Articles

Six Tips on the Safe Handling of Cleaning Chemicals
May 3, 2013

When used properly, both conventional and green cleaning chemicals are relatively safe. However, these products are not always properly handled and accidents do happen.

This is one reason why the U.S. Department of Labor continues to list cleaning and custodial work as one of the most dangerous jobs in the country, mainly because of the many accidents involving chemicals that occur each year. To cut down on such accidents, Enviro-Solutions encourages cleaning professionals to develop a Cleaning Chemical Safety Program.

Key components of a Cleaning Chemical Safety Program include the following:

• A complete list of all cleaning chemicals used in the facility; this documentation should include details such as how many gallons (and multiple-gallon containers) are stored, where they are stored, and the potential hazards of and necessary precautions for each specific chemical (for instance, whether or not a chemical needs to be kept away from direct sunlight).

• Safety Data Sheets (formerly referred to as Material Safety Data Sheets) for each chemical used or stored.

• Keeping all cleaning chemicals in their original containers and never mixing chemicals, even if they are the same "type" of chemical.

• Storing chemicals in well-ventilated areas away from HVAC intake vents; this helps prevent any fumes from spreading to other areas of the facility.

• Installing safety signage in multiple languages (or, even better, using images and no words) that quickly conveys possible dangers and precautions related to the chemicals. This signage and training must follow new requirements outlined in OSHA's Globally Harmonized System (GHS).

• Making sure all cleaning workers know exactly what the following "signal words" mean:
• Caution: the product should be used carefully but is relatively safe.
• Warning: the product is moderately toxic.
• Danger: the product is highly toxic and may cause permanent damage to skin and eyes.

"Cleaning Chemical Safety Programs should also include getting rid of chemicals that have not been used for a prolonged period of time," says Jennifer Meek, Director of Marketing and Customer Relations for Enviro-Solutions. "A good rule of thumb is to consider disposing of any chemical product that has not been used for six months, and disposing of any product that has not been used for a year."

Cleanlink News

Study: Electric Hand Dryers vs. Paper Towels
April 1, 2013

Using paper towels to dry your hands is far more hygienic than using electric hand dryers which actually increase the amount of bacteria on hands and can spread cross contamination in public washrooms, according to an independent scientific study. The study, conducted by scientists at the University of Westminster, London, measured the number of bacteria on subjects’ hands before washing and after drying them using three different methods —paper towels, a traditional warm air dyer and a new high-speed jet air dryer.

From a hygiene standpoint, paper towels are clearly superior to electric hand dryers, according to Keith Redway, a Senior Academic in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Westminster.

Study results show that drying with paper towels results in a significant decrease in the numbers of bacteria on the hands — a clear advantage compared with the increases observed for both types of electric hand dryers tested in this study — and are far less likely to contaminate other washroom users and the washroom environment.

“Indeed, these findings suggest that if either a warm air dryer or jet air dryer is the only drying method available, in terms of bacterial numbers, a washroom user could be better off not washing and drying their hands at all,” Redway says.

The study, which is available for review at www.westminster.ac.uk/~redwayk, found that paper towel drying reduced the average number of bacteria on the finger pads by up to 76 percent and on the palms by up to 77 percent.  By comparison, electric hand dryers actually caused bacteria counts to increase. The study showed:
• Traditional warm air dryers increased the average number of bacteria by 194 percent on the finger pads and by 254 percent on the palms.
• Jet air dryers increased the average number of bacteria on the finger pads by 42 percent and on the palms by 15 percent.

The scientists also carried out tests to establish whether there was the potential for cross contamination of other washroom users and the washroom environment as a result of each type of drying method. They found:
• The jet air dryer, which blows air out of the unit at claimed speeds of 400 mph, was capable of blowing micro-organisms from the hands and the unit and potentially contaminating other washroom users and the washroom environment up to 2 meters away.
• Use of a traditional warm air hand dryer spread micro-organisms up to 0.25 meters from the dryer.
• Paper towels showed no significant spread of micro-organisms.

“The results of all parts of this study suggest that the use of warm air dryers and jet air dryers should be carefully considered in locations where hygiene is of paramount importance, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, nurseries, care homes, kitchens and other food preparation areas,” said  Redway. “In addition, paper hand towel use is highly beneficial for improved hygiene in any other facilities open to the public, such as factories, offices, bars and restaurants.”

While consumers, healthcare institutions and businesses such as restaurants are often told that electric hand dryers are the most hygienic way to dry the hands after washing them, science says otherwise. A growing body of research, including this study by the University of Westminster and other studies as far back as 1989, suggest people could even be putting themselves at increased risk of illness by using electric hand dryers

Cleanlink News

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Cleaner Workplaces Can Translate Into Fewer Sick Days
March 4, 2013

Have you touched an office phone, light switch, keyboard, doorknob or copier today? Depending on how clean they were, you could become sick in a few days or bring bacteria to your co-workers and family.
After 35 years of 'cleaning up' after others, Stephen Collins, founder of Stephco Cleaning & Restoration based in Holbrook, Mass., has learned an important lesson he likes to share: There really is a direct correlation between a clean work environment and improved employee health.
"Winter cleaning may be more important than Spring cleaning," Collins notes. "Commercial buildings are buttoned up tight in the winter, but reduced fresh air flow along and the arrival of the cold and flu season means workplaces are an ideal place for the growth and spread of germs – and a dramatic jump in sick days. Besides a person's health, cleanliness of the work environment has a direct effect on employees' health, mood, productivity and attendance."
He adds that the extensive bacteria found on any given surface can be a primary cause of illness. And depending on the surface, a bacteria's lifespan can vary from just a few hours to several days or even months.
Healthcare experts say that cold and flu germs can live from a few minutes to several days outside the body. They are more likely to stay active on hard surface — such as stainless steel and plastic — than on soft surfaces or fabrics and flu viruses live longer than cold viruses.
Temperature and humidity also have an effect on the life cycle. Bacteria could live on soft surfaces for days in the case of a sponge, weeks on clothing, or months on carpet. Steam cleaning of these softer surfaces kills bacteria quickly.
Regularly sanitizing all surfaces will reduce bacteria, but washing hands regularly is considered the best way to fight against germs.

Factors that lead to an unhealthy work environment: 

• Employees are working longer hours, often in space that's teeming with bacteria;

• Reduced office space forces employees to work in closer proximity to colleagues – shorter distances for germs to travel; 

• An increasing number of workers eat in their work space; 

• People who sneeze, cough or yawn without covering their mouth;

• Workers who leave the restroom without thoroughly washing their hands.

Cleanlink News

Four Infection Control Tips That Help Prevent Cross-Contamination
January 23, 2013

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this year’s flu season is shaping up to become the worst the United States has seen in a decade, with levels tipping to “epidemic” proportions. Studies show that the flu costs businesses approximately $7 billion per year due to the nearly 111 million work days lost. Norovirus cases are also on the rise this season, and the CDC reports that foodborne norovirus illness accounts for $2 billion in lost productivity and healthcare costs each year.

