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OSHA Offers Tips For Preparing Office For COVID-19
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a document intended to help employers maintain a safe and healthy workplace in the wake of the new coronavirus outbreak. Read more
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Overlooked Touchpoints Lead to Cross- Contamination
An EVS staff can do everything right when it comes to hitting every assigned surface with the appropriate disinfectant at the proper frequencies, yet all it takes is one overlooked surface — perhaps one not even on a checklist — to cause an infectious chain reaction. Read more
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Inventory Management Improves Cleaning Efficiency
For many, a new year is an opportunity for a fresh start. That could mean a new diet, resurrecting a favorite hobby or the chance to get rid of old habits and start anew. Read more
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Cleaning Robots Could Help Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A recent experiment conducted by The Perfect Little Company (TPLC) concluded that by using commercial robotic vacuums in offices, over 11 thousand tons of greenhouse gases could be saved each year. Read more |
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Infection Prevention Innovations for Facility Managers
Infection prevention tools have come a long way from the days of the string mop and bucket. Increased awareness of the harmful bacteria that can be found on floor. Read more |
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Robots Instrumental in Stopping the Spread of Corona Virus
Robotics are an important innovation in the cleaning industry, providing autonomous floor cleaning and tackling other highly repetitive jobs to free up custodians for more thought-provoking tasks. Read more
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The Superbug Era
Not too long ago, if people became ill with an infection caused by bacteria, they simply took a medication prescribed by their physician to kill the germ. Read more |
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Professional Cleaners Asking Questions About Combatting the Corona Virus
Professional cleaners concerned about the effects coronavirus could have on their facilities. “We’re learning day-to-day about this coronavirus, we’re all going to the be the ones on the front line. Read more |
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12 Simple Steps for Better Deep Cleaning
Vacuum thoroughly first. It’s important to vacuum the carpet thoroughly to remove loose debris before extracting with water. Make several passes at different angles to remove as much soil as possible. Read more
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3 Tips For Cleaning Open Architecture Ceilings
One of the most overlooked areas of retail spaces, warehouses, hotels, casinos, or hospitals—just to name a few facilities—is the open-architecture ceiling. Read more |
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Teach Educators the 5 Lessons of Cleaning Schools
Student attendance at almost every school is tied to federal and/or state funding, so educators have a specific interest in limiting student illness, as well as that of staff and faculty. Read more |
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How to Perform an Entrance Effectiveness Audit
Slips, trips, and falls rank No. 3 on the National Safety Council’s list of workplace injury events that result in lost days of work with over 300,000 cases in 2018. Read more |
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Carpet Spots vs. Stains
Nothing in a facility says you have let your floors go like spots that inevitably appear in the most high profile of places. As a facility manager, your proficiency in spotting is essential. Read more |
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Prevent White Haze When Cleaning Tile and Grout
As more cleaners add tile and grout cleaning to the list of services they provide, they are encountering unexpected problems. One concern is a white haze left on the grout or on the tile after the floors dry. Read more
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The Robots are Coming...Are You Letting Them In?
