CLEANING & HYGIENE EMBRACING INNOVATION


Small changes in cleaning regimes can lead to significant enhancements in performance, resident comfort, and staff morale – without increasing long-term costs, explains Gill Ireson, Head of Sales at Robert Scott.


With vulnerable residents living in close proximity in busy environments, strict hygiene standards are rightly paramount in the care home sector. Yet, while much attention is paid to ensuring these standards are upheld, less is typically focused on regularly reviewing different cleaning approaches and products to assess how they could improve effectiveness and efficiency.


UNIQUE CLEANING


CHALLENGES Care homes face a unique set of challenges when it comes to hygiene, having to balance tight budgets and adopting time-saving and undisruptive routines, all while prioritising the health and wellbeing of residents.


Despite these challenges, care homes oſten don’t have the most efficient or effective options available in place. By reviewing their approaches and assessing if better solutions could be put in place, care homes have a significant (yet simple) opportunity to ensure more hygienic spaces and create an improved overall environment that benefits everyone.


CLEANING INNOVATION


IN PRACTICE Saltgreen Residential Care Home in Eyemouth is an example of a care home that went through this process. Previously, the home used traditional mops and buckets, J Cloths, and significant amounts of chemical cleaning agents. The approach was inefficient, burdensome and expensive.


Cleaning the 35-bed unit consumed approximately 300,000 litres of water annually; charges for water usage and disposal were escalating, and the cost of cleaning chemicals was substantial. In addition, staff spent excessive time changing water and accessing supplies, impacting productivity and morale.


We worked closely with Saltgreen to identify a better approach, leading to the introduction of a new microfibre cleaning


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home experienced no infection outbreaks during a high-risk winter period.


The facility also became visibly cleaner and the cleaning regime less disruptive, enhancing the living environment for residents. In addition, employees felt listened to and valued, leading to higher morale.


CHEMICAL-FREE


CLEANING INNOVATIONS As well as microfibre technology, further chemical-free cleaning innovations are delivering even more radical ways for care homes to reduce reliance on harsh cleaning agents. Take, for example, our Toucan Eco range, which uses just water and salt to create an eco-friendly, multipurpose disinfectant solution through electrolysis.


system and trolley-based setup tailored to the care home's needs.


THE BENEFITS


OF MICROFIBRE Microfibre mops and cloths clean surfaces without chemicals, removing over 99.9% of dirt and bacteria compared to 30% with traditional methods. Their design also minimises the risk of spreading germs between rooms. Consequently, less water and fewer chemicals are needed.


The transition to the microfibre system yielded remarkable results for Saltgreen. With a reduced need to change water between each room, cleaning tasks were completed 25% faster. The reusable mops and cloths also decreased waste and environmental impact – although Robert Scott also offers disposable microfibe options where that is preferable, such as hygiene critical situations or when laundry facilities are limited.


Lower water and chemical usage led to significant cost savings. Audit outcomes improved, with most areas achieving medium to high results. Notably, the


The active compounds – hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and a low concentration of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) – result in a mild pH level of 7.8 to 8.5. This solution kills up to 99.999% of germs, ensuring a hygienic environment. It’s gentle on humans too, reducing the risk of skin irritation for both residents and staff.


What’s more, by reducing chemical usage by approximately 80%, Toucan Eco leads to long-term cost savings and promotes better sustainability. The disinfectant can be produced on-site and poured into reusable containers, simplifying the cleaning process and reducing single-use plastic waste.


CARE ABOUT CLEANING By re-evaluating cleaning regimes and


embracing innovative solutions like microfibre technology and chemical-free disinfectants, care homes can achieve a cleaner, safer, and more pleasant environment for residents and staff alike.


At Robert Scott, we’re committed to providing the care home sector with the tools and expertise needed to overcome cleaning challenges efficiently and sustainably.


www.robert-scott.co.uk www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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