How Much Bleach Should Be Used for Disinfecting?

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

Pure Bright 10% BleachA lot of us use bleach for disinfecting, and it is widely known to be one of the best tools for disinfecting available, but are we doing it right? How much should we use? You could be wasting a lot of bleach or the opposite – not using enough.
Here is what the CDC recommends for using sodium hypochlorite (bleach solutions) for disinfecting:

A 1:10–1:100 dilution of 5.25%–6.15% sodium hypochlorite (i.e., household bleach) 22, 228, 553, 554 or an EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectant 17has been recommended for decontaminating blood spills. For small spills of blood (i.e., drops of blood) on noncritical surfaces, the area can be disinfected with a 1:100 dilution of 5.25%-6.15% sodium hypochlorite or an EPA-registered tuberculocidal disinfectant. Because hypochlorites and other germicides are substantially inactivated in the presence of blood 63, 548, 555, 556, large spills of blood require that the surface be cleaned before an EPA-registered disinfectant or a 1:10 (final concentration) solution of household bleach is applied 557. If a sharps injury is possible, the surface initially should be decontaminated 69, 318, then cleaned and disinfected (1:10 final concentration) 63. Extreme care always should be taken to prevent percutaneous injury. At least 500 ppm available chlorine for 10 minutes is recommended for decontaminating CPR training manikins 558. Full-strength bleach has been recommended for self-disinfection of needles and syringes used for illicit-drug injection when needle-exchange programs are not available. The difference in the recommended concentrations of bleach reflects the difficulty of cleaning the interior of needles and syringes and the use of needles and syringes for parenteral injection 559. Clinicians should not alter their use of chlorine on environmental surfaces on the basis of testing methodologies that do not simulate actual disinfection practices 560, 561. Other uses in healthcare include as an irrigating agent in endodontic treatment 562 and as a disinfectant for manikins, laundry, dental appliances, hydrotherapy tanks 23, 41, regulated medical waste before disposal 328, and the water distribution system in hemodialysis centers and hemodialysis machines 563.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/hicpac/disinfection_sterilization/6_0disinfection.html

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Not All Bleach Is Created Equal

Posted on August 11, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

187845213Worldwide Janitor has many different bleach products to choose from. While browsing the laundry section of our website, you might notice some products you are familiar with, but you may also see some products you’re not so familiar with. Bleach products that we sell include:

  • Oxy Care
  • Oxygen dry bleach
  • Traditional chlorine bleach
  • Chlorine dry bleach

Each of these products has advantages and disadvantages. This article will demystify Worldwide Janitor bleach products so that you can choose the one that’s right for you.

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Your New Favorite Cleaning Product: Oxy Care

Posted on August 4, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

Dirty ShirtWhile browsing cleaning products on Worldwide Janitor, you may have noticed a product called Oxy Care.This amazing organic stain-removing product is in a category all on its own because it is so unique and has a wide variety of uses. In many ways, it’s like a magic cleaner!

Before we talk about all the ways it can be used, what is Oxy Care?

What is Oxy Care?

The chemical name of Oxy Care is sodium percarbonate. It essentially consists of soda ash (sodium carbonate) treated with hydrogen peroxide. It is always in powdered form and mixed with water right before use. When water is added, the powder releases oxygen.

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How to Clean Up an Ebola Virus Mess

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

Ebola VirusThe recent Ebola virus outbreak has a lot of people  scared, and with good reason. According to the CDC:
“First, by way of background, Ebola virus disease is very frightening.  It is frankly a dreadful and merciless virus.  The current outbreak is bad.  It’s the biggest, most complex and the first time it’s been present in this region of the world which means that response systems and community understanding of the disease is not what it is elsewhere.  It’s been deadly and far too many lives have already been lost.  The outbreaks are occurring across many geographic areas of three countries which share a common border.  That common border appears to be a, if not the, epicenter of the outbreaks. ”
On July 31st, the CDC issued a level 3 travel warning “to avoid nonessential travel to the West African nations of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone” because of the worsening outbreak. Continue reading →

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5 Reasons Why You Need Quality Floor Mats For Your Facility

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

floor-matWith all the supplies needed to keep your school, office, church, or factory clean, it’s sometimes difficult to justify the purchase of quality floor mats. But the truth is that floor mats are one of the most important purchases you can make. They provide countless benefits for your employees and facility visitors. Here are just a few of the reasons why you need quality floor mats for your facility.

