Today’s food service and hospitality operators are expected to deliver clean, welcoming environments continually regardless of who is on the housekeeping schedule. As labor shortages continue to reshape day-to-day operations, cleaning programs must perform efficiently, even when teams are stretched thin. According to the National Restaurant Association, 77% of operators said recruiting and retaining employees is a significant challenge, and nearly eight in 10 who were understaffed said it limited their ability to succeed. At the same time, expectations for cleanliness have only increased. Since the pandemic, consumers have become more aware of food safety, sanitation and infection risks, while highly publicized foodborne illnesses continue to keep these issues in the spotlight. As a result, operators face growing pressure to maintain clean, sanitized environments while delivering a positive guest experience. Meeting those expectations requires cleaning programs that are designed for today’s lean workforce. The most effective cleaning programs recognize an important reality: When staffing is limited, complexity becomes the enemy of consistency. Simplify to improve compliance Efficiency begins with ease. Every additional step in the cleaning process creates another opportunity for delays, errors or missed tasks. Traditional cleaning methods often require employees to mix concentrated chemicals, monitor dilution ratios, maintain buckets and ensure reusable cloths are properly laundered and used. Each step consumes valuable time and requires additional training. Simplified workflows reduce that burden. Ready-to-use cleaning and disinfecting products, for example, eliminate the need to mix concentrates, measure water temperatures and prepare sanitizer buckets. Staff can focus on what needs cleaning and when, rather than how to prepare the cleaning solution correctly. For facilities experiencing frequent turnover, reducing process complexity can also shorten training time and help new employees become productive more quickly. Avoid common cleaning missteps When teams are rushed, shortcuts often become routine. One of the most common mistakes is continuing to use sanitizer solutions beyond their recommended lifespan or failing to verify that the proper concentration has been achieved. Even when automated dispensing systems are used, dilution levels may not always be accurate, making routine verification essential. Another often-overlooked issue involves microfiber cloths. Many operators are unaware that certain microfiber materials can bind quaternary ammonium compounds (quats), absorbing the active disinfectant from the solution. The result is a cloth that contains much of the disinfectant while the remaining solution may have little sanitizing capability. Cross-contamination presents another challenge. Multiple sanitizer buckets prepared at different times throughout the day, reusable cloths moving between surfaces and inconsistent replacement practices all increase the risk that contaminants will be spread rather than removed. Standardized cleaning methods help reduce these variables and improve consistency. Consider training needs High employee turnover means operators should design cleaning programs with training in mind. Lengthy or complicated cleaning procedures demand additional time from both trainers and new hires. Simpler processes allow organizations to focus training on the fundamentals: what to clean, when to clean it and how to follow proper contact times and safe cleaning practices. Eliminating unnecessary preparation steps reduces complexity, making procedures easier to learn, remember and perform consistently. Ease of use also affects employee satisfaction. When cleaning tools are intuitive and readily available, staff spend less time preparing to clean and more time completing the work that protects guests and employees. Make consistency the goal The goal of any cleaning program should be simple: make it easy for employees to perform every step, correctly and safely, every time. Standardized processes create consistency across shifts and among employees with varying levels of experience. They also make it easier for supervisors to monitor compliance and reinforce best practices. Whether cleaning occurs during busy peak periods or slower hours, staff should follow the same procedures with the same expectations. Consistency also supports food safety by reducing opportunities for cross-contamination and ensuring that disinfectants and sanitizers are used according to their label instructions. Build a realistic program Designing a successful cleaning program begins by accepting that staffing constraints are unlikely to disappear. Instead of expecting employees to do more with increasingly complex procedures, operators should focus on removing unnecessary steps while maintaining cleaning effectiveness. An effective program should: Standardize cleaning procedures across every shift. Minimize preparation steps whenever possible. Incorporate cleaning and disinfecting solutions that are effective and easy to use consistently. Emphasize proper training and ongoing competency. Reduce opportunities for cross contamination. Ensure products are registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), used according to label directions and are appropriate for the surfaces being treated. Balance efficiency with efficacy rather than sacrificing one for the other. Ultimately, the strongest cleaning programs are built around the people expected to carry them out. When processes are straightforward, consistent and practical for busy front-line employees, compliance improves naturally. In an industry where staffing challenges remain a constant, simplifying cleaning workflows may be one of the most effective strategies operators can adopt to protect guests, support employees and maintain a safe environment.
