At no time was cleanliness more critical than in a pandemic, the need for sterilization was paramount, Will we have another pandemic. Who knows? But, we have to be prepared for this risk:
The founder and Managing Consultant of Safety Projects International Inc, has a mission – to help clean up Canada and several other countries. However, rather than doing it himself, Dr Bill Pomfret aka Dr. Clean is getting the workers themselves to do it – which is simple in its logic but offers a huge challenge in execution.
“The state of cleanliness affects us in every aspect of our lives, whether we’re a patient in a hospital, a pupil in school, a customer in a restaurant or an employee in the workplace,”.
“Most people fail to realize that cleaning is a science.” Treatment of the cause, not the symptoms, coupled with a healthy dose of preventive medicine, is his prescription for the endemic problem faced by most countries he visits.
First, that means completely breaking down the tolerance for filth and replacing it with a culture of cleanliness. And second, people will have to be educated on the best ways to clean up and to stay clean. Dr Pomfret is aware of the big, big job that is cut out for him, and that it involves more than just trying to change people’s attitude or mindset.
That is but a starting point, even though it is a massive challenge, as evidenced by the limited success of the numerous public cleanliness campaigns undertaken in many countries so far, including South Africa, the Philippines and Malaysia to name a few.
There is no question that 78-year-old Dr. Pomfret is committed to his cause. He has, after all, got a 50-year-old lucrative business. But to him, raising most country’s standards of cleanliness is part and parcel of occupational health and safety, both curative and preventive. Twenty-five years ago, he set up the education training Center for Cleaning Science and Technology in the Philippines (CCST), the country’s first such facility.
Located in San Isidro, Nueva Ecija the center conducts, inter alia training programs for the cleaning service industry, as well as local councils, building owners, and property managers. With the primary objective of raising the status and standards of the Philippines’s cleaning industry, after all, the number one export from the Philippines, is its people, mostly exported as caregivers.
The Open University’s Institute of Professional Development accredits the center’s cleaning proficiency program, before setting up the facility, Dr Pomfret had personally audited and surveyed the way cleaning operators normally worked. Some of his findings proved to be shocking. For example, a same mop was used to clean the toilet and the kitchen; the same rag to clean the bathroom and to wipe tables in eateries; and a same pail of filthy water used to mop corridor after corridor.
His conclusion was that many professional and contract cleaners, not restricted to the Philippines, but Internationally were simply clueless about effective cleaning. Mostly, the exercise seemed to be aimed not at cleaning but at creating the impression that cleaning had been done, that is, not to sanitize but to look clean.
Cleaning workers have a difficult and often stressful job. Many are under pressure to clean more space in less time and with fewer workers. Shift work and isolation can also contribute to job-related stress and exhaustion. Partly because of this pressure, cleaning workers tend to suffer more workplace injuries than other groups of workers.
Ergonomic hazards are part of the problem. Lifting heavy objects like trash cans and repetitive motions like vacuuming can lead to injury, especially when workers are under pressure to work quickly. But the chemicals in cleaning products used by janitorial workers can also pose a serious hazard.
Research on workplace injuries backs this up: in additional to musculoskeletal problems, respiratory and skin diseases are among the most common work-related health problems suffered by cleaners. These include asthma, eczema, and dermatitis. For example, A McGill University Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program found that nearly 10% of work-related asthma cases were caused by exposure to cleaning products.
This issue affects not only janitorial workers, but also others working in an environment where cleaning products are used.so what can workplaces do to prevent these issues? The Safety Projects International Inc. hierarchy of controls to mitigate safety hazards identifies elimination of the hazard or substitution with a less hazardous alternative as the best way to deal with a health or safety hazard. Only if elimination or substitution are not viable options should the workplace turn to engineering controls, administrative controls, or personal protective equipment to protect workers from workplace hazards.
In the case of janitorial workers using cleaning products, the hierarchy of controls suggests that elimination of unnecessary products and substitution of safer products is the most effective way to protect workers from chemical hazards.
However, it’s important to consider the workplace environment, rather than making changes to product selection in a vacuum. Workers not only want safe products they also want effective products that will enable them to do their jobs efficiently. Products that don’t work well can place additional pressure on janitors as they struggle to complete their jobs during the allotted time, leading to frustration and potentially increasing the risk of injury or ill-health. Fortunately, thanks to improvements in formulation, many products on the market today are both safer for workers and perform more effectively Third party certification programs can help identify institutional cleaning products that meet this high bar.
For example, EPA’s Safer Choice program has certified over 2,000 safer products in a wide range of categories for both home and institutional use. All ingredients in these products must meet the program’s criteria for several human and environmental health endpoints.
