A natural phenomenon that has existed for thousands of years, steam has grown to become one of the most advanced cleaning solutions of the 21st century. From humble beginnings cleaning railways and boilers, steam is now a staple used in many establishments to kill bacteria and microorganisms efficiently and effectively. This natural solution has revolutionized cleaning and our standards for sanitization. But how much do you know about steam cleaners and their rise to cleaning superstardom? Let’s uncover the history, mechanics, implementations, and uses. Before the 21st century Since the late 1800s and early 1900s, steam cleaning has been used to clean oil and grease from railways, boats, and vehicles. Its use became more widespread with the rise of boiler manufacturers. At its inception, steam cleaning involved a boiler that heated water to a high temperature. Unfortunately, surfaces cleaned by this method remained wet, which could lead to mold, warping, or other damage. It wasn’t until around 40 years ago that European manufacturers began using superhot steam to clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces. This method became popular due to its ability to remove stains and odors. 21st century to present day As technology evolved, steam cleaning became a fixed solution rather than a portable one. Its functionality was also upgraded with the creation of a pressurized, dry vapor that does not leave behind water or wet residue. From steam mops to handheld devices, steam cleaners are popular in residential and commercial buildings. Crews use them to clean and sanitize restaurants, hotels, and hospitals. Steam is ideal for killing microorganisms and bed bugs, as it can penetrate fabric without damaging it. Since it is a dry vapor, its use eliminates the risk of water damage and assures a dry, clean surface. Steam cleaning continues to innovate with technological advancements. By leveraging AI and robotics, it’s more accessible and efficient than ever before. How does it work? Modern steam cleaners heat water past its boiling point of approximately 100 C or 212 F and use the pressurized steam to clean surfaces through a nozzle or other attachment. The steam’s high pressure and moisture loosen dirt, grease, and stains, making them easy to wipe away. At the same time, it kills bacteria, harmful microorganisms, mold spores, and other allergens on contact without the need for harsh chemicals. Steam cleaners have become a versatile tool that cleans more than just industrial machinery. Here are just some of the items and areas steam can clean: Flooring: Carpeting, hardwood, tile, and grout. Upholstery: Mattresses, curtains, leather, toys, and couches. Appliances: Fridges, stoves, ovens, washing machines, and barbecues. Rooms: Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Miscellaneous: Vehicle interiors, windows, and mirrors One of the main reasons steam cleaning has become widespread is its ability to disinfect without harsh chemicals. It’s ideal for use in restrooms, kitchens, hotels, and hospitals. Steam cleaning provides deep cleaning that helps eliminate pathogens that cause allergies, such as dust, mold, and microorganisms. As previously mentioned, it can also be used on various surfaces, from fabrics to flooring. In some cases, this versatility is facilitated due to the many available attachments: Small, round brush heads for upholstery. Targeted nozzle attachment for hard-to-reach surfaces. Mop or vacuum attachment for larger areas. Purchasing a steam cleaner is no small investment. However, the upfront cost must be valued against the long-term time and effort savings. With high-pressure steam, you spend less on various cleaning products because you only need water to get the job done. You’ll also spend less time waiting for stains to lift with pre-treatment cleaners. With efficiency on your side, the effectiveness of a steam cleaner shines through. Finding better ways to clean is just one piece of the puzzle. Many professionals also look for eco-conscious options, and steam cleaners check both boxes. By using only water vapor, steam cleaners reduce the need for chemical solutions that can be harmful to drains and can pollute the indoor air. Standing the test of time Steam cleaning has come a long way, evolving from an industrial powerhouse to a versatile, eco-friendly cleaning solution across various industries. In a world filled with technological advances, steam’s simple yet powerful phenomenon remains as relevant as ever. Steam’s natural properties, such as its ability to eliminate bacteria, loosen stubborn stains, and effectively sanitize surfaces, make it a critical tool for maintaining cleanliness in diverse settings. Steam cleaning is a time-tested and forward-looking solution as industries prioritize sustainable and efficient cleaning methods. Its future remains reliable and has potential for exciting innovations and expanded applications.