Improperly disinfected surfaces in healthcare settings remain a major contributor to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Despite guidance from training, backed by extensive scientific data detailing which disinfectants eliminate harmful pathogens, surface contamination continues to challenge infection prevention efforts. Disinfecting a surface effectively is far more complex than it appears. Multiple clinical studies and forums have revealed best practices in the selection and use of disinfectants to eliminate pathogens successfully, including the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, from surfaces. Successful disinfection begins with understanding surface disinfection compatibility. Incompatibility causes damage The simplest definition of surface disinfection compatibility refers to whether a particular disinfectant can be safely and effectively used on a specific surface material. Many disinfectants degrade or damage common healthcare surfaces. Over time, this damage creates microscopic cracks, pits, and fissures that form microbial reservoirs where microbes can hide and multiply, safe from the biocides used to destroy them. When disinfectants compromise a surface, they unintentionally create environments that protect microorganisms instead of eliminating them. Microscopic damage allows pathogens to attach, grow, and transfer to other surfaces, patients, and healthcare workers. The systemic gaps at play Although surface damage begins on a microscopic level, its consequences increase quickly. The healthcare industry currently faces several systemic gaps that make managing surface disinfection compatibility difficult: Lack of mandatory testing standards. Regulations that require surface materials or products to be tested for compatibility with disinfectants prior to use in healthcare are nonexistent. Lack of standardized cleaning or disinfection guidelines. Without benchmarks, it’s nearly impossible to validate whether surfaces can withstand repeated exposure to hospital-grade disinfectants. While all healthcare facilities provide cleaning and disinfection guidelines in infection prevention protocols, these guidelines often conflict with manufacturer instruction for use (IFUs) or directions for use (DFUs). Inconsistent manufacturer (IFUs/DFUs). Care and maintenance guidelines are often written for nonclinical environments and fail to reflect the realities of healthcare use. Design-phase disconnects. Healthcare facilities are not built for cleaning and disinfection. Facility leaders routinely select surfaces and products for healthcare environments without considering the manufacturer instructions for use or without thoroughly reviewing the testing, validation, and compatibility data. These gaps not only make it difficult to ensure that surfaces remain both cleanable and safe over time, they create problems with serious financial and clinical consequences. Study examines real-world impacts A recent case study co-published by the Health Surfaces Institute (HSI), a division of ISSA, and the Association of Healthcare Value Analysis Professionals found a link between disinfectants and surface damage. A large Midwestern hospital discovered that the bleach-based disinfectant outlined in its infection prevention and control protocol was damaging a commonly used medical device. The disinfectant was incompatible with the device manufacturer’s validated cleaning instructions leaving no compliant option for disinfection. As a result, the hospital incurred more than US$4 million in repair and replacement costs within two years of purchasing the medical device, and the device manufacturer incurred $140,000 in testing and replacement costs. Additionally, regulatory agencies fine healthcare facilities if they don’t follow IFUs/DFUs, and these fines can be substantial. Beyond the financial burden, the situation posed ongoing patient safety risks due to repeated use of damaged medical devices. Moving toward a solution ISSA Healthcare and the HSI are addressing surface disinfection compatibility challenges head-on. ISSA Healthcare’s testing and validation task force has developed a patented test method for validating surface disinfection compatibility for plastics, which will be implemented into a testing program currently under development. This program will set new benchmarks for validating surface disinfection compatibility—helping facility managers, designers, and manufacturers make informed decisions to ensure cleanability before purchasing healthcare materials and products, thus reducing infection risks for patients and staff. Stay Informed To follow updates and learn more as certification programs launch, sign up for the Healthcare Surfaces Institute’s newsletter at issa.com/healthcare.
