A Green Cleaning Program for Your Sports Facility

A Green Cleaning Program for Your Sports Facility

Helping the Environment – and Your Bottom Line

When they initially arose, businesses were hesitant to adopt green, environmentally friendly practices, thinking they were just a fad. Compounding the problem were the inflated prices and diminished effectiveness of green cleaning products. However, industry surveys show that environmentally conscious consumers are here to stay. Luckily, a move toward sustainability is not just one that satisfies your customer, but one that can help your bottom line. Green products have dramatically increased their effectiveness from both a performance and a cost standpoint. Meanwhile, reducing and recycling waste reduces cost. Here are some examples of sustainable practices that sports facilities can use to keep their fans happy and help their bottom line.

LED Lighting

Most venues have made the switch to LED light fixtures by now and it’s easy to see why. LED lights are far more energy-efficient than incandescent or fluorescent light fixtures, using an eighth of the energy. In addition to using less energy, these bulbs have a much longer lifespan.

Water-Saving Plumbing Fixtures

The huge volume of fans that sports facilities see plus the alcohol and soda they consume means that the water is running continuously on game day. Switching to low-flow plumbing fixtures can reduce water usage by 30%.

Green Cleaning Products

Cleaning products are often full of harsh, toxic chemicals like bleach, ammonia, and chlorine. In the dark ages, though, this was the only way to ensure the job was done right. Bioesque Solutions was founded on the principle that there must be a safer way to clean without sacrificing any effectiveness. Our products are powered by Thymox and designed to work together, harmoniously like in nature, to bring the future of disinfecting and cleaning to our customers today.

Keeping the Fans – and Mother Nature – Happy

These are just a few ideas to build a sustainable sports facility. Energy management systems, EV charging stations for your fleet, and other moves can reduce your energy usage, waste, and cost. It’s a move towards a better future, keeping the fans happy and extra dollars in your pocket.

Tips for a Clean Locker Room at Your Sports Facility

Tips for a Clean Locker Room at Your Sports Facility

Ensuring a Safe and Sanitary Locker Room

Locker rooms present a particular challenge for the owners of sports facilities as they are among the dirtiest areas of the premises. A high amount of traffic means that high contact areas are hotspots for the normal strains of bacteria and viruses. However, the nature of locker rooms means that they’re also subject to fungi like athlete’s foot and ringworm. Furthermore, as they’re the place in which athletes attend to their personal hygiene, it’s absolutely essential that janitorial crews meticulously clean these areas in order to maintain their health and safety. The following checklist should help ensure a safe, sanitary locker room.

The Lockers

First, the tops, fronts and sides of all lockers should be thoroughly scrubbed using an environmentally friendly disinfectant and allowed to dwell and dry according to the manufacturer’s directions. Bioesque’s Botanical Disinfectant Solution kills 99.9% of bacteria in two minutes, 99.9% of fungi and molds in three minutes, and 99.9% of viruses in four minutes. It also features a 55-second kill-time against SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). For vacant lockers, the interior should also be disinfected.

Restroom and Shower Areas

After disinfecting the lockers, all toilets, sinks and showers of the locker room bathrooms should be thoroughly attended to. Make a list of all high-touch areas – toilet, sink, and shower handles, stall door handles, towel dispensers, air dryers, soap dispensers – and make sure they’re given special attention.

Benches and Chairs

These spots see bare skin contact so make sure to disinfect them with an environmentally friendly solution.

The Floors

These surfaces see bare skin contact, meaning things like athlete’s foot and ringworm can spread quickly. Schedule them for a thorough mopping before and after the athletes visit. Also, make sure that the tools you’re using for the job are clean using a two-bucket system.

