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You Can Fight Swine Flu Cleaning products and sanitizers essential in giving guests a safe environment and peace of mind. Thursday, October 29, 2009 Beth Kormanik

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Hoteliers hoping the swine flu would pass quickly and easily seem to be out of luck. But they are not helpless to fight against it.
 
The World Health Organization has reported more than 414,000 laboratory confirmed cases of swine flu, also known as pandemic influenza H1N1 2009, and nearly 5,000 deaths worldwide as of Oct 17. It notes that the actual number of cases is actually higher because many countries have stopped counting individual cases. Last week, President Obama declared the swine flu a national emergency.
 
As quasi-public spaces, areas such as check in desks, lobbies and their restrooms have numerous people -- and their germs -- pass through them. They are also opportunities for front desk staff and housekeepers to demonstrate their concern with H1N1. The act of cleaning and disinfecting not only kills germs and makes the hotel environment safer; it also provides guests with peace of mind when they see hotels making the effort to protect them.
 
Among the suppliers providing solutions is Procter & Gamble Professional, which provides cleaning and disinfectant products to the hospitality, food-service, and building, cleaning and maintenance industries.
 
"Our customers, all of them are concerned," said Mike Weber, Principal Scientist in Products Research with Procter & Gamble Professional. "They have an influx of patrons in their hotels and lodging facilities, and their patrons are concerned. The awareness is not going down."
 
What responsibilities do hotels have to protect guests from H1N1?
 
"That's the big question," Weber said. "Basically the most important thing for the cleaning professional is to figure out what cleaning and disinfecting products can they use to be effective against this new novel H1N1 virus. The second thing [is asking], 'Am I using the products currently that meet that need, and if I'm not, what products do I need to bring in to do that?'"
 
Because H1N1 came on so quickly, manufacturers did not have the time to go through the lengthy EPA testing procedures to label their products as effective against the particular flu strain, Weber said. But the EPA decided to let manufacturers claim their products as swine flu-effective if the products can kill Influenza A.
 
"That's the allowance the EPA made because they were trying to help the public," Weber said. "To get something through the whole EPA approval process normally takes 12 to 18 months. They realized they wouldn't have time to test against the new strain."
 
P&G Professional has five products that are registered as being effective against this year's H1N1 strain.
 
The first two products are Spic and Span 3-in-1, an all-purpose spray and glass cleaner that is offered in a ready-to-use form and as a concentrate. These products clean as well as offer a hospital-grade disinfectant. The third product is Comet Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner in a ready-to-use form. It's a hospital-grade cleaner designed for wet surfaces in a restroom to remove water hardness minerals and soap scum. The fourth product is a disinfecting floor cleaner and the fifth is a follow-up disinfectant that also sanitizes.
 
Weber cautioned housekeeping staffs to understand the difference between cleaners vs. disinfectants. Some P&G Professional products do both at once. But other products require a two-step process of first cleaning, then disinfecting. Anyone using a disinfectant alone should be careful to remove heavy soils first.
 
"This is the most important part of the program that people tend to overlook: You can't disinfect if the surface is not cleaned well," he said. "You think if you're using a disinfectant you can feel good about the fact that you're killing germs and making the area safe, when in fact you are not cleaning well."
 
For dealing with H1N1 in particular, it's important to perform routine and repeated cleaning of commonly touched surfaces such as doorknobs, tables and counter tops, elevator buttons, light switches, bathroom fixtures and hand rails. Weber recommended using the Spic and Span 3-in-1 cleaner at least three times a day -- once overnight, again after the morning rush and finally late in the day.
 
One of the best ways to prevent the spread of a disease is to follow the time-tested methods of covering your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze, and washing your hands. Another smart idea is to have an alcohol-based hand gel available for guests as well as employees.
 
Purell, made by GOJO Industries, has a program for hotels. To show concern for guests' well-being, front-desk check in staff could hand guests a small bottle upon check-in. For a more subtle touch, a bottle could be waiting for them in the guest room near the beverage center or workspace. Bottles can be customized with a brand logo.
 
"Purell helps make a lasting impressing with guests beyond their stay," said Joan Bryan, Hospitality Market Development Director for GOJO. "Guests value receiving a gift of Purell and will use this travel essential days after their stay."
 
Hotels may want to have hand-sanitizer dispensers set up at the entrances to restaurants, especially those with buffet lines where multiple guests will be handling serving utensils.
 
Dispensers -- long popular on cruise ships -- can fit into a hotel's decor, even at high-end hotels. Bryan said GOJO offers several dispenser finishes, including the new Brushed Metallic TFX Touch Free Premium Dispenser, which is a chrome-plated, brushed finish with a fingerprint-resistant clear coat. Also new is the Nickel Finish PURELL TFX Touch Free Premium Dispenser, which provides a metallic paint finish that resists smudging.
 
Bryan also reminded hotels to have dispensers available in employee areas such as near the time clock, break room front desk and office area, as well as in the kitchen and food preparation areas.