Category: GSF News

To date, more than 211 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the U.S. and this number continues to climb each day. This added and long-awaited protection against the SARS-CoV-2 virus is giving many people the confidence to return to their places of work, to dine out with friends and family and even to travel again.  

As more businesses reopen or expand their capacity limits, it is important for facility managers to understand how to operate in a post-vaccine world. Consumer attitudes and concerns have greatly shifted over the last year, and with highly transmissible strains of COVID-19 still circulating around the world, facilities need to have the right cleaning precautions in place.  

Best Practices for Busy Buildings 

Consider the following strategies to give your facility’s visitors and occupants greater peace of mind as they start to frequent busier places.

Establish transparent cleaning routines that maximize productivity.  

Before the pandemic, cleaning often happened out of sight of building occupants to avoid disruptions. Now, it’s important that visitors see cleaning taking place to enhance their peace of mind. Facility managers must set cleaning schedules carefully. Employees need time and space to complete their tasks, so avoiding the busiest parts of the day or night will be important. However, having staff on hand to clean floors, surfaces and restrooms while guests are present is key. As your facility returns to normal occupancies, note the typical flow of foot traffic to determine when and how many staff members to assign to cleaning.  

Consider the environmental and health impacts of your cleaning chemicals.  

With many organizations dedicated to cleaning more thoroughly and more often, it’s essential that facility managers understand what kind of impact their cleaning may have on indoor air quality, occupant wellbeing and their surrounding communities. Caustic chemicals that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), strong fragrances or even dyes can irritate cleaning professionals and building visitors. They can even seep into the ground and local water supplies if poured down drains or disposals.  

Environmentally friendly chemicals can effectively inactive viruses, restore the look of surfaces and reduce indoor air pollution. Consider floor care machines that electrically convert water into an innovative cleaning solution, as well as electrochemically-activated solutions (ECAS) for cleaning and disinfecting counters, walls, restrooms, railings and more. Safe and sustainable solutions take the worry out of dealing with chemicals, which is especially helpful as foot traffic increases in your facility. 

Bring automated solutions into the mix.  

Robotics are increasingly becoming mainstream in the cleaning industry. This is because they allow cleaning teams to focus on other high-priority needs while automated machines resolve the tedious tasks. Floors are often the first thing facility visitors notice upon entering, so it’s crucial that they are always looking their best. Consider integrating automated vacuums or floor scrubbers into your program that will ensure floors are clean. They operate quickly and quietly and have sensors in place to avoid running into people, walls or other obstacles.    

Regularly check the stock of restroom essentials.  

With more people visiting facilities, restrooms will become busier. While they are often the smallest areas within a building, they can have the biggest impact on a visitor’s perception of cleanliness and impact their willingness to return. Make sure to frequently check the stock of necessities like hand soap, toilet paper and paper towels. If your facility has installed door tissue near restroom exits so guests can avoid directly touching door handles, be sure to restock these and regularly empty trash cans to avoid overflow.   

A Rise in Occupancy and Consumer Confidence  

As an increasing number of people receive the COVID-19 vaccination, the risk of disease transmission decreases. In turn, the public will feel more comfortable congregating in larger groups and facilities will increase occupancy thresholds. Allowing more occupants inside enables businesses to be more profitable. By keeping facilities clean, building occupants and guests will feel confident returning to the places where they work, learn, shop and socialize.   

At GSF, we care about clean and understand the challenges facing facilities today. Contact us here to learn more about our offerings, and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook for updates.   

Clean work environments offer many benefits. They allow employees to be more productive, project a more professional atmosphere and perhaps most importantly, they reduce the spread of potentially harmful pathogens that can lead to widespread outbreaks of illness. In the wake of the pandemic, employees are demanding that employers prioritize staff wellbeing. One way to do so is by considering the important role that cleaning plays in upholding health and safety. Access our free e-book that shares best practices for limiting outbreaks and facility closures to protect your employees, reputation and bottom line.

Maintaining Employee Health & Safety e-book

The future of our planet is a growing concern for many citizens worldwide. In fact, a groundbreaking new study by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) surveyed 1.2 million people living in 50 countries about climate change and found that two-thirds (66%) of people think it is a global emergency. Sustainability can manifest itself in many ways, including in the way a facility approaches cleaning and maintenance.  

