Articles

Sweep ‘Glug-Glug’ Under the Rug

Categories: Cleaning Best Practices

Manually measuring chemical dilutions can lead to improper mixing, resulting in wasted product, added costs, and decreased productivity.

This common—yet outdated approach—often referred to as the “glug-glug” method, can also lead to spills and safety issues, as well as inconsistent cleaning.

To maximize efficiency among workers, improve cleaning results, and save on chemical costs, organizations are increasingly investing in and installing chemical dispensing systems.

For businesses that use a wide range of chemicals for daily cleaning tasks, chemical dispensing systems provide employees with a reliable way to dilute chemical concentrates. In turn, this creates a safer, more productive, and efficient working environment for everyone.

Measuring the benefits

Chemists create concentrated chemicals to work best at specific dilutions. To effectively clean floors, counters, restrooms, and other areas within a facility, it is imperative to measure and use the correct amount of chemical. Without a chemical dispenser, dilutions may become guesswork for employees who have other responsibilities to address throughout the facility.

The use of too much chemical may result in surface damage or even an unpleasant residue. Too little chemical, and the dilution will be too weak to properly clean. When this happens, workers must perform the same task repeatedly until the desired outcome is met, resulting in lost time and money. And in certain environments, like hospitals and schools, poor cleaning performance can increase the spread of illness-causing bacteria.

Thankfully, a reliable dispensing system ensures chemicals are used at the proper dilution for the specific task. These systems also give facility managers peace of mind regarding cleaning consistency and costs.

According to the Dispensing Equipment Alliance (DEA), dispensing equipment reduces cleaning costs up to 30 percent by accurately diluting the proper amount of chemical. Dilution control also helps to reduce water, energy, chemical consumption, and the associated costs of this usage. By preventing inaccurate measurements, automatic dilution reduces waste along with the risk of potentially hazardous chemicals being dumped onto floors and into sanitary sewers.

Finding the right fit

Today’s chemical dispensing systems have numerous functionalities that help ensure perfect dilution rates each time, while also delivering ongoing savings to organizations. In doing so, these systems eliminate the possibility of chemical overuse or underuse and the poor outcomes associated with these situations. However, not all dispensing systems are created equally, so it is important to conduct a bit of research before selecting a system.

When in the market for a new chemical dispensing system, organizations should look for a system that provides accuracy on every level. Water pressure can fluctuate in a building throughout the day, and there may even be different pressure levels in various parts of a building, which can impact the dilution ratio if the dispenser is not designed to regulate these changes. Also, if a facility uses multi-purpose chemicals, dilutions will vary, depending on the cleaning task. To make sure a chemical dispenser delivers accuracy with each use, many choose a system that can regulate water pressure and produce multiple dilutions.

It’s also important to invest in a dispensing system that meets the requirements of ASSE1055 for Chemical Dispensing Systems to prevent chemical back flow into the water supply. Additionally, look for systems that offer remote capabilities and monitoring, to improve productivity and prevent emergency issues. It should also be an easy-to-use system to simplify training and encourage workers to use the system regularly.

Once a system is in place, it is also necessary to follow the manufacturer’s directions for diluting chemical and water. Additionally, facility managers should develop a schedule for checking and maintaining their dispensing systems. Over time, water filters, metering tips, and tubing may wear down and require replacement to ensure proper dispensing and diluting functions.

Embracing a new method

In today’s modern world, there’s no reason for workers to manually measure expensive and potentially dangerous chemicals, especially when cleaning performance depends on the accuracy of these dilutions. With advanced features like remote management, some systems can begin dispensing chemical or alert facility managers when product runs low. Additionally, some smart dispensers can catalog data, allowing businesses to gain critical insight on chemical use and cost.

With the ability to monitor, control, and operate chemical dispensers at the push of a button, facility managers can say goodbye to the “glug-glug” method and hello to accurate, reliable, and cost-effective cleaning.

About the Author.

Matt Hayas is a global product manager for Hydro Systems. For more information about Hydro Systems, an independent manufacturer of chemical injecting, proportioning, dispensing, and medicating equipment, visit www.hydrosystemsco.com.