A reader writes: “You were wrong in your suggested steps for disinfecting a surface. First of all, it has to be free of soils before it can be properly disinfected. Your response?” I am amazed at the response I got to this article and apologize for not being clear. I totally agree with all of…
Spring is a time when flowers bloom and leaves grow on trees. It symbolizes a fresh start and often inspires a ritual of cleaning. In fact, American Cleaning Institute (ACI) reports that 76 percent of households will take part in spring cleaning this year. According to ACI’s 2018 National Cleaning Survey, Millennials embrace cleaning more…
In the latest FluView report ending Feb. 9, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that 48 states have seen widespread flu activity. In fact, there are a reported 6,868 confirmed flu-associated hospitalizations from Oct. 1, 2018, through Feb. 9 — an overall flu-associated hospitalization rate of 23.8 per 100,000 population. In…
Cleaning Up After Kitty Your fabulous feline may think cat hair is the ultimate accessory. If you don’t agree, start by getting a good vacuum cleaner. Look for one with strong suction that has a pet hair attachment. Don’t forget to vacuum chairs and curtains. Wear wet rubber gloves and run your hands over your…
Water is a “Universal Solvent” and, as such, every technician should appreciate that water is essential to any cleaning process where a liquid is involved. This understanding allows the custodial team to solve cleaning problems in the most effective, and most environmentally-safe manner. Engineered Water (EW), as defined by the Engineered Water Consortium, means “Water…
A major challenge in the industry and something that is very confusing to facility executives — since more than 90 percent have no written plan or protocol — is how to handle infectious outbreaks. We have all seen news reports of this university or that district closed for cleaning and disinfecting due to absences from…
A 2017 study found that the cell phones of secondary school students carried 17,000 bacterial gene copies. While office workers are probably a bit cleaner than high schoolers, studies show that bacteria is everywhere. For those in the cleaning industry, it’s a good idea to know how to clean all the hidden germ shelters in…
Every year, workplaces throughout the U.S. become incubators for the flu virus, with employees and employers likely fueling the flames, according to a new survey from Staples Business Advantage, the business-to-business division of Staples, Inc. More than two in five employed adults (44 percent) reported contracting the flu last year, and 45 percent of those…
Quaternary ammonium chloride (quat) is an active ingredient in disinfectants that are used widely throughout the industry. These disinfectants are popular because of their effectiveness against germs, bacteria and viruses; their relatively low toxicity at proper dilution; low odors and; long shelf life. When used properly, quat disinfectants can be very effective. But if used…
New research published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), the journal of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), said that sinks located next to patient toilets in hospital rooms increases the risk of infection. Specifically, Infection Control Today reports that the sinks often harbor Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC). Of…