In addition, all certified products must meet performance standards. Using a reputable third-party certification like Safer Choice to select safer products helps protect against false environmental and health claims, as well as products that might use safer ingredients but just won’t work effectively. Communication and transparency are important to ensure that workers know how to handle products safely. While the law requires disclosure of chemical hazards to workers via Safety Data Sheets, these don’t typically list all ingredients in the product. In some cases, information may need to be provided in a language other than English to ensure worker understanding.
New ingredient disclosure requirements for cleaning products have come into effect will give workers more information about what’s in the products they use. Training is also important to ensure that workers know how to use the products safely and effectively – for example, not mixing products that could result in a hazardous reaction and using protective equipment such as gloves or eye protection where appropriate. A comprehensive training program can also help protect janitorial workers from other workplace hazards, including ergonomic hazards.
Engagement between employers and workers can also help to ensure that janitors understand the reasons for green initiatives, including the use of green cleaning products, and have the support they need to implement them safely and effectively. While safer cleaning products are an important way to reduce chemical hazards to cleaning workers, they should be one part of a comprehensive program that ensures safe and healthy working conditions while treating workers with respect.
“The thing is you have to clean right,” Pomfret stresses. “You may not be able to control the public entirely, but you can control the cleaners and the quality of cleaning.” During his travels, Dr. Bill had also visited Singapore’s Institute of Cleaning Sciences, a franchise of the British Institute of Cleaning Sciences. Graduates, and professional cleaners are required to sit a proficiency test, both theory and practical.
In most countries, it is important that building owners, property managers and local councils send their staff for training, Dr Pomfret adds. This is because there are today very wide ranges of cleaning machines designed for all kinds of functions. Then there are the chemicals, which must be handled properly. In addition, cleaning processes can be quite job-specific, be it the cleaning of air ducts, treatment and prevention of graffiti, maintenance of various types of surfaces or basics like chewing gum removal.
For cleaning companies, such training makes economic sense, too. For instance, without this knowledge, they will not be able to realistically device a price structure upon which to negotiate a cleaning contract. As for the prospective clients, most will recognize that it is best to go with a professional outfit to minimize the risk of ending up with a whopping bill on restoration works for a botched-up job.
“Lack of know-how among property managers is the primary cause of poor maintenance of buildings,” says Dr Pomfret. “They get incompetent cleaners, and these people destroy the properties.
So, the management has to cough up money to do yearly restoration and refurbishing.” Business owner Bill Thompson agrees. “The notion that a mop and bucket is all you need to clean is archaic”. In most developed countries, cleaning has become a highly professional field. In fact, the ‘First World Facility, Third World Mentality’ complaint from visitors regarding the U.A.E. amenities can be attributed to the fact that cleaning as a process has been hugely neglected.
“The industry must become professional in the shortest time possible. As a matter of urgency, a body comprising the Government, local and city councils, training schools, suppliers, contractors, and other stakeholders should be set up to draw up minimum standards,”
Pomfret says, some 40 years ago, I helped develop the 5 Star Health and Safety Management System the first part I concentrated on, was housekeeping “Cleanliness and Order” this gives the employer, the biggest bang for the buck. Arguing that Governments should be more receptive and exposed to the cleaning service industry, Pomfret – whose company has been in the health and safety business for over 45 years – says: “Right now, it’s a free-for-all. Unless standards are imposed and cleaning contractors are certified and classified, many countries will continue to be plagued by poor maintenance and dirty surroundings.
“Dr. Pomfret may remind one of a young Don Aslett, the author of numerous books on cleaning techniques and self-styled No. 1 cleaner in America, but all he dreams of is a day when no person would fear to walk into a public toilet in any country he has trained.
Meanwhile, his center has trained staff from companies in the Philippines. The going has been tough, still is, principally because of the need for him to relentlessly prod and irritate people into action, even just to see the urgency of the matter. On the positive side, he can be likened to a grain of sand in an oyster, which will one day become a pearl – and be appreciated. DR CLEAN’S DIAGNOSIS INDUSTRY MUST BE RATIONALISED: Nobody can tell for sure about something as basic as the size of the industry. There are so many players, but numbers don’t guarantee quality. And there are no proper guidelines to qualify cleaning enterprises for bids to undertake a cleaning and building maintenance job. Without guidelines on such things as a company’s manpower, technological and management capacity as well as know-how, anyone with minimal or zero knowledge can bid for contracts. Unlike in the construction industry where contractors are graded, there is no classification of cleaners based on professional competence.
THE CLEANERS THEMSELVES MUST BUCK UP: Cleaning know-how and cleaning product knowledge are not fully pursued by cleaners. Unlike the UK and Singapore, which imposes practical and theory tests on would-be cleaning operatives (questions range from which chemical to use on which type of surface to which color pad to use for which scrubber machine for which function), most western countries cleaning service industry operates based on: “even my grandmother can do that job”. WHAT STANDARD? There are no established standards for cleanliness. Lack of education on the part of the authorities (such as local councils), building owners and property managers and employers, as well as the cleaners themselves is a major obstacle against the much-needed professionalization of the industry. “Our architectural and engineering ability has reached the point where we can build the world’s tallest buildings, but our cleaning and maintenance ability has lagged far behind.”
