Choosing Green Equipment and Supplies

When choosing green equipment and supplies (such as microfiber cloths, floor mats, vacuums and burnishers), schools should consider three factors – appropriateness, effectiveness and usability – when making purchasing decisions. Every day, cleaning equipment design is being improved to be more energy efficient, use less water and detergent, and even in some cases use no detergent at all. Read more about New Technologies. To find out more about other relevant standards for cleaning equipment, see Green Standards. Also read Food Service and/or Infection Control sections for more guidance on how equipment choices affect these areas.

Appropriateness

A tool should be matched to the job to be performed. A simple example is what can happen when choosing a vacuum cleaner.

Regardless of its ability to clean, using a 12-inch, single motor upright vacuum to clean a 10,000 square foot auditorium is a losing proposition because it is too small and too time consuming.

Attempting to clean a crowded classroom with a 42-inch-wide area vacuum cleaner is also a losing proposition as the large size makes cleaning around desks and chairs equally difficult and time consuming.

Before purchasing equipment, identify spaces and flooring surfaces to be cleaned, choosing equipment sized and designed appropriately for the job. The same analysis should be applied to choosing buffing or burnishing equipment, mop styles and sizes, and every other tool or piece of equipment used in the school.

Effectiveness

Consider how well the equipment removes soils, water, dust, and other contaminants, as well as prevents the reintroduction of more contaminants. Here are some basic guidelines for choosing some of the most common school cleaning equipment. Click on the items below for more information:

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Vacuums

The Carpet and Rug Institute has established a Green Label certification program for vacuums that meet the following criteria:

Soil Removal - The vacuum must remove a set quantity of soil from carpet in four passes.
Dust Containment - The vacuum must not release more than 100 micrograms of dust particles per cubic meter of air. This protocol evaluates the amount of dust particles released by the brush, rolls, through the filtration bag and via any air-leaks from the system and is more stringent that the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
Carpet Appearance Retention - The vacuum should not affect the appearance of the carpet more than a one-step change based on one year of normal vacuum use.

Backpack vacuums

Heavy, poorly designed equipment can cause worker fatigue leading to cleaning inefficiency and can result in back injuries to custodial workers. Thus, selecting lightweight ergonomically designed equipment is very important. For example, backpack vacuums weighing less than 10 pounds allow for fast, efficient movement and handling on both carpets and hard floor surfaces, and minimize back injuries to custodians as compared to heavy, poorly balanced upright traditional vacuum cleaners. Backpack vacuums equipped with extension wands also allow for dusting ceilings, walls, fixtures and high ledges. Removing dust rather than stirring it up through conventional dusting and dust mopping will improve the indoor air quality.

Carpet extractors

Both portable and truck mount carpet extractors should be evaluated on their ability to remove the soiled water from the carpet or upholstery. The Carpet and Rug Institute recommends at a minimum carpet should be dry within 24 to 48 hours and they have several levels of certification for carpet extractors. Moisture is a key in choosing an extractor. This is important for several reasons:

As long as a carpet is wet or damp it is a safety hazard. Stepping from a damp carpet to a hard floor creates a potential slip-fall incident.
Wet or damp carpets and upholstery are breeding grounds for bacteria, mold, and fungi. The faster the fabric dries, the less opportunity there is for substantial growth.
Any moisture left in the fabric (more moisture equals longer dry times) is by definition dirty. Soils are emulsified and suspended in the water. If the water is not removed, neither is the soil. Therefore, the longer a fabric takes to dry, the less cleaning was actually performed.

Carpet cleaning systems have also been developed that work on dry powder systems. These present a good alternative to wet carpet extraction. This may be preferred, especially for schools in humid climates to reduce the potential for mold growth.

Automatic Scrubbers

These should minimize the amount of water used in the cleaning process (along with the amount of chemical required) and maximize the amount of water recovered. This may be accomplished with new technologies that use foam or microfiber pads, reducing both water and chemical consumption. Effective squeegee design helps recover more water and prevent “trails” that need to be hand-mopped. This helps avoid potential slip-fall incidents as well as improve productivity.

Buffing or burnishing equipment

This should include active vacuum attachments to capture fine particles and prevent them from being inhaled and potentially harming health. Burnishing is an abrasive process, like sanding, which creates a tremendous amount of dust. Capturing this dust has the added benefit of reducing the amount of dust in the air, which can improve cleaning productivity (less dusting required). Move your mouse here for more ways to reduce the need for burnishing.

Self-contained “no-touch” cleaning equipment

This includes both a high pressure washer with a wet/dry vacuum to make cleaning in bathrooms faster and more efficient, and often reduces chemicals as well.

