2023 Trends in The Cleaning Industry: Our Buildings, Our People, Our Planet

By: Caitlin Dimalanta  |  January 24, 2023

In our previous article, 2023 Trends in the Cleaning Industry, we addressed labor attraction/retention and how we’ve raised consumer expectations of what “clean” should be. Be sure to also check out the final article in this three-part blog series for more predicted cleaning trends of 2023 where we discuss supply chain, digital transformation and security assessments.

In the second part of this three part blog series we will be exploring more trends that are predicted to play major roles in the cleaning industry this year.

Maintaining the health of our buildings, its occupants, and our planet are heavily influential in the cleaning industry. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and other environmental challenges, the facility maintenance community strives to adapt to stay ahead of ever-shifting requirements. With the widespread awareness of indoor air quality (IAQ) and sustainable cleaning practices, 2023 will be a year of continued progress for both areas.

Topics: Trends, Sustainable Solutions, Indoor Air Quality

Reduce Indoor Air Pollution and Increase Health with the Benefits of Clean Air

By: Caitlin Dimalanta  |  September 28, 2022 

As October swiftly approaches, so does the need to adapt to the change that is in the air…literally! With the autumn chill in the atmosphere and cold and flu season lingering around the corner, it is important to keep our health and the health of our buildings a top priority. Acclimating to the changing of the seasons can pose a real challenge for any facility manager, but with these tips to improve indoor air quality, we are here to help make the transition as smooth as possible.

October is nationally recognized as Healthy Lung Month, which is a great reminder of one of the best things a facility manager can clean and maintain—the air we breathe. Throughout this blog, we will be going over why air purification is integral to building maintenance and how you and your facility maintenance team can achieve cleaner air.

Topics: cleaning equipment, Indoor Air Quality, facility maintenance

Pandemic Aid Funds Brings High Tech Cleaning into Schools

By: Caitlin Dimalanta  |  May 31, 2022 

Almost 100% of students in the U.S. have returned to schools across the nation for in-person learning. There are upwards of 50,000,000 students enrolled in pre-K-12 in our public school systems. When schools first re-opened for the 2020-2021 school year, it was estimated to cost approximately $2,000,000 per school district to safely reopen, taking into account the need for increased facility maintenance and transportation costs. 

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, Healthy Schools, facility maintenance

2022 Trends for the Cleaning Industry: Moving Forward

By: Briana Smith & Caitlin Dimalanta  |  February 15, 2022 

To wrap up our 2022 Trends for the Cleaning Industry blog series, we will be exploring how building occupant wellness, the supply chain, training knowledge and expertise will continue to shape facility maintenance this year.

Before diving into our concluding third part, be sure to check out the previous two blogs for more cleaning trends in store for 2022:

• 2022 Trends for the Cleaning Industry: Help Wanted

• 2022 Trends for the Cleaning Industry: Green, Lean & Clean

Topics: training, Indoor Air Quality, workplace wellness, Supply Chain

Put a Greener & Cleaner Foot Forward: Entryway Matting

By: Caitlin Dimalanta  |  September 10, 2021

Part four of an ongoing series guiding you on the path to creating a cleaner, healthier, greener and safer building for re-entry and beyond.

In this blog series, we’re breaking down the process of developing a sustainable building program into eight steps, as reflected in our WAXIE GPS^® (Green Partner Support™) Program, which progresses from easier to adopt green cleaning procedures and techniques to higher level strategies and stewardship.

After tackling the three previous steps, Green Chemistry, Mechanization, and Waste Reduction, we will be honing in on a more specialized and often overlooked when developing a more sustainable facility maintenance program, the importance of entryway matting. 

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, Sustainability, floor matting

Improve ventilation? Improve the air instead.

Guest Blog By: AeraMax Professional from Fellowes Brands  |  February 4, 2021

Understanding Aerosolized Transmission

COVID-19 has changed the way managers think about office facilities; as workers shifted to working from home because of various state mandates, these managers have wrestled with ways of keeping staff safe once employees eventually return to the workplace. Some advocate unrealistic measures, like blocking off huge swaths of an office building, or attempting to create traffic flow patterns by taping off access to areas. Some look to eliminate conference rooms or common areas. But others look to significantly reduce risks by addressing the source of aerosol transmission of pathogens and viruses—indoor air.

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, workplace wellness, COVID-19

Air Purifiers Can Improve Indoor Air Quality as Buildings Re-Open

Guest Blog By: AeraMax Professional from Fellowes Brands  |  June 25, 2020

The Airborne Threat is Real

The rapid global spread of COVID-19 has increased our urgency to protect ourselves and each other. Healthy and safe facilities matter now, more than ever.

The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has shed new light on the near-invisible world of viruses and germs, with the general public becoming acutely aware of aerosol transmissions and virus spread. For businesses, there’s an added complexity, as they need to both clean facilities and communicate to occupants that safety and security are primary objectives in their daily tasks. That’s not easy, given emerging information.

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, workplace wellness, COVID-19

Why Vaporization Is Better Than Other Odor Control Methods

Guest Blog By: Fresh Wave IAQ  |  October 30, 2019

The Safer Alternative to Ozone, Hydroxyl, and Fragrances

There are many techniques and technologies for removing commercial odors – each with its pros and cons. The range of methods span from:

• inexpensive but less effective (masking fragrances)
  to
• potent but dangerous (ozone machines)
  to
• powerful but time consuming (hydroxyl machines)

When it comes to the best of all factors, nothing compares to vaporization of plant-based products for safe, fast, effective, and efficient odor elimination.

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, healthcare, odor control, Hospitality

Business Downtime Due to Odors

Guest Blog By: Fresh Wave IAQ  |  October 16, 2019

Calculating the Cost (And Solving the Problem) of Smelly Rooms

Whether it’s a hospital or hotel, resort or senior living community, no one wants to stay in a smelly room. Tobacco smoke, food, even bodily fluids (vomit or urine) can leave behind traces of the previous visitor and create a reputation for uncleanliness at an establishment.

Hospitality and healthcare facilities can’t afford to offer a room with lingering odors. In hotel rooms, specifically, two-thirds of travelers have complained, asked for a different room, requested a discount or refund, or cancelled their reservations if confronted with room odors, according to a Hampton Hotels survey. After a visit, one bad review can mean a loss of untold future customers.

In addition to discounts, refunds, or lost business, the odor removal process can make a big impact to the bottom line. Some odor-eliminating techniques (like masking fragrances) do not completely remove odors, risking future complaints or “one star” reviews. Others (like ozone generators) are expensive and unsafe—requiring a room to be closed off while being treated—meaning it cannot generate revenue.

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, healthcare, odor control, Hospitality