A Tough Economy Calls for Tough Spot and Stain Removal Procedures

While the cleaning industry—and ISSA in particular—strive to reinforce the value of proper cleaning and its role in preserving building assets, tough economic times can pressure certain facilities to scale back their regular carpet cleaning programs. Some facility managers who would normally have their carpets cleaned two or three times per year are now postponing cleaning for as long as possible to reduce expenditures. No matter what technique is used, carpet cleaning typically is time consuming and labor intensive.
When carpet cleaning is postponed, the amount of spot and stain removal required usually increases. Not only are there more stains and spots to deal with, but cleaning workers report they are also dealing with a wider variety of spots and stains, many of which they have never encountered before.
The first order of business when removing spots and stains is to identify the substance being removed. This helps cleaning workers determine which steps, chemicals, and procedures will be necessary to remove the stain. However, this can prove to be more difficult than imagined.
The following questions can help cleaning workers in identifying a mysterious stain or spot on a carpet.

• What does the client say? If the stain is in or near a specific office, for instance, ask those working in that office if they know what caused it.
• Where is the stain located? Different areas are likely to have different kinds of soiling. For instance, spots and stains near a foodservice area will likely be the result of organic soils such as food, soda, coffee, etc., while soiling in a warehouse area may be caused by inorganic soils, such as those derived from petroleum.
• Is the stain shiny? A shiny appearance often indicates that a stain is inorganic, while a dull appearance often means it is organic.
• Is the substance in the fiber or on the fiber? A substance that has been ground in to the carpet fiber is much more difficult to remove than a substance merely sitting on the outside surface of the fiber.
• Is there an odor? Blot the area with a damp towel. If there is an odor, it will often transfer to the towel, perhaps allowing the cleaning worker to identify its source.

Read more:

http://www.issa.com/?m=articles&event=view&id=4016&page=1&lg=&category=116

Carpets, Health, and Air Quality

There have been a number of surprising studies throughout the years regarding the amount of germs and bacteria that can be found on office desks, cell phones, and the sponges we use to wipe down counters and wash dishes. However, one study that has gotten relatively little notice relates to carpets and concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ).
In that study, which was conducted by the University of Arizona several years ago, researchers asked a group of people to wear brand-new shoes for two weeks. They were to wear the shoes everywhere—to school, to work, shopping, etc. After two weeks, the shoes were returned to be tested for contaminants that might have collected on the shoe bottoms. What researchers discovered surpassed their expectations:

• The shoes collected more than 420,000 units of bacteria, and all the shoes had varying amounts of bacteria on them.
• Potentially hazardous levels of E. coli were present on about one-third of the shoes.
• Greywater, food, drinks, grease, tar, and dust were found on all of the shoes to varying degrees.

These kinds of contaminants and bacteria all have the potential to negatively impact indoor air quality when they are walked into a facility on users’ shoes. However, in most cases, carpets act as an environmental filter, trapping soils, bacteria, and contaminants and stopping them from becoming airborne, which means healthier IAQ for everyone.

http://www.issa.com/?m=articles&event=view&id=4019&page=1&lg&category=116

Training the Customer

Cleaning worker training is a vital opportunity for distributors in our industry. Assisting and training our end-customers in ways to perform their duties and use products properly and more effectively is what sets janitorial suppliers apart from big-box and online retailers. This specialized training leads to unmatched customer loyalty and helps professionalize our industry.

The Wrong Message
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook is a published review of just about every type of job available in the country. The section that addresses “Building Cleaning Workers” highlights such points as the nature of the work, the details of the profession, and job outlook.
Most of the information is well researched and provides a very good overview of the professional cleaning industry.  However, the section entitled Education and Training gets it all wrong. It reads:

No special training or education is required for most entry-level janitorial or cleaning jobs but workers should be able to perform simple arithmetic and follow instructions.*
A statement like this coming from such a worthy body as the Bureau of Labor Statistics is really an insult to our industry. It is true that cleaning workers in the United States do not have to attend a college or university to receive a degree in cleaning before they can enter the industry. However, indicating that “no special training or education” is necessary is not only offensive to those of us in the industry, but it is also a reflection of the old way of viewing the cleaning industry overall.

Reap the Benefits
Training is vital to any industry and especially the professional cleaning industry.  In recent years, the importance of cleaning—particularly to keep people healthy—has finally received the awareness and attention it deserves. However, there are many other reasons training is so crucial to our industry. 


Read the benefits now:

http://www.issa.com/?m=articles&event=view&id=3711&page=6&lg=&category=116

Carpets, Health, and Air Quality

There have been a number of surprising studies throughout the years regarding the amount of germs and bacteria that can be found on office desks, cell phones, and the sponges we use to wipe down counters and wash dishes. However, one study that has gotten relatively little notice relates to carpets and concerns about indoor air quality (IAQ).

