ACID Magic® is the Better Way to ACID Wash Your Pool!

Daylight savings is right around the corner, the weather’s getting warmer and pool season is fast approaching. Once summer hits it’ll be time to pull back the cover, fill’er up and jump right in!

Of course it’s not quite that simple. There’s still the issue of clearing the debris and cleaning the stains that accumulate during the winter season. For the really tough jobs, you’ll need to do an acid wash to lift the stubborn stains that soap and water just won’t touch. In cases where an acid wash is necessary, most pool service professionals will recommend using muriatic acid. Muriatic acid is extremely dangerous; it causes severe chemical burns to skin and the fumes can be deadly. Muriatic acid is nasty to work with but it’s the most effective chemical you can use to restore stained plaster.

Pool service crew using ACID Magic to acid wash pool.

HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS! - ACID Magic is just as effective for acid washing pools as standard muriatic - but ACID Magic has up to 90% less fumes than traditional muriatic acid and it won’t burn intact skin!  ACID Magic - The User Friendly Muriatic Acid!™* combines a buffer with hydrochloric acid, making ACID Magic Tough on stains – Easier on You!™

To learn more about ACID Magic and to find your local dealer Click Here!

*ACID Magic should not be used to aid or effect any pool disinfectant or water modifier.

New BOAT Magic Video - Check it out!

Check out our new BOAT Magic video, demonstrating how the product’s features and benefits make it the best choice for your hull cleaning needs! 

BOAT Magic goes to work instantly on grungy hulls and grimy outdrives.

Watch and see how BOAT Magic is tough on stains but easy on you! 

Be sure to share it with your friends and let everyone know just how great BOAT Magic really works! 

Recent Donations of Note

Certol receives many requests for donation and strives to support those organizations whose mission align with our core values. We recently made two donations to different organizations that we have helped in the past. These entities appreciate the products that Certol was able to donate.

Dr. Williams in Honduras in 2011

TROSA, Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers, is a program which helps recovering addicts deal with their addictions head on. We recently donated ten pails of our Tumble™ Laundry Detergent to them and know that it will be put to good use in helping get patients back on track.

Missionary assisting DR Williams in Honduras

Certol also donated to a yearly dental mission that headed to Danli, Honduras. The trip lasted from January 25^th to February 2^nd. During that time Dr. Williams and others setup in a United Methodist Church called La Cofradia and provided dental care to the locals that could not afford to have regular dental care. We donated our ProSpray C-60™ product to ensure clean instruments and working areas in the church. We are always happy to hear stories and see photos from these trips. The trip was once again a success. Congratulations. 

The Clear Choice™ for Tile and Grout Cleaning! ACID Magic ® shines in Third Party Test

When it comes to cleaning sealed tile and grout, ACID Magic proves once again to outperform other products. Advantage Maintenance in Woodbridge, CT recently performed competitor product testing on a sealed tile floor at the University of New Haven.  In the test, Advantage Maintenance pitted ACID Magic against several Viper brand tile cleaning products to determine which product left the tile and grout cleaner and brighter.

   

A big thank you to Advantage Maintenance for the unsolicited test!  We are glad you like ACID Magic and appreciate your support of the product.

Have a cleaning comparison with ACID Magic you’d like to share? Please let us know   

Certol Donates Color Copier to Local Charter School

As part of its commitment to the community, Certol recently donated its Konica Minolta DiALTA Color CF5001, a high output color network printer/copier/scanner to The Pinnacle Charter School. The Pinnacle is a public K-12 charter school located in Federal Heights, Colorado. The school serves nearly 2,100 students from the North Denver Metro area and employs over 200 teachers, administrators and other staff in three buildings at its location at the corner of Huron Street and 84^th Avenue.

The copier had been in use at Certol for several years and had been well maintained. Priced when originally purchased in 2004 at approximately $65,000, the printer can print 50 pages per minute and has full finishing capabilities to include collating, stapling, advanced folding features and more. The copier will be placed in the school’s K-8 staff lounge and will replace an older copier that was in use.

“I applaud Certol’s awareness of the needs of the communities in its area and your company’s willingness to meet these needs”, stated Dr. William Wiener, Ph.D., Executive Director of The Pinnacle Charter School, “You are indeed appreciated.”

