NEWARK, DEL.—As states grapple with a surge in COVID-19 cases, does that mean we will start using disinfectants everywhere and anywhere? According to a June 2020 report released in Bloomberg Law, “businesses across the U.S. have begun intensive COVID-19 disinfection regimes exposing workers and consumers to chemicals that are largely untested for human health.”* The report says this is “alarming health and environmental safety experts,” because disinfectants can be harmful to cleaning workers as well as building users. Health risks include neurological, dermatological, and reproductive problems as well as an array of respiratory ailments. These businesses almost certainly believe they are doing...

LAS VEGAS—Dallas based metal shop NoContactKey recently announced its launch of their clean touch germ key for the gaming industry. The owner of the company, Don Douglas shares excitement as they help gamblers get back to the casinos. Currently, the NoContactKey is the No. 1 hygiene tool already supplying most of the country with their no touch hand tools. NoContactKey’s shop is a large-scale production processing thousands of orders a day. The NoContactKey is a No Contact door opener tool stylus and germ-free door opener key made of metal antimicrobial brass. The NoContactKey will work as a germ-free key tool and clean-key. Because of...

ATLANTA—SanitGrasp, a no-touch door pull handle, provides a hygienic solution for exiting public spaces. It can be found in Fortune 500 companies, offices, educational facilities, grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, and government agencies across the country. Demand has hit an all-time high as commercial and hospitality businesses prepare for reopening and need to implement safety measures across high-traffic areas that require the most interaction. As companies worldwide seek solutions that can help protect their staff, employees, and customers against the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses, SanitGrasp serves as a hygienic and affordable solution that is easy to install or...

MEDFORD, ORE.—Laurastar, a world leader in quality ironing systems, announced they have received official certification from Microchem Laboratory, confirming Laurastar’s exclusive hygienic steam can kill germs found on fabrics, including COVID-19. The certification solidifies Laurastar as an essential tool to protect users from the current COVID-19 pandemic. The certification was granted after Microchem Laboratory tested Laurastar’s exclusive Dry Microfine Steam (DMS), a unique technology of hygienic steaming. DMS is heated to over 285°F and pressurized up to 50psi. The water molecules are transformed into gas with exceptional energy that easily passes through textiles, transferring heat and energy into the fibers and naturally eliminating 99.9 percent...

Green Lodging News spoke with Richard Radke, National Marketing Manager for Zeftron Nylon recently and allowed Zeftron Nylon to contribute this guest blog. As businesses begin to welcome employees back to the workplace, safety and wellness are top of mind. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued guidance to assist with the reopening, and states: “Reducing the risk of exposure to COVID-19 by cleaning and disinfection is an important part of reopening public spaces that will require careful planning.” To be sure, designers and facility managers are faced with multiple challenges in creating the “new” workplace for today. They are looking...

SACRAMENTO, CALIF.—The California Hotel and Lodging Association (CHLA), in conjunction with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, is providing member hotels in California with free personal protective equipment to minimize exposure to the COVID-19 virus as state hotels begin to reopen. Hotels in California, many of whom have been housing first responders, healthcare professionals and vulnerable populations in response to the global pandemic, are receiving free personal protective equipment, including hand sanitizer, face coverings and instructions for guests and employees. “Our members are grateful for the governor’s support of PPE equipment that enhances their readiness to reopen,”' said Lynn S. Mohrfeld,...

SAN FRANCISCO—The Hotel Council of San Francisco, the California Hotel and Lodging Association and the American Hotel & Lodging Association filed a lawsuit yesterday to overturn the County of San Francisco’s so-called “Healthy Buildings” ordinance that endangers hotel employees and guests and causes significant economic hardships by forcing many hotels to remain closed and permanently lay off thousands of workers. The ordinance, approved on July 7 by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and signed on July 17 by Mayor Breed puts hotel employees at greater risk of exposure to COVID-19, will delay those workers’ return to work and adds...

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...