While many people believe the staff is invisible to customers, they most likely will run into a few of your cleaning staff throughout the day, especially in the hospitality industry. Employees, no matter their role while the company, are one ...

While many people believe the staff is invisible to customers, they most likely will run into a few of your cleaning staff throughout the day, especially in the hospitality industry. Employees, no matter their role while the company, are one of the first lines of defense when it comes to it a customer returns or not. 

Our team got together and put a list of three things your janitorial staff can do to help your business maintain customer retention. 

WHY SHOULD YOUR CLEANING STAFF BE TRAINED IN CUSTOMER SERVICE? 

Imagine this: you’re at a hotel, and upon arrival, the individual who is checking you in complains to a cleaning employee that they are short-staffed tonight. You may not think anything of it until you’ve put your belongings away and made your way to the hotel restaurant. You see a few cleaning staff huddled together talking, and you can clearly hear that they aren’t very happy with the hotel management due to the shortage of staff. Does it bother you this time? No? How about if during your dinner, that’s all you heard? You get the picture. 

At Lawton Brothers, we believe that the individuals you believe interact with your guests less are actually the individuals who they see the most. That’s why we believe your cleaning staff should be trained on proper customer service etiquette. 

WHAT SHOULD BE TRAINED ON? 

There is a whole range of customer service tactics that we believe a cleaning staff should be training on, but the top three things we would recommend include: 

What is Customer Service & Why is it Important? 

Customer service is the assistance provided by a company to those who have purchased their services. It’s important because customers are the backbone of any customer. 

According to Dimension Research, 90 percent of individuals who recalled reading a review online, claimed that the positive review influenced their purchase; 86 percent said their purchase decision was influenced by negative reviews. Meaning, have a happy customer now, keep them forever AND gain more customers. 

How Does Customer Service Relate to Cleaning Staff? 

Depending on a cleaning schedule, your cleaning staff may be in each room of your facility every day. This means that they most likely are the first people who see an issue or run into a customer having an issue. That’s why we believe every member of your cleaning staff should: 

●      Keep their eyes and ears open for any issues: Let’s say you’re having a busy week and are having more guests than usual. If your cleaning staff noticed that the public bathroom trashcans are being filled more frequently or debris is being tracked in more often near the entrance, they could be proactive during this time.

●      Provide assistance to guests: While there are hospitality staff, it’s important that your cleaning crew be just as educated on facility organization so that they can help guests if needed. This means your cleaning staff should know locations of public areas, hours of operation of those public areas and more.

●      Act professionally: You never know when a customer will pop up. We believe this is one of the most important aspects of customer service because if a customer hears an employee talking poorly of the company, it could be a turn off to them. 

Are First Impressions Important? 

First impressions are essential. You don’t get a second chance. Key behaviors your cleaning staff should exhibit include: 

●      Dressing Professionally: Having the appropriate uniform, name tag, as well as proper hair care, hygiene and hand care

●      Greet Customers & Be Aware of Presentation: Making sure to give welcomes and goodbyes, making eye contact and being aware that customers can pick up on subtle body language

●      Engage Customers: Showing an interest in what customers are doing during their day, and how they are doing 

While this list isn’t exhaustive, we believe that knowing, understanding and putting these three tings into play will help your cleaning staff promote customer retention. 

HOW CAN LAWTON BROTHERS HELP? 

At Lawton Brothers, we offer Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) course training, including a course for customer service for those in the cleaning industry. This course teaches the basics of: 

●      How to look and act like a professional

●      Interacting with building occupants

●      Understanding and meeting customer needs

●      Properly addressing customer complaints

If you would like to talk about this course or your facility’s cleaning goals, please reach out today by calling 800.432.0813. 

Did you know that harmful chemical exposure leads to long-term health issues, not only for the employee that was exposed but to their family members and friends? These health risks could range from rashes to respiratory problems. 

According to ...

Did you know that harmful chemical exposure leads to long-term health issues, not only for the employee that was exposed but to their family members and friends? These health risks could range from rashes to respiratory problems. 

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), about 32 million employees work with or are exposed to one or more harmful chemicals; currently, there are 650,000 existing chemicals with new ones being introduced frequently. 

As a business owner, a central figure to the safety of your employees, what can you do? At Lawton Brothers, our mission isn’t only to provide you with knowledge about cleaning, but also give you additional education on keeping your employees safe and healthy. That’s why, during Poison Prevention Week, we have put our heads together to write this blog on chemical safety and prevention. 

NATIONAL POISON PREVENTION WEEK 

In 1953, the first poison control center opened, and then in 1961, Congress passed a resolution asking the President to designated the third week in March as Poison Prevention Week. Then, in 1970, President Nixon signed the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, a law that required resistant packaging to be added to prescriptions and household cleaners. 

Now, with all that being said, you may be wondering to yourself, “I’m not worried about poison prevention in my household. I’m worried about it in my business.” 

That is a fair thought, and we’re not here to talk about household chemical poison prevention. However, we do believe that it’s important to make the jump from poison prevention in the household and extend it to the workplace, a common area that an individual frequents, just like their home. 

GENERAL FACTS ABOUT CHEMICAL POISON IN THE WORKPLACE 

According to the International Labor Organization, 2,780,000 workers die from unsafe working conditions, including chemical exposure. According to the EHS Daily Advisor, chemicals have three ways of entering the body:

●      Inhalation of chemicals such as dust, vapors and fibers. Inhaling chemicals this way can cause an individual to have headaches and respiratory issues, which can lead to fatal illnesses

●      Skin or eye contact to chemicals can cause eye damage, allergies and could also potentially enter the bloodstream this way, which could cause organ failure

●      Ingesting chemicals through eating food or drinking liquor can cause long-term health effects. 

Not only can the individual who inhales, experiences skin/eye contact or accidentally ingests harmful chemicals have serious related health issues, but so can their family members. According to a 2017 study conducted by Flavia D’Agostin, Paola de Michieli and Corrado Negro and published in the International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, found that out of the 1,063 cases they studied of mesothelioma, 35 of those cases were caused by secondary exposure to asbestos. 

CHEMICAL POISON PREVENTION 

As a business owner, it is your duty to protect your workers. OSHA has many protocols and advice on how best to protect employees. At OSHA, they believe in four types of controls, each having different levels of effectiveness, including: 

●      Protective Equipment could include protective chemical clothing, respiratory protection, gloves and eye equipment. This type of control is level effective than the other three controls due to the fact that there is still a chance a chemical could get through the equipment.

●      Chemical Use Workplace Processes could include a couple of different actions including rotating work schedules so that employees aren’t overexposed to chemicals, as well as providing proper training to its employees on handling chemicals.

●      Physically Changing the Process could include utilizing a wet method to limit contact with dust that hosts chemical particles, adding ventilation and fume hoods (depending on the business.)

●      Eliminating Harmful Chemicals is the most effective option for reducing employees’ chemical exposure. This could mean that businesses transition to safer chemical alternatives. 

HOW CAN LAWTON BROTHERS HELP? 

At Lawton Brothers, our goal is to help you find the best and safest chemical cleaning solution for your needs. From sitting down with you to discuss your business and its chemical cleaning uses to walking you through our available products, we believe that our representatives go above and beyond to help you keep your employees safe. 

If you’re looking for safe cleaning chemical options, please give us a call at 800.432.0813. 

Additional Resources & Citations: 

●      Chemical Hazard Communication

●      OSHA Transitioning to Safer Chemicals

●      D'Agostin, F., de Michieli, P., Negro, C. (2017). Pleural mesothelioma in household members of asbestos-exposed workers in Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 30(3), 419-431. https://doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00890

Properly cleaning public restrooms can become a chore, especially if your business becomes increasingly busy. Sometimes, it’s put off until the very end, which can lead to dirty bathrooms and ultimately, a loss of customers. 

At Lawton Brothers, ...

Properly cleaning public restrooms can become a chore, especially if your business becomes increasingly busy. Sometimes, it’s put off until the very end, which can lead to dirty bathrooms and ultimately, a loss of customers. 

At Lawton Brothers, we want to help you understand restroom cleaning standards, as well as process to properly clean bathrooms. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF CLEAN RESTROOMS 

In our blog, Is Store Cleanliness Important to Drawing in Customers, we discussed a 2016 study that found that consumers will not return a store due to: 

●      Bad odors such as unkept trash, food not being disposed of, etc

●      Unclean restrooms such as trash receptacles not being taken out, toilets not being clean, etc

●      Unclean entry points such as trash being thrown to the ground rather than in a trash can

●      Unkept changing rooms

●      Reviews of uncleanliness 

Did you know that an unclean bathroom can cost your business money?  Customers, even patients, equate clean or unclean bathrooms with the rest of your business. If you have an unclean restroom, a customer might begin to wonder if other parts of your business like a kitchen is also dirty. Studies find that 50 percent of people are unwilling to return to an establishment due to dirty restrooms. Yikes! 

HOW TO CLEAN A BATHROOM PROPERLY 

Before cleaning, follow these three steps: 

1. Gather equipment including brooms, mop buckets, mops, wet floor signs and other cleaning materials.
2. Prepare the area that you will be cleaning. This could include placing wet floor signs in the area or even closing down the restroom.
3. Make sure that your employee is wearing proper protective equipment like gloves and eyewear. 

Then, when your employee begins cleaning:

Clean the toilet(s) first by spraying inside and outside. Don’t flush the toilet immediately; allow some time for the disinfectant to work.

1. Next, clean the sink(s), counters and mirrors by spraying your cleaner on the surface. Like the toilets, allow time for the disinfectant to work. After, wipe down these areas.
2. Dust areas from top to bottom. This allows for a clean area without needing to go back through the area a second time. Pick up trash that may fall as you go. After, sweep/dust the floor.
3. After the employee has done steps one through three, they can start refilling supplies in the bathroom and cleaning all dispensers, along with removing trash bags and replacing liners.
4. Now, go back to step one. Remember that the disinfectant was left on the toilet? Now, the employee can use the bowl cleaner to scrub the inside of the toilet and then a cloth to wipe the outside down. After finishing cleaning the toilet, make sure to wipe down the walls around it, as well.
5. Last, but not least, begin mopping with a disinfectant cleaner. 

After the employee has finished cleaning the area, they should inspect the work that has been completed and write down any damage that has been done to the bathroom that needs to be repaired. 

Below are some green cleaning tips that your business could employ: 

●      Always spray cleaner in a stream or onto a cloth.

●      Properly dilute products.

●      Make sure all cleaning bottles are properly labeled.

●      Do not mix ANY cleaning products.

●      Machine-scrub floors with a disinfectant every month.

●      Make sure to leave disinfectants on surfaces for an extended period of time to allow them to properly work. 

●      Use a microfiber cloth when possible. 

HOW LAWTON BROTHERS CAN HELP 

As business owners, we understand the need to keep customers coming back, and we want to be able to help you do that. As a business, we understand that once you get busy, it can be hard to remember to do anything except help customers. But in the end, not cleaning your restrooms, can end up hurting your customers long-term, as they won’t come back. That’s why our team is dedicated to sitting down with you to discuss your bathroom cleaning needs, including the number of bathrooms you have and your cleaning needs so that they can find the best products and training for your business and its employees. You can give us a call today at 800.432.0813 to discuss these products or take a look at our online catalog, which includes janitorial supplies such as:

○      Chemical Cleaning Products

○      Cleaning Equipment

○      Cleaning Supplies

○      Trash Liners

○      Floor Matting

○      Paper Products

○      Trash Receptacles

○      Restroom Equipment like baby changing areas

As a key person in the decision-making process at your company, have you ever discussed the issues your cleaning crew was having with its cleaning supply option? If you haven’t, you may be interested to know that they may be ...

As a key person in the decision-making process at your company, have you ever discussed the issues your cleaning crew was having with its cleaning supply option? If you haven’t, you may be interested to know that they may be having more problems than you think. 

If your cleaning crew is having to sweep, mop and wipe down different areas in your building, they may be trying to carry multiple items at once. Not only is this inefficient, but could also cause an accident for them or someone else.

That’s why we believe investing in a cart carrying system that has multiple functions can save your employees time and keep them safe. Continue reading to learn more about cleaning effectively and what options we have to help your staff do this. 

RISK TO NOT CLEANING EFFECTIVELY OR EFFICIENTLY 

In our blog, Is Store Cleanliness Important to Drawing in Customers, we discussed a 2016 study that found that consumers will not return a store due to:

 ●     Bad odors such as unkept trash, food not being disposed of, etc

●      Unclean restroom such as trash receptacles not being taken out, toilets not being clean, etc

●      Unclean entry points such as trash being thrown to the ground rather than in a trash can

●      Unkept changing rooms

●      Reviews of uncleanliness

Not only can you drive away customers, but your employees may also be at risk. Your cleaning crew is most often exposed to physical injuries and harmful chemicals. 

According to the National Safety Council, one of the most common injuries to workers are sprains, strains or tears. And, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 46,000 injuries sustained by janitors and cleaners, which required them to take off work. The cleaning industry has the 16th highest rate of injuries across all industries. How can you combat the decrease in traffic to your facility AND keep your employees safe? Have you heard the phrase, “work smarter, not harder?” 

WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER WITH THE HILLYARD C3 XP CLEANING COMPANION 

Wouldn’t it be nice to have one cart that could carry all cleaning products rather than needing to carry a mop bucket, mop and cleaning products and materials? We think so, too, which is why we’re encouraging you to help your team work smarter, not harder. We believe the Hillyard C3 XP Cleaning Companion could be a good addition to your cleaning crew. 

There are four types of systems; Clean, Vac and Supply, the Clean, Supply and Trash, the Clean and Vac or the Clean and Supply. 

Clean, Vac and Supply System 

The C3 XP Cleaning Companion is designed with a vacuum, restocking system and caddy nest for cleaning supplies. A water-resistant bag in the back can hold three - 800 ft of hard-wound paper towel rolls and six rolls of toilet paper while still having room for trash lines and other supplies. 

Clean, Supply and Trash 

The clean, supply and trash system is designed to hold squeegees, be in use for light trash pick-up and can hold restocking supplies. The removable nest of maid caddies can be mounted in the front of the cart on a pivot arm or on top of the cart, and the front can be mounted with a water-resistant bag, which can also act as a shelf. The back of the cart holds a water-resistant bag that can hold towels and toilet paper. 

Clean and Vac 

The Clean and Vac system was designed to be a compact cart for quick cleaning jobs and vacuum recovery. This system still has a removable next of maid caddies, where you could also store liners and other supplies. 

Clean and Supply

The Clean and Supply system is very similar to the Clean, Supply and Trash system, except for the second water-resistant bag on the back of the cart. 

HOW LAWTON BROTHERS CAN HELP 

At Lawton Brothers, our goal is to help you and your staff find efficient and effective ways of cleaning smarter, not harder. That’s why we believe in the power of the Hillyard C3 XP Cleaning Companion. Give us a call to talk about any of the systems we mentioned, as well as if you have any questions: 800.432.0813

We’ve all heard that the dirtiest place in the office is the keyboard or the bathroom door handle, but what are some other places in the office that the cleaning staff might be overlooking? 

Our team put together our ...

We’ve all heard that the dirtiest place in the office is the keyboard or the bathroom door handle, but what are some other places in the office that the cleaning staff might be overlooking? 

Our team put together our notes on some of the top areas in the office that could use a little extra elbow grease this year. Start 2020 with an office that dazzles!

 DIRTIEST PLACES IN THE OFFICE OR DESK AREA 

When your employees are busy typing away at their desks or someone offers to make coffee, they are rarely thinking about the bacteria that is being transferred to them through these surfaces. Hloom sent their team to get 25 swabs of bacteria (measured by colony-forming units (CFU) from five different office locations. Guess what they found. According to Hloom, some of the dirtiest places in the office include: 

●      The copier button holds 1,200,013 CFU, which is four times more bacteria than a pet’s bowl.

●      The coffee pot handle holds 108,592 CFU, which is 34 times more bacteria than a school’s toilet seat.

●      The office entrance door holds 545 CFU, which is 2.5 times more bacteria than a bathroom doorknob in the home.

●      The water cooler dispenser knob holds 185 CFU, which is four times more bacteria than a cutting board.

Other areas that germs could be lurking, according to WebMD, include, but limited to: 

●      Elevator buttons

●      Your employees desktop

●      The office telephone

●      Kitchen sponge 

We would encourage you to remind your cleaning staff that it is particularly important to pay special attention to the areas above that we mentioned.

 According to DeskTime: 

●      Only three percent of offices sufficiently have their offices cleaned

●      Eighty percent of infections spread through dirty and unclean surfaces than from coughs

●      Eleven percent of office workers don’t clean their keyword; 20 percent never clean their computer mouse

●      Forty-six percent sanitize their keyword once a month

So, what can your cleaning staff or office employees do about these hidden germs this year? There are multiple avenues you and your employees could take to keep your office clean. 

1. If you don’t have a professional cleaning staff, schedule office clean up days with your employees. Rather than relying on them to spend a couple of minutes of their day to not only clean their desk by the common areas in the office, schedule one to two hours each week to spend time preparing for the upcoming week.
2. [For those who do not have a professional cleaning service] Divvy up the cleaning task list for your employees. Have you ever had a group project where no one knew that their job was? Well, this is exactly the same. Instead of relying on your employees to divvy up the tasks, just make a list and attribute an employee to a couple of tasks each.
3. Remind your employees and cleaning staff that cleanliness is directly correlated with safety. Remind employees that while it’s great to practice personal hygiene, especially when sick, it’s also important to practice communal hygiene as viruses can quickly spread throughout the office.
4. Keep cleaning products available. You can’t expect your employees or cleaning staff to properly clean if you haven’t given them the supplies to do so. 

It’s incredibly important for the well-being of your office that cleaning habits are abided by. Not only can a clean office keep your employees nice and healthy, but it can also improve their mental health. 

 HOW LAWTON BROTHERS CAN HELP YOUR FIND THE CLEANING SOLUTION YOU NEED 

At Lawton Brothers, our team can work with your cleaning team to understand which cleaning products are needed based on your office and its needs. We also have cleaning machinery that we can provide education on to your cleaning team. 

If you are unsure about how to properly choose a janitorial supply company for your cleaning solution needs, read our in-depth blog, 10 Questions to Ask a Janitorial Product Supply Company, to get insights into these questions: 

1. What services do you have? 
2. What cleaning products do you offer?
3. What types of training do you offer?
4. Can you tell me what products or machines I need for my building?
5. Do you have products or machines that are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency?
6. & More 

If you’re ready to order cleaning products, or have questions give us a call to talk about your cleaning care needs:
800-432-0813

As a business, you want to make sure that your facility provides a clean and exceptional experience to your visitors. To provide this experience, you may have a cleaning staff who works throughout the day on continual building maintenance, ...

As a business, you want to make sure that your facility provides a clean and exceptional experience to your visitors. To provide this experience, you may have a cleaning staff who works throughout the day on continual building maintenance, utilizing chemical cleaners in the process. Regardless if you are an educational facility, healthcare system, office building or retail store, it is essential that you provide your cleaning staff the proper and safe chemical cleaning solutions and training. 

Our team has put together this informative article about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration concerns related to chemical products and how we can provide the solution that you are looking for. 

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA) CONCERNS WITH CHEMICAL PRODUCTS 

As your cleaning staff works with chemical products, it’s essential that they know the chemicals they are using, and how to use them effectively. These chemicals can not only affect the health of your employees but also the health of your customers. According to OSHA, chemical products, if not used properly, can cause: 

●      Skin irritation

●      Burns

●      Respiratory issues

●      Irritation to the eyes, nose and mouth

●      A trigger of conditions like asthma

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), data from Washington State show that about 6 percent of janitors experience a job-related injury from chemical exposure to cleaning products every year. 

OSHA, through its Hazard Communication Standard, and the EPA, recommends employers encourage safe cleaning protocols by: 

●      Providing training opportunities and safety equipment like gloves and goggles

●      Encouraging cleaning staff to not mix chemical products like bleach and ammonia

●      Ensuring a proper labeling system for cleaning materials

●      Providing proper ventilation systems

●      Having a designated area for the cleaning staff to wash their hands after utilizing chemical products

Due to businesses violating OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard, which is always in the top three violations companies face from OSHA, companies experience: 

●      Fines

●      The risk associated with employees not using chemical products correctly

●      Loss of revenue

●      Disruption in the workplace due to internal and external inspections

●      Loss of trust from prior or prospective customers

OSHA and the EPA also provide non-chemical recommendations including: 

●      Putting mats outside and inside your facility doors: These types of mats can help decrease the amount of dirt and mud tracked into the facility, reducing the need to use chemical products multiple times per day

●      Using microfiber mops and cloths

At Lawton Brothers, we want to provide our customers with the most up-to-date information and products available to meet their needs. That is why we strive to ask as many questions as possible, including, but limited to: 

●      What industry are you in?