Looking for a way to give back?  You can help The Pinnacle by becoming a Pinnacle Partner. Click here to learn more.

Lending a Helping Hand

Committed to the greater good, Certol continues to provide products to causes we believe help to make the world a better place. Recent contributions of note include:

Matthew 25 Ministries is an organization that collaborates with hospitals, corporations, businesses and individuals to donate humanitarian supplies to impoverished countries. Matthew 25 Ministries provides their charitable relief efforts throughout Central and South America, Africa, the Caribbean, the Balkans and to the needy in the United States. You can read more about their mission and organization at www.m25m.org.

In addition, Certol recently donated to the Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers. “TROSA” was founded in 1994 and focuses on a residential training program that enables those recovering from substance abuse to lead productive lives by providing comprehensive treatment, education and continuing care. If you would like more information on TROSA, please visit www.trosainc.org.

We encourage you to visit the websites of the organizations above and to donate your time and/or resources as well!

ACID Magic - Believe the Hype!

Check out what a few of our customers had to say after trying ACID Magic® around their homes:

I recently read an article about ACID Magic. I figured it was just another product boasting about mineral stain removal, but asked my Ace hardware to order me a bottle since every product I have used thus far has failed to clean rusty mineral stains.

Thank you sooooooo much for being what you advertise!! I now have sparkling clean white sinks, toilets, and shower tiles.

Mary

Michigan

OMG~~Thank You! I just received my sample bottle of ACID Magic this morning. I have terrible water problems....the hard water rust stains are all but impossible to remove from my tub.  I have tried EVERY product out there. I poured some ACID Magic (full strength) on one of the worst stains & not only did the stain disappear; but best of all....NO FUMES!!!  I am close to tears; I am soooo happy!  Not only will this product save my tub; it will surely save my LUNGS!!  I don't care what amount of money I have to pay for ACID Magic......I will be a lifetime customer!   Thanks again!

Sandy

Homer City, PA

ACID Magic receives rave reviews from satisfied customers all the time. This unique product has many uses and is a great addition to your cleaning regiment. Try some today! Find out where you can find ACID Magic by visiting our How to Buy page.

ACID Magic Receives NSF 60 Certification – Drinking Water Treatment

ACID Magic® now holds the NSF Standard 60 Certification from the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF).  Many states and Canadian provinces require certification to NSF Standards for water treatment chemicals and products in contact with drinking water.  ACID Magic is already registered NSF as acceptable for use as an acid cleaner in and around food processing areas and this added certification will offer a great new opportunity for our distribution base.

Life Safer®
Certified by NSF

The NSF Standard 60 Certification opens the door to the marketing of ACID Magic for use in municipal and industrial drinking water systems. Specifically, NSF Standard 60 allows ACID Magic to be used for pH adjustment, corrosion and scale control as well as a cleaning agent for water treatment lines.  In addition, it’s likely there are uses for the product in the water treatment industry that Certol has yet to discover.  

Because of the proprietary nature of the ACID Magic formula, from time to time, questions emerge by interested parties about the integrity of the product. Qualifying for NSF Standard 60 Certification requires that both the product and manufacturing facility meet rigorous standards and pass a battery of tests in order to obtain the certification. This includes a full audit process and formulation to ensure raw goods are deemed safe, culminating in a plant inspection. We are pleased to report that Certol passed all of these tests and ACID Magic was awarded certification. Inasmuch, we believe that this new certification should go a long way to discrediting those who assert that ACID Magic contains less than pure ingredients.

Be sure to check back with www.Certol.com to learn more about applications as we develop product literature. If you have specific questions about the market, please contact Ryan Osmundson at 800.843.3343, ext. 284, or rosmundson@certol.com.

Investing in Success

At Certol, cost control and efficiency mean lower costs for end users. We endlessly strive to become more productive while improving overall quality procedures. As a result, our operation passes inspections with ease. Many find our processes impeccable and are rarely seen in a smaller operation of our size.

