University of New Hampshire
OP-11: Cleaning Products Purchasing

UNH Facilities Housekeeping is responsible for cleaning 75 out of approximately 112 buildings on campus. The remaining 37 buildings are serviced by UNICCO. Both have made a commitment to move toward less toxic cleaning solutions to ensure a healthy learning and working environment for students, faculty, staff, and building service workers. A Green Cleaning Committee comprised of UNH staff meets to discuss the latest green products and practices. UNH Facilities Housekeeping and UNICCO have pledged that any new products being considered must be green or have green properties. Also, green cleaning training happens at various times of the year when a new product is introduced by an outside vendor, or when new information needs to be disseminated to keep everyone updated. Training may include reminders to conserve energy and water whenever possible (e.g., use less water when mopping a small area and turn off lights whenever possible). The Facilities Housekeeping managers estimate that “through the use of greener products, more effective cleaners and precise dispenser systems UNH Housekeeping has decreased the amount of cleaning product used by approximately 50% in the past 15 years." UNH Facilities Housekeeping and UNICCO have worked very hard to promote green cleaning on the UNH campus and to remove chemical cleansers and wasteful practices that have negative impacts on human health and the environment. The Green Cleaning Committee continues to seek and be informed of ways in which they can improve upon their green cleaning initiative for the safety of all. For more information on the specific products and practices being used, please see the list below: Green Cleaning Products: * Green Seal® certified products include: neutral /all-purpose cleaners, disinfectants, glass cleaners, carpet cleaners, and pre-spray and extraction shampoos are used throughout campus. * RTD® Dispensing Systems * High efficiency filtration vacuum cleaners * Automatic Floor Scrubbers including a automatic floor stripper that does not use chemicals * Flat mopping systems using microfiber cloths * Linpol® Organic Floor Cleaner and Protectant Paper Products: * EcoLogo certified SCA 100% toilet paper and roll towels Mechanical Prevention and Practices: * Effective mat systems are in place in all buildings, which dramatically reduces the amount of soil and moisture that gets tracked into a building. Have recently tested and are now purchasing mats that are 100% recycled material * Discretionary use of disinfectants (considered toxic) are used only where necessary. Stripping of floors is only done on an “as needed” basis. We have purchased a floor stripping machine that strips large areas with only plain water or a very small amount of neutral cleaner added to the water. * Marmoleum® flooring which does not require stripping and floor finishes is encouraged in new buildings. (Marmoleum is made with natural raw materials and installed with solvent free adhesives.) * Presently, Housekeeping is using a neutral floor cleaner that is “low foam,” which eliminates the need of a foamer therefore using less chemicals and leaving the machine to use the “green” product exclusively. * Carpet cleaning accomplished with shampoo sprayed carpet (instead of soaking carpet with chemical cleaners) and then extracted with water. * Carpet care systems use a special "green" formulation that uses no hazardous chemicals, which means no residues or special handling. It also uses 30 times less water than some wet cleaning methods to exceed water conservation standards outlined by the US Green Building Council. *Housekeeping has just recently purchased a steam cleaner that can be used without chemicals and although it is labor intensive it can be used for places such as the pool deck and locker rooms where normally a strong chemical product would be used.

UNICCO contact: Craig Garland, craig.garland@unh.edu