The Cleanfax January/February digital issue is now available online. In the latest edition of Cleanfax, find out what it takes to deal with a hostile restorer/adjuster environment, learn business building tips from industry pros in the 2023 Cleaning Industry Leaders Review, check out the health and safety issues with toxic dioxin exposure in post-fire environments, and more. The January/February issue covers: Take 5 Don’t fall prey to overzealous adjusters. How to Navigate the Hostile Restorer/Adjuster Environment Learn how to improve your restoration strategies and get on the same page with adjusters and clients. Odor Mitigation Strategies How to tackle the toughest cleaning and restoration odors. The 2023 Cleaning Industry Leaders Review See how these three entrepreneurs successfully built their companies. White Glove Workmanship It takes a certain level of transparency and professionalism to help ease the minds of your customers. Beware of Toxic Dioxin Exposure in Post-Fire Environments It is deadlier than any other chemical present in structure fires. Visit Cleanfax’s table of contents to see everything available in the most recent issue.
ISSA recently revealed 2022 Year in Review: Howie Do It in the Cleaning Industry—a look back on the specific ways the association, including its various groups and departments, helped change the way the world views clean. 2022 was an exciting year of firsts for ISSA and the cleaning industry, including the association’s launch of the innovative Rethink What Clean Means campaign. Developed to encourage consumers and businesses to reevaluate their understanding of clean, the campaign featured comedian, actor, and self-described germaphobe, Howie Mandel. The consumer-targeted portion of the campaign revolved around the “Howie Clean It” video miniseries, which starred Mandel and was promoted through paid social media, publisher partnerships, and influencers. The campaign generated the following results: 430+ million impressions across earned media 73+ million impressions plus 47 million video views via paid media 8+ million views of the Howie Clean It video miniseries on YouTube Thousands of visits daily to the rethinkclean.org website. Toward the end of the year, the campaign shifted to a business-to-business (B2B) focus, providing the materials and tools ISSA members needed to share the campaign’s message with their customers, staff, and partners. The B2B focus will continue through June 2023. Click here to read the full ISSA Year in Review.
ISSA and its ISSA Show North America event partner Informa Markets are currently seeking speaker proposal submissions for the ISSA Show North America 2023 trade show, which takes place November 13–16, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Administrators, engineers, managers, advocates, and other representatives of the professional cleaning and facility maintenance industries may submit proposals via the ISSA Show website for inclusion in the industry-leading education program at ISSA Show North America 2023. ISSA and Informa Markets are especially looking to hear from underrepresented groups within the commercial, residential, and institutional cleaning communities. The deadline to submit proposals is March 31. Show management will notify all prospective speakers who submit proposals of their status later this year. To submit a speaker proposal, please click here.
ISSA has recently announced its establishment of the ISSA Regulatory Affairs Committee (RAC). This newly formed committee is part of ISSA’s continued investment and expansion of its advocacy efforts. The ISSA Regulatory Affairs Committee (RAC) and its members will play a critical role by advocating and educating on key regulatory issues impacting the cleaning industry. It will also play an advisory role in support of the development of ISSA’s positions on state and federal regulatory issues applicable to chemical cleaners, in addition to voluntary ecolabel standards. It will recommend actions to protect, support, and advance the specific interests of ISSA members and of the entire cleaning industry. This includes but is not limited to issue identification and prioritization, development and promulgation of positions, execution and/or support of regulatory positions, and help in providing feedback for inclusion in ISSA’s comments on regulatory issues. ISSA congratulates and thanks the following individuals from ISSA-member companies for their important service to the cleaning industry as inaugural RAC members: Jamey Gaston, Technical Director, Midlab Inc. Howard Bochnek, Senior Vice President, American Infection Control Inc. Terry Hall, Vice President of Regulatory, Hillyard Industries Lisa Pankiewicz, Vice President Global Stewardship, The Clorox Company Ali Luedtke, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, Betco Corporation Rebecca Kaufold, Manager of Government Affairs & Sustainability, Spartan Chemical Company. “Each member of ISSA’s Regulatory Affairs Committee brings a wealth of industry knowledge and experience,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. “Our Government Affairs team is excited to welcome them to this new advisory body, and we look forward to working with them to help guide the association’s regulatory advocacy and education efforts.” For questions regarding ISSA advocacy, please contact John Nothdurft, ISSA Director of Government Affairs.
