Floor Cleaning Research Articles

Improving the cleaning procedure to make kitchen floors less slippery

This investigation shows that, in most cases, the floor cleaning procedure of typical restaurants could be improved, resulting in a better cleaning efficiency and a better floor friction. This simple approach could help reduce slips and falls in the workplace. Food safety officers visited ten European style restaurants in the London Borough of Bromley (UK) to identify their floor cleaning procedure in terms of the cleaning method, the concentration and type of floor cleaner and the temperature of the wash water. For all 10 restaurants visited, the cleaning method was damp mopping. Degreasers were used in three sites while neutral floor cleaners were used in seven sites. Typically, the degreasers were over diluted and the neutrals were overdosed. The wash water temperature ranged from 10 to 72°C. The on-site cleaning procedures were repeated in the laboratory for the removal of olive oil from new and sealed quarry tiles, fouled and worn quarry tiles and new porcelain tiles. It is found that in 24 out of 30 cases, cleaning efficiency can be improved by simple changes in the floor cleaning procedure and that these changes result in a significant improvement of the floor friction. The nature of the improved floor cleaning procedure depends on the flooring type. New and properly sealed flooring tiles can be cleaned using damp mopping with a degreaser diluted as recommended by the manufacturer in warm or hot water (24 to 50°C). But as the tiles become worn and fouled, a more aggressive floor cleaning is required such as two-step mopping with a degreaser diluted as recommended by the manufacturer in warm water (24°C).

Floor cleaning: effect on bacteria and organic materials in hospital rooms

Routine surface cleaning is recommended to control the spread of pathogens in hospital environments. In Norway, ordinary cleaning of patient rooms is traditionally performed with soap and water. In this study, four floor-mopping methods--dry, spray, moist and wet mopping--were compared by two systems using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence (Hygiena and Biotrace). These systems assess residual organic soil on surfaces. The floor-mopping methods were also assessed by microbiological samples from the floor and air, before and after cleaning. All methods reduced organic material on the floors but wet and moist mopping seemed to be the most effective (P < 0.001, P < 0.011, respectively, ATP Hygiena). The two ATP methods were easy to use, although each had their own reading scales. Cleaning reduced organic material to 5-36% of the level present before cleaning, depending upon mopping method. All four mopping methods reduced bacteria on the floor from about 60-100 to 30-60 colony-forming units (cfu)/20cm2 floor. Wet, moist and dry mopping seemed to be more effective in reducing bacteria on the floor, than the spray mopping (P=0.007, P=0.002 and P=0.011, respectively). The burden of bacteria in air increased for all methods just after mopping. The overall best cleaning methods seemed to be moist and wet mopping.

Short Communication: Effect of Alley Floor Cleanliness on Free-Stall and Udder Hygiene

The objective was to evaluate the effect of alley floor cleanliness on the hygiene of the free-stalls and udder and teats of cows. Mechanical scrapers were used on rubber-slatted floors to improve the cleanliness of the alley floor. Two sections containing 21 cows each were evaluated once weekly for a period of 3 wk. One section had scrapers on the rubber-slatted floor in the alleys and the other section did not. The scrapers ran 12 and 7 times/d in the free-stall alley and feed alley, respectively. Manure accumulation in the alleys at approximately 2h after the scrapers had run was less in the section with the scraper than in that without the scraper. Differences between sections with and without scrapers were found in the sites close to the wall in the feed alley, and immediately behind the free-stalls in the free-stall alley. In the section without scrapers, manure accumulation was greater in the free-stall alley than in the feed alley. Manure contamination of the area in the free-stalls where the udder normally comes in contact with the free-stall floor was significantly reduced from 29.1 to 17.9±2.4g of dry matter when the alley floor was kept clean by the use of scrapers. The hygiene scores of the dirtiness of udders were reduced from 25.8±1.7 to 18.9±1.6, and those of the teats from 37.9±2.3 to 24.2±2.3 in the section with scrapers and cleaner alley floor compared with the section without scrapers. The scrapers greatly improved the hygiene on the rubber-slatted alley floor. The cleaner alley floor had a positive effect on the cleanliness of the free-stalls and the udder and teats of the cows.