1. Prevent injuries.

The number one reason to invest in quality floor mats is to prevent injuries. There are a number of spaces that can be made less hazardous by using mats. The most common space is directly in front of doors leading outside. During inclement weather, it is easy for people to walk inside with wet shoes and slip on a hard floor.

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5 Products for Toilet Bowl Cleaning (and the Pros and Cons of Each)

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

handi-Toilet-bowl-cleanerWhen it comes to bathroom cleaning products for your home, office, school, or other facility, there are few things more important than your toilet bowl cleaner. For the health and comfort of those using your facility, it’s essential that your toilets are not only clean, but deodorized and sanitized. While there are plenty of products out there, the trick is finding the perfect one for your needs.
Worldwide Janitor offers a variety of different toilet bowl cleaners, each of which has advantages and disadvantages. Below are 5 of our top-selling toilet bowl products, along with their pros, cons, and bulk unit prices for easy comparison. (The bulk unit price for each product is calculated based on the highest quantity of that product available for purchase on WorldwideJanitor.com). Use this guide to find the perfect product for your bathroom cleaning needs.

1. Cherry Bowl Cleaner

This classic cleaner is a great choice for homes or offices for two main reasons. First, it has a pleasant scent that keeps bathrooms smelling fresh. Second, it is a multi-purpose solution that can be used not only on toilet bowls, but on sinks, urinals, bathtubs, and showers.

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How To Use A Disinfectant

Posted on July 7, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

The Problem with Clean:
So you’ve taken the time to wipe down every wall, got down on your knees to clean each corner, and mopped your way out of the room without leaving a single footprint. But is the room really clean? Did you get all of the germs? It seems every time we check our Twitter feed a new virus outbreak is occurring, whether it’s bird flu, pig virus, or giraffe something or another. Those germs and bacteria are seemingly ganging up on humanity. Unless you’re using a disinfectant, that room may still be a health risk.
Defining Terms:

  • General Purpose Cleaners effectively remove dirt and soil, but most cleaners that fall into this category rarely double as a disinfectant.
  • Disinfectants kill bacteria and viruses.
  • Sanitizers are not equal to a disinfectant.
  • All Disinfectants manufactured within the United States must be registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or similar governing entity for disinfectants manufactured in other countries. Continue reading →
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Now Accepting Bitcoin on Worldwide Janitor

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

bitcoinYesterday we were happy to announce that we are now accepting Paypal payments, and today we decided to take things a step further by adding Bitcoin to our list of available payment methods.
At Worldwide Janitor, we value freedom and liberty, so the fact that Bitcoin is a currency not tied to any one government entity makes it appealing to us. We want to promote its use.
You can now make payments for janitorial supplies on our website by simply selecting the “Bitcoin” radio button at checkout. What a great way to celebrate the Fourth of July!

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Now Accepting Paypal on Worldwide Janitor

Posted on July 2, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

paypal logoWe are happy to announce that we are now accepting Paypal as a method of payment for goods purchased on WorldwideJanitor.com.

At Worldwide Janitor, we want to make the buying process as convenient and safe as possible for everyone. Many consumers prefer to use Paypal because of the additional layer of security it provides when making online purchases. It also provides members with the ability to choose multiple funding sources for payments, including checking accounts.

In fact, on neat thing about using Paypal, is that customers can purchase from us using their checking account as the funding source, without having to wait for the funds to clear before their order is shipped (as is the case if a paper check had been written and mailed).

We hope this new change satisfies consumers who have requested it from us in the past, and we are sorry it took so long to implement.

Coming soon: Bitcoin payments!

Posted in Acid Products, Automotive, Bathroom Maintenance, Carpet, Degreasers, Dishwashing, Drain & Septic Maintenance, Dust Control, Floor Care, Food Service, Furniture, General Cleaning, Insecticides, Janitorial, Laundry, Lawn Care, Marine Applications, News, Odor Control, Oil & Gas Industry, Rust Treatment, Safety, Swimming Pool Maintenance, Trash Cans, Uncategorized, Window Coverings | Tagged | Leave a comment

Why You Shouldn’t Do It Yourself

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

Home Sweet Home:
Home remedies have recently gained popularity. Do-It-Yourself (DIY) cleaner recipes are seemingly everywhere, most of them boasting a healthy amount of vinegar, ammonia, bleach, borax or baking soda. Throw in your choice of oil and poof you have a natural cleaner. Then again, the “poof” may actually be the result of that vinegar and baking soda mixture, so make sure you read the directions closely.
DIY Citrus Vinegar Cleaner:
Nothing says clean like vinegar…except maybe citrus infused vinegar. All you need is some white vinegar, those leftover orange peels and a glass jar. Unfortunately, the instructions for making your citrus vinegar cleaner are somewhat confusing when it comes to the steeping process. It’s hard to know for certain whether the jar needs to stay on your shelf for only a few days, 2 weeks or 2-3 weeks. Does it really matter? I mean, it’s a natural cleaner. Everything in the jar is literally edible. Yes, it matters. Continue reading →

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How To Remove Rust

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

Rust:
Grandpa James gets up every morning at the crack of dawn, same as he has for the past sixty-three years. He pulls on his overalls, his favorite yellow ball cap, and a pair of scuffed up leather boots. Then he clicks on the morning newscast while the coffee brews in the kitchen: nice day for a drive. With a coffee mug in his hand, and enough in the pot for Grandma Polly when she wakes up, Grandpa James heads outside to his old pickup truck. He kicks the front tires on his way around the vehicle, coming to a sudden stop as he nears the driver’s side door. Behind the front bumper is a rust spot – a splotchy pattern of orange and brown discoloring the mostly faded cobalt blue paint. He decides it’s as good a day as any to fix the problem, so Grandpa James heads into town for a bottle of rust converter.

Rust, otherwise known as iron oxide, is the natural result when water, oxygen, and iron are combined. It’s an example of corrosion and, left untreated, will completely dissolve iron and steel. The rust occurred when Grandpa James drove beside a semi-trailer on the highway. The trailer tires sent a large rock into the side of his truck, chipping the paint. Damage to the paint left the metal underneath exposed to the elements, and when it rained a few days later the corrosion process began. Once iron has been oxidized, it cannot be converted back to iron, but it can be treated. Continue reading →

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How To Treat Carpet Stains

Posted on June 16, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

How Stains Occur:
Little Olivia is a very sweet girl. She picks dandelions for her grandmother whenever she visits, colors every inch of her favorite coloring book, and shares her fruit punch with all of her dolls. She brightens every room she walks into, and leaves a mark wherever she goes…a very noticeable mark. Olivia jaunts through the mud on her way to the dandelions, leaving muddy footprints on the beige carpet as she enters her grandmother’s house. When she colors, Olivia tears the sheet out of her book and places it very carefully on the cream carpet in her room. Then she drags the crayon all the way to the edge of the page, coloring the carpet fibers. And the fruit punch she serves – well, she serves her dolls at the table as would any proper young lady. Unfortunately, her dolls don’t swallow any portion of their drink, causing the punch to dribble down their plastic chins straight onto the dining room carpet. Continue reading →

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How To Maintain Floors

Posted on June 9, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

Molecules:
The term “hard” floor maintenance is misleading when you take a closer look at the molecule makeup of the floor. Whether it is vinyl composition tile (VCT), terrazzo, concrete, ceramic tile, or synthetic every type of flooring is porous. Those pores act like a colander: water and soil drain right through the holes. Unlike the boiling pan of pasta you pour into that colander, however, the water and soil don’t drain away. In fact, the pores in the floor attract and contain that soil resulting in a dull, speckled, or dirty looking floor.
Floor seals are designed to close the gap. Whether the seal is a urethane or a polymer blend, the molecules are larger than the pores in the floor thus providing a water resistant barrier against soil. (BTW – The same gap sealing action takes place during concrete polishing which includes hardening and sealing the floor as part of the polishing process.) Why is this important? Sealing the pores allows for easy soil removal because the dirt remains on the surface. Continue reading →

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How To Clean Toilets

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

Basic Tools:
In 1938, Sani-Flush produced an advertisement which showed a woman cleaning a toilet while wearing a dress and heels. “It’s no trouble to keep a toilet sparkling clean and sanitary.” It reads, “You don’t even have to touch the toilet with your hands. Just sprinkle a little Sani-Flush in the bowl. Flush the toilet and that’s all!”[1] Ah, those were the days. Toilet water was blue and Franklin Roosevelt was president.
Unfortunately, Reckitt Benckiser discontinued Sani-Flush in 2009 because it was found to cause environmental problems.[2] (Reckitt Benckiser acquired the brand from Boyle-Midway in 1990.)[3] Now, instead of heels and a little sprinkle, both men and women may want to utilize a different process when cleaning a toilet – heels are still optional, however.
The basic tools include a bowl swab or scrubber, cloth, and a mild to aggressive bowl cleaner depending upon the hardness of your water. Continue reading →

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What Does Biodegradable Mean?

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

Definition Please:
Biodegradable items are capable of decaying through the action of living organisms.[1] They break down into water, carbon dioxide, and other naturally occurring materials, seamlessly merging with the earth without leaving any toxins.[2] Conversely, a non-biodegradable item decomposes into either a harmful chemical or substance that harms the environment.
Oxygen Required:
Whether or not an item is biodegradable, if it reaches the landfill it is already too late; decomposition will not occur.[3] Consider the curious case of a hot dog found in a landfill by researchers from the University of Arizona.[4] Despite being over 25-years old, it was still very much recognizable as a hot dog. On the other hand, a sidewalk vendor may carelessly drop a hot dog onto the concrete where it is kicked by passerby, eventually landing in the gutter. That same hot dog won’t be recognizable 25-days later let alone 25-years. The difference is oxygen. Continue reading →

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How To Clean Windows

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

A child pushes a door open with both hands, but she isn’t tall enough to reach the push bar, so she leaves two small hand prints on the window pane. It is a common transfer of dirt and oils that happens thousands of times a day throughout the world, so it stands to reason that the cleanup process is equally commonplace. That is not the case, however. While other surfaces enjoy the benefits of a uniformed process for soil removal – floors are typically mopped, toilets are swabbed, etc. – windows and glass continue to mire within a controversy of how to best handle cleanup duties. The controversy ranges from chemical to tool to process.

Right Tools for the Task:

Johann Gutenberg is credited with inventing the letter press in the 1450’s. This press employed movable type and led to the modern newspaper.[1] That is one interpretation of Mr. Gutenberg’s invention. The other, clearly more important interpretation is that Johann Gutenberg is the grandfather of the most important tool ever invented for the purpose of cleaning windows.[2] Newspaper is perfect for both windows and mirrors. Unfortunately, the continued decline of the printed newspaper industry[3] means supply and demand for this window cleaning tool is also facing challenges. Technology is great, but we can’t clean our windows with an article we read via the internet. Continue reading →

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How To Clean Grout In Restrooms