With Earth Day on April 22, it’s the perfect opportunity to learn more about the myths around sustainable cleaning and to create your own goals around greening your operation.  

The Truth behind Green Cleaning 

Consider the following myths and truths about green cleaning to successfully implement sustainability into your program.  

Sustainable chemicals aren’t as effective. 

Just because a cleaning chemical is made in a more sustainable way doesn’t mean it won’t deliver on cleaning performance. As with introducing any type of new solution into your cleaning program, it’s important to carefully vet green cleaning chemicals. Take a close look at the ingredients to confirm the product is sustainable, note which pathogens it’s effective against and review the contact time to ensure it will be a good fit for your organization. You no longer have to use caustic chemicals to kill bacteria and fungi and inactivate viruses. 

Green cleaning is too expensive.  

Too often, sustainability is met with opposition because leaders believe that following environmental best practices will be costly. While it’s true that most green cleaning solutions and processes may require an initial cash infusion to implement successfully, investing in sustainability pays dividends. Companies committed to sustainability often outperform others that don’t consider the impact of their operations.     

Green cleaning is too difficult.  

Sustainability doesn’t have to be complex. If you’re unsure on where to start, consult with a qualified building service contractor and look to trusted organizations like LEED and Green Seal to understand ways to green facility maintenance and cleaning. These leaders offer certification programs that outline various categories and best practices, as well as guides on certified products to help facility managers jumpstart their sustainability journey.   

How Sustainable Cleaning Benefits Everyone 

Debunking myths around sustainable cleaning is crucial because a more strategic approach to cleaning supports the triple bottom line. Consider these benefits: 

People

With chronic conditions like asthma and allergies on the rise, it’s important to consider the impact that cleaning solutions have on indoor air and the people who use these spaces. Using sustainable chemicals improves indoor air quality and upholds cleanliness in commercial buildings. This creates healthier environments for facility occupants and visitors. Sustainable chemicals are also safer for staff who clean with them. 

Planet

The global population is on the rise and our society consumes resources faster than they can regenerate. If every country consumed as much as the United States, we would need five planet Earths’ worth of resources annually. As there is only one planet Earth, finding ways to reduce consumption is critical. Cleaning more sustainably is one easy-to-implement method for limiting waste. Green cleaning can drastically lower water, energy, chemical and plastic consumption, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, air pollution and more.  

Profit

Green cleaning can also support brand reputation, which offers its own unique benefits. Improving image can attract new customers and eco-conscious employees and strengthen loyalty. Today, the public is more in tune with a business’s ethical and environmental report card than in decades past. Sustainability efforts like green cleaning programs can drive a competitive advantage in the marketplace, setting your organization up for long-term success.  

Achieving Greatness through Green Cleaning 

Facilities realize many benefits through a more sustainable approach to cleaning. This includes energy and water savings, waste reduction, profit, better indoor air quality, enhanced brand reputation and more. Too often, facilities carry on using non-green alternatives because of the myths that exist around sustainable cleaning. This is the way they have always structured their cleaning programs. Today, there are many chemical, equipment and tool options on the market, as well as sustainable procedures that facilities can incorporate to improve the impact on people, the planet and profit.  

We believe in the benefits of sustainable cleaning. For more information about our Écologique cleaning program, contact our offices here and follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook for the latest updates from GSF USA. 

Challenge

Carmel Catholic High School in Mundelein, Ill. is a 1,150-student school run by the priests and brothers of the Order of Carmelites and the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This highly respected parochial high school provides a well-rounded educational experience through academics, arts and athletics, and fosters a commitment to the community and the environment in its students. The COVID-19 pandemic led Carmel Catholic High School to adopt a hybrid learning plan in August 2020 that allows students to participate in remote learning from home and in-person classes.

With students, faculty and staff meeting on site, the school has placed a high priority on cleaning during the day and evening to reduce the risk of virus transmission and keep the in-person educational experience available to students. GSF USA, a global cleaning services company, cleans the school nightly and Carmel Catholic’s custodial team handles daytime cleaning. The GSF USA team wanted to move away from traditional cleaning chemicals that can have a negative impact on custodial professionals, building occupants and indoor air quality without sacrificing efficacy. This goal aligned with the school’s intent to keep the community safe while also living out its values of protecting the environment.

