Chemicals

As cleaning companies we work with an assortment of cleaning chemicals. Your employees need to know how to use all chemicals they work with and be aware of where the MSDS sheets are for the products they use.

Following are safety tips that apply to the use of any product they may be using.

• Never mix chemicals.
• Measure all chemicals and mix according to the label directions. If the directions say one ounce of product to four gallons of water, keep those ratios even if you are mixing a smaller quantity. Too weak a solution may not provide the cleaning power you need; too strong a solution wastes chemical and may cause damage to surfaces or injuries to employees.
• Never use chemicals that are in an unlabeled container. Employees should never sniff, taste or try to guess what is in the container.
• Employees need to know what chemicals they are to use for each particular cleaning task and how to use that chemical properly.
• Clean spills immediately. Before cleaning the spill, employees should put on protective goggles and latex or rubber gloves. If the spill is on a hard surface carefully mop up the spill. If the spill is on carpet absorb it with a white rag. Use another damp white rag to blot the spill. Report spills to a supervisor in case it needs to be further extracted from the carpet.
• Eye protection, gloves and other protective clothing may be necessary when working with some cleaning chemicals. Employees need to know what protective gear to use when working with chemicals.
Using chemicals correctly helps make cleaning tasks go quicker. Make sure your employees follow all of your company's specific guidelines when working with chemicals.

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Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift!