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Green Quasi-Science
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By IEHA
The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) and the University of Massachusetts Lowell TURI lab have announced that performance analysis during the IEHA/TURI High Performance Cleaning Product (HPCP) testing program will be enhanced through use of the BYK-Gardner Spectro-Guide to measure the color and gloss of surfaces before and after cleaning.
According to Jason Marshall, UMass Lowell TURI Lab Director: “The BYK-Gardner Spectro-Guide is used at TURI to enable scientific and repeatable visual analysis of color and gloss, which are impacted by cleaning processes. Five initial measurements are made on the substrate or surface to get a baseline before the test soil or stain is applied. Then five more readings are made per substrate to quantify the effect of the soiling. Test surfaces are then cleaned and measured again to determine how well the cleaning agent performed.”
“This technology is just another example of how the IEHA-TURI product testing program will help the cleaning industry to quantify performance outcomes,” said Beth Risinger, CEO and Executive Director of IEHA. “It’s another way to apply measurement science to aid our members and others in making science-based product selections without marketing bias or subjective assessments.”
“Precise color and gloss measurements are a way to remove the human eye and subjective judgment from the evaluation process, allowing more consistent results,” added Marshall.
The UML TURI lab will use the Spectro-Guide along with the following test protocols among others:
ASTM
• D 4488 Standard Guide for Testing Cleaning Performance of Products Intended for Use on Resilient Flooring and Washable Walls
• D 3206 Standard Test Method for Soil Resistance of Floor Polishes
• D 5343 Standard Guide for Evaluating Cleaning Performance of Ceramic Tile Cleaners
CSPA
• DCC 17 Greasy Soil Test Method for Evaluating Spray-and-Wipe Cleaners Used on Hard, Non-Glossy Surfaces
IEHA plans to utilize the results of these findings and others as part of its High Performance Cleaning Product (HPCP) determinations and to augment the IEHA Field Test published in Executive Housekeeping Today.
About the Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI)
The Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell provides research, training, technical support, laboratory services and grant programs to reduce the use of toxic chemicals while enhancing the economic competitiveness of local businesses. The TURI Laboratory tests the performance of both industrial and janitorial cleaning products to encourage companies, institutions, and product formulators, to choose and develop safer substitutes. To learn more, visit www.turi.org/laboratory.
The Cleaning Industry Research Institute (CIRI) is a 501.c.3 not-for-profit scientific, educational and research organization that applies science to the practice and improvement of cleaning and maintenance.
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CIRI provides no warranty, expressed or implied, and assumes no legal liability for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information disclosed on its site. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of CIRI principals, executives, science advisors or affiliates.
The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) is a 3,500-plus member organization for housekeeping management. Executive housekeepers are managers that direct housekeeping programs in commercial, industrial or institutional facilities, including upscale hotels, hospitals, schools, and other public places. The non-profit was founded in 1930 in New York City, and is now located in Westerville, Ohio, a suburb of the state’s capitol.
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