With ISSA celebrating its 100th year in business all through 2023, it’s highly important that we take the time to tell the real stories and true history of our beloved industry for all to see, cherish, respect, and reminisce upon throughout these 12 months. To kick off this exciting series on the history of cleaning, created in association with The Museum of Clean, let’s take a closer look at the rudimentary cleaning rituals of the first human civilizations all the way to the dawn of the medieval period where we shall leave off for next month’s riveting history lesson. When It All Began: 2800 B.C. The roots of cleaning can be traced back all the way to 2800 B.C. As they excavated soap-like materials and various cylinders, archaeologists discovered that the ancient Babylonians started making soap around this time. These cylinders contained inscriptions such as, “fat boiled with ash.” Knowing that this was how soap was made in later civilizations, the archaeologists deduced that this was in fact the very first signs of cleaning products being made by human beings. 1500 B.C.: Egyptian Cleaning Methods According to Egypt Today, “Based on the writings of Herodotus, ancient Egyptians used many healthy hygiene habits, such as washing and laundry. They also knew to use mint to make their breath fresh. According to Ancient History Online Encyclopedia, ancient Egyptians always tried to make their bodies clean. They were the first to invent deodorant in history, which they did by mixing various spices, such as citrus and cinnamon.” In conjunction with personal hygiene, Egyptians also were known for cleaning their homes and clothing using alkaline soaps, alcohol, and other concoctions not too dissimilar to modern detergents and cleaning chemicals. 1200 B.C.: Greek Oils and ‘Stewhouses’ While the Greek people were hardly a good example of modern cleaning, their methods are still incredibly interesting to learn about. Here are a few unique facts about this period in human history: The Greek people cleaned their bodies with blocks of clay, sand, pumice, and ashes, then anointed themselves with oil, and scraped off the oil and dirt with a metal instrument known as a strigil. Greek homes were only said to be dusted; there are no known methods for disinfecting or deep cleaning found throughout their history. Steam baths were highly popular with the people of Greece. However, because of the “moist warmth of the bathhouse,” they quickly became known as “stewhouses” to refer to their musky, sweaty stench. Roman Infrastructure and Modernized Methods By the time the Roman Empire came to be, cleaning methods had advanced in many ways, and Roman ideas for hygiene and health helped to advance them further with ease. For starters, their methods for sewage cleanup were revolutionary. The Etruscans laid the first underground sewers in the city of Rome around 500 BC. This helped to set the foundations for proper bathroom hygiene and health for centuries to come. Next, Romans were some of the first to begin to use ammonia to clean their clothing, furniture, and even teeth. However, the ways in which they obtained this ammonia were less than pleasant. According to GreenPee, “Before soap, urine, mixed with water, was used as a detergent for clothing. The ammonia in the urine made even the worst stains get out of the clothes. The barrels of urine were therefore eagerly purchased by laundries. Urine was not only used to wash clothes, but the Romans also used it to brush their teeth.” Lastly, Romans expected their servants to deep clean their homes with soaps made from animal fats and ashes along with these ammonia concoctions. Their homes were depicted as clean, shiny, and well kept, which is likely why many of their artifacts are still so well preserved even now. New Cultures Rise From the ‘Ashes’ The collapse of the Roman Empire led to many barbarian cultures taking over and the concepts of civility and modern cleaning methods being put on the proverbial back burner while things settled across all of Europe. Meanwhile, many other non-European cultures continued to advance these methods. Chinese rice water detergents, soap made from ground jade, and even herbal disinfectants became prevalent while African oils and astringents were used for disinfection and exfoliation. As we delve further into the Middle Ages next month, it’s important to notice not just the unique methods used by every culture but also the similarities. It just goes to show that human ingenuity is something that can be found in every culture and should be embraced even now in the cleaning industry to bring this amazing market into the future and to welcome another 100 years for ISSA and its many members. We’re looking to find out what stories you have about ISSA and the incredible members that have made the cleaning industry so great over the past 100 years. Help us celebrate ISSA’s 100th anniversary! Nominate your choice for the industry’s most influential product, brand, or individual today.
