Eliminating the Guessing Game

Housekeeping managers put a lot of thought into which chemicals they want to use based on cost, effectiveness and ease of use. Yet, if staff misuse those chemicals they can cancel out any planned benefits, even harming surfaces and themselves. That’s why improper chemical dilution and mixing is a problem that housekeeping managers must address to save wasted labor, wasted supplies and potentially damaging situations.

To counter the many common mistakes cleaning workers make regarding chemicals, managers must provide thorough training and continuously monitor chemical use, as well as offer dispensing and mixing aids that help limit the chance to make these mistakes.

Common mistakes
Chemical misuse comes in all shapes and sizes — many housekeeping employees believe that mixing different chemicals together will make their job easier, or that stronger chemicals work better. Others may not have a good sense of measurements, misunderstanding common dilution ratios. Still others think commercial chemicals should look and work like those they purchase for their homes. In response to these common problems, some facilities have installed chemical dispensing systems or bought ready-to-use or pre-portioned products.

While these chemical control methods can be useful, staff still can change the dilution rates on a dispenser, mix cleaner A with cleaner B to create their own "super" cleaner, or use too few or too many pre-portioned packets of solution. That is why it still is up to managers to train employees to properly mix, dilute and use necessary chemicals and police product usage to make sure workers continue to operate properly.

Most facilities have several, regularly-used, basic cleaners — typically a disinfectant, neutral cleaner and glass cleaner. Whatever product line used, it is best to make sure that there is some type of measuring device involved, not only to save solution waste but also to ensure chemicals work best.

Too strong a solution of disinfectant will make it far less effective. Too strong a solution of neutral floor cleaner will cause rapid resoiling on surfaces because it will leave a residue behind that eventually will eat away at floor finish. Mixing glass cleaner too strong will cause it to streak and smear.

Another product often improperly mixed is carpet shampoo. Too strong a dilution will cause the shampoo to leave a residue that will attract dirt onto the carpet faster, requiring more cleaning.

Training talking points
The reason behind the "more-is-better" mistake often is a misunderstanding of how much concentrated chemical it takes to properly clean surfaces. Many cleaning products use less than one ounce of concentrate per gallon of water, yet many custodial employees feel there isn’t enough "kick" in such a small amount. By the same token, if a worker chooses to wait a little longer to change the water while mopping, a neutral cleaner in the solution can weaken and become less affective. Then the worker is simply pushing existing soil around with dirty water, resulting in a dirtier floor.

Once workers have a better grasp of dilution ratios and the reasons behind them, they can better understand what they are doing and avoid costly mistakes. Show the employee how to properly measure chemicals, whether with a special measuring cup, adjusting a dilution control machine, counting out pre-portioned packets or simply pushing a chemical dispenser button the proper number of times.

Even if a worker is trying to measure properly, dilution rates can be confusing. Explain dilution rates — the ratio 1:256 is one half ounce per gallon, based on how many ounces are in a gallon and how many ounces the chemical needs to be. Then make a ratio explanation chart and give it to workers, as well as post it in the storeroom.

Next, explain how a chemical actually works, rather than just showing employees how to apply it. Managers need to explain that detergent allows water to break up and actually attract dirt.

Surfactants in detergents usually have a negative charge. By mixing two different types of cleaners —one that is cationic (positive charge) with one that is anionic (negative charge} — both charges are voided. It’s like a magnet that needs it’s full power and won’t pick up things if it becomes weak or the opposite charge is added. For instance, many employees like to add a deodorizer to carpet shampoo, but most deodorizers are cationic while most carpet shampoos are anionic, leaving the combination ineffective at cleaning or deodorizing.

Another vital element of training is understanding the pH scale. The pH scale reflects the percentage of hydrogen that can be measured in water. The scale ranges from 0 to 14 with pure water (7) considered a neutral because it has equal numbers of hydrogen and hydroxide ions. A solution below 7 is acidic. A solution above 7 is alkaline.

The pH scale is logarithmic, so each number on the scale is a 10-fold difference from the number next to it. That means that a pH of 11 is 1000 times stronger than a pH of 8.

Mixing an acid and alkaline cleaner can neutralize each other, reducing two very strong cleaners to the same strength as water. Acids mainly remove alkaline residue, soap scum and mineral deposits, otherwise, they are not the most preferable cleaners for most soils. Most detergents are alkaline and have a pH no higher than 10. High alkaline (pH higher than 10) can damage carpet fibers, which will void carpet warranties, as well as destroy marble and remove floor finish .

Maintaining control
Even after solid training, supervisors need to lock up, monitor and control chemicals. They also may need to lock up or closely monitor the dispenser to stop employees from resetting metering tips and from removing the chemical and pouring it straight from the jug. Some systems also have the metering tip in the lid of a chemical container to stop an employee from changing the dilution ratio. It is possible employees can remove these tips from the containers as well.

Knowing how may diluted gallons one should get per gallon can help determine how long a gallon of concentrate should last. If it is not lasting as long as figures suggest, this may warrant further investigation.

When using pre-measured packets, one can require a trade of the used portion to receive a new one. Often the trade can be done at the beginning and end of a shift or between floors or zones.

A supervisor also needs to know what color each chemical looks like properly dispensed. Seeing a mixed cleaner in a spray bottle too dark or too light can alert managers to an improperly mixed chemical. Also, seeing a color that is not part of the chemical line can indicate mixing of two solutions.

George Weise is a zone manager for the University of South Carolina housing and judicial programs. He has more than 16 years of industry experience.