There are many different types of floor substrates which each have varying care needs. This blog provides a brief overview of the most common types. Whether you’re looking to install new floors or maintaining what you already have, it’s important to know what you’re working with! Our janitorial and sanitation experts are always here to help advise you on best practices.

Black Plank

This surface is almost exclusively found only in Post Offices across North America. The black floor helps postal workers see letters that have fallen on the ground!

Ceramic

This surface is a mixture of clay and water which has been shaped and then fired at high temperatures. Ceramic can have a glazed (shine) look, but can also have an unglazed (dull) appearance. There will always be grout between the tiles, but due to different manufacturing processes, tiles will vary.

Unglazed ceramic can stain easily if unprotected and the grout requires frequent cleaning.

Concrete

This surface is a complex mixture of hydrated cement, sand, aggregate, and additives. Concrete floors are highly alkaline (pH 9 or greater), react with most acids, and are very porous. Most are gray, but they can also be colored and/or stamped.

Concrete flooring can be polished, topically coated, or brushed. It’s very acid sensitive. Do not leave polished concrete without protection as staining and etching will occur rapidly.

Epoxy

Epoxy is a term that’s come to represent a class of materials and the act of using those materials. When mixed together, resin and hardener chemically react to form a rigid plastic material. The final material is strong, durable, resistant, and bonds extremely well to most base layers.

Granite

This surface is a natural-made stone. Granites are hard and not easily scratched by a nail, knife, or glass. Commercial granites are not affected by common organic acids such as a lemon acid and vinegar, contrary to marbles.

Limestone

This surface is a sedimentary rock formed in shallow waters. It contains calcite, dolomite and frequently contains fossils and shell fragments clearly visible in the surface.

Limestone is a softer stone and can be polished relatively easily and reacts negatively with most acids.

Linoleum

This surface is made from natural materials including limestone, cork flour, wood flour, pigments, and oxidized linseed oil added to a rosin. The mixture is heated and then pressed onto a jute/burlap backing under high pressure.

Linoleum has a unique linseed smell and is generally resistant to mild acids, grease/oil and solvents. This floor is very Alkaline sensitive and requires special stripping chemicals.

LVT

This surface is new to the industry. It can be found in the form of Luxury Vinyl Tile laminate and Sheet Flooring.

These floors are tough from their factory applied hard mill coating. This coating, while durable, cannot be repaired once damaged.

Marble

This surface is a limestone that has been subjected to intense heat and pressure for millions of years, transforming it into a very compact crystalline structure. Pure marble is a uniform white color with no markings or irregularities. The swirls and veins are caused by various minerals that work their way into the limestone as it crystallizes.

Marble is very acid sensitive.

Quarry Tile

This surface is made using a mixture of clay and water which has been shaped and then fired at high temperatures. The surface is usually unglazed and frequently found in kitchens & restrooms.

Quarry tile is intentionally porous to allow water and oil to travel through the substrate rather than create a slip hazard on the surface.

Rubber

This surface (tiles, sheets, or poured rubber) is a mixture of synthetic rubber, virgin rubber, fillers (synthetic, recycled, inert) and color pigments. The raw materials are mixed, heated, rolled out, and then cut to size.

Rubber is sensitive to alkalinity. Care must be taken to use a low-alkaline stripper.

Sandstone

This surface is composed of sedimentary rocks that are primarily quartz minerals loosely cemented together with calcite, iron oxides. and other colored minerals. It is recognized by its distinct sand-like appearance.

Sandstone is a softer stone that can be polished relatively easily and reacts negatively with most acids.

Sheet Vinyl

This surface comes in varied sizes, colors, and vinyl contents. Sheet vinyl is easily mistaken with linoleum. The easiest way to tell them apart is to look at the backing (when possible) to see if it contains jute or not. Jute backing signals a linoleum floor.

Older sheet vinyl requires a traditional maintenance program.

Slate

This surface is a hard, fine-grained, metamorphic rock that cleaves naturally into thin layers.

Slate usually has a very rough texture which makes cleaning it a challenge. Brushes work much better than pads.

