Executive Housekeeping Today - December 2008 - (Page 10)

MrSA (continued from page 8) down on their hands and knees and scrub floors, partitions, the underside of counters and fixtures with a wide variety of hand-applied cleaning chemicals, which then had to be wiped off or swabbed up with a mop that oftentimes went back-and-forth into a bucket containing dirty water. This method of cleaning not only brings the cleaning staff into close contact with any germs or bacteria that might be present, but its repetitive stooping, bending, and scrubbing also takes a physical toll. Therefore, this type of cleaning regimen can often lead to lowered employee morale, increased employee turnover, higher associated training costs, and—most important to the public—ineffective cleaning practices. To do away with this method of cleaning and sanitation, strides have been made in the development and implementation of automatic/touch-free cleaning systems for daily cleaning applications. The machines that are setting the standard in this growing market are affordable, battery-powered, self-contained, portable cleaning systems that use correctly dosed cleaning chemicals that are applied by spray nozzle using low-flow/low-pressure technology. With these systems, the chemicals do the cleaning, not high pressure. This low-pressure cleaning protects fixtures and grout from water damage and eliminates the spray-back of bacteria-contaminated water, all of which may occur with high-pressure (500+ psi) cleaning systems. Their design and operation also supports ongoing efforts to eliminate the bacteria that cause staph infections from public restrooms. The low-flow design of these next-generation cleaning systems uses only half-a-gallon of cleaning solution per minute, eliminating the need for wet/dry-vac recovery The low-flow design of these next-generation cleaning systems uses only half-a-gallon of cleaning solution per minute, eliminating the need for wet/ dry-vac recovery and the handling of contaminated water, while at the same time reducing the slip-and-fall risk. and the handling of contaminated water, while at the same time reducing the slip-and-fall risk. In addition, these units clean faster. In fact, ISSA’s 447 Cleaning Times shows that the use of touchless cleaning technology can reduce fixture-cleaning time by as much as 67 percent. Furthermore, touch-free cleaning systems are kind to the environment, with less water and chemicals used when compared with traditional cleaning methods. These units also operate on a rechargeable, maintenance-free 12V lead-acid battery, allowing the user to clean anywhere, regardless of power-outlet availability. Forest Hills School District is a unit school district located southeast of Cincinnati, with 7,750 total students who attend six elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. Of the district’s nine facilities, the flagship building is Wilson Elementary, which opened in 1959, and has been expanded twice in the ensuing five decades. Kevin Reid, Assistant Head of Maintenance and District Supervisor of the Custodial Staff for Forest Hills School District, had employed traditional cleaning techniques in order to get the building ready for the daily onslaught of students, PTA meetings, and other extracurricular activities that make up the daily life of an elementary school these days. Then, in March 2007, his custodial staff began using an automatic/touch-free cleaning systems for daily cleaning applications. Positive results were noted almost immediately. “The guys at Wilson love it. It really helps them a lot. It’s kind of neat that this is an older building, but it has a professional, friendly, and caring staff that provides the students a clean, nice environment that helps them produce good test scores,” said Reid. “That is the case at all of our schools, and we take a lot of pride in that.” Conclusion The level of personal hygiene will always be at the whim of the individual, but when it comes to facilities, operators and managers have no recourse but to provide the most hygienic surroundings possible for their patrons. While the rate of reported MRSA outbreaks continues to grow alarmingly, the high-profile events of 2007 have shed some much-needed light on the importance of cleanliness in educational facilities. W Chris Torry is the ICS Sales Manager at Hydro Systems Co., located in Cincinnati, OH. Hydro Systems Co. recently debuted the ICS 8900—the best-in-class solution for touch-free cleaning of restrooms, locker/shower rooms, and similar facilities. Questions regarding the ICS 8900 can be addressed to Torry at (513) 271-8800, or visit www.hydrosystemsco.com. 0 Executive Housekeeping Today/December 2008 http://www.hydrosystemsco.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - December 2008

Executive Housekeeping Today - December 2008 Contents Executive Corner Microfiber May Impede an Infectious Disease Outbreak Controlling MRSA Outbreaks in Educational Facilities Frugal Housekeeper Restroom Hygiene IEHA Hosts Progressive Integrated Cleaning and Measurement (ICM)™ Symposium Feature Article The Green Scene 2006-2008 EHT Article Index USGBC Tip Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members REH/CEH Members Advertisers' Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - December 2008

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