●      What areas will be cleaned?

●      What is the foot traffic of your building?

●      How large is the space being cleaned?

●      How many cleaning employees do you have?

●      What are your cleaning abilities?

●      Do you have a waste disposal management system?

LAWTON BROTHERS PRODUCTS 

At Lawton Brothers, we want to make sure that we can offer your business the best chemical products that serve your needs. We have many EPA-registered chemical products, including, but not limited to:

●      Professional Lysol® Power Toilet Bowl Cleaner

●      Pure Bright® Germicidal Ultra Bleach

●      PRO-LINK® Foaming Germicidal Cleaner

●      Hillyard Connect #3 Non-Acid Restroom Disinfectant/Cleaner

●      Hillyard Thickened Non-Acid Bathroom Cleaner

●      Hillyard Suprox-D® Disinfectant

●      Hillyard Quick & Clean® Super Hil-Aire® Fresh & Clean

●      Hillyard Quick & Clean® Germicidal Disinfectant Wipe

●      Hillyard Mild Bowl & Porcelain Cleaner

●      Hillyard Arsenal® 1 #6 Vindicator® + Disinfectant

●      Hillyard Shower Room Cleaner 

It is also recommended that your business employee microfiber mops. Microfiber mops can eliminate cross-contamination, as mop pads are meant to be changed frequently. At Lawton Brothers, we have various types of microfiber mops, including, but not limited to:

●      Golden Star® Ultra Looped-End Microfiber Mop Pad

●      PRO-LINK® Microfiber Striped Finish Mop

●      PRO-LINK® Fusion™ Dust Mop

●      PRO-LINK® Multi-Surface Wet Mop: 

●      PRO-LINK® Microfiber Heavy-Duty Pad:

●      PRO-LINK® MicroTwist Mop 

The EPA also has an in-depth guide on purchasing greener chemical products. You can review this guide here.

If you are unsure what products you should be using for your business, please give our cleaning representative a call. We would love to speak with you about our products and how they can serve your needs.

We’ve all been to a store that has looked like it could use a good cleaning, right? And, we typically, don’t want to buy anything from the store or stay for a long period of time for that reason. ...

We’ve all been to a store that has looked like it could use a good cleaning, right? And, we typically, don’t want to buy anything from the store or stay for a long period of time for that reason. It’s not just us though. Research shows that most consumers factor in cleanliness when it comes to stores that they shop at. 

●      According to Consumer Reports, cleanliness is among the top-rated elements of a good grocery store.

●      According to M/A//R/C® Research and National In-Store, 14 percent of consumers said they would stop visiting a store that was not as clean as they would like; 29 percent said they would only visit the store to pick up a few items they could not find elsewhere. 

At Lawton Brothers, we believe in the idea of cleanliness (because we are a janitorial supply company. Because of this, our team has put together an educational blog that outlines what drives customers from stores and what qualities make a clean store. Continue reading! 

WHAT DRIVES CONSUMERS AWAY 

Now that we know that cleanliness is a point of contention with consumers, let’s dive a little deeper into what that actually means. For example, do consumers judge the outside of the store, as well as the inside and what level of cleanliness is expected? 

According to 2016 research conducted by Harris Poll for the Cintas Corp, consumers will not return a store due to: 

●      Bad odors such as unkept trash, food not being disposed of, etc

●      Unclean restroom such as trash receptacles not being taken out, toilets not being clean, etc

●      Unclean entry points such as trash being thrown to the ground rather than in a trash can

●      Unkept changing rooms

●      Reviews of uncleanliness 

Not only do these factors pose a risk to your customers returning, but it could also harm your customers’ and employees’ safety. According to the National Floor and Safety Institute, over eight million emergency room visits are due to falls; slips and falls are also one of the leading causes of worker compensation claims. The National Safety Council approximates workplace falls to costing the United States $70 billion annually. 

QUALITIES OF A CLEAN BUILDING

When you’re thinking about what makes a store clean, there are many elements to consider from the external point of view of your store to the internal, as well as superficial cleanliness. Our team would recommend starting with the outside of your store and working your way in because as they always say, “gotta make a good first impression.”

We recommend:

1. Having an employee walk the perimeter of your store daily to pick up any trash that may have not made its way into the trash can. This can always include cigarette butts.
2. Monitoring your restrooms throughout the day. A restroom should be fully stocked, cleaned and the trash taken out.
3. If you are a retail store, make sure to check the changing rooms for extra items left behind.
4. For medical facilities, ask your cleaning team to check the outside and inside mats. Since you have high foot traffic, you’ll want to make sure the mats can actually do their job and aren’t getting clogged with dirt and mud.
5. Utilizing wet floor signs in areas that have been mopped or where something has spilled.
6. Keeping aisles clean and not obstructive with carts.
7. Providing lighting that is adequate for the space you’re in.
8. Repairing floors that have been damaged. 

CAN LAWTON BROTHERS HELP YOUR KEEP YOUR FACILITY CLEAN? 

At Lawton Brothers, we want to make sure you keep your customers coming back. As a business with multiple locations, we understand that it can be difficult to always be on top of external and internal cleanliness, as well as to understand what cleaning products or machinery you might need. That is why our team is dedicated to sitting down with you to discuss your facility’s needs and finding the right solution for you. 

At Lawton Brothers, we have many products that are Eco-Verified, EPA registered and more. You can give us a call today at 800.432.0813 to discuss these products or take a look at our online catalog, which includes: 

●      Janitorial Supplies:

○      Chemical Cleaning Products

○      Cleaning Equipment

○      Cleaning Supplies

○      Trash Liners

○      Floor Matting

○      Paper Products

○      Trash Receptacles

○      Restroom Equipment (like baby changing areas)

●      Food Service Equipment

○      Cutlery

○      Bowls

○      Cups

○      Paper Products

○      Smallwares

●      Facilities & Grounds Products

○      Safety

○      Tools & Hardware

Before making decisions on buying new equipment or changing who you source your healthcare facility’s food from, you make sure to have a certified individual’s opinion on both matters. So, why shouldn’t you go to someone you trust for your ...

Before making decisions on buying new equipment or changing who you source your healthcare facility’s food from, you make sure to have a certified individual’s opinion on both matters. So, why shouldn’t you go to someone you trust for your paper products? 

At Lawton Brothers, we feel that paper products are equally important as other aspects of your business, such as the machinery you buy and the food you serve. That’s why we offer Tork® paper products. 

Continue reading to learn more about why we believe so much in Tork® products.

 ABOUT TORK® PRODUCTS & ITS VERIFICATION 

Tork® is one of the leading sustainable workplace hygiene companies in the world. Tork® offers various products ranging from paper towels, wipes and cloths to napkins, and is certified by EcoLogo®, Green Seal™ and Biodegradable Products Institute™ (BPI).

 The EcoLogo® verification is a voluntary but rigorous certification process. This certification process indicates that a product or multiple products have undergone testing and auditing to prove it is compliant with environmental standards categories such as materials, energy, product performance and more. Through this verification, and Tork®’s mission of environmental stewardship, its products have a reduced impact on the environment. 

Green Seal™ is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to promoting the manufacturing, purchase and use of environmentally responsible products. Its certification focuses on products like bathroom tissue, paper towels and napkins, and places importance on lifecycle issues regarding paper products. From manufacturing to use, Green Seal™ wants to ensure that companies think about the environmental impact its product(s) will have. 

In 2011, Tork® announced that their Universal and Advanced Tork® napkins were certified compostable by BPI™. This means that the napkins can be easily disposed of in a composting facility throughout North America and will quickly biodegrade, benefiting any company whose intent is to decrease its carbon footprint. 

LIST OF TORK® PRODUCTS THAT ARE VERIFIED 

At Lawton Brothers, we understand that looking through catalogs for paper products or even hand hygiene products isn’t the most exciting task. That’s why we have compiled an exhaustive list of Tork® products that we carry, which are EcoLogo® verified, EPA compliant, compostable verified by BPI™ or Green Seal™ certified.  

●        C-Fold Towels

○        Tork® Advanced C-Fold Hand Towel - 10.1" x 12.8", White

○        Tork® Advanced C-Fold Hand Towel - 3.7" x 10.1", White

○        Tork® Advanced DoorMate Folded Towel - 4.25" x 8.5"

●        Multi-Fold Towels

○        Tork® Advanced Xpress® Multifold Hand Towel

○        Tork® Advanced Xpressnap® Café Dispenser Napkin - White

○        Tork® Advanced Xpressnap® Dispenser Napkin - White

○        Tork® Universal Quality Multifold Hand Towel - Natural

●        Centerfeed Towels

○        Tork® Advanced Soft Center feed Hand Towel - 9" x 11.8"

●        Singlefold Towels

○        Tork® Universal Quality Singlefold Hand Towel - Natural

○        Tork® Universal Quality Singlefold Hand Towel - White

●        High-Capacity Bath Tissue

○        Tork® Advanced High Capacity Bath Tissue Roll -3.9" x 3.8"

○        Tork® Advance High Capacity Coreless Bath Tissue Roll

○        Tork® Universal Quality High Capacity Tissue w/OptiCore®

●        Conventional Bath Tissues

○        Tork® Advanced 2 Ply Mini Jumbo Roll Bath Tissue

○        Tork® Advanced 2 Ply Roll Bath Tissue - White

○        Tork® Universal Quality 2 Ply Roll Bath Tissue - White

○        Tork® Universal Quality 2-Ply Jumbo Roll Bath Tissue-1000'

●        Perforated Roll Towels

○        Tork® Perforated 2-Ply Roll Towel - 84 ct.

○        Tork® Perforated Roll Towel - 11" X 9", White

●        Soap

○        Tork® Premium Extra Mild Foam Soap - 1 L

●        Sanitizer

○        Tork® Premium Alcohol Foam Hand Sanitizer - 950 mL

●        Dispenser Napkins

○        Tork® Universal Quality Tallfold Dispenser Napkin - White

○        Tork® Universal Xpressnap® Dispenser Napkin

●        Other Products

○        Tork® Advanced Matic® Hand Towel Roll - 7.7" x 700'

●        Tork® Universal Quality Hand Towel Roll - 7.9" x 350'

●        Tork® Universal Quality Hand Towel Roll - 7.9" x 800'

●        Tork® Universal Quality Hand Towel Roll -7.9" x 350'

●        Tork® Universal Quality Matic® Hand Towel Roll

HOW CAN LAWTON BROTHERS HELP YOU FIND THE PRODUCT THAT BEST FITS YOUR FACILITY 

You wouldn’t trust just anyone to look at a piece of equipment, and you wouldn’t buy food products any from old store. We get it. But, currently, you’re leaving your paper product selection up in the air.