This means cleaning professionals who work in office buildings, hotels or other public places need to take precautions to help control the spread of the flu and norovirus in their facilities.

To help prevent the spread of the flu and norovirus in buildings and other public environments, Kim LaFreniere, Ph.D., associate research fellow at the Clorox Professional Products Company, offers cleaning professionals four infection control tips:

1. Choose the right products. Studies show influenza viruses can survive on surfaces for up to eight hours, so it is important to use products that are effective against them. Cleaning with soaps or detergents and water physically removes germs, but does not kill them. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects.
According to the CDC, several types of disinfectants are effective against the flu including chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and quaternary ammonium-based cleaners. No matter which product you use, it is important to always read the product label to ensure that it is EPA-registered to kill the influenza A virus and norovirus.

2. Disinfect high-touch surfaces often. Objects and surfaces that are frequently touched such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, keyboards, faucets, and phones need to be disinfected at least once a day. Specific germ-prone areas such as bathrooms should also be given more attention.

3. Clean and disinfect regularly. The flu and norovirus can spread when people touch infected surfaces and then touch their eyes, mouth or nose. Flu viruses are fairly easy to kill when using the appropriate disinfectants as part of the cleaning and disinfecting process. Norovirus however, is tougher to kill as very few particles can cause infections and it is highly contagious. Always remove visible soil from surfaces, followed by targeted disinfecting.

4. Educate cleaning staff and other employees about the flu and norovirus. The CDC recommends that businesses encourage employees to get a seasonal flu vaccine and discourage sick employees from coming to work. In addition, instruct employees to wash their hands regularly with soap and water especially after emptying waste baskets, touching used tissues or using the bathroom.

Cleanlink News 1/22/2013

Fighting Infections With Proper Cleaning And Disinfecting

December 20, 2012

Housekeeping managers come clean about cleaning and disinfecting techniques that work in the fight against infections in hospitals
Clostridium difficile (C. diff), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are just some of the latest infections bugging custodial departments in healthcare facilities and wiping surfaces with hospital-grade disinfectants is not always sufficient to prevent their spread. As viruses like these become more resistant, the right hand tools and proper cleaning procedures are equally important to eradicate outbreaks — and custodians need to be trained accordingly.

"You've got to know your employees, and you've got to make sure they have the tools to do the job," says Doug Green, director of environmental services for Mercy Hospital Springfield in Springfield, Mo. "This is a crucial job, and we need to treat our employees with great respect for the work they do."
Educating employees on the importance of their jobs should go hand in hand with training them on the proper products and procedures to use, according to Darrel Hicks, director of environmental services and patient transportation at St. Luke's Hospital, Chesterfield, Mo.
"They are the one thing that stands between the spread of infection from one patient to another," he says. "You don't want to get sick and you don't want to take [infections] home to your family. Follow the procedures and you'll break that chain of infection."

The C. diff Difference

Custodial departments typically rely on a quaternary-based disinfectant to clean and disinfect patient rooms — regardless of whether or not an outbreak has occurred. However, in the case of C. diff, the bacterial spores are hard to kill and a high-level chlorine disinfectant is necessary. Custodians rely on a product with a kill claim specific to these microorganisms and often follow a two-part cleaning process.
"We use a quaternary disinfectant for all infections except C. diff," says Margie Bruckner, manager of environmental services for Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center in Sheboygan, Wis. "When we have a C. diff outbreak we use the quaternary disinfectant to remove the bioload, and then we go back over the room with a bleach-based cleaner."
When cleaning isolation rooms, Green's staff cleans the room twice — first with a quaternary cleaner and then with bleach wipes to disinfect all high-touch surfaces.

Similarly, Hicks' environmental services department cleans C. diff isolation rooms twice a day: "We clean with bleach wipes each time," he says. "At discharge, we clean the whole room and then go over it with bleach wipes again as a final step."
Despite the need for bleach-based products to fight infections like C. diff, Hicks frowns upon excessive use of disinfectants in hospitals.
"If we did a better job of cleaning, we wouldn't have to use as much disinfectant," he says. "It's like pouring perfume on cow manure and expecting it to smell better. We're dumping disinfectant on things and thinking we're killing them when we should do a better job of removing them."

The Power Of Microfiber

In addition to quaternary-based disinfectants, custodial departments rely heavily on microfiber to apply chemicals and remove soils and microorganisms.
"Microfiber cloths will remove almost 98 percent of the soil," says Hicks. "You're also removing the spores and microorganisms so there's not much left on the surface."
In fact, Hicks has used an ATP meter to test the level of microbial contamination in rooms that were cleaned using microfiber and water and found the results comparable to rooms that were cleaned with a regular rag and a cleaner or disinfectant.
But even microfiber cloths must be used correctly to prevent cross-contamination. Managers recommend using multiple cloths, one for each surface of the room to be cleaned. Eric Bates, director of hospitality for Jewish Senior Living in Milwaukee, trains his staff to use three separate microfiber cloths for each room.
"We use one cloth for contact points in the resident room, and then we have a separate cloth for the sink and another for the toilet," he explains. "Then the cloths get bagged up and taken down to our laundry room at the end of the day."
While Bates finds spraying disinfectant on cloths and wiping surfaces down with a microfiber cloth to be most effective, others prefer a "bucket and rag" method or a flip-top dispenser. To avoid contaminating disinfectant in a bucket, Hicks cautions his staff not to dip a dirty microfiber cloth back into the bucket for reuse.
"We give them about 20 microfiber cloths," he says, "and when they're done wiping a surface, that cloth goes into a separate bag." Similarly, dirty microfiber mops are never dipped back into the disinfectant water.
In addition to using clean cloths to avoid contaminating disinfectant, Green's employees do not soak cloths in disinfectant.
"We used to soak our cloths in whatever disinfectant we were using," he says. "But we stopped that based on quat binding."
This phenomenon happens when fabrics have a strong attraction for the active ingredient in quat-based disinfectants, thereby causing the solution's efficacy to decrease. Green is purchasing a titration test kit to verify the disinfectant's active ingredient levels.

Touchy Areas

When cleaning and disinfecting patient rooms, custodians are trained to pay close attention to high-touch surfaces. Bruckner provides custodians with a list of touch points: Bed rails, over-the-bed tables, light switches, doorknobs, sink faucets, remote controls, toilet handles and call buttons.
Usually disinfecting high-touch surfaces is confined to patient rooms but in some instances may extend to adjoining areas.
"When we've had a C. diff patient, we know people are going into and out of the room, so we'll do the handrails outside the room," says Bruckner. "We'll also do surfaces in a family lounge area."
For Bates, on the other hand, disinfecting handrails outside of patient rooms is done on a daily basis.
"Most people don't think about the rails or the countertops at the nurses' station," he says. "You would not believe the germ count on these."
Countertops are disinfected three times a day while handrails are cleaned on the night shift — a routine that has decreased germ counts significantly.