The Independent Office Products and Furniture Dealers Association (IOPFDA), a Division of ISSA, has announced the opening of applications for its annual scholarship. Candidates must have graduated from high school or its equivalent before July 1 of the year in which they will use the scholarship and have an academic record sufficient to be accepted by an accredited college, junior college, or technical institute. Students currently enrolled full time in college or graduate school are not eligible. Employees and immediate family members of all IOPFDA member companies are eligible to apply through March 31, 2023. “Education is something that no one can take from you, but a college education comes with a hefty price tag,” said IOPFDA President Charlie Kennedy. “We encourage all member companies to share this opportunity with their employees and help our students in their efforts to be successful and productive, maybe even in the office products and furniture industry.” Created more than 50 years ago, the IOPFDA Scholarship Fund has awarded more than US$2.8 million in scholarships to deserving families of office products and office furniture dealers and is supported entirely through individual and member contributions. The fund recognized 30 college students receiving one-year scholarships in the 2021–2022 academic year. To apply for a scholarship, visit https://apply.mykaleidoscope.com/scholarships/IOPFDA2023. For more information, visit iopfda.org.
The Association of Residential Cleaning Services International (ARCSI), a Division of ISSA, has announced the selections of its newest outreach program, the ARCSI Regional Ambassadors. The Regional Ambassadors will serve as the face of ARCSI and a voice in the residential cleaning industry. ARCSI Regional Ambassadors include: East Region Marlo Kanipe, Deserved Comfort House Cleaning, Columbia, South Carolina Robin Murphy, Maid Brigade, White Plains, New York Central Region Amber Starling, Good Witch Cleaning Services LLC, Manhattan, Kansas Stacey Conkle, A Beautiful Day Cleaning, Prairie Grove, Arkansas West Region TJ Fruichantie, Meticulous Man Services LLC, Nampa, Idaho. “One of the biggest benefits of being a member of ARCSI is connecting with other success-minded residential cleaning business owners,” said Jeannie Henderson, ISSA Residential Cleaning Council Chair. “Our Regional Ambassadors will be another connection point, working in their regions to bring members together.” Regional Ambassadors are successful residential cleaning company owners that have invested time and energy into their ARCSI membership and have reaped the rewards. They are going to share their knowledge and experiences with other cleaning company owners. “I joined ARCSI around 2014 because I was looking for help in growing my cleaning business. I heard that ARCSI was dedicated to helping cleaning business owners like me become better owners and leaders within the cleaning industry,” said Fruichantie. “I continue to be a member of ARCSI first and foremost because of the relationships I’ve built by being a member and also because of the great educational and ongoing learning offered to its members.” Find out more about the Regional Ambassador Program and watch for ways to connect with ARCSI’s Regional Ambassadors in 2023.