But there are always ways to improve. Certol’s dedication to quality and process improvement takes a strong commitment from everyone involved in the operation, from the owners, to the managers, to the employees. As part of this commitment, ownership has made large investments in recent years to upgrade manufacturing and plant operation equipment. These investments greatly increase our capabilities and also improve current production.

Over the past few years, these improvements have totaled well over one million dollars. Among these investments are plant improvements like a new cooling system installed in 2008 and a new heating system to be installed this fall. Most of the improvements, however, directly affect manufacturing.

New canister machine in action

Last year Certol installed an all new filler system for ACID Magic®, increasing potential capacity to nearly 70 pallets of gallons per day. This, accompanied by new warehouse racking has greatly reduced lead times during the summer busy season. Earlier this year, Certol introduced a new canister filling machine to the operation. This new machine greatly reduces fill times – our production team estimates the new machine to be as much as ten times as fast as our previous one once it is at full operation.  In addition, the production line has also acquired a new label machine, a steam tunnel and other manufacturing equipment to be announced later this year.

It takes enormous amounts of time and effort to integrate a new piece of equipment into our production process. Not only do we have to make sure that it works properly, employees must be trained on how to use it safely.

A big thanks to our ownership as well as all of the employees who have worked hard to get this equipment up and running. We are looking forward to putting this equipment to good use!

Boating Winter Wrap-Up

For many, October marks the end of boating season. As sad of a time as it is, it is a great time to not only winterize but to perform annual maintenance in preparation for dry storage. 

Because proper maintenance is one of the key components to being a happy boat owner, we searched high and low to put together a comprehensive checklist that will help you winterize your boat so that you do not come back to any unexpected surprises next year. Remember to always read your owner’s manual for all repair and maintenance.

           

Cleaning a dirty hull with BOAT Magic 

Exterior

1.    Thoroughly wash the motor and boat hull removing all stains and dirt. If your boat has been wet docked, use Boat Magic® to clean your hull (in the absence of an ablative coating). For full instructions on using BOAT Magic, click here.

2.    Once fully clean, wax painted surfaces.

3.    Cover boat with a high-quality, breathable cover. Boat wraps are also good, but can be expensive.

4.    Remove the propeller and check for damage (now is a much better time to replace or service a damaged propeller than the start of next season).

5.    Clean the propeller shaft and apply a protective coating of grease. BOAT Magic is excellent for removing marine stains. Be careful to protect zinc surfaces, however.

Interior

1.    Install a dehumidifier in cabin and enclosed areas to prevent mold growth.

2.    Make sure bilges are clean and dry.

3.    Remove bilge drain plug and make a note of where you have placed it (attach the plug in a spot you will look first in a few months, so you don’t forget to reinstall it).

4.    If your vessel is equipped with a marine head, be sure to drain and clean. If buildup is present, clean toilet with BOAT Magic. For complete instructions click here.

Electrical

1.     Inspect and repair all electrical wiring and connections. Make sure nothing was damaged during the season’s use.

2.    Remove boat batteries and store in a cool dry place. Place batteries on a smart charger, or charge them once a month.

Engine

1.    Change crankcase and gearcase oil while the engine is warm and run the motor after to distribute the fresh oil.

2.    Change oil filters.

3.    For closed coolant systems, flush the engine with fresh water and drain, then circulate antifreeze through engine block and manifolds.

4.    For seawater-cooled systems, flushing the raw water system is recommended. Use BOAT Magic to thoroughly flush the engine. Once complete, remove hoses and allow to dry. For complete instructions, click here.

5.    Circulate antifreeze through engine block and manifolds.

6.    Drain vapor separator tank of fuel by drain screw (only on fuel injected motors).

7.    Drain the carburetor float bowls (only on carbureted motors).

8.    Change transmission fluid (inboards).

9.    Fog the engine by spraying fogging fluid into each of the carburetors or throttle body throats.

10.  Replace spark plugs and spray fogging fluid into spark plug ports.

11.  Perform a complete lubrication service on the boat and motor.

12.  Apply grease to all external engine fittings.

13.  Apply protective anti-corrosion film to engine’s external parts.

14.  Check for any loose fasteners, or broken or missing fasteners. Tighten and/or make the necessary repairs.

Fuel Systems 1.    Fill permanently installed fuel tank with fuel to prevent the formation of condensation. 2.    Add appropriate amount of fuel stabilizer to fuel tanks. 3.    Remove portable fuel tanks to safe, well-ventilated area. Drain plastic tanks and top off metal tanks. Drain attached fuel lines. Trailer 1.    Place trailer on stands so the wheels are supported off the ground. Remember to raise the bow higher than the stern to promote draining of moisture. 2.    Remove trailer wheels to clean and repack the wheel bearings.