Influences of forest floor cleaning on the soil respiration and soil physical property of a larch plantation in Northeast China

Aimed to estimate how forest floor cleaning affected the carbon budget and soil physical feature, a 2-yr (2005–2006) measurement on soil respiration, soil bulk density, capillary porosity, soil temperature and soil volumetric moisture was carried out in a larch plantation. Firstly, forest floor cleaning evidently decreased soil respiration. Annual cumulative soil CO 2 efflux decreased from 44.2 μmol·m −2 a −1 to 22.4 μmol·m −2 a −1. Secondly, cleaning practice slightly increased soil temperature at the growing season, but reduced it at the dominant winter season. It also made soil moisture higher in summer, but lower in spring and autumn. Moreover, the cleaning practice induced more compact soil compared with the uncleaned control. Thirdly, forest floor cleaning of litters and understory shrubs could cause non-respiratory carbon loss of about 175.0 mol·m −2. This loss decreased from 175.0 mol·m −2 to 137.4 mol·m −2 when soil respiratory carbon loss decreased. However, the alteration of soil physical characters in the cleaned plots should be carefully considered since this alteration was not favorable to the growth of larch plantation in a long run.

Multiple Mobile Robot Exploration and Patrol Strategy Using a Self-Organizing Planner Based on a Reaction-Diffusion Equation on a Graph

In this paper, we propose a search and surveillance with mobile robots to collect information while minimizing repeated coverage to maximize efficiency. The problem of search and surveillance is defined as one having a mobile robot or covering a working area with sensor footprints. The problem is applicable to tasks such as floor cleaning, map building, surveillance, security patrols, and search and rescue operations. We use a reaction-diffusion equation on a graph (RDEG), we make and remake plans online base on incoming environmental information. The strategy is applicable to patrolling tasks after an environment has been completely explorated. Tasks are allocated to multiple mobile robots, among which a temporary leader, i.e., the robot detecting a drastic change in the environment, plans a strategy for other mobile robots on the team. Sensing and positioning data for each robot is broadcast and shared among robots. Simulation in different scenarios using one to three robots demonstrated the feasibility of increasing the number of robots on a team.

Ammonia Emissions Affected by Airflow in a Model Pig House: Effects of Ventilation Rate, Floor Slat Opening, and Headspace Height in a Manure Storage Pit

Laboratory experiments were performed to study the influence of airflow on ammonia emissions from pig house slurry in a model growing/finishing pig house with slurry in the pit and a clean slatted floor with various opening areas, 100%, 33.3%, and 16.7%. The 100% opening area meant that the headspace was an integral part of the room air space, and this configuration was used as the reference treatment. The pig house model had two sidewall inlets and exhaust in the middle of the ceiling. The liquid slurry used was from a growing/finishing pig building and consisted of 1% to 2% dry matter, had pH of 8.05, and TAN (total ammonia nitrogen) of 2.38 g/L. Experiments in a model growing/finishing swine barn were conducted to determine the effects of room ventilation rate, slurry pit air exchange rates, slatted floor openings, and pit headspace on ammonia emissions. The results showed that ammonia emission rate increased as ventilation rate increased with a constant inlet opening. Increase in the slatted floor opening ratio increased the air exchange rate in the slurry pit, resulting in a higher ammonia emission rate. Different correlations between the ammonia emission rate and the air headspace height in the slurry pit caused by the type of flow in the boundary layer influenced the ammonia transport from the slurry surface to the ventilation air. A statistical model was developed to calculate the ammonia emission rate as a function of ventilation rate, slatted floor opening ratio, and slurry pit headspace (R2 = 0.93). It was found that the NH3 emission rate was more sensitive to the ventilation rate than to the slatted floor opening ratio and air headspace height in the pit. In addition, the NH3 emission rate was much more sensitive to variations in the ventilation rate at low ventilation rates than at high ventilation rates. Similar sensitivity responses were obtained for both slatted floor opening ratio and air headspace height.

