a trash liner that measures 5” x 15” x 3.25” is 5 inches wide, 15 inches long and has a gusset that is 3.25 inches from front to back or 1.75” from the front to the centerfold.

How is the thickness of a trash liner measured?

Trash liners thickness is measured in mils or microns.  One mil is equal to one thousandth of an inch (0.001”) and a micron is one hundred thousandth of an inch (0.00001”).  Linear low density trash liners range from 0.30 to 2.0 mils.  High density trash liners range from 6 to 24 microns.

What is the advantage of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) trash liners?

LLDPE (0.3 to 2.0) is non-porous and very stretchable. It is stronger than low density polyethylene (LDPE) so a thinner gauge bag or liner provides comparable performance to LDPE. It is also 15-50% less expensive than LDPE! It resists punctures and tears, and is suitable for everyday packaging needs and all-purpose trash collection.

What is the advantage of high density polyethylene (HDPE) trash liners?

High density polyethylene trash liners (6 to 24 microns) is non-porous, non-stretching and just as strong as low density bags that are twice as thick. Because HDPE is thinner, it typically costs 25-50% less than comparable Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) products! It is suitable for general packaging applications and trash collection that doesn’t include sharp objects. They also have vapor and moisture protections and are USDA and FDA approved for food use.

How do I convert mils to microns?

An automatic converter can help you convert mils to microns to ensure correct measurements. The following link can help you with your conversions.

http://www.alcula.com/conversion/length/mil-to-micron/

Packaging

What size corrugated box do I need?

Corrugated boxes are measured in three dimensions: length x width x depth (L x W x D).  These measurements refer to the dimensions inside an assembled box.

Janitorial Questions

When should I use a hard wax versus a soft wax?

When selecting a hard wax versus a soft wax, you should choose based on what type of material your floor is made of.  For hardwood floors, hardwood floor waxes should be used in order to protect your floors.  For linoleum and vinyl floors soft waxes should be consulted as they will form a sealant to protect the floor without chemically stripping the floor through its use of less harsh chemicals.

How often should I buff floors?

For high traffic areas, floors can be buffed on a daily basis. Lower traffic areas may be buffed on a weekly or biweekly basis, or just as often as it is seen as being necessary. However, if buffing does not sufficiently restore the shine of your floor, it may be time to refinish.

How can I restore the shine of my finished floors without refinishing?

Floors should be maintained based on how much traffic they receive and their type of material.

-For wood floors buffing should always be tried before waxing in order to avoid layers of waxy build-up. Buffing can be utilized to remove dirt buildup and restore shine. If buffing does not work a wax finish may be applied. -Waxing should typically be applied twice a year based upon traffic in the area.

-Tile floors should be washed on a regular basis with a detergent solution and warm water and should also be treated twice a year with a grout sealer to protect it from staining. Tile floors should not be waxed.

-Linoleum and Vinyl floors should be vacuumed or dusted once a week. Likewise, they should be washed once a month with a hard floor cleaner made for vinyl floors. If spills occur, the area can be cleaned with warm water and ammonia.