Athletes need to maintain peak physical performance in order to succeed. Ensuring that their locker rooms will give them peace of mind and allow them to focus on the next challenge. Stock your supply closets with Bioesque cleaning products. Powered by Thymox®, every Bioesque Solutions product is designed to work together, harmoniously like in nature, to bring the future of disinfecting and cleaning to our customers today.

sports facility cleaning products

The Tough Task of Cleaning Sports Facilities

Keeping Sports Facilities Clean for Millions of Fans

Millions of fans make their way through stadiums, arenas, and other sports facilities each year. To give you an idea of the traffic that these venues see, the 2018-2019 season brought 805,264 fans to FTX Arena, home of the Miami Heat. The Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium hosted 504,540 individuals the same year while the Marlins saw 811,302 fans come through their doors and the Florida Panthers had an attendance of 493,671. That’s over 2.6 million fans in one city during one sports year. Furthermore, that’s just fans at games. That’s not counting the special events that these venues routinely host, plus all the employees and staff that run them. It’s a huge amount of people and it raises the question: how can we possibly keep these places clean?

Sports Facilities Are Like Cities Unto Themselves

The Miami Dolphins averaged 64,374 fans per home game in 2021. That’s like a medium-sized town moving into a venue every Sunday. That’s an awful lot of feet on walkways and hands on rails. Furthermore, these are massive structures with a number of specialized areas. There are the seats, walkways, and entranceways, sure. But there are also carpeted suites and administrative offices, kitchens, restaurants, restrooms, locker rooms, and more. Sports facilities, then, need more than an accomplished and coordinated team of professionals to take on the job. They need a wide array of products able to handle all the areas the job requires.

Bioesque Solutions Has an Answer

Bioesque offers a full line of botanically-based cleaning products for all areas of sports facilities. For example, our Botanical Disinfectant Solution is a ready-to-use all-purpose solution, capable of cleaning, disinfecting, and deodorizing in one step. Meanwhile, our Cleaner and Degreaser is perfect for tough jobs in kitchen and garage areas while our Botanical Carpet Cleaners feature a deep cleaning formula that effectively removes tough spots and stains while simultaneously deodorizing.

Winning Big with the Fans

Part of the fan experience is walking into a gleaming stadium or arena. To a lot of fans, these venues are like a second home and they take a lot of pride in it. They also want to know that the staff at sports facilities are doing everything they can to make sure their game day is taking place in a safe, healthy environment. Keeping your supply rooms stocked with Bioesque Solutions will help keep your fans healthy, happy, and coming back again and again.

Restroom Cleaning - line of urinals

Restroom Cleaning at Sports Facilities

Restroom Cleanliness is a Top Priority

Stadiums, arenas, and other sports facilities see millions of guests walk through their doors each year. And a good number of these fans will make their way to the concessions areas to buy, among other things, soda and alcohol. It’s a high-traffic, high-energy environment. As a result, restrooms at sports facilities can take an absolute beating.

Restroom cleanliness, then, has always been a top priority when it comes to sports facility upkeep. Furthermore, the post-COVID era has led to a new awareness of public health and safety. Studies show that 80% of respondents feel more unsafe using an unclean public restroom now compared with how they felt prior to the pandemic. These sentiments are likely the new normal for the foreseeable future. Sports facility management and janitorial crews must respond accordingly.

High Frequency and High Visibility

A clean appearance and pleasant smell in your venue’s facilities are a must. However, fans today need more. They need to feel safe. They want to know that the venue’s staff is taking care of them while they’re having a good time. So not only does your cleaning crew need a detailed and complete schedule and cleaning protocols, as well as effective disinfecting supplies. They need to maintain a degree of visibility to your guests to put their minds at ease. The following is a list of best practices to make sure your janitorial crews are ensuring a safe, sanitary environment for the fans.

  • Build a checklist and a schedule – Stadiums are huge structures. Developing a list that addresses all high-touch areas and contact points – door handles, fixture handles, soap and towel dispensers, countertops ­ will ensure that nothing gets overlooked while a high-frequency schedule will make sure these spots stay clean.
  • Personal protective equipment – instruct your staff to wear gloves and face masks while working.
  • Adhere to current local social distancing and masking policies.
  • Use clean tools – make sure staff is using clean mop heads, scrubbers, buckets, etc.
  • Use effective supplies – the EPA’s List N is a list of certified products known to kill the SARS-CoV-2 virus (COVID-19). This list includes Bioesque’s Botanical Disinfectant Solution, featuring a 55-second kill time.
  • Use supplies effectively – apply disinfectants liberally to all restroom surfaces and let them dwell according to the time prescribed by the manufacturer.

