Pictured: Leslie Wilcox with Rose Galera, a certified executive housekeeper.

Rose Galera approaches cleaning as both a science and an art. Her early enthusiasm for keeping her environment safe and clean led her to a career in professional cleaning management and as a consultant and training specialist.

She is a certified executive housekeeper by the International Executive Housekeepers Association, with over 45 years of experience and expertise in the hospitality, medical, commercial, education and business cleaning arenas. She was also the first executive housekeeper of the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki.

Her career in what she terms “cleanology” recognizes the science and technique necessary for proper sanitization. Her passion makes her a natural teacher, educating and training Hawai‘i’s students on proper cleaning etiquette.

Galera offered these cleaning tips during her interview on Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox:

1. Backpack vacuuming. Galera encourages backpack vacuuming for its maneuverability and ease in cleaning high, hard to reach spaces, and under and around objects. A good backpack vacuum is light (3 to 4 lbs) versus a clunky upright vacuum, and can clean all types of flooring, furniture, mattresses, car interiors and walls.

2. Stream, don’t spray. When using liquid sprays, using the stream nozzle option, as opposed to the spray nozzle, helps control the distribution of chemicals to the designated area. Spraying can spread the chemicals to places you don’t want them to go, like people’s skin and eyes, and food and drinks.

3. Disinfect high-touch surfaces. High germ count items such as door handles, desks, keyboards, mice, phones, remote controls and light switches need to be disinfected regularly. Use a combination of anti-microbial cleaners and disinfectants to remove and kill pathogenic microorganisms that thrive in these areas.

4. Remember the three scientific processes of germ kill. Sanitation, disinfecting and sterilization combine to create the ultimate trifecta of cleaning. Sanitation kills at least 50 percent of germs, disinfecting kills more than 90 percent and sterilization kills 100 percent.

5. Microfiber cleaning technology. Galera recommends using microfiber cloths, which consist of dense fibers that absorb more and clean faster and more effectively than traditional clothes. These cloths can be folded multiple times, depending on their size, and Galera encourages using one side per surface to avoid spreading germs.

Rose Galera on Long Story Short with Leslie Wilcox premieres on-air and online Tuesday, June 14 at 7:30 pm. The full episode will be available on-demand right here on PBSHawaii.org.