List compiled largely from http://www.iboats.com/basics/winterization_checklist.html

Look Out Pools in Florida - Here We Come!!

ACID Magic will soon be available for purchase at Leslie’s Pool Supplies' Commercial Service Centers in Southern Florida. Leslie's  offers a comprehensive product line; including chemicals, cleaning devices, equipment, parts, recreational and safety products, as well as many unique items for the backyard and patio. Leslie’s has been providing quality products and services to the Pool and Spa trade since 1963 and Certol is pleased to continue to grow its business through this respected retailer and wholesales of pool and spa [products.

ACID Magic will be available at all three commercial service centers in Florida that offer special commercial pricing, free delivery within 25 miles of their locations, qualified service technicians to support equipment installation and repair. Leslie’s Florida Commercial Service Centers are located in Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Contact a Leslie’s Account Executive to find out more about ACID Magic and the advantages of switching from traditional muriatic acid.

ACID Magic - At a Hardware Store Near You!

We get a lot of calls from customers wanting to know where they can buy ACID Magic. Recent call volumes have doubled since The Family Handyman magazine published a write up in their September issue titled "My Love affair Continues," an article about how much their senior editor loves to use ACID Magic to remove rust.

Visit The Family Handyman blog if you’d like to learn how to remove rust deposits from your ground level windows left by the sprinkler.

But where do I buy ACID Magic for my personal use?!?

ACID Magic is available at ACE  and True Value Hardware  stores. You’ll want to call ahead and ask if your local store carries it. If they don’t, let them know that they should!

The Ace Hardware and True Value Hardware product order numbers are included below:

                                 Gallon Size               Quart Size

True Value                # 766806                   # 766814

ACE Hardware         # 1365964                 # 1365956

Other retailers and distributors carry the product, nationwide. Click here to find a distributor near you!

Planning Ahead

Plotting. Planning. Yes, it is that time of the year again – and Certol is preparing an event schedule for 2013!

For the New Year, Certol will be traveling to quite a few new pool and boat shows in an effort to promote ACID Magic and BOAT Magic. Select shows planned for next year include:

 The 50^th Annual Atlanta Boat Show is January 10^th – 13^th. This is Georgia’s premier boat show and we are excited to be in attendance. The Atlantic City Pool and Spa Show January 29^th – 31^st hosts over 11,000 pool and spa professionals and is always a great show for meeting up with longtime customers as well as meeting new ones! In February, Certol will attend the Western Pool and Spa Show in Long Beach, CA where we will look to expand ACID Magic’s reach into the California market. We will also be headed north of the boarder to Canada to the Canadian Pool & Spa Conference & Expo November 28^th – 29^th in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

On the medical and dental front we will be attending some familiar shows that we previously attended. We will still be handing out generous sample bags and offering insight into the infection prevention community.

Certol's Dental shows that we will be in attendance for this year are as follows:

Chicago Mid-Winter Meeting put together by the Chicago Dental Society in Chicago, IL February 21^st – 23^rd; Hinnman Dental Meeting March 21^st – 23^rd in Atlanta, GA which has always been a big show for us; and the The Greater New York Dental Meeting November 24^th – 30^th in New York, NY, one of the largest dental meetings in the country.

Last but not least, Medical shows planned include SGNA (Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates) May 17^th – 22^nd in Austin, TX and IAHCSMM (International Association of Healthcare Central Service Material Management) May 5^th – 8^th San Diego, CA.

You can get a complete show list at: www.Certol.com then click the division you are interested in and look under the “events” tab. 2013 shows will be added soon.

You can also expect to see additional shows added throughout the year. We look forward to seeing you!