Although you cannot see biofilm, its presence affects the cleaning and disinfection of healthcare environments. On a microscope slide, biofilm looks like a dense, slimy community of microbes glued together. On real-world surfaces, it is an invisible barrier that can protect pathogens from the very products intended to remove them. Understanding how biofilm forms, and how modern healthcare surfaces help it persist, is essential to maintaining clean, safe healthcare environments. How biofilm forms Most microbes in nature do not live as free-floating single cells. They prefer to attach to surfaces and form structured communities encased in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)—a mix of polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and extracellular DNA. The process typically starts when planktonic (free) cells encounter a surface. The cells’ primary attachment to the surface is weak and reversible, but as they produce adhesins and begin to secrete matrix material, the attachment becomes stronger and irreversible. Once attached to a surface, the microbes multiply and organize into microcolonies. These colonies grow into mature, three-dimensional biofilms with channels that allow nutrients and waste to move through the structure. Within this matrix, cells change their gene expression, slow their growth rate, and coordinate behavior through quorum sensing. The final biofilm stage is dispersion: Some cells escape the matrix and return to a free-floating state, ready to colonize new surfaces. This continual cycle is one reason environmental contamination can reappear even after cleaning. Why biofilm resists cleaning From a microbiology perspective, biofilm’s highly effective survival strategy has major implications for the cleaning and disinfection of healthcare surfaces. Surface-attached cells and biofilms are significantly less susceptible to biocides, antibiotics, and physical stress (scrubbing) than their free-floating counterparts. The EPS matrix acts like a physical and chemical shield, slowing the penetration of disinfectants and binding or neutralizing the active ingredients before they reach cells deep in the biofilm. The organisms inside a biofilm are physiologically different than single microbes. Many grow more slowly and may enter a stress-tolerant state that protects them from agents that target rapidly dividing cells. On top of that, biofilms on environmental surfaces are often mixed communities. Different species can protect one another, share resistance genes, and create microenvironments that further reduce the impact of cleaning and disinfectant products. The result is a surface that looks visually clean yet still harbors a well-established biofilm that survives routine cleaning and disinfection cycles. In this state, vegetative bacteria can persist for weeks or months on hospital surfaces and may not be evenly recovered during environmental sampling. Biofilm on dry surfaces Biofilm is often associated with wet environments—drains, tubing, and indwelling devices—but research published in the Journal of Hospital Infection found that biofilms can also form on dry hospital surfaces. Microbes can survive in a desiccated state in dust, organic residues, and microenvironments on surfaces, then use intermittent moisture from cleaning processes, spills, or human touch to grow and rebuild their matrix. Healthcare surfaces can unintentionally support attachment and biofilm formation. Many common materials have microscopic scratches, pores, or seams that create protected niches where moisture and soil accumulate, protected from disinfectants. Surface energy, texture, and chemistry can increase microbial adhesion, especially when combined with the organic load (body fluids, skin cells, product residues) that inevitably build up in clinical environments. Repeated cleaning with detergents that remove loose soil, but do not disrupt the biofilm matrix, can leave a “conditioned” surface behind—a thin layer of organic material that improves microbial attachment the next time organisms land there. Over time, these conditioned surfaces can enable dry-surface biofilms to become a persistent source of contamination in patient rooms and on high-touch areas and equipment surfaces. Rethinking clean Knowledge of biofilm on healthcare surfaces changes the basic question from “Did we wipe the surface?” to “Did we disrupt and remove the attached community?” Traditional testing methods and product claims based on planktonic microbes do not always reflect real-world performance against surface-attached cells and biofilms. Effective cleaning strategies must consider: Surface design and material selection that reduce microbial attachment and make biofilm formation more difficult. Cleaning chemistries and tools validated for their ability to break up biofilm matrix, not just kill free-floating organisms. Procedures that emphasize mechanical action, correct contact time, and routine disruption of high-risk biofilm reservoirs (for example, around sink areas, bed rails, and shared equipment). Biofilm may be invisible, but its impact on environmental hygiene and patient safety is very real. By understanding how microbes attach, organize, and protect themselves on surfaces, healthcare leaders can better evaluate disinfectants, redesign cleaning processes, and work with environmental services teams to move beyond “looks clean” to environments that are truly clean at the microscopic level. Learn More at the ISSA Show Join the Healthcare Surfaces Institute at ISSA Show North America for the panel discussion, Biofilm: Beyond Disinfection—Breaking Through the Protective Matrix in the Healthcare Environment, on Monday, Nov. 16, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., featuring Darrel Hicks and Nancy Schlossberg.
