NEWS SECTION

WHY HEPA?

November 19 2013

HEPA is an acronym for "high efficiency particulate air". Basically HEPA is a type of filter that can trap a large amount of very small particles that other vacuum cleaners would simply recirculate back into the air of your home or Business. True HEPA filters are able to trap at least 99.97 percent of particles down to 00.3 microns. HEPA filters trap small particles that may cause problems for allergy sufferers and others with health problems. Reducing or eliminating those particles will make cleaner air for the employees of your business. Decide if a true HEPA is necessary for your office environment.

IS MICROBFIBER ALL THAT GREAT?

June 19 2014

Microfiber cloths and mops are essential tools in an infection-control program.
The goal of an infection-control program is to prevent the spread of infectious disease by
reducing contact with pathogenic microbes.

What is Microfiber?

Microfiber is a polyester and nylon (polyamide) fiber that is used to make fabric. The
fiber is split many times smaller than a human hair. This makes it a superior tool for
cleaning and germ removal because it is able to penetrate cracks and crevasses that
cotton cloths or paper towels are not able to reach. The increased surface area of the
fibers and their star shape also allow them to absorb up to 7 to 8 times their weight
in liquid. The fibers generate a static electric charge when moved across a surface that
attracts dust and contains it, rather than spreading it around or releasing it into the
air when dry dusting.
The term microfiber technically applies to fiber that is 1.0 denier or smaller. The
smaller the denier measurement, the finer and more effective the microfiber. Superior
microfiber measures 0.13 denier. Manufacturers have created products with different
weaves and weave densities for specific types of tasks. Ask the vendor about the grades
of microfiber that are available and which grade is best for specific cleaning tasks.

Benefits of Microfiber:

Effective at capturing microbes: Several studies have determined that microfiber
is better than cotton at capturing bacteria. The University of California, Davis
Medical Center compared the amount of bacteria picked up by a cotton-loop mop
and by a microfiber mop. The cotton-loop mop reduced bacteria on the floors by
30%, whereas the microfiber mop reduced bacteria by 99%.2

2. Prevents cross-contamination: Microfiber cloths and mops are available in
different colors so that a color-coding system can be implemented for specific uses.
For instance, in bathrooms, pink cloths can be used for toilets and yellow cloths for
sinks. Green cloths can be used for office cleaning.

3. Reduces chemical and water use more effectively: A University of Massachusetts
Lowell study
determined that because the microfiber mopping system uses less
water and chemicals, it reduced the amount of water and chemicals handled, and it
eliminated the need to wring the heavy cotton mops, resulting in less potential for
worker injury.

WHAT IS DWELL TIME?

September 16, 2013

It’s the amount of time a disinfectant must sit on a surface in order to effectively kill germs and bacteria. Dwell time differs from product to product so it’s important to read the use instructions before use.

Just spraying and wiping doesn’t give the disinfectant the time it needs to kill 99 percent of bacteria. It needs to sit or “dwell” in order to kill anything living on that surface. In fast-paced environments where cleaning needs to be done in a short amount of time, dwell time often isn’t met. The easiest way to make it happen is to clean any dirt and debris off surfaces and spray them before you move to other cleaning tasks. For example, team members can apply the chemical as they move around the restroom following the top-to-bottom cleaning method. By the time they are finished, they can return to where they started to wipe up the chemical. In a smaller restroom, they may need to disinfect the men’s restroom and let it sit while they work on the women’s restroom, and vice versa.

The key with dwell time is to always read the label of the solution you’re using. Even if you’ve used it before, it doesn’t hurt to double check. You never know when a manufacturer might change the recommendations or modify solutions in a way that could impact dwell time.