Sonlightcleaning’s Blog

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 cleaners and 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

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

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

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

File cabinets upon file cabinets are home to thousands of accounts at Armchem International, a jan/san distributor in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. These storage units and the paper files inside them have become the target of a crusade Owner Andy Brahms has set out for his company in an attempt to go paperless.

“We are guesstimating conservatively that we are going to save $40,000 to $50,000 a year going paperless. That does not include the human cost in hours that we save. We are just talking about hard goods,” says Brahms.

That is where the rubber hits the road with jan/san distributors, who are taking a new paperless route to run their business. Instead of hard copies of bills, invoices, statements and delivery receipts, distributors are turning to software suites, servers and computers to maintain and track their business and store important customer account information.

The overarching benefit, according to distributors, is the efficiencies that are gained in a paperless enterprise, namely with man hours and the saving of office space that does not have to be filled with file cabinets. The same employees who used to print, copy and file paperwork can be used to work with potential and current clients.

“If you cross train employees to do other things, they become more customer-service oriented,” says Brahms, who adds that employees enjoy having variety in their daily routine. “You are able to do other things without hiring more people because they have three or four more hours in the day that they don’t have to devote to what they were doing before.”

Some distributors have set up electronic filing systems that include portable document format (PDF) software, paperless accounting programs and customer relationship management platforms. When married together, these systems allow staff to view bills, invoices and orders pertaining to the client.

How It Works

Brian Sanford, president of Sanford Company in Erie, Pa., wanted to eliminate the busy work created by printing physical copies of documents, especially when it came to backorders. At times, three or four pieces of paper were produced because of one backorder, Sanford says.

So, he took the company paperless. Sanford started with a simple word processing software program to handle his company’s account receivables and payables. His company then graduated to eliminating handwritten and typed invoices and delivery forms. If a hard copy of this information is needed now, it is printed on a simple piece of 8- by 11-inch stock paper on a laser printer.

“Our delivery receipts are now the only required piece of paper in our business,” says Sanford, who still stores them. “I save them long enough so that if there is a problem within a two-month time span I can find it.”

When Sanford’s company needs to fax an invoice or receipt, it uses a faxing application on its computers rather than a traditional fax machine and paper. The company also prints its own catalogs and pages of its catalog, instead of sending it out to a printer.

“I organize my own information,” Sanford says. “I don’t have any literature stored on site, none. I can print the same quality of literature that my supplier can but that adds another layer for them, so why bother?”

Going paperless requires an investment in devices such as laptops, smartphones and PDAs for sales staff. This creates the need for software applications that allow for paperless remote order taking and client management.

“We download (information) on the laptop onto the server. Once the material is downloaded into the system, we can manipulate or share it without passing a piece of paper to anyone,” Sanford says. “That takes the paper out of the order entry side of the process completely.”

Those distributors attempting to go paperless are putting their entire catalog on their Web site. However, according to Brahms, it’s a good idea to print a few hard copy catalogs for customers who still prefer to look at a physical document rather than shop online.

Some distributor Web sites allow customers to view their account along with tracking and placing orders, which can cut down on the amount of paper used on both sides of the transaction. If distributors do not feel comfortable about having client information stored on an Internet server, they can set up a system in which clients can request electronic copies of documents sent to them through e-mail.

A Value-Added Service

A paperless initiative can be used as a value added proposition with current and potential clients. At H.T. Berry Co. in Canton, Mass., the company offers a program called savings solutions, in which the concept of a paperless relationship is front and center. The more H.T. Berry can save on paper, postage, printing and man hours, the more efficient the company can serve its clients, says Chris Nolan, the company’s president.

One of the components to this program is a system for general ledger coding in which electronic invoices have the client’s own particular account codes on them. This cuts down on the back end accounting procedures for the client which, as a result, saves them man hours and paper costs.

“In our industry we all have the same products,” Nolan says. “You have to show people value-added stuff. If you are not on the bus with value-added service, you are going to get run over by the bus. That’s the bottom line.”

Another benefit of going paperless, Nolan says, is with the company’s Web site. Before the paperless initiative was launched in his company, sales calls lasted 10 to 15 minutes. Now, with the sales force giving Web site tours to clients where they teach them how to keep track of their accounts online, some sales calls are now an hour.

“Clients have millions of questions and there is nothing better than being on a sales call when people have questions,” says Nolan, who adds that his company’s clientele has been receptive to the concept. “It allows you to spend time with your customer, they get to know you a little bit better.”

