Page 32 - College Planning & Management, June 2018

HOW CLEAN?
seen is that these powered machines have been able to improve not only cleaning efficiency but also cleaning effectiveness.
A perfect example of this is what ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association), the worldwide cleaning association, calls spray-and-vac cleaning.
Many schools and universities have transferred from having custodial workers manually clean restrooms and floors using cleaning cloths, sprayers, and mops, to having that work per- formed using spray-and-vac cleaning systems. These machines, available in one form or another from different manufacturers, apply cleaning solution directly to restroom surfaces and fixtures to be cleaned. The same areas are then power-rinsed clean and, at least with some machines, the moisture and soils are vacuumed up, leaving the restroom dry in minutes.
ISSA says using spray-and-vac machines is as much as two- thirds faster than conventional cleaning systems and as much as 60 percent more effective at removing soils than mopping.
As for automating the cleaning process, artificial intelligence (AI) is playing a growing role in the professional cleaning industry. As it becomes more common, this should also help schools and universities meet cleaning expectations. The big benefit of AI
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systems, according to Segura, is that they can be used to perform “repeatable” cleaning tasks, usually in larger settings.
One example of this is a new generation of automatic floor scrubbers that can be taught how to clean floors such as in long hallways. “The machine is equipped with cameras, sensors,
a navigational mapping system, and a data storage system,” explains Segura. “The machine is ‘taught’ what to do and remembers what to do so that the same cleaning routine can be performed over and over again.”
Other AI technologies in the pipeline that are also expected to help improve cleaning effectiveness and address cleaning expectations are:
• Systems that monitor the cleanliness of restroom fixtures and
send out real-time alerts, either by text or email to smartphones
or other devices, that a restroom needs cleaning attention.
• Systems that monitor conditions such as malodors in restrooms
or overly wet floors and counters, requiring cleaning attention.
• Devices that monitor paper supplies in restrooms and kitchen areas.
Systems that monitor cleaning workers are also coming online. They can tell when a cleaning worker has entered a facility or specific area in a facility and when he has left. This information can prove valuable in regard to worker productivity as well as help ensure worker safety.
Administrators and cleaning crews have many options to ensure cleaning expectations are met on campus. Unfortunately, there is not one silver bullet to accomplish this. If cleaning does not meet expectations, examine carefully why this may be. Most likely, there are several factors involved. But in most cases, with thoughtful interventions, these challenges can be addressed. CPM
Robert Kravitz is a frequent writer for the professional cleaning industry.
APPA CUSTODIAL OPERATION SELF-ANALYSIS SURVEY
IN HELPING TO TRANSFORM member institutions into more inviting and supportive learning environments, APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities seeks to create positive impact by offering resources to campus managers. One resource available from APPA’s website is the Custodial Operation Self-Analysis Survey.
This survey and self-analysis tool was designed to identify most of the variables that impact institutional custodial operations, as well as to establish some reliable standardized benchmarks for the industry. It will help facilities managers to better understand custodial costs and staff- ing levels. This survey was developed to supplement APPA’s publication, Custodial Staffing Guidelines for Educational Facilities.
The survey is available for download here: http://appa.org/files/ General/AllCustodialAnalysis.pdf
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