Find a paper product that is up to environmental certification standards without breaking the bank. At Lawton Brothers, we are dedicated to helping you so that you can focus on what matters most. Give our representative a call to discuss your paper product needs.

There are multiple ways to dry one’s hands; from paper towels and cloth towels to warm and cold air hand dryers. One method of drying hands interests us the most; hand dryers. You see every business using them and ...

There are multiple ways to dry one’s hands; from paper towels and cloth towels to warm and cold air hand dryers. One method of drying hands interests us the most; hand dryers. You see every business using them and it seems as though everyone loves them or do they?  

At Lawton Brothers, we have a couple of questions about hand dryers: 

Are hand dryers working for you or against you?

1. Are they more efficient, good for the environment or are they less efficient, unsanitary and bad for the environment?
2. Do you like to use hand dryers?

Continue to read on to learn more about the pros and cons of hand dryers, what experts are saying and how to choose the best hand drying method that suits your goals and needs. 

PROS AND CONS OF USING A HAND DRYER 

No matter what side you are on (paper products vs. hand dryers), there are pros and cons lists as long as our arms, along with research backing up each side’s claims. We are here to discuss some of the pros and cons of hand dryers. 

PRO: 

Empty dispensers: In busy facilities it can be challenging to keep paper towel dispensers stocked. As long as you have power the dryer is good. 

Vandalism: In some types of facilities this can be an issue. Either vandals are de-facing or breaking the dispensers or they are using the towels to clog the toilets. 

Environmentally-Friendly & Cost-Effective: Many believe that hand dryers are environmentally-friendly because it decreases the number of paper products used. According to a cost-benefit analysis, hand dryers will pay for themselves in an average of seven months because of how long they last (seven to ten years). 

CON:

Unsanitary (Spread of Bacteria): In a study conducted by the University of Westminister, hand drying methods were tested, including two types of paper towels, warm air dryer, and Jet Air Dryer. Of these types of hand drying methods, paper towels produced fewer bacteria on the hands than that of the warm air dryer and Jet Air Dryer. It was also found that at least six species of gut bacteria were isolated from the air flows of 63% of dryers tested, which indicated possible fecal contamination (disease-causing pathogens). 

“Based on these results, the use of Warm Air Dryers and Jet Air Dryers should be carefully considered in locations where hygiene is paramount, such as hospitals, clinics, schools, nurseries, care homes, kitchens and other food preparation areas.” - the overall conclusion of the University of Westminister.    

In an article by Johnnie Deon Green from Food Safety Magazine, he states, “Wet hands readily transfer pathogens to food, utensils and other surfaces. Eliminate all blow dryer systems from employee handwash stations. Research has demonstrated hot air drying is counter to good hand hygiene practices. Select and install single-use paper towels that deliver soft, fast, one-sheet drying results,” and went on to say, “Ignoring handwashing as a priority is easy until a company is faced with a crippling outbreak of foodborne illness.” 

Inefficient: Depending on the type of hand dryer you have purchased, it could be ineffective for your needs. A slow running hand dryer will require a longer dry time, creating a line during busier times, which will result in not fully dried hands (a breeding ground for bacteria). 

According to the World Health Organization Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care, “In a comparison of methods to test the efficiency of hand drying for removing bacteria from washed hands, warm air drying performed worse than drying with paper towels. Furthermore, air dryers may be less recommendable because of the longer time needed to achieve dry hands, with a possible negative impact on hand hygiene compliance, and because of the aerosolization of waterborne pathogens.” 

Noise Pollution: Some hand dryers can, unfortunately, be noisy. This contributes to noise pollution and could potentially annoy those using the machine. 

WHAT TO LOOK FROM WHEN CHOOSING A HAND DRYING METHOD FOR YOUR FACILITY 

There are many factors you should think about when choosing between a hand dryer and paper products, including: 

1. What is the short-term and long-term cost associated with hand dryers or paper products?
2. How unhygienic is the hand dryer or its alternative?
3. What is the environment I am choosing the hand dryer or paper product for?
4. What level of noise is my customers or clients willing to put up with?
5. How convenient are hand dryers versus its alternative? 

HOW LAWTON BROTHERS CAN HELP FIND THE HAND DRYING METHOD FOR YOUR FACILITY? 

At Lawton Brothers, we don’t want to pick sides. Our goal is to help our customers find the best hand drying product that will suit their business’s goals and needs. If you would like to talk more about the pros and cons of hand dryers and alternative hand drying methods, please give our representative a call today: 800-432-0813.

Lack of floormats or floormats that are in a state of disrepair can contribute to rising worker compensation claims due to workplace accidents, along with an increase in worker fatigue. As a company, it can be hard to know ...

Lack of floormats or floormats that are in a state of disrepair can contribute to rising worker compensation claims due to workplace accidents, along with an increase in worker fatigue. As a company, it can be hard to know exactly what to do. The most straightforward answer, one that many don't think about, is installing or replacing your facility's floor matting, which has been proven to decrease workplace accidents and worker fatigue. 

Our team has compiled a straightforward list of the benefits of floor matting, especially in the healthcare industry. Below we’ve also outlined the different types of floor matting that could be useful for your needs. 

BENEFITS OF FLOOR MATTING 

At Lawton Brothers, we believe matting is essential for any business where employees are standing for long periods or working with food and liquids. The benefits of using commercial-grade floor mats in your facility include: 

●       Decreasing the risks associated with wet shoes/floors

●       Reducing glassware breaking

●       Decreasing foot, leg and back pain associated with being on the feet for long periods

●       Increasing productivity

●       Preventing workplace injuries 

In our blog, Matting Madness: Part 1, we discussed a three-step matting program that was introduced by Steve Spencer, a facilities specialist at State Farm Insurance: 

●       Phase one starts outside. This phase begins with a large scraper run that is designed to scrape offer large amounts of soil from the shoes.

●       Phase two takes place in the building entrance. This is where an indoor scraper mat is recommended, which will remove soil, water, and debris from the shoes.

●       Phase three consists of the indoor wiper mat. This type of mat is to dry off the shoes, which can prevent falls.

These three phases will designate the type of mat you will need depending on the space you are putting it in. 

DIFFERENT TYPES OF MATS ACCORDING TO THE THREE PHASES 

At Lawton Brothers, we offer a complete line of matting options depending on the need of our client. These matting options could include outdoor scraper mats, indoor scraper mats, indoor wiper mats and anti-fatigue mats. 

Outdoor scraper mats are commercial grade mats that are typically a building's first line of defense against dirt, mud or other residues that could be tracked into the building. It is recommended that a scraper mat be placed right outside of the building's entrance so that heavy soil can be removed before entering the building. At Lawton Brothers, we offer eight different kinds of outdoor scraper mats, including: 

M + A Matting 385 Brush Hog Plus Scraper Mat

M + A Matting Super Scrape™ Scraper Mats

M + A Matting SuperScrape Eco Mats

PRO-LINK® Mat-A-Dor™ Mats

M + A Matting Frontier Mats

PRO-LINK® Outdoor 1-2-3 Mats

PRO-LINK® Tire-Track™ Mats

PRO-LINK® Rubber Scraper Mats 

M + A Matting Waterhog® Masterpiece® Select Mats

M + A Matting Waterhog® Fashion Border Diamond Mats

M + A Matting Waterhog® Classic Border Diamond Mats

M + A Matting Safety Scrape™ Black Mat - 3' x 5'

M + A Matting Waterhog® Eco Premier Mats

M + A Matting Waterhog® Eco Grand Premier Mats

M + A Matting Waterhog™ Eco Premier Fashion Mats

PRO-LINK® Berber Style Wiper/Scraper Mats

PRO-LINK® Chevron™ Indoor & Outdoor Wiper/Scraper Mats

PRO-LINK® Super Soaker Diamond Mats

PRO-LINK® Super Soaker Wiper/Scraper Mats

PRO-LINK® Indoor/Outdoor 1-2-3 Mats

Indoor wiper mats are the final line of defense against soil being brought into the building. This type of mat is meant to remove any last soil or water left on the shoes, which can help reduce the risk of falling, as well as improve air quality. We offer seven types of these mats, including:

M + A Matting ColorStar™ Mats

PRO-LINK® Eco-Step™ Wiper Mat - 4' x 6', Granite

M + A Matting Cobblestone™ Indoor Mats

PRO-LINK® Grounds-Keeper™ Mat

PRO-LINK® Rug-Hugger II™ Mat

PRO-LINK® Economy Indoor Mats

PRO-LINK® Indoor 1-2-3 Mats

M + A Matting Comfort Flow™ Mats

M + A Matting Hog Heaven® Anti-Fatigue Matting

Pro-Link® Tile Top Standard Anti-Fatigue Mat - 3' x 5'

PRO-LINK® Heavy Duty Beveled Rubber Anti-Fatigue Mat

PRO-LINK® Heavy-Duty Beveled Rubber Kitchen Mat - 3' x 5'

PRO-LINK® Comfort-King™ Mats

PRO-LINK® Comfort-King™ Supreme Mat - 2' x 3', Black

PRO-LINK® Heavy-Duty Rubber Anti-Fatigue Mat - Black

PRO-LINK® Heavy-Duty Rubber Kitchen Mat - Terra Cotta

PRO-LINK® Tile Top Safety Anti-Fatigue Mats

PRO-LINK® Tile Top Safety Anti-Fatigue Mat -Black w/Yellow

Pro-Link® Tile Top Standard Anti-Fatigue Mat - 3' x 5'

At Lawton Brothers, we also offer other specialty mats. Our goal is to help our clients find the best floor matting that will be beneficial to their building. 

HOW TO FIND THE BEST MAT | WHAT CAN LAWTON BROTHERS DO TO HELP? 

In our blog, Matting Madness Part II, we broke down an interview with JoAnne Boston, the head of business development with Crown Mats, and she recommended, "Because of the growing relationship between Green Cleaning and matting, green cleaning distributors are a good place to start when looking for someone to recommend the best mat for your facility." 

We understand that choosing a supplier for your matting options is essential and they must be trustworthy. We welcome you to put us to the test by giving us a call at 800-432-0813. At Lawton Brothers, we offer matting surveys for all kinds of facilities.

