SMALL VICTORY: Wipes Manufacturer Ceases ‘Flushability’ Claims

You’ve seen it before and you’ll see it again: Clogs caused by those not-so-flushable wipes. From toilets, to sewer lines to septic systems, it’s no secret that flushable wipes are a huge headache for cleaners. Now one manufacturer — under an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission — has agreed to stop advertising moist toilet tissue as “flushable.” Will regulating the marketing claims made by producers be enough to curtail the problem? >>cleaner.com/featured

FRANCHISING SUCCESS: Operators Benefit From Structure, Brand Recognition

If you’re a service plumber hankering to strike out on your own — or if you already have, but need some help stabilizing the business — you have an alternative to flying solo: franchising. With several options available, plumbing and drain cleaning franchises offer an alternative to going it alone. >>cleaner.com/featured

OVERHEARD ONLINE

We keep [equipment] in good shape, and we keep it for a while. We do the painting and repairs of the trucks also, so we don’t have to trade them in every two years or five years … It’s a piece of equipment, not a show car.

— Longtime Rooter-Man Contractor Not Ready To Step Aside >>cleaner.com/featured

BUILDING AN EMPIRE: Bill Howe Treats Customers Like Family

It’s not all about a catchy jingle. Entrepreneur Bill Howe, owner of the Bill Howe Family of Companies in San Diego, is celebrating 35 years in business this year. But success didn’t happen overnight. Learn how this $20 million company grew from modest beginnings and weathered a few storms to become a recognized name throughout Southern California. >>cleaner.com/featured