Omni-directional mobile robot for floor cleaning

An omni-directional mobile robot for floor cleaning is presented.The purpose is to use this type of robot to do cleaning work instead of human being in narrow areas and crowded places such as houses,offices and airports.The robot consists of moving system,vacuum cleaning system,sensing system,power-detecting system,computer control system and wire-less remote control system.It can be controlled by semi-autonomous model and teleoperation model.Also it has the functions of pivot around,obstacle avoidance,automatic power management and efficient cleaning.The locomotion velocity of this robot is obtained by synthesis of four velocities of the Swedish wheels.The condition of the kinematic equation and the moving mechanism is studied.Furthermore, the key controlling parameters concerning the equation are discussed and given.The efficient cleaning system also has a characteri s- tic of air route switching automatically,and the experiments are shown that the vacuum pump for cleaning can work efficiently and even dust,pieces of wastepaper and coins can be sucked in easily.Through the tests for moving speed,error of moving trajectory, obstacle avoidance and quality of cleaning,the robot has the performances such as smooth onmi-directional moving,reliable control- ling,better obstacle avoidance and good cleaning capacity.

2P1-I05 カルマンフィルタを用いた掃除ロボットの自己位置および部屋形状推定(ホーム&amp;オフィスロボット)

Nowadays, home-use robots that clean floors automatically are developed. However, the efficiency of these robots is not so good. That is because the best way of cleaning room depends on the room's shape. If the robot knows which room it is cleaning now, it will be possible to make a robot cleaning the room more efficiently. Therefore we propose a method which the robot goes around the room with hug motion, to detect the outline of the room.

Indoor air quality and its determinants in tropical child care centers

This cross-sectional study aims to investigate indoor pollutants concentrations in child care centers (CCCs) and evaluate their determinants involving representative samples in Singapore. Measurements were performed for air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, ventilation rates, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, fine particle mass, bacteria and fungi while information on CCC characteristics and maintenance activities were collected via a combination of inspection and interviews. It was found that due to higher ventilation rates, indoor CO 2 concentration levels were lower in Singapore CCCs compared to those in the cold climates. Determinants of indoor pollutant levels from outdoor and indoor sources and maintenance activities were evaluated with regression analyses based on mass balance principles. Indoor carbon dioxide was positively associated with outdoor concentrations and occupant density while only outdoor levels significantly determined indoor carbon monoxide concentrations. For PM 2.5, outdoor concentration, carpeted floor, presence of curtains and soft toys, recent renovation, shelf area and fan cleaning frequencies were positively associated with indoor levels while determinants of indoor ozone include outdoor concentration, shelf area and table cleaning. Increased human related bacteria levels were associated with high occupant densities and irregular floor but regular table cleaning frequencies. Outdoor concentration, curtain types and floor cleaning were significant determinants for environmental bacteria. Outdoor concentrations, presence of dampness, irregular floor and fan cleaning were associated with increased indoor mesophilic fungi levels. For indoor xerophilic fungi, levels were associated with outdoor concentrations, curtain types, dampness, occupant density and floor cleaning. We conclude that our findings confirm the important influence of indoor sources and maintenance activities on indoor concentrations of pollutants in Singapore CCCs. Future epidemiological analyses in CCCs should consider these determinants in classifying exposures as surrogate indicators of sources and cleaning activities.

