Clean Break

The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) and the University of Massachusetts Lowell TURI lab have announced that performance analysis during the IEHA/TURI High Performance Cleaning Product (HPCP) testing program will be enhanced through use of the BYK-Gardner Spectro-Guide to measure the color and gloss of surfaces before and after cleaning.
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Recent series of videos for carpet cleaning. Here is Heidi talking about do-it-yourself cleaners:

Proposed Projects of the TURI Lab for FY 2011
Project Detail: End User Testing
Brief Description: Continue to provide testing services to end users in MA. Establish methodology for providing consistent services to New England
GOALS or OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Provide testing services to end users 10 end users
Goal 2 Improve on-site assistance program
Goal 3 Create Green Facility Cleaning – fact sheet

Project Detail: Small Contract Work
Brief Description: Conduct R&D testing for new products or other cleaning related applications.
GOALS or OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Provide testing services to 10 vendors
Goal 2 Identify industry trade group for non-janitorial products
Goal 3 Identify and contact other MA based manufacturers of cleaning products for testing services/database listing


Project Detail: Database Web Tool
Brief Description: Continue to expand database features. Use the search log to focus student testing. P2OASys population and on-line version
GOALS or OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Create and pilot Janitorial/household interface
Goal 2 Populate products in CleanerSolutions with P2OASys data

Project Detail: Disinfection Testing
Brief Description: Establish testing program for “safer” disinfection chemicals and practices
GOALS or OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Work with SHE Clinical Science lab to pilot "green" disinfection testing
Goal 2 Create fee-for-service infrastructure

Project Detail: Do-it-Yourself Cleaning Recipes
Brief Description: Focus on providing test results in household user friendly format. Test most common recipes.
GOALS or OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Complete existing formulation testing
Goal 2 updating layout of DIY turi.org pages
Goal 3 DIY Cleaners demonstration - hands-on workshop demo

Project Detail: Formulations
Brief Description: Investigate possible new solvents for cleaning applications - aerosol substitutes, green/sustainable solvents, green vapor degreaser
GOALS or OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Generate a list of ingredients for possible formulations
Goal 2 Formulate basic "green" products and test performance

Project Detail: Hands-on workshop
Brief Description: Target janitorial service providers for on-site workshop. Duplicate RI workshop and assistance with other states regarding TCE – partner with EPA
GOALS or OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Target janitorial service providers - DIY recipes
Goal 2 Hold an open house for MA cleaning product manufacturers
Goal 3 Hold off-site workshop and provide assistance to companies out of state (Connecticut)

Project Detail: Mobile Lab
Brief Description: Determine ways to acquire and outfit mobile surface cleaning lab.
GOALS or OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Identify alternative sources of financial support
Goal 2 Expand capabilities to include outreach and training

Project Detail: Outreach
Brief Description: Promoting services and success of laboratory.
GOALS or OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Create case study on Green Facility cleaning
Goal 2 Create case study for high hazard replacement project
Goal 3 Attend and present on testing program with IEHA at ISSA

Project Detail: State-of-the-Art Facility
Brief Description: To ensure the lab is still providing relevant testing expertise.
GOALS or OBJECTIVES
Goal 1 Verify current vendor information
Goal 2 Identify and acquire new cleaning product/equipment
Goal 3 Replace, upgrade and expand coupon inventory

Project Summaries completed from July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010

Project
End User Testing

Brief Description
Conduct process specific testing for both industrial and janitorial testing as requested by companies

Summary
Four end user cleaning projects took place with seventeen cleaning trials. Multiple site visits were made to assist in the implementation of lab recommendations.


Project
Small Contract Work
Brief Description
Conduct R&D testing for new products or other cleaning related applications.
Summary
Ten testing contracts were conducted with 56 trials run. Most projects focused on green certification testing. Two formulation projects were run and one equipment evaluation was started at the end of the fiscal year.

Project
Database Web Tool
Brief Description
Continue to expand database features. Use the search log to focus student testing. P2OASys population and on-line version
Summary
Minimal updates were conducted for the web database. No new features were added during the year. There were more than 29,000 searches conducted during the past year. Additional health and safety data was gathered for a handful of products as part of a pilot project with the P2OASys tool.

Project
Do-it-Yourself Cleaning Recipes
Brief Description
Continue to evaluate performance of DIY cleaning recipes. Investigate possible lab created formulations based on health, safety and performance
Summary
Work study student conducted some testing of the formulations listed on the TURI DIY website pages. Data has not been entered into testing base or posted on website.

Project
Hands-on workshop
Brief Description
Incorporate lab workshop into possible course for UML WED or continuing education
Summary
Some of the lab's testing methodologies and EHS screening were introduced to the TUR course offered at UML. In addition the same topics were preseneted during the professional TUR course offered by TURI.

Project
Outreach
Brief Description
Promoting services and success of laboratory.
Summary
Several outreach venues were undertaken. A chapter in Handbook for Critical Cleaning was completed (available January 28, 2011), a submission was accepted in the Journal of Cleaner Production focusing on the implementation efforts of the lab in RI. Monthly posting to blog and daily microblogging via Twitter. A Facebook page was started for the lab. Several press releases in partnership with IEHA. Participated in the 20th TURA events during the year.

