Gain administrative support – this is a key item for implementing change
Conduct staff training on equipment, products, procedures
Involve vendors for training and education
Test all products and dispensers before making the full commitment
Pilot the SMART Cleaning program in one school, work out the issues and then expand
Build Momentum for the program by highlighing the successes and involve as many staff as possible
Check all areas to make sure the work force is cleaning an equivalent area (ISSA)
One person should not have 10,000 sq. ft. to clean and another 30,000 sq. ft.
Make sure the equipment for cleaning is available to all users
Where possible implement team or single task cleaning to better use your work force.
Equipment Carpets can be a host for moisture problems and mold growth. When implementing green cleaning programs, use Carpet & Rug Institute’s Green Label approved vacuums. Empty vacuum bags frequently for more efficient operating.
◦ As you replace equipment use green/smart devices such as:
Floor machines that use less chemicals
Long life gel battery systems
Back pack vacuums 3 micron or smaller filtering
Ergonomic designs
Keep equipment running properly (we use schooldude work order system and PMdirect to make sure everyone has this in their radar)
Minimize particles and chemicals in the air. Mechanically capturing dust and dirt, using course spray for chemicals, and applying the cleaner to the cloth rather than spraying the surface to be cleaned are important to indoor air quality programs.
Smart cleaning chemicals Use environmentally preferable cleaning chemicals along with chemical management systems for accurate product dilution.
◦ Water delivery systems
◦ Portion management
◦ Less is better
Micro fiber system rather than moving it around. Green cleaning programs should use products like microfiber dusting cloths and flat mops, for example, which can eliminate the need for chemicals
◦ Dust cloth
◦ Dust mops
◦ Waxing systems
Saves on wax cost with less waste
Ergonomically preferable
Focus on preventative measures and quick clean up of accidents. Therefore, fewer and milder chemicals can be used
◦ Use PM program such as PMDirect to make sure your equipment is always in tip top condition.
Focus on touch-points. Door handles, bright work and other areas where people come in contact with the facility or its fixtures.
Apply disinfectant in restrooms properly. Typical procedures for green cleaning programs will include ensuring the chemical has proper dwell time so that soil is thoroughly removed using less product.
Promote safety and prevent cross-contamination. Safer products and proper use and storage of chemicals help green cleaning and indoor air quality programs create a safer environment. Color-coded tools ensure that pollutants don’t get carried from one area (such as a restroom) to another.
Entrance Matting – 70% to 80% of floor-damaging soil is tracked into the school
90% of the soil brought into any building can be contained within the first 10 to 15 feet with the appropriate matting system.
We all know about the usual encouragements such as not keeping food/wrappers in desks or lockers, reporting any pest sightings, etc., but does anyone have any specific engaging examples of how kids are actively participating in school IPM? There is an opportunity for a good example or two to be highlighted in an upcoming event. Pulling wings off flies does not count.
I am interested in your thoughts
Insert language for implementation of smart/green cleaning
Set parameters for the selection process
Require vender to show how they will implement green
Include training component in specification
On line ordering system
Just in time delivery
Include all your needs
Type of chemicals GS 37
◦ Low VOC
◦ No antimicrobial
Wax products GS 40
◦ Wax Zinc free
◦ Strippers Butyl Free
Paper products GS 9
◦ Recycled content
Toilet Tissue 20%
Hand Towels 40%
Liners 10%
◦ Chlorine Free
◦ Touch free towels
Equipment
◦ No/less chemical required
◦ Low chemicals
◦ Ergonomically designed
One of the key elements in a SMART Cleaning program is matting. Matting is very important in stopping dust and soils from entering the main areas of the building.
This time of year in the northern regions cleaners begin dealing with ice melt problems. These ice melters are usually sodium chloride or calcium chloride.
When tracked into a building, calcium chloride absorbs and holds moisture, keeping walk off mats and carpeting wet and slippery. When calcium chloride comes in contact with a normal detergent the alkalinity in the detergent converts the calcium chloride into calcium hydroxide (better known as lime) which is almost completely insoluble in water.
To remove calcium chloride from carpet or matting an acidic rinse is needed.
One SMART (green) method of this would be to add 1 cup white vinegar per 2 cups warm water to a pump sprayer and spray the solution on the fibers. Then extract the carpeting or matting with clear water.
This same mixture can be used in an auto scrubber to remove the ice melt from hard surfaces also.
Andi Lee-Marnicio, CCT, CCRT
Head Custodian
Blackhawk Intermediate School
Blackhawk School District
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
E-Mail: leea@bsd.k12.pa.us
The first item is to get by in for the green program.
While having a school policy is good it is not required. All you need to do is to simply begin working with the staff.
It is always a good practice to get information into hands of school community. What are you doing, why is it being done and how will it improve the environment. Be sure to discuss the importance of IAQ.
Include custodial, maintenance, instructional staff and administrators in the decision making process.
It provides a healthier environment for staff and students
It prolongs the useful life of the buildings
It adopts environmentally friendly practices
Why is SMART cleaning important to you?
I thought with the coming winter and the inside sports that take place it would be a good time to emphasize the need to clean touch points. This is a very important type of cleaning that can lower the incidents of communicable diseases such as colds and flu. The staff needs to pay particular attention to dwell time. That is the required time need for the chemical to be effective in destroying the germs or contagion. Areas that need to be addressed are light switches, door handles, water facets and the like. I also might add that making sure you are cleaning surfaces such as wrestling mats to lower the incidents of contact exposure to student athletes. Hope this is helpful this is also recommended for those people following the LEED EB protocol which we discussed earlier this year in the masters web cast with Schooldude.
John M. Thompson, CFD, MCFM
Director of Operations/Maintenance & Transportation
Fraser Public Schools
33499 Klein Ave.
Fraser, Michigan 48026
E-Mail: john.thompson@fraserk12.org
Thank you John for sharing these thoughts with our colleagues.
Sustainable Products are being used
Matting and Well Maintained Equipment are accomplished
Attention to IAQ Issues is an ongoing focus
Responsibility, Reduce, Reuse are ongoing initiatives
Training staff is continuous
How SMART is your cleaning?