Vapor cleaning devices

These may be a good alternative for removing soils, mold and mildew.

For recommended sources of green equipment, see Featured Green Products. For helpful guidelines on carpet cleaning and maintenance, see Resources and Tools.

Usability

The most powerful vacuum cleaner in the world won’t clean a thing if it stays in the closet. To evaluate usability, ask yourself the following questions:

Is the equipment the appropriate size and type for the typical custodian in the school and his or her capabilities?

Is the equipment difficult to operate or maneuver? Don’t be misled by marketing puffery and productivity claims. Actually try the equipment in circumstances similar to those found in your school to gauge potential problems and productivity.

Can an average user figure out how to use the equipment with minimal instruction? How about a non-English speaking user? Are the labels clear, do they use icons or colors as cues? Is there a “panic” switch to protect the user or passersby?

What sorts of training materials are required and available for the equipment? Is it icon or color code based, available in languages other than English?

What is the service record for this equipment? How long has it held up in similar situations to that found in your school? If it is a new piece of equipment or design, what is the company’s track record with their other equipment? Are parts and service readily available? What is the warranty?

Choosing Green Supplies

Use these general guidelines to choose supplies to enhance your green cleaning program, such as:

Plastic carts, buckets, wringers, mop handles and other tools that use Post-Consumer Recycled content or are extremely durable, to extend product life and minimize the frequency of replacement and the environmental impacts associated with manufacturing replacement products.

Alternative supplies that reduce or eliminate the need for water, chemicals or paper in the cleaning process. An example is the use of squeegees for cleaning glass and mirrors (as opposed to paper towels) or a plumber’s snake, which can be used to dislodge clogs in drains rather than concentrated acids that get poured down the drain.

Microfiber: Several types of dusting and cleaning cloths now are made from microfiber: 1) cloths for glass cleaning and general purpose cleaning with virtually no water or chemicals required, as well as for hand dusting, replacing traditional rags and furniture polish; 2) mops capture more dust, last longer and require no treatment, making them ideal replacements for traditional dust mops; flat mops will clean better and last longer (more launderings) than traditional looped cotton mops; and 3) pads for floor machines that can be used on hard or carpeted floors. Color coded microfiber systems allow the additional benefit of minimizing cross contamination. Read more about microfiber systems from EPA in Government Resources.

Floor Mats: Studies have shown that 85% of dirt entering into a building is brought in on the soles of shoes and on the tires of wheeled carts; 95% of appearance problems on floors are caused by dirt/road salt. Matting protects floors by stopping moisture and dirt at the door, makes floors easier to clean, and makes floors safer by reducing slipping. Look for entryway mats that are properly sized (generally long enough for persons entering to take at least four steps on the mat), designed for the ambient conditions and preferably PVC-free. See Resources and Tools for example guidelines and helpful websites on use of mats.

Hand soaps: Avoid the use of antimicrobial hand soaps, except where required by code or regulation. Studies have shown that antibacterial soaps are no more effective than plain soap preventing the spread of infections in the community setting.

Hand sanitizers: Alcohol based sanitizers are effective at reducing the number of bacteria present on hands and are an acceptable alternative to hand-washing when hand washing facilities are not available. However, hand sanitizers are not preferred over traditional soap and water, and should not be used to replace proper hand hygiene.

For recommended sources of these supplies, see Featured Green Products.

Infection Control

Developments in cleaning technology have made cleaning not only easier but also better. Here are a few equipment items that improve cleaning and prevent the spread of infections:

Dual bucket s systems- dual bucket systems that keep dirty water separate from clean water will help prevent the spread of germs that get picked up in one part of the room and moved to another.
Microfiber- Studies have shown that microfiber is more efficient at picking up dirt and removing bacteria than cotton cleaning systems. Using color coded systems will also minimize cross contamination between critical areas (i.e. classrooms are green, restrooms yellow, etc.)
Microfiber mops with cleaning product dispensing systems on the handles. These systems do not require the use of bucket water also reducing contamination.
Spray and Vac Touch Free Self-Contained Cleaning Equipment- Specialized cleaning equipment that allows the custodian to use high pressure cleaning with green cleaning chemical injection and wet vacuum allows workers to deep clean without coming into direct contact with the contaminated surfaces.
Vapor technologies allow the ability to disinfect and sanitize without the use of harmful chemicals.

A number of new materials are now manufactured with surfaces that have been treated to inhibit the growth of bacteria. These surfaces still require regular cleaning since the bacteria can still grow on the soil on the surface. These products could potentially help reduce the spread of germs in a school environment, especially for high touch points such as water fountains or door handles. We look forward to seeing the long term benefits or impacts from these products in the school settings. Read more about new products in New Technologies.

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