Terrazzo

This surface is a type of substrate in which chips or pieces of stone (e.i. marble or granite) are mixed with cement or epoxy matrix and ground to a flat surface that exposes the chip. The poured in place terrazzo typically uses aluminum or brass divider strips that allow the terrazzo to expand without cracking.

Terrazzo is very acid sensitive. It can be polished relatively easily and reacts negatively with most acids.

Travertine

This surface is a type of limestone formed where underground streams have run through it. It is characterized by numerous holes of various sizes, which are often filled prior to installation on a floor.

Travertine is a softer stone that can be polished relatively easily. It reacts negatively with most acids.

VAT

This surface is very similar to VCT in construction, except it contains asbestos fibers. These tiles have not been manufactured since 1983.

Be sure to follow OSHA guidelines and your companies safety protocols when working with asbestos floor tiles. Never burnish asbestos tiles. Keep it coated and use very low abrasion methods when cleaning and stripping.

VCT

This surface is composed of clay, filler, and color pigments with vinyl resin used as the binder. It is somewhat more flexible and resilient than asphalt tile.

Vct is the most common floor type, but is becoming less and less popular due to high maintenance costs. It’s the least expensive floor to buy but the most expensive to maintain.

Wood Gym Floors

Gym floors are made out of maple planks. Maple is one of the toughest woods you can use as a flooring material as it can take a good beating. For an indoor sports floor, maple can withstand all kinds of activity.

Wood floors do not like moisture. Be careful applying too much water to wood gym floors as this may lead to issues like warping of planks.

The post Floor Care: Flooring Substrate Types appeared first on Sundance Office | Office Supplies | Tulsa.

The post Wypall for Confidence in Every Clean appeared first on Sundance Office | Office Supplies | Tulsa.

• High Touch
• Medium Touch
• Low Touch
• No Touch

Each one has different implications for the products you use to clean them and the way you go about cleaning them yourself, but all these surfaces need to be cleaned regularly if they’re going to be both hygienic and maintain their aesthetic appeal. Read on to find out how to clean, sanitize, disinfect and sanitize various high touch surfaces around your workplace or home office, and learn which products can help you achieve these goals effectively.

What Are High Touch Surfaces?

High touch surfaces are objects that several people come in contact with on a regular basis. These surfaces can be anything from door handles to desks to bathrooms sinks. A high touch surface can be as common as a tabletop or as rare as the base of a chair. They are often overlooked when it comes to cleaning and sanitizing because they’re not always considered “dirty.” However, these surfaces become dirty just like any other surface if they aren’t maintained daily.

Desktop High Touch Surfaces

It’s important to clean, sanitize, disinfect and sterilize high-touch surfaces in the office on a regular basis. In your own space it can feel like you don’t have to do it often, but what do you touch when you’re not at your desk? Could those germs be transferred to your workspace? Be sure to always wipe down these surfaces regularly.

Desktop High Touch Surfaces can include:

• Phone
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• Arm Rests
• Back of a Desk Chair
• Desk Surface
• Pens
• Drawer Pulls

Office-Wide High Touch Surfaces

It can be startling to learn how dirty office-wide surfaces can become. In some cases, they can be up to 200 times dirtier than a toilet bowl! This is because they are continually touched by dozens or even hundreds of people each day. When left unclean for days or weeks at a time these high touch surfaces become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria.

Office-Wide High Touch Surfaces include:

• Door Handles
• Copiers and Printers
• Toilets
• Faucets
• Lamps
• Light Switches
• Locks
• Filing Cabinets

The Differences Between Cleaning, Sanitizing, Disinfecting & Sterilizing

Cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting and sterilizing – what’s the difference between these terms? Well, each word is a different level. Cleaning removes dirt, stains or other visible contaminants, while sanitizing kills bacteria or viruses on surfaces that are likely to touch food. Disinfecting is a more stringent level than sanitizing because it kills many types of microorganisms. Finally, sterilizing eliminates all living organisms on an object.

Cleaning

This is the process of physically removing dirt, grime, and other contaminants. A soft cloth and soap are often enough to get the surface clean.

Sanitizing

To sanitize an item or surface means to reduce the number of microorganisms present on that item or surface. In order to sanitize something, you need to use a substance such as bleach or alcohol that kills 99%+ of bacteria on contact. Chlorine bleach is best for surfaces like countertops while rubbing alcohol is used for hard surfaces like tabletops.

