Winning Strategies For Selecting And Using Better Cleaning Chemicals & Related Supplies

By Mark Warner, National Sales Manager, The Bullen Companies

Mark Warner

You can tell a lot when you look at a facility’s cleaning provision area (historically called the janitor’s closet). A best-in-class cleaning provision area is clean, neat and organized. The equipment stored there is clean and empty, mops and brooms are hung, and solution tanks are emptied. In addition, the best cleaning provision areas provide water sources, drains, adequate ventilation, electrical outlets, safety signage and appropriate lighting, among other things.

More importantly, the best cleaning provision areas allow chemical supplies to be neatly stored and properly organized by type, which makes them easily inventoried and readily accessible to the worker. The question is…. what products are we using and why?

Cleaning chemicals can vary greatly. Selection needs to be based on Performance as well as Price. The goal is to get the “biggest bang for the buck.” Some cleaning chemicals are far more concentrated than others, which creates a higher cost per gallon for the concentrate. However, it may also provide a much lower cost per gallon in use. In addition, some cleaning chemicals have very high-performance expectations because of the task they are performing. In these cases, a more expensive product may deliver huge labor savings, which greatly reduces the cost of the cleaning task itself, since labor is the largest percentage of the cost in any cleaning task.

The first step in the proper use of cleaning chemicals is having some knowledge of the surface being cleaned. Some surfaces can be damaged by the use of the wrong product. The next step is to read the Manufacturer’s Instructions for Use, which will identify the proper use of the cleaning chemical for the surface you are cleaning, including the proper mix ratio for concentrated products. This should also include the temperature of the solution and the amount of time to allow the chemical to dwell on the surface, as well as the tools, equipment and agitation required to successfully perform the task.

Luckily, the cleaning industry has moved away from “glug-glug” mixing and sophisticated dispensing systems are available to properly proportion the dilution ratio of concentrated products. In fact, disinfectant cleaners are required by law to be properly diluted in order to support the kill claims registered with the EPA. Disinfectants and sanitizers must be used in accordance with the Manufacturer’s Instructions for Use (MIFU).

Often, we hear about difficulties in cleaning bathrooms and toilets. Rust stains in toilet bowls, lime scale deposits on floors and counters, and green verdigris on faucet fixtures can be challenging. People will try to abrasively scour these stains and soil deposits, which can actually severely damage the surface over time. Scouring a toilet bowl with highly abrasive powders and pads or grit bricks (pumice stones) can negatively affect the glazing on the porcelain, which opens up the pores of the porcelain and causes them to stain and soil faster, as well as causing them to become harder and harder to clean. Scouring a faucet fixture with highly abrasive materials can actually damage the chrome or even remove the chrome finish over time, revealing the copper in the pipe itself.

All of these tasks can be safely accomplished by using the proper cleaning products. Mildly acidic products like citric acid, phosphoric acid or some new synthetic acid substitutes will gently and effectively remove these stains and soils. The key is allowing the appropriate dwell time. When the chemical is doing all the work, the simple use of a microfiber cloth or a bowl swab will quickly and safely remove these stains and soils. And, always remember to rinse the surface after cleaning.

Fortunately, there are now “Green” chemistry options available for almost every cleaning task imaginable. The current trend is toward the use of cleaning products that are safer for the end-user and for the environment. In the past, it was not uncommon to see formaldehyde, acetone, toluene, and other toxic ingredients in cleaning products. We have seen a very positive shift toward innovative new chemistry that performs extremely well, without the use of potentially toxic ingredients. This has caused an upwelling of support in the industry.

Several third-party certification bodies have developed standards for testing the safety of cleaning products, including Safer Choice, Green Seal and the EPA. In fact, the US Green Building Council’s Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requires documentation of safety and sustainability of the cleaning products being used in a certified building. Even professional sports and major entertainers have begun mandating the use of safe, non-toxic cleaning chemicals in their facilities and venues.

Thanks to OSHA’s Globally Harmonized System (GHS), cleaning products now provide full disclosure of their ingredients. Additionally, standardized safety icons appear on all labels. Proper secondary labels are also required. No more masking tape and magic marker labels. All of this is designed to help end-users to understand what the product is and how it is to be used. It also benefits purchasing agents to make informed decisions about the supplies they are buying for their teams.

In addition, product packaging is evolving as well. Packages like “Bag-In-A-Box” reduces waste going to landfills. They also have the benefit of keeping products fresher. This is accomplished because the bag collapses as the liquid is being dispenses, which eliminates the “head space” in partially filled containers. The “head space” is what causes floor finish to “age” by allowing the release of leveling agents, causing it to be streaky and foggy when applied at a later date. It also prevents potentially contaminated air from entering the container as product is dispensed. This has become critically important related to disinfectants and sanitizers.

Cleaning chemical application methods have also been evolving in a very positive way. Microfiber clothes, backpack applicators, electrostatic sprayers and foam sprayers have changed the way we apply cleaning products. Microfiber cloths have the unique ability to reach down into fine cracks and crevices and recover soil. Backpack applicators allow products to be applied quickly, effectively, efficiently and uniformly (critical with floor finishes and disinfectants). Electrostatic sprayers allow disinfectants to wrap around surfaces that are not in a direct line of sight, and foaming sprayers allow for extended contact time providing for enhanced cleaning ability of bio-based and bio-enzymatic cleaners.

Often, the biggest challenge to end-users is gaining access to new and innovative cleaning chemistry. All too many fall into the trap of “bargain shopping,” looking for the lowest cost products while ignoring the performance benefits or the safety benefits of a product. When looked at holistically, taking into account the value we place in our workers, the value of the assets being cleaned, and the value we place on our planet, the true savings comes from healthier, more productive workers, longer lasting floors and carpets, and hopefully a reduction in infectious disease outbreaks.

Manufacturers and distributors can provide great value to end-users by providing the education and training. In fact, many organizations are going as far as getting their front-line workers certified on basic and advanced cleaning tasks.

Modern technology is also playing a role in managing the cleanliness of facilities. Indoor Air Quality meters have begun to be used to monitor indoor air quality and surface cleanliness. There have been many studies on the correlation of indoor air quality and surface cleanliness. Dirty or infectious surfaces will end up contaminating the air, and contaminated air will end up contaminating the surfaces. In fact, bad indoor air quality has been linked to degraded performance of students, athletes and entertainers.

Imagine, cleaner surfaces and cleaner air can actually improve student’s grades, help sports teams to win, and we can save lives! Is there anything more valuable than that?

The Bullen Companies is a leading manufacturer of high-performance cleaning, odor control, and floor care solutions for commercial, industrial, and institutional markets. With over 80 years of innovation, Bullen is committed to delivering safer, more sustainable products — including green-certified options through its E-Clean brand. Family-owned and customer-focused, Bullen combines deep industry knowledge with a dedication to quality, service, and environmental responsibility. Learn more at www.bullenonline.com.