“Providing a healthier environment for students, custodial staff, teachers and all other building occupants is paramount,” said Claudio R. Hernandez, Area Manager, GSF-USA. “The pandemic has presented new challenges because more frequent cleaning and disinfecting is expected, but it can actually result in adverse effects if the appropriate products aren’t being used.”

Solution

In a commitment to provide effective and environmentally responsible cleaning and disinfecting, GSF installed a PathoSans on-site generation (OSG) system at the school. The system uses water, salt and electricity to create PathoClean®, a cleaner/degreaser, and PathoCide®, a sanitizer/disinfectant, on demand and on site. The electrochemically activated (ECA) solutions are readily available, eliminate supply chain issues and do not contain added fragrances or caustic ingredients. PathoCide is laboratory proven to be effective at inactivating the SARS-CoV-2 virus.*

“We are a big proponent of the PathoSans system because it is a better and safer alternative to traditional chemicals,” added Hernandez. “While some of our employees are new to working with ECA solutions, they have quickly become raving fans after using the cleaner and disinfectant and seeing the positive difference it makes at Carmel Catholic.”

Some GSF professionals were skeptical of the PathoSans ECA solutions at first because unlike more traditional cleaners, they look like water, contain no added fragrance or dyes and do not produce soapy bubbles. However, the employees soon realized that the products are easy to use, do not require labor intensive scrubbing and deliver a better clean. Employees noticed the bathroom floors and walls were cleaner after each application and the solutions were removing both odors and stains. They also like that PathoClean and PathoCide do not harm their skin.

Each night, GSF’s team thoroughly cleans and disinfects high-touch surfaces throughout the school including classrooms, hallways, restrooms and more. When the science teachers learned about the PathoSans solutions being used in the school, they began researching the ECA method of cleaning and disinfecting. They recognized the benefits provided by the sodium hydroxide cleaner/degreaser and hypochlorous acid sanitizer/disinfectant. Many teachers now use the cleaner and disinfectant in their own classrooms and the teachers’ lounge.

Results

The partnership with GSF USA and PathoSans provides Carmel Catholic High School with:

Healthier and safer cleaning for people and the environment.

The PathoSans solutions offer an effective alternative to typical caustic chemicals with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are harmful to people and the environment. PathoClean and PathoCide are non-irritating to eyes and skin. They also do not leave behind an odor or residue. This makes them ideal for frequent use by cleaning professionals in the school where students, faculty and staff may have allergies, asthma or other sensitive health conditions.

Uninterrupted supplies of cleaning and disinfecting solutions.

The PathoSans solutions are produced in house and on demand. GSF knows their team will always have the necessary products to clean and disinfect the school at night and will not encounter supply chain issues. Daily and monthly system maintenance is quick and simple, and ensures that the system continually produces solutions within effective and safe ranges.

School-wide support and commitment to cleanliness.

For added assurance against COVID-19, many of the teachers are embracing the PathoSans solutions and supplementing GSF’s nightly cleaning and the custodial team’s daytime cleaning with their own cleaning and disinfecting efforts in classrooms. Teachers and cleaning staff use PathoClean to remove surface soils, followed by PathoCide to target remaining pathogens. PathoCide is 99.999% effective against numerous bacteria, fungi and viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Regular use of the PathoSans solutions improves the appearance of surface finishes by removing layers of soil, making the school look cleaner than ever before.

“We are dedicated to doing what is best for the facilities we serve as well as our employees,” said Hernandez. “Using products like PathoSans gives us peace of mind and results in cleaner, healthier schools.”

Download the PDF here:Carmel Catholic Case Study

 

*PathoCide® has been proven by an independent GLP laboratory to inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus in 60 seconds on a pre-cleaned surface and in 10 minutes in a one-step process when produced by on-site generator and used as directed. It is also effective against a wide range of bacteria and viruses, including Norovirus, which is generally recognized as one of the most difficult to kill.