Payroll, time clock management and human resources records can also be paperless with intranet Web sites that are on a secured network. Paychecks can be distributed through direct deposits. Some distributors are also attempting to do most if not all of their banking without paper. Systems can be set up with some banks in which financial transactions and record keeping are done online or through a secured network.

“Our bank transactions have reached about 40 percent paperless, maybe 50 percent,” Sanford says. “Of all of the entities that we have to deal with, the ones that are the most resistant to paperless are banks. Banks like to use paper checks.”

Some distributors are using barcodes and scanners in their warehouses to pick orders. These systems remove the need for paper orders, since all of the inventory and order movement in the facility is automatically entered in the company’s system through scanner devices and a WiFi system.

Clients will need to be informed of the changes that will be occurring with order processing, invoicing and billing. This may mean a mass mailing to customers in order to gather e-mail addresses and fax numbers while informing them of any changes they may experience.

It is suggested that distributors who want to go paperless should assign a point person that takes the lead on the initiative. This person should understand both the internal and customer relationship benefits of going paperless as well as the challenges that the company faces.

Brendan O’Brien is a freelance writer based in Greenfield, Wis.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced that three cases of infection by a new drug-resistant microbe from India have been reported in the United States.

NDM-1 (New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1) is the gene (the DNA code) found in some types of bacteria. This gene makes the bacteria produce an enzyme called a carbapenemase, which makes virtually all antibiotics ineffective. To date, there are no current antibiotics or research of new drugs that might combat NDM-1.

According to reports, the first case was identified in December 2009 in a patient hospitalized in New Delhi, and has since been detected in bacteria in India, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Japan.

A bacterium carrying the NDM-1 gene is reportedly the most powerful superbug to date and it is easily transferred from person-to-person. It is commonly transmitted in hospitals and nursing homes by touching contaminated surfaces and hands.

The only way to currently combat the spread of NDM-1 is through surveillance, prompt identification and isolation of infected patients, disinfecting hospital equipment and thorough hand-hygiene procedures in hospitals.

When it comes to carpet maintenance, there is no topic more controversial than bonnet cleaning. According to many in-house managers, when done properly, bonnet cleaning can be a very effective and favorable method of interim carpet maintenance. But if done incorrectly, the effects can be costly for departments.

To ensure custodians don’t damage carpets, it is imperative that they are trained on the proper techniques of bonnet cleaning.

Proper Technique

According to Mark Scholl, corporate sales manager at The Janitors Supply Co. Inc. in Fort Wayne, Ind., bonnet cleaning is a great interim method for cleaning carpets and is recommended by many distributors.

“Just like dust mopping when cleaning floors, bonnet cleaning is a valuable step in the carpet cleaning process,” he says. “It is a great way to control stains, keep carpets clean and get in and out of areas quickly.”

Steve Spencer, facilities specialist with State Farm Insurance in Bloomington, Ill., agrees that when done correctly, bonnet cleaning is a great carpet care method. But, he stresses that it is only a form of interim cleaning and insists that the process has changed a bit over time.

“It should no longer be called bonnet cleaning,” he says. “It should be referred to as interim cleaning that happens to use a bonnet.”

No matter what it’s called, custodial managers agree that this type of carpet care requires precise steps and proper technique in order to guarantee effectiveness.

Before bonnet cleaning, cleaners should vacuum carpets thoroughly — a step Spencer says is often overlooked. This step will remove dry soils before moisture is introduced, making cleaning easier and more effective.

“If you add moisture to dry soils, it will become mud, which seeps deep into carpet fibers,” Spencer says. “This mud is difficult to remove with bonnet cleaning, which is designed to clean only the tips of carpets.”

Once carpets have been vacuumed thoroughly, pretreat the floors with shampoos that encapsulate soils or are specifically designed for bonnet cleaning. Using the wrong chemical can increase the chances of soap build-up, which will attract more dirt to carpets in the long run.

“A past problem with bonnet cleaning was that most people used the wrong chemical,” says Scholl. “You can’t use a chemical that dries oily or sticky. You have to use one that encapsulates or dries to a powder.”

Once carpets have been pretreated, take a minute to soak a number of bonnets in clean water, making sure to keep each moist so it is ready for use. Using clean water is essential during this step. These water-soaked bonnets will attract and remove the pretreated soils from carpets.

Managers warn against mixing shampoos in with the water during this step. Bonneting with a mix of water and cleaner would only transfer those shampoos to the carpets, not remove them from carpet fibers.

Experts also recommend using one bonnet for every 100 square feet of carpeting and discourage the practice of flipping bonnets to clean additional square footage. Doing so may only push dirt around.