Dwelling On Timing

While custodial departments generally agree on what high-touch surfaces require the most attention, they are often divided about dwell times. Most hospital-grade disinfectants registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have a label contact time of 10 minutes. However, studies have shown the effectiveness of these disinfectants against pathogens with a contact time of at least one minute.
"In the real world we can't wet a surface three times to give it a 10 minute dwell time, because we can't wait around for it to dry," says Hicks.
At St. Luke's Hospital, staff aims for a three minute dwell time and takes care of other tasks while the surfaces are wet.
Similarly, Bates' custodial team will apply disinfectant to contact points in the patient's restroom and bedroom, and then take care of vacuuming and emptying trash.
"You're better off allowing that kill time as long as possible," says Bates. "We use a product with a 99 percent kill for C. diff in all patient rooms and let it sit on that surface for five minutes."
With the pressure to turn rooms around quickly, allowing for appropriate dwell times can be challenging. Proper training can help ensure that staff doesn't sacrifice quality for speed.
"If you train your people to do a good job of soil removal, set your cloths and mops up so you're not cross-contaminating surfaces, and give them enough time in a room so they're not rushed, you should be able to do a very good job and reduce the infection rates in hospitals," Hicks says.
KASSANDRA KANIA is a frequent contributor to Housekeeping Solutions

Disinfecting Tips That Fight Whooping Cough Outbreaks

November 21, 2012

Recent outbreaks of whooping cough in several U.S. states have prompted representatives of Spray Nine to release key tips to ensure proper disinfection to contain the disease's spread.

"Despite the growing use of green cleaning products, there's still the need for traditional disinfectants to further ensure dangerous germs are destroyed during the cleaning process," said Cary Zelich, marketing manager for Spray Nine, an ITW Permatex brand. "Even in cases where legislatures are promoting green cleaning at state-run schools, cleaning professionals should note that most legislation doesn't limit the use or distribution of antimicrobial disinfectants or sanitizers."

Whooping cough, once a deadly disease to U.S. children, became rare with the advent of a vaccine that drove the number of cases down. However, because the disease wasn't fully eradicated the number of cases reported this year has spiked. Washington and Wisconsin have each reported about 3,000 cases — and a higher number of cases are being tracked in New York, Minnesota, Kansas, and Arizona.

Zelich says there are several tips that those involved in cleaning programs need to keep top-of-mind in combating the spread of the disease:

• Know the difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Cleaning removes visible soil, dirt, stains and other debris from surfaces. Disinfection destroys viruses, bacteria, germs and other harmful microorganisms. It is accomplished by using a chemical designed specifically to kill bacteria. One of the simplest ways to make sure you are disinfecting is to use a reliable name brand disinfectant with all of the proper paperwork to back up its kill-claims.

• Provide on-site training on a continual basis. Disinfectants require accurate dilution, correct application and the proper dwell time. Simply spraying and wiping a disinfectant may not kill harmful bacteria. Some disinfectants require 30-second contact times, while others may require up to 10 minutes. It is important to provide ongoing training to ensure the cleaning staff is trained with the latest cleaning procedures to achieve disinfection.

• Concentrate on disinfecting areas that may normally get overlooked. In addition to high traffic areas in a building, don't overlook the potential for cross-contamination, which occurs on computer keyboards and telephones. Disinfectants should be used on all high-touch surfaces in a facility to eliminate the spread of germs and disease.

Article compliments of www.cleanlink.com

Spotlighting Chemical-Free Cleaning
October 17, 2012

Who knew that programs that increase indoor environmental quality have been proven to reduce absenteeism by 23 percent, or that all public schools in Connecticut will be required to green clean as of July 1, 2011? The facilities management department at Regional School District No. 6 in Litchfield, Conn. is very much aware of both points. In fact, this information is just a taste of the environmental initiatives the department touts on the district website.

At a quick glance, visitors to the district site will see that the facilities management department is proud to communicate a comprehensive recycling program, the use of biodegradable and non-toxic products, and environmentally preferable purchasing of paper, soaps, equipment and various hand tools. As it turns out, these are just a few of the green goals the district has implemented.

To round out the district's green strategies, the department also introduced chemical-free cleaning initiatives in 2009. With training and assistance from their local distributor, the facilities management department now uses a consolidated amount of environmentally preferred products as a way to directly contribute to a cleaner environment, while improving indoor air quality (IAQ), worker safety and a healthier environment for building occupants.

"We are very much ahead of the curve when it comes to green," says Fran Odell, facilities director at Regional School District No. 6. "We do it because of the benefits it provides."

Going Chemical Free

When it comes to benefits of green, Odell can't say enough great things about the chemical-free program and electrically-activated water technology used throughout the district. Not only has the use of this technology saved budget dollars (by purchasing fewer chemicals), but it proved to be very versatile.

"We use [electrically-activated water] in administration and district offices, classrooms and even around plants in the agricultural department," says Odell. "It's proven effective on glass, mirrors, stainless steel, white boards, desks and cafeteria tables. We use it everywhere."

According to Tom Medonis, facility maintenance day supervisor, electrically-activated water technology is used to clean roughly 80 percent of the buildings throughout the district. And to guarantee its effectiveness, the department periodically asks their local distributor to come in and conduct surface tests using ATP measuring devises.

The positive results from the ATP testing, in conjunction with improved appearance and quick and easy cleaning, is enough to convince Odell that this technology is a district-wide must.

"We've seen many positive results from chemical-free cleaning," she says. "It is effective, better for the environment and safer for everyone involved. I am constantly recommending it."

Bruce Richard, facility maintenance professional adds, "I am always hearing positive feedback from students and staff on how clean the facility is and this technology offers quick cleaning turnaround."

Although chemical-free cleaning has proven to be a viable alternative for much of the district, there are areas where chemicals are a necessity. In restrooms, for instance, where sanitizing is required, concentrated Green Seal certified chemicals are used in conjunction with metering and dilution control systems.

The only chemical in the districts arsenal that isn't green is disinfectant, but it's not by choice. Odell comments that she's anxious for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to continue their evaluation of greener disinfectants. Once the EPA suggests greener options, her department will begin incorporating them into their program.

"It's just the right thing to do," says Odell. "There are better options out there than the harsh disinfectants used in many departments today."

Why Chemical Free?

"We did it to improve the health and safety of the students and the staff," says Scott Johnson, second-shift facility maintenance professional. "The programs we have in place have proven to help keep all the building occupants healthy."

The district has seen reduced absenteeism following the introduction of chemical-free cleaning, but more importantly, building occupants have also noticed an improvement in their own health since the switch in cleaning initiatives.

"One teacher said that last year was the first time she didn't have an asthma attack at school," said Medonis.

These types of results are exactly why the department switched to chemical-free cleaning. Creating a safe and healthy environment is an overall goal of the district and the facilities maintenance department will continue to do everything they can to achieve that goal.

According to the district website, the vision at Regional School District No. 6 is "to take meaningful steps toward preserving, protecting and enhancing natural resources while providing a healthy learning environment and maximizing fiscal resources. We will never compromise the safety of our staff and students and we will adjust our cleaning practices whenever instructed by local or state health agencies."

This vision is something Odell and her team takes very seriously. As green initiatives continue to evolve, the facilities maintenance department at Regional School District No. 6 will maintain a "practice what you preach" philosophy.

Regional School District No. 6 highlights some of the benefits to their green and chemical-free program

By Corinne Zudonyi, Editor

Curbing Asthma In Schools
September 7, 2012

Asthma is a serious problem in educational facilities, and reducing it is a way for jan/san distributors to make a big difference. Asthma is the leading chronic illness causing student absenteeism in K-12 schools; one out of every 10 school-age children has asthma, accounting for 13 million to 14 million missed school days per year. Since many of the environmental agents that trigger asthma are also linked to other illnesses, reducing these triggers can reduce the incidence of other ailments including allergies.

Schools are typically funded based on attendance, so reducing asthma and related maladies will improve attendance and associated school budgets, making savvy distributors part of a vital proposition: creating healthier schools doesn't cost, it pays.

What Causes Asthma?

The causes of asthma are complex and involve factors including genetics, diet, stress and environmental health. While distributors can't impact genetics, diet or the stresses placed on children, they can minimize potential asthma triggers related to cleaning at schools and surrounding environments.

Although triggers that cause an asthma episode vary from person to person, there are several common triggers associated with schools: allergens and irritants.

Allergen triggers include pollen, animal dander, dust mites, cockroaches and molds. Irritants, on the other hand, are disinfectants, pesticides, fragrances or odors from cleaning products, and chalk dust.

There are three main ways to reduce asthma triggers and improve indoor air quality (IAQ). The first, source capture, stops contaminants or pollutants from spreading. Second, ventilation brings fresh air in to dilute pollutants and triggers. Finally, air cleaning removes airborne matter. Of the three, source capture (i.e. prevention) with the right products is the most important and effective method.

Help With Product Selection

Distributors can promote products that truly clean — that is, methods that remove contaminants or pollutants or stop them at the source rather than add them to the environment or redistribute them.

Floor mats provide passive cleaning or source capture; the more matting the better. Mats remove particles (outdoor pesticides, allergens, heavy metals) from shoes before dusts can enter the building and become airborne. Mats should be placed outside and inside — bi-level, scraper-type outside and absorbent, drying-type inside — entranceways, and be changed or cleaned frequently.

However, mats can't do it all. Encourage customers to keep floors clean — both carpet and hard surfaces. Carpet holds dust better than hard floors and does not release it until the fibrous "sink" becomes full. Contrary to popular misconception, when it comes to allergies and asthma, carpet is not the problem. Lack of proper cleaning of carpet is. Help clients schedule carpet vacuuming at regular and frequent intervals, going slow and repeating passes to extract the most dust (more passes equals more dust removed, up to 80 percent).

Choose vacuums that remove and capture the most dust. Both properly-filtered HEPA vacuums and non-HEPA models can be effective because particulate capture has more to do with the way vacuums are designed and filters are configured than with any particular or single filter technology. The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) provides good guidance on vacuums that clean well while keeping dust out of the air.

Choose high quality filters for vacuums. In some cases, OEM filters are better than generics because of enhanced media quality that traps more dust while maintaining airflow longer. If in doubt, ask for test data and look for high efficiencies of removal at small particle sizes (e.g., 99 percent at .3 micron) and sustained airflow rates.

Provide a vacuum maintenance log for customers and encourage frequent filter changes and vacuum inspections. Great vacuums become poor ones if not maintained well. Filters are relatively inexpensive, while lung damage, other health impairments and labor to remove resettled dust are not.

Hard floors need even more frequent cleaning because dust on smooth surfaces becomes airborne more easily; vacuuming with a brush attachment where practical is preferable to dust mopping since it removes more soil.

Both floors need wet cleaning regularly as well; clean flooring attracts, holds and releases less dust. Carpets should be extracted to remove sticky soils and residues. Janitors should use autoscrubbers on hard floors that can accommodate it, since it applies only clean solution, scrubs and removes or vacuums off dirty solution.

Janitors can also use vacuums to remove dust from above-floor surfaces such as cubicle walls. Alternately, recommend microfiber or other retentive technologies (disposable non-microfiber dusters may also provide good retention) to capture and remove particles. Even a damp cotton cloth can be a good choice since it will tend to remove and contain dust rather than stir it.

Also, encourage school staff and students to remove clutter from classrooms and other spaces. Clutter provides more surface area, hiding places and distribution points for dust. Eliminating these surfaces will reduce dusting, cleaning labor and overall airborne dust.

Chemical and Non-Chemical Cleaners

According to K.D. Rosenman, MD, Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, "Cleaning products contain a diverse group of chemicals...Their potential to cause or aggravate asthma has recently been recognized."

It makes sense to limit or target the use of products containing ingredients such as bleach, quaternary ammonium compounds or "quats," phthalates, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Consider appropriate alternatives or non-chemical options.

Bronchitis, shortness of breath, coughing and other respiratory problems are linked to regular use of bleach-based and other "irritating" cleaning products.

Phthalate, a common ingredient in product fragrances, ends up in dust that school children inhale. According to Science News magazine: "...children exposed to...dust with the greatest concentrations of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were 2.9 times as likely to have asthma as were children exposed to the lowest concentrations of that phthalate."

Use of quats — compounds in floor cleaners and disinfecting products — may also promote asthma. Volatile ingredients in foodservice or kitchen cleaning formulas, furniture polishes and other cleaners can irritate mucous membranes and contribute to respiratory issues.

Avoiding products containing these ingredients makes sense when non-asthma-inducing alternatives are available. Good ventilation is also vital when products containing asthma triggers are used.

Some schools are having success with water-only cleaning, including microfiber cloths and tap water for hard surfaces; autoscrubbers using just tap water or electrically-activated water; electrically-activated water for general-purpose cleaning and sanitizing; and steam vapor units for cleaning and disinfecting.

Measuring IAQ

Conducting IAQ walkthroughs with customers can help identify indoor air quality problems and sources, and open up solution-driven sales opportunities. At a minimum, look in cleaning closets for asthma promoting products and suggest replacements. Check vacuum cleaners and filters for proper equipment selection and maintenance, and provide maintenance logs and reminder systems to promote clean filters and regular cleaning. Offer training on better methods to remove soil and prevent airborne matter; how one cleans is often as important as what one cleans with.