With automation such a hot topic, these days, one of the most interesting survey questions to me was, “Do you implement autonomous or robotic cleaning equipment in your operation?” I was surprised to find the answer was an overwhelming Read more |
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Flu Activity Continues To Rise
Keep up your facility disinfection measures, especially as students return to school this week and many workers come back from holiday breaks. Seasonal flu activity in the United States is high and continues to increase, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report. Read more |
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10 Safety Considerations For Construction Cleanup
Unlike standard janitorial services, construction cleanup requires attention to every surface. From drywall dust to large sawdust and paint-splatter, there’s a wide range of service to implement. Read more
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Neglected EVS Training will Cost Your Business
As I reflect on the earlier years of my environmental services and facility maintenance career, I recall undergoing training with an emphasis on individual development. We were taught if we failed to plan, we planned to fail. Read more |
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Smart Tips for Cleaning a Commercial Kitchen
Let’s discuss some smart tips for cleaning a commercial kitchen so that your establishment conforms with all health and safety regulations. From products to use on kitchen surfaces to make them shine to daily maintenance tips that help commercial equipment stay clean longer. Read more |
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How to Select and Use Electrostatic Spray Technology for Cleaning and Disinfecting
Cleaning large spaces can be a challenge, especially if those spaces include various surfaces that are difficult to clean and disinfect. Take a gym, for example. Staff are responsible for cleaning and disinfecting multiple exercise machines and equipment, lockers, and restrooms, all within a limited time. Read more |
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University researches Lives of Janitors
New research from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities demonstrates the physical and emotional toll janitors undergo while doing their job, reports MinnPost. Read more
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Prevent Common Custodial Injuries
Overexertion tops the list of most frequent injuries to custodial workers, making it a reasonable place to focus initial safety efforts. Read more
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Protect Carpets With Proper Dry Times
Routine maintenance can prolong the life and appearance of carpets, but excessive moisture can quickly negate the cleaning process. Not only do wet carpets act as a magnet for dirt, but they pose potential health and safety risks to building occupants, which is why drying carpets is as important as cleaning them. Read more
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Winter Carpet Care Tips
As the days grow shorter during the winter and the air colder, people prepare to spend more time indoors. For businesses, this increase in foot traffic can elevate the risk of carpet stains, damage and wear. Read more |
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Proper Application of Ice Melt Improves Effectiveness
Experts emphasize the importance of purchasing the right ice melt formulation for the application and area, rather than simply going with the least expensive option. Product performance can vary greatly depending on the ingredients. Read more |
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Steps to Improving Floor Safety
Due to the ambiguous nature of floor safety standards, Kendzior encourages cleaning and maintenance managers to educate themselves and make sure their voices are heard. One way they can take charge is by playing an active role in the selection of flooring for their facility. Read more |
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Ergonomics Promote Safety, Boosts Morale
No doubt, mopping is physically demanding work that requires lifting, bending, and reaching for extended periods of time. The repetitive motion places undue stress and strain on the back, arms, shoulders and wrists. Read more |
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Top Restroom Cleaning Challenges
When it comes to landing repeat business, having a well-maintained restroom is vital. If someone's touch, smell, or sight senses something is awry, that individual is remarkably less likely to visit that restroom again, or, consequently, that entire facility. Read more |
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Campuses Preach Hygiene as Virus Cases Confirmed
With high indoor-traffic in classrooms, libraries and especially dorms, the spread of infectious disease is often an inevitability among college students. Read more
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Contaminated Waste Harms Business and Sustainability Efforts
An estimated 25 percent of recycled materials in the United States are contaminated, according to the National Waste and Recycling Association. Read more
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Cleaning's Role in Public Health
Running a contract cleaning company is not easy. Any job that deals with clients can be challenging, especially when the idea of what clean means is different for many customers. Read more |
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30 Year Study Finds Weekly Use of Disinfectants Greatly Increases Your Chance of Lung Disease
One of the most versatile cleaning supplies in the home, bleach, disinfects anything it comes into contact with and can not only clean every surface but remove stains from fabrics, too. Despite its cleaning power, we’ve also long heard of the effects such chemicals can have on our health and wellbeing. Read more
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Staffing Still a Challege for Building Service Contractors
Recruiting and retaining staff continues to be an uphill battle for building service contractors (BSCs), according to results of the 2019 CMM BSC/Contract Cleaning Benchmarking Survey sponsored by Sunbelt Rentals. Read more |
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The Importance of Handwashing
No matter where you work, play or relax frequent handwashing is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading germs. Many diseases and conditions are transmitted by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water. Read more |
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Protect Your Cleaning Staff From Chemical Injuries
Cleaners worldwide know the importance of using the proper chemicals and solutions for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces. What they might not be aware of is the importance of using these solutions safely. Read more |
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The Great Debate: Paper Towels vs. Hand Dryers
The process of washing hands removes bacteria and brings it to rest on the surface of one’s hands. When testing paper towels after use, researchers have discovered many of the bacteria previously on one’s wet hands are transferred to paper towels, as friction from the mechanical abrasive action of drying the hands is a key component of removing the bacteria. Read more
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10 Tips for Vacuuming Success
Working smart will protect your client's carpeting, your vacuum, and your back. Read more |
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Acoustic Flooring Solutions for Healthcare and Educational Facilities
Facility design elements are crucial in allowing building residents to experience and utilize the space in a healthy and productive manner. Read more
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Norovirus: It's More Than Just a Cruise Ship Disease
Many associate norovirus with the “cruise ship” virus because the news often features stories about ships having to dock early due to an outbreak.In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)report that one in 10 passengers between 2008 and 2014 fell victim to this virus. However...Read more
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Shift the Commercial Restroom Paradigm
The restroom has long been the bane of commercial buildings—a place dreaded by employees, avoided by visitors, and often feared by both. And with good reason. Too often, the office restroom boasts a collection of less-than-desired attributes and amenities like fluorescent lighting, leaky faucets, messy sinks, empty toilet tissue dispensers, and an overpowering and unpleasant odor. Read more |
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Teach Educators the 5 lessons of Cleaning Schools
In order to win the business of a school or an entire district, cleaning companies must demonstrate that they share the school’s goals. Cleaning is fine, but creating healthy atmospheres is the goal. Read more |
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Healthy Air Means Healthier Students
Good indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important component of a healthy indoor environment in schools and can contribute to improving students’ health. However, schools face numerous challenges to maintaining good IAQ. Read more |
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Simple Steps Towards More Sustainable Floor Care
It’s no wonder that floor care consumes a large portion of most cleaning budgets (it has been estimated that approximately 67% is related to floor care) and generally more labor intensive than any other cleaning task.
But when it comes to environmental impact, floor care is one of the biggest culprits in any cleaning program. Read more |
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Adopt Green Cleaning To Maximize the Benefits of the Green Building Trend
Green cleaning is mutually beneficial to this mission. However, there is far more to green cleaning than moving away from toxic chemicals and the use of non-recyclables. Green cleaning is a major driver in the industry, reflecting sustainable trends and increasing expectations among customers for products and services that respond to the environmentally friendly agenda. Read more
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AI Helps Track Hospital Hand Hygiene
Hand hygiene is always important, but there are few (if any) settings where clean palms and fingers are as vital as in hospitals. Nurse, doctor or patient — all three could potentially pass on something bad by neglecting to wash their hands well and often. Fortunately, the monitoring of hand washing compliance by hospitals can be made more successful through the use of artificial intelligence (AI). Read more |
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Case Study: Environmental Hygiene Best Practices for Pre-K School
The Goddard School in Skokie, IL. decided to build and open their school in 2016, they knew they’d be heavily involved in the overall management of the 14,000-square-foot facility.From the beginning, providing a clean, safe environment for the children was of paramount concern for Mary and Andrew Fratini, who says, “It was our observation that we would need to implement a new set of defined processes for cleaning all areas of the school. Read more
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Hospital Acquired Infections Drive Cleaning Demand
Healthcare facilities ramp up cleaning in response to the rising threat of drug-resistant infections. Read more |
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Cleaning Improves Mental Health
It’s well known that clean facilities have a positive impact on physical health, but as it turns out, the act of cleaning itself can benefit a person’s mental health, too. Read more |
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GOJO Publishes Sustainability Report
GOJO, the inventor of Purell hand sanitizer, has published its seventh annual report on sustainability. “Changing How The World Stays Well” highlights the company’s progress throughout 2017 and 2018 against its 2020 sustainable value strategies and goals, which focus on creating social, environmental and economic value for its stakeholders. Read more |
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Difference Between Microfiber and Cotton
In the last decade, microfiber has become the cloth of choice for much of the custodial cleaning industry. Manufacturers of the high-tech fabric say it offers a host of benefits over traditional cotton, but many facility and housekeeping managers still stock their janitorial closets. Read more
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My Experience When Cleaning Waterless Urinals
I was in San Diego to get started on a consulting project with a new client. As I walked through on the first day of performing my usual first-day-on-the-job tasks, I encountered something that I’d only read about in magazines and heard of in presentations: waterless urinals.“Marvelous!” I thought to myself. “They’ll reduce water usage by (whatever number the case studies said that I’d read at the time) Read more
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Technology That Disinfects Surfaces in Record Time
The faster an item can be properly disinfected the better. Understanding this, a group of researchers are in the process of creating a technology that can disinfect a surface in less than five minutes by way of a uber-thin coating comprised of ultraviolet light-emitting diodes, reports Forbes. Read more
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Best Practices for Addressing Summer Carpet Stains
With the arrival of summer, businesses can expect heavier foot traffic, increasing the risk of carpet stains, wear and tear and even permanent discoloring and damage.“From airports to hotels to retail stores, summer is a busy time for businesses and introduces numerous types of carpet challenges.” Read more |
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Cleaning Employees Hospitalized After Improper Chemical Use
The importance of proper chemical handling was unfortunately highlighted by a recent event in which two cleaning employees were hospitalized following a spill. Read more |
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Study ID's Unexpected Germ Hotbed
Hand hygiene is a critical component of infection prevention in hospitals, but the unintended consequences include water splashing out of a sink to spread contaminants from dirty faucets. Read more |
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Robot Proven to Kill Superbug
A new study claims a pulsed ultraviolet disinfecting technology can destroy the superbug Candida auris. Read more |
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Hotels Stress Green Cleaning and Productivity Initiatives
Hilton's Travel with Purpose initiative will double the company’s investment in social impact and cut its environmental footprint by half by 2030, say Hotel Executive reports. As part of the initiative, Hilton’s extended stay brands have shifted to more sustainable housekeeping practices through the introduction of their Light Touch cleaning program. Read more |
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Seven wasteful Practices of Cleaning Departments
The manufacturing of cars and building cleaning are two industries that don't have much in common. Well, at least not on the surface. But cleaning departments can use a series of principles for managing production originated under Henry Ford’s leadership to improve efficiency, says a recent ManageMen blog post. Read more |
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Waste Stream Management Procedure
Often overlooked, but still very important, is the topic of dealing with waste that is generated by facilities and the people in them. The best solution is not as simple as taking out the trash. Read more
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How to Create a Safety Culture in Your Facility
It is unfortunate that many professionals in our industry have been taught to believe the subject of health and safety is all about compliance with regulations. Read more
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Disinfectant Pros and Cons; Hydrogen Peroxide vs Quats
For most decision-makers in the cleaning industry, the purchase of a disinfectant is one of the most challenging, yet important, decisions the job requires of them. Read more |
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Amazon Invests $10 Million in Closed Loop Fund
Amazon has announced it will invest $10 million in Closed Loop Fund, New York, to support recycling infrastructure in the U.S., according to an Amazon news release. Read more |
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Superbugs Poised to Become Main Cause of Death
Article by Cleaning Management
New disinfecting techniques and the development of germ-resistant surfaces may help save the human race from what is predicted to be the most common cause of human death in about 30 years—antibiotic-resistant germs, Newsweek reports. Read more |
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Four Secrets of Successful Infection Prevention Programs
The most effective infection prevention programs incorporate a well-thought-out plan, the right products for the facility’s goals, continuous monitoring and most importantly, a consistent and effective process. Read more |