Take Care of the Little Things

Going the extra mile to make sure the little things are taken care of goes a long way in fans’ eyes. For example, soap dispensers should never be empty and toilet paper should always be stocked. When fans see management taking care of the little details, they feel a lot safer and more satisfied. This ensures a great time at the game and many repeat visits in the future.

Hospital Checklist

A CDC Checklist to Make Sure Your Hospital is Prepared

Readiness in the Event of an Outbreak

One thing the past year has taught us is that hospitals need to be prepared for a community coronavirus outbreak in order to maintain healthcare services. Headline after headline gives us news about hospitals being filled past capacity. Additionally, hospital-acquired infections have already been a risk to be cognizant of when managing a healthcare facility. Now, though, they have become a hot-button talking point. Facilities are full of patients with the highly contagious virus. In order to help facilities prepare for the influx of positive patients and to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Center for Disease Control has devised a checklist to ensure hospitals’ readiness.

An Outline to Develop a Comprehensive Plan

Hospitals of different sizes and various specialties will of course have slightly different needs. However, this outline can be altered accordingly and be used to develop a comprehensive checklist to meet each facilities’ demands. It outlines the development and implementation of a planning committee and written outbreak plans. It also includes the necessary elements for that plan. Additionally, it stresses the importance of communication amongst departments, screening and monitoring procedures for patients, and training and education for staff. Finally, it offers a plan for visitor access and management. The full checklist can be found here.

An EPA-Approved Disinfectant

In the section concerning medical equipment and supplies, the CDC recommends “EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants to allow for frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces and shared patient care equipment”. Additionally, the EPA maintains “List N“. This is a list of products “expected to kill all strains and variants of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) when used according to the label directions”. Bioesque’s Botanical Disinfectant Solution is included on this list. It features a 55-second kill time against the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Powered by Thymox technology, free of bleach and other hazardous chemicals, this all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant also kills 99.9% of bacteria in two minutes, 99.9% of fungi and molds in three minutes, and 99.9% of viruses in four minutes.

Keeping Hospitals Clean During COVID-19

Keeping Your Hospitals Clean, Disinfected, and Protected During COVID-19

Cleanliness is always of the utmost importance when it comes to hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Hospital-acquired infections (also known as healthcare-associated infections, or HAI) are a very real danger. However, clean and sanitary facilities can cut down the risk of them considerably. During the coronavirus pandemic, though, this goal has taken on an even greater significance. Some experts from the University of North Carolina detailed some strategies that hospitals and other healthcare facilities are implementing to combat the spread of COVID-19.

An Effective Disinfectant at an Increased Frequency

Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, director of UNC Medical Center Infection Prevention, says that COVID-19 “is actually one of the easiest pathogens to eliminate with disinfection”. It’s important, though, that janitorial staffs are using a hospital and EPA-approved disinfectant. Furthermore, these staffs are cleaning more often than they were prior to the pandemic. For example, UNC Health’s Environmental Services team is disinfecting areas like the emergency department, lobbies, waiting rooms, restrooms, and hallways every two hours. In addition to the usual sweeping and mopping, they’re also paying special attention to high-touch areas like countertops and chairs.

Isolating Patients

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities take steps to separate COVID-19-positive patients from other patients. This helps to reduce the spread of the virus. Dr. Sickbert-Bennett speaks of screening processes integrated with electronic medical record systems. These measures can alert staff and keep track of patients with COVID. Hospitals are also taking extra steps to separate patients in the emergency room.

Transporting Patients

Patients in hospitals often need to be moved from one area of the facility to another. Accordingly, healthcare facilities are implementing extra steps to ensure their safety. For example, after taking a patient from a testing lab to their room, UNC Health staff returns the stretchers or wheelchairs to a new cleaning station in their equipment storage area where they get a thorough disinfection.

While these steps were designed to reduce the spread of coronavirus, many are bound to become the new norm as hospitals learn to provide a safer environment more efficiently.

