Clean The Prairies - December 2006 
(click here for full magazine in Adobe pdf format).

ON THE COVER: Hospital Disinfection: Efficacy and Safety Issues
By DR. MARKUS DETTENKOFER, Freiburg University Hospital, Germany
The key question as to whether the use of disinfectants on environmental surfaces, or whether cleaning with detergents only reduces nosocomial infection rates still awaits conclusive studies. Tew disinfectants, mainly peroxygen compounds, show good sporicidal properties and will probably replace more problematic substances such as chlorine-releasing agents.
The safe reprocessing of medical devices requires a well-coordinated approach, starting with proper cleaning. New methods and substances show promising activity for preventing the transmission of prions. Read more...

Cleaning and Surgical Disinfection: New Insights and Strategies
By DR. MARTIN EXNER, Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, University of Bonn
Recently, new insights into the persistence of pathogens, their transfer from inanimate surfaces to humans, and the risk of contamination and dissemination of pathogens by detergents have been gained. Furthermore, new experimental data on the interruption of chains of infection by disinfectants as well as results of outbreak-control studies are now available. Hence it has become necessary to reassess the potential benefits of using disinfectants to prevent and control nosocomial infections. Read more...

The Jan-San Environmental Chemical Revolution
The environmental “green craze” currently sweeping the land has been a long time coming.  We as Canadians pride ourselves on the fact that here in North America we are world leaders in all things important.  The irrationality of this thought is self-evident; the environmental based chemistry of our new green revolution was first tested and marketed in Northern Europe over a decade ago.  The governments of Norway, Denmark and Sweden lead the way by enacting environmental legislation promoting the growth of environmental chemistry within the cleaning industry.  Read more...

Keeping Winter Floors Clean, Shiny and Safe
By SOFIA A. MODESTO
Winter is almost here and it can be tough on floors. Adverse weather conditions often amplify floor care problems and make the need for a floor care maintenance program all the more important.  Read more...

Chasing Productivity
Productivity. As cleaning industry consultants, my partner Brent Bourne and I hear the word almost on a daily basis from clients who need to increase the productivity of their cleaning staff and from sales reps promoting the productivity benefits of their equipment, tools or cleaning solutions. But what is productivity and how is it achieved?  Read more...

Simply Clean and Safe
By Matt Del Vecchio, Vice President Foodservice, Avmor Group
As more and more Canadians are dining out, food safety control is increasingly becoming a concern for both consumers and the food industry. Though Canada’s food supply is one of the safest in the world, foodborne illnesses are nevertheless fairly common. Health Canada tracks outbreaks and publishes the statistics in its annual report “Foodborne and Waterborne Disease in Canada.”  Read more...

Sniff Out Odor Origins to Determine Effective Treatments
By ZIA SIDDIQI, Ph.D., B.C.E., Director of Quality Assurance, Orkin Canada
Businesses don’t want customers pinching their noses because of foul odors on the premises. In addition to producing an unpleasant atmosphere, the smells associated with these types of decay can actually produce a secondary problem – pest infestations – that will be just as unappealing to customers.Many commercial facilities attract pests because they offer sources of food and water and, in the winter, warm shelter. In particular, odors tend to attract flies, cockroaches and rodents. Read more...

Canadian-U.S. Partnership a “Clean Sweep” for 2006 Business Achievement Award
Virox Technologies and JohnsonDiversey recognized for cross-border collaboration on green disinfectants for healthcare useThe Canadian American Business Council, the voice of the Canadian-American business community, has selected Virox Technologies Inc., Oakville, Ont., and JohnsonDiversey Inc., Sturtevant, Wisc., to be award the prestigious Business Achievement Award for their collaboration in developing and distributing, a safe and environmentally-friendly hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectant.  Read more...

Wood Wyant - 85 Years
Wood Wyant has seen a great deal of change in its 84 years of existence, but one thing that holds true to this day is the focus of “providing its customers tools to measure the results of their actions” through quality products and services.
G.H. Wood & Company was founded in early 1922 by a 27-year-old Geoffrey Hutchence Wood. The company started out in a facility at 28 Wellington St. E. in downtown Toronto. At that time, the company consisted of a one room office on the ground floor which housed a roll top desk and chair. After one year, Wood moved the company to the second floor of the building which had two offices.  Read more...