acidic or positively-charged stream acts as a sanitizer. ■ Commercial-grade vapor or steam cleaning systems These units heat water to approximate-ly 248 degrees Fahrenheit, more than 120 degrees hotter than tap water, and are used for cleaning tile and grout as well as eradicat-ing bed bugs. “Chemical-free cleaning may have caught some people by surprise because it has been evolving so slowly,” says Elliott. “But, it is here and growing and will prove to be one of the most significant trends in our industry in years to come.” Pros And Cons Many in the professional cleaning industry agree with Elliott. For instance, Stephen Ashkin, long known as “the father of green cleaning,” believes that, in the future, more JanSan manufactur-ers will introduce innovative, “breakthrough” technologies, many of which are just now in the testing and research stages. And, many end users that have experience with chemical-free cleaning systems concur. For instance, Rose Galera, a cleaning consultant and owner of Clean Plus Systems II (CPS II) in Hawaii, is enthusiastic about chemical-free cleaning and advocates its use in “all schools, preschools and K–12.” However, Jeff McGee, assistant director of building services with the University of Maryland, says chemical-free cleaning will be more accepted once certain issues are addressed, noting: “The challenge that I see is the ability of the ‘chemical-free’ device to demonstrate that it is working effectively. How do we know, for instance, that the chemical-free system has actually sanitized a surface? That it has thoroughly cleaned a floor surface?” He reports that he has experienced dif-ficulty “convincing and selling others” that at least some of these systems can clean and sanitize. Further, he has reservations about the amount of water some of these systems use. or conventional — may be less necessary and, in many cases, not necessary at all. This idea may be difficult for some chemi-cal manufacturers to consider, so I asked one, Mike Sawchuk, vice president of market-ing and general manager of Enviro-Solutions Ltd., which makes green cleaning chemicals, his thoughts on the matter. “End customers and end users are look-ing for healthier ways to clean, so for that reason alone, I do believe chemical-free cleaning methods will grow in years to come,” says Sawchuk. “However, the growth will be uneven, and cleaning chemicals will always play a significant role in the professional cleaning industry.” Sawchuk believes that some scrubbers that use electrolyzed water will be used more frequently and will become more popular, as will spray-and-vacuum cleaning systems as well as steamers. “But, some [chemical-free cleaning] sys-tems have significant drawbacks,” notes Sawchuck. “For instance, some are quite costly to purchase, are battery operated and must be recharged frequently, are not ergo-nomically friendly and some [chemical-free] floor care machines are best suited for light-duty cleaning, not heavy-duty cleaning.” rooms, oily surfaces and what he calls “high-water areas” such as showers, tubs and pools are best cleaned using traditional meth-ods with chemicals. Tradeoffs While chemical-free cleaning may not become the “biggest thing since sliced bread,” as the expression goes, it will likely continue to grow in the professional cleaning industry. However, Ashkin likely sums it up best by saying that chemical-free cleaning involves tradeoffs, some of which the end user will ultimately have to grapple with and justify. “No-chemical cleaning means little or no environmental impact, less packaging, making it more sustainable cleaning and potentially safer cleaning as well,” adds Ashkin. “However, it still must perform, it may use more water and the products may be more costly and even harder to use. [The pros and cons make it] a balancing act; but, one way or another, chemical-free cleaning will play a bigger role in our industry in years to come.” The Spray-and-vacuum Connection Spray-and-vacuum cleaning systems, most commonly referred to as no-touch cleaning systems, are designed to use metered and measured amounts of chemical during the cleaning process. The system injects chemicals to areas and surfaces to be cleaned, which are then high-pressure rinsed. A built-in vacuum system is then used to vacuum up moisture and contaminants. However, the independent National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) tested the system using plain water to clean surfaces. Using no chemicals and bypassing the chemical injection process entirely, the tests indicated that using the no-touch system removed more than 99.9 percent of targeted surface bacteria. CM Where And When While it appears the jury is still out among some manufacturers as to how effective chemical-free cleaning systems are and how much they will impact the professional clean-ing industry, there does seem to be some agreement — at least among end users now using chemical-free systems — as to where they work best. Most enthusiastic is Galera, who believes they can be used just about anywhere, includ-ing in schools, hotel guest rooms, offices and long-term-care centers. But, she says, they should not be used to clean high-risk areas such as restrooms, kitchens and some floors that must be dis-infected. McGee says his crew has found the best results using chemical-free cleaning systems in lobbies and elevators and on glass, steel and some stainless steel surfaces as well as some desktops and floor coverings “if the proper machine is utilized and [there is] assured efficacy.” However, he agrees with Galera that rest-A Chemical Manufacturer’s Perspective If chemical-free cleaning becomes more and more popular and proves effective, the day may come when cleaning chemicals — green Robert Kravitz, a former building service contractor (BSC), is a writer for the professional cleaning and related industries. He may be reached through his website at www.AlturaSolutions.com. www.cmmonline.com 37
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