Facility managers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce the volume of waste generated by their cleaning programs, move to safer chemicals that uphold good indoor air quality and don’t contain toxic ingredients and support their organizations’ long-term sustainability goals.

Écologique cleaning program

At GSF USA, we carefully consider the impact that our processes, chemicals, equipment and tools have on people and the planet. Green cleaning is in our DNA and our customers value our commitment to creating safer, more sustainable environments.

Our Écologique cleaning program uses processes that have been certified by Green Seal, a global non-profit and leader in sustainability. Learn more about the benefits of green cleaning and the five key Écologique program elements via our Écologique Infographic.

Imagine a world in which your operation won’t run out of cleaner and disinfectant, even if another pandemic emerges and demand surges to record highs. Consider the possibility of chemicals made from just three safe ingredients.  

It may sound like a dream, but these goals are achievable. With on-site generation (OSG) systems, you can make safe, sustainable cleaning a reality. OSG systems help you improve the appearance of your facility and elevate your cleaning program. You can better safeguard the health of your building’s cleaning and maintenance professionals, occupants and visitors with readily available cleaning solutions.  

What is On-site Generation? 

OSG systems use salt, water and electricity to produce two electrochemically activated solutions (ECAS). In one tank, the system creates a cleaner/degreaser, a sodium hydroxide solution. In the other tank, it produces a disinfectant/sanitizer, otherwise known as hypochlorous acid. Employees can easily dispense chemicals into spray bottles, mop buckets and floor care equipment.  

On-site generators are housed in a janitorial closet and can easily meet the needs of large facilities like schools, convention centers and commercial office buildings. Daily and monthly maintenance tasks keep the system running smoothly, enabling facilities to always have adequate volumes of cleaner and disinfectant.   

On-site Generation Creates Many Benefits 

On-site generation of cleaning and disinfecting solutions offers many benefits, including: 

Reliable supply.

During the pandemic, supply chains struggled to keep up with demand and shipments experienced delays. In some cases, organizations had to purchase and use different chemicals than their staff members were accustomed to.  

With OSG, facilities are always ready to clean. They have 24/7 access to cleaning and disinfecting solutions that have proven efficacy against numerous types of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Facility managers can ramp up production to respond to an outbreak, prepare for a large event or expand cleaning services to new areas of a building with ease. 

Enhanced safety. 

Essential frontline cleaners are at greater risk for chemical accidents or injuries. A surprising number of convention cleaning chemicals have high concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH), which can irritate the skin, eyes and throat. Incorrect chemical mixtures or dilutions can aggravate health conditions and even be deadly. 

Because ECAS are made from just salt, water and electricity and contain no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), phthalates, detergents or fragrances, they can help facilities boost employee attendance, comfort and performance. Effective cleaning solutions also protect custodians and building occupants from pathogens of concern.  

Sustainability.  

Many organizations are also taking a closer look at the effect that their cleaning programs have on the environment. Some products on the market claim to be environmentally friendly but in reality, some are using greenwashing to drive sales.  

ECAS are the way of the future for green cleaning. They help organizations reduce their environmental footprint by limiting packaging, shipping, water use and waste. They are also drain- and disposal-friendly, and are made from three safe and easily accessible ingredients.  

Simplified training. 

When custodial employees must learn about and use many different types of chemicals, it makes training and cleaning processes more complex. Simplifying training saves time and can help reduce high turnover rates.  

With only two chemicals, a cleaner and disinfectant, it’s easier to onboard new employees and teach them how to address surfaces throughout the facility. Staff are ready to clean much more quickly compared to alternative cleaning and disinfecting processes.    

A Better Approach to Cleaning 

In-house custodial teams and building service contractors often collaborate when overseeing cleaning in large facilities. Having easy, on-site access to effective chemicals means that cleaning teams are always ready for consistent, safe, sustainable and simple cleaning. This allows organizations to better prevent outbreaks and maintain their commitment to the new standard of cleanliness.  

The transition from traditional chemicals to ECAS is incredibly simple. By working with a qualified service provider, you can quickly implement a safer and more sustainable approach to cleaning that will benefit your employees, occupants and visitors.  

At GSF-USA, we’re proud to invest in a better method of cleaning with on-site generation systems. For more information, contact our offices here. Follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook for the latest updates.   

