Last week’s blog discussed the ways in which business owners could make small changes to their workplace in order to counteract the spread of germs and bacteria, to prevent members of staff from getting unwell.  As a result, it also alarmingly drew attention to the fact that one third of adults do not wash their hands after going to the toilet- and this is men and women equally, no gender is innocent!

The importance of washing hands during the day, including after using the toilet, cannot be understated.  However, with the advancements in hand washing products and soaps, it’s sometimes hard to know which product to choose for your organisation or home.  Additionally, hand sanitising solutions have become increasingly popular in recent years.  This has developed to such as an extent, that now when you’re visiting someone in hospital, they expect you to sanitise your hands before you enter your ward.  So, hand washing with soap and water, or regular use of hand sanitising solutions- which is the best way?

In this month’s Cleaning and Maintenance magazine, an interview with Richard Millard, senior segment marketing manager at Kimberly- Clark Professional, discussed this issue.  As Kimberly-Clark are one of the most high-profile suppliers of cleaning products in the industry, it’s safe to say that the recommendations of Richard Millard are worthy of note.  The below comments are based on his comments in this interview.

It is safe to say that hand washing and hand sanitisers both have their place in the daily hand cleaning routine.  Soap and water is probably the most common, and readily-available method of hand washing in the workplace and in the home; it’s the method that we’re all familiar with.  If the hands are washed thoroughly using this method, with an antibacterial soap, then any germs and bacteria can be removed from the hands completely.

There are also occasions when the opposite is true, and that there are no hand washing facilities, soap or water available to you.  Regular festival-goers will know the water facilities, and general cleanliness at these places is at an all-time low- even if it is just for a weekend.  There, a quick and generous dab of hand-sanitiser is the best wash you’d get for the duration of the festival, and the only hygienic option available to you.

It could also be argued that in areas where there are extremely high volumes of people in small spaces- typically public transport, smaller work spaces,nightclubs, bars and gyms, hand sanitiser is the most appropriate choice.  It is because in these places, there is a likelihood that people’s hands will come into close contact, so sanitisers may be a sensible thing to consider here.  This isn’t to suggest that everyone should become overly-concerned with selecting an appropriate hand-washing routine, but this is just something to consider at this time of year, flu and colds are particularly common, and easily passed around in these places.

The article suggested that on occasions such as these, hand sanitising solutions may be the most appropriate way forward.  It does assert, however, that these products should ideally be used as an accompaniment to other methods, rather than a replacement; hand sanitisers will never be the preferred alternative to correct hand-washing.  This is because sanitisers only clean the bacteria on the surface, and are not effective at destroying high levels of contamination.

It would be advised, and is practised in a number of industries and organisations, that if your workplace requires extremely high levels of hand hygiene, that a combination of both methods would be extremely effective.  Washing the hands with antibacterial soap and very hot water, drying them with a disposable hand towel, and then sanitising the hands afterwards, will ensure that the bacteria is removed from the hands, and that any remaining will be killed.  This is especially essential in areas such as hospitals or care homes, where a strictly-implemented hand washing routing can drastically effect patients’ welfare.

In the interview, Richard Millard does stress that in the workplace, the way to determine the correct hygiene policy, is by making an assessment of your site, and determining what may be the best option.  What chemicals or products are being dealt with on a daily basis?  Is there anyone who may be at risk if hand hygiene levels are not correct, and are there chances of contamination if this were to happen?

At Newlife Cleaning Systems, we ensure that our cleaning operatives and other members of staff, are fully up-to-date on the correct hygiene practices depending on the environment in which they work.  We are responsible for the execution of a range of specialist cleaning services, which require that our levels of hygiene are nothing other than impeccable, and that is something we consistently strive to improve and maintain.  For services such as hospital cleaning, or when we implement a kitchen deep clean, the entire process would be ruined, and could pose a great cost to our client, if correct hand hygiene procedures are not followed.  For more information about how we make hygiene our number one priority, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

We’ve all done it- you’re cooking dinner, whilst doing 1000 other things, and your mind wanders.  The next thing you know, your frying pan is burnt and the remnants of your spag bol remain glued to it’s surface.  Fortunately, this doesn’t need to mean the end of your pan, a duration of endless scrubbing, or that you’re required to purchase expensive cleaning products.  There are a number of substances that you have hidden away at home which, when  combined with a few handy little techniques, can save you some post-dinner hassle.