The final step, another round of vacuuming, takes place once carpets are dry. This will break up detergents and pull up any soil left behind.

“If you don’t use the right bonnet cleaning methods, in the correct steps, you can end up spreading soils and dirtying carpets even further,” says Spencer.

Because bonnet cleaning does not use a lot of moisture, cleaning times can be quick, allowing crews to get in and out of areas relatively quickly. When done properly, dry times should only be 30 minutes.

“If you don’t have a lot of time to clean an area, bonnet cleaning is a nice option,” says John Vogelsang, facilities services director at Illinois Central College in East Peoria, Ill. “If someone comes to you and says there will be a meeting in that room and the carpet looks a bit dirty, you can quickly come in and bonnet clean the carpet surface for a fresh look.”

Frequency

Because bonnet cleaning can be a quick solution to improve the look of carpets between deep extractions, recommendations for cleaning frequencies can fluctuate.

“Frequency all depends on the soil load,” says Scholl. “You could do it every month, or hit high traffic areas on a weekly basis. And you don’t have to go wall-to-wall with bonnet cleaning. You can target just the high traffic areas to prevent patterns from forming.”

Most managers like bonnet cleaning because it does not require a lot of time and offers a nice “face-lift” to dirty carpets between extraction.

“The most important thing is to get the job done right, but sometimes you just have to get it done,” says Vogelsang. “Bonnet is a quick method with acceptable results. We bonnet clean when we are short on time and need to accomplish a goal quickly.”

Although there are many benefits to this cleaning technology, experts can’t emphasize enough that bonnet cleaning is best used for interim cleaning and should only be done between regularly scheduled extraction maintenance.

“Bonnet cleaning only reaches the top third of carpet fibers,” says Scholl. “If you keep dirt from being driven deeper into carpets, you wont have to extract as often. But this method does not replace regular extraction benefits, it is just part of a regular maintenance program.”

Bonnet Pros And Cons

Not all opinions of bonnet cleaning are positive. In fact, many facilities refuse to bonnet clean because of the elevated risks associated with the technology and firm warnings from carpet manufacturers. These manufacturers often discourage the use of bonnet equipment and to make their point known, will void warranties if this carpet cleaning method is used.

“Carpet manufacturers don’t like bonnet cleaning because the equipment functions at 175 revolutions per minute (rpm) with a pad holder on it,” says Spencer. “Add that to a machine that usually weighs 90 to 100 pounds and you have a piece of equipment that uses a lot of power with a lot of weight behind it.”

Some bonnet equipment can function as high as 350 rpm, says Spencer. Combine that with water and add friction from carpets, and an untrained cleaner can heat up carpet fibers beyond repair.

Another risk to using bonnet equipment, according to carpet manufacturers, is that the rotary motion of the machine can untwist carpet fibers, which can create shading, fraying and color fluctuations in the carpet.

These risks, added to the firm warranty warnings from carpet manufactures, is what deters Candy Hammer, facilities services supervisor at Issaquah School District 441 in Renton, Wash., from using bonnet cleaning as a carpet maintenance method.

“We used bonnet cleaning years ago, but with the carpets we have now, warranties would be voided, so we found alternative methods of interim cleaning,” says Hammer. “I’m sure bonneting has its place on the right kind of carpet and in the right department, but it’s just not something we use.”

Like Hammer, many facilities are warned by manufacturers not to bonnet clean carpets. Departments often comply because the cost of alternative cleaning methods outweighs the risk of forgoing valuable warranties. But, if done correctly and in compliance with manufacturer guidelines, bonnet cleaning can have positive results.

According to Spencer, this form of interim cleaning is often abused and the lack of training is what results in inefficiencies and often, added expenses for departments.

“It is like the telephone game. By the time the message gets to the 10th person, the program becomes bastardized,” he says. “Processes need to be written down, so everyone does them correctly every time.”

To determine whether bonnet cleaning is an acceptable method for carpets, contact manufacturers for preferred maintenance recommendations.

“Before we do any cleaning, we make sure our cleaning methods are acceptable and recommended by the carpet manufacturer,” says Vogelsang. “You can’t assume your cleaning methods are fine. It is always best to check with the manufacturer on what is acceptable and what will void the warranty. In our case, bonnet cleaning is accepted by our carpet manufacturer and preferred by our crew.”