Challenge

Founded in 1972, Valley View School District today serves approximately 16,000 students in 22 educational facilities. The district takes pride in maintaining its schools to support student and staff wellbeing, and was seeking ways to improve its cleaning program in early 2020. Its building service contractor (BSC) at the time was using various chemicals and concentrates to clean and disinfect the elementary, middle, high schools and the administrative office.

When the novel coronavirus pandemic complicated the BSC’s ability to source necessary products for the district, Valley View sought a way to fast-track a more reliable approach to cleaning and disinfecting. The new program would need to ensure employees always had the necessary solutions on hand and reassure students, staff and parents that every facility was properly and frequently cleaned and disinfected without exposing individuals to toxic chemicals.

Solution

Valley View transitioned from its previous contractor to GSF USA, a global cleaning services company, to enhance cleaning and disinfecting across the district. GSF installed numerous on-site generators from PathoSans®, which utilize softened tap water, an electrolytic cell and salt to produce electrochemically activated solutions (ECAS). The result is PathoClean® cleaner/degreaser, a sodium hydroxide solution, and PathoCide® sanitizer/disinfectant, a hypochlorous acid solution. The solutions are effective and always available, eliminating supply chain issues that hinder the ability to clean consistently and frequently.

“While it’s easy to source chemicals that address pathogens of concern, many facilities face the challenge of finding products that don’t harm those who are performing cleaning tasks,” said Kurt Kuempel, General Manager, GSF USA. “GSF has relied on ECAS for several years across our customer sites because it offers many efficacy and safety advantages compared to traditional cleaning methods.”

With just two solutions for all cleaning and disinfecting needs, GSF simplifies the training process and drastically reduces inconsistency in cleaning results. Between its own evening staff of 110 and the district’s team of roughly 40 daytime workers, GSF is responsible for training 150 people to properly use the PathoSans system and clean and disinfect throughout the district’s buildings. GSF also focuses its training on the “why” of cleaning to better engage employees by highlighting the product formulations and how they ensure efficacy.

Results

By installing and using the PathoSans systems, GSF USA has helped Valley View School District achieve the following benefits:

Achieve peace of mind around product efficacy.

PathoClean® and PathoCide® can be used against a variety of bacteria, fungi and viruses, and have demonstrated efficacy against human coronavirus and other viruses more resilient to disinfection. This gives the district added assurance that its schools are being thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.

Eliminate supply issues.

On-site generation offers an uninterrupted supply of on-demand cleaning and disinfecting solutions. In the event of an outbreak or emergency, staff can quickly increase system output. The district no longer has to worry about product shortages, shipping delays and exorbitant price increases when demand for disinfectants is high and supply is low.

Clean and disinfect with safety at the forefront.

The solutions are non-irritating to eyes and skin and contain no added fragrance, making them ideal for daily use, even when students, staff and visitors are present. In the wake of the pandemic, many facilities have implemented new methods for broader and faster cleaning and disinfecting, like electrostatic spraying. However, not all chemicals are safe to use with equipment that produces small droplets that can be inhaled. Kuempel notes that “because the ECAS chemicals are safe, we’re able to use them within various devices like foggers, misters and electrostatic sprayers without the risk that other chemicals carry.”

Simplify training and enhance cleaning consistency.

With the PathoSans system, GSF can simplify training. Using just two products for all of their cleaning and disinfecting needs streamlines the cleaning process and reduces the risk that employees will be confused or apply the solutions improperly. This ensures consistent cleaning across the entire district.

Clean and disinfect in an environmentally responsible way.

Because they are comprised of water, salt and electricity, the PathoSans solutions are not harmful to the environment or surfaces within the schools. They are drain and disposal friendly. Plus, the use of refillable spray bottles helps facilities reduce plastic waste.

“The PathoSans system produces the most effective chemicals we’ve ever used,” added Kuempel. “Given the safety, accessibility and efficacy benefits, I believe ECAS will become the industry norm, especially in educational environments that want to meet a new standard of clean.”

