Students walking to their rooms past the familiar odor of bleach and bathroom cleaner lingering in the hallways might wonder what the University uses to clean its public spaces. Though some of the products have a strong odor and can be hazardous if used improperly, Donna Butler, director of custodial services, said, "Everything we currently use is non-toxic."
In Spring 2003, two students investigated the toxicity of the products that the University uses in a report for a class project. Julia Wolfson '06 and Joe Gebbia RISD'05 found that the SC Johnson products that Brown was using contained more hazardous ingredients and were more dangerous than any of the products offered by the report's three alternative companies. One SC Johnson product, Triad Disinfectant Cleaner, is still used by custodial staff and contains alkyl dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride, which the report said can cause "burns to eyes and skin."
The University has extended its contract twice since then while searching for better alternatives, Butler said.
"We're waiting for the generational turn on green cleaning," she said.
This often means waiting for a stamp of approval from the nonprofit Green Seal organization, which requires a product to be both environmentally safe for humans and environmentally friendly to nature, said John Guglielmetti, manager of custodial services.
Many products that originally had caustic and volatile formulas, such as SC Johnson's Crew, a multi-purpose restroom cleaner, have been improved and are being reinstated with Green Seal approval, Butler said.
"Sometimes it takes a while to get formulas correct," she said.
Butler said the University is currently using two SC Johnson products that have earned the Green Seal - the versatile cleaner Alpha-HP, which is doing well in its tests in the Sidney Frank Hall for Life Sciences, she said, and the floor-stripper Freedom. The University expects to stick with these two products and renew its contract with SC Johnson in July.
But one product, Zep Stove and Oven Cleaner, is used only during student breaks because of its intense fumes, said Maria Ramos, a custodian for Perkins Hall. She said out of all the products, the oven cleaner is the only one she really can't stand.
The product can produce burns to the skin, eyes and lungs, according to its material safety data sheet. It can damage the blood, liver and kidneys, and with repeated exposure, and cause reproductive and nervous system disorders.
"It's really strong - you gag," Ramos said. "That's why I don't use it when the kids are here."
Butler said the University is aware of the oven cleaner issue, and it is on their "list of things to change."
But Ramos said most of the products aren't a problem if used correctly. For example, Ecolab Sheer Magic cleaner and disinfectant is "excellent" and doesn't bother her at all, she said.
Butler said the University has mostly stopped using bleach, using it only to remove mildew. But some students said they smell bleach a lot more often.
"Once I went into the bathroom to take a shower, and the janitor said, 'Oh honey, don't go in that one - I just bleached it,'" said Eva Shultis '10. "I was like, if you can't use it right after it's been cleaned, that's not really a good sign."
"It's a pretty distinctive smell," said Kelly Murgia '10, adding that the fumes leave her light-headed.
The hazards of contact with the chemical are not the only issue, another student said.
"The smell just lingers in the hallways all day. It reeks," said Sue Ding '10. "I just think there are a lot of good alternatives nowadays."