One in 43 long-term care (LTC) residents acquires a healthcare-associated infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This risk makes cleaning LTC facilities a distinct challenge. “It’s a combination of healthcare, hospitality, and interactive residential cleaning,” explained Gosia Baran, president and owner of Elmhurst, Illinois-based Helping Hands Cleaning Services. “Since LTC residents are elderly, we must focus on their health. Quality must be raised because residents with compromised immune systems are vulnerable to diseases that may spread there.” Susceptible residents LTC facilities, unlike schools or offices, are never empty. “We must be very careful when we clean, how we clean, and who is around,” said Dominika Wandachowicz, Helping Hands Cleaning Services’ business development manager. For example, a vacuum cord could pose a hazard for residents in wheelchairs or who are unsteady on their feet. Team members may need to wear face masks in rooms housing residents with low immunity or use specific cleaning solutions around those who cannot tolerate fragrances. Jef Gordon, 4M Building Solutions regional vice president–operations, serves the Northeast, which is 4M’s highest-concentration area for long-term healthcare clients. He agrees that older adults with weakened immune systems are far more susceptible to infection, which means cleaning for health—not just appearance—must be the standard. “All-purpose products and general protocols don’t cut it in long-term care settings,” Gordon explained. “The chemicals, disinfectants, and procedures all need to be matched to a healthcare-level threat environment.” Additionally, teams must be trained to recognize at-risk residents, such as individuals with memory loss or Alzheimer’s, for example, and to handle unexpected situations, such as incontinence, with both skill and sensitivity. “Cleaning staff in these facilities are often in more daily contact with residents than doctors or nurses,” Gordon said. “That level of access carries real responsibility.” Facility complications Stratus Clean also recognizes that LTC facilities face unique challenges in maintenance and cleanliness. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires LTC facilities to have an up-to-date written Infection Prevention & Control Program (IPCP) and a bloodborne pathogens (BBP) exposure control plan. LTC facilities also face budget challenges in maintaining the cleanliness required to ensure compliance with the IPCP and BBP plan. “While creating the plan is easy, execution and regular monitoring of the plan is more difficult,” explained Doug Flaig, Stratus Clean CEO. “This is especially true if the staff is doing the cleaning and there is a high rate of employee turnover.” Gordon finds that government reimbursement structures in many facilities create constant budget pressure. Furthermore, as operating expenses rise, reimbursements rarely keep pace. “These facilities are also among the most heavily regulated environments we work in, with requirements at both the state and federal levels that don’t exist in commercial settings,” he explained. Specific LTC facility requirements can include: Extensive background checks, including tuberculosis testing and vaccination requirements. State-mandated annual training. Rhode Island and Massachusetts, for example, require specific programs covering dementia care and resident-abuse prevention. Annual state survey audits conducted by the local department of health. These unannounced inspections are carried out by healthcare professionals, including registered nurses and social workers. “The result can affect a facility’s ability to take on new residents, so it places pressure on every department, housekeeping included,” Gordon said. Residential living also creates challenges, including an inability to move residents’ furniture for deeper cleaning, cluttered or decorated environments, and resident interference with cleaning staff. As LTC residents can wander throughout the facility, an ill patient can quickly spread illness. Residents can also resist hygiene practices, putting their peers at risk. These conditions necessitate frequent maintenance and disinfection of shared spaces to prevent the spread of pathogens. The most problematic areas are high-touch surfaces, such as doors, light switches, railings, elevator buttons, common area surfaces, therapy devices, chairs and other furniture, and TV remotes. Memory care areas require an even higher level of support and sanitation due to residents not remembering events, for example, if they vomited during the day in their room or had a bodily fluid accident in the shower. An overlooked area for infection is the common kitchen and dining areas. “Ensuring tables are cleaned between resident usage and following the seven principles of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plan will help ensure that the food cycle is not a risk to residents and staff,” Flaig said. With residents frequently spilling liquids and dropping other items, cleaning teams must also constantly monitor floors to avoid slip-and-fall accidents, Baran added. Established protocols 4M Building Solutions starts addressing these challenge areas before cleaning a single room. The building service contractor’s (BSC) transition process includes structured meetings with leadership at every level to establish expectations from day one. Facilities typically see measurable change, including: Standard operating procedures that are documented and followed. Posted work and training schedules. Daily oversight from a dedicated on-site manager. Weekly drop-ins from a regional manager auditing the work. “We maintain accountability through district manager oversight and regular safety audits,” Gordon said. “We also ask clients directly what frequency and level of service they’re looking for, including reporting. Expectations are very reasonable; people just want to know someone is paying attention.” Stratus Clean also addresses the challenges through a strong partnership program with the LTC facility team or primary BSC provider. The BSC builds customizable solutions, including: Porter services to monitor and clean high touch surfaces daily while residents are awake. Alignment with the IPCP and BBP exposure control plan to track and monitor compliance. Advanced communication of regularly scheduled cleaning plans to ensure deep cleaning of resident rooms with the residents’ compliance. Regular inspections of the facility by local management to ensure compliance with the scope of work and sanitation requirements. Training teams that look beyond cleaning to identify other issues that could pose risks. For example, a resident who has many products or extension cords plugged into a single outlet in their room, which could result in an electrical short. Helping Hands Cleaning Service ensures teams follow established protocols through frequent supervision. Additionally, day and
What has the cleaning industry learned as it transitioned from the first pandemic year to the second? In this episode of BioTalk, a GBACtv production, learn the details about what went well and what didn't in 2021, and what we as an industry need to know right now. Infection prevention experts Patty Olinger, the executive director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, and Dr. Paul Meechan, the former head of safety with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and who now serves on the GBAC scientific advisory board, discuss these topics with ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross. This webcast also digs into the science and the layered support when it comes to cleaning, disinfection, and air purification, and how the omicron variant shouldn’t be considered just another type of “cold”. Olinger and Meechan also discuss the possibility of the end of the pandemic. This webcast is brought to you by our sponsor Breezy.
Once the grass gets its final cut and the leaves are handled, it’s time to swap out the lawn mower, blower and trimmer for the snow thrower, generator and chainsaw. The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OkPEI) said handling equipment this fall sets the stage for when the weather turns colder. “A little prep now means less stress—and fewer repair bills—later,” explained Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI, an international trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of outdoor power equipment, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles and golf cars. Here are OPEI’s eight quick tips for getting ready for fall equipment storage and winter weather: Follow the manual. Review the manufacturer’s guide and follow all safety steps—especially how to shut down equipment quickly. Never disable or remove safety features. Service before storage. Do all maintenance as directed by the owner’s manual. Clean, change oil, swap filters and handle any repairs before parking summer gear. Give winter equipment a once-over, too. Manage fuel smartly. Be sure to run tanks empty before storage. For winter equipment, use fresh fuel (most engines run on no more than 10% ethanol), add stabilizer according to manufacturer’s guidelines, and use fuel within 30 days. Charge and store batteries correctly. Fully charge batteries, keep them away from metal, and store in a climate-controlled space. Keep gear sheltered. Store summer equipment where it’s clean and dry. Keep winter gear handy but out of the weather. Clear the way. Make space in the garage or shed now. Remove yard debris, toys and other hazards from the yard before tree leaf piles or snow hide them. Be generator-ready. Stock heavy-duty, outdoor-rated cords long enough to run your generator at a safe distance from the house. Never operate generators indoors or near openings. Keep what’s most important inside. When operating any outdoor power equipment, make sure children and are indoors and supervised. For more on safety, visit OPEI.org.