So how do you clean a burnt pan?
If you’ve got a non-stick pan, one quick and inexpensive method involves some fast action and a little seasoning.  After serving your dinner, fill your pan with boiling water and add an extremely generous sprinkle of salt.  Ensuring that the water is piping-hot, leave the pan to stand for an hour.  You should then be able to easily scour the burnt food away from the bottom of the pan.

As an alternative method, if you have a stainless steel pan, salt’s perfect accompaniment vinegar can be used to remove ingrained burnt food with ease.  Adding half a cup of vinegar to the pan, alongside some piping-hot water, can provide you with an excellent solution.  Simply simmer the boiling mixture for 10-15 minutes and your stainless steel pan will shine as new.

If the dirt is more heavily encrusted, you can try adding bicarbonate of soda to the pan.  The best method to do this is to put the pan onto the hob and add boiling water.  Stir in soda crystals, and set the pan to boil again, before removing from the heat.  Once the water in the pan has been cooled, you simply need to pour the solution away and you should be able to scrub the dirt from the pan.  If you have no bicarbonate of soda to hand, washing powder will be equally as effective, when left to soak into the burnt residue.

To find more ways to clean your kitchen appliances, or to organise a kitchen deep clean for commercial kitchens, please visit the Newlife Cleaning Systems website.

Information for this blog is taken from Woman and Home website.

Helping you to get ready for work by smartening up your clothing, irons are the final hurdle in your washing and drying routine.  It’s very easy, therefore, to take advantage of this household friend- forgetting in the process that it needs to be cleaned regularly itself.  The combination of high heat in the iron, the electricity used to power it, and the added factor of water are essential reasons to keep the iron clean, so that it subsequently runs safely and efficiently.

To begin, it is essential to remember that when you begin to clean an iron, in most cases the appliance must be switched off, and allowed to cool.

The methods which enable you to clean the metal plate on the iron vary depending on which substance is stuck to it.

• Waxy stains do not require any specialist products, and require that the iron is turned on, in order for the substance to be removed.  You need to turn the iron on to it’s highest setting, and run it over some absorbent paper, such as newspaper.  The waxy stain should be displaced onto the paper, preventing it from leaving any lasting damage on your iron.

• Oily substances require the use of ammonia, which needs to be rubbed onto the metal plate with a damp, clean cloth.  After this, simply rinse the surface of the plate, to remove the oily stain.  It is vital that the iron is unplugged for the duration of this process.

To clean the inside of the iron’s vents and pipes, a more gentle touch is required.  Dip a pipe cleaner or cotton bud into the vent, and slowly lift out the residue from within the iron.  Ensure that you use something equally as soft, that isn’t too sharp, to avoid risking damage to the inside of your iron.

For all surfaces on the iron, including the handle, you can use a simple solution found in your kitchen cupboard.  On a clean, damp cloth add vinegar before wiping the surfaces; removing any visible dirt and grime.  If it’s been a while since you last cleaned your iron, you can mix a little baking soda with the vinegar before adding it to the cloth.  It’ll help you to remove tougher stains.

Vinegar can also be used to clean the reservoir of the iron.  Just pour an equal amount of vinegar and warm water into the iron and switch it on.  For about five minutes, leave the iron to steam, allowing the vinegar to reach the ducts through the steam.  After this time, remove the water and vinegar solution from the iron, and rinse with clean water.  Be sure to make sure all vinegar is removed before you start ironing!

The information can be found in full at the Creative Homewares website.

Keeping carpets clean in your premises can often be a difficult task- especially if they are areas of heavy traffic where spillages become almost a guarantee.  With thanks to the Daily Telegraph, and Reader’s Digest’s 1000 Ways to Save Money and Time, we have found a way for you to maintain the appearance of your carpets and upholstery, without having to invest in expensive cleaning products.  A range of different stains can be eradicated, simply by the use of cornflower from your kitchen cupboard.

Removing ink from carpets

Firstly, you need to mix the cornflower with a small amount of milk, the quantities of the mixture should be so, that it forms a paste.  Then apply the paste directly to the stain, and allow to dry- this could take anything up to a few hours- before you can revisit the stain.  Once the paste is dry, you simply need to brush it away from the carpet fibres, which should lift the ink stain away too.  Then just vacuum the remnants, to be left with a clean, ink stain-free carpet.

Removing blood from carpets and upholstery

Unfortunately, accidents do happen, and when they do you can prevent any damage to your upholstery with fast action and cornflower.