Microbiologic evaluation of microfiber mops for surface disinfection

Recently, health care facilities have started to use a microfiber mopping technique rather than a conventional, cotton string mop to clean floors. The effectiveness of microfiber mops to reduce microbial levels on floors was investigated. We compared the efficacy of microfiber mops with that of conventional, cotton string mops in 3 test conditions (cotton mop and standard wringer bucket, microfiber mop and standard wringer bucket, microfiber system). Twenty-four rooms were evaluated for each test condition. RODAC plates containing D/E Neutralizing Agar were used to assess "precleaning" and "postcleaning" microbial levels. The microfiber system demonstrated superior microbial removal compared with cotton string mops when used with a detergent cleaner (95% vs 68%, respectively). The use of a disinfectant did not improve the microbial elimination demonstrated by the microfiber system (95% vs 95%, respectively). However, use of disinfectant did significantly improve microbial removal when a cotton string mop was used (95% vs 68%, respectively). The microfiber system demonstrated superior microbial removal compared with cotton string mops when used with a detergent cleaner. The use of a disinfectant did not improve the microbial elimination demonstrated by the microfiber system.

Wastewater management in small- and medium-size enterprises: case studies

Wastewater management in small and medium-sized enterprises representing the chemical and food industries was investigated. The results showed that wastewater discharged from an ink-production factory was highly contaminated with organic pollutants. Anaerobic biological treatment followed by chemical coagulation using ferric chloride aided with lime proved to be very effective and produced an effluent that complied with national regulatory standard for wastewater discharge into public sewage network. Also, management of wastewater from a confectionery factory representing the food sector was carried out. Aerobic biological treatment using plastic-packed trickling filter proved to be an effective treatment method. However, application of in-plant control measures alleviated the requirement for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant. The applied pollution prevention and cleaner production measures involved good housekeeping, recovery of spent chocolate, modification of floor cleaning and installation of suction devices for the removal of sugar and starch powders. All improvement measures were documented by cost/benefit analysis.

A microbiological evaluation of hospital cleaning methods

Hospital hygiene may be associated with hospital-acquired infection. This study evaluated four hospital cleaning methods: ‘mop and vacuum’, ‘spray clean’ and ‘wet scrub’ for floors, and one steam cleaning method for curtains. A standardised microbiological screening method was used to sample the environment before and after cleaning in order to quantify total viable counts as well as identify specific organisms. The results showed that all floor cleaning methods reduced the overall microbial load, although high counts and bacterial pathogens occasionally persisted despite cleaning. Spray cleaning gave marginally better results than traditional mopping and vacuuming. Wet scrubbing significantly reduced levels of coagulase-positive staphylococci (p = 0.03), which, in combination with routine methods, produced an effect that persisted for at least a week. Steam cleaning of curtains also reduced microbial counts (p = 0.08), but had little effect on Staphylococcus aureus and other potential pathogens. These results might help managers assess the costs of different cleaning methods against potential infection control benefits in a hospital.

Endotoxin Levels in Rural Thai and Urban Singaporean Homes

Background: Exposure to dust endotoxin and allergens in early childhood may influence the development of allergic diseases. Aims: This study aimed to evaluate dust endotoxin and dust mite allergens in urban Singapore and rural Thai homes of young children and study potential environmental influences. Methods: Mattress dust endotoxin and Der p 1, Der f 1, group 2 (Der f 2 and Der p 2) and Blo t 5 allergen levels were quantified in 101 infant mattress dust samples, 51 from urban Singapore and 50 from rural Thailand. Comprehensive questionnaires on the home environment and cleaning practices were completed. Results: Endotoxin levels in rural Thailand were significantly higher than in urban Singapore (geometric mean 26,334.12 ± 4.60 and 18,377.85 ± 2.52 endotoxin units/g, respectively; p = 0.032). In contrast, higher levels of Der f 1 (p = 0.02), group 2 (p < 0.01) and Blo t 5 (p < 0.01) allergens were found in Singapore homes compared with rural Thai homes. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the use of detergents (p = 0.001) and disinfectants (p = 0.024) to clean floors and mattress protectors (p = 0.021) were independently associated with lower endotoxin levels. Conclusion: Endotoxin levels are higher in rural compared with urban homes in South East Asia. The reverse was true for dust mite allergen levels. Certain identifiable home environmental conditions and practices accounted for the differences in endotoxin levels.