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

Between Tiles:
Ceramic tile is often installed in public and private restrooms due to its aesthetic qualities. It is also easier to clean and maintain because, unlike VCT (vinyl composition tile), there is no need to strip and recoat. Simply mop or wipe the tile and repeat indefinitely. Unfortunately, the glue that holds ceramic tile together is grout.
Grout starts out as clean as the white gown of a soloist in a boy’s choir, but just as that same boy is bound to roll around in the dirt, staining his gown, so too will your grout become a blackened, sticky mess if you don’t have a proper maintenance program. In this article we will discuss the daily, routine, and restorative methods for cleaning grout. Implementing these methods will improve both the odor and overall appearance of your restroom, thus reducing the total number of complaints by customers and/or employees of the organization. These methods will also reduce your total cost to maintain the restrooms and all but eliminate any need for odor masking products. Continue reading →

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What Is Green Cleaning?

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

The pH of Green:
One of the most common complaints about Green chemicals is their inability to handle cleaning tasks in the same manner, or with similar efficiency, as their less than Green counterparts. In some situations, this may be true. Nevertheless, it is important to understand the science and process behind Green before the accused is sentenced to a lifetime of collecting dust at the very back of an unreachable shelf.
Green is often associated with terms like “safe” or “environmentally friendly” or even “natural.” These definitions are misleading. Natural can mean many things. Mold, for instance, is natural. Germs and bacteria are the result of a natural process. Safe infers the product is appropriate for any age group, regardless of a person’s level of expertise or general intellect level. But any chemical, even a Green chemical, has the potential to harm people, places, and things if it is used in an unintended manner. That doesn’t sound very environmentally friendly. In order for a chemical to be environmentally friendly it must be used, stored, and disposed of in the prescribed manner, otherwise it is not safe. Continue reading →

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How Do Neutral Cleaners Work?

Posted on April 21, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor


Shifting into Neutral:
Have you ever walked into a restroom and suddenly felt like you were walking on fly paper? That sticky floor experience most likely means the facility is taking the time to mop with a disinfectant. That’s a good thing. It also means they are using too much of the product, or they are using the product too frequently. That’s not so good. The stickiness can be attributed to the Quaternary ammonia compound (quat) found within the disinfectant. In order for any disinfectant to work properly, it must be allowed to dwell for 10-minutes – resulting in an air dry application method. This leaves a quat build-up that is sticky in nature. Is this a bad thing? Yes, for many reasons. As fly paper attracts insects, dust, and debris so too a sticky floor attracts dirt and soil. It may be germ free, but the appearance of the floor will gradually deteriorate.
Have you ever walked into a building and noticed a white residue coating the entrance matting as though it was an armpit sweat mark? That residue is salt residue which means the facility is protecting its patrons by removing potentially hazardous snow and ice. Again, this is a good thing, but it leads to an unsightly interior. That, in turn, leads to a bad first impression.

These examples are commonplace, but often ignored. The solution is neutral pH. Continue reading →

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Is It Safe To Use Alkali Chemicals?

Posted on April 13, 2014 by Worldwide Janitor

History of Alkali:
Legend has it there was a sacrificial altar on Mount Sapo that was surrounded, as is typical in such environments, by ashes and animal remains. When storms came the rain would send this mixture of animal fat and ash down the slopes of Mount Sapo into the banks of the Tiber River below where women were washing their clothes. These women realized their clothes were cleaner after a storm, spawning the use of soap as a cleaner.[1]

Soap is an alkali and, legend aside, it was most probably first discovered much earlier in the history of the world. Even the first hunters would have noticed a crude mixture of alkali as rain mixed with ash in their fire pits to create potassium hydroxide (potash). Then, as animal fat dripped from a fresh kill, they would have discovered soap.[2] Indeed, an excavation of ancient Babylon shows evidence that soap was actively produced as early as 2800 B.C. The Ebers papyrus, an Egyptian medical text dating to 1550 B.C.,[3] further supports the early discovery and use of soap-like solutions.[4] Soap, while serving a crucial role in the medical industry, is also an important element within the cleaning industry; particularly food service which uses alkaline cleaning products that combine with animal fats[5] to create soap.[6] Continue reading →

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