Pomona College
OP-13: Cleaning Products Purchasing

Preferred Products and Procedures There are a variety of certifications and principles that apply to cleaning products, equipment, and procedures. After researching various certifications and labels, the College has determined that Green Seal-certified and EcoLogo-certified products are in general the preferred options, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis. >> Cleaning Products Cleaning products have one of the following certifications: - General-purpose, bathroom, glass, and carpet cleaners: Green Seal GS-37 - Cleaning and degreasing compounds: EcoLogo CCD-110 - Hard surface cleaners: EcoLogo CCD-146 - Carpet and upholstery care: EcoLogo CCD-148 - Floor care: Green Seal GS-40 - Digestion additives: EcoLogo CCD-112 - Drain or grease trap additives: EcoLogo CCD-113 - Odor control additives: EcoLogo CCD-115 - Hard fl oor care: EcoLogo CCD-147 - Hand soap: Green Seal GS-41; EcoLogo CCD-104; foaming or other high-efficiency soaps where possible; no antimicrobial agents except where required. Cleaning systems utilizing ionized or electrolyzed water as a sanitizer and general cleaner will be phased in as feasible as a means of reducing chemical use. The use of harsh disinfectants will be minimized and used only as needed at primary contact points, including bathroom sinks and toilets. Bleach and phenolic disinfectants will be used only when necessary. Disinfectants used will be H2O2-based and EPA-registered. >> Floor Care Systems - Floor sealers, finishes, strippers, and maintainers should be used on an as-needed basis rather than a frequency schedule in order to minimize their use. Green Seal-certified products (GS-40) will be preferred, though used only when effective and their use should be phased in. Housekeeping and the Sustainability Integration Office will continue to evaluate new Green Seal-certified floor care systems as they become available. - When possible, floors will not be sealed or finished in order to reduce the need for maintenance products and procedures. - To further reduce the impact of floor maintenance, the College utilizes the following procedures: - The use of dust collection mechanisms for burnishers - Autoscrubber or mop-on products in lieu of spray products. - Low-water autoscrubbers equipped with chemical control systems and with a noise level of less than 70dBA. - Orbital scrubbing/stripping machines that minimize water use and that do not require chemical stripper. - Scrubbing and burnishing pads with recycled content. - Equipment chosen to minimize water use. - Staff trained in minimizing water use in floor procedures. - Gel and other less environmentally-hazardous equipment batteries. >> Cleaning Equipment Cleaning equipment should be high-efficiency, low-noise, and low-impact. Specific requirements are as follows: - Vacuum cleaners are certified by Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label Testing Program and operated with sound level of less than 70dBA - Carpet extraction equipment used for restorative deep cleaning is certified by Carpet and Rug Institute’s Seal of Approval Testing Program - Powered floor maintenance equipment is equipped with vacuums, guards, and/or other devices for capturing fine particulates and operates with sound level of less than 70dBA - Propane-powered floor equipment has high-efficiency, low-emissions engines that meet CARB or EPA standards, and operates with a sound level of less than 90dBA - Battery-powered equipment is equipped with environmentally preferable gel batteries - Powered equipment is ergonomically designed to minimize vibration, noise and user fatigue - Equipment is designed with safeguards, such as rollers or rubber bumpers, to reduce damage to surfaces >> Dilution Systems and Packaging All cleaning products will be administered with an adequate dilution control system. Products with reduced packaging, recyclable packaging, and packaging with recycled content are preferred. >> Dusters, Mops, and Cleaning Tools The College uses only re-usable, launderable, microfiber cloths and mops as cleaning tools, in lieu of paper. These cloths and mops will replace all disposable cleaning tools as feasible, and should be washed in water- and energy-efficient, EnergyStar label washing machines and dryers. Additional preferred tools include recycled content PET plastic wet mops (100% post-consumer waste PET), bamboo mop handles, and other products with recycled content and/or rapidly renewable materials. >> Entrance Matting Permanent entry systems (including grills, grates, and mats) will be utilized in College facilities to reduce dirt and particulates entering facilities, which improves indoor air quality and reduces maintenance and cleaning needs. Entrance areas are vacuumed, swept, mopped, and/or dusted frequently. Entry systems should be made from environmentally preferable materials (such as rubber) and/or with recycled content where available, and should be recyclable. >> Deodorizers Automatic Aerosol Deodorizers are not a part of the College’s preferred Green Cleaning Program, because they contain high levels of Volatile Organic Compounds. Air freshening systems should be non-aerosol, including products that operate with a wick system or that otherwise have no aerosol propellants. >> Urinal Blocks Urinal blocks should not be used because they contain hazardous materials. >> Paper Products - Cleaning-related paper products should hold at least one certification as follows: - Paper towels and napkins: Green Seal GS-09; EcoLogo CCD-086 - Tissue paper: Green Seal GS-01; EcoLogo CCD-082 - Products should also be Processed Chlorine Free (PCF) - Additional considerations for paper products include: - The use of rapidly renewable materials or tree-free fibers - Waste-reducing design, including coreless rolls and regulated towel dispensers - Post-consumer recycled content - The impacts of whitening and/or bleaching processes - Forestry practices and related certifications (e.g. Forest Stewardship Council-certified) - The installation of high-efficiency hand dryers are recommended, as long as they can be installed without companion hand towel dispensers. - Partial rolls of toilet paper and other paper products should not be discarded when replaced. >> Plastic bags used in cleaning operations, including trash and recycling bags, should have the highest possible level of recycled content. Clean or unused bags that need to be discarded should be recycled. Additional Procedures: Staff members cleaning a facility should make certain to turn off all lights and other powered equipment (as directed) when leaving work areas, and only turn on lights and equipment as necessary to complete assignments.

If products, procedures, or equipment must be used that do not meet the standards, they should be used for an isolated issue that can only be mitigated by using that item or action. Occasional deviation from the program is acceptable on a case-by-case basis as determined by Facilities and Campus Services and the Sustainability Integration Office. Facilities and Campus Services will continually test environmentally-preferred products from a variety of manufacturers in order to best understand what will be effective for the College. The Sustainability Integration Office reviews annual purchasing of green cleaning products and ensures compliance and provides assistance in researching and recommending alternative sustainable products when issues arise. Staff using these procedures will be trained on an annual basis to reiterate the purpose, goals, and details of the Green Cleaning Program.