Effectiveness of Cleaning Practices in Removing Pesticides from Home Environments

The deposition of agricultural pesticides in the homes of agricultural workers and residents of agricultural communities is a major environmental health concern. The effectiveness of home cleaning activities in removing pesticides from home surfaces has not been tested. An intervention study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of cleaning windowsills, floors and carpets in a sample of 10 farmworker homes. Baseline measures of organophosphorus (OP) pesticide residues were obtained, a standardized cleaning intervention was applied and follow-up measures of pesticide residues were obtained within 24–48 hours after the cleaning and 12 months later. House dust was analyzed for six OP pesticides. All homes had detectable baseline levels of OP pesticides on floors and windowsills. Cleaning of linoleum floors was ineffective in removing total pesticide residues and cleaning effectiveness varied among the pesticides. The cleaning of total OP pesticides on the windowsills was effective (median decrease was 0.0029 μg/cm2, 1-sided p-value = 0.01). Steam cleaning carpets essentially reduced the amounts to non-detectable levels. In 12 months the levels in carpets had accumulated to one-third of the baseline levels. These results provide evidence that cleaning practices can reduce the amount of pesticides in agricultural homes; however the type of surface being cleaned and the pesticides present in the home may influence results.

Tripodal Schematic Control Architecture for Integration of Multi-Functional Indoor Service Robots

This paper discusses a control architecture and a system integration strategy for multifunctional indoor service robot public service robot (PSR) systems. The authors have built three versions of the PSR systems for four target service tasks, which are delivery, patrol, guidance, and floor cleaning. They clarify the requirements of the architecture in their applications, and propose the tripodal schematic control architecture as the solution to the architectural problems. The key idea of proposed architecture is to integrate robot systems using following three frameworks, layered functionality diagram, class diagram, and configuration diagram. The proposed architecture was successfully evaluated and implemented to PSR platforms for their target tasks. Experimental results clearly showed that the developed strategy was useful for developing the autonomous service robots

Development of the multi-functional indoor service robot PSR systems

This paper discusses the development of the multi-functional indoor service robot PSR (Public Service Robots) systems. We have built three versions of PSR systems, which are the mobile manipulator PSR-1 and PSR-2, and the guide robot Jinny. The PSR robots successfully accomplished four target service tasks including a delivery, a patrol, a guide, and a floor cleaning task. These applications were defined from our investigation on service requirements of various indoor public environments. This paper shows how mobile-manipulator typed service robots were developed towards intelligent agents in a real environment. We identified system integration, multi-functionality, and autonomy considering environmental uncertainties as key research issues. Our research focused on solving these issues, and the solutions can be considered as the distinct features of our systems. Several key technologies were developed to satisfy technological consistency through the proposed integration scheme.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar neuropathy at the elbow in floor cleaners

Objective To determine the occurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) in a cohort of floor cleaners and to check differences between workers with and without CTS. Methods All female floor cleaners of three major hospitals in Tuscany (Italy) were contacted. Clinical and electrophysiological severity of CTS and UNE were evaluated with standardized scales and symptoms were assessed with the self-administered Boston Questionnaire (BQ); demographic and non-occupational factors and durations of current and previous occupations were recorded. Univariate analysis of risk factors was performed in workers with and without CTS. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the capacity of independent variables to predict CTS. Results Out of a total of 179 cleaners, 145 (81%)—mean age 39.6 years (20–64 years)—were enrolled in the study; 70 (48%) had CTS (diagnosis based on clinical and electrophysiological findings). BQ symptom and hand function scores were anomalous in 108 (74%) and 84 (58%) subjects, respectively. UNE was detected in 7/103 women. Univariate analysis showed that cleaners with CTS were older, had greater BMI and longer exposure to cleaning with previous employers than those without CTS. In the logistic regression, the only predictor of CTS was cleaning with previous employers (O.R. 12.1, 95% CI 3–49.9). Conclusions These results indicate a high occurrence of CTS in floor cleaners; UNE is less frequent than CTS, presumably due to repetitive movements that stress wrists more than elbows. The only predictive factor of CTS was cleaning as an occupation with previous employers. Therefore, the actual risk factor for CTS could not be cleaning per se, but how this job is performed.