As soon as you notice the blood stain on the fabric, create a paste out of cornflower and water.  Apply the paste directly to the stain, and work the mixture into the fabric’s fibres.  Once this is done, leave the fabric somewhere warm and dry, where the paste will quickly be absorbed.  Brush away the dry mixture, to lift some of the blood.  If a stain still remains, repeat the process again.

The cornflower may not 100% remove the blood stain from the fabric, depending on how ingrained the stain is and whether the blood has dried or not.  It will, however, be the fastest solution you have to the task at hand.

In addition to the removal of stains, cornflower is also excellent at removing any unpleasant scents from carpets.  All you need to do is evenly sprinkle cornflower onto your carpet before you vacuum; it will remove unpleasant odours from the carpet with ease.

If these simple methods cannot clean your carpet, we have carpet cleaning services available, which will get your carpets looking as good as new.  Please visit the Newlife Cleaning Systems website for more details.

At Newlife Cleaning Systems, we understand that cleaning everyday household items can often be quite expensive.  Branded cleaning products, with the guarantee to polish metals, glass and other surfaces can be costly at a time of year, when every penny counts.

So, with the help of Daily Telegraph and Reader’s Digest booklets, named ‘1000 Ways to Save Money and Time’, we have compiled a series of blogs which will help you to use the products you already have in your home, to keep your appliances clean.

Cleaning a coffee maker

Many people don’t know this, but your kitchen coffee maker can be cleaned by a product that can be found in your medicine cabinet.  Alka Seltzer, used to settle your stomach after a heavy meal (or a heavy evening out) can help you to remove any coffee residue from your machine, and leave it sparking clean; resulting in a better tasting cup of coffee for you.

So how do you do it?

Firstly, fill the water chamber in your coffee machine with water, as you would do before using the machine to brew a pot.

Next, for a standard-sized coffee machine, add four Alka Seltzers to the water, and wait until they are fully dissolved.

After this, switch on the machine and put it through its regular brew cycle.  This will allow the Alka Seltzer solution to reach all of the pipes in the machine, and clean any coffee residue.

Once the cycle is complete, rinse the water chamber to remove any remaining Alka Seltzer from the chamber.  Then run another brew cycle using just water, to ensure all the Alka Seltzer has left the pipes.

Once this is done, you can use your coffee maker as normal, and it will be perfectly clean.

As Alka Seltzer is usually used to combat stomach acids, it can tackle the acids from coffee that cause stains and marks on the machinery.  The fact that the Alka Seltzer is designed for human consumption makes it perfect for cleaning the coffee maker, as there will be nothing within the tablet that can harm people if they ingest it.

Other uses for Alka Seltzer:

Cleaning hard-to-reach parts of vases, flasks, jewellery and sinks.  The Alka Seltzer bubbles reach places you can’t reach.

When you walk into any high-end  hotel, restaurant, clothes shop or even supermarket, you enter with  certain expectations.  You hope to receive an excellent level of service from smartly dressed staff and you expect the environment to be spotless.  These factors make places like this a pleasure for consumers to visit and makes them return time after time.

In the economy we are in, most business owners in industries such as these cannot afford to make drastic, all-encompassing changes to improve their standing; costs to refurbish are too high, and often staff turnover is so great that extensive staff development isn’t an option.  One small, affordable change can be made, which will make a real difference to the overall appearance of their business; their floor polishing routine.  This claim may sound dramatic, but when you’re next in a Marks & Spencer’s Food Store, or if you visit a five star hotel like the Hilton you will notice; the floors have a reflective shine that enhances the overall presentation of the room.

This shine can be achieved in several ways, although most business owners turn to contract cleaning companies, who take away the hassle in exchange for hefty invoices.  An alternative, more environmentally friendly and cost-effective way to achieve this type of shine, is through the use of diamond polishing pads.  Diamond polishing pads are specialist floor cleaning pads which contain minute diamonds.  The hard diamonds in the pads effectively remove dirt and give a standard of polish that other polishing pads cannot; they can improve soiled and scratched floors beyond recognition.

Diamond polishing pads are a very economical way for businesses to make quick and drastic improvements to their flooring, because they do not require any change to the cleaning routines already in place.  Existing equipment can be used as normal, as the pads can attach to most wet and dry scrubber driers, burnishers and high speed floor polishers.  No new machinery is required to make the pads work, and the cleaning staff do not need any specialist training to use them; removing two  substantial financial burdens from the business owner.