Disinfecting

Disinfecting means killing all types of disease-causing germs (bacteria) on a surface with some type of chemical solution such as chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide.

Sterilizing

Sterilizing a surface kills all living microorganisms that may be on that surface.

The Best Products to Use

When it comes to the best products for each cleaning job, there are many options, but we recommend using products from trusted janitorial and sanitation brands for cleaning, sanitizing, disinfecting, and sterilizing your high touch surfaces. At Sundance, we have all the workplace solutions you need to keep your offices safe and sanitary.

The post High Touch Surfaces: What Are They and How Do You Clean Them appeared first on Sundance Office | Office Supplies | Tulsa.

About Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels is a community care organization that focuses on people who need care the most: the isolated. For many senior citizens, going to a grocery store or preparing a meal is simply not an option. Whether due to lack of mobility or lack of funds, a basic human need may be going unfulfilled. Meals on Wheels operates in nearly every community around the country, ensuring healthy, delicious meals are available and delivered right to the door of a senior citizen who needs them.

The Personal Connection

Not only does this service provide them with food, but also human contact and a wellness check. As this community ages, they don’t always have continued interaction with many people. Where many adults run into others at work, in stores, at events, etc., oftentimes senior citizens are unable to engage in that social sphere. This is again due to mobility, lack of funds, health concerns, and more.

Sundance Cares for the Community

At Sundance, we know that the most important person is you: our community. We pledge to do everything we can to ensure your safety, growth, and happiness throughout the year. That’s why we give back so much to the community. Because without you, there wouldn’t be us.

The post Sundance Cares: Bringing the WOW to Meals on Wheels! appeared first on Sundance Office | Office Supplies | Tulsa.

Shopping locally here in Oklahoma helps keep our dollars in our local economy, improving our infrastructure and our schools. You can shop online at a local company like Sundance Office, walk into a local shop on Black Wall Street, go out to eat in The Paseo District, or visit any other local community or company. When you do the same in your local communities, you are contributing to the success of that community.

Here are a few of the direct ways that shopping locally helps communities prosper and improves your engagement and profitability.

Build Stronger Communities

When you buy from local businesses, you are strengthening your community and investing in your town’s growth. In fact, more than 50% of profits are recirculated back into the community when you shop locally. Not only that but you know that the sales team, delivery drivers, managers, etc., live nearby and have a vested interest in your town because they work there, too. Your delivery driver could even be your child’s Little League coach! We love knowing our team is friends and neighbors with everyone we meet, making it easy to build relationships with our customers and that builds a better, stronger community overall.

Create More Jobs

Local businesses create more jobs in the local economy than large chains, keep the community engaged, and allow for more entry level jobs for new employees. You help create jobs and keep both money and families in the local economy. The ripple effect that one small business has on a community is astounding. When you buy from a local store, you are not only supporting that business, but also the other local businesses in the area that benefit from its success. You create a sense of community and increase your involvement in it. You help to keep families together in the neighborhood, provide quality options for good and services, and strengthen relationships with those who are near and dear to you. Quality job opportunities create a booming economy which brings about great school systems and overall improved local infrastructure.

Improve Community Success

Shopping local allows you to give back to the community that helped make you successful in the first place. Plus, as stated above, shopping locally can be an enjoyable and engaging experience, allowing you to connect with your fellow neighbors. When we shop at a store in our own neighborhood, we are also supporting the stores in other neighborhoods too- since most of our dollars stay within the city limits, improving overall community success. For all these reasons and more, shopping locally can make your life better and help bring prosperity back to the communities where you live.

Reduce Carbon Footprint

When you buy locally, you help reduce your overall carbon footprint simply because your delivery drivers don’t have to drive far distances, wasting precious and expensive gas. And because those businesses are buying their products from other local purveyors who also reduce their carbon footprint, it’s a trickle-down effect. If we want to sustain our communities and our environment as a whole, we need to invest in them now. The tradeoffs of shopping locally and the impact it has on the environment and the community can’t be overstated.

