As the winter season approaches, influenza activity continues to increase. The CDC urges everyone 6 months and older to get a flu vaccine to prevent the spread of the illness. However, influenza isn’t the only disease that spreads during the winter months. In addition to vaccination, it’s important that businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities continue to promote healthy hygiene habits to help protect employees, students, and patients.

Practicing Proper Hand Hygiene

Cleaning your hands is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect you from the spread of germs. Facilities that do their part to encourage healthy hand hygiene can reduce the spread of illness among staff and visitors.

Hand Washes and Hand Sanitizers

Finding products that don’t dry out hands and leave no sticky residue behind plays an important role in creating a culture of hand hygiene. Symmetry^® products are gentle on your skin because Symmetry understands the importance of providing products that people want to use.

Symmetry hand washes and hand sanitizers reduce common disease-causing bacteria. They are designed for repeated use and are formulated with ingredients like ethyl alcohol, allantoin, aloe, and vitamin E. 

Tools and Resources

Oftentimes a large barrier to reducing the spread of illness is education. Supporting your hand hygiene products with educational tools like posters and signs can help bring awareness to the importance of hand hygiene and educate facility visitors about proper hand hygiene practices.

Symmetry has a variety of tools including Education and Awareness posters and the Symmetry Behavior Modification System (SBMS). SBMS utilizes behavioral science to drive hand hygiene practices in the moment. With colorful dispensers, messaged or mirrored placards, floor decals, and flashing lights, Symmetry draws the eye to a hand hygiene opportunity to encourage the user to participate.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Appropriately 

Cleaning and disinfecting regularly is a year-round task that might need to be revisited during respiratory illness season. Frequently touched objects like doorknobs, light switches, and keyboards should be routinely cleaned and disinfected. Proper disinfection includes making sure your chemicals are diluted correctly so that they can kill the organisms on the label.

Products like Eco^® One-Step Disinfectant/Deodorizer/Cleaner E22 and Eco Neutral Disinfectant E23 combat many common disease-causing organisms, including Influenza A Virus and many other organisms. The Eco Proportioning Program includes proportioning systems that automatically dilute cleaners and disinfectants for any room in your facility. This takes the guess work out of product dilution and ensures your facility is cleaned with products that get the job done.

For more information on how Buckeye products and programs can help you combat the illness in your facility, contact one of our expert representatives.

Most facilities require a variety of cleaning and disinfecting products to stay clean. This can require purchasing products from different manufacturers, learning new dilution ratios, and finding storage space for bulky ready-to-use products.

Simplify Your Ordering Process 

Eco^® proportioning systems dilute all Eco products. This includes disinfectants, cleaners, sanitizers, and carpet care products. When you choose Eco, you have access to any product you need to clean or disinfect your facility. No need to worry about communicating with different suppliers.

Eliminate Dilution Guesswork

Many concentrated products need to be diluted by hand. At best, this process slows down custodial staff members. At worst, it causes improper dilution of important chemicals like disinfectants. Eco proportioning systems take the guesswork out of dilution, automatically diluting products at the proper ratio with a push of a button. Because Eco has a cohesive user interface with a color-coded labeling system, operating the proportioning system is seamless.

Improve Storage Space

Eco offers three proportioning systems, the Eco Pro™, Eco Element™, and Eco Edge™. All are designed to fit in virtually any custodial closet. Eco products are super concentrated, making them compact for storage purposes.

Other Eco Benefits 

Eco products are innovative, high-quality, and cost-effective.

Several Eco products are Green Seal™ certified.

Eco 1.25 L bags are manufactured with 83% less plastic than similarly sized rigid containers.

Eco packaging is made from recycled and post-consumer material.

Eco super concentrated products reduce labor time and offer superior end-use cost.

For more information about the full Eco Proportioning Program, contact your Buckeye representative.

Combatting the spread of HAIs (healthcare associated infections) in healthcare facilities is a complex task that requires a multi-faceted approach. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities require an effective cleaning and maintenance program to protect staff, visitors, and patients from the spread of germs and illness.

