Preemptive Strike: Keeping mold and mildew at bay.

Article from the June issue of Lodging Magazine
Copyright 2001
By Alice Roberts

Mold and mildew are perpetual problems at most hotels. In and around heating, ventilation,
and air conditioning units, mold and mildew can cause particularly big headaches for
housekeepers and engineers, and larger problems tend to migrate down ductwork if not
taken care of. Thankfully, a little elbow grease can go a long way in keeping the dreaded
"M"s at bay.

"We see it as more of a prevention issue," says Matthew Bracht, a buyer for Maintenance
Warehouse in San Diego. "There are metals for ductwork that have antimold and mildew
inhibitors built into the metal itself," he says. "Envirocoil is a non-acidic, nonbleaching
application used on coils and, if applied correctly, is a dehumidifier by nature."

Other products also can assist the preventive medicine approach. Recently, ak Steel of
Middletown, Ohio, received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency to market
antimicrobial steel for use in hvac systems. The combination of protection at an economical
price is the main selling point. Another product Bracht recommends is a portable dehumidifier
by Emerson Electronics that can remove 30 pints of moisture a day and is effective in high
humidity areas such as a locker room.

One such place is the Bambridge Beaches Resort in Bermuda. The property had the challenge
of designing an air distribution system for the dehumidification system to work on both levels
of its Aquarium Baths and Ocean spa with equal efficiency. By installing a PoolPak aw3500
on the main level, it is able to collect 59 pounds of moisture removal per hour while maintaining
a constant temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Machinery aside, Sylvie Balenger, executive housekeeper at the Four Seasons Aviara in Carlsbad,
California, says proper cleaning methods are the answer. "Soap and scrub, and soap and scrub,"
she advises. Balenger also suggests that housekeepers should be aware of body oil buildup from
soap scum, which turns orange and develops into mildew. "That is harder to remove but not
impossible. We had an Ecolab training session for showers," she said. "It was a five-step session
involving spraying, scrubbing, allowing chemicals to sit, rinsing, and drying. Our challenge is to
see to it that housekeeping does it."

In a property such as the Four Seasons, Balenger's crew can't use acidic chemicals on the floor
and other marble surfaces. Instead, the staff uses GelPro50, a product that discolors mildew so
housekeeping can more easily see—and clean—problem areas.

Steve Rondoni, executive housekeeper at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla, San Diego, also places
some of the mildew burden on the housekeeping staff. "When we see mildew, it probably is because
we aren't paying attention to details," he says. "If you wipe down every surface, every day, it's
impossible for anything to grow."

Even so, the Hyatt also uses a regular filtration exchange program to further keep mildew in check.
"We change all [charcoal-based] filters in our ac units in guestrooms and the building," Rondoni
says. "This not only helps with mold and mildew but it is good from a fresh, clean air standpoint,
as well."

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