Find High-Quality, Low-Cost Products

When you work with a local purveyor or producer, you are building a relationship. And relationships can lead to deals. You want to work with your local workplace solutions dealer, and they want to work with you. They are able to provide you with lower costs on the same high-quality products that you deserve. With increased profits for both you and them, it’s easy to see why businesses prefer to buy locally. The next time you’re thinking about buying something, think about what kind of deal is waiting for you just down the street.

Find Your Community in Oklahoma

Here are some other areas to visit in Tulsa and Oklahoma City, especially going into the Holiday season:

Want to learn more about how to bring the WOW back to your community? Get in touch with us today!

The post The Local Advantage: Bring the WOW Back to Your Community appeared first on Sundance Office | Office Supplies | Tulsa.

Jet Air Dryers vs Paper Towels

Source: Bunzl Cleaning & Hygiene Supplies

95% of adults don’t wash their hands long enough to remove bacteria and germs, so they remain on their hands after washing. If they dry their hands with a jet air dryer afterwards, the germs and bacteria blow off in water droplets. These water droplets can travel as far as 6.5 feet and remain in the air for up to 15 minutes.

Jet Air Dryers can increase the germ count on fingers by up to
42% as compared to not washing them at all.

The Science is Clear: Paper Towels are Good Hygiene

A University of Westminster study found high-speed and warm-air dryers can harbor bacteria on surfaces and inside dryers. This could lead to cross contamination if users reach inside and touch the surface of the unit or when bacteria could be carried in the airstream and deposited on wet hands.

And the bacteria they found? It included fecal bacteria such as E. coli, as well as Staphylococcus. YUCK!

An article in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings Journal also examined the hygienic efficacy of these hand-drying methods. Mayo’s recommendation? Paper towels are the best hand-drying option in locations where “hygiene is paramount,” such as hospitals and clinics. The study concluded, “From a hygiene viewpoint, paper towels are superior to electric air dryers.” While the study may just have been talking about hospitals and clinics, all businesses can take note to ensure their facilities have good hygiene as well.

Ready to switch out your jet air dryers?
Contact Us today to see how you can upgrade your
restroom towel dispensers for a penny!

Sources For More Information:
The Hygienic Efficacy of Different Hand-Drying Methods: A Review of the Evidence, Mayo Clinic Proceedings

E.L. Best, K. Redway, “Comparison of Different Hand-Drying Methods: The Potential for Airborne Microbe Dispersal and Contamination,” Journal of Hospital Infection, 89 (2015)

P.T. Kimmitt & K.F. Redway, “Evaluation of the Potential for Virus Dispersal During Hand Drying: A Comparison of Three Methods,” Journal of Applied Microbiology, 120 (2016)

E.L. Best, P. Parnell and M.H. Wilcox, “Microbiological Comparison of Hand-Drying Methods: The Potential for Contamination of the Environment, User and Bystander,” Journal of Hospital Infection, 88.4 (2014)

WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care, Published by the World Health Organization

Observational Study at ISSA/Interclean Amsterdam 2016, Published by the European Tissue Symposium

The post Jet Air Dryers: Are They The Best Option? appeared first on Sundance Office | Office Supplies | Tulsa.

1. Hygiene   

Now is the time to protect your workplace and improve hygiene, and paper towels are the most hygienic way to dry hands. Need proof? Check out these scientific studies on hygiene and hand drying methods. (See study here). Did you know? One in four public refillable bulk soap dispensers are contaminated with unsafe levels of bacteria. Scott skin care dispensers use replacement cartridges for superior hygiene and easy refilling without the mess of bulk soap dispensers. 

2. Cost and Efficiency  

Scott Dispensers are essentially free. At only a penny each and with Sundance offering free installation, there is no up-front labor cost for your business. Scott hard roll towels offer the easiest roll towel to change out on the market, lowering employee time to change rolls out. Scott also offers larger than industry standard towel rolls, up to 1,150 feet of towel, meaning fewer employee trips to replace the towel rolls. Scott skin care replacement cartridges are fast and easy to change out saving time and hassle vs. bulk pour dispensers and offers significant savings vs. freestanding pump bottles. 

