Clean BC - November/December 2008
(click here for full magazine in Adobe pdf format).
 

ON THE COVER:  Surfactants:
The truth behind their toxicity, their ability to cause chemical resistance and their use in cleaning products
By Navid Omidbakhs, Vice President Open Innovation, P.Eng, PhD Candidate, University of Waterloo & NICOLE KENNY, Director of Professional and Technical Services, B.Sc, Assoc. Chem.
Introduction
Surfactants constitute the most important group of detergent components. They are wetting agents that lower the surface tension of a liquid, allowing easier spreading, and lower the interfacial tension between two liquids. The word surfactant derives from the contraction of the terms surface-active-agents and covers a group of molecules which are able to modify the interfacial properties of the liquids (aqueous or non-aqueous) in which they are present(1). Surfactants play an important role in many practical applications and products, including detergents, fabric softeners, vaccine formulations, and drug delivery and medical treatment (2-7), emulsifiers, paints, adhesives, inks, anti-fogging, wetting, ski wax, snowboard wax, foaming and de-foaming agents, biocides (sanitizers), and hair conditioners (after shampoo).   Read more...

Let The Sunshine In
It’s time to let the sunshine in. And, by that I am not referring to a set of CDs we produced in the late 1990s on why and how to implement a day cleaning program.
For the past two years our firm has been performing certifications for both the ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard (CIMS) program and Green Seal’s GS-42 certification. The need for both certifications is strong in our industry as both strive to bring a level of professionalism that is badly needed – but more on that a little later.   Read more...

Green Cleaning:
The Green Cleaning Movement In The Food Service Industry
By Matt Del Vecchio, Vice President Foodservice, Avmor Group
It is only a matter of time before the green cleaning movement hits the food service industry. There are a couple of interesting trends that will see operators of foodservice facilities take a proactive role in implementing sustainable cleaning solutions.   Read more...

Green Seal Inc. Stands Solidly Behind Revised GS-37
The Leadership Standard for Industrial and Institutional Cleaners
Green Seal certified products are increasingly used in schools, and more and more cleaning chemicals are demonstrated to contribute to health and environmental problems. Updating the Green Seal standard for the cleaners used in schools and other institutional settings (GS-37) involved careful consideration of vulnerable populations’ needs. Given the significance of GS-37 and the controversy that surrounds all chemical restrictions, Green Seal anticipated that consensus might not be achieved in its Scope of Work issued to all stakeholders early in the 21-month-long process. Early documents in the revision process also set out the rationale for special consideration of children, in particular, because of their sensitivity to chemical exposures and the many ways in which they may be affected during their developmental stages.   Read more...

Keeping Up Appearances
By Patrice Dumas
The winter months, just around the corner, can be tough for the professional cleaning industry. Snow, rain and sleet can play havoc on building floors and carpets.
For carpet cleaners, their business can come to a virtual stop during the cold winter months. This is because outdoor conditions, and their impact on the indoor environment, can be so bad that facility managers believe it is simply not worth it to clean carpets or strip and refinish floors. After all, they think, they will just get soiled again quickly and need to be recleaned.   Read more...

Do The Numbers:
The Mathematics of Cleaning:
The devastating events of October 2008 have left the stock market and the banking system reeling. The Canadian dollar is down to 80 cents and gasoline prices are still at depressing levels. Meanwhile, cleaning service providers wait to see how these events will affect their operations.    Read more...

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