The secret of industrial cleaning

I dare say there are few, if any, North Americanincluding many industrial and commercial facility
factories that are still using the same equipment,managers, do not really understand and appreciate
assembly systems, and processes to manufacturethe value of cleaning and maintaining a healthy work
goods and products that they were using 20 or 30space. In truth, neither do many of those in the
years ago. New technologies are constantly beingcleaning profession.
introduced and incorporated, and many are resultingTurning Tides
in scores of benefits - from improved product qualityIf the current scenario is to ever change and benefit
and customer satisfaction to reduced costs andthe manufacturing facility, it is important for the
enhanced efficiencies.cleaning industry to turn to science in the pursuit of
Unfortunately, when it comes to cleaning andtruth and knowledge. For instance, we need:
maintaining industrial facilities, few new cleaning• More credible research on all aspects of
programs and technologies have been introduced incleaning and its associated processes, which can lead
the past 30 years, and of those that have, few haveto more professional and effective cleaning
produced significantly healthier results.This may be• To better understand how cleaning
why so many health complaints in industrial,contains and removes pollution
commercial, and educational facilities can be tied toThis type of science will not only help us understand
ineffective cleaning.how cleaning affects the environment, but it will also
It isn’t that those responsible for cleaninglead to the development of quality cleaning products
are not conscientious in their efforts; instead,and procedures designed for special environments
it’s often because not enough is known -with specific needs. Ultimately, it will drive the
at least in fundamental scientific terms - about whatdevelopment of new cleaning technologies, systems,
they are confronting. Indeed, many times, even thechemistry, and methods to improve the indoor
most meticulous of cleaning workers unknowinglyenvironmental quality for all types of buildings,
compromise their own health and that of factoryregardless of use and surroundings. Just as important,
workers and other building occupants throughscientific data and evidence will help us discern truth
improper cleaning methodologies because the scienceand knowledge from mere hype and opinion.
to make those processes safer eitherFacility Managers Can Spur the Industry
doesn’t exist or is not well known.Managers of manufacturing facilities can also help spur
Unfortunately, the cleaning industry itself is largely tothe industry forward in producing cleaning tools and
blame for this state. In general, the industry has beenequipment that are engineered based on scientific
overly guided by the desire to market new productsresearch to be more effective and hygienic. They
- many of which are not necessarily the result ofcan do this by insisting that their JanSan distributors
true scientific research.provide supporting evidence from independent,
Indeed, many JanSan - janitorial/sanitary -third-party organizations that validates the cleaning
manufacturers have invested little in research andclaims of the products they are considering
development to discover what is actually required topurchasing.
produce a sanitary outcome; and they have not usedAdditionally, managers should make providing
a scientific method to validate their claims. What is"scientific" criteria a central part of the competitive
frequently passed off as science in cleaning is oftenbid and evaluation process when selecting new
just theory or opinion and is not supported by hardcleaning products, tools, and equipment. This can
data or evidence. Therefore, thisinclude asking for objective, measurable criteria for
“science” in cleaning is oftensuch important factors as: soil removal; product
veiled pseudoscience that results from improper, yetperformance; worker productivity rates; the affect
innocent, scientific processes. Or, at its worst, itor lack of affect the product may have on indoor air
results from a purposeful attempt to mislead forquality.
commercial gain.These scientific measurements serve a secondary
The symptoms of this condition are numerous. Forpurpose as well. They can also be used to judge the
example, throughout the cleaning industry - a huge,effectiveness of the cleaning programs and tools
well-established, $60-plus billion industry - there is stillcurrently being used in a manufacturing facility. An
no universal agreement on the definition ofexample of this would be using a urine detection kit,
“clean.” Further, few cleaningnow readily available from some JanSan distributors,
standards, systems, or procedures have earnedto see how well their current cleaning products
“best-practices” status in whichperform. The same system can be used to test the
the methods have been tested and approvednew tools and equipment under consideration as well.
through science and research.For instance, in one recent study it was reported
Also, many of the tools that most cleaning workersthere was little difference in the effectiveness of
are forced to use are obsolete and ineffective. Justmicrofiber mops over conventional string mops. And
look at the tools custodians use in industrial facilities,neither system performed well when compared to a
including mops, buckets, cloths, and sprayers; they“No-Touch” Cleaning system.
are not much different from those that were used inThese are the types of studies facility managers
factories 40 years ago.should be asking for when selecting cleaning
It’s no wonder that today most people,equipment for their locations.