Navigating New Technology Keeping this idea in mind, operations that embrace and invest in technology will see payoffs through productivity improve-ments, decreased employee turnover and increased occupant health and safety. Over time, the companies that embraced the future with enthusiasm will survive and flourish; those that did not will ultimately fall backwards or collapse. These mopping differences can improve worker efficiency and increase facility safety. Spray-and-vac systems: Currently, different types of spray-and-vac systems are available to the professional cleaning market. Called upon to clean the most challeng-ing spaces in commercial buildings — rest-rooms, kitchens, locker rooms, etc. — these systems replace traditional cleaning tools with high-pressure sprayers and powerful vacuums. They work by applying chemicals to sur-faces and then removing the chemicals, soil and contaminants via vacuuming. The high-pressure spray loosens soil and contaminants, and the vacuum takes the moisture and undesirables away, leaving the cleaned areas dry and ready to use. Autoscrubbers: Finally, a number of new options can be called upon for hard floor care. Autoscrubbers are continually evolving, and they can be depended on for: ● Daily floor upkeep ● Floor scrubbing ● Tile and grout cleaning ● Floor finish removal. Utilizing autoscrubbers in a cleaning op-eration can extend the time between re-quired refinishes and eliminate the need for toxic strippers to remove a finish. With battery-powered variations of au-toscrubbers, and even a worker-powered cleaner option appearing in the market, this technology choice is becoming more preva-lent in facilities of all types. allows for a quick correction, and this pre-vents the problem, and the associated costs, from escalating. Another way technology can be called upon to cut costs and improve safety and results is through the use of on-site cleaning chemical generation. The on-site creation of super-oxidized wa-ter reduces or eliminates the need for con-ventional daily-use cleaning chemicals in many applications, according to Henry Dao, president/CEO of HSP USA LLC. Dao notes that the solution created can replace: ● Hospital grade disinfectants ● Food contact sanitizer ● Deodorizer ● Multi-surface cleaner ● Glass cleaner ● Stainless steel cleaner ● Floor cleaner ● Carpet pre-cleaner ● Bathroom disinfecting cleaner. Further, it is compatible with cleaning tools and equipment, and it is suitable for use on both hard and soft surfaces, Dao says. Citing an option from his company, Dao states that on-site generation systems can generate up to 2.6 gallons of solution per minute with no storage tank needed — workers just turn to the system when clean-ing and disinfecting products are needed. Using on-site chemical generation tech-nology can offer cleaning operations a number of advantages over purchased chemicals. Simplified operations: These types of sys-tems generally require only tap water and electricity to operate. On-demand generation reduces the stor-age space needed, reduces the amount of chemicals handled or used, and simplifies chemical management programs, Dao says. Facility safety: The product Dao’s com-pany produces is nontoxic to humans and animals, with independent research show-ing no known health risks associated with the product’s intended use. The solution contains no VOC or synthetic toxic fragrances, and it is biodegradable and does not harm the environment, according to Dao. When used on floors, it improves traction and reduces slip-and-fall accidents, Dao states. Today’s Tool Tech In the cleaning industry, there are areas where manual tasks have been completed by workers using the same tools for decades — sometimes even centuries. Even so, there are corporations, startup companies, entrepreneurs and inventors working to create easier ways to clean every day. This is a testament to the importance of cleaning and, further, to the strength of the professional cleaning market. Over the past few decades, the march of innovation has brought the industry an ar-ray of improved cleaning and maintenance tools. Microfiber: Microfiber towels offer a num-ber of advantages over towel options used previously. The traits of microfiber towels make them ideal for a number of uses, including surface cleaning. Properly folded and using just water, mi-crofiber towels can remove soils from a sur-face instead of spreading them around. This process can be an improvement over aggressive cleaning chemicals and ineffec-tive traditional tools. Microfiber and water cleaning can also be ideal for surfaces that may be susceptible to etching, discoloration or other damage con-cerns. Flat mops: Also tied in with microfiber tools are flat mops that utilize microfiber mopping pads. Lighter than damp traditional mops, flat microfiber mops can be easier to work with, and they help workers avoid repetitive mo-tion injuries and physical strain. Workers can change out microfiber mops ahead of time instead of wringing out tradi-tional mops, and microfiber mop pads also limit the need for employees to pull or push a bucket with gallons of cleaning chemicals inside. More Technology, Less Chemicals The increase in cleaning technology is also a boon for the cleaning industry in that it allows for more effective results without a growing need for chemicals. In fact, technology-enabled monitoring options available for cleaning equipment now offer chemical use advantages. First, some equipment can track and ad-just the amount of chemical needed in real-time while it is performing a cleaning task. In addition, equipment usage reports can show a manager or worker the amount of chemical consumed during a set time of operation. If too much chemical is being used due to dilution issues, user error, etc., the reportage July 2014 20 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ®
CMM – Archives July 2014: 20