With diamond polishing pads, the business owner is only steps away from achieving an enviable floor shine equivalent to their top-end competitors.  The pads come in a variety of textures, which when utilized correctly, give a deep-clean to scratched, dull and damaged surfaces, giving them a glossy shine.  Once their floor has undergone one deep-clean, regular cleaning with the pads is enough to maintain the shine; the daily work time does not need to increase, so the inconvenience to the business owner, staff and public is also minimised.

The diamond polishing pads would be an investment into a business’s future, rather than a one-off purchase, because they are very adaptable.  They can be used on several  types of flooring; to maintain the surface of terrazzo, reverse scratches on stone and granite, and even polish concrete.  This means they could be used one more than one surface and in different areas, maximising their output for the business.  They are also constructed to be extremely durable, in order to withstand the friction caused by dry burnishers, so can be used several times; making even more out of the investment.

The business could also improve their green credentials by using diamond polishing pads, as they do not require the use of harsh, or dangerous chemicals; detergent and water can achieve an immaculate finish.  This creates a safe, more pleasant place for staff and public to operate in, and is advantageous to the environment and the atmosphere.

A business’s decision to change the cleaning pads on their polishers and scrubbers to diamond polishing pads is small, but can have a big impact.  Whilst their cleaning routine, staff, and time remains  the same, the quality of shine is unquestionable; improving the overall appearance of the building and creating an environment that appeals to consumers.

For more information, visit: http://www.diamondpolishingpads.co.uk/

The term feminine hygiene was probably thought up by a man as a seemingly polite conversational phrase or euphemism to cover all personal care products used by menstruating women.

In the context we are discussing today we are solely covering the disposal of used feminine hygiene protective products by users of commercial premises. This could be your office staff or indeed members of the public.

These days the sanitary bin is a ubiquitous product standing guard in the corner of the toilet cubicle but this was not always the case. Indeed it is still common in smaller, old fashioned premises to see brown disposal bags hung up on a hook and a simple flip-top bin for disposal.

This leads to the dangers of drain blockages if the user tries to flush away the used product through embarrassment or leaves the daily cleaner the unpleasant task of emptying the bin and disposing of the contents amongst the general office waste. This is not a service acceptable to many cleaning operatives these days and would not normally be included within an office cleaning contract.

Bridging the gap between this in house, DIY method of disposal and the full range of professional feminine hygiene disposal services, are systems utilising stand alone bins which contain a disposable cartridge. To alleviate any smells they contain deodorising crystals and just like a standard professional disposal bin the flip top operates in such a way that the contents of the internal disposable cartridge are not visible to users.

Once again disposal is carried out by in house staff but at least the internal cartridges can be sealed albeit disposal is still with the general office waste.

Great claims are often made about the biodegradability of these types of sanitary bins and liners. But is this true? When you balance the initial purchase cost of the bins themselves, a constant supply of cartridges and the unpleasantness of exchanging the cartridges then disposing it alongside general waste .The cost versus benefit is not so apparent especially if you are the one who has to change the cartridge as most probably your cleaning staff will refuse point blank.

This leaves the full professional service as the most likely solution to a trouble free, out-of-mind service. Or so you think?

Just like buying any goods or services it is vital that you compare ‘apples with apples not oranges’ otherwise you will end up make a mistake which you are locked into and which in many cases you will be paying for the pleasure of, in advance, for many years to come!

While this might sound elementary you should check whether you need the service at all. If female staff are not employed and your premises are not used by the general public, why bother? If the female staff are of a certain age there might not be a requirement. To avoid any embarrassment or doubt simply ask the staff if they would like the service.

Once past these basic fundamentals use the following checklist to ensure you are getting proper value for money by asking your potential sanitary waste disposal supplier:

How often will you exchange the sanitary bins as I want a monthly service for hygiene reasons?

Do you expect me to sign a contract which locks me in for 36 or 60 months?

If you do, what notice do I have to give you and is it on any particular date?

Will you charge me separately each year for a Duty of Care certificate?

Do you charge 13 weeks in advance?

Do your staff just remove the contents of the bin so my staff have to clean it or do they take the whole unit away and hygienically clean it?

Can I have a look at an example of your contract agreement so I can see what small print there is?

If you’re not happy with what you hear call 0800 018 9099 or look at our range and service agreement on sanitary-bins.newlifecleaning.com

Columbus Dixon September 2010.

