Students are getting ready to go back to school. Are your buildings and staff prepared for the ongoing battle against germs and dirt? Dirt and germs are unpreventable, but with a proper cleaning program you can create a healthy learning environment and protect students and staff. Environmentally friendly processes and products help reduce waste, improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and minimize the spread of infections.
Install entrance matting
Matting reduces the amount of soil transferred to floors. Soil reduction equals a lower frequency of cleaning, helping to reduce the total cost of cleaning
Use safer, green cleaning products
Green Seal and EcoLogo are must-have certifications for green cleaning programs, but are these enough? When selecting green products consider the effects they may still pose to sensitive individuals like those suffering from asthma. One in 10 school-aged children suffer from asthma and poor IAQ is a direct trigger for those with this chronic illness. Look for products and procedures with GREENGUARD Gold certifications. Products must pass strict guidelines for their effects on IAQ in order to be certified.
Increase disinfection procedures
Back to school does not mean back to basics. Step up your disinfection program with faster, safer disinfectants. Substitute products that have bleach or ?quats? with products using Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (AHP? technology). Doing so will reduce dwell time for killing germs that can result in student absences, improve IAQ and increase the cleanliness of your facilities.
Select resource saving floor equipment
Equipment should be designed to make the best use of resources including energy, labor, water and chemical to reduce cost. Auto scrubbers should effectively clean floors without the need for a second pass. Machines that control cleaning solution flow based on speed of the machine will result in less waste.
Introduce environmentally friendly cleaning tools
Reusable microfiber cloths and mops reduce the need for disposable textiles and offer better cleaning performance. Traditional cleaning methods often use materials that spread soils and are not as effective as a microfiber system. Low cost, on-site laundry solutions are available for those looking to make a switch to reusable microfibers. Be sure your tools are designed to get the best application, are lightweight and adjustable for cleaning staff.
Diversey is a proud sponsor of GreenCleanSchools.org, the resource website for the Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC).