Using less of a cleaning product in the first place reduces both pollution and waste and is the hallmark of a green cleaning program. Activities such as diluting chemicals and using as little of a chemical cleaner as possible reduce the amount of product used, thereby minimizing emissions, spills, and health and safety hazards.

For example, as overviewed in the previous subsection, using less floor stripper — one of the most toxic chemical products janitors use–is a good way to prevent pollution.

Janitors can reduce the amount of floor stripper they use by 50 percent by:

• Scheduling floor renewal work according to wear patterns rather than following a strict cleaning calendar.

• Diluting stripper with as much water as possible while still maintaining the effectiveness of the product.

• Carefully and thoroughly applying the diluted stripper, by using a rotating pad scrubber wherever possible.

• Thoroughly rinsing the newly stripped floor to neutralize the surface before applying the new floor finish.

Floor strippers and waxes are the source of many indoor air complaints, triggering symptoms such as nose and lung irritation, rashes, headaches, nausea and asthma in workers and building inhabitants.

Traditional floor-finish strippers can have VOC (volatile organic compound) levels between 15 and 30 percent. Alternatives are available, for example, Green Seal’s GS40 floor care standard identifies floor strippers and finishes that have (among other attributes) low VOC content, low aquatic toxicity, no heavy metals or phthalates, no ozone depleting chemicals, and which meet stringent performance requirements.

The list of certified products has grown rapidly since the standard was finalized in 2005.

Additional reduction in floor stripper use comes from training your staff on how to refinish floors correctly. Train your people to mix the stripper with as much water as they can while still getting the job done. Most stripper products are meant to be mixed with something like 10 or 20 parts of water to one part of concentrate.

Try working at the high end of the dilution range suggested by the supplier. If that works, then try adding a bit more water — but not too much. If you add too much water the stripper will work too slowly, and extra time will be needed to get the job done.

Help your employees to minimize mistakes, spills, and waste. For example, mistakenly using the same mop to apply stripper and floor finish can cause problems. One good idea is to use different colored buckets or colored heavy-duty trash can liners in the stripper, rinse water, and floor finish buckets.

Buy mop heads or handles that are the same three colors as the buckets or liners.

Also train your people on how to apply stripper to the floor and then rinse it off. Be sure that a machine or hand scrubber is used to help lift the floor finish, simple agitation makes the stripper work more quickly and more uniformly.

Follow set procedures to assure that the stripper will work properly, and thereby reduce the amount of rework that your people have to do. One final thing to consider is product mixing stations. Automatic dispensers might make sense if you use lots of chemicals, and are working in a building with custodial closets. A well-designed dispensing system can save you money, and also can make chemical mixing safer for your employees. However, mixing units can have problems, particularly when filled with seldom used chemicals, so it is important to evaluate your needs carefully before selecting a dispenser.

Floor strippers are most dangerous to eyes and skin. These risks are greatest when a worker is handling the concentrate, but the diluted product is still strong enough to cause harm. For example, permanent vision loss starts within 10 seconds after a worker splashes stripper concentrate into his eyes. Immediately flushing the eyes with water is essential to stop the damage from getting worse.

Skin burns start to develop in seconds, as well. Quickly washing the burned area with water usually avoids permanent damage. Harmful chemicals in strippers can be absorbed through skin to poison the user.

Train your employees in the following safe work procedures:

• Insist that protective gloves and goggles are worn, particularly when your employee is handling concentrated stripper products.

• Be aware of OSHA regulations that require a 15-minute full-flow eye wash station be provided in any area where workers are exposed to corrosive chemicals.

Many accidents occur when a worker lifts a full mop bucket to pour its contents into a janitorial sink. Teach your employees safe lifting methods. FSM