10 Tips For Cleaner Commercial Floors

Due to budget cuts, facility managers are trying harder to keep carpets clean and healthy as cost effectively as possible. Carpets absorb matter and moisture, so managers may not realize soiling until it is too late.  By then, damage may have occurred and costly restoration or replacement may be necessary.  However, this can be prevented.

HydraMaster provides the following Ten Ways to Keep Carpets Clean, Healthy, and Lasting Longer:
1. Exterior maintenance.  Building occupants “walk in” the bulk of soil entering a facility.  Much of this comes from sidewalks, parking lots, and outdoor walkways.  These areas should be kept clean throughout the year.

2. Enforce the “Rule of 15.”  At least 15 feet of high-performance matting should be placed at all building entries.  Matting defends a facility from walked in soils and moisture.

3. Vacuum daily.  Vacuuming high traffic areas removes most dry soiling that can damage a carpet’s appearance and health.

4. Pile lifting.  Pile lifting opens carpet fibers and helps improve vacuuming. It should be performed regularly for more effective soil removal.

5. Focus on lower floors.  Keeping lower floor carpets clean helps prevent soiling on upper floor carpeting.

6. On the spot spotting.  Spots should be removed as soon as possible.  Make spotting tools and equipment readily available throughout a facility.

7. Elevators transport people—and soil.  Placing matting inside and outside elevators helps prevent this.

8. Clean carpets where needed.  Place greater concentration where cleaning is needed, on heavy trafficked areas.

9. Use hot water extraction.  Experts say the most effective way to clean carpets is by using hot water extractors.  Further, truckmount systems, because of their added power and heat capabilities, are usually the most effective extraction method.

10. Develop skills and training.  Proper carpet cleaning is a science and know-how is critical. 

“This is a proactive approach to carpet care,” says Wayne Boone, Director of Sales for HydraMaster.  “It can extend the life of carpets while keeping facilities cleaner and healthier.”

Soap vs. Sanitizer: What's The Difference?

Thanks to media coverage following the outbreak of H1N1 and other pandemics in recent years, the public has finally caught on that regular hand hygiene is essential to helping prevent the spread of germs. People are washing their hands more frequently and hand sanitizers are populating buildings more quickly than ever before.

But, despite this increased awareness, misinformation still exists about the difference between soaps and hand sanitizers, as well as how and when to use them. Simply stated, soaps clean hands, sanitizers do not.
"The difference between soap and sanitizer is soap removes soil from your hands," says Dave Smetzer, sales manager for Capital Sanitary in Des Monies, Iowa. "In the process of cleaning your hands, you wash away the soils and germs."

Ronnie Kent, president of Associated Paper in Conyers, Ga., agrees that soap's primary function is to clean hands and also remove germs.

"Every time you touch a doorknob, a phone or pen, you're getting germs on your hands," he says. "Washing your hands will get rid of those germs — germs that you can even pass on to yourself when you touch your face or nose."

Sanitizer is equally effective at killing germs, but it will not remove dirt from hands.

"Hand sanitizers aren't necessarily a cleaner," notes Bill Egerton, director of marketing for Birsch Industries in Virginia Beach, Va. "They won't get grease off your hands, but they will kill bacteria on your skin. There's nothing wrong with washing your hands with traditional soap. If you wash your hands properly, you'll get the bacteria off your skin."

Nevertheless, distributors encourage custodial managers to offer both soaps and sanitizers in their facilities. Although sanitizers are not a substitute for handwashing, they can serve as a backup to remove germs in the absence of water or when it is inconvenient to visit a restroom.

The Dirt On Soap

While handwashing is the preferred method of sanitizing hands, most people do not wash their hands correctly, say distributors.

"Don't just wash the palms of your hands," says Kent. "Germs aren't just on your palms, so you have to rub all over your hands — front, back and between your fingers."

In addition to neglecting the back of hands and the area between fingers, most people do not wash their hands for a sufficient length of time. Egerton suggests scrubbing hands vigorously under the water for at least 10 seconds — or the amount of time it takes to recite the ABCs or sing the "Happy Birthday" song twice. Experts also encourage cleaning staffs and the general public to wash their hands frequently — particularly after using the restroom or before touching food — something people often neglect to do.

To encourage more frequent handwashing, soaps need to be easily accessible in restrooms.

"The best place to put soap is directly to the left or right of the sink, or have a dispenser directly on the sink where people can see what it is," says Gary McCain, sales manager for Five Star Janitorial Supply in Leesville, La.

Distributors also recommend touch-free soap dispensers, which further reduce the risk of cross-contamination. And in restrooms that don't offer touch-free faucets or towel dispensers, distributors encourage the use of hand sanitizer after handwashing as an added precaution.

"Often people will wash their hands and then use a hand sanitizer after they dry them," says McCain. "When you first turn the faucet on, you're possibly transferring germs to the handles. So when you wash your hands and turn the water off, you're readmitting germs to your hands. Also, if there isn't a hands-free towel dispenser, you have to use your hands to touch the dispenser, which may have germs on it from the previous person."

Seven Tips to Slow the Spread of Flu

Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says vaccination is the first line of defense against infectious diseases and influenza (flu), cleaning and disinfecting also play a pivital role. To educate custodial departments on proper cleaning techniques, the CDC outlined seven tips that will help slow the spread of flu.

1. Know the difference between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing.
Cleaning removes germs, dirt and impurities from surfaces or objects. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces or objects. Sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. 

2. Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that are touched often.
This means daily sanitizing of surfaces and objects that are touched often, such as desks, countertops, doorknobs, computer keyboards, hands-on learning items, faucet handles and phones. 

3. Simply do routine cleaning and disinfecting.
It's important to match your cleaning and disinfecting activities to the types of germs you want to remove or kill. Flu viruses are relatively fragile, so standard cleaning and disinfecting practices are sufficient to remove or kill them. 

4. Clean and disinfect correctly.
Always follow label directions on cleaning products and disinfectants.

5. Simply do routine cleaning and disinfecting.
Ensure that the custodial staff who usees cleaners and disinfectants read and understand all instruction labels and understand safe and appropriate use. This might require that instructional materials and training be provided in other languages. 

6. Handle waste properly.
Follow your school's standard procedures for handling waste, which may include wearing gloves. 

7. Learn more.
The CDC offers a number of resources for additional information.