Eight laundered microfiber flat mops and one single-use microfiber flat mop were photographed at 20X’s, 40X’s using a 3D stereo microscope and 1,000X’s using a Scanning Electronic Microscope, SEM.
The laundered mops demonstrated significant contamination and microfiber degradation. In some instances, the microfiber in no longer effective since it is shown to be completely melted and containing foreign material. The melted microfiber indicates that the drying process utilized by the laundries is too harsh and irreversibly damaging the microfiber. The process also isn’t able to remove the obvious foreign material in addition to the chemical particulate accumulation.
These photographs support recent findings that the special laundry processes adopted for microfiber are not adequately removing gross soils and chemical build-up that have the potential to harbor microbiological pathogens.
New single-use microfiber provides the only assurance for a microfiber mop and wipe that can assure the elimination of any gross particulate and chemical accumulation the could come off the substrate and/or result in potential cross-contamination.
Geerpres® researchers, Jack McGurk and Dave Harry, contribute their Adventex® Single-use mop findings in the recent CMM article Single-Use Microfiber Mops Usher In Third Wave of Change in Floor Care .
Thomas W. Stewart sparked the first wave of change in floor cleaning when he patented the string mop in 1893. His invention allowed floor cleaners to rise from their hands and knees to a standing position.
The string mop was so successful it became the paradigm for floor care for the next 100 years. Adjunct equipment such as a rolling bucket with mop wringer, a deep sink for emptying the mop bucket, and a custodian’s closet on every facility floor soon followed to assist the new moping process.
The microfiber flat mop ushered in the second wave of change a century later, at the end of the 1990s. The microfiber flat mop was easier to use, utilized 98.6% less water and chemicals, and sped up the cleaning process, as cited in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s paper, “Using Microfiber Mops in Hospitals: Environmental Best Practices for Health Care Facilities.”
The Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) will hold its 2019 CIRI Science Symposium on July 15-17 at Miami University in Oxford, OH. The theme for the 2019 symposium is “Connecting Research to Practice.”
David Harry will present research on the Microbiological Findings of Laundered Microfiber Mops as documented his case study – From the Floor Up – The Battle to Control HAIs.
David Harry President, Sustainable Scientific Solutions
David Harry of Sustainable Scientific Solutions has 40 years R&D experience formulating cleaning and disinfection products, including personal care, I&I and most recently healthcare as it pertains to tool solutions designed to eliminate Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAI’s). The first 20 years was R&D for surfactant and disinfectant suppliers. Harry retired from Ecolab in 2009 as a senior corporate scientist with six patents. He was responsible for innovation and received two national innovation awards. In addition, he developed a global sustainable cleaning program for Ecolab’s largest customer. The past ten years he has focused on providing smaller companies with targeted R&D projects on chemical product development, international production transfers and/or tool development pertaining to sustainability, health and human safety. His recent microfiber work resulted in two patents, with a third patent pending pertaining to designing disinfectant-compatible microfiber structures.
Presentation Abstract
Prior to 2002, one cotton string mop was used to clean three hospital rooms with three gallons of water and then replenished. The single microfiber flat mop per room concept was introduced in 2002 at UC Davis with EPA research; the goal was to reduce cross-contamination. It became the global standard. Recent research has uncovered that the properties that make microfiber so effective also prevent pathogens from being effectively removed from them.
Microbiological
and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) documentation will be presented that
show current laundry processes which are designed not to damage the microfiber
are allowing pathogens to remain in the microfiber. The situation is compounded
by microfiber’s neutralization of healthcare disinfectants.
Muskegon, MI, April 18, 2019: Geerpres® has teamed up with Benjamin Olson and The Backyard Experience to provide the Acme Creativity Cart, a Chuck Jones Center for Creativity animated mobile art experience that provides interactive creative time for young hospital patients.
The Geerpres® Enterprise® EVS
Cart is transformed to not only look the part but to accommodate items such as
modeling clay, colored pencils, sticker books, crayons, coloring books, and
more. The goal is to create an environment where young patients get to
experience the healing joy and distraction of imagination and creativity while
receiving critical treatment.
“We are continuing a
cause that animation director Chuck Jones started in the 40s and 50s drawing
with children in hospitals to brighten their day,” said Benjamin Olson,
Board Chairman with The Backyard Experience. “The Acme Creativity Cart
allows young patients to explore their imaginations and be creative while
receiving much-needed care. Geerpres® has the perfect solution with
the Enterprise® EVS Cart for what we need to grow this wonderful
program responsibly by having a hospital ready cart with a locking storage
compartment, customizable accessories and an easy to wrap surface. We could not
have had a better fit.”
“What Ben
and The Backyard Experience are doing for children across this country is truly
exceptional,” said Scott Ribbe, President of Geerpres®. The
Enterprise® EVS Cart is a great fit for this project as it has a
modular design that is completely customizable. We are excited to see this
project take off!”
To learn more about the mission of The Backyard Experience or to donate to their cause, please visit thebackyardexperience.org.
Richard Venditti, Elis and Signe Olsson Professor, Department of Forest Biomaterials, North Carolina State University, Room 1204 Pulp and Paper Labs, Raleigh, NC 27695-8005
The Advantex® Single-use Mop has a significantly lower environmental impact than a reusable laundered mop in every category assessed in the EPA TRACI model. A contribution analysis on the global warming potential of the two indicates that the electrical power and chemistry needed to wash and dry the reusable mop dominates environmental adverse implications.