Any cleaning industry professional can tell you that the demand for eco-conscious cleaners is high. Most U.S. states have environmental preferred purchasing policies (EPPs) that mandate sustainable products for statewide purchases. Private businesses are also looking to make sustainable changes in the products they use, with 93% of Russell 1000 companies sharing sustainability reports every year. To respond to the increased demand, businesses across every industry have implemented sustainability goals and included more eco-conscious options in their product lines. Despite this momentum, a recent survey conducted by CloroxPro found that 41% of cleaning professionals reported challenges in finding eco-conscious products that meet facility requirements, making it difficult for them to meet sustainability goals and consumer expectations. Fortunately, cleaning professionals can take five steps to source the best products for their facility: 1. Look for third-party certifications Product certifications are the key to identifying effective eco-conscious cleaners. Trusted certifications, such as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Safer Choice or EPA Design for the Environment (DfE), require product manufacturers to prove that their products are as effective as traditional products, in addition to meeting stringent criteria for reduced impacts on human health and the environment. Not only do many facilities require products with this certification, but some states do as well. Look for products with these logos on their labels or check the EPA Safer Choice website to find certified products that meet your facility’s needs. 2. Check disinfection contact times and kill claims Simply put, a product with a two-minute disinfection contact time is going to require less time, effort, and chemical use than a product with a 10-minute disinfection contact time. Full lists of kill-claims and contact times can be found on product labels, or the EPA Master Label, to help you determine if products align with your facility’s needs. 3. Assess PPE requirements Cleaning professionals have stated that eco-conscious cleaners provide a more comfortable cleaning experience, and products with minimal or no personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements are more comfortable and easier for frontline staff to use. Eco-conscious products rarely require PPE for use, which allows professionals to accomplish tasks more quickly and efficiently, increasing staff productivity and effectiveness. Additionally, many facilities provide cleaning products to employees and staff who are not trained to handle chemicals. Choosing products with minimal or no PPE requirements will be easier for building occupants who use products. 4. Review cleaning and disinfecting performance If you choose products with the EPA Safer Choice or EPA DfE certification, you know that they are effective. Performing comparably to standard products is a requirement for the certifications. Glass cleaners must clean glass without leaving streaks. Look for “streak-free” EPA Safer Choice-certified glass cleaners. All-purpose cleaners must remove soils and dirt as effectively as traditional products. EPA DfE-certified disinfectants go through exactly the same EPA registration process as every other disinfectant. There is no reason to worry that an eco-conscious disinfectant won’t kill germs. Even among traditional disinfectants, however, you want to choose a product that kills germs you are concerned about. For most facilities, this means looking for a product that kills cold and flu viruses, norovirus, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), along with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV), to be compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. 5. Keep current with certificates and training Although cleaning is a skilled job that requires training, many business owners struggle to find time to train new employees and to provide consistent training to existing ones. Access to high-quality, on-demand training can help provide cleaning professionals with the knowledge and skills they need to confidently keep public spaces clean, improve compliance, help reduce employee turnover, and improve employee satisfaction. I’m ready! Where can I find products? At trade shows and conferences, I am often asked, “Where do I buy this?” If you can purchase in bulk, look for a local distributor. For small- to medium- sized businesses, don’t forget to check common online shops, who have search filters specifically for eco-conscious options. Additionally, you may be able to create or find a purchasing co-op with several other small businesses to help you get the benefits of distributor bulk pricing. Sourcing the right eco-conscious cleaners for your facility can feel overwhelming. But when you know exactly what to look for, you're one step closer to meeting your sustainability goals, supporting cleaning professionals, and protecting consumers.
On Wednesday, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. named eight new members to a crucial government panel of vaccine advisors, according to CNBC. His picks include some well-known vaccine critics, including Dr. Robert Malone, Retsef Levi, and Vicky Pebsworth. HHS said the committee will meet as scheduled on June 25-27. The rest for the currently named members include: Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, Dr. Martin Kulldorff, Dr. Cody Meissner, Dr. James Pagano, and Dr. Michael Ross. Earlier this week, the HHS secretary dismissed all vaccine advisers on an expert independent panel that has guided the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) vaccine recommendations. The 17-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was let go because the secretary said the group was “plagued with conflicts of interest,” CNN reported. The committee reviews vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and makes recommendations to the CDC on their use. A HHS spokesman said the agency is prioritizing public health, evidence-based medicine, and restoring public confidence in vaccine science, Reuters reported. “For generations, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has been a trusted national source of science-and data-driven advice and guidance on the use of vaccines to prevent and control disease,” said Dr. Bruce A. Scott, American Medical Association president. “Physicians, parents, community leaders, and public health officials rely on it for clinical guidance, public health information, and knowledge. Today’s action to remove the 17 sitting members of ACIP undermines that trust and upends a transparent process that has saved countless lives. With an ongoing measles outbreak and routine child vaccination rates declining, this move will further fuel the spread of vaccine-preventable illnesses.” The American Academy of Pediatrics President Dr. Susan Kressley said in a statement: “The American Academy of Pediatrics is deeply troubled and alarmed by Secretary Kennedy’s mass firing of all 17 experts on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. This unprecedented action, against the backdrop of contradictory announcements from the Administration in recent days about vaccines, will cause even more confusion and uncertainty for families. “We are witnessing an escalating effort by the administration to silence independent medical expertise and stoke distrust in lifesaving vaccines. Creating confusion around proven vaccines endangers families' health and contributes to the spread of preventable diseases. This move undermines the trust pediatricians have built over decades with our patients and leaves us without critical scientific expertise we rely on. Children and families must be able to access the immunizations they need to stay healthy. Our vaccine infrastructure must include this critical step of nonpartisan, expert review and discussion of the science and clinical recommendations for individual vaccines. Families and children will be the ones to pay the price for this decision.”