Best Cleaning Practices for Your Healthcare Facilities

Streamlining and Improving Healthcare Facility Cleaning Plans

Cleaning and disinfecting have always had a special significance in the healthcare industry. Facilities need to be doing all they can to ensure the safety of patients and staff alike. Cleaning programs should always be evaluated to make sure teams are delivering the safest possible environment in the most efficient manner. Bioesque Solutions was founded on the principle that there is a better, safer way to clean, and with this in mind, here are a few tips to streamline and improve your healthcare facility cleaning program.

Move Toward Sustainability

As more companies begin to realize their benefits, sustainable practices have become the norm for all types of businesses, including healthcare facilities. LED lights, water-saving plumbing fixtures, and buying locally are all practices that can both reduce a hospital’s carbon footprint and lower costs. Switching to green cleaning products, free from hazardous chemicals, can also improve the overall health of a facility without sacrificing effectiveness.

Monitor Air Quality

Air contaminants can cause and exacerbate health problems. particularly in patients with respiratory issues. In addition to replacing harsh chemicals with green solutions, ventilation systems should be cleaned, and filters replaced often. This will improve the air quality of your facility.

Maintain a Clean Image and Improve Patient Experience

The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey is an excellent tool to give administrators and cleaning teams a new perspective on their facility. It’s a means to bring attention to areas that may be overlooked due to familiarity.

Bioesque Solutions offers a full range of botanically-derived products to handle a wide variety of healthcare facility needs. Our Botanical Disinfectant Solution, Carpet Cleaner, Odor Neutralizer, and Stainless Steel Cleaner and Polish are just a few effective ways to move toward a safer, cleaner, and greener healthcare facility.

How to Build a Safe Effective Healthcare Cleaning Program

How to Build a Safe, Effective Healthcare Cleaning Program

Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Protecting

Maintaining the cleanliness of hospitals and other healthcare facilities isn’t just important for patients and staff – it’s essential for the health of the entire surrounding community. Additionally, cleaning healthcare facilities is much more involved than merely emptying the trash and running a vacuum over the carpet. The constant influx of patients with contagions and delicate health issues makes every high-traffic area a potential hazard. Furthermore, the sheer size of some hospitals can make cleaning a daunting task. It’s helpful then to have a detailed plan in place for regular cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing your healthcare facility.

The Importance of Cleaning

Cleaning clears dirt, debris, and micro-organisms from surfaces, making them less hospitable for pathogens. Industrial-strength vacuums are also important. These vacuums usually feature HEPA filters, which can remove 99% of airborne particles. When it comes to mopping, be sure to use a two-bucket process. This ensures that waste is kept separate from the cleaning solution. Furthermore, mops should be completely cleaned and dried after each use. Finally, all involved staff should be wearing the proper personal protective equipment when cleaning.

The Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfection

While cleaning removes micro-organisms from surfaces and slows their proliferation, disinfection actually kills them. When disinfecting, be sure to pay particular attention to high-touch surfaces like counters, chairs, railings, and handles, along with all treatment areas. The Environmental Protection Agency’s List-N is a guide of products that are expected to kill SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) when used in accordance with directions. Bioesque’s Botanical Disinfectant Solution is a List-N product and features a 55-second kill time against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Handling Medical Waste

Healthcare facilities generate waste such as used medical supplies, lab refuse, blood, and other bodily fluids. These items must be designated as medical waste and have special procedures for handling and disposal. All cleaning staff must be trained to recognize, handle, and dispose of this type of waste

When devising a healthcare facility cleaning program, keep these guidelines in mind. Ensure the entire staff is on the same page and each employee knows their responsibility. Further resources can be found on the CDC’s Healthcare page.

Best Cleaning Practices for Your Restaurant

Best Practices for Cleaning Your Restaurant

Welcoming Your Guests Back

COVID-19 has been brutal on restaurants but, luckily, those who made it through are beginning to allow in-person dining again. This is an excellent time to review some best practices for restaurant cleaning to provide a safe, sanitary environment for guests and ensure repeat visits.

Foodborne Illness is Restaurant Enemy #1

A food-related outbreak of diseases like E. coli and norovirus can be a disaster for a restaurant. Consider Chipotle, hit with a $25 million fine after instances of E. coli, norovirus, and salmonella outbreaks in 2014. Proper and frequent handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of foodborne illness. As we’ve all learned in the COVID era, 20 seconds with soap and warm water is enough. Other things to watch for are sick staff members, poor food storage practices, and improperly cleaned workstations. Bioesque’s Botanical Disinfectant Solution can clean and disinfect in one step, kills E. coli in two minutes and norovirus in four, and is safe for food-touch areas.