ISSA will host the annual ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, the premier Capitol Hill fly-in event for the cleaning industry. Registration is now open for the 2023 summit, taking place March 28–29 in Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C., as part of National Cleaning Week. “With the split control of Congress by razor-thin margins, ever-increasing governmental oversight of the cleaning industry, and an unpredictable economy, ISSA needs your participation and voice to advocate, influence, and make an impact in Washington, D.C.,” said ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. On the first day of this two-day advocacy event, participants will receive the inside scoop on the top public policy issues facing their business and industry, including labor shortages, supply chain challenges, tariffs, ending period poverty, sustainability, and more. They will also receive training on how to be an effective Advocate for Clean and network with leaders from across the industry. On the second day, participants will apply their new knowledge and skills by meeting with their congressional delegation to advance the industry. “Through the ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, we have an opportunity to visit with our legislators and talk to them about the policies that affect our businesses every day. We need their help to operate and grow our businesses,” said Vonachen Group CEO and ISSA Board of Directors President Matt Vonachen. “I invite ISSA members to join me in supporting our association at the 2023 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit. We need as many members as possible at the summit to push the voice of our industry.” “With a new Congress and many new faces, it’s more important than ever for ISSA to be at the table. We need industry leaders to help us build on the success of our 2022 summit by attending this important fly-in to our nation’s capital in 2023,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. The 2023 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit will take place at the GBAC STAR™ Accredited Hyatt Centric Arlington. Learn about sponsorship opportunities for the summit by contacting ISSA Director of Government Affairs John Nothdurft. For questions about the 2023 ISSA Clean Advocacy Summit, please contact ISSA Government Affairs Manager Stacy Seiden. Watch the Straight Talk! video below to see how the 2022 Clean Advocacy Summit conquered Washington.
In anticipation of its 100th anniversary in 2023, ISSA is seeking nominations of people, companies, and products that have made a significant impact to the cleaning industry. Nominations are being sought for the following categories: Top influencer Top innovative product Leading brand/company Emerging leader. Nominations are open to any person, company, and product within the cleaning industry. Individuals can submit multiple nominations, and they can also nominate themselves for a category. Nominations will be accepted and honored—in print and online—throughout 2023. However, to receive recognition in the January/February issue of ISSA Today, nominations must be received by December 30, 2022. Learn more and submit your nominations here. Email any questions to media@issa.com.
The November/December edition of ISSA Today—now available in digital format for your desktop, smartphone, or tablet―helps you stay up to date on the latest cleaning industry and ISSA-member news. In the latest issue, enjoy a snapshot of ISSA Show North America 2022, including award winners, in pictures and videos. Then get ready for some insightful content about job training vs. workforce development. The November/December issue also covers: Straight Talk! “Rethink Clean” as ISSA enters its 100th year. Verification and Validation Use the two “Vs” to improve your cleaning processes. Help ISSA End Period Poverty Join the cause to create easy access to menstrual products. Member Spotlight Sofidel Group is a multinational company achieving a “less is more” approach. And so much more! Why not see for yourself? Check out this edition’s table of contents to get started.
For years the ISSA Show Innovation Awards Program has been celebrating companies in the commercial, institutional, and residential cleaning community that are addressing challenges with new products and services. The annual awards program honors trailblazing companies for developing innovative products or services that address key challenges industry professionals are trying to solve in their daily operations. But how are these groundbreaking advancements chosen? What goes in to being a judge for the Innovation Awards Program? In this edition of Straight Talk!, ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross takes a peek behind the curtain to find out the inside story on how winners are chosen. Cross chats with Jill Frey, Cummins Facility Services president and CEO, who was one of the judges of the 2022 ISSA Show Innovation Awards. Frey reveals her process in picking the winners and shares some of the challenges she faced being a judge. Watch or listen to the complete episode below and click here to view the winners of this year’s program. You can also download an MP3 of the episode here.
The Cleanfax November/December digital issue is now available online. The latest edition features the annual Carpet Cleaning Benchmarking Survey Report with all the data and statistics you need. Plus, learn how to handle issues such as a customer service crisis, get details on carpet cleaning frequencies, see why now is the time to “rethink clean,” and much more. The November/December issue covers: It’s time to ‘Rethink Clean’ As ISSA enters its 100th year, awareness of cleaning for health gets real. The 2022 Carpet Cleaning Benchmarking Survey Report The data and statistics you need for your growing company. Customer Service in a Crisis Transparent communication can help restore more than just the damaged property. Goals, Effort, and Results Developing excellence in your team takes center stage. Carpet Cleaning Frequencies How often should residential and commercial carpet be cleaned? Hiring Your Dream Team Members Building the best team takes a tried-and-true process from start to finish. Visit Cleanfax’s table of contents to see everything available in the most recent issue.