What You Need to Know About Hiring a Commercial Carpet Cleaning Service  

Utilizing the wrong cleaning products or cleaning equipment on your carpet floors can lead to costly repairs, unnecessary maintenance on your carpets, risk of closing your ...

What You Need to Know About Hiring a Commercial Carpet Cleaning Service 

Utilizing the wrong cleaning products or cleaning equipment on your carpet floors can lead to costly repairs, unnecessary maintenance on your carpets, risk of closing your business or even spreading diseases. At Lawton Brothers, we want to steer you clear of these risks. That is why our team has sat down and talked about what you should be thinking about when looking for a commercial cleaning service.  

THE DANGER: WHAT IS GROWING IN YOUR CARPET? 

If you really think about it, your carpet comes in contact with pretty much everything, including food/drinks, dirt/dust, hair/skin and more. What does all of that breed?

Mold is a type of fungus that can grow anywhere and appears as many different colors, including black, white, orange and purple, to just name a few. Unlike plants, who get their energy from the sun, the mold gets its energy from breaking down materials, as well as areas with a build-up of moisture. Mold can grow due to spilled drinks, carpets not drying after cleaning and an increase in humidity. Unfortunately, it’s not easy to detect mold without the help of an expert. Mold can also have serious health effects, including individuals experiencing rashes, difficulty breathing and even more susceptible to bacteria that are breeding within the carpet.  

New York University Langone Medical Center microbiologist and immunologist and the author of The Secret Life of Germs, Philip Tierno Jr. Ph.D., claims that rugs have about 200,000 bacteria per square inch living on it (more than what’s living on your toilet. yikes!)  

Bacteria that could be growing in your carpet could include but are not limited to, salmonella and campylobacter.  

According to Mayo Clinic, Salmonella is a bacterial disease that affects an individual’s intestinal tract. It is shed through fecal matter. Now, you may be asking yourself, “what does this have to do with carpet?” A lot, we believe. If you work within education, have a commercial space or are in the healthcare facility, you can receive large amounts of foot traffic every day. Your carpet can absorb the bacteria that are being transported in and redistributed to others. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young children are most at risk of getting the salmonella infection.

According to the CDC, Campylobacter bacteria causes an estimated 1.5 million illnesses in the United States each year. Anyone can be infected by Campylobacter bacteria, which causes symptoms similar to the Salmonella infection, but individuals aged 5 and 65 or older are most susceptible to getting campylobacteriosis.  

Other things that could be living in your carpet include dust, dust mites, insects and norovirus.  

Now, with all of that being said, you would think that businesses, including healthcare facilities, would believe carpet cleaning is a necessary task to do. Sadly, that is not the case. There are several myths about commercial carpet cleaning that we want to dispel.

NEW CARPET, NO WORRIES. IT DOESN’T NEED CLEANED.

“This carpet has just been installed in our building. If we clean it too much, it is more at risk to wear out sooner.” Carpets in this day and age are made sturdier and are, in fact, made to hide the dirt and soil that accumulates. Practicing regular cleaning habits sooner can increase the longevity of your carpet, not decrease it.   

Also, if you’ve just installed new carpet in your facility and notice that there is a smell, well that’s because new carpets house volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which can not be taken up by running the vacuum. Professional cleaning by a professional cleaning service or your knowledgeable staff will need to be done.

DOES IT LOOK DIRTY? IF NOT, IT MUST NOT NEED TO BE CLEANED.  

As mentioned above, carpets are made to hide the dirt, especially if you strategically pick out the right color and material. For example, darker carpets will hide dirt much better than white. Our suggestion to you is not just to judge the cleanliness of your carpet based on what you see. If your carpet doesn’t look dirty, but you notice some other things like a smell coming from the carpet or the color is noticeably duller, those can be indications that you need to have your carpet cleaned.

CARPET CLEANING MEANS CLOSING MY BUSINESS FOR THE DAY.

Many business owners or facility managers believe that they will need to close their business down for the day to have their carpets cleaned. That isn’t the case anymore. There are systems out there that utilize the least amount of water to clean carpets. For example, at Lawton Brothers, we carry the HOST® Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System, an environmentally-friendly system that dries in no time. This cleaning system gives the user control over the amount of moisture used while still eliminating the residue from the carpet; there is no closing time necessary.  

ANYONE CAN USE CARPET CLEANING EQUIPMENT. 

Let’s imagine that our team gave you, an individual that does not perform surgery, a scalpel and surgery room and told you to perform surgery, would you be able to? No, and we wouldn’t expect you to. The same applies to this myth. It is not true that “anyone” can use carpet cleaning equipment.  

Unfortunately, we find that companies are interested in getting the latest carpet cleaning materials and equipment, but fail to train their employees on how to use it. Not training an employee on how to use the product or equipment can result in unnecessary carpet replacement due to mold growth, the risk of spreading bacteria like salmonella throughout your facility and as a result, you will have to close your location to make those carpet repairs.  

At Lawton Brothers, not only can we provide your company with cleaning materials and equipment, but we also offer training to your cleaning crew. If you’d like to talk to a representative of our company, please call 800-432-0813.

Have you been looking for a commercial air freshener that doesn’t spray, mist or use liquid? HYscent could be the perfect fit for healthcare or educational facilities, apartment complexes, hotels or more. How does the HYscent air freshener system compare ...

Have you been looking for a commercial air freshener that doesn’t spray, mist or use liquid? HYscent could be the perfect fit for healthcare or educational facilities, apartment complexes, hotels or more. How does the HYscent air freshener system compare to other systems like aerosol cans, hydrogen cells, and liquid wick and wafer? Our team has gotten together to draw up a list of differences between these systems just for you. We value an educated buyer, and our goal is to help you make the best decision for your needs. 

HYSCENT AIR FRESHENER SYSTEM 

The HYscent air freshener system is environmentally-friendly, attacks malodors with Odoraxe™, is easy to replace, simple to operate and is theft-proof.

●       Environmentally-friendly: HYScent does not use aerosols or harmful solvents. This system uses essential oils and recyclable cartridges.

●       Odor neutralizer: This system attacks malodors with Odoraxe™, which was designed to eliminate malodors at the molecular level.

●       Saves time and easy to replace: The recyclable cartilages can be replaced within seconds and has minimal programming required.

●       Theft proof: The HYscent machine locks directly onto the wall mount. 

The HYscent air freshener system also offers three different types of machines, ideal for any preference of scent, including the solo, dual and stealth. Learn more about these systems by giving us a call at 800-432-0813. 

AEROSOL AIR FRESHENER SYSTEM 

The aerosol air freshener system is a canister with an automated dispensing function. The dispensing function releases a small amount of chemical-based products into the air. 

The operation of the system is based on the square footage of the room using the system. For example, a 400 sq. ft. room would need at least two canisters, according to HYscent. Unlike the aerosol air freshener system, HYscent, as mentioned, will dispense a fragrance from 220 sq. ft. to 750 sq. ft, depending on the system used. 

The positioning of the system is also particular. Typically, you will see specific instructions written out on an aerosol can directing you to position it vertically. Because the aerosol can use a chemical base, after dispensing the product, materials can begin to collect, increasing the risk of an individual slipping in that area. HYscent, on the other hand, does not use a liquid or chemical base for its system. HYscent’s products are completely dry, which means it’s system can be placed in any direction without the risk of spills or leaks. 

Lastly, the aerosol system has potential health hazards. Due to the chemical makeup of fragrances, breathing in the chemicals can cause drowsiness, nausea, and irritation to the eyes, throat, lungs and skin. Unlike aerosol systems, HYscent does not release any chemicals into the air. 

HYDROGEN CELL SYSTEMS 

The hydrogen cells is a system that takes chemical energy and converts it into electricity through a reaction with oxygen. According to HYscent, an analysis of two hydrogen cell systems indicates there were industrial compositions being used in the fragrances, containing approximately 40 percent hydrogen solvent, which is an aspiration hazard. 

Like the aerosol system, the hydrogen cell must also be placed in a specific position. If the position is changed, there is an increased chance of leakage. 

Note: Although HYscent claims that its system works for 60 days, market analysis has shown it is most effective between 18-22 days. 

LIQUID WICK AND WAFERS 

Liquid wick and wafers are odor control emanators that are used in a diffuser that utilizes a motor-operated fan.

The liquid wick system is a wick that is put into the container of oil and chemical mixture. The wick with absorb that mixture and then is dispersed/diffused into the air. The liquid wafer system is a pressed fiberboard square. The square is then added to an oil mixture and then dispersed using a fan. Like the aerosol and hydrogen cell systems, the liquid wick and wafer system(s) must be placed into a specific position. If the position of this system changed, the chances of leakage increase. 

The liquid and wafer system claims 30 days of longevity, but according to HYscenet market analysis, it achieves a limit of 12 to 22 days. 

FINDING AN AIR FRESHENING SYSTEM THAT WORKS FOR YOU 

At Lawton Brothers, our goal is to help you find the air freshening system that fits your needs. If you are interested in talking about HYscent or another system, please give our knowledgeable representatives a call at 800-432-0813. If you’d like to read more about the differences between HYscent and the other systems mentioned, please click here.

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1.7 million hospital patients get healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) ; 99,000 of those die due to HCAIs. What could your healthcare facility and its employees be doing to ...

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1.7 million hospital patients get healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs); 99,000 of those die due to HCAIs. What could your healthcare facility and its employees be doing to decrease the risk of contaminating patients? The most straightforward answer we can give you is ... washing their hands. Now, with that being said, we can’t guarantee that no one will contract an HCAI; however, it has been proven that when staff consistently practice handwashing, the risk of HCAIs is significantly reduced. 

At Lawton Brothers, we understand that something as simple as washing your hands can be easily overlooked. We are taking this opportunity during National Handwashing Awareness Week to highlight the importance of handwashing in healthcare settings. 

HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS (HCAIs) 

HCAIs are infections a patient can develop during their stay in the hospital. Did you know that the length of a patient who contracts HCAI increases by 17.6 days and that 9.4 percent of in-patient costs incur because of HCAIs? What does this mean for your healthcare facility? Well, it can cost up to $35 billion per year. 

PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF HEALTHCARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS 

One of the simplest but most effective ways to decrease the chances of a patient getting an HCAI is to practice proper hand hygiene. Healthcare providers should wash their hands multiple times per day, but let’s be more specific. Here is when a doctor, nurse or another member of your healthcare staff should be washing their hands: 

●       Before coming in contact with a patient

●       After coming in contact with a foreign substance like blood, body fluids or other contaminated surfaces

●       Before and after using gloves

 Why is there an aversion to handwashing? 