Spencer agrees, adding, “You have to know the maintenance guidelines for new carpeting, which are often available for free online. If you are looking for new carpets and you have bonnet equipment, look for carpets that allow cleaning using those same machines. Be proactive and be part of the decision process on which carpet to purchase.”

by Corrine Zudonyi

Providing a safe and healthy environment for building occupants is a primary goal for in-house cleaning departments. This means eliminating bacteria and the threat of infection, while reducing cross-contamination, especially in areas such as restrooms that receive high traffic from building occupants.

Although products play a large role in cleaning for health, restroom cleaning techniques also must be scrutinized and streamlined. Managers can start by addressing cleaning needs and reevaluating restroom training.

Cleaning Frequency

Restrooms are one of the most visible — and therefore one of the most scrutinized — areas of the facility. These rooms also have the potential to harbor more bacteria than any other space. Not only is it imperative to clean frequently to maintain the clean look of the restroom, cleaning is necessary in the prevention of cross-contamination and infection.

“Our restrooms receive a thorough cleaning every night, but we spot clean the public restrooms every two hours throughout the day,” says Paul Steines, building service manager at Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wis. “We want to provide a clean environment at all times.”

Ron Edquist, section manager, housekeeping at Abbott Laboratories in Ill., agrees that frequent cleaning and disinfecting is necessary in these high traffic and high profile areas of the facility.

“Our cleaning staff goes in to service restrooms two times during our first shift to make sure they are in acceptable order and necessary supplies are stocked,” he says. “They will also empty waste containers as needed and do minor touch-ups if necessary. Then, restrooms are thoroughly cleaned during the second shift.”

Cleaning frequencies in many facilities will depend solely on the traffic and conditions of the particular restroom. As a benchmark, managers are advised to conduct restroom cleaning throughout the day as needed and at least once every evening. Familiarizing themselves with traffic patters throughout the facility will help managers schedule maintenance accordingly.

Visual clues indicating necessary cleaning are excessive trash, shrinking paper and soap stock and the general appearance of cleanliness. An unkempt restroom is a feeding ground for bacteria and can result in vocal complains from building occupants as well.

“Cleaning frequencies at the hospital depend on the specific restroom,” says Margie Bruckner, manager of environmental services at Aurora Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center in Sheboygan, Wis. “Our lobby restroom is cleaned four times a day because of the amount of traffic it receives, but areas that aren’t used as often might receive scheduled cleaning only twice.”

Bruckner monitors the restrooms regularly throughout the facility and fluctuates cleaning times as necessary. “Restroom cleaning frequency is a top priority,” she says.

Focus On Training

Although restrooms are a hot spot in the fight against bacteria, cleaners who are stretched for time in their day have been known to cut corners when managers are out of sight. This reality can cause problems both with perception of clean and bacteria levels.

To prevent this from happening, custodial managers emphasize the importance of training and strict cleaning requirements. They then follow up with an inspection process to make sure training procedures are followed.

“We spend a good amount of time on training of products, but also the importance of cleaning processes,” says Michele Sutherland, housekeeping supervisor at Madison County Health Care System in Winterset, Iowa. “This way we make sure workers understand why they are cleaning a specific area, as well as what they are cleaning it with.”

Product training is an important first step when it comes to maintaining the restroom. Understandably, cleaners need to know which product to use on which surface, but they also need to know how to use those products properly. Using the correct product incorrectly can have the same results as not cleaning at all.

“Product training is essential to ensure that the correct product is being used for its intended function and in its correct form,” says Edquist.

Understanding a products function and purpose, as well as its proper use, will ensure cleanliness and help control bacteria in the restroom.

Take chemicals, for instance. Sprays are designed to cover a specific amount of area and should be held roughly 6 to 8 inches from the surface. Spray too close and the full surface is not being cleaned. Hold it too far away and much of the chemical might not even hit the surface.

Identifying and adhering to proper chemical dwell times is also important in the fight against bacteria. Chemicals are only effective if used as directed, which means allowing them to sit on surfaces for a predetermined set of time. But, this step is often skipped because cleaners are rushed to complete tasks quickly. To combat this problem, many training programs focus specifically on dwell times.

“The disinfectant we use has, at most, a 10-minute contact time that we follow,” says Sutherland.

This can be a long time for cleaners on the day shift who are often rushed or interrupted by building occupants looking to use the restroom. But, implementing a streamlined restroom cleaning process and conducting proper training can help offset these longer dwell time requirements.

For interim daytime cleaning, train workers to spray down horizontal surfaces and touch points with the cleaning chemical. While waiting for those dwell times, empty trash and refill paper and soap products. This should allow enough contact time for most chemicals after which cleaners can wipe down those sprayed surfaces.