Know the Health Department’s Guidelines

Skipping on these out of ignorance or carelessness can mean temporary closures or having to display a low grade somewhere in your establishment. Both will cost you money. These guidelines were devised to make sure restaurants are providing clean, safe environments. Use them to guide you as you develop a cleaning plan for your business.

Keep the Critters at Bay

Another thing that can destroy a restaurant’s reputation is a guest seeing a roach during a visit. Or, worse yet, finding one in their food. Make sure you’re doing everything you can to make your restaurant as inhospitable as possible to pests. This means storing food properly in airtight containers, making sure food residue is cleaned up at workstations and in coolers, and taking trash bags out to the dumpster several times a day. Signs that you might have a pest problem are chewed containers, rodent droppings, and flies in the food prep area.

Get Everyone on the Same Page

It does no good to have the kitchen staff following best practices for cleaning if the servers are going to contaminate the food before it reaches the guest and vice versa. Make sure everyone on your team knows the guidelines for proper hygiene, food safety, and general cleanliness. Stick to your standards and make them a habit.

Think About Customer Perception

Following the Health Department guidelines will ensure your business is safe and sanitary, but you can really give your restaurant’s dining experience a boost by putting yourself in the guest’s shoes. Think about the little details that can make or break a night out. Does your dining area seem welcoming? How do the floors look? Are the salt and pepper shakers full? What about the toilet paper in the restrooms? Walk through your entire establishment to try to find things you’ve overlooked. You could also ask a friend to come in and eat and be as critical as possible, writing down everything they see in a notebook. Sometimes a set of fresh eyes helps. The goal is the best customer experience possible and using these tips as a starting point will get your restaurant there in no time.

Buying Restaurant Cleaning Products

Important Considerations When Buying Restaurant Cleaning Products

A Variety of Needs, a Variety of Products

Restaurants have both high-traffic and specialized areas that require a variety of cleaning products. Dining areas, lobbies, restrooms, and kitchens all have special needs that we must attend to. What works great for cleaning your kitchen’s air vents is totally inappropriate for guests’ tables. Here is a list of important considerations to think about when purchasing cleaning products for your restaurant.

Know the Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting

This has taken on a special importance over the last couple of years. Cleaning refers to the process of removing dirt and other impurities from a surface. On the other hand, disinfecting actually kills the viruses and bacteria in an area. Both are necessary to help reduce the spread of pathogens.

What Jobs Can Each Product Handle?

Knowing the versatility of what you’re purchasing can help you cut down costs in the long run. A good all-purpose cleaner and disinfectant is always a good investment. However, such products probably won’t be powerful enough to handle the grease that can accumulate in the kitchen. Read each product label closely and make the best decision for your specific restaurant.

How Much Should I Buy?

This is a bit of a balancing act. You’ll have to consider how often you’ll be using each product and how much you’ll need before the next order. You should also think about how much space you have for storage and how much each product will take up. For example, if you use tablets to clean your deep fryer, you can probably go ahead and buy in bulk to save cost as they don’t have much of a footprint.

How Safe Are These Products?

Many cleaning products are full of harsh and toxic chemicals like bleach, chlorine, or phosphates. Furthermore, even milder products aren’t necessarily safe for food-touch surfaces. Again, read the label carefully and think about where this chemical will be used and how often.

How Do These Products Affect the Environment?

If ecological responsibility is important to your business and clientele, there are environmentally friendly products available. Bioesque’s Botanical Disinfectant Solution is botanically derived and free of the harsh chemicals mentioned above. It’s also an excellent all-purpose cleaner, handling both cleaning and disinfecting, and is safe for food-touch surfaces.

Global – Bottom D – Footer Block

bioesque-footer-logo

2091 NE 36th Street #50548
Lighthouse Point, FL 33074

info@bioesquesolutions.com

Subscribe to our list for new product updates

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy PolicyTerms of Service apply.