Though as we all know, foul odor often comes with the territory and managing odors has become core to any facility’s cleaning strategy.  This is why we are excited to announce that Today’s Facility Manager magazine recently included the Fresh Wave IAQ products in its New Product Flash section.

As the article highlights, the science behind Fresh Wave IAQ is based on four unique principles:

1. Contact: Fresh Wave IAQ molecules released into the air make contact with malodor molecules via opposing electrostatic charges and random contact.
2. Absorption: The products’ molecules absorb and destroy odors on the molecular level.
3. Solubility: Products enhance the solubility of most gases.
4. Reaction: Products modify the malodor molecule to a non-odorous state.

Be sure to check out the full article here.

Industry Giants Launch ‘Plan B,’ Prioritize Planet Alongside Profit

Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson and former Puma CEO Jochen Zeitz formed a global nonprofit to help companies develop sustainable ways of doing business.

Key to Developing a Restroom Maintenance Program

When it comes to bathroom cleanliness, the public isn’t shy about their expectations, making restrooms the number one complaint among facility issues. Be sure to check out this webinar on how to develop a solid restroom maintenance program.

Greening the Future of the Cleaning Industry

A cleaning firm is developing a green cleaning module for facilities managers.

Bethesda Marriott Evacuated Due to Foul Odor

Odors from pool cleaning chemicals recently caused the evacuation of the Bethesda Marriott in Maryland.

Foul Odor Near Causeway Concerns Residents

Residents near a causeway in Corpus Christi, Texas, are worried about a foul odor that is impacting the region.

Smelly Socks Help Trap Malaria Mosquitoes

Researchers found that mosquitoes, infected with tropical diseases like malaria, are three times more likely to be attracted to stinky socks.

New Sensors Can Smell Skin Cancer

Scientists have discovered sensors that “sniff” skin cancer by detecting a foul odor, according to a new study.

In fact, we recently heard of nurses in several hospitals taking the matter into their own hands … literally.  The nurses determined that by carrying around 2 oz Fresh Wave IAQ Air & Surface Spray in their back pockets, they could keep any unpleasant odors at bay by using the product wherever they may be working in the hospital.

Foul odors can not only impact the patients, but staff as well, resulting in headaches, nausea, and other discomforts. In some cases, foul odors can even cause costly evacuations of a hospital. And a hospital’s staff needs to focus on the bigger issue of healing patients, as opposed to dealing with odors.

Having nurses proactively take on odor management right from their back pockets reinforces that many healthcare facilities need to develop broader odor mitigation strategies.

For example, many hospitals can benefit from the use of Fresh Wave IAQ’s wall mount units, as well as the M130 and 130CFM Vapor Phase Units. The solutions allow healthcare facilities to have a much wider reach in terms of eliminating odors in any area in a continuous fashion.

While foul odors are all too common in hospitals, fortunately, there are eco-friendly solutions that don’t mask odors with harmful chemicals.

By taking a more comprehensive approach to odor management, nurses can better focus on caring for their patients, which is the foundation for many of them getting into the healthcare profession in the first place.

Survey: Distributors Predict Industry Improvements

A recent survey reports that nearly 57 percent of distributors believe the second half of 2013 will be better than the first half.

U.S. Consumers Increase ‘Green’ Purchases

A new study shows that U.S. consumers continue to go green, as 78 percent say they buy green products and services, a steady increase over 69 percent last year.

Holiday Inn Evacuated Because of Sewer Odor

A Holiday Inn in Michigan was evacuated Tuesday afternoon because of a strong sewer odor. 

70 Years of Cleaning Industry Memories

CleanLink has compiled a very compelling photo gallery that chronicles the cleaning industry’s past 70 years.

Brown Algae Cause of ‘Stink’ in Mass. Town

Tests show the foul ocean odor that’s been vexing residents of a Mass. coastal town is Pilayella littoralis, a brown algae common in the region.

Building the World’s ‘Most Sustainable BMW Dealership’

Be sure to check out this story about the development and design of the “most sustainable” BMW dealership.

Dealing with Cicada Season and Foul Odors

With cicada season right around the corner, here are some tips for dealing with these guests who arrive on the east coast every 17 years.

Smelly White Mystery Ooze Found Seeping Out of a Street In China

In China, there was an incident where “white smelly foam” oozed out of the street – and we thought we had odor problems back here in the U.S.

It was approximately a decade ago when a vast majority of cities around the U.S. banned cigarette smoking in bars, restaurants, and hotel lobbies. Prior to this, many of us were simply used to being around cigarette smoke in virtually every drinking establishment, concert venue, and eatery. It’s just how things were back then.