Particle counters are useful to assess the number of airborne particles and to check vacuum cleaners for dust retention. As a rule of thumb, the number of very fine particles indoors should be half of the count outdoors. In addition, particle counters can help distributors identify sources of particles and to troubleshoot solutions. Vacuum cleaner exhaust can be measured to determine how many particles and what sizes are being released, which is an indication of the effectiveness of filters and overall dust containment.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) meters are increasingly being used to detect the CO2 exhaled by students in classrooms to assess overall indoor air quality, especially as it relates to the buildup of potential "triggers."

Carbon dioxide is considered a surrogate for other airborne gases and its buildup often indicates poor ventilation and the potential concentration of other airborne contaminants (VOCs, etc.). If distributors choose to measure carbon dioxide with a portable meter, manufacturers of these devices provide training and guidance on interpreting results. Having this information will enable a dialogue with other school maintenance personnel such as those responsible for HVAC systems.

Relative humidity and moisture meters are useful for determining conditions favorable for mold growth. Relative humidity meters measure the moisture content of the air, whereas pad or pin-type moisture meters provide a measurement of moisture within materials. Finding and eliminating unwanted sources of moisture will reduce potential for mold growth, which exposure to can trigger asthmatic episodes.

Helping customers select and maintain the appropriate cleaning products can help improve schools' IAQ and reduce the number of asthma-related absences. After this initial product assessment, follow up with IAQ measurements to ensure proper cleaning continues to take place.

Allen Rathey is president of The Healthy Facilities Institute, a Boise-Idaho based organization established to provide data for creating and maintaining clean, healthy indoor environments

Study: Offices Harbor Wide Range Of Bacteria

August 6, 2012

People in developed countries spend almost 90 per cent of their time indoors, most of it working in an office without stepping outside, which makes the modern workplace the new human habitat harbouring many bacteria, a new study has revealed.

The joint research between San Diego State University and the University of Arizona tested 90 offices in three cities and found more than 500 species of bacteria, about the same number found in previous studies of bathrooms and aircraft.

Researchers swabbed five surfaces - chairs, phones, computer mouses, keyboards and desktops, and discovered that the highest concentrations of microbes were on chairs and phones.

The study found that humans were the main source of bacterial abundance in offices, with skin, oral and nasal cavities harbouring trillions of micro-organisms that can shed and accumulate in work spaces. "''Humans were clearly the primary source of office bacterial contamination," Stuff.co.nz quoted the authors as writing.

Many of the most common genera we discovered inhabit human skin, oral or nasal cavities," they wrote.

Not all bacteria are created equal as some of them are hardier than others.

Professor Peter Collignon, infectious diseases specialist at the Australian National University, said that certain microbes die off quickly while those that can reproduce can hang around for years.

Some can live for quite a long period while others are more susceptible to drying," he said.

How long any bacterium lives depends on how dry it gets and how much light it's exposed to.

Essentially bacteria like it to be moist and dark.

You would expect most bacteria on surfaces to die off within hours to days but there will be exceptions to that. Some bacteria have spores which are a bit like seeds. They can keep reproducing for many months if not years," he said.

Streptococcal species, which are responsible for conditions ranging from strep throat to meningitis, are susceptible to drying out and dying fairly quickly.

Enterococcus, which can cause urinary tract infections and diverticulitis, can withstand a wide range of temperatures and last for weeks.

Staphylococcus, which has about 40 different species including golden staph, is another robust bacterium, which is slow to dry out.

Golden staph can cause a range of illnesses from mild skin infections to pneumonia and meningitis.

Clostridium difficile, which can cause severe diarrhoea, forms spores that are resistant to routine cleaning and can live outside the human body for long periods.

It is impossible to remove every bacterium from all surfaces and it is also unwise, Professor Collignon said.

A lot of the bacteria we have in our skin and mouths and nose protect us against the more nasty ones," Collognon said.
We don't want to wipe out all bacteria because it's impossible and it will do more harm than good," he added.

The study has been published online in PLoS ONE.

Cleanlink News 8/3/2012

Reduced Vacuuming Impacts IAQ
July 6, 2012

Cutting vacuuming frequencies will adversely affect the health of building occupants
Reducing vacuum frequencies hurts a carpet’s life and appearance, but these cuts can also adversely impact a facility’s indoor air quality.

Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health, but they may not know that indoor air quality can have a similar effect. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor air levels of many pollutants may be five times higher than outdoor levels. People spend as much as 80 percent of their time inside; indoor air quality may be a public health risk.
During the past several decades, construction of more tightly sealed buildings, reduced ventilation rates to save energy, the use of synthetic building materials and furnishings, and the use of chemically formulated products have increased the potential for indoor air pollution.

According to the American Lung Association, indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic lung diseases such as asthma. It is estimated 40 million individuals in the United States are affected by allergies. Allergies are an overreaction of the immune system to foreign substances. This over reaction weakens the immune system, draining a person’s energy and leaving him/her more susceptible to infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria.
Allergic reactions can range from mildly uncomfortable to life threatening, as in a severe asthma attack. Health experts are especially concerned about people with asthma. These individuals have very sensitive airways that can react to various irritants, making breathing difficult. The estimated number of people with asthma has risen more than 59 percent since 1970. The number of asthma-related deaths has also increased.

The largest source of indoor air pollution is from the common dust mite. In 1993, John W. Maunder, Ph.D., director of the Medical Entomology Center at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, published a paper entitled “Carpets, House Dust Mites and Asthma” in which he states, “There is no longer room for serious doubt about the dominant role of the house dust mite in both the initial induction of asthma and in the subsequent triggering of wheezy attacks.”

Asthmatics are not allergic to living mites but to the airborne feces of mites and, to a much lesser extent, to dead mites. Dr. Maunder states that although living mites are difficult to remove from carpet, their feces are readily removed from carpets by proper cleaning.

“A carpet regularly cleaned will not and cannot contain enough allergen to affect people. The proper maintenance of carpet completely prevents trouble from that source,” he writes.

A recent study concludes that carpets may benefit indoor air quality by acting as a filter for indoor air, trapping and holding dust mites, pollutants, and allergens such as pollen, pet dander and molds, which play an important role in allergic diseases. The key to maintaining good indoor air quality in a school or office building is to clean this filter regularly, i.e., remove these pollutants through vacuuming.

The science shows regular vacuuming is important and necessary, not just to protect and maintain carpets appearance, but for hygienic reasons, as well.

By BJ Mandelstam

Reducing Vacuuming Ruins Carpets

June 1, 2012

When vacuuming frequencies are cut, carpet appearance and lifespan are severely diminished

For some time, building service contractors have been sounding the alarm about their mounting concerns related to reducing cleaning frequencies, sometimes known as skip cleaning. During the recession many companies and schools, in an effort to cut costs, skimped on cleaning, especially vacuuming. As the economy shows signs of rebounding, now is the time to increase vacuuming frequencies back to pre-recession levels, before irreversible damage is done.

