Updates from the Leading Association for the Cleaning Industry Worldwide

The Scope of Cleaning Science
Cleaning is a science-based environmental management process essential for sustaining the quality of human life. If we are to understand the important role of cleaning and the contributions it makes to human existence and the quality of life, we need to know what cleaning is, how it works, and why it is important.

To understand exactly what this involves, we should ask ourselves: What is the scope of cleaning science? What subjects must be properly understood if we are to have a firm grasp on the entire field?

To properly define “cleaning,” emphasize the objectives and reasons for cleaning and highlight their importance and value, the science of cleaning must, at a minimum, include the following topics:

1. Risk Reduction Benefits of Effective Cleaning. First and foremost, cleaning creates a healthy condition by reducing exposures and risks. It enables sanitation, prevents illness and provides living and working space. In addition to human health, cleaning protects valuable materials and equipment and maintains the value of property. It is a form of insurance that prevents crisis and reduces the full range of costs related to property and real estate.

2. Cleaning and Special Environments. Cleaning is the organized process of removing or repositioning unwanted matter so human activities can take place in a specific built environment. Different environments require different cleaning processes.

3. Cleaning Chemistry. Understanding and properly describing how chemicals work, the effect they have on various forms of matter and their protective or risk-reduction benefits — as well as their toxic, unwanted, or unintended effects on humans or the natural environment — are all important parts of cleaning science.

4. Measurements of Cleaning Effectiveness. Studies show that effective and consistent cleaning is cost effective and can lead to measurable environmental improvements, as measured by reductions in particles, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and biological pollutants. The assessment of cleaning effectiveness can be accomplished through environmental sampling and measurement of dust, fungi, bacteria and indoor-air particulate matter.

5. Cleaning Management. Effective cleaning starts with management competency, professionalism and technical leadership. A well-managed and effective cleaning program includes the following quality-management components: process identification, evaluation and continuous improvement; management by fact and knowledge for improvement; structured problem solving; effective communication at all levels; valuing human resources; benchmarking and performance measurement; and quality tools and technology. The effectiveness of the cleaning program resides in a well-defined and comprehensive cleaning objective; planned, scheduled, systematic cleaning coverage; the use of cleaning equipment and technology that is tested and evaluated for effectiveness and safety; and, most importantly, the focused and specialized training provided to the cleaners.

6. Testing of Cleaning Technology. In recent years there have emerged comprehensive programs for efficacy testing of cleaning products and technologies. Examples of performance testing are the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Vacuuming Testing Program and its evaluation of carpet cleaning systems using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) measurement of soil removal. Without testing and scientific documentation, cleaning products and technologies cannot be assessed in terms of cleaning effectiveness or environmental suitability.

7. The Language and Taxonomy of Cleaning Science. For cleaning to truly become a professional, science-based industry recognized by government, health organizations and other critical constituents, the language of cleaning science must be organized in a systematic manner. This includes seeing cleaning terminology in its proper hierarchy; agreeing on terms; and thereafter publishing and accepting those terms as norms. Antiquated cleaning and maintenance terms should be reviewed, assessed, rejuvenated or rejected and replaced.

Cleaning for health, to be an achievable goal, demands that our industry have a firm foundation in science. It is only through this process — of disciplined research, critical peer review and open presentation — that the cleaning industry will receive the recognition it deserves as a science-based profession that is not only focused upon, but able to provide, a healthy indoor environment.

Michael Berry directed the EPA’s indoor-air research program from 1985 to 1994. Since retiring, he has been a research professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Also the author of “Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health,” Dr. Berry serves as a consultant to businesses and public institutions in the evaluation of environmental-management strategies and policy.