SAN RAMON, CALIF.—According to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation, dust mites are a leading cause of in-home allergies. In a new report, the American Chemical Society advocates the widespread use of UV-C light as a short-term, easily deployable, and affordable way to limit virus spread in the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. RAYCOP’s new Omni Air cordless stick vacuum uses the same UVC technology that hospitals do to eradicate 99.99 percent of viruses, bacteria and dust mites from fabrics and floors in every corner of the room. The lightweight Omni Air is easy to pick up and it can completely remove dust...

Faced with the prospect of disinfecting a space for COVID-19, many are utilizing corded or cordless sprayers of one type or another. I understand the thinking. You can cover an area quickly, be thorough about it, and then move on to the next space. In press releases distributed by our industry’s leading companies in recent months, many have announced they will be using electrostatic sprayers to disseminate disinfectant. I wrote an article about that technology and other spray technologies this past week. Be sure to read my article. A big thank you to Green Seal for adding additional valuable...

Green Lodging News asked Nina Hwang, MPH, Senior Scientist at Green Seal, about the use of foggers and electrostatic sprayers. The following are the questions and her reply. Are there best practices when it comes to user/guest safety? The first step is to understand that foggers are not the same as electrostatic sprayers. Fogging devices use large volumes of air at low pressures to generate a mist of fine disinfectant droplets to fill an entire room. The disinfectant settles on to surfaces over time due to gravity. Electrostatic sprayers are designed for more targeted disinfection. Disinfectant droplets are charged as they exit...

Green Lodging News asked Nina Hwang, MPH, Senior Scientist at Green Seal, about the use of foggers and electrostatic sprayers. Click here to read those questions and answers. NATIONAL REPORT—When MGM Resorts International outlined its Seven-Point Safety Plan for dealing with COVID-19 in a press release last month, it included the use of electrostatic sprayers for large public spaces “so that disinfectant is applied efficiently.” Numerous other companies have also committed to using electrostatic sprayers for public spaces. HEI Hotels & Resorts said it would use them in public and private spaces. Marriott, in its April announcement about its new...

MADISON, IND.—Madison Chemical introduces new literature that details MADISAN 75 (EPA #10324-81-110), a 4-chain quaternary surface sanitizer that kills the Human Coronavirus. The 2-page, full-color brochure explains how this disinfectant, mildewstat, and virucide for hard, non-porous, and inanimate surfaces is ideal for a wide variety of installations, including industrial and manufacturing environments. In addition to the Human Coronavirus, MADISAN 75 kills the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and a variety of animal viruses specified on the EPA registered label. MADISAN 75 appears on EPA List N: Disinfectants for Use Against...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Arc, an affiliate of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has launched Arc Re-Entry in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The new offering provides a set of tools and analytics designed to assist companies with re-entering their buildings and facilities. Arc is a technology platform that allows teams overseeing the sustainability of buildings and places to collect data, manage and benchmark progress, measure impact and improve performance. Arc empowers its users to understand and enhance their sustainability performance, promote human health and wellbeing, and contribute to a higher quality of life. Arc Re-Entry is a set of tools...

PORT OF PALM BEACH, FLA.—RGF Environmental Group introduces the Guardian Halo—an entire body passive detection and sanitizing system for the office, factory, retail stores, restaurants, medical facilities, transportation modes, schools, hotels and food processors. The walk-through arch includes eye, hair, and skin safe 360-degree UV high energy lights and a sanitizing Photohydroionization (PHI) fog. This is based on hydro peroxides and silver ions that are activated by the UV energy. RGF’s patented PHI-cell technology has a long and well validated history of killing MRSA, H1N1 (Swine Flu), Avian Influenza, Picornaviruses, TB, mold, C. Diff. and Staph to name a few....

LINCOLNSHIRE, ILL.—Addressing health concerns and confidence of American travelers, LG Business Solutions USA is offering hotel operators a free “Clean Remote” with every new LG hotel TV. The special remote control is designed to be safer thanks to a non-porous, sealed membrane surface that can reduce bacteria and germs by as much as 99 percent compared to traditional remotes, according to Clean Remote LLC. “The Clean Remote solution pairs perfectly with LG hotel TVs to provide guests a safer in-room experience and some peace of mind,” said Mike Kosla, Vice President of Hospitality, LG Business Solutions USA. “TV remotes are the most...

My family tested the waters of COVID-19 vacation land a couple of weeks ago and took a week-long road trip from Tampa, Fla. to Savannah, Ga., to Asheville, N.C. and back. We spent most of our time in the Asheville area. We loved the Asheville and Savannah areas. In recent months I have heard from one hotel and restaurant company after another about their plans to clean like crazy to make their guests feel welcome and safe. This was my family’s first test to see if the hotels were doing what they said they were doing. Our first stop was a Holiday...

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.—Known for their extensive body and skin care collection, Whish has now developed a new hand sanitizer to keep hands clean and help fight disease. The new 70 percent ethyl alcohol sanitizer comes in three different sizes—16 ounce, 33 ounce, 1 gallon—for both consumer and trade purposes. Key features: FDA registered facility cGMP facility Made in the USA (Scottsdale, Ariz.) Gel, not spray Denatured alcohol All packaging comes with a pump 70 percent ethyl alcohol Like all of Whish’s products, Leaping Bunny is certified, paraben free, sulfate free, DEA and TEA free, petrochemical free, phthalate free, naturally sourced, and made in...