A “Love Affair Continues”… ACID Magic Continues to Impress

ACID Magic is featured in this September’s issue of the Family Handyman. This is the third time that the Family Handyman magazine has published an unsolicited review of ACID Magic since 2009. Travis Larson, the magazine’s senior editor, loves ACID Magic and particularly likes it for removing rust. He has used it to remove rust from sinks, toilets, tubs, concrete and tile. Recently, he used ACID Magic to clean rust off of his ground-level windows. Each time, the conclusion is the same - ACID Magic works really well!

In 2011, Mr. Larson wrote, “If I owned this company, I’d call it Acid Miracle.” In the latest issue, the author makes it known that his feelings about ACID Magic haven’t changed by declaring “My Love Affair Continues”. Pick up a copy of September’s issue of the Family Handyman at your local hardware store to read about how ACID Magic instantly dissolved the rust from Mr. Larson’s windows.  Be sure to pick up September's issue of the Family Handyman magazine, on shelves now!  

ACID Magic has many other uses too! From general cleaning, concrete etching, pool and spa maintenance to removing scale and mineral build-up, ACID Magic is the more user friendly alternative to traditional muriatic acid.

ACID Magic is available from retailers nationwide. Visit our ACID Magic Distributors page to find a dealer near you, or call customer service at 1(800)843-3343 and we'll help you find a place to buy!

Donations of Note

As always, Certol eagerly seeks out opportunities to donate product to those in need. Sometimes our donations come in large singular contributions, other times donations add up from several smaller requests. Either way, our products help those in need and often ensure that procedures are performed with a greatly reduced risk of infection.  

Recent Donations of Note:

Each year Certol donates to the Kansa City Mission of Mercy (KMOM). This no cost dental clinic provides care throughout the year, but hosts an annual weekend event every March.  One of the largest free clinics of its kind, this year’s event serviced 2144 patients with $1.5 million in free dental care.   Since its inception, KMOM has donated more than $7.5 million in dental care through its signature event, the Kansas City Mission of Mercy.  To date, more than 17,000 patients have been served thanks to the generous contributions of Kansas dentists, hygienists, and dental assistants. Learn more about KMOM by visiting their website.

***

Certol would like to wish The Flying Doctors a safe and successful trip to Guatemala! The Flying Doctors is an organization that aims to improve the health and well-being of geographically diverse people. They offer temporary, no-cost, high-quality, medical, dental and optometric clinics in the different countries they visit. Certol has been active in donating products to this organization to help the doctors disinfect instruments in tough conditions.  Thank you, doctors and volunteers for all that you do! If you would like to join us in supporting The Flying Doctors, please visit the Flying Doctors website. 

 ***

As Certol travels the tradeshow circuit, many times there are opportunities to donate leftover product to various low cost dental clinics and other types of nonprofit organizations. In May, as Certol visited the California Dental Association (CDA) Spring Meeting, our staff was approached by the Berkeley Free Clinic.  Founded in 1969 as a "street medicine" clinic, the Berkeley Free Clinic quickly found a niche and a permanent home in the Berkeley community. The Berkeley Free Clinic has become an icon in the area, and has served countless thousands in a variety of ways during its 40-year history. Totally free to patients, the clinic offers dental, medical and mental services to those in need. For More information on the Berkeley Free Clinic, visit their website.

Have a request for donation? Contact Customer Service at 1(800) 843-3343.

Boat Cleaning Challenges Made Easy with BOAT Magic



BOAT Magic in action



Two of the biggest issues people have when they use acid or acid-based cleaners to clean the scum line off their fiberglass hulls are that the fumes are pretty unbearable and the stuff really stings if you accidentally spill it on yourself. BOAT Magic solves those problems. Everyone we talk to who’s tried BOAT Magic is shocked at how well it works and how much easier it is to use. Spray it on, wait a few minutes and rinse it off.

If you haven’t tried BOAT Magic we’ll send you a FREE SAMPLE. If you use or have used BOAT Magic, leave a comment letting everyone know how it worked!

THERE IS ONLY ONE USER FRIENDLY MURIATIC ACID!