It only took a short time after smoking bans went into effect that we all became acclimated to not having secondhand smoke around us, or not having to deal with smelly clothes after an evening out.

When I walked into a major Las Vegas hotel and casino, I was stunned by an odor cocktail of cigarette smoke and air-freshening chemicals. It was a smell that reminded me of seedy establishments on Bourbon Street in New Orleans – and this is not necessarily a good smell.

Once I got over the shock of seeing people smoking indoors, I decided to walk the entire floor of the casino and see if there were any odor-free areas. Alas, only the convention center – where smoking is banned – did not smell (and even then…). Otherwise, a stroll through the casino left my clothes smelling like smoke and chemicals.

One of the beauties of Las Vegas – and New Orleans for that matter – is that it’s a town where you can truly let off steam. As such, it is understandable why lawmakers in Nevada are not rushing to pass legislation that bans indoor smoking. They want their guests to be free to do what they want, which includes lighting up a Marlboro 100 while playing blackjack.

However, it begs the question: Why don’t casinos seek out better odor management solutions? Solutions that merely mask the odors with perfumes only make things worse for guests and employees.

It is possible to develop a sound odor management strategy with solutions that are both eco-friendly and that actually work. In addition, next-generation odor mitigation is all about safety and effectiveness.

As we see more people being impacted by chemicals in room and air deodorizers, it is time for any public establishment, especially casinos, to take a more progressive approach to odor management.

Pasadena Building Evacuated Due to Suspicious Odor

Last week, a building in Pasadena was evacuated due to a suspicious odor.

Apple Hires Former EPA Chief Lisa Jackson

Apple has hired former US EPA chief Lisa Jackson to head up the tech company’s environmental efforts.

Daimler Trucks: That’s Not Our Odor

Citizens have complained about an odor coming from a Daimler Trucks North America plant.  The manufacturer is denying that they are the source.

AHA Drives Hospital ‘Sustainability Roadmap’

The American Hospital Association has launched a website to help managers and staff at health care organizations implement sustainability improvements at their facilities.

Manhattan Beach Deals With Rash of Odor Complaints

A mysterious odor in Manhattan Beach, Calif., has sent a wave of calls to the local fire department.

Dealing with Flatulence on an Airplane

Putting charcoal in airplane seats could be a way to rid airplanes of flatulence odors.  We believe there are other more sound solutions.

Utility Received Citation for Foul Pond Odor

Arizona environmental regulators have cited Johnson Utilities with four violations of state law as a result of last month’s sewage leak into a neighborhood’s ponds in Pinal County.

Janitors Are Important Too

Here’s a very nice reminder that janitors are important and should be treated with the utmost respect.

Sustainability Reporting ‘Leads to Higher Cash Flows’

More than half of companies say sustainability reporting leads to higher cash flows and helps improve firm reputation, according to a report from the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship and Ernst & Young.

Smelly Envelopes Causes Evacuation of a Whole Foods

A Whole Foods in the Seattle area was evacuated after two suspicious, smelly envelopes were found inside the store.

Union County Employees Evacuated from Administration Building
Employees at the Union County Administration building in Elizabeth, N.J., were briefly evacuated after some recently-installed air conditioning equipment began smoking.

Janitor University Accepting Students

ManageMen, a jan/san consultancy firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah, is accepting registrations for its upcoming Janitor University session.

Tips For Managing A Cleaning Crew

CleanLink has provided some key tips for better managing of your cleaning crews.

Woman Allegedly Threatens Neighbor With Plunger Over Foul Odor

A Massachusetts woman upset by a foul odor emanating from her neighbor’s house is in hot water after allegedly threatening to hit the neighbor with a plunger.

Not Easy Being Green: UT Dallas’ Efforts Honored

UT Dallas has again been named one of the greenest universities in The Princeton Review’s “Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2013 Edition.”

No one should walk into a local government building and smell anything but clean-smelling air, as the perception of cleanliness immediately gives the impression that this is a professional environment that provides critical services to citizens. A foul odor can not only disturb important functions of a city, but give the impression to constituents that the building and offices inside are not capable or efficient.

For example, recently in Minneapolis, Minn., a foul odor shutdown an entire county building downtown. While the smell was traced to the sewer system, emergency services had to be transferred to another part of town.  In addition, in Sacramento, Calif., a mystery odor may have contributed to making state workers sick. These types of situations can cause significant downtime for government departments, and can reinforce negative stereotypes about the effectiveness of local governments.

In an era when a government’s efficiency is often questioned, one area that is often overlooked – and can enhance overall governmental effectiveness through the perception of its constituents – is odor management.

