What can the janitorial industry learn from orange juice?
Posted In : Education, Humor, The DirtEveryone knows how to make orange juice from concentrate. Mix 1 container of concentrate with 3 containers of water. No heavy math is involved and pretty much anybody can follow these directions.
Compare that with the way most chemicals are sold in bulk:
- For heavy cleaning, mix at 64 ounces per gallon.
- For medium cleaning, mix at 32 ounces per gallon.
- For light cleaning, mix at 16 ounces per gallon.
It sounds simple, but has a number of significant drawbacks that prevent these directions from accurately being followed by the majority of janitors.
- How many ounces are in a gallon?
- How do you measure a gallon of water?
- How do you measure 16/32/64 ounces?
- What defines heavy/medium/light cleaning?
- What if the container is a 2 gallon mop bucket? Or a 32 ounce spray bottle?
- How can the supervisor determine if the chemical is mixed properly when observing the janitor?
- How can the supervisor/company determine how much chemical is being used each night?
Most janitors don’t carry around measuring cups. And most people do not know how many ounces are in a gallon which rules out many of the other questions. And supervisors have no way to track or measure how the chemicals are being use, and if they are being used properly.
Chemical mixing systems appear to solve some of these problems, but they are far from perfect.
- The systems can be manipulated to have incorrect dilution ratios.
- The systems should be checked on a regular basis to eliminate incorrect mixing ratios either from manipulation (as above) or just recalibrating from use. How often is this done?
- The operator can still select dilution ratios on some models, going back to the question of what strength solution to use.
- These units are mounted in stationary closets and much time is wasted going back to them to refill the bottles or buckets.
- There is still no way to determine visually if the chemical is being mixed properly.
- There is still no way to determine how much chemical is being used each night.
Is there a better solution to this problem? You bet! Chemicals should come in individual use, color coded, single mixing ratio portions. PortionPac has been doing this 1964. What do chemicals packaged like this offer?
- Simple mixing.
No math, no dilution ratios, no measuring cups. Fill the container to a pre-marked line and add the solution. Just like OJ concentrate.
- A method for visually determining if the chemical is mixed properly.
Each chemical is color coded, and when mixed properly every spray bottle, mop bucket and tank will have a consistent, identifiable color. - A method for tracking usage.
Since pacs are individual use items, they can be inventoried before usage, counted during usage and patterns of daily usage can be observed. - The opportunity to mix chemicals where they are needed.
Any local water source can be used to mix the chemicals. No more running back to the janitor’s closet and wasting time. - Increased safety.
Spilling a gallon jug of chemical can be very dangerous and challenging to clean up. Spills with most pacs can be cleaned up with a couple of paper towels.
In a recent PortionPac Connection, it was noted that S.C. Johnson is introducing a very similar packaging concept for Windex. These solutions are a win-win for the industry, the consumer and the environment. As the Windex site states, it reduces the amount of plastic used by 90% and the elimination of 1.5 pounds of water per bottle. This is a tremendous carbon savings when looking at the transportation and logistics portion of providing chemicals.
The next time you are evaluating chemicals, think if your janitors can mix chemicals as easily as they can make orange juice.