Hand Hygiene 

The CDC states that hand hygiene is one of the most important steps in reducing the spread of germs. Making hand sanitizer and hand washes readily available to staff and visitors can help reduce the risk of the spread of germs, but there are other ways an effective hand hygiene program can combat disease.

In addition to top-of-the-line products, offering education and awareness materials alongside behavior modification tools that inspire immediate hand hygiene practices can increase compliance rates in healthcare facilities.

The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program offers those tools and more. Symmetry’s Point of Care tools make hand hygiene available when it’s needed most. For example, the 50 ml Tray Table/W.O.W. Clip puts sanitizer right at the patient’s bedside for easy access before and after patient care.

Cleaning and Disinfecting 

Proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures can have a huge impact on the spread of germs in any healthcare facility. The Buckeye Eco^® Proportioning Program simplifies cleaning and disinfecting with automatic dilution, ensuring important products like disinfectants are properly diluted every time.

Eco products include cleaners, disinfectants, and sanitizers for every surface in a hospital or healthcare facility. EPA expects products on List N to kill all strains and variants of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) when used according to the label directions. All Eco disinfectants are on List-N.

However, a cleaning program is not complete without the proper training. Cleaning and disinfecting procedures need to be followed carefully so areas like patient rooms and hospital waiting rooms remain free of germs. To ensure hospital staff have access to the information they need, Buckeye created the Prescription Training Program.

Prescription is a complete maintenance program for hospitals that presents the products, procedures, and training needed to meet your facility’s highest standards. The Prescription program provides training in routine cleaning, patient room cleaning, surgery room cleaning, restroom, carpet care, hard floor care, and product safety. This program and its resources are available online, 24 hours a day.

Reducing the spread of HAIs is a constant battle. Make sure the people in your healthcare facility have access to the tools they need to combat illness. Contact your local sales representative to learn more.

During the winter months, respiratory diseases like COVID-19, influenza, and RSV are spread more easily. Implementing an effective cleaning and disinfecting program can reduce the spread of germs. The Eco Proportioning Program is equipped with multi-purpose disinfectants that remove soil and effectively kill a wide array of organisms.

Eco Disinfectants

Eco One-Step Disinfectant/Deodorizer/Cleaner E22 cleans, disinfects, and deodorizes in one step. This hospital-use disinfectant is bactericidal, virucidal, and fungicidal.

Eco Neutral Disinfectant E23 is a multipurpose disinfectant designed for use in hospital, healthcare, and industrial settings. It is ideal for routine cleaning and floor care maintenance.

E22 and E23 may both be used against SARS-Related Coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) [cause of COVID-19] with a one-minute contact time at a ½ oz./gal. dilution rate.

Proper Disinfection Can:

Combat absenteeism in schools
Reduce HAIs (healthcare-associated-infections) in healthcare facilities
Create a safer environment for retail customers and staff

In-Person and Online Training

Buckeye offers in-person and online training for all products and programs, ensuring your staff has the tools they need to keep your facility clean and looking its best. Complement in-person training with the Honors®  Custodial Training Program for Schools and Universities, or the Prescription Hospital Environmental Services Maintenance Program. Honors and Prescription training videos cover routine, interim, and restorative maintenance procedures. Both platforms include additional resources like PowerPoints, wall charts, and posters. Users can take tests to assess their knowledge at the end of each video and supervisors can monitor test scores from the reports page. With new videos detailing enhanced disinfecting procedures, Honors and Prescription can help keep your staff informed.

The Eco Proportioning Program 

Eco disinfectants are part of the Eco Proportioning Program. The Eco Proportioning Program utilizes proportioning systems to automatically dilute products at the correct rate, removing guesswork from the process.

Eco’s extensive line of super concentrated products includes disinfectants, cleaners, sanitizers, and more. With effective, ecologically friendly chemistry, Eco products are designed to protect workers and preserve the environment.

To learn more about Eco disinfectants and the complete Eco Proportioning Program, contact your Buckeye representative.