In that study, which was conducted by the University of Arizona several years ago, researchers asked a group of people to wear brand-new shoes for two weeks. They were to wear the shoes everywhere—to school, to work, shopping, etc. After two weeks, the shoes were returned to be tested for contaminants that might have collected on the shoe bottoms. What researchers discovered surpassed their expectations:

• The shoes collected more than 420,000 units of bacteria, and all the shoes had varying amounts of bacteria on them.
• Potentially hazardous levels of E. coli were present on about one-third of the shoes.
• Greywater, food, drinks, grease, tar, and dust were found on all of the shoes to varying degrees.

These kinds of contaminants and bacteria all have the potential to negatively impact indoor air quality when they are walked into a facility on users’ shoes. However, in most cases, carpets act as an environmental filter, trapping soils, bacteria, and contaminants and stopping them from becoming airborne, which means healthier IAQ for everyone.
But the effectiveness of carpeting as an environmental filter is dependent on maintenance. Carpets must be properly cleaned and maintained at regular intervals in order to protect IAQ. And this typically begins with the creation of an effective and sustainable carpet maintenance program.<sup>1

Read more:</sup>

http://www.issa.com/?m=articles&event=view&id=4019&page=1&lg=&category=116

CIMS Corner: Certified FAQs

When a company introduces a new product or service, one of the first things it often does is release a set of frequently asked questions (FAQs) to provide general information and anticipate questions that are likely to be asked. The ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) and CIMS-Green Building (GB) program is no different, having two FAQs readily available on the ISSA.com Web site at www.issa.com/cims. However, there are a series of additional questions that are often asked regarding the program, and I figured that ISSA Today’s “CIMS Corner” was a good place to clarify some misconceptions and provide more information. Of course, my assistant, Plamena Todorova, I, and the entire ISSA Membership Services team are happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Just give us a shout!

What is the difference between, CIMS, CIMS-GB, I.C.E., and I.C.E.-GB certification?
On an ever-increasing basis, you hear individuals and companies claim to be CIMS/CIMS-GB certified or an ISSA Certification Expert (I.C.E). Yet there seems to be some confusion regarding the differences between the designations. Let’s start with CIMS/CIMS-GB.

Simply stated, CIMS and CIMS-GB certification apply to an entire cleaning organization, require a comprehensive on-site assessment by an accredited third-party, and indicate that the organization complies with the CIMS/CIMS-GB standard.

The I.C.E. program prepares attendees to lead customers or their own organizations through the CIMS/CIMS-GB certification process. I.C.E. and I.C.E.-GB certification, applies to an individual, and certification is earned by attending a workshop and passing an examination on the elements of the standard. Further, while the attendee achieves certification as an individual, the organization he or she represents does not become certified.

It is important to note that individuals who attend an I.C.E. workshop and pass the examination achieve both I.C.E. and I.C.E.-GB certification because the workshop covers the elements of both. However, organizations that achieve CIMS certification do not necessarily achieve CIMS-GB certification. Rather, they are separate designations; organizations must first pass a CIMS assessment to be eligible for GB although most applicants do undergo their assessments for CIMS and CIMS-GB simultaneously.

Read more:

http://www.issa.com/?m=articles&event=view&id=3791&page=5&lg=&category=116

Avmor Ltd. hosts its third annual GREEN CLEANING FOR HEALTH FORUM

Montreal, QC – October 12, 2012 - Avmor Ltd., a Laval-based company and Canada's leading manufacturer of professional cleaning solutions for the Facility Maintenance and Foodservice markets hosts its third annual GREEN CLEANING FOR HEALTH FORUM in Vancouver at the Simon Fraser University on October 4th, 2012.

The impressive list of guest speakers included:
• Susan Rutherford, Sustainability Analyst with UL Environment - She collaborates with scientists and stakeholders to develop and revise EcoLogo and UL Eco labeling standards for environmentally preferable products.
• Mark Bishop, Vice President of Policy and Communications at Healthy Schools Campaign - Mark focuses on state and national advocacy for school food reform and environmental health issues including green cleaning, healthy and energy-efficient schools and equitable school building funding.
• Allen Rathey, President of InstructionLink/JanTrain, Inc., Boise ID - A 30-year veteran of the cleaning industry who also serves as president of the Housekeeping Channel (HC), the Healthy House Institute (HHI) and the Healthy Facilities Institute (HFI).
• Dan Wagner, ISSA’s Director of Facility Service Programs - He is primarily responsible for leading the association’s Cleaning Industry Management Standard & CIMS-Green Building Certification Program.

Avmor’s Green Cleaning for Health Forum encouraged discussion around the importance of cleaning and green cleaning solutions that will help improve the health and safety of buildings and minimize harmful impacts on building occupants, custodians, visitors and the environment. In addition, the forum also covered topics ranging from efficient green cleaning methods and tools to green certification along with industry innovation.
Participants included Property managers, Building service contractors, Distributors, and representatives from the education and health care industries.

 

Read more: http://www.avmor.com//files/news/enews1350068059.pdf