How do you choose the best cleaning and disinfection products for your facility?

Ask a professional for their guidance to get the right products for your buildings. The O&M manuals for floors and surfaces also offer guidance or scope in the products and methods your teams should be following. Be careful of following the masses with branded products or well know chemical types as these can often be harmful to your staff and your buildings.

It's important to follow regulatory guidelines to ensure that your products comply with relevant regulations and guidelines, such as those from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or your local health authorities.

When choosing cleaning and disinfection products for your facility, it's important to consider the specific needs of your environment. Assess the level of risk, frequency of use, and types of surfaces and materials in your facility. For high-risk areas like hospitals or schools, more rigorous and frequent disinfection may be necessary. Identify high-touch points, shared equipment, and areas with vulnerable populations that require extra attention. Look for products that are effective against the specific pathogens you're targeting and follow the guidelines and recommendations from health authorities. It's also important to consider the safety of the products for both users and the environment. 🧼✨

Select products that are safe for the users and the environment. Look for products with low toxicity, low odor, and non-corrosive properties. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper use, storage, and disposal.

Always gather the information from the manufacturer and don't just trust the suppliers information. Get a fill MSDS sheets and if a hygiene or sanitisation product also get hold of the dermatological information and certificates. Get a professional to support you with the risk assessments and method statements to use for each use.

In my experience, we always need to check the product labels and verify possible chemical reactions with other products, elements, and people. Cleaning products which contain Chlorine or ammonia, for example, can generate irritating gases when combined with water or even the air. Therefore, it is important not only to verify the components but its concentration within the product as well. And don’t forget to read the specific procedures in case of accident.

It's crucial to check the labels of cleaning and disinfection products. The information provided, such as active ingredients, contact time, dilution ratio, expiration date, and safety precautions, can help you make informed decisions about their effectiveness and safe usage. It's also important to ensure that the products are registered with the EPA and meet the standards and guidelines of the CDC and OSHA. Checking labels helps you choose products that are effective, safe, and aligned with recommended protocols. 🧴🔬

Quality staff training is not a nice to have, it's mandatory. If you don't understand the systems or products then get in a suitable expert to carry out the training. Remove and reduce all risks where possible. PPE is a last resort and not a best practice so try to mitigate and minimise contact with risks such as chemicals first before buying them. Talk with a specialist if you're unsure how to do this.

Training the staff is essential; mainly on safety procedures related to the chemicals they use in their daily routines. The correct manipulation of flammables, volatiles, and any other potentially hazardous product keep your crew safe.

Training your staff on proper cleaning and disinfection procedures is crucial for maintaining a safe and healthy environment. To train your staff effectively, you can use a combination of methods. Consider conducting in-person or virtual training sessions where you can demonstrate the correct techniques and provide hands-on practice. You can also create training manuals or videos that outline the procedures step by step. Additionally, regular refresher courses and quizzes can help reinforce the knowledge and ensure compliance. Remember to provide the necessary PPE and emphasize the importance of safe handling, storage, and disposal of products. By investing in thorough training, we empower staff to maintain clean safe facilities. 🎓🧹

Training materials should not only be based on the manufacturer's instructions and best industry practices but also on the internal standard operating procedures (SOP) specific to your areas. Good results are generally achieved when the reading and understanding part of the training is combined with practical on-the-job training with an experienced trainer. Depending on the criticality of the cleaning process, the cleaning team will need regular retraining, skill assessment, and calibration. Training-related records need to be stored in a reliable system that provides secure access, allows for fast retrieval, and facilitates the reconciliation of stored records.

There's a variety of testing systems on the market. ATP testing checks a surface area through a swab test and counts particles. It's a simple way to gain some understanding on the surface bacteria however not a finite option. Still a good benchmark though. Also consider slip testing on floors and the efficacy of the products being used. Expert advice is highly important here as you could be spending large amounts financially and gaining very little.

That's a great point! It's important to test new cleaning products on a small and inconspicuous area to ensure they won't damage or discolor surfaces. Testing the effectiveness of the product is also crucial, and methods like ATP testing can help measure microbial contamination. By comparing results before and after cleaning, you can make adjustments if needed. Thanks for bringing up this important step! 👍🧪

Products are always being developed and are generally not good at telling people so having an independent professional to support and consult on this will help you stay on top of this.

Ensuring the utmost safety and efficacy in your facility is paramount, and leveraging expert insights can make a significant difference. Whenever we face uncertainties or complexities in our decision-making process, we will indeed consult with specialists or rely on reputable sources to guide our choices. It's always beneficial to have multiple perspectives and expertise to ensure the best possible outcomes.

In my experience we have always turned to spartan our main products for our commercial team. I make sure that the chemicals are safe for the services and the clients that we serve. We always ensure the highest level of quality services. All clients are educated on process and are well informed on what process provides the best outcomes to maintain their space.

The world is heading towards carbon footprint driven systems and environmental sustainability is become the main driver for most. Where are you in this and where do you need to be? Getting a consultant who specialises in FM, Cleaning and Environmental impact is key.

Working with a GS42 certified custodial company will ensure protection of the health of their workers and building occupants while protecting the environment. These certified companies also understand the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting.

Always check for the possibility of adopting a bio-degradable or green products. Such products tend to make your cleaning operations safer for everyone.