CLEANING & HYGIENE
HOW SIZE MATTERS
Matt Kuwertz, Commercial Director at Principle Cleaning Services, discusses some of the challenges of cleaning large estates.
Along with iconic towers and high-rise apartment blocks, we are seeing the development of large estates, which include a mix of residential, retail and commercial office space.
These mixed-use developments help to create new communities where it is possible to live, work and socialise - a very attractive proposition for a number of people in this new hybrid working era. In London, for example, some of the most recognisable places where this has been a resounding success include King’s Cross, Battersea Power Station and Paddington Central and these are being followed by Brent Cross, Canada Water, Earls Court and Olympia to name just a few.
This type of environment requires a completely different approach to cleaning and there are many component parts to consider in addition to more traditional office cleaning that may or may not be part of the solution.
At Principle, this is achieved through the use of technology and data, a commitment to sustainability, and employee ownership, which provides clients with the highest levels of engagement and conscientiousness.
Flexibility is key. These areas require cleaning seven days a week, timing the cleaning of external areas to avoid disruption to residents and supporting the large numbers of seasonal events that can significantly increase footfall.
A high influx of visitors, estate occupiers, residents and the local community, often means having limited time to complete tasks due to the high traffic. Certain areas can also be difficult to access, for example, multi-storey buildings and busy streets. Assigning tasks and resources effectively for these areas allows for an efficient and structured cleaning process.
The weather also plays a huge part in managing cleaning activity. During the summer, people tend to congregate in open spaces creating potential access and waste management issues such as the increased use and emptying of waste bins and more frequent use of washrooms. In the colder months, there tends to be more slippery surfaces due to wet weather, snow and ice, so it’s important these areas are regularly cleaned to keep
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people safe. Advanced planning via weather reports is a key element of any strategy.
Events, such as street markets and concerts, are a big part of the overall experience on mixed use estates and there is often a significant operation required behind the scenes to help set up these areas pre-event and restore them to their normal condition afterwards. This can include specialist stone cleaning, increased waste stations and preventive pest controls.
There is also a huge amount of unpredictability, for example, storms, graffiti and incidents that happen overnight, which need a critical response so normal service can be resumed.
All of the estates we clean have a focus on being sustainable businesses and a commitment to Net Zero and ESG. As a responsible cleaning company, we are constantly looking for innovations in machinery, water usage and waste management practices, to drive positive change.
Traditionally, external estates were cleaned using diesel- powered machinery but new battery-powered equipment offers the same level of cleaning, which is delivered quietly and sustainably such as cobotics, motorised sweepers, scrubber dryers and pressure washers.
Water usage is high on these estates, however, it is now possible to recycle the water that the machines use. While this is a great benefit in its own right, it also means no chemicals are used, no deliveries, no waste collections and no single-use plastics. At one of the large London estates we clean, a reverse osmosis filtration system allows our vertical cleaning team to re-use 250 litres of purified water from every 1,000 litres of wastewater.
Finally, working together with clients to ensure that all stakeholders have the best possible experience involves dedication, two-way communication and staff who are empowered, trained and knowledgeable in their fields and able to problem solve in an environment where there is a high degree of change.
www.principleclean.com
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