The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), creators of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system, and Inspired Air Fund, a program of Renaissance Philanthropy dedicated to making healthy air standard in every classroom, launched the Classroom Clean Air Alliance. Children spend roughly 1,000 hours per year in school buildings, and a strong relationship exists between indoor air quality and health and academic outcomes. Air cleaners serve two important purposes. First, in schools that need major HVAC upgrades—an estimated 36,000 schools nationwide—portable units offer an affordable way to improve classroom air quality without waiting years for HVAC upgrades. And second, even where ventilation works well, in-room filtration adds clean air capacity that central mechanical systems can't easily deliver, helping reduce exposure to pollutants and respiratory infections. The new alliance translates school experience and feedback into useful market guidance and calls on manufacturers to develop a new generation of classroom air cleaners that are effective, affordable, quiet, durable and practical to maintain. Since deploying in-room air cleaners during the COVID-19 pandemic and recent wildfires, school districts have found that day-to-day use is hard to sustain when devices are too loud, too bulky, too expensive to maintain and too easy to switch off or neglect. The alliance is urging manufacturers to make their use simpler for schools and districts. “Schools have learned a tremendous amount from deploying in-room air cleaners at unprecedented scale during and after the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Anisa Heming, director, Center for Green Schools. “Now, we have an opportunity to turn those lessons into a clear picture of what schools actually need—and invite manufacturers to work toward products that are effective at delivering clean air in classrooms day after day.” To capture the needs and experiences of schools and the experts who serve them, the alliance convened listening sessions with 26 participants that included district facilities and operations leaders and educators who collectively serve more than 1.2 million students, along with indoor air quality researchers, practitioners and others involved in deploying and maintaining classroom air cleaners. “Schools have learned firsthand what it takes for air cleaners to work in real classrooms—not just in a lab,” said David Carel, Inspired Air Fund director. “The Classroom Clean Air Alliance turns those lessons into a clear signal to the market. By giving schools a stronger collective voice and inviting manufacturers into the conversation, we can accelerate products that deliver effective clean air while being affordable, easy to maintain and simple enough to keep running every day.” The input of focus group participants helped shape a new Classroom Air Purifier Target Product Profile (TPP) for in-room mechanical filtration devices, addressing clean-air delivery, noise, filtration, maintenance, energy efficiency, durability, safety, cost, placement and device management. Among the group’s recommendations for in-room air filter units: Devices should have at least one setting that delivers sufficiently clean air without disrupting teaching and learning. Devices should operate by default, with the ability to centrally raise output under certain conditions while enabling teachers or staff to make adjustments manually as needed. Filter changes should take minimal time, and status indicators should report the actual condition of the filter rather than a timer counting down. Long-term, in-room air cleaning technology should be installed off the ground and on the walls or ceilings away from students to prevent unplugging. The development of the TPP combines school-based experience with published research, existing standards and guidance. It is an aspirational, yet achievable target; it is not intended to be a certification or a description of what every product must achieve today. The Alliance has provided resources for schools and districts to learn more about the importance of indoor air quality, including the Clean Air for Classrooms White Paper and Executive Summary, the Classroom Air Purifier Target Product Profile and the TPP Backgrounder. It invites schools and districts to join the Classroom Clean Air Call-to-Action, to express support for advancing better classroom air-cleaning solutions. Schools, nonprofits and other organizations are invited to visit the Classroom Clean Air Alliance page.
