Intrepid Waterless Powerwashing System

We are very excited about Intrepid. The possibilities are endless.

Bio Plastics Versus Compostable Plastic

Bio plastics have been around for several years. The process is fairly simple. These plastics are made using natural compounds like corn starch, pea starch or microbiota. However, this doesn't necessarily mean that bioplastics are always biodegradable. The problem with bio plastics is that there isn't any determined time for the substance to break down.  For instance: large bio plastic bags, such as the common lawn and leaf bag can have a degradation time of 1 year or more.

Compostable plastics are a different breed. Instead of just using natural compounds, compostable plastics use natural substances like wood lignin. When this natural polymer is melted down, it can be used to make a form of degradable plastic that will vanish in a compostable environment in as little as 180 days. When wood lignin breaks down, it turns into humus. This substance actually improves soil structure.  The degradation process with this type of plastic actually improves our environment and occurs at a much faster rate. Below is a chart showing the break down process.

Intrepid/cycleWood Trade Show Video

Intrepid/cycleWood Trade Show Video

Cart Wipes vs Shopping Cart Handle Covers

You probably are aware by now that the shopping cart handles we encounter at the grocery store are infested with bacteria and germs. It's also no surprise that many of those germs lurking on our cart handles can make you extremely ill. In fact, according to Snopes.com, shopping cart handles make the top 10 list of items more germ-infested than a household toilet.

1. Phone Receiver
2. Desktop
3. Computer/Keyboard - Mouse
4. Doorknob
5. Escalator Handrail
6. Elevator Button
7. ATM Buttons
8. Shopping Cart Handles
9. Kitchen Sink
10. Subway Turnstile

So what are the most popular ways to combat this issue? Cart Wipes and Shopping Cart Handle Covers. But which method is a more practical solution? Let's take a look at both.

Shopping Cart Handle Covers

The idea is to cover the handle completely so you and your baby do not come in contact with any possible germs.

Most popular models comes with baby toy attachments to keep your little one entertained as you make your way down the aisles. But here is why this is not the best solution. Many fabrics like cotton and acrylic act like a sponge. They actually trap more germs and contaminants than our own hands. Therefore, if they become wet, they turn into a breeding ground for all sorts of nasty little bugs. The germs that were already on the handle are transferred to the cloth - and unless you wash the handle cover in hot water after each use, they basically offer little protection.

Cart Wipes or Cart Handle Wipes

You have probably seen the stand at the front entrance. As more reports surface demonstrating how dirty our shopping cart handles really are, the more popular cart wipes become.

This is by far the most effective method. Before the shopper places their child in the baby seat or places food items against the components of the cart, it is very easy to treat those areas with shopping cart handle wipes provided by the store. Many customers are often concerned with the chemicals used in cart handle wipes.

Thankfully, most of the brands used in stores today are moistened with an alcohol free, hypoallergenic solution. Once the cart handle and baby seat has been wiped down, you can simply discard the used wipe and walk away knowing you are not touching millions of contaminants like fecal matter and E. Coli.

The First Grocery Cart on Wheels

The grocery cart has gone through many changes since its inception. Before the wheeled cart, shoppers used smaller hand-held baskets that didn’t hold a lot of merchandise. Retailers noticed that their sales were being limited because shoppers stopped placing items into their baskets when they became too heavy. Then a local grocer had the idea to mount two baskets on a 4 wheel cart.

The very first grocery cart on wheels was invented by Sylvan Goldman of Oklahoma City in the 1930s. Goldman, who owned a local chain of grocery stores called Piggly Wiggly was noticing the same problems with his wicker baskets. They simply were too small and heavy for shoppers to gather more than just a few items.

Mr. Goldman was inspired by a pair of folding chairs. The frames were designed to fold down while the two baskets nested between the frames. Several revisions ensued before the new grocery cart operated as it was intended. In 1940 the very first grocery cart was patented, and by 1947 Goldman and a friend (who was a mechanic) formed the Folding Basket Carrier Company. The carts were manufactured and sold to stores around the country.

Shopping Cart Etiquette

There are many small gestures we can perform throughout the day that make life easier for other people. Random acts of kindness can inspire others to do the same. One example would be serving those who serve you.

Instead of leaving your shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot, why not return it to where it belongs? Simply returning it to the cart corral or front of the store not only makes someone’s job easier, it avoids creating a hassle for your fellow customers.  We’ve all seen that empty parking space ahead only to find it being occupied by a random cart left behind by a thoughtless patron. Some of us have actually had our vehicles damaged by a runaway cart in the parking lot.

It’s a small act that doesn’t require a lot of thought or energy. However, it will be greatly appreciated by all. This is especially true for those who must constantly retrieve random shopping carts during extreme temperatures and weather.

Shopping Cart vs. Buggy

Do you call it a shopping cart, a buggy or something different? Depending on where you live, you have probably heard people refer to the wheeled contraption that holds your groceries by several different nouns. The most common name is “shopping cart.” However, if you live in the southern United States, the term “buggy” is often used. Even though a shopping cart and a shopping basket are two different things, people sometimes use these labels interchangeably. We have even heard the term “bass cart.” After scouring the net, we found several studies on the matter. Below is our conclusion.