According to research from the CDC, multiple factors can cause your healthcare workers to not wash their hands, including: 

●       Irritation and dryness in the skin after washing hands

●       Sinks are not conveniently located or there are not enough sinks

●       Lack of soap and paper towels

●       Hand washing interferes with relationship building with patients

●       The belief that wearing gloves is all one needs to do

●       Lack of education or knowledge of handwashing protocols

●       Forgetting to wash the hands

●       Leadership isn’t doing it

●       Lack of information regarding handwashing and HCAI rates 

As a janitorial supply company, a few of these reasons from the CDC stick out to us. How can your healthcare team overcome some of the obstacles outlined above? 

Lack of soap and paper towels: As a janitorial supply company, this statement stands out clearly to us. This statement implies that it takes more than just your healthcare team; it also takes your maintenance team. 

Clear communication between your healthcare staff and your maintenance team is needed so that supplies are always readily stocked and available to your medical team.  If your maintenance team is running out of supplies, then it is your facility manager’s duty to find a janitorial supply company that can keep up with order numbers. 

Irritation and dryness in the skin after washing hands:  According to the CDC, in certain surveys, approximately 25% of nurses reported symptoms of dermatitis and 85% reported skin problems. There are many types of substances one could use for hand hygiene, including: 

●       Non-Antimicrobial Soap

●       Alcohol-Based Hand Antiseptics

●       Chlorhexidine Gluconate

●       Chloroxylenol

●       Hexachlorophene

●       Iodine and Iodophors

●       Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

●       Triclosan 

It is important to consider all of your options and find the substance/soap that will cause your healthcare team the least amount of irritation on their skin. What should you factor in when choosing hygiene products like soap? According to the CDC, there are many factors you should think about when selecting products for your healthcare facility, including: 

●       How efficient is the product against pathogens?

●       Does the healthcare staff accept the hand products?

●       Do you need automated hand soap dispensers?

●       How does my budget for hand hygiene products compare to my expenses for hospital costs related costs due to HCAIs? According to the CDC, just four or five HCAIs contracted may equal the number of some healthcare facilities’ budgets for hand hygiene products. (Yikes!) 

At Lawton Brothers, our goal is to help your healthcare facility run as smoothly as possible. From helping you pick out which hand hygiene product would fit your facility best to helping you stay within budget, we are here for you. To talk with a representative about your facility and its needs, give us a call at 800-432-0813.

If you own a business, you understand the concern over floors that have just been cleaned--they can’t dry fast enough. Not only is this issue a liability in the event an individual would slip and fall, but it can also ...

If you own a business, you understand the concern over floors that have just been cleaned--they can’t dry fast enough. Not only is this issue a liability in the event an individual would slip and fall, but it can also cause mold and long-term structural damage to your facility. As business owners, we understand this issue too. And, we see it a lot when we talk with business owners. 

That is why we recommend utilizing the HOST® Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System, an environmentally-friendly system that dries in no time. 

The HOST® Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System consists of millions of dry sponges that are moistened with water and other ingredients and can be used for all carpet care, including maintenance and restoration. The sponges spread across the carpet, carrying the cleaning solution in a controlled manner. As the sponges brush up and down the soiled floor they break up oil, dirt, and other residues which can then be vacuumed away. 

This machine gives the user control over how much moisture is being used, as well as making sure all of the dirt and residue is removed from the carpet.

This cleaning system is certified by Green Seal, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and WoolSafe; it is also approved by the Florida School Plant Managers Association (FSPMA).

Green Seal Certification 

The HOST® Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System is also Green Seal Certified. Green Seal is a non-profit environmental standard development organization that certifies products or services. According to Green Seal, this type of certification is ONLY awarded to products that meet the Green Seal standards of performance, safety and reliability.

According to Racine Industries, the certification by Green Seal has shown that the HOST® Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System:

●      Has passed its performance testing

●      Is nontoxic

●      Is not combustible

●      It contains no optical brighteners, ozone-depleted compounds, heavy metals, carcinogens or reproductive toxins

●      Is not irritating to the skin or eyes

●      Has low volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

●      And more

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Certification

According to Racine Industries, any product or equipment that advertises the removal of dust mites or mold must be made in an EPA registered facility.

WoolSafe Certification

The WoolSafe certification certifies that this machine is safe to use on materials and carpets made from wool or wool blends.

Utilizing this system for your business can be beneficial in many ways, including:

●      Prevents the growth of mold and mildew

●      Decreases the risk of indoor allergies

●      Conserves energy and water

●      Being cost-effective

Prevents the growth of mold & mildew

According to the (EPA), mold can grow on any organic materials as long as moisture and oxygen are around. These materials can include wood, paper, carpet, food and more.  Mold growing on a surface is not just unsightly, it can actually digest the material is growing on, which can cause structural damage if not properly taken care of. Controlling moisture indoors is one of the environmental factors that will help prevent the growth of mold.

The HOST system only uses one teaspoon of liquid per square foot. In hot water extraction, 120 gallons of water could be used for every 1,000 sq. ft of carpet. This means that unlike other carpet cleaning methods, the HOST system helps decrease the amount of mold that can form due to the control of liquid being used.

Decreases the risk of indoor allergies

According to Racine Industries, the HOST® Cleaning System reduces:

●      Dust mite by 78 percent

●      Dust mite allergens by 75 percent

●      Cat allergens by 85 percent (good for apartment buildings who allow pets!)

●      Mold spores by 85 percent

Conserves energy and water

Due to the HOST® cleaning system using a minimal amount of liquid, this machine conserves energy and water by not using: 

●      Boilers to heat the water

●      Blowers to dry the carpet

●      And you won’t need to use any air-drying method to help the carpet dry faster!

Is Cost-Effective

A common myth of the HOST® System is that it is too expensive. If you look at labor, material and overhead cost, it is actually more cost-effective to use.

The labor included with the HOST® system refers to preparing and setting up equipment, mixing any chemicals, vacuuming, applying and re-vacuumings. With the HOST system there is very little to no setup time. Material cost is dependent on the space of your building, and with proper training of your cleaning staff, cleaning the carpet can be more efficient than using a wet cleaning method.

At Lawton Brothers, we are convinced that the HOST® Dry Extraction Carpet Cleaning System can be beneficial for your business from being environmentally-friendly to being efficient and cost-effective. HOST® Products we have include:

●      Host® Applicator

●      Host® Aridex® The Dry Upholstery Cleaning System

●      Host® Dry Carpet Cleaner - 12 lb. Bucket

●      HOST Dry Carpet Cleaner - 2.2 lb. Bucket

●      HOST Dry Carpet Cleaner - 30 lb. Bucket

●      Host® Freestyle® ExtractorVAC®

●      Host® Freestyle®  Red Firm Nylon Brushes

●      Host® Liberator®  Red Firm Nylon Brushes

●      Host® Liberator® White Standard Nylon Brushes

●      Host® Liberator® Zebra Firm Nylon/Polypropylene Brushes

●      Host® Prep Traffic Lane Cleaner - Gallon

●      Host® Reliant® Extractor - 12”

●      Host® SJ Dry Carpet Cleaner - 2.2 lb

●      Host® SJ For Special Jobs - 12 lb Bucket

●      Host® Smoke-X® Deodorant - 8 oz

●      Host® Spot Remover - Qt

●      Host® spotZAPPER 2-in-1 Brush

●      Host® Zebra Firm Nylon Brushes

If you’d like to know more about this system and the available products in your area, please give us a call to talk with one of our representatives.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver due to significant alcohol use, medications, medical conditions and a virus. In 2016, there were a reported 2,007 cases of Hepatitis A ...

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hepatitis A is an inflammation of the liver due to significant alcohol use, medications, medical conditions and a virus. In 2016, there were a reported 2,007 cases of Hepatitis A in the United States, according to the CDC. To date there are 2,970 confirmed cases in Florida alone, and it has been called a  “health emergency” according to Medical News Today

Unfortunately, many people don’t know they have Hepatitis A as there can be no symptoms and is rarely fatal. However, for those who do know they have contracted Hepatitis A, there are no treatments. Hepatitis A epidemics are typically seen in countries with poor water supply and sanitation avenues; however, the contraction of Hepatitis A can happen anywhere. Hepatitis A can be spread unknowingly from ingesting food or liquids that have been contaminated through small amounts of undetected fecal matter from an infected individual who hasn’t washed their hands prior to touching objects, surfaces or food.

When an individual contracts Hepatitis A and there are symptoms, there can be severe repercussions including not being able to go to school or work, as well as their place of work being scrutinized, especially if it is a food establishment.

From this, we can gather a couple of things, 

1. Your cleaning or maintenance crew needs to have the proper cleaning products that can eliminate Hepatitis A.
2. In any service, hospitality or medical industries, proper hand washing protocols need to be put in place.

The good news is that there are cleaning products out there that can eliminate Hepatitis A, and you can put the proper protocols in place with our tips.

INDUSTRY RISKS & TIPS

Depending on the industry, there are certain measures you can take to clean your surfaces.

Childcare:

The contracture of Hepatitis A for children is high. According to WHO, in areas with low and high levels of risk for contracting Hepatitis A, children are the most at risk because they are more likely to put non-editable objects into their mouths. Because little to no symptoms appear in younger children, it is important to disinfect any objects that could be put into a child’s mouth. Items put into the mouth will need to be disinfected, rinsed and then air-dried or run through a dishwasher at a high temperature.

Healthcare and Hospitality

For those in healthcare and the hospitality industry, it is equally important to minimize the risk of Hepatitis A contracture. Contaminated clothing should be kept separate from non-contaminated clothing. Clothing should be washed at a high temperature. Surfaces should be cleaned thoroughly according to your healthcare facility’s cleanliness standards.

Not many products eliminate Hepatitis A. At Lawton Brothers, we have two, including Hillyard QT-TB and Green Klean Chlorinated Disinfecting Tablets.

Hillyard QT-TB is a ready-to-use, quaternary based disinfectant designed specifically for institutional cleaning and disinfection in hospitals, nursing homes and veterinary clinics. This product can also be used in offices, schools and hotels.

Hillyard QT-TB provides a high level of disinfecting against a broad spectrum of both gram-negative and gram-positive microorganisms.

Green Klean Chlorinated Disinfecting Tablets are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered chlorinated disinfecting tablets. These tablets deliver consistent and accurate chlorine levels each time.

