FEATURE WASHROOMS Next we can turn out attention to the shower and the bath tub. There are plenty of all natural soaps out there, by mixing these with our ever trusty baking soda you can create a paste (at least according to innumerable websites and articles) which is the equal of any chemical cleaner or equivalent. Apparently you can use this to clean shower doors, water and rust stains and ceramic tiles. To remove build up and mildew from the corners of your shower you should attack the effected areas with vinegar. Vinegar is one of those all-natural options which is claimed to be just as successful as chemical alternatives. Let the vinegar dry, then wipe it clean, repeating as many times as required. The acid contained within vinegar helps kill bacteria by splitting up the aprticles contained within it. As with so many things, prevention is better than cure when it comes to showers so try and keep the area as clean as possible after each time you use it. Even a simple wipe of the curtain or doors is better than nothing. So far, so pleasant, relatively. But if you want to keep your washrooms healthy and clean then you can’t afford to ignore the drains. Nobody wants to pull out clogged hair by hand but the fact remains that most drain cleaners are incredibly toxic, containing the sort of chemicals that are unpronounceable by clearly deadly. So, instead of employing literal poison you can consider using a homemade solution containing (yes, you guessed it) baking soda and vinegar. Pouring a fair amount down your drains will break down gunk and help clear out your pipes. Mirrors might be more pleasant to clean but they certainly aren’t easier. Anyone who has ever tried, in either a professional or domestic context to leave a mirror spotless knows it is next to impossible. In fact many chemical cleaners seem to leave it even worse than it was before. The most commonly sighted green option is a warm water-vinegar spray wiped away with a lint free cloth. Then we can turn our attention to the floors. Both tiles and mats can get very dirty, very quickly. Never leave a wet mat laying on the floor; after every shower, hang it over the shower rod so it can dry out. With tiles there are (as always) a multitude of chemical cleaners available but if you want to go green then warm water mixed with lemon juice can be just as useful. All you need is a mop. Last but not least, something you do not want to neglect is water. Even if you are using as many environmentally friendly products as possible but if you end up wasting water then all your good work will amount to nothing. With the world’s population increasing constantly there are even news outlets predicting literal wars over water in the years to come. Most people have no clue how much water we use, we just turn on the tap and take it for granted whenever we wash up, brush our teeth or take a shower. Something as simple as switching to lowflow fixtures can save colossal amounts of water. ACT NOW Simply put It is time for those in the cleaning business to put on the pressure for alternative ways of cleaning that do not use or disperse dangerous substances. Regular reviews of the cleaning chemicals that are used in the washroom setting are needed and checks whether safer and greener alternatives are available. Equally obliged are those manufacturing cleaning equipment and Last but not least something you do not want to neglect is materials to divert a major water” part of their research and development budgets into achieving green techniques and equipment to make cleaning safer for everybody. Changes to reduce the harmful effects of cleaning must entail alternatives that provide effective infection prevention and control as well as being healthier, safe, and environmentally sound. Not many procedures in any industry sector are the same today as they were decades ago, so why tackle cleaning the old way? Advancements in green cleaning mean that ecological methods can prevent infection and guarantee hygiene in the washroom while setting high standards of cleanliness. 26 JULY / AUGUST 2016 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY
CHT July / August 2016
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