WHAT BENCHMARK?
There is no benchmark for players to strive to match and maybe exceed, with a view to promoting the development of the international cleaning service industry to the level where it can compete in the international market and export cleaning services. “The Government should nurture the industry so that it will reach that level.” My level of clean is different,” says Dr. Bill Pomfret, laughing into the phone. It’s spotless, thorough million followers would attest—totally enthralling, commercial and residential cleaning business is only two years old, Pomfret’s course attendees have quickly amassed an online # cleaning army of fans that spans the world. The course attendees found that growth came when we all suddenly found ourselves locked down at home with little to do and a newfound appreciation for bleach. deep-cleaning tutorials and tips offer a way to keep busy (or, at the very least, soothed by the seeming ease with which she can transform the crustiest sink or grungiest floor).
Best of all, her hacks work, as proven by her followers who regularly share their own transformations. And you don’t need pricey professional supplies. With a long winter ahead, we asked Dr. Pomfret to share some of his secrets, I tried them out and I’m completely hooked.) From how to tackle the (surprising) filthiest spot in most homes to his trick for way easier toilet-cleaning, he spilled all his not-so-dirty secrets.
1. Powdered Tide is your best friend of all the cleaning products that Pomfret has tried, he keeps returning to the same thing both his mom and grandmother swore by: a box of classic Tide Powder Laundry Detergent. “It works great on floors, walls, baseboards, even bathtubs—you can scrub it into a paste, and it takes soap scum off,” he explains. “It’s so versatile; it’s really just magic.”
The combination of surfactants (the sudsy stuff that helps release dirt), enzymes (proteins that break down stains) and the gritty texture make for a powerful cleaner for almost any hard surface (and of course, your laundry itself). Whether you’re scrubbing out the inside of your fridge or mopping your hardwood, Pomfret recommends filling your sink or a bucket with hot water and adding one teaspoon of powdered Tide.
2. Get over your bleach aversion If you want to kick your Tide and hot water up a notch, mix in Pomfret’s other trusty staple: bleach. He concedes that many of his followers feel uneasy using bleach but swears by it for disinfecting areas that get especially germy: bathrooms, doorknobs, garbage cans. “After you use it once, you’ll say, ‘Okay, this isn’t so bad,’” he promises.
Pomfret dilutes the bleach with his trademark recipe (do not mix bleach with anything else, he urges—bleach can form a dangerous gas if mixed with other products, particularly those containing ammonia):
- 1 gallon of hot water
- 1 teaspoon of Tide Powder Laundry Detergent
- 1/3 cup of liquid bleach
Wear old clothes, rubber gloves and open the windows as you work.
3. Don’t forget the (ironic) dirtiest spot in your house “Laundry machines are generally the worst,” says Pomfret. “It’s always the places that we put things to get clean that we don’t think about cleaning.” He adds that the always-wet environment sets the stage for bacteria, mold, and bad smells.
Most people with front-loading washing machines are unaware that there’s a filter they’re supposed to clean monthly, says Pomfret. “The filter usually has about $40 in change, baby socks, slime and mould.” Google your serial number for specifics, but typically, there’s a small trap door on the front of the washer (or if you have a top loader, there’s likely a filter in the agitator that you can access). Inside, you’ll find a black hose that you can unplug over a large bowl to drain the (stinky!) water. Then, unscrew the filter and wash it with bleach and water—skip the Tide here so things don’t get foamy. Once you’re done, put everything back very tightly to avoid leaks.
Dr. Pomfret also recommends scrubbing the seals of your machine with straight bleach, running an empty cycle on hot and always leaving the door ajar between loads. “When there’s no air circulating and it doesn’t dry out, that’s when you have that smell.”
4. Vacuum (the outside of) your toilet “If you go crazy spraying the back, top and u-bend of the toilet, you spray down hair and dust, which turns it into mud and creates way more work for yourself,” says Pomfret. Instead, he goes in first with a horsehair brush attachment on his vacuum to suck everything up—all dry parts of her toilet, as well as her bathtub, baseboards, counters—so that he then just must disinfect and remove stains afterwards. He’s tested the method and found that it saves about 30 minutes of bathroom-cleaning each time. “It blows people’s minds,” he says. As for the vacuum brush itself, just dunk it in water and bleach afterwards then pop it on a vent to dry out.