HANDWASHING PROTOCOL TIPS

According to the CDC, handwashing is one of the easiest and best ways to protect yourself and others from contracting infections and diseases like Hepatitis A. Individuals in the hospitality, service or medical industries should wash their hands during these breakdowns. 

●      Service Industry: Before, during and after handling food or drinks.

●      Hospitality Industry: Before, during and after handling food, drinks and materials like linens.

●      Medical Industry: Before, during and after seeing patients, surgery or treating patients.

According to a 1993 study, Hepatitis A has the ability to last on surfaces for days and on hands for a couple of hours. Simply put, it is essential to wash your hands when coming in contact with other surfaces or individuals as you don’t know if they have Hepatitis A or not. As a business owner or leader, it is your duty to make sure your employees are following proper handwashing protocols, as well as maintaining the cleanliness of your facility.

LAWTON BROTHERS | HOW CAN WE HELP

 While it is rare, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Hepatitis A accounted for 7,134 deaths in 2016. At Lawton Brothers, we have two products that can get you started in eliminating the contamination of Hepatitis A--Hillyard QT-TB and Green Klean Chlorinated Disinfecting Tablets. If you need more information about these products, give us a call at 800-432-0813 to talk with one of our knowledgeable staff members.

As a business owner, it's understandable that you would want to vet  any janitorial product supply companies before placing an order with them. That's why at Lawton Brothers, we want to answer any and all of your questions. Our ...

As a business owner, it's understandable that you would want to vet  any janitorial product supply companies before placing an order with them. That's why at Lawton Brothers, we want to answer any and all of your questions. Our team has put our heads together and developed a list of 10 questions that we frequently receive. If you still have questions after reading this, our team would be more than happy to get on a phone call with you! 

10 Questions to Ask a Janitorial Product Supply Company Before Buying from Them:

• What services do you have? 

   

  Understanding the type of services a janitorial supply company offers is essential. If you aren't educated on what kind of product, machine or service you need, you could fall into the risk of buying the wrong service. At Lawton Brothers, we offer more than quality janitorial products; we deliver cleaning expertise to our clients. Our services include:

   

  ●      Green Cleaning programs that meet USGBC standards

  ●      Floor Care programs that reduce costs and improve safety

  ●      Equipment Service, preventative maintenance and rental programs

  ●      Paper Products & Systems that control waste, eliminate pilferage, and reduce costs

  ●      Floor Matting solutions that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but truly functional

  ●      Cleaning Audits that help you spend your budget dollars where they are most needed

  ●      Comprehensive Cleaning Program

  ●      Training Seminars and On-Site Training

   

• Where are you located?

   

  Location, location, location-- it's crucial. If you need your janitorial supply company to be local, you'll need to know where they are located. At Lawton Brothers, we have four locations, including:

  ●      Orlando – Corporate office

  ●      Clearwater, Florida

  ●      Ocala, Florida

  ●      Melbourne, Florida

  Each site has a showroom, staff that is knowledgeable and a fully stocked inventory.

• What cleaning products do you offer?

   

  Understanding the type of cleaning products a janitorial supply company offers will help you figure out what you can get from where. You don't want to order from five separate janitorial supply companies. We provide an online catalog full of supplies, including: 

  ●      Janitorial Supplies

  ○      Chemicals

  ○      Cleaning Equipment

  ○      Cleaning Supplies

  ○      Liners

  ○      Matting

  ○      Paper Products

  ○      Receptacles/Trash

  ○      Restroom Supplies

  ○      Skin Care

  ●      Foodservice Supplies

  ●      Facilities & Grounds Supplies

  ○      Safety Materials

  ○      Tools & Hardware

   

• What types of training do you offer?

   

  Janitorial supply companies that want to go the extra mile will offer training programs for your employees. Training programs can be beneficial, especially when it comes to utilizing chemicals and machines. Lawton Brothers offer training on-site or within our facility. Our training programs include:

   

  ●      ISSA CMI - Cleaning Industry Training Standard Verified Courses

  ●      CMI General Courses: General Cleaning, Restroom, Customer Service and Safety & HazCom †

  ●      Workload, Bidding & Estimating Workshop

  ●      Green Cleaning for Health

  ●      OSHA Right to Know / GHS HazCom

  ●      Bloodborne Pathogens

  ●      Carpet Care †

  ●      Restroom Care †

  ●      Resilient (VCT) Floor Care †

  ●      Tile & Grout Restorative Hard Floor Care

  ●      Marble Natural Stone Floor Care

  ●      Wood & Gym Floor Care

  ●      Disinfecting & Sanitizing

  ●      Cleaning Equipment Use & Care

  ●      Supervisor Development Courses

  ●      Free 1 hour Best Practices Courses

   

  † - ISSA CMI verified Courses

• Do you have any certifications?

   

  When thinking about a janitorial supply company, you may think that is doesn't matter if that company has any certifications or not. But, we're here to tell you that it does matter. Not only can a janitorial supply company be certified, but their products can also. For example, at Lawton Brothers, we are certified as an ISSA CMI Expert. We are Green Seal approved for specific products. 

• Do you work with businesses within my industry?

   

  As a janitorial supply company, we believe it is essential that the company you buy your products from has experience within your industry. If the company doesn't know the industry well, they won't be able to recommend the correct products for your facility or building. For example, we have experience working within many sectors, including hospitality, healthcare & medical, administrative and retail industries.

   

• Can you tell me what products or machines I need for my building? 

A janitorial supply company should be able to tell you what you need for your building (if they are worth their salt). We are not only a janitorial supply company; we are also cleaning experts. Our knowledgeable and experienced staff can provide cleaning expertise, training and support the overall level of cleanliness in your building while also controlling the cost for you.

Not only will our staff be able to talk with you about specific products you are looking for, but we also offer two types of consultations:

Green Cleaning Consultation

Do your patients rank cleanliness as one of their top values in healthcare quality? 

Healthcare quality means that a healthcare facility can provide care that a patient needs, at the time they need it, safely and effectively. October ...

Do your patients rank cleanliness as one of their top values in healthcare quality? 

Healthcare quality means that a healthcare facility can provide care that a patient needs, at the time they need it, safely and effectively. October 20 to 26 is Healthcare Quality Week. At Lawton Brothers, we believe that it is important to highlight what you could be doing to improve your healthcare quality scores.

According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), there are six properties of healthcare quality: 

●      Effectiveness: providing science-based care that achieves healthcare outcomes

●      Efficiency: maximizing the quality of the healthcare offered while decreasing the amount of waste

●      Equity: providing equal attention to those who may differ in personal characteristics

●      Patient-centeredness: meeting the patient’s needs within their values

●      Safety: avoiding harm to the patient, including the contraction of healthcare-associated infections

●      Timeliness: providing care while decreasing inpatient stays 

Incorporating all six domains, especially safety, into how your healthcare system tracks "healthcare quality" is essential. It can decrease mortality rates, the spreading of HAIs and increase patient satisfaction and revenue. 

Continue reading to learn more about the cleanliness of a healthcare facility, and why we believe that you should be investing more in your environmental cleaning services. 

PATIENTS RANK CLEANLINESS AS THEIR TOP CONCERN 

According to Compass One Health, there are correlations between a patient’s perception of room cleanliness, the risk of HAIs, the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers (HCAHPS) score and the HCAHPS teamwork indicator. According to Compass One Health's research, 90 percent of those respondents said they would recommend the facility. 

As a result of patients being observant of how clean the facility is, as well as their room, they are more likely to recommend a healthcare facility that they perceive as clean. What can you do to improve your patient satisfaction scores when it comes to healthcare quality? 

IMPROVING PATIENT SATISFACTION 

Inpatient healthcare services provide the most risk of patients contracting HAIs. We would suggest that inpatient healthcare services have the most to improve upon when it comes to cleanliness and healthcare quality. 

Improve your patient satisfaction when it comes to healthcare quality, by: 

Viewing your healthcare facility from the patient’s perspective. Ask an individual that you trust to walk through your facility and note down what they experience. How did the staff treat them? What were their first thoughts when seeing the exterior and interior of the building? Were the rooms clean? How clean? 

Remembering that what a person sees if what they will be their first impression. Like most things in life, individuals are visual creatures. They judge what they see first and that affects how they move through the full experience. 

Valuing your environmental cleaning services team. Your environmental cleaning services need to be organized, invested in and felt that they are heard to increase the cleanliness of your building. Have a plan to sit down and talk with this team about what could be improved upon and then make actionable items of what needs to be changed. 

Because cleanliness is essential to a patient and their overall satisfaction, your healthcare facility's environmental services team must be top-notch. Unfortunately, even if you have a top-notch team, if you don’t have the correct products, it won’t matter. 

At Lawton Brothers, we have many products and services that could benefit your healthcare facility and its quality score. Fives products/equipment that you could implement into your healthcare environmental cleaning and disinfecting routine right now include: 

1. Hillyard QT-TB is a ready to use, quaternary based disinfectant designed specifically for institutional cleaning and disinfection in hospitals, nursing homes, veterinary clinics.
2. Green Klean is an EPA registered chlorinated disinfecting tablet, medical disinfectant, with kill claims for C Diff, Norovirus, HBV & HIV 1, Canine Parvovirus and more.
3. Advance SC500 REV Scrubber features a low center of gravity and an easily accessible variable speed and pressure-sensitive control paddle.
4. Proteam ProDust Disposable Dust Sleeves is safe for any surface, contains no oils or waxes, and won't streak or leave any residue.
5. Hillyard Suprox-D Disinfectant is an EPA registered, neutral pH in dilution, hospital disinfectant with the cleaning power of peroxide. It contains twice the amount of peroxide than most brands.

And, if your staff needs training on equipment, we can help with that too! 

LAWTON BROTHERS | HOW CAN WE HELP 

Understanding healthcare quality depends on the cleanliness of your healthcare facility is the first step in improving your healthcare quality scores. That is where your environmental cleaning services and Lawton Brothers come in. Our team can work with your cleaning team to understand which cleaning products are needed based on your facility and its needs. We also have cleaning machinery that we can provide education on to your cleaning team. 

Take the initiative during Healthcare Quality Week to ask your patients what they value most in a healthcare facility. If cleanliness is one of the top things they look for, talk to one of our representatives about how we can help your healthcare facility by giving us a call at 800-432-0813. 

Did you know that healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), can account for 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths each year? When a patient enters your healthcare facility for medical services, they are immediately put at risk for contracting healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) through ...