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Minimize Mold
Mold is ubiquitous. In more simple terms, it can be found everywhere. When we open or close the front door, mold spores rush in behind us. When we open the window to get some fresh air, mold spores float right in. Read more |
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Protect Your Workers From Head To Toe
Article by Kathleen Misovic for Cleaning Management Magazine
Mark Warner, education manager with ISSA’s Cleaning Management Institute (CMI), recalls a worker who wore sneakers to strip a floor. The worker’s sneakers and shoes became soaked with the stripping solution, but he finished the job without stopping to change his footwear, which eventually dried. Read more |
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Don't Forget To Clean High and Low
As professional (and nonprofessional) cleaners go through an office or home, they are diligent in scrubbing floors, counters, and restroom surfaces. But some areas don’t receive as much attention. Read more |
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No Touch Restrooms
Building managers in many facilities are embracing the cleanliness and convenience of no-touch dispensers and fixtures. Not only does this touchless technology help companies conserve bathroom supplies and save on restocking costs, it makes for a more sanitary restroom experience. Read more |
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Neglected EVS Training Will Cost Your Business
As I reflect on the earlier years of my environmental services and facility maintenance career, I recall undergoing training with an emphasis on individual development. We were taught if we failed to plan, we planned to fail. Read more |
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Protected Terrazzo Floors Last a Lifetime
Although durable, terrazzo can be a bit complicated to maintain when compared to other hard floor options, such as vinyl composition tile. Make sure you know how to clean, buff, and burnish these floors before you take on the job of caring for one. Read more
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Autonomous Floor Care Solutions Raise the Stakes on Equipment Safety
When it comes to trends in the professional cleaning industry, robotic technology is the talk of the town. But industry robots are not an entirely new . Read more
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Plastic Production and Pollution On The Rise
More people and businesses have become aware of the problem of plastic in the ocean and have committed to reducing their use of plastics and recycling the plastics they do use. However, the amount of plastic being dumped into the oceans has been increasing, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Communications. Read more |
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The Flu Season That Keeps Going and Going
May is just around the corner, so that means janitors in schools, offices, and other public facilities can relax their diligent cleaning against the flu virus, right? Wrong!
Keep up that cleaning. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the 2018-2019 flu season just broke a record for being the longest in duration. Read more
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How Advances in Chemical Dispensing Systems Make Measuring Chemicals Easier
Manually measuring cleaning chemicals is still a common practice, but it can quickly become a time-consuming, wasteful, and unsafe process. If employees incorrectly measure chemicals or water, the solution won’t perform as intended, resulting in inconsistent cleanliness levels and lost time caused by repeatedly cleaning the same surface. Read more |
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Dispenser Innovations Drive Sustainable Solutions
As we enter the new year, more facilities are looking to adopt sustainable practices. Eliminating waste in the restroom is a good place to start. Read more |
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The Power of Going Green in the Cleaning Services Industry
Going green is becoming increasingly attractive as a business strategy, and this growth has seen the continuous investment in driving the quality in cleaning services, technological innovation and solutions that improve sustainability. Read more |
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Cleaning Tips for the Cold and Flu Season
As cold and flu season approaches, some cleaning departments may need to ramp up their cleaning efforts — and take their cue from healthcare facilities that already have stringent programs in place to prevent the spread of germs. Read more
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CABVI STEM Camp
For the past few years, the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) has offered summer and winter camp experiences for local youth who are blind and visually impaired. This year, CABVI met with representatives from the U.S. Air Force Information Directorate and the Griffiss Institute. Working together, they created the inaugural CABVI STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) Camp.
Read more
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FDA Bans 19 Antibacterial Ingredients
FDA Rules On Safety, Effectiveness of Antibacterial Soaps
The Food and Drug Administration said it is banning the use of 19 active ingredients found in antibacterial soaps and washes. Manufacturers will have one year to remove the ingredients from their products, or be forced to take them off the market. Read what Theresa Michele, FDA's director of the division of nonprescription drug products, said in a call with reporters about why, and what makers of cleaning products had to say in this CleanLink.com article.
