PATINDA·柏丁达

Using conventional loop mops for wet mopping of patient care areas has long been the standard in floor cleaning for janitorial operations in hospitals. However, the health care industry has taken a recent interest in evaluating hard floor maintenance techniques and its impact on employee, patient, and environmental health. Many floor cleaners used in hospitals contain harsh chemicals such as quaternary ammonium chlorides and butoxyethanol, which can be harmful to humans and the environment. Furthermore, to reduce the risk of cross-contamination among patients, conventional mopping techniques require janitors to change the cleaning solution after mopping every two or three rooms. This means cleaning solutions are constantly being disposed of and replenished. Now there's a new alternative. Some facilities have begun using microfiber mopping materials to clean floors.

Microfibers are densely constructed of polyester and polyamide (nylon) that are approximately 1/16 the size of a human hair.The density of this material enables it to hold six times its weight in water, making it more absorbent than a conventional, cotton loopmop. Also, microfibers are positively charged so they attract dust (which has a negativecharge), and their tiny fibers are able to penetrate the microscopic surface pores of any material. These characteristics make microfiber an effective mopping material.

■ Reduce chemical use and disposal.

Conventional wet mopping practices require cleaning solution changes after every third room to reduce patient health risks from cross-contamination.

■ Reduce cleaning times for patient rooms.

Conventional wet mopping practices – including mopping the floor, preparing and changing the cleaning solution, and wringing the mop before and after jobs – take approximately 15 minutes for a typical patient room.

■ Reduce custodial staff injuries and workman's compensation claims.

Conventional wet mopping practices can lead to custodial staff injuries through the repeated motions of mopping, wringing, and lifting when disposing of heavy solutions.