Science explains why those who are responsible for the indoor environment — contractors, building managers and occupants — do have something to worry about. As skip-cleaning schedules become more prevalent, especially as proper and consistent vacuuming frequencies are reduced, the indoor environment suffers. Reducing the vacuum frequencies from five days to every other day or less may, on the surface, seem like an easy way to save a dollar and trim a budget. However, the unintended consequence of such a decision lays hidden in the carpet pile. As the frequencies are reduced so are the carpet’s appearance and its life.

“Uglying out”

 

Commercial carpet is a textile, similar to pantyhose. The most popular commercial carpet is made of synthetic fibers such as nylon, olefin or polyester. In fact, nylon is most often specified by architects and designers for commercial installations. It is frequently referred to as the durable fiber. Synthetic fibers don’t usually wear out (except on stairs); instead, they “ugly out.”

Uglying out is when a carpet shows visible signs of graying in traffic areas, heavily walked-on areas, and pivot points (points where turns are made, grinding dirt, soil and grit into the carpet). Graying occurs when the fibers are crushed, matted down or flattened out. The carpet fibers also may be abraded or scratched.
Fiber has come a long way since nylon was invented in the 1930s. According to the Carpet & Rug Institute, “Today’s carpets are designed to hide dirt and resist soiling and staining. But that’s no excuse to skip regular vacuuming. Soil can damage fibers if it remains in the pile.”
Carpet may be more stain-resistant and resilient than in the past, but it is still susceptible to matting, crushing or flattening. And as carpet flattens out, it can also become more porous, abraded or damaged. All are factors of uglying out brought on by improper maintenance.

Wear and abrasion ruins carpet

 

Just like other textiles — for instance, a favorite pair of broken in blue jeans faded with washings and worn knees — carpet will show wear over time and without proper maintenance. A combination of factors will cause premature wear, including embedded soil in the carpet. Infrequent vacuuming and poor matting are the main reasons carpets show signs of premature wear. Major traffic lanes need to be vacuumed daily.

Shoes track in most of the dirt, grit and soil that end up in carpets. Other factors also contributing to soiling include dust, airborne pollutants and food or drink spills.

When vacuuming is skipped, dirt, grit and soil become embedded in the carpet. It will be harder to remove them later. Embedded soil particles are abrasive like sandpaper. Dirt and grit damage the carpet fiber by rubbing, or abrading, the carpet fiber. Imagine repeatedly rubbing sandpaper over glass. Quickly the glass becomes scratched, dull and faded. With repeated abrasion, the scratched glass is weakened. Abrasive soil does the same thing to carpet fiber. The fiber becomes pitted and scratched creating a dull, faded appearance; the carpet looks worn. Regular vacuuming prevents the deep abrasion that ruins carpets.

Dulling is caused by all types of soils and will actually change the original carpet color’s appearance. A light blue carpet can take on a gray-green tint, and rose carpet can appear more taupe. The original color isn’t lost; it’s hidden under a layer of soil. It’s important to note some carpet may actually absorb the soil causing the carpet color to permanently change. Frequently this happens with oily soils. Oily soils can be absorbed and the carpet will take on a yellow cast. Entry mats can trap soil, and combined with routine vacuuming, this problem can be avoided.

The pile underneath the carpet fibers will break down if the dirt is left in. It also creates a breeding ground for dust mites and bacteria.
Frequent vacuuming not only keeps the carpet cleaner, it significantly reduces wear and tear especially in traffic areas.

Reducing frequencies will ultimately cost facilities more money in the future. Janitors will have to make additional passes to remove soil in heavily embedded areas and eventually the carpet will require an expensive deep or restorative cleaning. Or worse, ultimately the carpet pre-maturely wears out and requires replacement.

Reduced frequencies may have met the short-term budget needs of the present, but they shouldn’t compromise the future. It’s easier to skip some tasks over others, but reduced vacuuming isn’t one of them. To ensure longer life and maintain appearance, carpet requires regular vacuuming. Facility managers and building owners should never underestimate the effect frequent vacuuming has on carpet.

By BJ Mandelstam

 

 

 

Flagging Green Cleaning in State Schools

May 4, 2012

When the concept of "going green" was first introduced more than a decade ago, industry representatives thought it would quickly dissipate as nothing but a fad. In reality, the green movement has exploded and in-house managers have embraced green cleaning, whether by choice or by law.

At its inception and for many years after, school custodial managers green cleaned as a way to reduce their mark on the environment. It was an ethical choice and an effort to preserve the Earth for future generations. But not all schools joined the bandwagon willingly.

Even after the green cleaning market continued to grow through improved product development, more competitive pricing and third-party approvals and certifications, convincing the masses has been challenging. Although in some respects, green cleaning in schools is still a choice. In others, the government has stepped in and made the decision on behalf of departments.

Reportedly, the first state to mandate green cleaning in K-12 schools was New York in 2005. Since that time, there has been a growing trend within state governments to improve the health within schools and minimize the harmful effects cleaning might have on the environment by requiring green cleaning practices.

Early Adopters

In August 2005, then Governor George Pataki signed into law legislation that required the use of "environmentally sensitive cleaning products" in all public and private elementary and secondary schools in the state of New York. At the time, few states had legal requirements for cleaning— certainly not so specific as to require green cleaning or specifically targeting schools — but the initiative would soon become more commonplace.

"As with anything new, change can be difficult at first," says Heather Groll, spokesperson for New York State Office of General Services (OGS). "However, we have been told that our tutorials on how to implement a green cleaning program have been helpful. Additionally, once a program has been in place for a period of time, we often find enthusiasm based on how well the products work and how well the program fits into tight school budgets."

Adjusting to new techniques and often working within budget constraints can be a challenge for custodial managers. To accommodate and make for an easy transition, lawmakers built in a grace period that would become standard for legislation moving forward.

The New York law did not require the immediate switch to green cleaning supplies in 2005. Instead, custodial crews would be required to purchase green certified products only once their existing supply ran out, or by Sept. 1, 2006 — whichever came first.

Elaborating on New York's law, Illinois passed one of the more involved green cleaning legislations to date. Effective in August 2007, the Green Cleaning Schools Act requires all public and non-public elementary and secondary schools with 50 or more students to "establish a green cleaning policy and exclusively purchase and use environmentally sensitive cleaning products."

When the legislation first came into effect, "our distributors really did a fantastic job in helping us make the switch to green," says Lenny Mack, custodial supervisor at Arlington Heights School District 25, Ill. "We made a quick change with our hard floor cleanersand we've benefited from the implementation of microfiber. But, as with anything new, green cleaning is a continuous learning process and our department continues to evolve."

Legislation Explosion

It would be two more years before another state government mandated green cleaning in schools, but since 2009 legislation has increased substantially.

"This isn't a trend that is going away," says Steve Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group, Bloomington, Ind. "These laws are about creating best practices."

In July 2009 the Hawaii Green Cleaning for Schools legislation was enacted. The law requires the Hawaii Department of Education to, in turn, require all public school facilities to "give first preference, where feasible, to the purchase and use of environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products that have been approved by the Green Seal program."

