The future of clean will require custodial departments to merge sustainable green cleaning methods with effective infection prevention and control processes to break the chain of infection and arrest the march of destructive climate change.
Meeting the Growing Demands for Sustainable Infection Prevention and Control
Post-COVID, the demand for improved infection prevention and control, combined with increased cleaning frequencies in public facilities, has been steadily growing.
According to data compiled by c&en--consumers;
- Clean their homes to feel empowered over the virus.
- Are better educated regarding product ingredients and claims.
- Want products that are quick and easy to use in addition to being good for the environment, resulting in a decline in the demand for bleach products after the initial rush at the beginning of the pandemic,
- With most (69%) stating they will disinfect as much or more when the pandemic ends.
In regards to commercial cleaning in public facilities:
- An increase in demand has been reported across many industries.
- The demand is being driven by consumers who expect the public facility cleanliness and safety levels to reflect their homes, and;
- Two trends appear to be here to stay--high-touch fomite disinfection purchasing high-concentrate cleaning and disinfection products.
Source:
Additionally, according to a recent article published by Novozymes;
The heightened attention to hygiene and wellness during the COVID-19 era has led to an increased demand for disinfecting products.
"A year of innovation in fabric care" from Mintel reported that consumers are increasing their understanding of hygiene and seeking products that can accompany their new cleaning and health routines.
They want products to be productive and efficient.
The less laborious, the better.
They also want to ensure that the products they choose to use are safe for both their families and the environment.
Driving Factors
Several driving factors, including consumer pressure, are pushing the merger between sustainability and improved infection prevention and control, including:
- Addressing the overuse of dangerous disinfectant products during the pandemic.
- Reducing job-related injuries resulting from exposure to hazardous disinfection products.
- Reducing the number of requests for blanketing facilities with disinfectant.
- Increasing cleaning efficiency, and;
- Reducing operational and departmental expenses.
Greening Disinfection Product Selection
Greening your organization's disinfectant product selection is a three-step process.
Step one is to identify the specific pathogen your team is attempting to eliminate.
Step two is to identify the correct list published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency--for example, List-N for SARS-CoV-2.
Step three is to identify products on that list with safer active ingredients, such as:
- Hydrogen peroxide.
- Citric acid.
- Lactic acid.
- Ethyl alcohol.
- Isopropyl alcohol.
- Peroxyacetic acid, and;
- Hypochlorous acid.
Remember to:
- Routinely inspect the facility and test the air and surfaces to ensure the cleaning and disinfection program is functioning as expected.
- Provide adequate ventilation via the HVAC system or through open doors and windows.
- Enforce the use of protective equipment for all service providers.
- Read and understand the labels on all cleaning and disinfection products, and;
- Always observe the manufacturer recommended dwell time for all disinfectant products.
References & Resources
- Green Cleaning Initiatives That Battle Infection Control
- The Greening of Disinfectants in Infection Prevention Programs
- Safer COVID-19 Disinfectants
Takeaway
The demand for safe, sustainable, and superior infection prevention and control methods in public facilities has never been higher.
According to a recent article published in the European Cleaning Journal;
Besides a 90 percent increase in online searches for "office cleaners near me", the study also revealed a 52 percent rise in searches for "health and wellbeing in the workplace" plus a 50 percent jump in requests for ‘staff wellbeing ideas".
And 90 percent more people googled "wellness at work" during the past 12 months.
Samsic sales and marketing director Adrian Farrow said: "The pandemic has changed how we work, and most importantly what employees want from their workplace and workspace.
"Customers have been asking for more detailed and robust cleaning services and requesting innovative cleaning solutions, such as non-chemical cleaning products to support an eco-friendly disinfecting strategy.
For many organizations, onboarding the requisite labor and material resources may prove cost-prohibitive.
Outsourcing is a proven method for onboarding skilled service providers equipped with the latest training, processes, and technologies for a fraction of the price of maintaining a comparable service in-house.
Contact us today and discover why Vanguard Cleaning Systems® is the Standard of Clean® for businesses throughout Northwest Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
In Oklahoma, dial 918-960-4450
In Arkansas, dial 479-717-2410
In Missouri, dial 417-812-9777
