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The Case for Better Indoor Air Quality, Plus 3 Ways to Make it Happen

By: Chris Meyer  |  June 5, 2019

Given that US employers lose over $260 billion each year from health-related employee absences and decreased productivity, organizations are increasingly aware of the importance of their employees’ health and its impact on the bottom line.

Add to that the fact that our environment—indoors and out—is top of mind for many business leaders, and it becomes clear that the cleaning industry has a significant business opportunity.

A case in point? Indoor air quality.

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, workplace wellness, floor matting

Let's Do This! Tackling Your Facility Maintenance Spring Cleaning To-Do List

By: Briana Smith  |  April 7, 2017

Now that spring is officially here, and most of the nasty winter weather is behind us, it’s time to tackle some of those tasks that come with the changing of the seasons. 

Oftentimes, the brutal winter rains and snowfall leave buildings quite beat up (as evidenced by the accumulation of ice melt and dirt that get tracked across floors and thrashed entrance floor matting). Afterwards the advent of spring brings more pollen into the air, not to mention the build-up of any dust that staff wasn’t able to get to during the winter, causing heightened indoor air allergy issues.

Here are a few things that should be part of your facility’s spring cleaning to-do list:

Topics: carpet, Indoor Air Quality, workplace wellness, cleaning procedures, flooring

6 Tips for Giving Your Upright Vacuum Cleaner a Tune-Up

Don’t let this happen to your upright vacuum cleaner!

By: Briana Smith and Mike Anderson  |  May 29, 2014

1. Brush Adjustment

Think that the brush adjustment option on your vacuum cleaner is just for show? Think again. It’s critical to the life of the brush, the vacuum AND your carpet life! Improper brush adjustment actually causes your vacuum to perform poorly, wear out faster, overheat, and can cause damage to your carpeting. Carpet pile lengths and textures vary and the point of having a brush on a vacuum is to sweep the dust, dirt & debris up and into the vacuum. If you have the brush too high for your carpeting then it’s not doing anything. If it’s too low it wears out both your carpeting and your brush. Make sure to check your brush every so often to see if it needs replacing, as it’s cheaper to replace a brush then a vacuum.

Topics: vacuuming, Indoor Air Quality, cleaning tips

Floor Matting Systems - Protecting Your Investment at the Front Door

By: Briana Smith |  May 22, 2014

Entrance matting should be the first thing that you come across when you enter a building. Why you may ask? 80% of the dirt & debris that enters a facility comes from walking in the door on the bottom of our shoes. Your entrance matting system is the first line of defense in protecting your floors and improving indoor air quality. An effective entrance matting system can potentially stop as much as 95% of dirt, sand & moisture at the door.

Here’s what you can do to protect your investment in your floors, your matting system & the cleanliness of your facility…

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, floor matting, preventative maintenance

12th Annual National Healthy Schools Day: April 8th

Compiled By: Keith Schneringer  |  April 3, 2014
Posted with permission from Healthy Schools Network, Inc.

Celebrate the 12th annual National Healthy Schools Day on Tuesday, April 8th during National Public Health Week! Since 2002 parents, teachers, school nurses, custodians, advocates, and agencies have promoted National Healthy Schools Day activities and events nationwide.

There are many ways to be involved in Healthy Schools Day, everything from distributing Indoor Air Quality information to hosting a green cleaning workshop at your local school. This grassroots day of awareness encourages everyone to get involved to make sure our nation's schools are healthy and productive environments for children.  

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, Education, Healthy Schools

100 Tips to Help Property Professionals Go Green for Earth Day

List Compiled By: Keith Schneringer  |  April 18, 2013

April 22 is Earth Day, and you may be thinking about ways to commemorate this day at your building.  In an effort to raise awareness of sustainability-related ideas on this day, it is worth revisiting the 100 Tips for Earth Day for Property Management Professionals which was originally created by BOMA International. 

These tips can be utilized to make going green a priority at your property on Earth Day (and can in turn help to make every day Earth Day in 2013)!

Topics: Earth Day, property professionals, Water Conservation, Indoor Air Quality, Recycling, Sustainability

Ask Sadie: The Benefits of Matting Programs

A Cleaning Q&A Column  |  February 7, 2013

Q: Hey Sadie- How do I know what kind of mat(s) I need for my facility? - Steven

A: Hello Steven, Having a matting program is the best way of adding mats to a facility. Not only are mats a great way to protect your floors, especially in inclement weather, but they can add traction for feet near pools (in gyms, schools, etc.), help prevent worker fatigue where people stand all day (such as in commercial kitchens, manufacturing facilities, etc.), and many other various applications.

Often it’s best to have different types of mats that are specific to the needs of the various areas in your building or facility. For instance, one would not use an anti-fatigue mat for an entryway, as you'd want it in an area that someone would be standing all day, as opposed to people wiping their feet of debris when entering a building. And that's why having a matting program is the optimal solution.

Understanding matting terms is important to figuring out what you need...wiper mats vs. scraper mats vs. wiper/scraper mats. CleanLink.com has published an article defining various mat-related terms that often need clarifying (read below for "Ten Terms Everyone Should Know About Mats").

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, Ask Sadie, floor matting

Tips for Improving Indoor Air Quality

February 21, 2012 

Minimize Chemical Pollutants

• Avoid smoking indoors. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of indoor pollutants at high concentrations.
• Choose low-emitting products that have been third-party certified and labeled by reputable organizations such as GREEENGUARD, ECOLOGO, Green Seal and the South Coast Air Quality Management District Clean Air Choices – Cleaner Certification. Be wary of manufacturer claims of “no VOC,” “natural” or “alternative.”
• Minimize the use of harsh cleaners, solvent-based cleaners or cleaners with strong fragrances.
• Certain activities, such as paint stripping, hobby soldering or gluing, painting, sanding and rock polishing, may create high levels of pollution and should be performed outside.
• Control car and appliance exhaust. Do not idle cars, lawnmowers or other engines in the garage, especially those that are attached to the house.

Topics: Indoor Air Quality, workplace wellness, cleaning tips

When Is Floor Matting Essential?

Topics: carpet, Indoor Air Quality, workplace safety, floor matting