Home Cleaning & Maintenance

Cleaning & Maintenance

From the housekeeping department, where green cleaning is considered and implemented, to engineering, where mechanical systems are maintained and fine-tuned, hotel operators have implemented innovative products and processes to save energy and minimize the impact on the environment. Got news or a story idea to share? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Cleaning & Maintenance

Home Cleaning & Maintenance
From the housekeeping department, where green cleaning is considered and implemented, to engineering, where mechanical systems are maintained and fine-tuned, hotel operators have implemented innovative products and processes to save energy and minimize the impact on the environment. Got news or a story idea to share? Contact Glenn Hasek, editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at: greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.

Study Shows Toxins Found in Scented Laundry Products and Air Fresheners

SEATTLE—A University of Washington study of top-selling laundry products and air fresheners found the products emitted dozens of different chemicals. All six products tested gave off at least one chemical regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, but none of those chemicals was listed on the product labels. “I first got interested in this topic because people were telling me that the air fresheners in public restrooms and the scent from laundry products vented outdoors were making them sick,” said Anne Steinemann, a UW professor of civil and environmental engineering and public affairs. “And I wanted to know, ‘What’s...

GLN Adds HD Supply Hospitality Solutions as Founding Sponsor

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes HD Supply Hospitality Solutions as a Founding Sponsor. HD Supply is committed to doing business in a manner that is responsible to its associates, customers and the environment. With HD Supply’s new ideallygreen icon, the company has made it easy for its customers to identify environmentally preferable products throughout its catalogs and at www.hdsupplysolutions.com. Products marked with the ideallygreen icon can increase energy efficiency, help reduce water consumption, create a healthier indoor environment, facilitate waste reduction, and prevent hazardous materials from entering the environment. HD Supply is one of...

Green Lodging News Adds Roebic Laboratories Case Study to Website

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News has added its ninth case study to its Vendor Case Studies section. The case study focuses on a large seafood restaurant, the plumbing-related backups and odor problems it faced, and how Roebic Laboratories products were used to treat the problems. Despite frequent and expensive manual cleaning of the grease trap and drain lines, backups occurred about twice per month. Additionally, odors released from the trap were very strong and pungent, making unpleasant working conditions. Roebic Main Line Cleaner was used for the first 30 days, and was applied through each floor drain at the rate of 8...

SporiCLEAN Helps Clean Up Mold in Flood-Ravaged Iowa

AVON LAKE, OHIO – SporiCLEAN, the green enzyme cleaner used to eliminate mold and mildew, is one of the chief products being used in cleanup efforts throughout Cedar Rapids and other parts of flood-ravaged Iowa. A multi-enzyme formulation, SporiCLEAN is an all-natural plant-based green cleaning product that is safe for the environment and effective in killing organisms. “There are no chemicals in SporiCLEAN, so it’s environmentally safe for hygienically cleaning the home or business,” says Nick Martello, CEO of US Biologics, Inc., exclusive provider of SporiCLEAN. “Unlike toxic bleach, SporiCLEAN is non-toxic, non-caustic and non-harmful to people, pets and...

Quickie Unveils ‘Green and It’s Clean’ Cleaning Tools Line

CINNAMINSON, N.J.—Quickie Manufacturing Corp., the largest maker of cleaning tools in the United States and inventor of the Automatic Sponge Mop, has unveiled “Green and It’s Clean,” a line of eco-friendly cleaning tools. Made from recycled, natural and sustainable materials, these new “green” cleaning tools are designed to enhance cleaning while protecting the environment by reducing landfill and the need for harsh chemicals. The “Green and It’s Clean” line of cleaning tools, which consists of stick goods like mops and brooms, and smallwares such as scrub brushes, utility and dish brushes, etc., is made in two distinct eco-friendly variations. ...

GLN Welcomes Roebic Laboratories as Directory Partner

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Roebic Laboratories as a Green Product & Service Directory partner. Roebic Laboratories manufactures a full line of natural cleaners and treatments for drains, grease traps and plumbing. Roebic products contain patented bacterial cultures that produce powerful enzymes to eliminate fat, grease, oil and soap without using toxic chemicals. Roebic’s products help meet environmental standards. For additional information, call (203) 795-1283, e-mail lgifford@roebic.com, or go to www.roebic.com.

Ashkin Group Recognized as Official Education Provider by USGBC

CHICAGO—The Ashkin Group has been recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as an official Educational Provider. It is the first time the USGBC has selected a member of the cleaning industry as an official Education Provider. The Ashkin Group was acknowledged for its half-day program entitled, “Solving the Green Cleaning Puzzle.” The material and interactive activities enable participants to gain a more thorough knowledge of green cleaning in both practice and application. The Education Provider Program (EPP) facilitates access to high quality professional development courses in order to further enrich the knowledge and understanding of green building theory,...

Rubbermaid’s New Housekeeping Carts Include Recycled Steel

WINCHESTER, VA.—Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP), a leader in innovative, durable facility maintenance solutions, introduces its new line of Metal Housekeeping Carts that offer expanded capacity in a compact footprint. “Rubbermaid’s Metal Housekeeping Carts deliver immediate benefits: they save time, money and help ensure worker well-being,” said Bob Lauer, product manager for Rubbermaid Commercial Products. “With this new line, hospitality professionals have the option to customize carts with accessories that allow for maximum productivity and efficiency while reducing worker fatigue.” The Metal Housekeeping Carts allow for increased productivity with their expanded capacity. Cart accessories include the patent-pending removable, mobile 34-gallon fabric...

The Finer Liner.com Now Offering Recyclable, Biodegradable Wastebasket Liners

LOS ANGELES—The Finer Designer Wastebasket Liner is now available in a recyclable form. The Finer Liner currently sells a recyclable plastic designer wastebasket liner in seven styles. Owner Annette Savio decided to offer the recyclable, biodegradable liners to hotels that typically use plastic wastebasket liners. “Hotels and cruise lines use huge amounts of resources that can be potentially recycled,” Savio says. “My first liners produced are recyclable and highly reusable which will cut down on using thin plastic bags that are difficult to recycle and usually end up in the landfills. But our biodegradable liners will break down in landfills...

Waterless Survey Investigates No-Water Urinal Systems

VISTA, CALIF.—Nearly 100 commercial, educational, and government building facility managers, who have installed waterless or no-water urinal systems in their facilities, were asked their thoughts on waterless or no-flush urinals. “This is one of the few surveys taken on the subject,” says Klaus Reichardt, founder and managing partner of Waterless Co. LLC, the oldest U.S. manufacturer of waterless urinals. “However, with the growing interest in greening building operations, the systems are becoming quite common and are now found in many locations.” As to overall opinions, when asked if they had a choice between installing conventional or waterless urinals again, 60 percent...