Disinfecting the restroom throughout the day will help reduce bacteria and the threat for cross-contamination and according to ISSA’s Cleaning Times, this level of restroom service should only take 10 to 12 minutes.

At night, dwell times aren’t as much of an issue because restrooms receive more detailed attention from custodial crews.

“Most restroom cleaning done on second shift allows for thorough surface cleaning and more than adequate dwell times,” says Edquist.

Cleaners must still spray surfaces with a disinfectant first, but instead of only emptying trash and replenishing supplies during dwell times, workers are also tending to toilets and urinals, partition walls, floors and tile and grout. Allowing for the time it takes to complete these additional tasks guarantees dwell times are met.

Constant Training Reminders

When restroom training is first implemented, processes run smoothly and cleaning standards are met. Then, over time, workers cut a corner here and skip a step there. Soon, restroom-cleaning processes are unrecognizable and efficiencies are obsolete, exposing building occupants to harmful bacteria.

To guarantee the work is being done correctly every time, managers stress the importance of frequently scheduled and repeated training. Steines oversees a strict ongoing training program at Marshfield Clinic that has proven to be successful.

“We initially work with employees for three days to show them the products and proper procedures to cleaning restrooms,” he says, “but then we continue following up with them daily on the procedures to make sure they are performing them correctly.”

Bruckner has a similar approach at her medical center where new hires receive one-on-one training for one week. Following that introductory training, the new employee will be placed with other workers within the department for about a month before going out on their own. Even then, every employee is evaluated during weekly inspections.

“We are constantly training our employees and using weekly inspections to evaluate their work,” she says. “If we notice in those inspections that the same problems are coming up time and again, we’ll retrain the employee.”

Many managers implement inspection programs like this to make sure employees abide by cleaning policies. State health officials and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention personnel take that one step further and suggest an additional yearly, in-depth evaluation of each employee and their compliance with the cleaning programs, a recommendation Bruckner takes seriously.

“We do a yearly competency evaluation on each employee to make sure they are competent to do the job,” she says. “The trainer goes with each worker on the job to monitor performance, then signs off on each individual task that the cleaner is responsible for.”

These evaluations are updated regularly and compiled into a binder for easy reference. Not only is it a good practice, but it is also a quick reference for Joint Commission representatives requiring proof of competency and compliance with regulations such as hospital standards, rationales, elements of performance, scoring information and accreditation policies and procedures.

“The Joint Commission was just here and asked us to provide documentation on the competency of our staff,” says Bruckner. “I was able to just hand over the binder.”

Regularly scheduled evaluations of cleaning products, processes and employee performance is a great way to assess training needs within the department, identify the need for updates and maintain a healthy restroom environment.

“You have to have a combination of both product and chemical knowledge to go with the proper cleaning and training technique,” says Edquist. “This will ensure your cleaning is done properly every time.”

by Corrine Zudonyi

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.

The researchers didn’t phrase it that way, but if you take what they found and compare it to hospital hand washing habits, you’ll be asking why we continue to tolerate the mostly preventable health care-associated infections that cause more than 98,000 patient deaths annually, and add hundreds of millions of dollars in costs.

In the latest survey, researchers from Harris Interactive surreptitiously surveyed more than 6,000 adults using restrooms at Atlanta’s Turner Field, Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry and Shedd Aquarium, New York’s Pennsylvania Station and Grand Central Station and San Francisco’s Ferry Terminal Farmers Market. The research was sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology and the American Cleaning Institute — the soap manufacturers.

On average, 85 percent of public restroom users in those four cities washed their hands, with Chicago’s science museum recording a sparkling 93 percent wash-up rate. In last place were New York City’s train stations, where only 80 percent of men and women washed up.

But even the worst guys in the worst bathroom — just 65 percent of men at Turner Field washed their hands — represented a stellar record of sterility compared to U.S. hospitals.

According to the literature, medical baseline compliance for hand hygiene was just 26 percent in intensive care units and 36 percent in non-ICUs. A 12-month “feedback intervention” increased compliance to just 37 percent for ICUs and 51 percent for non-ICUs.

A group that accredits hospitals did report they were able to get hand washing to shoot up from flip-of-a-coin range (48 percent) to 82 percent over the course of a year.

In that effort, 27 hospitals participate in the Joint Commission Center for Transforming Healthcare. There are some 5,000 acute-care hospitals in the United States. While you’re waiting for transformation to reach your local providers, odds are that you’re safer at the train station.

Michael L. Millenson

Writer, consultant and analyst