CDC data shows that more than 9,100 positive flu tests have been recorded over the first three weeks of the flu season. This is the highest number of positive tests that have been recorded early in a season since the 2009-10 season.

To prevent the flu, the CDC recommends getting the yearly flu vaccine. You can also take a number of everyday preventative actions including avoiding close contact with those who are sick, covering your coughs and sneezes, cleaning and disinfecting surfaces, and washing your hands often.

It’s important for schools, hospitals, and retail facilities to take steps to protect students, patients, and employees from the flu and other diseases that spread during this time of year. One of the first lines of defense is hand hygiene. Ensure people in your facility have access to effective, gentle hand hygiene products that are proven to reduce common disease-causing bacteria.

Symmetry^® offers hand sanitizers and hand washes that people want to use. The Symmetry Hand Hygiene Program offers unique tools that can help educate employees and visitors about hand hygiene and promote proper hand hygiene practices. The Symmetry Behavior Modification System utilizes unique placards and signs that draw attention to hand hygiene opportunities, helping you create a culture of hand hygiene and reduce illness in your facility.

Establishing a consistent, effective cleaning and disinfecting program can reduce the spread of the flu and other germs in your facility. The Buckeye Eco^® Proportioning Program has cleaners and disinfectants for all surface types. Several Eco disinfectants have also been approved by the EPA for use against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

For schools and universities, the Buckeye Honors^® Custodial Training Program can provide an additional level of support during flu season. With training modules on proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures for classroom, hallways, restrooms, cafeterias, and more, Honors can ensure your custodial staff are trained and prepared during the 2022-23 flu season and beyond.

Contact your Buckeye representative for more information about how Buckeye products and programs can help you combat the flu this year.

Following the World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration of the monkeypox outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Jul 23, on August 4 the White House declared monkeypox a public health emergency. Both WHO and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are working to track the outbreak and provide resources to those who are at risk. Find up-to-date information on the monkeypox outbreak on the CDC and WHO websites below:CDC: 2022 U.S. Monkeypox Outbreak

 

WHO: Monkeypox Outbreak 2022

As the monkeypox outbreak continues to spread, the CDC recommends getting vaccinated if you have been exposed to monkeypox and to speak to your healthcare provider if you are showing symptoms.

Monkeypox spreads through direct contact with an infectious rash or bodily fluids. It can also be transferred by respiratory contact and can survive on environmental surfaces, especially in dark, cool, and low humidity environments. To protect yourself and others it’s important to disinfect potentially contaminated surfaces with an EPA registered disinfectant.

In May 2022 the US EPA activated its Emerging Viral Pathogens (EVP) Policy to allow registrants of disinfectants to make off-label claims against monkeypox virus. The qualified disinfectants must have an EPA stamped master label with an EVP claim for enveloped viruses. Buckeye International has a number of eligible disinfectants. The following products have demonstrated effectiveness against viruses similar to monkeypox virus on hard, non-porous surfaces. Therefore, these products can be used against monkeypox virus when used in accordance with the directions for use against the virus listed for each product in the table on hard, non-porous surfaces. Refer to the CDC for more information.

Product	Use as Directed Against This Virus
Buckeye Eco® Neutral Disinfectant E23	Adenovirus type 7 ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Eco One-Step Disinfectant-Deodorizer-Cleaner E22	Rotavirus, WA strain, University of Ottawa
Buckeye Sanicare Quat-256™	Adenovirus type 7, ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Sanicare Quat-128™	Adenovirus type 7, ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Sanicare Lemon Quat™	Adenovirus type 7, ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Sanicare Mint Quat™	Adenovirus type 7, ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Sanicare Pine Quat™	Adenovirus type 7, ATCC VR-7
Buckeye Terminator™	Rotavirus, WA strain, University of Ottawa
Buckeye Sani-Q2	Norovirus
Buckeye Sanicare TBX™	Human Rotavirus or Rhinovirus Type 39
Sanicare Disinfecting Wipes	Rotavirus
Buckeye Sanicare Quat-64™	Rotavirus
Buckeye Watchdog™ NF	Feline Picornavirus

The reported number of monkeypox cases has risen rapidly over the course of the last month. It’s important to have a disinfection plan for your facility to help prevent the spread of this virus. Contact your local Buckeye representative for more information about Buckeye disinfectants, proper product usage, and combatting monkeypox.

