tackling trouble areas Defeating The Dirty 10 Common cleaning mistakes that no worker should make. By: Dave Mesko As the nation emerged from one of the worst winters in years with record snowfalls and cold temperatures, many businesses were busy restoring their facility from the onslaught of snow and salt. To assist with the responsibilities like this, you might be cross training new workers or hiring additional personnel to prepare your business for the summer season. While there is no one-size-fits-all ap-proach to cleaning, following proper clean-ing procedures is necessary — especially when it comes to the health and wellness of building occupants. To keep your business looking great throughout the rest of the year, conduct a quick audit of your operations to make sure none of your employees are commit-ting one of the 10 most common cleaning mistakes. Not making a mistake on this list will ensure a healthier environment for building occu-pants. cleaning solution every time by eliminating manual mixing of chemicals and water. 1. Using too much chemical Adding twice as much chemical to the di-lution than is called for does not make it twice as clean — nor does it make it clean any faster. Many chemicals are toxic in large doses and using more than is recom-mended can have adverse effects on a per-son’s health when inhaled. It can also have a negative impact on indoor air quality for building inhabitants or employees. Educa-tion is essential to preventing cleaners from using the “glug-glug” approach. Regularly review the recommended dilution ratios and proper procedures for using cleaning chemicals with staff members. Dilution control systems can ensure that employees use the correct amount of chemical in their such as lemon juice or vinegar, contains ac-ids that can damage surfaces such as stone countertops or floors. 2. Using the wrong chemicals Using the wrong chemical on a surface is an-other common — and expensive — clean-ing mistake. For example, if an employee applies an acidic bowl cleaner to restroom fixtures or hardware, it can quickly corrode and ruin the fixture. Most bathroom fix-tures are chrome plated, and the acid will eat away at this surface. To prevent this from happening, encourage workers to look at the product’s pH to determine its corro-siveness and always consult the directions and Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to identify the proper surfaces and substrates for use. Even a cleaning solution that seems harmless, June 2014 3. Failing to protect oneself One of the most common ways a cleaner gets injured at work is by not using proper protection. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), skin exposure to hazardous agents is one of the most common types of occupational illness, with an annual cost exceeding $1 billion. 1 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) is es-sential when handling chemical cleaning products and other hazardous materials. Different cleaning jobs come with differ-ent hazards, so always consult the SDS and make sure your organization has updated 38 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® Image courtesy of Nikolay Kurkin/Hemera/Thinkstock A
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