What is Green Cleaning?

From Wikipedia:

Green cleaning refers to using cleaning methods and products with environmentally-friendly ingredients to preserve human health and environmental quality.

Green cleaning techniques and products avoid the use of chemically-reactive and toxic cleaning products which contain various toxic chemicals, some of which emit volatile organic compounds causing respiratory and dermatological problems among other adverse effects. 

Green cleaning can also describe the way residential and industrial cleaning products are manufactured, packaged and distributed. If the manufacturing process is environmentally-friendly and the products are biodegradable, then the term "green" or "eco-friendly" may apply. 

Green cleaning is behavioral as well as simply using healthy and environmentally-friendly products.  Consumers are being made aware of the ways in which green cleaning is most-effectively used.

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Stratus Joins the ISSA!

The International Sanitary Supply Association (now named as The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association) is an international association of companies that consider professional cleaning as the focus of their activity, and Stratus is now officially one of them.

The vision of Alfred Richter, who founded the National Sanitary Supply Association in 1923, has been remembered as. “I realized there was a great deal I did not know about the business. I presumed that a conference of successful distributors, drawn from various metropolitan cities, would result in an exchange of ideas that would be beneficial to all.”

From the ISSA:

Richter understood that the cleaning industry needed to unite as a community—not only for the betterment of its members, but also for the health of the nation. Based on these ideals, the association grew from its few founding members to a worldwide organization, and in 1966, to reflect its growing international membership, the association changed its name to International Sanitary Supply Association. Then, in 2005, the association embraced cleaning service providers, prompting the association to change its name and tagline simply to: ISSA—The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association.

ISSA’s 87 years of experience can mean success for your future. ISSA has alliances with more than 75 local, regional, and national associations as well as industry, government, and other leading corporate and community entities around the world. These are in addition to its own offices in Lincolnwood, IL; Amsterdam, Netherlands; Leicester, United Kingdom; Monterrey, Mexico; and Shanghai, China.

Stratus Building Solutions and the ISSA share the same passion for leading the facility services industry by providing the most up to date technology and processes, fostering the growth of our members and franchise owners, and finally cleaning for health.  The ISSA is a great resource to help broaden the knowledge of all of Stratus Building Solutions. 

The ISSA vision is simply “ISSA will be the leading resource for information, education, networking, and commercial opportunities as well as the leading voice in government and the community for firms within the cleaning industry worldwide.”

To achieve their vision, they follow the proactive steps

• Facilitate ongoing networking, communications, and commercial opportunities for the members.
• Provide members with the highest quality, industry-specific, relevant information.
• Be the most widely accepted resource for knowledge and standards regarding professional business practices and making the scientific connection between cleaning and health.
• Have the greatest impact on establishing a global cleaning community.

For more information, contact the ISSA Marketing Department at 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800; e-mail, diannab@issa.com.  For more information about Stratus Building Solutions facility services, please visit www.stratusbuildingsolutions.com; call 877-731-2020; email Dennis Jarrett at d.jarrett@stratusclean.com.

The Top Ten Ways You Can STILL Stay Healthy This Season

One of the unique things about the professional cleaning industry is that it is made up of thousands of sole proprietors, many with few (if any) workers. However, there is a significant operational issue with owning such a small company; if the sole proprietor gets sick, which is a bigger risk during these winter and spring months, it can cause havoc, economic pain, and even result in the loss of an account. Here are the top ten ways you can stay healthy this season:

1.       Eat well. Eat three well-balanced meals each day and try to avoid fast food.

2.       Wash your hands. Wash your hands frequently while working, after removing gloves, using cleaning equipment, tools, and/or chemicals.

3.       Use PPE. Wear gloves, goggles, and other protective clothing when working.

4.       Avoid inhaling chemical fumes. If mixing chemicals, do so in a well-ventilated area.

5.       Get plenty of sleep. Try to make your hours consistent; getting home and to bed at about the same time each evening improves sleep.

6.       Take a multivitamin. Some people believe in vitamins, and some don’t. But if taken as directed, vitamins may be able to keep you healthier.

7.       Get a flu shot.

   8.       Have a weekend. To keep the body strong and healthy, it is important to have a day or two off each week.

   9.       Drink lots of fluids. Drink plenty of water and juice while at work. If you think you are getting sick, drink even more. Some studies indicate drinking extra fluids at the first signs of illness can help it pass through your system faster.

   10.    Use ergonomic equipment. Select more advanced cleaning equipment, which is designed to make your job easier and help keep you healthy.

Finally, lighten up and stay happy! Studies indicate that people who have a positive, happy attitude towards life often have a stronger immune system!

Guest blog by Chelsea Pulley