TAKE BACK CONTROL
Innovation isn’t just about technology. The results and returns from new ways of thinking and working can justify changing who delivers the cleaning service and how, says James White, MD of Denis Rawlins Ltd.
Taking back control has become a politically loaded phrase since the EU referendum. But whatever the implications of Brexit for UK Plc and our industry, I hope we can agree that generally speaking, it’s a good thing to be in control of quality of service, costs and thus, return on investment.
And sometimes this can mean taking back control of cleaning activities that are routinely outsourced to specialists.
Practical and cost-effective alternatives are now readily available for tasks such as high-level cleaning, escalators and deep cleaning of washrooms and flooring. Building managers and general cleaning contractors who think that these are areas best left to the specialists should think again.
Cleaning high-level windows and other inaccessible areas inside and outside buildings seems daunting. Specialist knowhow is advisable when it comes to operating ‘cherry pickers’ or mobile access platforms – not least given the high safety risk.
Yet there is an easy way to do this work manually, with less expense and disruption, and without requiring staff to work at height. High-level cleaning equipment made from carbon fibre is now light in weight and can reach up to 11m inside buildings – beyond the limit of cherry pickers and scissor-lifts.
With basic training, most cleaning operatives are well capable of undertaking this work. And it shouldn’t require shutdowns or cordoning off large areas of a building while it’s carried out.
Escalators pose an apparent dilemma for cleaning managers who feel they must choose between lower cleaning frequencies and standards on the one hand, or higher costs in the form of specialist kit or contractors on the other. There’s a manual method that provides a low-cost and more effective cleaning solution. This uses an engineered sponge pad that slots into the escalator’s comb plate. It cleans the treads as they pass, not only giving
54 | EXPERT ADVICE
a visibly better result, but also avoiding unnecessary wear on the escalator itself and improving grip for users’ feet. This method is simple, takes no more than 15 minutes per escalator, and requires minimal training.
With proper training and equipment, the cleaning industry can upskill its workforce and boost productivity to the benefit of clients and contractors alike.
The cleaning of washrooms and toilets is a stark example. This is still all too often a menial task for unskilled operatives using mops and buckets. But their less-than-satisfactory results mean that it’s necessary periodically to commission a deep clean by better- equipped specialists.
With proper training and equipment, the
cleaning industry can upskill its workforce
and boost productivity to the benefit of clients and contractors alike.
Yet cleaning daily using up-to-date methods should deliver a standard of hygiene that prevents a build-up of harmful and malodorous microbes – and precludes the need for costly deep cleans. Unlike mopping, this involves capturing and removing soils, and always applying clean, uncontaminated solution.
In washrooms, a machine that sprays cleaning solution and then suctions it away can quickly sterilise not only floors but also toilet bowls, basins, taps and other touch points. This type of ‘no touch’ cleaning is also more professional from the operative’s point of view, with no need to hand-wipe surfaces.
For hard flooring generally, a scrubber- dryer will also clean effectively, though the same high standards of bacteria removal can be achieved more economically with less elaborate machines that dispense solution and wet-vacuum, leaving a dry floor. With manual brushing, this method dislodges ingrained dirt in grout lines and crevices that are left behind by mopping.
This approach also avoids a drawback with some forms of mechanised cleaning that abrade flooring surfaces. In turn, this premature wear can necessitate deep cleaning or restoration of floor seals by specialists.
Carpets provide another example of a common tendency to abrogate responsibility for deep cleaning. Thorough routine vacuuming is essential to maintain a carpet in good condition. But there is no reason the same cleaning team cannot perform all necessary carpet cleaning – including spot treatment and extraction – given the ease of use and effectiveness of modern carpet cleaning equipment, whether it’s acquired or hired.
So, a fresh approach with the right equipment and training gives you control over the efficient and effective delivery of cleaning whatever the size of team or building.
www.rawlins.co.uk twitter.com/TomoCleaning
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