Did you know that healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), can account for 1.7 million infections and 99,000 deaths each year? When a patient enters your healthcare facility for medical services, they are immediately put at risk for contracting healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) through improper environmental hygiene practices.

 As an essential part of healthcare leadership, it is critical to ensure your patient safety for the facilities you serve. You can minimize the risk of HAIs by encouraging your medical staff to be aware of and promote proper environmental hygiene and cleaning practices.

At Lawton Brothers, we understand that in extensive healthcare facilities, hygiene practices can be put on the back burner. We are taking this opportunity during International Infection Prevention Week to provide a timely reminder of the importance of the correlation between your facility’s cleanliness and your patient’s safety.

THE MOST COMMON HAIs

Healthcare-associated infections are infections that a patient develops during their hospital stay. HAIs can be contracted in any type of facility, including hospitals, ambulances and long-term care facilities, just to name a few.  

When a healthcare facility does not engage in proper environmental cleaning practices, it can cause increased diseases (morbidity), decrease mortality, increase the length of hospital stays and costs incurred by the hospital. (yikes!) 

According to Becker’s Clinical Leaders & Infection Control:

●      The length of stay for a patient who contracts an HAI increases by 17.6 days

●      9.4 percent of in-patient costs are for HAIs

●      HAIs can cost healthcare facilities $35 billion per year

The most common HAIs patients get during their hospital stay include:

●      Central-line associated bloodstream infections

●      Clostridium difficile infections

●      Pneumonia

●      Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

●      Surgical site infections

●      Urinary Tract infections

How do patients contract these HAIs?

As you know, HAIs can be contracted through environmental transmission; through the hands and the contamination of surfaces.

ENVIRONMENTAL CLEANING PRACTICES 

Environmental hygiene can be dependent on the pathogen present and what product you are using to remove it.  According to an article published in BioMed Central, there are five areas of cleanliness that healthcare leaders should take into account when thinking about their hospital: 

1. Workforce: the staff whose responsibility is to organize, execute and verify cleaning activity.
2. Area: the environment that needs to be cleaned, including surfaces.
3. Substance: the chemical product being used to clean.
4. Technique: the method by which the staff is applying the substance.
5. Equipment: the machines being used to clean, including microfiber cloths and cleaning machines.

 If any of these areas are lacking or absent, the level of cleaning is inferior to what it should be.

 You should also be asking yourself these questions:

 What are our options for cleaning and disinfecting the patient’s environment? 

1. What approaches are in use?
2. How do cleaning, disinfecting and monitoring interact?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of cleaning, disinfecting and monitoring? 

What equipment is needed to impact cleaning, disinfecting and monitoring? 

1. What equipment is essential to the efficiency of environmental cleaning services?
2. Is it essential to train cleaning staff?
3. What are the regulations around disinfecting the facility? 

CLEANING PRODUCTS FOR CLEANING  & DISINFECTING 

The optimal cleaning product for a healthcare facility is one that is effective against bacteria, spores and viruses while leaving no impact on the environment and being completely safe. Unfortunately, there isn’t a product that does all of that. (sadly) 

The most common chemicals used for disinfection include: 

●      Alcohol: is used to disinfect small surfaces or external surfaces like ventilators. Alcohol is a flammable substance and must be used in well-ventilated spaces. Long-term use of alcohol can cause discoloration, hardening and even cracking in plastics and rubber.

●      Hydrogen peroxide: can be effective against bacteria, yeast, fungi and viruses and leaves no odor.

●      Ortho-phthalaldehyde: is an antimicrobial disinfectant for medical equipment that can cause respiratory issues if not handled properly.

●      Chlorine: is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial disinfectant that does not leave a residue.

●      Peracetic acid: is used to sterilize medical and surgical instruments.

●      Phenolics: are EPA-registered disinfectants that are used to clean environmental surfaces like bedside tables, bed rails and laboratory surfaces.

●      Quaternary Ammonium compounds: are used to disinfect patient-care equipment like catheters. 

Unfortunately, data-sf-ec-immutable="" while healthcare facilities are more than willing to upgrade their technology, they are less willing to invest in their environmental hygiene practices. Rather than spend your cleaning budget on only cleaning products, invest in your environmental cleaning employees, as well. An cleaning company can not only supply your healthcare facility with top-notch cleaning solutions but will also be able to provide your employees with the proper training--all while staying within your budget.

Not encouraging proper cleaning practices can affect budgets across the hospital. This can make it difficult to really understand how the lack of such protocols can genuinely change the healthcare facility as a whole.  That is why it’s essential to look at the increased number of days a patient may spend in the hospital due to an HAI, hospital staff overtime, missed revenue and increases in costs due to HAI outbreaks. 

When you are making a decision about investing in your environmental hygiene maintenance processes, which products to get, or how much training your cleaning staff really needs, think about the cost of not investing in these things and what that means for the healthcare facility long-term. 

HOW CAN WE HELP? 

Unfortunately, even if you have the best cleaning staff, they will be useless if they aren’t using the correct product. And, the best product is useless if it isn’t being applied correctly. That is why it is essential to have a team that can help you choose the best products and machines for the situation at hand. 

At Lawton Brothers, we have many products and services that could benefit your healthcare facility. Three products that you could implement into your healthcare environmental cleaning and disinfecting routine right now include: 

1. Hillyard Vindicator + - https://www.lawtonbros.com/catalog/p/243337/Hillyard-Arsenal-1-6-Vindicator-Disinfectant-25-L/
2. Green Klean Chlorinated Tablets - https://www.lawtonbros.com/catalog/p/255655/Green-Klean-Chlorinated-Disinfecting-Tablet/
3. Victory Sprayer - https://www.lawtonbros.com/catalog/p/256687/Victory-Cordless-Electrostatic-Sprayer/ 

And, if your staff needs training on equipment, we can help with that too! To talk to one of our representatives about how we can help your healthcare facility decrease the number of HAIs by improving your cleaning and disinfecting strategies, give us a call at 800-432-0813. 

Keeping your healthcare facility clean is an integral part of ensuring your patient’s safety, right? The cleanliness of your facility can decrease the amount of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), increase patient satisfaction and in the end, increase your revenue. 

Your environmental ...

Keeping your healthcare facility clean is an integral part of ensuring your patient’s safety, right? The cleanliness of your facility can decrease the amount of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), increase patient satisfaction and in the end, increase your revenue. 

Your environmental cleaning department is your front line of defense against HAIs. An excellent team can be the line between a good healthcare quality score and a bad one. 

At Lawton Brothers, we believe you can improve the quality of the cleanliness of your facility without going over budget. 

Our team at Lawton Brothers has read through the latest research to truly understand quality scores. Below, this article explains what we have found from that research, and why we believe cleanliness matters. 

CLEANING IS A PATIENT SAFETY ISSUE 

According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 10 patients get an infection while receiving care. And, according to Cleaning Hospital Room Surfaces to Prevent Health Care-Associated Infections, in 2011, there were an estimated 721, 800 HAIs contracted in the United States, which led to 75,000 deaths. 

Rising medical costs and the fear of contracting HAIs during an extended hospital stay may deter patients from seeking medical treatment in a facility. 

Although they might not be aware of the exact standards of “quality cleaning,” the visual cleanliness of your facility plays a huge role in their perception of your organization. 

CLEANING YOUR HEALTHCARE FACILITY

There are five areas of cleanliness that healthcare facilities should think about:

• Workforce

• Area

• Substance

• Technique

• Equipment

Workforce & Area

Your environmental cleaning department has the responsibility to organize, execute and verify the healthcare facility's cleaning activity. Currently, many healthcare facilities go by “hotel clean,” with the added layer of a disinfecting routine. Hotel clean includes:

• Floors and baseboards are dust, stain and spill-free

• Walls, doors and ceilings are dust-free

• Furniture, window ledges, phones and carpets are dust-free

• Bathroom facilities are dust and stain-free

• Mirrors and windows are dust and streak-free

• Water is disposed of

• Furniture or items that are broken are replaced

During the room clean, environmental cleaning services should also ask themselves:

1. Are surfaces high touch or low touch?

2. What unit is this room on (conference room vs intensive care)?

3. What is the expected amount of body fluids that will come in contact with surfaces?

According to the Asia Pacific Society of Infection Control Guidelines for Environmental Cleaning and Decontamination, your environmental staff should have:

• Adequate cleaning resources that are devoted to their department

• Procedures for cleaning and disinfecting 

• Education and continued training 

Unfortunately, even with an educated environmental cleaning department, if they aren’t using the right cleaning solution, it won’t matter. 

Substance, Technique and Equipment

For each type of surface that is contaminated, it seems like there is a different chemical solution that your team will need, including alcohol, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide and many more. To read a full description of these cleaning surfaces, read our blog International Infection Prevention, here. 

CLEANING AND DISINFECTING YOUR FACILITY

Buying the cleaning supplies, equipment or education your healthcare facility and its employees will need can get expensive. But, what’s the cost associated with not investing in the cleanliness of your facility? Those costs could include:

• Increased HAI outbreaks, which have an estimated $100 trillion cost globally by 2050

• Increased deaths due to HAI outbreaks

• Missed surgical revenue due to slow turnaround times

• Increased patient-stay times

• Decrease in revenue due to patients not returning after contracting an HAI

The upfront costs associated with investing in proper training and high-quality cleaning products will be beneficial in the long-run. 

We Can Help.

Unfortunately, you have a large healthcare facility that needs to be cleaned, but cleaning supplies and employee education can be expensive. At Lawton Brothers, we work with healthcare facilities for solutions that fall within their budget, including cleaning supplies, equipment management and employee training.

Our training programs include:

• ISSA CMI - Cleaning Industry Training Standard Verified Courses

• CMI General Courses: General Cleaning, Restroom, Customer Service and Safety & HazCom 

• Workload, Bidding & Estimating Workshop

• Green Cleaning for Health

• OSHA Right to Know / GHS HazCom

• Bloodborne Pathogens

• Carpet Care 

• Restroom Care 

• Disinfecting & Sanitizing

• Equipment Use & Care 

To talk with a customer representative about what we can do for your facility, give us a call: 800-432-0813 

Red wine, puppy prints, coffee spills...all have made their way to our carpets at one point or another.

Thankfully, we have come across a list of carpet cleaning hacks you won't want to miss!

Need a deeper clean for ...

Red wine, puppy prints, coffee spills...all have made their way to our carpets at one point or another.

Thankfully, we have come across a list of carpet cleaning hacks you won't want to miss!

Need a deeper clean for your home or business? Contact us for a cleaning consultation today!