The Hawaii Department of Health is responsible for maintaining a list of products that have been approved by Green Seal for which public schools will use as a first-preference guideline when purchasing and using environmentally sensitive products.

Not far behind Hawaii, Maryland also enacted legislation for schools, effective since October 2009. All green products must be biodegradable, have low toxicity, low volatile organic compound (VOC) content, reduced packaging and low life cycle energy use.

Although state requirements were in place as early as 2007 for green cleaning in government facilities, it wasn't until 2009 that Connecticut legislation was signed requiring the same within schools. Effective in July 2011, all school buildings and facilities must implement green cleaning programs. Comparable to other state requirements, officials comment that adhering to the law will be a smooth transition for facilities.

Even at its inception, "the legislation is perceived as a good thing," says Jim Saisa, director of facilities at Amity Regional School District No. 5 in Woodbridge, Conn. "It's forcing us to use less harsh chemicals, which make for safer schools. We have been green cleaning for over three years, so now it's about streamlining our training and working with our vendors to swap out essential products."

While the previously mentioned states have embraced a holistic approach to green cleaning legislation, that isn't the case nationwide. According to some industry experts, Nevada fell short when officials were forced to compromise in an effort to pass green cleaning legislation. Others are thankful the state is at least making headway. Effective July 2010, legislation will require the use of environmentally sensitive products, but only in the cleaning of floor surfaces.

Requiring vs. Recommending

Although the number of states implementing legislation for green cleaning is growing, not all laws are created equal. Some states are slow to adopt the entire green approach and instead, opt for a more gradual push. In fact, they aren't requiring green cleaning at all.

Instead, current legislation in two states (Maine and Missouri) simply "recommend" facility executives adhere to green cleaning practices. The requirements stipulated with these legislations instead fall on the shoulders of state departments.

Since 2007, Maine laws require the State Department of Education to maintain a list of cleaning products that have been certified as meeting "health-based criteria for safety and efficacy" by a third party independent agency such as Green Seal or EcoLogo. A second list of acceptable disinfectants is also mandated.

Although the law does not require schools to implement a green cleaning policy or use green cleaning products, it is the responsibility of the Department to encourage schools to do so.

Similarly, in July 2008, Missouri posted legislation that the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education must establish green cleaning guidelines and specifications for schools. While the law makes it mandatory for the Department to issue the green cleaning guidelines, implementation by Missouri schools is voluntary.

Law Or No Law: Green Clean

With mandates on the rise, facilities where laws are yet to materialize should take note. Green cleaning might be just beyond the horizon.

According to state reports, green cleaning legislation for schools will be considered in California, Iowa, Massachusetts, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin sometime in 2010. Industry experts comment that legislation and cleaning in green schools will continue to grow as more players get involved in the issue.

"Learning from the experiences with New York and Illinois, we have built coalitions that have made passing legislations pretty powerful," says Ashkin. "Those coalitions — such as those through the Healthy Schools Campaign, associations such as ISSA, environmental groups and labor unions that become more involved — have made for a powerful approach that has a high rate of success for passing legislation."

Experts predict that the requirements for green cleaning in schools will continue to grow at a steady clip. Managers yet to jump on the green bandwagon should prepare their departments for future changes. Resistance to the inevitable push for green cleaning will open up departments to the increased threat of outsourcing, as contractors lie in wait to promote green cleaning to school administrators.

It is important also to remember that legislation requiring green cleaning is only a minimum standard, and facilities meeting just those requirements will continue to be threatened by contractors who might be willing to do more. Custodial departments should use these legal requirements as a stepping stone for their evolving green cleaning programs.

Regardless of legislation, Ashkin stresses that green is happening and managers in schools all over the country should take note.

"It isn't a political issue," he says. "It is simple recognition that we have the opportunity to make a difference. We can reduce exposures to kids in classrooms and the potential risk to custodians, while reducing the unnecessary and negative impacts cleaning has on the environment."

By Corinne Zudonyi, Editor

Top Five “Spring Cleaning” Tips for Businesses
April 2, 2012

Cintas Corporation issued a list of the top five tips for business owners and operators to “spring clean” their facilities and revitalize the image of their business. From daily cleaning tasks to deep cleaning floors and restrooms, businesses can embrace the new season as an opportunity to refresh facilities and provide a clean and safe environment for building occupants and visitors.

The five essential spring cleaning tips include:

1. Freshen up facility appearance: Dedicate time this spring to focus on small details. Whether patched and caulk lines need to be redone or bulbs and ballasts need to be replaced, addressing the small issues will improve to the overall appearance and operations of the facility.

2. Focus on flooring: Winter weather results in excessive wear and tear and a dulling of the appearance of flooring. Invest in a deep cleaning service to revitalize tile and carpeting. The combination of high-pressure steam, agitation, heat and extraction removes more dry particulate soil than any other method, helping delay expensive replacement costs and revitalizing floors to a like-new condition.

3. Refresh restrooms: There’s no denying that daily cleaning helps facility managers maintain restrooms. However, dirt and bacteria build-up over time. Address dirty restrooms by implementing a deep cleaning service for restrooms that effectively removes built-up soils by sanitizing all restroom surfaces and fixtures using a high-pressure, chemical injection washer.

4. Clean air conditioning units: Most air conditioning (A/C) units remain dormant throughout the winter. To ensure the best indoor air quality (IAQ) for building patrons, facility managers should complete a comprehensive A/C coil cleaning service. A/C units that are not properly cleaned can lead to lingering odors, allergies, premature unit failure and high energy bills. Completing regular A/C coil cleaning removes dirt, grime and built-up sludge from A/C units to improve IAQ, lower energy bills and extend the life of air conditioning units.

5. Go green with spring: According to a recent Harris Interactive survey, 84 percent of U.S. adults prefer to do business with a company that uses environmentally-friendly products and practices. Select products that are Green Seal certified or meet the requirements for the EPA’s Design for the Environment Program (DfE). In addition, businesses can implement green cleaning methods, including dilution control chemical dispensers and reusable mops or wipes to limit environmental impact.

Cleanlink News 3/30/2012

School Germ Hot Spots Report Surprises Many

February 23, 2012

Dr. Charles Gerba and the University of Arizona recently conducted a study of the "germiest hot spots" in K-12 schools. Researchers from the university swabbed classrooms and common area surfaces at six schools to determine the relative numbers of total heterotrophic bacteria and coliform bacteria on frequently touched hard, non-porous surfaces.

According to the study, the most contaminated site in the school was the cafeteria table, followed by the computer mouse — which harbored nearly twice as many bacteria than desktops. Also on the list: the restroom paper towel handle, drinking fountain, restroom sink faucet, library table and the computer keyboard.

These study results came as a surprise to many in the industry as the article sparked conversation on the social networking site www.MyCleanLink.com. Instead of the cafeteria table, many members suspected restroom surfaces and door handles as the "germiest" touch points in a school — a common suspicion in the industry, but unsupported by statistical findings.

