Cleaning Park And Recreation Facilities
Like lives depend on it
By Robert Kravitz
Photos: Courtesy Of Robert Kravitz
It’s been really quiet for more than a year, but thankfully, it appears that we are inching our way out of the pandemic.
To add to the good news, at the end of March 2021, Pfizer, which has taken the lead in developing and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, announced that their vaccine has proven “safe and strongly protective for kids as young as 12.” According to one study of 2,260 U.S. children ages 12 to 15, there were no cases of COVID-19 among the children vaccinated. Further, there were few side effects other than chills, fever, and fatigue—all of which were gone in a day or two.
But that does not mean everything is back to normal. We must still be on guard, ensuring that park and recreation facility users remain safe and healthy. While mask wearing, social distancing, and other measures must still be enforced, what remains one of the best defenses against the spread of this disease is thorough and effective cleaning. However, the world of cleaning has changed dramatically in the past year. There are now technologies that, while not necessarily new, are new to professional cleaning.
Let’s explore some of these different systems, examining their attributes and potential shortcomings. The goal is to understand these systems better and help administrators select those technologies that will work best for their departments.
UV-C
Like other public-transportation systems around the country, in May 2020, New York City’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced they would start using ultraviolet (UV) lights to help kill COVID-19 pathogens on their subways and buses. The MTA stated that these UV systems have “demonstrated [their ability] to kill viruses in many other applications, including hospital operating rooms, urgent-care clinics, universities, and fire stations.”
UV light has been used for decades for different purposes; it is not new. But understanding how these systems work is a bit complicated. The essence of the technology is that UV systems release electromagnetic radiation. There are different types of UV, including UV-A, -B, and -C. It is UV-C that has proven most effective at killing pathogens, including those related to the coronavirus.
To put them to work in professional cleaning, a UV-C system might be placed in a restroom. Once the system is in the restroom, no person can be in the restroom at the same time for a set period. Often these systems are on timers, requiring about 15 minutes to work effectively. When the timer turns the machine off, it can be moved into a different restroom area for additional disinfecting.
The benefit of UV-C is that as it works, it kills a wide range of pathogens without cleaning solutions, and there is virtually no labor involved. The machine does all the work.
But to protect the health of children and staff members, view UV-C systems as electronic disinfectants. Surfaces must be cleaned first before the UV-C machine is activated. This applies to all forms of disinfecting.
Electrostatic Sprayers
Electrostatic sprayers were first employed back in the 1930s to spray, for instance, rust-preventive coatings onto cars and other machinery. However, to address the pandemic and eliminate the pathogens that cause the coronavirus, instead of filling them with a rust preventative, they are filled with disinfectants instead.
Further, there is more to the technology than this. As the disinfectant is released, a positive electrical charge is applied. Because most surfaces—restroom fixtures, walls, floors, counters, etc.—are negatively charged, the disinfectant binds to these surfaces and covers them. Within minutes, the disinfectant starts eliminating pathogens, viruses, germs, and other contaminants on these surfaces.
These are overall safer to use than UV systems, although it is recommended that the user wear gloves and goggles. People can be present while the machine is being used; however, it is not recommended.
Electrostatic sprayers share many of the same benefits of the UV system. They reduce the amount of cleaning solutions necessary; the process is relatively quick, reducing labor costs; and they are effective. Further, some of the disinfectants used by these systems have an added ingredient that allows them to continue disinfecting surfaces for several weeks after application.
However, they also share the same caveat of UV systems and that is the surfaces must be cleaned first before application. As explained by Paul Giamona, sales director with WAXIE Sanitary Supply in San Diego, Calif., “It’s critical that soils be removed from surfaces before any disinfectant is applied. The presence of soil on a surface will prevent the disinfectant from working effectively.”
Additionally, if using an electrostatic sprayer with a disinfectant designed to last 90 days, use this as a guide. Very often, the same areas should be sprayed again before that 90-day period has expired.
No-Touch Cleaning
Compared to the other two, no-touch cleaning systems—aka spray-and-vac cleaning systems—are the newest cleaning technology. These systems get their name because the operator does not need to touch surfaces when using them.
A cleaning solution is applied to surfaces to be cleaned. The area is then rinsed and after rinsing, moisture and pathogens are vacuumed up. At least one system has been tested and proven to eliminate germs and bacteria on surfaces without the use of disinfectants; however, with COVID-19, doing so is not recommended.
Recently, a cleaner/disinfectant has been introduced that can be used with at least one no-touch system that is listed on the EPA’s N-List. This means it has been tested and proven to be effective at eliminating the pathogens that cause the coronavirus.*
With the no-touch cleaning systems, the concern about cleaning first before disinfecting has been eliminated. This means that the other two systems just discussed, UV-C and electrostatic sprayers, can be used after using a no-touch system if that is deemed necessary.
Manual Cleaning
When used properly, all three of these technologies should prove effective at ensuring park and recreation facilities are clean and healthy. For this discussion, we can refer to these as automated cleaning systems, because the machine does most of the work.
However, that does not mean manual cleaning methods are out the door. For smaller cleaning and disinfecting tasks, manual cleaning is still appropriate. However, here are some things to do and remember:
Use color-coded microfiber cleaning cloths. An easy-to-remember color-coding system is to use green cloths for all-purpose cleaning solutions and red cloths for disinfectants. The cloths should be kept separate. Also, to avoid language issues, apply a green tag to the cleaning solution containers and a red tag to disinfectant containers.
Clean first. We have already discussed this. But just as a reminder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says without cleaning first, the disinfectant will be “compromised.”
Dwell and remain wet. Apply disinfectants to just-cleaned areas and let them set (dwell) on the surface for a few minutes. However, do not let them dry. If they dry, the entire area must be cleaned again.
Change frequently. Finally, change cleaning cloths frequently and wash them frequently. Microfiber is best washed only with other microfiber products. If it collects lint, it will not work as effectively.
No matter which technology or cleaning method is used, there is one thing more to discuss. For decades, cleaning has been viewed as a commodity, a costly “must have,” and something anyone can do. That’s over. Cleaning and the value of cleaning has never been more important. View this as one of the key takeaways of this article.
Robert Kravitz is a former cleaning contractor and now a frequent writer for the professional cleaning industry. Reach him at robert.kravitz@outlook.com.
*This cleaner/disinfectant may not work with all spray-and-vac cleaning systems.