Tips for Cleaning Schools During Winter Break

By: WAXIE Editorial Staff  |  December 6, 2022 

The typical winter break in schools across the U.S. clocks in around two weeks. This period allows facility management teams to accomplish campus cleaning projects that couldn’t normally be done while class is in session. With these universally efficient tips, any facility manager rest assured that their students will continue to have a clean school to come back to. Clean school environments promote better health within the classroom for optimal learning conditions.

Topics: winter, Education, cleaning tips

The Forgotten Cleaning Step: Interim Maintenance

By: Briana Smith  |  December 18, 2020

Winter break is typically the time of year that many custodial staffs have some time to do some extra cleaning with so many people out of the building or off campus for several weeks on holiday.

While it may be tempting to spend the time on restorative or deep cleaning procedures, you’re better off holding off until after all of the inclement winter and spring weather has passed. A combination of ice melt, excess water from snow and rain, and mud being dragged in really does a number on a facility’s flooring!

Instead, it’s better to focus on interim cleaning procedures, which allow you to clean more extensively than daily routine but is less intensive and time consuming than deep cleaning.

Topics: carpet, Hard Floor Care, flooring, cleaning tips

Why Choose Dilution Control?

Topics: cleaning chemicals, dilution control, cleaning tips

17 Tips for Chemical Safety

Guest Blog By: Jessica Clifton with ReAgent  |  August 13, 2020

Not all chemicals need special handling or storage because not all chemicals are harmful, but toxic, corrosive, flammable, and explosive chemicals, for example, need special care and the proper safety precautions.

Extremely hazardous chemicals might require handlers to wear personal protective equipment such as goggles, rubber gloves, and aprons, and storing hazardous chemicals can also require special types of containers as well as environment control. This type of chemical is typically only handled in the workplace.

Topics: cleaning chemicals, Safety, cleaning tips

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

6 Steps to Occupant Wellness and Pathogen Control

By: WAXIE Editorial Staff  |  May 28, 2020

As areas across the country begin to stabilize from the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations are starting to welcome building occupants back into their facilities. When considering the complexity and sensitivity of this endeavor, there are many aspects to consider – governmental guidance to incorporate, protocols to be reviewed and implemented, and final preparations to be made to ensure your facilities are as safe and ready as possible for people to return.

WAXIE delivers hand hygiene programs, comprehensive cleaning solutions, surface disinfecting technology and facility maintenance supplies, combined with industry-specific expertise and consultation to assist with implementation and ongoing support. We stand ready to partner with you to welcome building occupants back to facilities which will be cleaner, healthier, greener, and safer.

Topics: Hand Hygiene, workplace wellness, 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

Carpet Cleaning Basics: Routine Maintenance to Restoration

By: WAXIE Editorial Staff  |  January 17, 2020

Carpeting is probably the most common type of floor covering in commercial buildings. It can add an attractive appearance and a warm, soft feel to a facility while reducing noise. But because dirt is often hidden in the carpet, proper maintenance can be neglected until the carpet "uglys out," and expensive restoration or replacement is needed.

Topics: carpet, flooring, cleaning tips