Corrosive Ingestions

Corrosive Ingestions

A nationwide study of indoor and outdoor environments in allergen avoidance and conventional daycare centers in Sweden

Sweden has had specialized 'allergen avoidance daycare centers' (AADC) since 1979. The aim was to compare AADC with ordinary daycare centers (ODC). Through contacts with municipalities and hospitals, 72 AADC were identified. For each AADC, the two nearest ODCs served as controls. A questionnaire was sent to the local directors of the 216 daycare centers (531 sections), 83% responded. A total of 39% of the ODCs had ever had dampness/molds, 12% were near (<500 m) stables/farms, 23% were closer than 50 m to a heavy trafficked road, and 13% were exposed to wood smoke in winter. Only 11% of the AADCs had any child with furred pets at home, while 97% of the ODCs had children with furred pets. Bans on smoking at home and on perfumes were more common at the AADCs (P = 0.001). Fewer AADCs had PVC floors (OR = 0.53; P = 0.01), dampness/molds (OR = 0.55; P = 0.04), shelves (OR 3.03; P = 0.001), curtains (OR = 1.67; P = 0.047), and flowers (OR = 0.03; P < 0.001), while more had daily floor cleaning (OR = 19.9; P = 0.004), weekly wiping of furniture (OR = 11.0; P = 0.001), and washing of pillows/mattresses (OR = 2.74; P = 0.005) and curtains (OR = 9.07; P = 0.001). In conclusion, allergy avoidance daycare centers differ from other daycare centers, and may have better indoor environments. There is a need to improve the indoor environments of daycare centers, including reduction of building dampness and molds. Allergen avoidance daycare centers (AADC) in Sweden differ from ordinary daycare centers in many respects, with fewer indoor and building factors related to dust, allergens and irritants. This shows that the indoor environments of daycare centers can be improved. Data suggest that AADC may have lower levels of pet allergens, and this is beneficial for children with pet allergy. The effects of these improvements on indoor exposures and health of the children need to be further evaluated.

Modeling Aggregate Exposures to Glycol Ethers from Use of Commercial Floor Products

Computer modeling of aggregate exposure provides the capability to estimate the range of doses that can occur from product use and to understand the relative importance of different routes of exposure. This paper presents an assessment of aggregate occupational exposure to two glycol ethers used as solvents in floor maintenance products for industrial and institutional facilities, using a simulation tool named PROMISE. Three commercial floor-care products were assumed to be applied in sequence--a floor stripper, then a floor cleaner, and lastly a protective coating. The glycol ethers modeled were ethylene glycol butyl ether (EGBE) in the floor stripper and in the floor cleaner, and dipropylene glycol methyl ether (DPGME) in the coating. Modeling uncertainty was assessed through a comparison of the PROMISE inhalation exposure estimates with those from an independent model (MCCEM), and parameter uncertainty was investigated using PROMISE software's Monte Carlo simulation capabilities. Modeling results indicated that inhalation is the dominant exposure route. The predicted average air concentration and inhalation dose from PROMISE agreed with the second model (MCCEM) within 10%. Monte Carlo simulation indicated that the upper end of the aggregate-dose distribution for the scenario was more than 50% higher than the value of the point estimate. The modeled 8-h TWA concentrations for EGBE and DPGME were lower than the corresponding permissible exposure limits American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLV) by at least a factor of 20, indicating that under the assumed conditions workplace exposures to glycol ethers are below levels of concern.