Bacteria, mold, mildew, and microorganisms are everywhere, even airborne, covering surfaces you come into contact with every day. Studies have shown that floors and soles of shoes are sources of contamination.

A study done by the University of Arizona found that soles of shoes average 421,000 units of bacteria and that pathogens can transfer from the floor to shoes and back to floors.

An American Journal of Infection Control study concluded that contact with objects on floors in hospitals frequently results in the transfer of pathogens to hands. They found there is a need to reduce the bacterial burden on floors. 

Whether you work in a hospital, school, or retail facility, finding ways to fight bacteria growth can improve the patient, student, and guest experience in any facility. Clarion^® 25 Microban^® Antimicrobial Floor Finish offers 24/7 product protection to proactively and continuously fight microbes at no additional cost, with no additional labor or procedures.

Microban International was founded in 1984 and is the global leader in surface modification technology which allows an EPA registered antimicrobial to be embedded in a surface. Microban technology is built-in to over 1,000 products in 30 countries on four continents.

How Does Microban Antimicrobial Product Protection Work?

More Than a Product

As part of the Buckeye Hard Floor Care Program, Clarion 25 with Microban technology can provide clarity, durability, and repairability to your floors. The Buckeye Hard Floor Care Program offers products and procedures that reduce labor and product costs while keeping your floors in top condition. 

From routine floor care to annual maintenance, Buckeye products include cleaners, floor finishes, and floor strippers that reduce labor costs and give years of beauty to your floors.

Are You Disinfecting Your Floors?

Buckeye Eco Neutral Disinfectant E23 is a multi-purpose disinfectant that can kill a variety of pathogens without attacking floor finish. It has also been approved by the EPA for use against SARS-CoV-2 with a one-minute contact time. 

See the results for yourself! Contact a Buckeye representative today to schedule a floor demonstration at your facility.

*Microban technology does not protect users against disease-causing microorganisms. Microban Products Company makes neither direct nor implied public health claims. Normal cleaning practices should be maintained.

Proper cleaning and disinfecting begin with proper product dilution. Diluting products by hand can be messy, unsafe, and inaccurate. Eco^® proportioning systems seamlessly and accurately dilute products without exposing workers to concentrated products.

Accurate Product Dilution

When products are diluted by hand, user error can result in incorrect product dilution. This can be detrimental to the effectiveness of cleaners and disinfectants. Eco proportioning systems prevent dilution mistakes by automatically diluting concentrated products with the push of a button.

Eco proportioning systems are easy to operate and color and number coded making products easy to identify while filling spray bottles and mop buckets.

Protection from Harsh Chemicals

Like many cleaners and disinfectants, Eco products are super concentrated to reduce labor time and offer superior end use cost. Diluting products by hand exposes workers to super concentrated products. Eco proportioning systems are self-contained, meaning staff members have no contact with concentrated products or exposed tubing.

Compact

Eco proportioning systems can fit in virtually any custodial closet. Depending on the needs of your facility, choose between the Eco Pro^®, Eco Element^®, and Eco Edge^®. The Eco Pro is designed for broad spectrum cleaning and can dilute for up to six different applications. The Eco Element and Eco Edge are designed for remote and focused applications, diluting for up to 3 different applications.

Sustainability

Because Eco proportioning systems utilize concentrated products, less packaging is required to ship Eco products. Eco’s packaging consists of recycled and post-consumer material and Eco 1.25 L bags are manufactured with 83% less plastic than rigid containers.

The Eco Proportioning Program 

Eco proportioning systems are part of the larger Eco Proportioning Program. This program includes training and educational materials highlighting proper procedures that promote human health and safety.