Project
State-of-the-Art Facility
Brief Description
To ensure the lab is still providing relevant testing expertise.
Summary
We were able to add Gloss/Color meter from BYK; Dino Lite digital microscope; Hygiena System Sure Plus for ATP measurement

Green Cleaning Testing
Site Visits
Toluene replacement – waiting to get paint prep cleaner from vendor. Also sent them info on acetone replacement solvent and they ordered a sample. Waiting on adhesion testing results on new solvent.
Tool & Die –In contact with vendor and company - Have new solvent to try, an acetone replacement product.
Bank – Sent some lists of products they use in their facility. Said they have all MSDS’s. They are going to schedule a meeting with vendors. Will give support and guidance when needed.

New & Ongoing End User Testing Projects
Wax removal from glass –First round of testing done. nPB worked for them. Will also be looking at a few other solvents, dibasic esters and new acetone replacement solvent.
Plating company– They are working with DEP to find a solvent that is ok for cold solvent regs. Lab is working on this also and looking at the EH&S profile of the alternatives. They are sending parts for us to clean here with now acetone replacement solvent.
Café – Wants to use green cleaners in store. Sent list of products they use. Will work on finding suitable replacements and connect with some vendors.
Cable company – pulled list of cleaners to try on two projects. Testing has started. They want to clean cable and a faster clean for PVC

Vendor Product Testing

The lab has been working with manufacturers of janitorial/household cleaners. Testing has been conducted to help these products get Green Seal and/or EPA DfE certification/recognition. Areas of testing included this month: all purpose, bathroom, glass, manual/automatic dishwashing.

One project for dishwashing (manual and automatic) that is wrapping up.

Testing microfiber/squeegee cleaning process using ATP measurements – compared paper towel of various quality

Formulation project - Alternative solvent testing for all purpose cleaning (Dipropylene glycol methyl ether) and graffiti removal (Dibasic esters) – have UML approval of NDA – waiting on materials to be sent

Formulation project – replacing surfactant in existing formulation in order to pass Green Seal EHS. Test resulting formulation for performance – completed formulations and started baseline testing

Overall, the lab has worked with 13 companies since July 2009 and conducted 60 trials.

Disinfection Testing Partnership within UML SHE
The partnership will start out by looking at how to compare the ATP measurement with traditional analytical methods for biological evaluations.
Student capstone project completed
Lab has done some ATP testing
Will check in with SHE Lab about testing fees and structures
Piloting products – Vital Oxide, Activeion, Steam Cleaner
Working on pricing for initial project
Partnering with IEHA
Laying ground work for future disinfection projects

Outreach
IEHA-TURI partnership revisions and improvements
Chapter in Handbook for Critical Cleaning 2nd edition coming out in some time this year. Chapter focuses on the lab’s technical assistance program. Only one complimentary copy
CE Conference – Edited and sent answers to questions out of CE conference to participants. Many happy to hear from us and have follow up.

Carpet cleaning video with IEHA - editing should be done in June

Attended EASTEC conference

Attended NEFA sponsored wet cleaning seminar and class on May 15th in Rochester NH. Great technical class on fibers and fabrics with hands on work after.

HC Pro

Launched on May 26th, 2010. HC Pro provides a bridge for consumers who want to turn “Pro”, and access for professionals who want to grow their expertise and become certified through credible bodies such as the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA), the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI), ISSA-CIMS, Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) and others.

Visit Housekeeping Channel Professional Edition (HC Pro)

HC Pro contains abstracts and excerpts from IEHA's educational curriculum, information on IEHA Certification Programs and on topics such as Integrated Cleaning and Measurement (ICM), Team Cleaning, Day Cleaning, Green Cleaning, Cleaning Science, Systems Thinking, and other best practices. Where appropriate, it will link to corresponding content on IEHA.org.

See the video tab for TURI Lab video.

The Massachusetts Senate Ways and Means FY2011 budget proposal was released on Wednesday, and we have the following update. The Senate budget does not follow the Governor and House Ways and Means approach for funding the TURA program agencies. The Governor and House had included appropriations for DEP, OTA and TURI out of retained revenue from TURA fees, all under the DEP TURA line item. This approach makes it clear that TURA fees paid by firms will go to program services.
In contrast, the Senate Ways and Means proposal reverted to the language adopted last year in the FY2010 conference committee budget. It rolls up TURI into the UMass line item as an earmark with no specific funding mentioned. (OTA and DEP are funded with their traditional line items - although OTA is funded at a very low amount.) UMass made it clear last year that given a reduced budget and no specific line item for TURI, their priority needed to be on students. For FY10, UMass arranged to use one-time education stimulus funds for the Institute. For FY11, rolling TURI into the UMass line item makes TURI’s future uncertain once again.
Senator Eldridge has filed an amendment to the Senate Budget to adopt the House and Governor's approach of retained revenue at DEP to fund all 3 TURA agencies. It is Amendment #249: Toxics Use Reduction Institute. Amendments will be voted on during the week of May 24th.

Stayed tuned for more details.