Executive Housekeeping Today - February 2009 - (Page 10)

soap DispenseRs (continued from page 5) order. Has product accumulated on the outer cover (shroud) of the dispenser? Has the cover been damaged? Cracks or other damage could cause improper alignment with the back plate mounted to the wall and thus, misalign inner components of the unit, causing soap to drip, leak, and clog. Keeping the product uncontaminated inside the dispenser is important for the health of restroom visitors. Hygienic, sealed systems offer the best protection from external contaminates. Germs are everywhere and hands provide the perfect transport vehicle to spread illness and possible infection. Sealed dispensing systems ensure there is no contact with a potentially germ-ridden surface. Research has shown that bulk-filled soap systems that have exposure to outside elements can become contaminated and are potential breeding grounds for a host of bacteria. Bacteria then collect inside the dispenser and flows with the soap right onto unsuspecting hands. A sealed dispensing system ensures a safe, clean, hygienic system with each refill. If the refill is a collapsible bag filled with product, consumers are assured that the bags are immediately sealed against potential contamination. Each bag comes with its own clean, fresh pump, virtually replacing the system each and every time housekeeping refills the dispenser. The same is true for soft plastic bottles fitted with individual pumps. The soap is filled in clean manufacturing conditions as specified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the bottle sealed, and cases are packed. Most consumers are unaware that the FDA regulates cosmetic products, including hand cleaners, with very specific standards. A sealed dispensing system assures that the soap maintains the strict specifications mandated by the FDA. Broken, empty, or soiled soap dispensers contribute greatly to the overall appearance of a public restroom. In SCA Tissue North America’s recent survey previously mentioned in this article, a dispenser with insufficient product would prevent a customer’s return visit to a restaurant 28 percent of the time. In a survey by the Opinion Research Corporation on school restroom cleanliness, unclean facilities result in 20 percent of middle and high school students avoiding school restrooms due to dirty conditions. Soap dispensers are often empty in schools due to a lack of funding, or dispensers have been removed from lavatories by acts of vandalism. If you think a student not washing their hands is not a big deal, review this statement by the School Network for Absentee Prevention (SNAP): Nearly 22 MILLION school days are missed each year due to the common cold! When one considers the financial impact of millions of sick days, the argument by school administrators that soap is too expensive to supply to students (and staff!) is quickly negated. To summarize, what benefits will come out of facilities offering a more sanitary restroom experience that includes, among other housekeeping necessities, a filled, wellmaintained, and hygienic hand soap dispenser? Favorable reviews can be expected from their patrons, which may result in increased business. Happier employees who equate cleanliness with a company’s respect for their well-being can be expected. More efficient handwashing can be expected, which will lead to less absenteeism due to illness. All this from creating a pleasant handwashing experience in a restroom? Yes! u Research has shown that bulk-filled soap systems that have exposure to outside elements can become contaminated and are potential breeding grounds for a host of bacteria. Bibliography • www.cleaning101.com/newsroom/09-18-08 and 05-14-08 • www.todaysfacilitymanager. com/tfm_07_04servmain.php • www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2002/09/23/focus3 • www.facilitiesnet.com/ms/Jan04/ jan04housekeeping.shtml • www.allbusiness.com/accommodation-food-services/accommodation/920400-1.html • www.itsasnap.org • www.lindaloo.com Myra Montgomery is the Marketing Communication Specialist for STOKO® Skin Care. She has 20 years experience in the skin care industry and has advised many buildings and facilities on the best practices for providing effective products and programs for their operations. She may be reached at myra.montgomery@evonik.com. Log on! www.ieha.org 0 Executive Housekeeping Today/February 2009 http://www.cleaning101.com/newsroom/ http://www.todaysfacilitymanager.com/tfm_07_04servmain.php http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2002/09/23/focus3 http://www.facilitiesnet.com/ms/Jan04/jan04housekeeping.shtml http://www.allbusiness.com/accommodation-food-services/accommodation/920400-1.html http://www.itsasnap.org http://www.lindaloo.com http://www.ieha.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Executive Housekeeping Today - February 2009

Executive Housekeeping Today - February 2009 Contents Executive Corner Putting a Stop to Restroom Complaints Clean Soap Dispensers are Good for Business Frugal Housekeeper Executive Profile Spartan Scholarship Award Winner USGBC Tip The Green Scene 2008 IEHA Audit Report The Un-Comfort Zone with Robert Wilson 2009 Salary Survey Inside the Industry Product Highlights New Members Joint IEHA/ISSA Members Advertisers’ Index Calendar of Events Inside IEHA What IEHA Has Done For Me

Executive Housekeeping Today - February 2009

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