With holiday traffic already increasing, facilities must keep restrooms clean, stocked and ready for the influx of visitors. A proactive approach helps maintain cleanliness throughout the busy season. “Planning can help facility teams stay ahead of increased demand and avoid preventable maintenance issues,” said Tahnie Gilliland, Sofidel America marketing specialist. Sofidel recommended these five tips: Adjust cleaning schedules. Increase restroom inspections during peak hours to catch empty dispensers, overflowing waste receptacles and spills before they become larger issues. Plan paper product inventory. Review usage trends and anticipated traffic to ensure adequate supplies of toilet paper and paper towels. High-capacity rolls and dispensers can also help reduce refill frequency. Get ahead of plumbing problems. Reinforce proper disposal practices and address slow drains promptly. Paper towels that break down rapidly in water help reduce the risk of clogs associated with improper disposal. Prioritize high-touch surfaces. Pay close attention to door handles, faucet controls, flush handles and dispensers. Consistent cleaning and disinfection, where appropriate, help maintain restroom hygiene during periods of heavy use. Prepare teams and supplies. Confirm that cleaning staff have the necessary products, equipment and procedures in place before traffic peaks. Coordinating supply orders in advance can also help prevent last-minute shortages.
Democrats are projected to win control of both the U.S. House and Senate in the 2026 midterm elections, according to the Associated Press and major news networks, setting up divided government for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s term. Several races remain uncalled, and statehouses across the country will also see new faces. For the cleaning and facility solutions industry, the message from its leading trade associations is consistent: The priorities haven’t moved. “Cleaning is a bipartisan issue, and ISSA will continue working with leaders in both parties to advance policies that support our members and the spaces they help keep clean and healthy,” said Kim Althoff, Executive Director of ISSA, The Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions. “No matter the election results, the cleaning and facility solutions industry’s priorities don’t change: a strong workforce, sound science-based policies and tax and trade policy to ensure the cleaning and facility solutions industry thrives. ISSA has built its advocacy on working with lawmakers in both parties, and we look forward to doing exactly that with the incoming state lawmakers, Congress and the administration.” Mike Gruber, interim CEO of the Household and Commercial Products Association (HCPA), noted although the political map looks different, his group’s agenda does not. “The midterm elections have changed the political landscape in Congress and state legislatures, but HCPA’s priorities remain the same,” Gruber said. “We will continue working with policymakers from both parties to advance practical, science-based policies that protect public health and support innovation. We look forward to building new relationships and strengthening existing partnerships to ensure the industry’s voice is heard.” American Cleaning Institute (ACI) President and CEO Jennifer Abril pointed to the everyday role of cleaning products. “As a new Congress prepares to take office, ACI looks forward to working with newly elected leaders from both parties to advance policies that recognize the essential role cleaning plays in protecting public health, supporting healthy living and helping communities thrive,” she said. “Every day, millions of Americans rely on cleaning products to keep their homes, workplaces, schools and public spaces clean and healthy. The companies that make these products, along with suppliers and innovators throughout the cleaning products value chain, play an important role in meeting those everyday needs.” ISSA Advocacy will tackle “What the 2026 Elections Mean for the Cleaning and Facility Solutions Industry” at the ISSA Show North America 2026 on Nov. 16 at 1:45 p.m. PT and online on Dec. 2with John Nothdurft, ISSA’s Vice President of Government and Public Affairs. Topics include how the results could affect labor laws, chemical regulations, extended producer responsibility, taxes and worker visas heading into 2027. If you have a policy question or a business challenge for ISSA Advocacy, visit the ISSA Advocacy Kiosk at the ISSA Experience Hub (Booth No. 2417) during the show. Meet the team, learn what they are working on and talk about the issues that are affecting your cleaning business. To learn more and register for ISSA Show North America 2026, click here.