Staying Compliant with the California’s Healthy Schools Act During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Caitlin Dimalanta  |  November 19, 2020

As California schools begin to safely reopen in-person amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the process of cleaning and the ability to remain compliant with the Healthy Schools Act (HSA) are more important than ever. Enacted in 2000, the HSA put in place right-to-know requirements such as notification, posting, and recordkeeping for pesticides used at California public schools and public child day care facilities. Killing the virus on high touch surfaces while ensuring the protection of students from harmful chemicals is paramount.

Click here to read more on the requirements of the HSA.

Topics: disinfecting, Healthy Schools, COVID-19

Disinfectant Applicators: Electrostatic vs. Non-Electrostatic Sprayer Devices

By: WAXIE Editorial Staff  |  July 30, 2020

When considering how to most effectively clean surfaces, workspaces, and all of the areas where a deep and thorough cleaning and disinfecting is of concern, traditional methods such as dusting and spray and wipe cleaning just may not be enough. Wet surface cleaning doesn’t clean hard to reach areas where harmful bacteria may reside. Unless cleaning cloths are changed out and cleaned on a regular basis they do little more than spread the surface soil around. Dry dusting can spread dirt and particulates back into the air to settle onto other surfaces with contaminates.

For areas that require a deep and thorough cleaning designed to eliminate and kill all bacteria and germs from surfaces, electrostatic disinfection is an effective method of applying disinfectants, cleaners and sanitizers to the entire surface needing to be sanitized and cleaned.

Topics: workplace wellness, disinfecting, cleaning tips, COVID-19

EPA Emerging Viral Pathogens & Hard Surface Disinfectants

What Disinfectant Cleaners Can Be Used Against COVID-19 & Other Viruses

By: WAXIE Editorial Staff  |  April 16, 2020

At present, the virus responsible for COVID-19 is not on any EPA registered product lists, and therefore there is not a disinfectant which can make a specific claim to be effective against this new virus. However respiratory illnesses attributable to COVID-19 are caused by a coronavirus, and WAXIE can provide several broad-spectrum hard surface disinfectants that have been shown to be effective against other similar viruses, such as Human Coronavirus, SARS associated Coronavirus, Porcine Respiratory & Reproductive Syndrome Virus (PRRSV), and/or have been shown to be effective against viruses which are more difficult to inactivate such as Rotavirus, Rhinovirus Type 37, and Norovirus.

When used in accordance with the directions on the label for each associated product, these hard surface disinfectants have been shown to be effective against the virus (or viruses) referenced on the master label for that product. Each disinfectant listed has already successfully gone through, or is in the process of going through, the protocol for the EPA Emerging Viral Pathogens Guidance for Antimicrobial Pesticides.¹

Topics: workplace wellness, disinfecting, cleaning tips, infection prevention, COVID-19

Facility Surface Cleaning and Disinfecting

By: WAXIE Editorial Staff  |  March 19, 2020

In addition to having building occupants and employees practice good hand hygiene, it is also important to maintain a clean and healthy building environment through effective surface cleaning and disinfecting.

It is recommended that your custodial team evaluate and implement measures to minimize the potential transmission of the influenza virus, coronavirus or any other pathogens via hard surfaces through good sound cleaning and disinfecting procedures, with a focus on areas which may have the greatest likelihood of potential environmental contamination such as restrooms, food preparation areas and high touch surfaces.

Topics: workplace wellness, disinfecting, cleaning tips

Differences Between Cleaners, Disinfectants and Sanitizers

By: Becky Mollenkamp

The importance of training staff to understand the variations between cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing

As a facility cleaning manager, are you confident that your staff can walk into a janitorial closet to grab chemicals off the crowded shelves and actually know the differences between cleaners, sanitizers and disinfectants? If you hesitate in answering, you’re not alone.

Although these products are commonly used in cleaning departments, there are many misunderstandings about the chemical categories. “I’m not sure all custodial staffs truly understand the difference,” says Nancy Bock, senior vice president of meetings and education for the American Cleaning Institute (ACI). “The terms clean, sanitize and disinfect are often inaccurately used, which is why training is essential.”

Topics: workplace wellness, disinfecting, cleaning tips

5 Places You Should Be Cleaning, But Probably Aren’t

By: Briana Smith  |  March 13, 2014

Anything with a Button

Everyone likes to be a button pusher, but no one thinks about cleaning them. Think about all the buttons that you push daily, both at work and at home…

• Microwaves in the break room or kitchen
• Remote controls in hotel rooms
• Vending machines in an office or...
• Elevator buttons
• Timer buttons, credit card machines, and cash registers
• Calculators & computer keyboards
• Gym equipment
• Non-touchscreen telephones

Cleaning & disinfecting wipes work wonderfully for getting into those nooks and crannies that surround buttons.

Topics: Cleaning, disinfecting, touchscreen devices

Cleaning Frequencies: Who Cleans This and How Often?

By: J. Darrel Hicks, BA, REH, CHESP  |  July 25, 2013

Originally published & reprinted with permission in Housekeeping Solutions on Clean Link Online

The cleaning (removing soil) and disinfection (killing bacteria and viruses) of furniture, floors and touch points is vitally important in any facility. Germs live in a moist, warm environment and making sure all surfaces are cleaned properly and frequently will minimize their spread and improve health.

In some facilities, there is confusion over who cleans what and how often. For instance, too often in hospitals, housekeeping thinks the nurses clean a surface, and nurses think those surfaces are cleaned by housekeeping. In reality, it doesn't get done. The question we need to answer is, "Who cleans this and how often is it cleaned?"

Topics: disinfecting, healthcare, Hospitality, cleaning tips

The Difficulty of Keeping Restrooms Clean

Topics: Restroom, Cleaning, cross-contamination, disinfecting

Ask Sadie: It's Flu Season! How You Can Stay Healthy

Topics: Hand Hygiene, flu, CDC, germiest, handbags, smartphones, phones, ear buds, headphones, Ask Sadie, disinfecting