case study Core Products Company Inc. Identifying Cleaning Needs In Health Care Facilities A All facility managers are charged with cleaning for the benefit of building occu-pants. Traditional cleaning methods used in many health care facilities, however, may provide a safeguard against infec-tion for patients, but pose risks from harmful side effects to end users and other staff. Many traditional clean-ing products cause hand dermatitis, asthma and other respiratory issues for users, not to mention the same sorts of issues for the occupants. Until there are recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Design for the Environment (DfE) program regarding the labeling of green disinfectants, the use of some considerably harsh chemi-cals will continue to be part of controlling infectious diseases in health care facilities. However, routine general cleaning is the first line of defense against germs. This is the easiest first step to incorporat-ing green cleaning products in a total facility program. Even disinfectant and sanitization products need the proper contact time to work properly, so general cleaning of hard surfaces with multipur-pose, green alternatives are a safer com-ponent of a total cleaning program that will also optimize the use of disinfectants and sanitizers, while minimizing expo-sure risks to users and occupants. Core Products Company Inc. was one of the first manufacturers to develop a multipurpose, Green Seal-certified product with Hydroxi Pro ® Concentrate that was directly in response to the U.S. Executive Order 13101 defining environmentally preferable products and services. In addition to the Hydroxi Pro ® low-toxicity brand, Core formulates the Green Logic™ brand of products that meets almost every green clean-ing challenge. Shelly Feinman, an International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) trainer, supplies cleaning prod-ucts to nursing homes and hospitals through his Dallas-based business, Best Supply. Feinman is sold on Hydroxi Pro ® Concentrate and so are his professional health care customers. “The biggest challenge I have when I speak to facility managers is emphasiz-ing the need for a change of product,” said Feinman, who recommends Hydroxi Pro ® Concentrate to his health care facil-ity customers. “Many senior care facilities lack storage space to inventory a wide-variety of products. By using a concentrated product such as Hydroxi Pro ® in tandem with a wall-mounted dispensing system, it saves storage space and reduces the number of products needed … from an environmental standpoint, thereʼs less waste from unnecessary packaging on the backend, and the packaging can also be recycled,” said Feinman. “Once they began using Hydroxi Pro ® , the low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), pleasant natural orange scent and efficient cleaning changes their minds,” said Feinman. Hydroxi Pro ® Concentrate, when used as directed, can remove dirt and dust that negatively impact indoor air quality. Linda Cain, owner of Superior Supply in Baltimore, says that Hydroxi Pro ® Concentrate is the perfect cleaner to use in bathrooms and showers as a degreas-er — she uses it in health care facilities to clean out drains and sewage lines in shower and bathroom floors. “In my 28 years as a business owner, Iʼve never found a product that does so much and is so safe,” said Cain. Phil Berringer, owner of Green Seal Products Company Inc. in Sykesville, Maryland, says that for senior residence facilities, Hydroxi Pro ® Concentrate is the perfect product as the basis of a total floor care program. Hydroxi Pro ® Concentrate has a neutral pH, is hydro-gen peroxide-based, can be used for floors, carpets and in restrooms and is registered by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) for kitchen use and listed on the USDA BioPreferred Product List. Core Products Company Inc. is a logi-cal starting place when researching options for a green cleaning program. Core is committed to formulating for our future by transforming the cleaning industry with innovative, green cleaning solutions. CM Circle Product Information no. 151 This content was provided by Core Products Company Inc. as part of a paid advertisement. For more information, please contact Core directly at 1-800-825-2673 or www.coreproductsco.com. 26 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • August 2009
CMM – Archives Aug 2009: 26
