The Different Levels of Clean

As we discussed last week, the definition of “clean” carries a lot of ambiguity in the industrial and commercial cleaning communities. For example, a retail store may define its facility’s level of clean by physical appearance, while a healthcare facility is required to define “clean” by certain standards and regulations. For our purpose of providing you with a general overview of “clean” standards, we can differentiate among three levels: cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting.

• Cleaning: removing dirt, grease, debris and many germs by scrubbing with detergent and water. In buildings, floors are cleaned to improve their appearance and make them safer by reducing the likelihood of slip-and-fall accidents.
• Sanitizing: reducing the number of disease-causing germs to what is considered a “safe level.” One definition of hard-surface sanitizers states that these chemical agents must be capable of killing 99.9% of the infectious organisms present in a bacterial population within 30 seconds.
• Disinfecting: destroying disease-causing bacteria or pathogens (but not spores or all viruses, which would require sterilizing, a process not applied to floors). A disinfectant is a chemical agent capable of reducing the level of pathogenic bacteria by 99.999% in a time frame of between 5 and 10 minutes. Recent outbreaks of the MRSA and H1N1 viruses have increased the frequency of disinfecting surfaces, usually with a quaternary disinfectant.

The majority of facilities are likely to describe their floor maintenance programs as “cleaning,” but even within this category there is a wide range of desired outcomes—from the retailer that demands a high-shine finish to greet shoppers every day to the school that needs its hallways free of dust, dirt and grime.

What is “Clean”?

We’ve talked a lot about green cleaning, emphasizing initiatives to reduce chemical, water and energy use. But what about the “clean” factor of green cleaning; what does that really mean? While there are a variety of standards and certifications that clearly define green cleaning, it is less clear what constitutes effective cleaning. There are no laws or regulations that establish required cleaning outcomes to guide those who own and maintain buildings. Sure, we can assess a “clean” area by its physical appeal, but does that really count? According to certain organizations, the answer is no.

Industry organizations, such as the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) and the Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI), are beginning to address the need to define “clean.” These two organizations have partnered together on a research project to produce a “scientific-based, pragmatic standard” for measuring surface cleanliness in K-12 educational facilities. While this is just one example of a “clean” standard, this is only the beginning for future standard development.

Spend More Time Cleaning, Less Time Preparing to Clean

With labor contributing up to 90% of the total cost to clean, it is important to realize that the more time spent actually cleaning will result in a more cost-efficient cleaning program. Preparation and assembly of floor cleaning equipment, solution and cleaning schedule can often require excessive time, which results in more money and resources spent. Proper planning and the right equipment can reduce the preparation and clean-up processes, making it possible for staff to make adjustments while they’re cleaning.

A flexible scrubbing program employs equipment and practices to handle cleaning applications that require a tougher scrub, such as heavily-trafficked entryways or tough soils, without stopping to modify their cleaning approach. For example, a floor scrubber that can dispense water and detergent separately eliminates having to pre-mix solution or empty tanks to change detergents or solution strength, which can also lead to detergent and chemical waste as it is poured down the drain.

This type of flexibility reduces cleaning professionals’ time spent prepping machines and minimizes cleaning passes, ultimately increasing time and cost efficiency.

Setting the Standard in Green Cleaning

The cleaning industry offers a myriad of cleaning products, all claiming to deliver the best performance and longest-lasting solution. However, these conventional cleaning products come with environmental concerns—at a much higher cost for you. With today’s increasing demands to “go green” and make a sustainable contribution to the environment, green cleaning solutions are flooding the industry. How do you choose one that’s right for your facility?

Advance’s EcoFlex™ System, introduced in 2009, is a new cleaning technology that achieves both environmentally sustainable cleaning methods as well as the highest standards of effective cleaning. The EcoFlex System is designed to save you time, use fewer machines and reduce water and detergent consumption. With the touch of a button, you can effortlessly switch between chemical-free, water-only cleaning and varying degrees of detergent, down pressure and flow rates. Compared to conventional scrubbing—which can often use excess water—the EcoFlex System’s ultra-low-flow dispensing feature cuts water usage by up to 70 percent. The simple controls and operation of the EcoFlex System take the hassle out of cleaning so you won’t have to hesitate to make adjustments for higher sanitary standards, different surface types or unexpected cleaning challenges.

The EcoFlex System is defined by flexibility and allows you to get more out of one machine. Every cleaning challenge is different and requires varying cleaning methods; why waste time and money on multiple pieces of equipment? The EcoFlex System allows you to develop a cleaning routine that works for your facility and to make quick adjustments that will help you get the most out of all of your resources—from water and detergent to time and equipment.

The bottom line? The EcoFlex System delivers efficient results for the toughest cleaning challenges, while allowing you to clean green.

Introducing the Advance Smart Cleaning Blog

Hello and welcome to the new Advance Smart Cleaning blog. Here, you’ll find the latest information on efficient, environmentally friendly floor and surface cleaning—including tips, strategies and equipment that will help you achieve your clean standard, no matter what the application. Designed to increase productivity while driving down the total cost to clean, our cleaning equipment spans many markets, including: healthcare, education, hospitality, retail, recreation, casinos, building services, government, manufacturing, warehousing, parking and outdoor use. Our equipment cleans your floors and outdoor areas, while maintaining a professional, aesthetic appearance.

Nilfisk-Advance is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of professional cleaning equipment. The company has developed professional cleaning equipment for over 100 years. Nilfisk-Advance has production facilities in North America, South America, Europe, and China, and has an extensive network of sales entities in 43 countries and is represented in more than 100 countries around the world. With the Advance brand, Nilfisk-Advance is committed to providing versatile equipment that supports facility cleanliness, the health and safety of occupants, as well as the environment.

The Advance Smart Cleaning blog will focus on the benefits we can offer to enhance your productivity and the tools needed to produce efficient cleaning results. We will also focus on relevant industry issues, the latest studies affecting these issues, and green cleaning solutions and equipment to help reduce costs while satisfying your environmental and cleanliness goals. This blog will feature many contributing authors, including representatives from product development and technology, marketing and sales. These professionals will contribute detailed technical information and knowledgeable opinions on a variety of cleaning industry topics, from green cleaning to improving efficiency and meeting the highest cleanliness standards.

For the latest information on floor cleaning and maintenance, bookmark this page or add our RSS feed. We welcome your feedback on future posts, as well as suggestions for topics that you’d like to see covered in the future. Stay tuned!