Clean Break

The TURI Lab was recently interviewed by WBZ TV Channel 4 for a piece on safer cleaning products. The segment aired November 10.

Interviewed by Prevention Magazine on laundry cleaners and dryer sheets.

We have established a partnership with the International Executive Housekeeping Association (IEHA) to promote cleaning products that are both green and effective. The TURI Lab will test and validate high performance products.

The fee-based program will test soil removal efficacy of hard-surface cleaning products—both those certified as green by third-party organizations such as Green Seal, EcoLogo, EPA DfE and EcoForm, as well as products with green attributes—and recognize products that perform well in standard and customized cleaning tests.

Products accepted into the program will be tested using a variety of scientific methods and devices producing a detailed analysis of product performance. Manufacturers can use this information to improve their formulations as well as promote their products. Manufacturers of cleaning products that qualify after testing will be entitled to display the IEHA "High Performance Cleaning Product" designation and logo.

For more information on test procedures, performance benchmarks, or to apply for testing, please contact us.

A short video on the services the lab can provide to companies looking to have the there green cleaners evaluated for performance.

Green Cleaning Testing
We are currently working on a wax removal project for a company that makes glass capillary tubes. Testing has found a couple of aqueous based cleaners that work well in conjunction with heat and ultrasonic energy. The next steps will be to test on dirty parts.

Overall, the lab has worked with 4 companies and conducted 15 trials. Two site visits for new projects were scheduled recently. One was for a company that wanted to replace toluene for oil removal prior to painting. The second end user wanted assistance for reducing the use of nPB in its aircraft parts manufacturing facility.

Database
New products have been added to the database. Uploading testing information will take place by the end of the October. Plans to move ahead with a Janitorial/Household interface have resurfaced again. Stay tuned...

Outreach
A training for janitorial service providers was given at the MA Operational Service Division. The session provided basic information about Green Seal's GS 42 and ISSA Cleaning Industry Management Standard. The powerpoint slides are available at the Lab section of the TURI website under the Going Green for Cleaning.


The lab has been serving on the steering committee for the upcoming Process Cleaning Conference. The scope of sessions has been the focus of the group so far.

The lab will have a chapter in the 2nd edition of the Handbook of Critical Cleaning. The chapter looks at metal cleaning and how to select, test and implement safer cleaning products.

The lab staff attended the ISSA Interclean conference in Chicago, IL. The lab was there to encourage manufacturer's of safer cleaning products to get their products tested for performance. The lab participated in the International Executive Housekeepers Association's conference that was running concurrent to the ISSA show.

TURI Status
TURI has received funding from the University of Massachusetts Lowell that will allow the Institute to continue work through June 2010.

In partnership with the International Executive Housekeepers Association, the TURI Lab has put together a short video on what the lab can do for safer cleaning product performance testing. Take a look at the video: At YouTube and/or on the TURI site for the lab