Finishing Touches – Hair and Dust Removal

When cleaning hotel rooms, offices and public restrooms, professionals typically think about removing soils and disinfecting. That’s the definition of “clean” in our heads.

But there are other measures of clean. How the air in a room smells is one that I discussed in a previous blog post. Another measure can be whether “non-soils” are also removed. Two of the most common non-soils are hair and dust. 

Hair is a bigger deal than you think. Multiple market research studies confirm that finding other people’s hair in places you don’t expect or want it – a public bathroom sink, a hotel guest bathroom floor, a kitchen counter, your desk – has a high “gross out” factor. Even if everything else about the surface is clean, even if it has been disinfected, sterilized and certified by NASA, the presence of an unwanted hair triggers a disproportional “ick” reaction in many people. 

Fortunately, hair is relatively easy to control. Vacuuming as part of the cleaning procedure on a regular basis is a big help. I also recommend specific duster/ sweeper products that can electrostatically lock on to hairs and literally pull them up. These products can trap hair that is left behind, blown around by vacuuming or deposited between vacuuming. The trick is to employ both of these techniques regularly. Vacuuming once a week is not enough because hair is constantly falling out on to surfaces as part of daily life. Once a day is better, and for very heavily trafficked areas you might think about twice a day. 

Dust is similar to hair in that it’s constantly forming and being deposited. The presence of dust can also trigger allergies in some people who are sensitive.  Vacuuming should again be part of the regimen and should also include fabric surfaces. 

Integrate these tips into your professional cleaning regimen, and you’ll make sure that you’ve covered all the definitions of “clean.”