The environmental impact of improved facilities maintenance and management practices, including high-performance cleaning, has been shown to directly impact occupant performance and business profitability.

Improving Occupant Wellbeing Through Improved Facilities Management
A 2018 survey of 1,000 office workers conducted by CORT showed an exciting shift in business management focus, with increasing importance being placed on profitability.

The first case of the Novel Coronavirus--2019 nCoV--in the United States was recently confirmed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

2019 Novel Coronavirus
Public health screenings have been instituted at 3 U.S. airports after a case of novel coronavirus 2019 nCoV was confirmed by health officials.

The risk of germs spreading throughout classrooms and the workplace increases exponentially in the winter months, but is a challenge facing everyone all year long, leading to billions of dollars in lost revenue.

Tips for Preventing the Spread of Germs in the Classroom and Workplace
Outbreaks of norovirus, adenovirus, influenza, molds, bacterial infections, and other pathogens result in tens of billions of dollars in lost revenue for the U.S. economy each year.

Cruise ships play a significant role in the acquisition and transmission of vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as influenza, so extra care is required to ensure the health and safety of passengers, as well as the residents of any port of call.

Addressing the Challenge of Influenza on Cruise Ships
Influenza, influenza-like illness (ILI), and respiratory illness account for nearly one-third of all reported illness on board cruise ships due, in part, to several factors, including:

Tight quarters and enclosed spaces.

Environmental factors such as indoor air quality and surface hygiene play a significant role in the health-related causes of chronic student absenteeism in the United States.

Addressing the Challenges of Environmental Cleanliness and Hygiene as it Relates to Chronic Student Absenteeism
Chronic student absenteeism is a growing crisis in U.S. schools, resulting in the classroom and learning disengagement, reduced reading abilities, and a higher likelihood of dropping out before the completion of high school.

It may come as somewhat of a surprise to many that the perception of cleanliness and hygiene, as well as healthy habits, are entirely subjective in the eyes of many, ultimately resulting in concerning working and learning conditions.

What Does Clean Mean?
What does it mean to be clean?

A recent survey in the U.K. conducted by Formica Group examined the perceptions of the cleanliness of an establishment based on the condition of their restrooms.

Toilet plumes are an unfortunate byproduct of modern public restroom function and design, which contribute to potentially hazardous conditions regarding occupant health.

It's Time to Talk About Toilet Plumes
Few things say gross more than the concept of the contents of a public toilet being vaulted upwards in an aerosolized plume--ultimately settling on every conceivable surface.

The bubonic plague, a.k.a the Black Death--a pandemic that swept across the Eastern Roman Empire and Europe, and then eventually Eastern Asia to the United States--is alive and just as deadly as ever, with fears of a potential pandemic on the horizon.

The Bubonic Plague
The Black Death.

2019 is coming to an end, and it's time for us to look back at what made this year great so that we can plan ways to make 2020 even better!

Our Most Popular Cleaning Content for 2019
2019 was our biggest year yet, here at Vanguard Cleaning Systems® of the Southern Valley, and we wanted to review some of our most popular content with you so that you and your teams can effectively plan out a healthy and productive 2020.

 
Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease
Coming in at the number one spot was an article from 2018 regarding the dangers of, and methods to address and prevent the spread of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD).

HFMD is a nasty virus that almost exclusively sees outbreaks among young children due to their tendency to put things in their mouths and can lead to a host of painful symptoms, including:

Mouth sores.

Developing and encouraging high-quality cleaning and personal hygiene habits aids in the establishment and maintenance of a healthy facility, while ensuring the safety and productivity of all building occupants.

The Importance of Developing Healthy Facility Habits
Establishing high-performance habits in our personal lives is all the rage these days.