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C.A.B. Foundation Announces Inaugural Invitational Car Show presented by Tallman's Tire and Auto Repair.
Utica, NY – The C.A.B. Foundation invites the public to the first ever Vehicles for Vision Invitational Car Show presented by Tallman’s Tire and Auto Repair. The event will take place Sunday, June 12 at the Yahnundasis Golf Club in New Hartford. Read more
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Developing a Hospital Floor Cleaning Program
Advice for ES professionals on daily, periodic restorative maintenance
By Rock Jensen-In hospitals and health care facilities, there are few cleaning techniques that can make an impression like a well-maintained floor.
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Cabvi to Host Low Vision Expo
Utica, NY – The Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) will host a low vision expo Saturday, May 21 from 10am - 2pm at CABVI Headquarters 507 Kent Street, Utica. This free event is open to the public and will have two speakers. Learn more
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How To Sustainably Refinish Floors
Minimize Health and Environmental Impacts
By Dane Gregory-Do your wood, vinyl, or stone floors need to be refinished? Before you reach for harsh chemicals, there are a number of ways to make the processes of revitalizing floors more environmentally friendly. |
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Training Staff To Be Productive and Efficient
Keep it Clean
When one thinks of productivity they need to take into account the various aspects in their interpretation of this concept. Productivity incorporates both efficiency (how long it takes to perform a task) and effectiveness (how thoroughly is the task performed). |
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Floor Pads Join The Ranks of Environmentally Cleaning Products
This is part 1 of a 3 part article on Green Floor Pads
As more facilities pursue green initiatives, distributors are stocking cleaning products and equipment that meet their customers’ sustainability criteria. |
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Five Challenges To Green Cleaning In Schools
Studying Green
When UL Environment and the Healthy Schools Campaign wanted to know the status of green cleaning in the schools, they went straight to the source.
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Techniques To Improve Handwashing In Schools
Developing an A+ Hand Hygiene Program
Soap and water — it’s a combination we learned as kids. We were taught to wash our hands after using the restroom, before we eat, after we’re done playing, etc. Yet far too often, we take this simple and effective health prevention tool for granted, especially in our schools.
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Antibacterial Soap Vs Standard Soap
Report Outlines Effectiveness of Antibacterial Versus Standard Soaps
New research has found that when it comes to removing bacteria from hands, standard soaps work just as well as antibacterial options.
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Restroom Cleaning Machines Can Improve Level Of Cleanliness
Restroom Cleaning Machines Can Improve Efficiency
A worker cleaning by hand needs two minutes per fixture in a restroom to flush and disinfect toilets and urinals; stock dispensers; empty trash; dust; sweep; disinfect sinks, mirrors, brightwork, partitions and door handles; remove hard water deposits from fixtures; and clean and disinfect floors. A worker using a spray-and-vac restroom cleaning machine needs just one minute per fixture in a restroom.
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"Comparing Cleaning Options In Hospitals"
Read more
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"Why Using Safer Chemicals is Important"
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"Green Cleaning Products: Reducing Your Exposures"
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"Environmental Services Staffing Methodologies"
Read more
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Keep Your VCT Flooring looking Great
From Tips To Keeping VCT Floors Looking Great
Vinyl composition tile (VCT) is one of the most common types of hard surface floorings cleaning professionals will encounter. It is durable, relatively easy to clean, and inexpensive when compared to most other floor types. However, when working with a new VCT floor, maximizing the floor’s benefits will depend on how well it is cared for from the very start.
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"Terrazzo Makes A Comeback"
From WHITE PAPER: Terrazzo Makes A Comeback — Maintenance Tips For Cleaners
Although many cleaning contractors, distributors, and facility managers may not realize it, a flooring material that dates back to the 1400s is currently making a big comeback. Terrazzo floors are increasingly being installed in both commercial and residential settings, and this material is often used for countertops, partitions, wall coverings, and even bathtubs as well.
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