The Importance Of National Cleaning Week

National Cleaning Week is here — the week-long event organized by ISSA and supported by a cross-section of industry partners, takes place March 27 – April 2, 2022. Additionally, the governors of Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia have all declared Cleaning Week in their states.

National Cleaning Week provides an opportunity for us all to do some much needed “spring cleaning.” It is also a unique opportunity to celebrate the value of clean, honor essential frontline cleaning industry professionals, and raise public awareness of what various industries and workplaces are doing to create healthy environments for workers and customers.

“The pandemic has demonstrated the essential role that frontline cleaning professionals, manufacturers, and distributors play in keeping people safe and healthy,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “We are excited that so many organizations and governors are supporting National Cleaning Week this year and helping raise awareness of the importance of clean and healthy spaces.”

Industry groups representing a cross-section of the economy are also celebrating National Cleaning Week.

“The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) has a longstanding commitment to cleanliness and safety for our employees and guests, and that is why we’re proud to support National Cleaning Week. Our Safe Stay initiative highlights how the hotel industry is unified in addressing the challenges and expectations created by COVID-19 as travel resumes across the country,” said Chip Rogers, AHLA president and CEO.

“For the business events industry, the health and safety of our colleagues, exhibitors, visitors and delegates is the number one priority,” said Hervé Sedky, Emerald Holding Inc. president and CEO and chair of the Exhibitions and Conferences Alliance (ECA) board. “That’s why ECA supports National Cleaning Week and the important role that cleaning plays in getting Americans back to business at trade shows and conferences nationwide.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the important role that cleaning and disinfecting plays in keeping people safe and healthy,” says Steve Caldeira, Household and Commercial Products Association (HCPA) president and CEO. “Cleaning and disinfecting not only help stop the spread of viruses, but also make us feel more comfortable returning to public places. This year it’s more important than ever to acknowledge the cleaning product industry for their dedicated work, and I’m proud to represent an industry that has such a significant impact on society, not just during the COVID-19 pandemic, but every single day.”

“The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is proud to partner with ISSA in celebrating National Cleaning Week. As businesses begin their return to office, maintaining clean and healthy office spaces is vital in keeping our employees, tenants, and the public safe and healthy. BOMA International is committed to providing the resources necessary for our members across the commercial real estate industry to provide safe and healthy workplaces,” said Don Davis, BOMA International Vice President of Advocacy and Codes.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stresses the importance of cleaning and disinfecting at work and at home to protect public health. Cleaning and disinfection of surfaces, when combined with proper hand hygiene, reduces virus concentrations by 85.4 percent. Cleanliness is an everyday essential.