3. Reduced Waste  

Whether in a dispenser, tray, or sitting on the counter, multi-fold towels are inefficient and too often visitors grab more towels than are needed. Bunching in dispensers will often result in handfuls of wasted paper towels. Scott hard roll towel dispensers offer three sheet lengths and dispenses just the right amount of towel needed for your restroom visitors to take 1-2 towels, thus lowering waste. In addition, Scott soap cartridges are recyclable after the pump is removed. 

4. Environmentally Sustainable  

Scott towels are certified by the Forest Sustainability Council and are an ECOLOGO certified product for reduced environmental impact. Scott Essential Green Certified Skin Cleansing Soap (earth friendly hand soap) is both Green Seal and NFS certified. 

5. Flexibility and Quality  

Scott offers dispensers in multiple sizes, shapes, and colors to fit where you need them. Refills come in various sizes from 580ft to 1,150ft, allowing customization for each facility. New Scott hard roll paper towels offer fast-drying Absorbency Pockets to provide efficient, reliable hand-drying for your washroom or break room that was preferred 4 to 1 based upon a 2019 KCP Brand Differentiation Study.

Check Out the New ICON Line from Kimberly-Clark Professional 

The Kimberly-Clark Professional™ ICON™ dispenser collection brings together intuitive design and clever engineering. Paper Towel, Skin Care and Bathroom Tissue Dispensers. 

• Interchangeable Faceplates
  Customize with your artwork or logo (or even your face)! 

• 99.99% Jam-free operation
  Ensure paper towels are ready when needed. 

• Flexible Mounting & Servicing Options
  We know everyone has different needs, and this product can cover them all. 

• Quiter Dispensing & Long-Lasting Battery
  150,000+ dispenses on a single set of batteries in the ICON™ hand towel dispenser.

Additional Options to Match Your Space, Style & Preference 

Paper Towels

White or Black Dispensers in Touch-Free or Manual Dispensing. 

Scott® Pro Electronic Hard Roll Towel Dispenser
Item #: KCC34348

Scott® Pro Mod Manual Hard Roll Towel Dispenser
Item #: KCC34347

Scott® Essential Electronic Hard Roll Towel Dispenser
Item #: KCC48860 

Scott® Essential Manual Hard Roll Towel Dispenser
Item #: KCC46254

Skin Care Dispensers 

Scott Skin Care Dispensers work with refill options for soap and sanitizer including liquid, Foam, Antimicrobial, Green Certified, and Moisturizing products. 

Scott® Electronic Skin Care Dispenser, White
Item #: KCC32499

Scott® Essential Electronic Skin Care Dispenser, Black
Item #: KCC92148

Scott® Essential Manual Skin Care Dispenser
Item #: KCC92144

Bathroom Tissue Dispensers 

Scott dispensers are compatible with easy to change high-capacity bathroom tissues with nearly invisible paper cores for better roll utilization that offer 10% more sheets per case than the industry standard. 

Scott® Pro High Capacity Coreless SRB Tissue Dispenser
Item #: KCC44517 

Scott® Essential Coreless SRB Tissue Dispenser for Business
Item #: KCC09604

Scott® Pro Coreless Jumbo Roll Tissue Dispenser
Item #: KCC34832 

Schedule a FREE site assessment and learn how we can update your facilities for only a penny per dispenser!

The post 5 Reasons to Update Your Dispensers appeared first on Sundance Office | Office Supplies | Tulsa.

UMass Memorial Health Dr. Michael Hirsh said, “Cloth masks and … bandanas and homemade bandanas around their face are not effective against omicron. That is clear.” Information gathered from John Hopkins Medicine.           

Don’t rely on a fabric mask alone anymore; they’re good at protecting others from your respiratory droplets, but not at protecting you against theirs, even with a filter pocket. A bandana tied around the face does not work as well as a mask because it is open at the bottom. A gaiter (a tube of thin, stretchy knit fabric that can be worn around the neck and pulled up to cover the nose and mouth) is usually too thin to provide adequate protection. A fabric mask usually is not much protection either.

Face Coverings we Recommend

Blue Disposable masks are fluid resistant and provide some protection from larger respiratory droplets from coughs and sneezes. Primarily, they help prevent the wearer from spreading infectious droplets to others.
Shop for Blue Disposable Now

N95 respirator is the most protective face covering that you can get against omicron and other viruses. An N95 is a disposable face covering that filters out at least 95% of airborne particles. 