Even as far back as 2005, studies from NSF International, an independent not-for-profit, found that drinking fountain spigots and cafeteria trays harbored more than 10 times as many germs as a toilet seat. Even the common student's hand had almost 1,500 more bacterial cells than commonly cleaned door handles and knobs.

No matter which surface harbors the most germs or bacteria, preventative measures are available. Workers should pay attention to cleaning frequencies and the use of proper cleaners and disinfectants. Cleaners can also prevent cross-contamination by promoting a proper hand hygiene program with students and staff.

By Corinne Zudonyi, Editor

Touch-free Soap And Paper Towel Dispensers Are Money Savers

January 25, 2012

Recognized for portraying an upscale, modern image with their sleek gadgetry, touch-free soap and towel dispensers also help improve hand hygiene by reducing cross-contamination in public restrooms. But increasing public perception and improving hand hygiene isn’t everything these touch-free dispensers do for facilities. These dispensers also take on a tall role of controlling facilities’ spend on soap and paper towels, two commodities that suffer from over consumption and waste in public restrooms.
Being able to control the appropriate dose of soap and the required length of paper toweling per restroom patron, facilities are able to recognize significant savings from touch-free dispensers.

Touch-free Soap Dispensers

Suitable for use in all types of commercial facilities, touch-free soap dispensers are most commonly found in high-traffic facilities’ restrooms such as in airports, restaurants, office buildings, universities and hospitals. These dispensers, which are sensor-activated, pump and dispense a controlled amount of soap for restroom patrons who place their hands underneath the unit’s nozzle. Touch-free soap dispensers function to conserve the amount of soap while also stemming germ transmission by eliminating a common touch point in the restroom.
Touch-free soap dispensers give facilities the ability to control the amount of soap being dispensed through adjustable dosage settings. Thus, facilities can eliminate excess waste and overuse by restroom patrons who otherwise are allowed to manually take as much soap as needed. Setting dosages enables cost savings through prolonged product life between refills and reduced maintenance visits.
Not all soap is the same, so dosages should be based on the type of cleanser, how concentrated it is and how well it can clean restroom visitors’ hands.
In a facility where occupants have to remove grease and industrial soils from their hands, liquid paste soap is often required. The recommended dosage for this type of soap in a touch-free dispenser should be set for 2 milliliter to provide sufficient skin coverage and distribution of surfactants over the skin surface.
For applications of milder skin soiling, a lower dosage of product would be sufficient for proper cleaning. Liquid soap should be set no lower than 1 milliliter and doesn’t need to be any higher than 1.5 milliliter.
In most public spaces where general hand washing occurs, facilities can benefit from the cost savings of foam cleansers. With the least amount of product required to cleanse hands, a setting of 0.4 milliliter to 0.7 milliliter is adequate for foam soap.
More concentrated formulas such as foam soaps enable a smaller dose size, which in turn enables a refill to last longer before needing changed and yields more hand washes per cartridge.
If facilities are concerned about usage, foam soap has been found to be eight times more spreadable than liquid soap and reduces the quantity of product required for an effective hand wash, according to a recent study. Interestingly, using less product does not equate to less efficacy as a further scientific study shows that there is no significant difference in the cleaning ability between a 0.7 milliliter dosage of foam soap compared to a standard 1.1 milliliter dosage of liquid soap.
Facilities also recognize a savings in water consumption with foam soap use. When using foam soap for hand washing, restroom patrons use 16 percent less water than when using liquid soap. Water consumption can be reduced by up to 45 percent by adopting a foam soap hand washing technique of dispense, lather, rinse and dry. For every 100 people per facility, the use of foam soap for hand washing can equate to an annual water reduction of up to 14,790 gallons of water.
Soap dispensers can also be set to dispense on a timed delay when activated. Most touch-free systems require that a person removes their hands from the actuation zone and then bring them back under again for a second dispense if needed. This design helps reduce the amount of soap being used and reduces the risk of accidental dispensing of the product.

Touch-free Towel Dispensers

Supply waste is most apparent with paper toweling in high-traffic facilities. As a result, manufacturers have developed touch-free paper towel dispensers that help minimize the amount of paper being used during the hand drying process in public restrooms.
A facility that currently uses c-fold or multi-fold towels can save upwards of 25 to 30 percent on paper usage by implementing a touch-free electronic paper towel dispenser. And with manual dispensers, restroom patrons have the option of cranking a lever, pulling down on an exposed piece of paper, or turn a knob to get as much paper as they so choose.
With touch-free automatic dispensers, however, restroom users are encouraged to only take one sheet of paper toweling that is pre-set to a specified length by the facility.
These lengths vary by manufacturer, but most dispensers allow for facilities to choose a small, medium or large length (8-, 12- and 16-inches long, respectively). Medium-sized length typically is recommended for most facilities because with the short length patrons tend to take too many sheets and with the long length, people are usually programmed to take two sheets anyways.
Access to multiple sheets of paper after the first piece is also pre-set depending on facility type. Typical times vary in two-second intervals, from as low as two seconds up to as high as an eight-second delay.
In a high-traffic restroom such as an airport or an arena where people enter and leave quickly, longer lengths of toweling and longer delay settings are often recommended, since most guests are in a hurry and soon realize that one towel is adequate for drying hands. By utilizing a longer timed delay, it can save a high-traffic facility upwards of 25 percent less paper use.
In an office building or K-12 school, however, occupants may not need as much paper toweling, so the delay can be long. Ideally, appropriate time delays between sensor activations should cut down on product waste.
Touch-free paper towel dispensers also allow facilities to set up their dispensers to dispense a shorter sheet on the second dispense. Known as a paper savings mode, this feature shortens the second sheet length by either 12 percent or 25 percent depending upon what setting the facility has it on.
How it works is after a user requests for the first sheet and then asks for another sheet within three seconds, it will be 12 to 25 percent shorter than the first sheet. The dispenser then goes back into regular mode upon the next dispense, which likely is for a different user. Implementing dispensers with this function is most suitable in facilities where patrons are expected to take more than one sheet.
When reducing consumption is the name of the game in public restrooms, facilities can recognize significant savings by implementing touch-free soap and towel dispensers. The cost of the units themselves have dropped in price, making them an even more attractive purchase for facilities. The return on investment is also often recognized quickly in the declining overuse of soap, paper towels, energy and water consumption.

By Nick Bragg, Deputy Editor

Restroom Training: From Products To Processes

December 8, 2010 · 

Better Hygeine at Public Bathrooms than Hospitals?

November 8, 2010 ·

A new survey of public bathroom hygiene shows that the guy who just used the toilet at Grand Central Station is more likely to have clean hands than people at your local hospital.

Soap Is Still Important

September 28, 2010 · 

Touch-Free is Alive and (Keeping Us) Well

September 28, 2010 ·