Cleaning for HealthCleaning for HealthBEST PRACTICESBEST PRACTICES

““Cleaning to protect health Cleaning to protect health without harming the without harming the

environment.”environment.”

Indoor Air QualityIndoor Air Quality

We spend 90% of our time indoorsWe spend 90% of our time indoors Indoor air can be 2-5 times as bad as Indoor air can be 2-5 times as bad as

outdoor airoutdoor air Tight buildings plus air conditioningTight buildings plus air conditioning 20% of the nations population spend their 20% of the nations population spend their

day in school buildingsday in school buildings

AsthmaAsthma

Asthma is the leading chronic cause of Asthma is the leading chronic cause of absenteeism in schools.absenteeism in schools.

160% increase for children under 5160% increase for children under 5 4.8 million children are affected4.8 million children are affected 14 million missed school days14 million missed school days

This Was ThenThis Was Then

The mop was brought into a building from The mop was brought into a building from the roofers in the mid 1850’s.the roofers in the mid 1850’s.

About 80% of the material seen floating About 80% of the material seen floating in a sunbeam is actually skin flakes.in a sunbeam is actually skin flakes.

The first mop bucket made its The first mop bucket made its appearance in the 1890’s.appearance in the 1890’s.

This is NowThis is Now

Over the last several years the concept of Over the last several years the concept of “green cleaning” has been gaining momentum “green cleaning” has been gaining momentum in the marketplace. However, without a in the marketplace. However, without a standard definition of the term there is a standard definition of the term there is a growing misinterpretation or even abuse by growing misinterpretation or even abuse by marketing hype. Buyers are generally on their marketing hype. Buyers are generally on their own to deduce its meaning and significance. own to deduce its meaning and significance. As a result, many assume that green cleaning As a result, many assume that green cleaning is solely an issue of chemistryis solely an issue of chemistry

Greening your Greening your CleaningCleaning

Reduce water consumptionReduce water consumption Reduce accidents related to chemicalsReduce accidents related to chemicals Improve indoor air quality for students Improve indoor air quality for students

and facultyand faculty Increase security of facilityIncrease security of facility Increase life of fixturesIncrease life of fixtures Increase employee job performanceIncrease employee job performance

Current Zone Current Zone CleaningCleaning

Each employee is given a square footage of Each employee is given a square footage of the total area to clean.the total area to clean.

That employee is required to maintain all That employee is required to maintain all aspects of that given area and must be trained aspects of that given area and must be trained in all those areas of cleaning.in all those areas of cleaning.

This requires a great amount of equipment and This requires a great amount of equipment and other resources.other resources.

This makes the tasks completed, less This makes the tasks completed, less consistent.consistent.

Goals and Objectives of Goals and Objectives of

Green CleaningGreen Cleaning Fewer MistakesFewer Mistakes Less Training TimeLess Training Time Reduced InventoryReduced Inventory Smoother Work FlowSmoother Work Flow Higher Employee SatisfactionHigher Employee Satisfaction Greater ProductivityGreater Productivity

Fewer MistakesFewer Mistakes

Lessen the risk of using the wrong Lessen the risk of using the wrong chemical or mixing chemicals which chemical or mixing chemicals which could cause physical injury or costly could cause physical injury or costly damage.damage.

Less Training TimeLess Training Time

Workers don’t have to be trained on as Workers don’t have to be trained on as many different products, MSDS many different products, MSDS requirements and procedures.requirements and procedures.

Reduced InventoryReduced Inventory

Fewer under-utilized chemicals and Fewer under-utilized chemicals and equipment typing up space and capital as equipment typing up space and capital as well as creating a potential for accidents.well as creating a potential for accidents.

Smoother Work FlowSmoother Work Flow

Fewer “interruptions” caused by having to Fewer “interruptions” caused by having to retrieve specialized chemicals or wasted retrieve specialized chemicals or wasted trips to and from the custodial closets.trips to and from the custodial closets.

Higher Employee Higher Employee SatisfactionSatisfaction

Simplification reduces workers’ confusion Simplification reduces workers’ confusion and stress, resulting in better morale, and stress, resulting in better morale, lower turnover and a safer situation.lower turnover and a safer situation.

Greater ProductivityGreater Productivity

More time spent doing the actual job, More time spent doing the actual job, rather than training, deciding on which rather than training, deciding on which product or equipment to use, product product or equipment to use, product handling, etc.handling, etc.

What is Specialist What is Specialist cleaning?cleaning? One specific task is assigned to each One specific task is assigned to each

employee for the entire facility.employee for the entire facility. Enables employees to become more Enables employees to become more

proficient in a specific task leading to proficient in a specific task leading to improved productivity.improved productivity.

It uses resources more efficiently and It uses resources more efficiently and enhances team ownership and individual enhances team ownership and individual accountability.accountability.

This makes the tasks less complicated, This makes the tasks less complicated, more consistent.more consistent.

Items to Aid in Items to Aid in Greening Your Greening Your

Cleaning ProgramsCleaning Programs ChemicalsChemicals EquipmentEquipment MicrofiberMicrofiber MatsMats ErgonomicsErgonomics

Chemicals-ThenChemicals-ThenAcid Bowl Cleaners

Chalkboard Cleaners

Butyl Multipurpose Cleaners

Glass Cleaners

Disinfectant Sprays

Enzyme Cleaners

Chemical DamageChemical Damage

Acidic and butyl chemicals have damaged Acidic and butyl chemicals have damaged fixtures in our facilities over the years.fixtures in our facilities over the years. Sinks, water fountains, faucets, and gaskets in Sinks, water fountains, faucets, and gaskets in

our plumbing.our plumbing. Vinyl flooring and carpets.Vinyl flooring and carpets. Laminate on cabinets, tables, and countertops.Laminate on cabinets, tables, and countertops.