KN95 mask, which is the Chinese equivalent of the US standard. KN95s are made from the same material as N95s and are also designed to filter at least 95% of airborne particles. 
Shop for KN95 Now

KF94, the South Korean equivalent to an N95, which has a slightly different shape and 94% filtration efficacy.

Remember to Change Your Mask Often

Outside of a respiratory health crisis, any N95, KN95 or disposable surgical mask is meant to be worn only once. In most scenarios, healthcare professionals do not need to wear them for extended periods.

However, in other industries, workers routinely wear N95 respirators, KN95, or surgical masks for several hours at a time. Experience in these industries shows that disposable respirators can maintain their integrity for up to eight hours while functioning within their specifications. 

Whether you’re wearing an N95, a KN95 or a KF94, it won’t be completely effective unless the face mask fits your face properly. Make sure it fits snugly, without gaps around your nose, face and mouth.

The post What Kind of Mask is Best for Covid? appeared first on Sundance Office | Office Supplies | Tulsa.

Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food. This allows a family to only worry about helping their child live. Hammermill has been donating to St. Jude for ten years and has donated more than $3.2 million since 2011. This year, they are donating $160,000 to support their mission: Finding Cures. Saving Children.  

In addition to Hammermill’s support of St. Jude, Sundance will be donating $1 to St. Jude for every carton of Hammermill Copy Plus or Tital Paper sold this December!  

A Local St. Jude Affilate

Did you know that Tulsa has an affiliate clinic for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital?  

Located at The Children’s Hospital at St. Francis, it serves children from Eastern Oklahoma, Southern Kansas, and Western Arkansas with cancers and hematological disorders and gives children access to clinical trials. 

Paper that helps St. Jude kids picture bright futures

Join Sundance and Hammermill in supporting St. Jude Children’s Research hospital today through purchasing paper—something your office likely needs anyway! 

Hammermill 

Copy Plus Print Paper 

92 Bright, 20 lb, 8.5 x 11, White, 500 Sheets/Ream, 10 Reams/Carton 

Item: HAM105007 

December Sale Price: $45.99/CT 

Shop Now

Hammermill 

Tidal Print Paper 

92 Bright, 20lb, 8.5 x 11, 500 Sheets/Ream, 10 Reams/Carton 

Item: HAM162008 

December Sale Price: $45.99/CT 

Shop Now

The post Local OK Office Product Supplier Gives Back To St. Jude This Holiday Season appeared first on Sundance Office | Office Supplies | Tulsa.

Indoor air is 2 to 5 times dirtier than outdoor air. Inside you’ll find:

• Viruses/Bacteria 
• VOCs 
• Allergens 
• Odors 

Office buildings, educational facilities, assisted living areas, and medical offices are shared spaces for hours every day and have a constant flow of visitors, vendors, and employees who bring viruses, germs, and pathogens into the workplace with them. Couple that with odors from food left in wastebaskets, conference rooms, and common areas and it’s an indoor air quality hot spot. 

Has your company invested in clean air? 

Fellowes® AeraMax® Pro Air Purifiers Remove Airborne Contaminants 

Portable air cleaners using HEPA filtration for protection have been recommended by the CDC, ASHRAE, and ‘healthy building’ scientific advocates. Fellowes®️ AeraMax®️ Pro air purifiers’ four-stage True HEPA filtration system proved to be effective in reducing the aerosolized airborne concentration of Human Coronavirus 229E in a test chamber, reaching 99.99% airborne reduction within one hour of operation. 

Case Study – RBI Corporate Office  

Learn more about how RBI took hygiene to the next level of safety for their employees by investing in Fellowes commercial air purifiers. 

Fellowes Air Purifier Brochure – Pricing & More Information

Sundance is proud to be certified to sell Fellowes air purifiers. 

Contact your Sundance Office account rep to order today! 

Tulsa: 918.252.4100 
OKC: 405.285.0906 

The post Fellowes Air Purifiers for Clean Indoor Air in Your Office appeared first on Sundance Office | Office Supplies | Tulsa.