Keep your facility clean with the Eco proportioning program. Contact your Buckeye representative to see which proportioning systems and products are right for your facility.

COVID-19 continues to evolve, causing new variants to occur, many of which are being tracked as the pandemic continues. Because these variants are each unique, they can spread at different speeds and can be more resistant to treatments or vaccines. The COVID-19 variant, Omicron, has been detected in most states and is rapidly increasing the proportion of COVID-19 cases in the US. In addition to getting vaccinated, wearing masks, and maintaining social distance, keeping your environment clean can go a long way in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Facilities hoping to navigate the pandemic should develop a step-by-step cleaning and disinfecting program that will protect people who visit. Buckeye’s Door to Floor: 4 Levels of Protection program can help provide those who enter your facility with peace of mind during the pandemic.

Level 1: Protect Yourself with the Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program

CDC Recommendation: Hand washing is one of the best ways you can help reduce the spread of germs.

Symmetry can help your facility implement a hand hygiene program, providing tools that promote education, awareness, and motivation to practice hand hygiene.

Level 2: Intermittently protect your facility with the Eco^® Proportioning Program

CDC Recommendations: Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces following product label directions and proper dwell times. 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved several Buckeye products for use against SARS-Related Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [cause of COVID-19], including Buckeye Eco One-Step Disinfectant-Deodorizer-Cleaner E22. The Eco Proportioning Program comes with training materials and tools to help staff with proper disinfecting procedures. 

Level 3: Use Clarion^® 25 Microban^® Antimicrobial Floor Finish and Arena^® Microban Antimicrobial Wood Floor Coating

Microban technology is built-in to these products during the manufacturing process. When microbes come in contact with the product surface, Microban technology penetrates the cell wall of the microorganism and disrupts the cell, making the microorganism unable to grow and reproduce. * 

*Microban technology does not protect users against disease-causing microorganisms. Microban Products Company makes neither direct nor implied public health claims. Normal cleaning practices should be maintained.

Level 4: Protect your facility with Gateway Liners and recommendations

Use stronger, better fitting liners to minimize contaminant exposure. Gateway Liners performs rigorous strength, weight, puncture and tear tests.

Properly dispose trash into lined containers and frequently replace liners. Frequently clean and disinfect inside and outside of trash containers. 

Buckeye takes COVID-19 seriously and continues to take a proactive approach in our effort to help minimize exposure to illness. Buckeye programs strive to educate the public on the importance of best cleaning, disinfecting, and hand hygiene practices. Contact your local representative to find out more about Buckeye’s Door to Floor: 4 Levels of Protection program.

Preventing the spread of the flu begins with the flu shot. This year getting the flu shot means more than protecting yourself and others from the flu. It can reduce the strain on healthcare systems as they continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC recommends getting your flu shot before the end of October, but the vaccine is usually available for most of the flu season.

In addition to getting the flu shot, implementing a hand hygiene program can keep germs from spreading in your facility. Washing your hands is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs. The Symmetry^® Hand Hygiene Program offers a complete line of hand hygiene products that are gentle on your hands while reducing common disease-causing bacteria.

Symmetry also offers tools to help encourage people in your facility to practice proper hand hygiene. These tools are key to reducing the spread of diseases like the flu and COVID-19. The Symmetry Behavior Modification System (SBMS) uses behavioral science to drive immediate hand hygiene practices with eye-catching customizable placards and signs. Symmetry also offers educational signs, posters, and videos to demonstrate the importance of hand hygiene.

Facilities can also fight the flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory infections with Buckeye’s disinfectants. Disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces is key in preventing the spread of germs. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved several Buckeye products for use against COVID-19. These products include Buckeye Terminator™, Eco^® One-Step Disinfectant-Deodorizer-Cleaner E22, Sanicare Disinfecting Wipes, and Sanicare TBX^™.

For more information about Buckeye programs and how to prevent the spread of the flu in your facility, contact your local Buckeye representative.