Tabletop damage from chemicals

Faucet damage from chemicals

Floor damage from chemicals

Fixture damage from

chemicals

Chemicals nowChemicals now

1 product for 85% of cleaning

1 product for carpet

1 product for minerals and soap

Replace cotton dust mops Replace cotton dust mops and cloths with microfiber and cloths with microfiber

cloths and mops.cloths and mops.

Use the Most Modern Use the Most Modern EquipmentEquipment

Modern, high-performance equipment is Modern, high-performance equipment is and important component of and important component of environmentally preferable cleaning environmentally preferable cleaning because these tools are designed to because these tools are designed to prevent dirt and soil from contaminating prevent dirt and soil from contaminating surfaces, thus reducing the amount of surfaces, thus reducing the amount of chemicals needed.chemicals needed.

Place 15 to 20 feet of Place 15 to 20 feet of multi-level scraper mats multi-level scraper mats on the outside and inside on the outside and inside of entryways to minimize of entryways to minimize

dirt tracked in.dirt tracked in.

Use Ergonomic Use Ergonomic equipment whenever equipment whenever

possible to reduce stress possible to reduce stress on workers arms, hands on workers arms, hands

and back.and back.

The High Value of The High Value of TrainingTraining

Most custodians are self-taught. Important Most custodians are self-taught. Important procedures, such as restroom cleaning, often procedures, such as restroom cleaning, often are left to custodians to figure out. That’s why are left to custodians to figure out. That’s why it’s unusual for any two custodians to perform it’s unusual for any two custodians to perform the same task in the same way and in the the same task in the same way and in the same amount of time. Too many schools have same amount of time. Too many schools have either never considered investing in custodial either never considered investing in custodial training or view it as a waste of money. As a training or view it as a waste of money. As a result, most custodians never are exposed to result, most custodians never are exposed to the benefits of new methodologies.the benefits of new methodologies.

Custodians learn from each other.Custodians learn from each other. School cleaning has different concerns School cleaning has different concerns

than home cleaning.than home cleaning. Mixing of chemicals such as bleach and Mixing of chemicals such as bleach and

ammonia are deadly.ammonia are deadly. Best practices mean more productivity.Best practices mean more productivity.

Involvement From Involvement From the Topthe Top

School administrators and business School administrators and business managers can help set the tone to managers can help set the tone to overcome an institution’s natural overcome an institution’s natural resistance to change. Considering the resistance to change. Considering the potential effect on the learning potential effect on the learning environment and public perception, it is environment and public perception, it is well worth the effort.well worth the effort.

Think About What Think About What we Knowwe Know

The mop & bucket are two of the oldest tools The mop & bucket are two of the oldest tools still used today in the custodial profession…still used today in the custodial profession…Isn’t it time to update from the 19Isn’t it time to update from the 19 thth century? century?

An average adult person my shed up to 1.5 An average adult person my shed up to 1.5 grams of skin a day, enough to feed 1 million grams of skin a day, enough to feed 1 million dust mites…Isn’t it time to focus more on our dust mites…Isn’t it time to focus more on our procedures to remove dust and soil instead of procedures to remove dust and soil instead of how shinny the floor is?how shinny the floor is?

Greening Your Greening Your CleaningCleaning

Not just environmentally responsible Not just environmentally responsible chemicals, paper and supplies.chemicals, paper and supplies.

Not just modern equipment.Not just modern equipment. Not just better communication.Not just better communication. Not just more training and new Not just more training and new

procedures.procedures. Not just involvement by administration.Not just involvement by administration.

LEED-EBLEED-EB

Leadership in Leadership in Energy &Energy & Environmental Environmental Design for Design for Existing Existing BuildingsBuildings

What is LEED-EB What is LEED-EB Certification?Certification?

LEED-EB is a rating system for the LEED-EB is a rating system for the sustainable operation and upgrades of sustainable operation and upgrades of existing building. LEED-EB improves existing building. LEED-EB improves building operation and performance while building operation and performance while reducing overall operating costs, and reducing overall operating costs, and provides a structure for maintaining provides a structure for maintaining performance over the long term.performance over the long term.

Choosing the Best Choosing the Best PracticesPractices

There are many methodologies directed There are many methodologies directed toward the maintenance of your facilities.toward the maintenance of your facilities.

Choose the program that uses the best Choose the program that uses the best practices available to your school.practices available to your school.

LEED-EB encompasses not only the LEED-EB encompasses not only the custodial programs, but others within the custodial programs, but others within the building and district.building and district.

Example of Modern Example of Modern MethodologyMethodology

Green Cleaning ISGreen Cleaning IS

A systematic approach to standardize the use A systematic approach to standardize the use of “green” products, supplies and equipment in of “green” products, supplies and equipment in conjunction with those practices that best conjunction with those practices that best utilize the modern technology available. utilize the modern technology available. Through joint awareness from both custodial Through joint awareness from both custodial staff and administration, as to the schools staff and administration, as to the schools goals, will the results be apparent by the goals, will the results be apparent by the students, staff, families and visitors of our students, staff, families and visitors of our facilities.facilities.

Cleaning for Health: Cleaning for Health: Best PracticesBest Practices

We should maintain a clean, We should maintain a clean, healthy campus through healthy campus through improved systems and improved systems and

communication while reducing communication while reducing potential negative impact on potential negative impact on cleaning staff and occupants.cleaning staff and occupants.