The community service was conducted in the form of a training session titled “Optimization of the Benefits of Organic Floor Cleaner Enriched with Jeringau or sweet flag (Acorus calamus) at Ar-Raudlatul Hasanah Islamic Boarding School, Medan Sunggal District, Medan Municipality.” The boarding school houses approximately 3,500 students in permanent dormitory buildings and a mosque, with a total building area of around 80,000 m². A significant amount of floor cleaners is required, and chemical-based floor cleaners have been used so far. The wastewater from the cleaning process is discharged into bodies of water, affecting aquatic life, and the monthly cost of purchasing the cleaners is considerably high.
This community service program taught participants how to make and use organic floor cleaners derived from fermented fruits enriched with sweet flag (Acorus calamus). The product, PLOJ (Organic Floor Cleaner Enriched with Jeringau), has been proven through research to effectively control microbial growth, including both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. PLOJ is produced through a fruit fermentation process, where the ingredients do not have to be fresh but can be overripe, thus also serving as a method for managing organic waste. The necessary organic materials can be sourced from the boarding school’s kitchen.
The students enthusiastically participated in the training. The sixth-year female students committed to producing PLOJ at home after graduating from the boarding school. They immediately applied PLOJ in their dormitories, including at Ruqoyyah Dormitory. Some students also expressed interest in producing and selling PLOJ in their local communities, with the proceeds potentially supporting their future education.
Dr. Nurzainah Ginting hopes that this community service initiative will benefit the Ar-Raudlatul Hasanah boarding school environment and the families of students across North Sumatra, Aceh, Riau, Malaysia, and Thailand.