Cleaning without chemicals – an update

There have been several developments in the world of Housekeeping with relation to cleaning without chemicals. These include exclusive use of microfibre, combined use of microfibre and steam in hospitals and advances in nanotechnology for surfaces.

Microfibre only - Radisson Blu in Sydney Australia is now in its 6^th year of using only microfibre and water in the cleaning of their guest rooms and public areas. Maureen Jolowicz, the Executive Housekeeper and also President of the Professional Housekeepers Association of NSW has maintained the overall system she first started in 2008 with some modifications. Housekeeping Room Attendants pick up their cleaning pack every morning at the start of their shift including a blue microfibre cloth for each room, 3 scourers for the floors and shower tiles and their bucket with a water spray bottle and the only chemical used – a disinfectant spray for the toilet bowl. Their cleaning routine, incorporated in the sequence of service, is to use 1 clean cloth to clean the bathroom glasses, then dust in the room, wipe down all bathroom surfaces finishing off with the toilet. 1 microfibre cloth is used per room. Separate cleaning tools including the extendable wand for high surfaces and the fluffy duster for bedroom walls are also part of their equipment.

With an estimated saving of 1 million litres of water a year (10 litres of water per room cleaned), a reduction of 95% in the use of chemicals and a reduction in housekeeping health and safety issues – it’s easy to see why this is the natural choice for housekeeping cleaning in the future.
Words of advice for those who want to install microfibre is that it is best to trial it thoroughly for a minimum of 3 months on 1 – 2 floors. The staff from the trial floors will become ambassadors for the system because they realise it is so much easier.

Microfibre and steam - Hotel housekeepers could learn a thing or to from hospitals.  AtMonash Health in Victoria, Australia a major change has been made in the cleaning of their facilities. The technology implemented across the entire health service of 2150 inpatient beds with over 500 cleaning staff is the use microfibre and steam.

The traditional cleaning method of using the 2-step cleaning  process of detergent and water cleaning followed by disinfection with hypochlorite has been replaced with microfibre and use of 97% dry steam with temperatures of 140 degs C.

Patient room cleaning times have been slashed from 160 minutes to 50 – 60 minutes, a massive saving of Aus $142 per room.

The advantages of microfibre and steam not only includes the elimination of chemicals, reduction in water use by 90% but also reduction in risk of back injury, slips and falls along with reduction in risk of allergy/chemical irritation.

Nanotechnology-  The treatment of surfaces with a nano-coating, such as Bacterlon liquid glass, a German product is currently being tested in Hong Kong.