Rug Institute (CRI) and the International Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), as well as approximately 20 other industry groups, have published standards that deal with everything from green chemicals and cleaning, to management processes to car-pet cleaning, water damage restoration and mold remedia-tion. Green floor care focuses on the use of preventative measures, less toxic and odor-free finish, strippers and detergents, portion control chemical systems and modern equipment, along with processes that reduce the need and frequency of more hazardous and time-consuming restora-tion procedures such as sanding, grinding, burnishing, strip-ping and refinishing. Another goal of an effective green floor care program is to reduce the use of water, chemicals and waste disposal related to cleaning processes. Green cleaning chemicals contain less or no petroleum-based materials and use less toxic, naturally derived extracts from plants such as soy, corn, citrus or seeds and trees. Low-odor, water-based products are quickly replacing sol-vents containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in chemical formulations. This is an exciting time for the floor care professional. We are literally seeing the dawn of a new era in floor care. The processes, products and surfaces we clean, maintain and restore are evolving rapidly right before our eyes. More importantly, the value of proper cleaning and maintenance of todayʼs floor coverings is being recognized as a necessary component of a safe, healthy and well-run facility. This is all good news for cleaning professionals who seek advancement and are willing to invest the time and money needed to continue their education. In order to stay current with changes taking place in the field of floor care, it is necessary to constantly be on the lookout for new materials and processes that will improve quality while reducing costs. This includes attending supplier and manufacturer semi-nars, industry conventions and trade shows, reading indus-try publications and monitoring Internet forums, chats and boards related to cleaning. In most cases it is not that a product doesnʼt exist, or that something canʼt be done, but simply that we donʼt know where to find the information we need. Ongoing education and continuous process and quality improvement are your keys to future income and success in todayʼs changing world of cleaning. CM Wm R. Griffin is the president of Cleaning Consultant Services Inc. For more information, please visit www.cleaningconsultants.com. Circle Product Information no. 201 on page 34 www.cmmonline.com 23
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