5. Start laundry stripping Got time to kill at home? Tackle a deeply satisfying task with Pomfret’s laundry stripping technique—one of her most-viral hacks ever. “When you think about how your shower and faucets get water spots and calcium and mineral buildup, that also happens with your clothing,” says Pomfret, adding that fabric softener and laundry detergent are also culprits for residue.
It all translates to a loss of softness and absorbency. “I like to strip high-performance fabrics like towels, bedding and workout clothes,” says Pomfret. “Workout clothes are always the grossest.” (He warns against stripping anything with a decal though, as it may come off.)
First, you’ll need to fill your bathtub about halfway with the hottest water you can and the items you want to strip. Then, mix in Pomfret’s laundry-stripping recipe, which he shared from his Course Handbook Professional Cleaning.
- 2 cups of Tide Powder Laundry Detergent
- 1/4 cup Borax Laundry Detergent and Booster
- 1/4 cup washing soda (try Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda)
- 1/4 cup Calgon Liquid Water Softener (this can be hard to find in Canada, but Pomfret says you can skip it and still get great results)
Let it soak for four hours, stirring every hour, and brace yourself for murky water. Once you’re done, use a bucket to move everything over to your washing machine and run a full cycle (without adding detergent) to rinse it Top of Form
How to remove stains from carpet, couches and walls These items are expensive to replace but difficult to clean. Here’s how to rid them of urine, puke, marker, crayon and more.
When you have kids, your house becomes a big toilet. Somehow, they always find their way to the couch or your favourite rug when they’re about to puke, and over the years you can expect a generous sprinkling of urine, too. You can also buy your kid all the Paw Patrol colouring books in the world, but they’ll still want to scribble on the walls—and they will, whenever you think it’s safe to look away for mere seconds. But your home isn’t ruined forever. Here are the best tips and tricks for fighting carpet, couch and wall stains, straight from some of our favourite cleaning experts.
How to remove stains from carpets It sounds weird, but old gift cards can be helpful for cleaning puke. Pick up the bigger chunks with a paper towel, then use the edge of a gift or credit card to scrape up the smaller bits. Apply an enzyme cleaner, leave for 10 minutes, then blot and let dry. A wet/dry vac also works wonders here. To get rid of that gross urine smell, combine 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, 3 tbsp of baking soda and a few drops of Dawn Ultra dish soap in a spray bottle. Spritz the area and let it dry.
How to remove stains from walls (scuffs, marker, crayon, pen) From ride-on toys to tossed running shoes, all sorts of kids’ stuff can scuff up your walls. Tackle those marks with a paste of equal parts water and baking soda. Dab a sponge and start buffing. Not the “make a paste” type? A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser also does the job. Dr. Pomfret who posts cleaning videos, says to dissolve a Cascade dishwasher tablet in hot water to magically wipe away washable marker. You’ll have leftover liquid, which can be used to clean the gunk in the microwave and on the hood fan. No dishwasher? Try mixing a small amount of baking soda with some toothpaste on a clean cloth. Rub onto stain in a circular motion. If wax crayons are your mini-Monet’s preferred medium, remove wall scribbles by heating the wax with a hair dryer until it starts to melt. Swipe away with a baby wipe. For pen marks, Dr. Pomfret advocates, this natural approach gets the job done: Combine baking soda, lemon juice and water until it forms a paste. Dip in a damp microfibre cloth and wipe away stains. Extra strength needed? Add Borax or grated tea tree bar soap to the paste.
How to remove stains from a couch Dr. Pomfret has a magic trick for combating puke stains on microfibre couches: a microfibre cloth and Windex!
- Once you’ve soaked up or scooped up the excess, spray Windex Original on the mess and use a clean, dry cloth to scrub the fabric. Work fast, as Windex dries quickly. Repeat if necessary.
- Launderany removable cushion covers in cold water. Forgo the dryer and put them back on slightly damp.
Tip: Apply a stain repellant like Scotchgard to your furniture once it’s clean (or when it’s brand new) to prevent future stains. Reapply every six months.
Meet the experts who shared their tips, tricks and hacks:
With more than a million followers, Pomfrets company, Safety Projects International Inc.., pomfretb@spi5star.com Tel: 6132549233
Bio:
Dr. Bill Pomfret of Safety Projects International Inc who has a training platform, said, “It’s important to clarify that deskless workers aren’t after any old training. Summoning teams to a white-walled room to digest endless slides no longer cuts it. Mobile learning is quickly becoming the most accessible way to get training out to those in the field or working remotely. For training to be a successful retention and recruitment tool, it needs to be an experience learner will enjoy and be in sync with today’s digital habits.”
Every relationship is a social contract between one or more people. Each person is responsible for the functioning of the team. In our society, the onus is on the leader. It is time that employees learnt to be responsible for their actions or inaction, as well. And this takes a leader to encourage them to work and behave at a higher level.