About the Cleaning for Asthma-Safer Schools Microfiber Challenge

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Cleaning for Asthma-Safer Schools Microfiber Challenge!  This is a project through the California Department of Public Health’s Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program.

We created the Microfiber Challenge to help California teachers clean in a healthier and asthma-safer way. By using microfiber cleaning cloths in the classroom, teachers can reduce exposure to cleaning chemicals and disinfecting products that may cause asthma or make it worse.

California teachers and school staff can apply. Schools, school districts, and county offices of education can submit an application on behalf of teachers. Applicants will receive safer cleaning guidance and 10-30 microfiber cloths per classroom. Later in the school year, we ask teachers to briefly document their efforts and/or successes by submitting a video clip (90 seconds max), student artwork, 5 to 10 photos, ½-page essay, or other creative format capturing one or more of the following:

• Microfiber successes: Where you use microfiber, what you like about microfiber, how you washed the cloths, how the project changed classroom cleaning, or some other success

• Asthma safer-cleaning: How cleaning with microfiber has had a positive effect on a student or staff member with asthma

• Reducing chemical use: How you minimize chemical use by cleaning with microfiber

Examples: Submit a student’s drawing showing where your classroom now cleans with microfiber or send in a ½-page paragraph on how you minimize chemical use in the classroom.

WRAPP will create materials featuring Microfiber Challenge submissions that best capture healthier and asthma-safer classrooms reducing chemical use.

For more information, visit cdph.ca.gov/class and click on "Microfiber Challenge." You can also contact Debbie Shrem at Debbie.shrem@cdph.ca.gov, 510.620.5762. Please complete the brief SurveyMonkey application below. Thank you for your commitment to creating healthier and asthma-safer schools.

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* 1. Contact person's name

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* 2. Contact person's title and role

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* 3. Mailing Address

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* 4. City

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* 5. Zip Code

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* 6. County

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* 7. Phone number

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* 8. Email

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* 9. Name of your school, school district, or county office of education

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* 10. I am applying as a(n)...

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* 11. What is your IDEAL number of the following:

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* 12. For classrooms involved in the Microfiber Challenge, how many adults overall tend to spend time in each class? Include teachers, volunteers, aides, etc. Please give approximate numbers if you do not know specifics.

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* 13. For classrooms involved in the Microfiber Challenge, how many students are in each class? Please give approximate numbers if you do not know specifics.

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* 14. How will you wash the cloths and who will wash them? (Examples: custodian will wash them onsite in our washing machines, parent volunteer will wash them at home, not sure yet).

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* 15. Would you like help thinking through how to get the cloths washed?

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* 16. What type of cleaning and disinfecting products do teacher(s) involved in the Microfiber Challenge tend to use in the classroom? Please check all that apply.

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* 17. Do you use any air fresheners or deodorizers (plug-ins, sprays, liquids, or gels)?

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* 18. Guidance on Safer Cleaning Resources

We created several resources on microfiber for schools. To view and/or print the resources, visit www.cdph.ca.gov/microfiber. In the boxes below, let us know if you want more than one copy per class.

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* 19. Is there anything else you would like us to know or do you have any questions?

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