State and local governments can implement the right strategies for keeping buildings and offices completely odor-free.  In addition, eco-friendly odor mitigating solutions can help in overall sustainability efforts, and minimize any allergic reactions that workers and citizens can have when confronted with perfume- and chemical-based deodorizing solutions.

As the role of government is to serve and protect citizens, one of the best ways to meet this mission is to ensure that all facilities are healthy and odor-free.

American Airlines Flight From Denver Diverted for Odor

An Americans Airlines flight from Denver was diverted to Pueblo after the smell of an electrical odor was noticed in the cabin.

Passengers Demand to Be Let Out of Spirit Airlines Flight

Passengers recently marched off a Spirit Airlines plane after a strong odor was detected from the vents.

The Rainbow of Sustainability

Establishing a color-coding system through symbolization is a simple way to practice resource reduction and promote a sustainable operation for any facility.

Hotels Ditch Housekeeping Carts in Favor of New Option

Hotels are replacing the cumbersome housekeeping carts with smaller bags out of necessity, convenience, and even appearance.

Strange Smell Spurs Building Evacuation

Reports of an odd smell near Town Center in Rockville, Md., spurred the evacuation of a building and temporarily shut down Rockville Pike.

Middle School Evacuated After Suspicious Odor

A suspicious odor in the cafeteria area caused the evacuation of Thoreau Middle School in Northern Virginia.

Ohio State Awaits Bloom of Stinky Corpse Flower

Researchers at an Ohio State University greenhouse are awaiting a rare second bloom by a rainforest plant known as a corpse flower because of its unpleasant odor.

MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital Wins Workplace Excellence Awards

Congratulations to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital for receiving the 2013 Workplace Excellence, the Health & Wellness Trailblazer, and the EcoLeadership awards from the Alliance for Workplace Excellence (AWE).

Malaria Infected Mosquitoes More Attracted to Human Odor

New research shows that mosquitoes infected with malaria parasites are significantly more attracted to human odor than uninfected mosquitoes.

The Verde Condominium (pictured) in Chicago is an example of a 14-year old, mid-rise building that faced smelly trash rooms on each floor. Rather than letting the odor take over the interior of the building, the condo’s board of directors decided to fight back with Fresh Wave IAQ.

Following is an exclusive Q&A with Ruth Witt, a semi-retired sales executive who serves as the secretary of the Verde Condominium board of directors. Ruth is responsible for developing an odor management plan that effectively rids the building of foul odors.

Fresh Wave IAQ Blog: Tell us about your role at the Verde Condominium.

Witt:  I am a semi-retired sales professional who serves as the secretary of the condo board. In this position, I oversee all of the projects for the building, and I approve the cleaning products and services that our management company recommends we use.

As you can imagine, there are challenges with this position because our building is a bit older and we are continually looking for ways to keep the property clean and healthy for the tenants.

Fresh Wave IAQ Blog: How did you come across Fresh Wave IAQ?

Witt:  I am avid listener of “Mr. Fix-It with Lou Manfredini” on WGN Radio in Chicago, and he is always recommending Fresh Wave for fighting any challenging odor. So, per his recommendation, I used the consumer brand for keeping my closet odor-free, and it worked great. In addition, I had a family member whose house was impacted by a skunk; she used Fresh Wave and it worked wonderfully.

I live 20 feet from the garbage room, so when the rooms began to spread odors into the hallways, I decided to try Fresh Wave. For about two months it worked effectively – mind you this was the consumer brand – but we found we had to replace the solution every two weeks.

One thing to note is that the odors from the trash rooms are very bad – and it gets worse on the weekends when more people are throwing away their garbage.

As such, I decided to use a stronger commercial-grade solution, Fresh Wave IAQ. I emailed Fresh Wave IAQ, and one of the sales representatives immediately got back to me and came out and worked with the maintenance team to install Fresh Wave IAQ wall mount units. Within 24 hours, the odor had completely gone away, and we don’t have to replace it nearly as often.

Fresh Wave IAQ Blog:  Would you recommend this product to other condo boards?

Witt: Absolutely. I get migraines from perfume scents and we needed an odor management solution that did not leave any residual odors. With Fresh Wave IAQ, there’s a little bit of a citrus scent when you first use it. Then that subsides, as does the foul odor itself, and it won’t trigger any allergic reaction in the tenants. This is especially important because we have a young pregnant woman living in the building and others who could be negatively impacted by perfume-like smells.

In addition, the Fresh Wave IAQ team went above and beyond when it came to helping me address this major odor challenge.

We would like to thank Ruth for taking the time to share her story with us! To learn more about the wall mount units from Fresh Wave IAQ, click here. In addition, if you have an odor management story to share, we would love to hear from you.