David Huerta, president of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) California and SEIU-United Service Workers West, was injured and detained at an ICE raid in Los Angeles on June 6. After three nights of detention, Huerta was released on a US$50,000 bond Monday afternoon, though he remains charged with conspiracy to impede an officer, a felony that could result in up to six years in prison, CNN reported. “We are relieved that David is free and reunited with his family and we are deeply grateful to the hundreds of elected officials, civil rights leaders, labor partners and allies from across the nation who stood in solidarity and demanded David’s release,” April Verrett, SEIU international president said. “But this struggle is about much more than just one man. Thousands of workers remain unjustly detained and separated from their families. At this very moment, immigrant communities are being terrorized by heavily militarized armed forces. The Trump regime calling in the National Guard is a dangerous escalation to target people who disagree with them. It is a threat to our democracy. The federal government should never be used as a weapon against people who disagree with them.” An advocate for workers and immigrants in Southern California for decades, Huerta had become point of tension in an ongoing standoff between federal immigration enforcement officers and protesters, ABC News reported. He began his career as a California-based organizer with Janitors for Justice, a nationwide labor campaign that sought to raise wages and improve working conditions for cleaners at commercial buildings. President Barack Obama honored awarded Huerta as a National Champion of Change in 2014. SEIU also helped drive an effort to win a $20 an hour minimum wage for fast food workers throughout California, which went into effect in April.
Researchers found that consistent use of disinfectant foam in patient room sinks led to fewer pathogens being spread, according to a study presented at a Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America meeting. Research showed that the intervention led to a decrease in epidemiologically important pathogens, with 53 pathogens recovered from sinks with the intervention compared with 293 from control sinks. Sinks provide a unique challenge in disinfection due to their basic construction of keeping water in the pipes to prevent sewage from coming back up. According to the study, sinks were randomized 1:1, with 15 intervention sink drains being cleaned with foam disinfectant every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 15 control sinks undergoing standard disinfection. Every week, samples were taken from three locations in each sink: the top of the bowl, the tail pipe, and the P-trap. The researchers believe the study’s takeaway is that sink mitigation is significant to keeping patients safe, until the industry can learn how to reliably and consistently disinfect sinks.
Most Americans (77%) said stricter building standards are a good idea for communities at high risk of extreme weather, according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center. Additionally, 64% said it’s a good idea for the government to provide financial assistance for rebuilding after weather disasters. These findings come amid conversations about scaling back the role of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in setting standards and working with states to handle disaster response. The survey conducted from April 28 to May 4 among more than 5,000 U.S. adults explores attitudes about the steps government could take to address extreme weather impacts, as well as the link Americans see between extreme weather and climate change. Key highlights of the Pew survey include: 41% said it’s a good idea for the government to help homeowners cover the rising cost of insurance, while 34% call it a bad idea. 39% said it’s a good idea to ban new construction in areas at high risk of extreme weather verses 28% who believe it’s a bad idea. Only 14% support requiring people to move out of high-risk areas. Pew found that on these questions and other policies, many Americans said they are not sure, underscoring the developing nature of public views on this issue. 74% of Americans said they’ve experienced at least one of five forms of extreme weather (blizzards, squall lines, atmospheric rivers, thunderstorms, and tornados) in the past 12 months. Eight-in-10 who experienced extreme weather in the last year said climate change contributed a lot or a little. Large shares of both Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (84%) as well as Republicans and Republican leaners (71%) said it is a good idea for government to set stricter building standards for new construction in communities at high risk of extreme weather. Most also think it’s a good idea for government to provide financial assistance for people in high-risk areas to rebuild after extreme weather impacts.