Recent developments in the field of nanotechnology have led to major breakthroughs which are to revolutionize the way window cleaning is performed in future. The technical named for this new nanotechnology is “Si02 ultra thin layering” but most people know it as liquid glass. The diversity of possible applications for this Liquid Glass is simply astonishing. It can be used to coat floors, doors, windows, settees, trains, the list goes on, in fact it is nearly impossible to conceive of a surface that it cannot be used upon.

The benefits of the Liquid Glass are numerous. Alongside being food safe and environmentally friendly it is also scratch resistant and corrosion resistant. The coatings are around 500 times thinner than a human hair and so are not visible to the naked eye. One benefit of this is that they can be used to coat domestic products such as settees in order to protect the surface and also make cleaning an easier process. The stain resistant coating even allows protected surfaces to be cleaned with water alone, this reduces the need for cleaning chemicals and so benefits the environment. The green credentials of Liquid Glass contributed to it winning the Green Apple Award and its anti-bacterial properties also earned it the NHS Smart Solutions Award.

It is the versatility of Liquid Glass that is truly remarkable. It can be used in almost any environment to reduce cleaning costs by both reducing the frequency of cleans and the duration of the cleaning process. These properties make it an invaluable tool when tackling jobs such as large scale window cleaning where one coating on the outer layer of glass would drastically reduce the costs involved in such a large scale operation. Perhaps the owners of the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa, should bare in mind the benefits of nanotechnology and especially liquid glass as it could well be the most versatile coating in the world.

Dirty toilets and slapdash cleaning standards are responsible for the rapid spread of novovirus on cruise ships – and the hand sanitisers designed to reduce germs are powerless to prevent contamination, says US medical researchers.

In an attempt to stem the rise in outbreaks, cruise lines now routinely station hand sanitiser gels at restaurant entrances, but this simply does not work says a new study.

“It’s a tough virus,” said lead researcher Dr Philip Carling, pointing out that the pathogen can live on surfaces at room temperature for weeks “ It isn’t killed by alcohol hand rubs. Chlorine bleach is the only thing that works.”

For the study, the researchers tested public lavatories on 56 of the world’s largest cruise ships. Using a solution visible only under ultraviolet light, they marked the doors, toilet seats, flush buttons, hand holds and baby-changing tables in 273 facilities, then monitored them for five to seven days to see if the solution got cleared off.

The results were alarming, showing that only 37% of the public toilets tested were thoroughly cleaned every day, and in 18% of cases they remained uncleaned for more than 24 hours. On three of the ships, the baby changing tables were not cleaned at all during the monitoring period.

Leading cruise line Royal Caribbean International said it takes “numerous proactive steps to prevent, control and eradicate novovirus”, including “special cleaning of all ‘high-touch’ areas on the ship”.

“Those affected by the short lived illness generally respond well to treatment provided on board, and the illness itself usually resolves itself in 24 – 48 hours” said the cruise line.

Fred Olsen, which operates the twice-stricken Balmoral, said its public toilets were cleaned with chlorine based disinfectant on an hourly basis. In addition, it said, “every passenger must use the antimicrobial and cleansing foam sanitiser on entry to any restaurant or eating area”

Chris Haslam Times 22nd November 2009

As the winter flu season looms ever closer demand for swine flu hand sanitizers is rocketing but is our faith in these alcohol based solutions misplaced?

It is common knowledge that good hygiene can prevent the transmission of infectious diseases such as swine flu. This is backed up by the International Scientific Forum on Home Hygiene (IFH). Hands play an integral role in transmitting a virus as they regularly come into contact with known portals of entry for pathogens. These include the obvious ones such as the nose and mouth, alongside the less obvious, such as the conjunctiva of the eyes.

It follows on from this that good hand hygiene leads to a reduction in the transmission of viruses. This is where hand sanitizers come in. Even though nothing really beats good old hand washing a hand sanitizer can prove a useful ally in the battle against swine flu. Although no hand sanitizer is proven to prevent swine flu, according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) they do undoubtedly help protect you and your family from the H1N1 virus by limiting its potential for transmission.

Research has shown that unlike many methods of combating a virus, alcohol based swine flu hand sanitizers do not lead to viral adaption and the formation of a resistant strain. This is good news for the health conscious among you as it guarantees the effectiveness of swine flu hand sanitizers regardless of the form the virus takes. If the hand gel is used properly and applied to the entire hand for at least 20 seconds it provides a good alternative to hand washing. Swine flu hand sanitizing gel can be especially convenient if you are on the go and hand washing facilities are not readily available.