Download the PDF here: Valley View School District Case Study

Welcome to our first edition of “Celebrating the People who Care about Clean,” a quarterly spotlight series on employees who have recently celebrated milestone work anniversaries. At GSF USA, we understand the important role that our team plays in keeping our customers’ facilities clean and safe. This has become even more important over the last year as the world grappled with new risks presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each day, our professionals showcase their expertise, dedicated service and attention to detail as they work to protect public health and safety.  

 We are committed to cultivating an enriching workplace that challenges and celebrates our employees. Our rewarding and innovative culture encourages longer tenure than other service providers in the industry. We are proud to have many staff members celebrating major milestones with GSF USA.  

Below is who we’re celebrating this quarter. We congratulate everyone on their incredible loyalty and service and look forward to many more years together! 

20th Anniversaries  

 Deanna T., senior accountant, GSF USA 

After first serving as an intern, Deanna was hired as a staff accountant on Feb. 5, 2001. She now leads accounts receivable and is the senior accountant on the GSF USA accounting team. Her financial acumen is unmatched, and her dedication to her career and to GSF’s success and growth is inspiring. Deanna’s favorite aspects of working for GSF USA are the people she’s worked alongside for many years, the stability and growth of the company, and the flexibility that’s been offered during the pandemic. 

Veronica C., area manager, GSF Indiana 

Veronica joined the GSF USA team on Jan. 26, 2001. She has been promoted twice during her tenure and is now an area manager on the GSF Indiana Team. Our area managers oversee daily operations, making them an integral part of our success. Veronica is skilled at balancing the needs of her employees, and her favorite part about being an area manager is knowing that clients are satisfied with the work her and her team have done. 

5th Anniversaries  

 Teresa H., staff accountant, GSF USA 

After first serving as a temporary replacement, Teresa was hired as a staff accountant on Dec. 31, 2015. She now leads accounts payable on the GSF USA accounting team, meaning that we all have Teresa to thank for expertly managing our relationships with our suppliers.  “I love the people I work with, the experience I’ve received and above all, GSF is my work family. I feel blessed to be part of GSF USA and want to be part of the team as we continue to grow in 2021,” adds Teresa. 

Luis T., branch manager, GSF Illinois 

Luis joined the GSF USA team on Dec. 28, 2015. Over the last several years, he has been promoted and is now a branch manager on the GSF Illinois Team. Luis describes himself as an outgoing person and enjoys the collaborative environment and that his coworkers are always available to help him. He likes being a branch manager because he has opportunities for growth for not only himself but his team as well.  

Ana A., area manager, GSF Illinois 

Ana was also hired on Dec. 28, 2015. Since then, she has been promoted twice and serves as an area manager on the GSF Illinois Team. In her role, every day is different. Ana has proven herself skilled at balancing the many responsibilities that area managers have.  According to Ana, “GSF stands out from other companies because they appreciate, respect and celebrate employees and customers every day. The values GSF is built on are everything I believe in and that’s why it’s the perfect place for me to work. GSF not only rewards hard work but gives employees a meaningful career and the knowledge, tools and support to achieve your goals.” 

Jose A., area manager, GSF Illinois 

Jose is celebrating five years with GSF and currently serves as an area manager. Because he started with GSF as a cleaning technician and has worked his way up to a managerial role, he feels he is well-positioned to understand his team’s needs and help them be successful in their careers. Being able to help others is one of his favorite parts of working at GSF.  

 

In addition to our managers, we would also like to recognize our hardworking hourly employees for their recent anniversary milestones. We thank them for helping us deliver cleanliness to customers every day.  

 20th Anniversary  

• Gumercindo Cabrera, GSF Indiana  

 5th Anniversaries  

• Gustavo C., GSF Illinois 
• Ramon D., GSF Illinois 
• Reyna M., GSF Illinois
• Jose M., GSF Illinois 
• Rolando R., GSF Illinois 
• Nayib R., GSF Illinois  
• Azucena G., GSF Indiana 
• Alberto I., GSF Indiana 
• Jose M., GSF Indiana 
• Mauricio P., GSF Indiana 
• Lucia R., GSF Indiana 
• Ramiro R., GSF Indiana 
• Gudelia R., GSF Indiana 

Interested in becoming part of our incredible team? Visit our online CAREERS page and follow us on LINKEDIN and FACEBOOK for the latest hiring updates.