As is always the case, when a product comes out that makes the user’s life easier because it is faster, safer, or simpler to use, other companies will always attempt to imitate.

 ACID Magic - The User Friendly Muriatic Acid is a full strength muriatic-based product formulated to ship, use and store easier than standard muriatic acid. ACID Magic has made etching concrete for paint preparation, acid washing and maintaining proper pH in pools, removing efflorescence on masonry and even cleaning tile, toilets and tubs easier because of its unique proprietary formulation that has up to 90% less fumes than traditional muriatic and prevents burns to intact skin. ACID Magic is the only alternative to standard muriatic acid that will not cause burns to intact skin!

As a testament to and as a result of the benefits of using ACID Magic in place of standard muriatic acid, two copycat products have made their way to store shelves. Klean-Strip Green Safer Muriatic Acid, manufactured by W.M. Barr & Company, Inc. and Green Envy Muriatic Acid Replacement, manufactured by Sunnyside Corporation have become available in the last few years. Both Klean-Strip Green Safer Muriatic Acid and Green Envy Muriatic Acid Replacement advertise that they have 90% less fumes, so we decided to run some in-house tests to see how they stack up against ACID Magic.

What we found was that ACID Magic is from 10% to 23% stronger than the competition, meaning you save money by using less ACID Magic. One competitor’s product contains surfactants, or soap in their formulation. Yes, using soap will cut down the fumes but it will also dilute the strength of the active ingredient (HCl) and will contaminate pool water. That same product also contains urea, a chemical that is commonly found in urine. The most alarming thing we found about Klean-Strip Green Safer Muriatic Acid and Green Envy Muriatic Acid Replacement is that they will both cause severe chemical burns upon exposure to skin.

ACID Magic is truly superior to the competitions’ copycat products. ACID Magic has up to 90% less fumes than traditional muriatic acid, it won’t burn intact skin, it is equivalent in performance to full strength 20^o Baume, 31.45%, muriatic acid*, and is available for purchase in a larger range of sizes.

For more information, please contact Ryan Osmundson at rosmundson@certol.com.

ACID Magic in the News

ACID Magic recently received media attention following an unfortunate occurrence at a public pool in Indiana. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the incident at the Garfield Park Pool in Indianapolis. A number of people received medical treatment after ACID Magic was accidentally mixed with chlorine and then introduced directly into the water as the result of either an equipment problem or human error.

According to reporters at the Indianapolis Star, the director of the Indiana Poison Control Center at IU Health Methodist Hospital described the resulting mixture of chemicals as a chlorine gas that in this case, was just strong enough to irritate eyes and lungs and induce vomiting.

Certol immediately reached out to our local distributor in the greater Indianapolis area to provide our support and to ensure our product was not the cause of the incident. Chemical safety is of the upmost importance to our company, from our manufacturing processes to our labeling and use directions, and our commitment to safety is evident throughout our operations.

As tragic as this incident was, it is Certol’s belief that the use of ACID Magic in place of traditional muriatic acid undoubtedly saved lives. ACID Magic has up to a 90% reduction in fumes when compared to standard muriatic. If standard muriatic acid had been used at the Garfield Park Pool at the time of the incident, the resulting injuries could have been much worse.

Anyone interested in learning more is asked to contact Certol directly at 1 (800)843-3343.

BOAT Magic now on www.AMAZON.com

Certol is pleased to announce that BOAT Magic is now available for purchase from online retailer Amazon.com. BOAT Magic will be sold in Quarts and Gallons directly on their website.

Purchase Gallons here.

Purchase Quarts here.

California Road Trip Re-Cap

The industrial sales team at Certol International went on a road trip in California this February. We visited a total of 45 PoolCorp branches from San Diego to Sacramento, and are proud to say that ACID Magic is now stocked and displayed in each and every PoolCorp California SCP, Superior, General Pool Supply, and National Pool and Tile branch!

In each store, we set up digital photo frames playing The Magic EggTM ACID Magic demo, set out brochures, and placed how to use fliers out for customers and employees to utilize.

It was great to be on the road, meeting with employees, owners, and clients of PoolCorp face to face and discussing the benefits of ACID Magic for the pool and spa industry.