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If you are looking for hand dryers to fit into your bar, club or other facility there are numerous designs to choose from, each with their own pros and cons. To get an idea of the different types of hand dryer and how they may best serve your organisation, this article covers the main categories and features.

If you are looking to fit hand dryers which can be manually operated the most obvious choice is a paper towel dispenser. These hard working devices are relatively maintenance free and just need to be replenished with paper towels when they are running low. In terms of performance this type of hand drier can dry hands more thoroughly, in less time, than their electric equivalents. While they do not require any electricity, operating costs and environmental advantages are not as great as they first seem. A consumable product such as paper towels incurs a cost, both financially and in terms of carbon.

The possibility of hand towels running out entirely could inconvenience customers or patrons which will detract from their experience in your venue. A common alternative are standard hot air hand dryers. These devices are generally operated by push button or proximity sensor. They eliminate the possibility of running out but as anyone who has used one knows, getting your hands completely dry means using it for longer than you would choose to.

A more modern approach is to fit a ‘blade’ or ‘towel blast’ hand dryer which claims to dry hands more thoroughly, quickly and hygienically by accelerating air through a line of slim nozzles at extremely high speed. Using this technology means that you have the advantage of on demand drying combined with energy efficiency. The users’ hands are placed into a cavity which has a line of nozzles at the top.

While these hand dryers can thoroughly dry hands within about 10 seconds, it is difficult to use without touching the sides as your hands are blown around so the hygiene aspect is debatable.

A far less common solution than the above devices are combo hand dryers. These devices give the user the choice between paper towels and warm air hand dryer. They also incorporate a bin to store used hand towels. While this is the best choice from the users’ perspective, the consumable paper towels will need to be replaced. However in the event that the paper towels run out, the warm air dryer can be used until they are replenished.

In conclusion, standard warm air dryers are the cheapest low maintenance option. Paper towel dispensers represent the smallest initial outlay but require regular maintenance. High speed hand dryers are the most effective and combination hand dryers attempt to provide a halfway house. Depending on which aspect matters most to you, this should most heavily influence your choice.

Since 1981 legislation has been in place in the UK to ensure companies adhere to the best practices of health and safety. This legislation applies to all companies regardless of the number of staff employed. Aside from ensuring personnel are trained and are provided with any facilities required to administer emergency aid, you will also need to select from a wide range of first aid and safety supplies.

The first consideration is for company vehicles. If staff travel to your workplace using company vehicles or you are self employed and use your own car, a personal first aid kit should be carried in the vehicle at all times. Similar first aid supplies should be provided within the work premises.

As a minimum requirement first aid kits should contain at least:

• An advice leaflet
• 20 individually wrapped sterile plasters
• 2 sterile eye pads
• 4 individually wrapped triangle bandages
• 6 safety pins
• A pair of disposable gloves

Depending on the size of the premises and the number of staff you employ, you may require more than one set of first aid supplies to ensure they can be accessed quickly in the event of an emergency.

In addition to these safety supplies you should also make provisions for cleaning hazardous or biological spillages as they cannot be dealt with using ordinary means. These products include, hand sanitizers, air sanitizers, stain removers, sharps boxes, disinfectants, wipes and biohazard bags.

In either an emergency aid or clean up situation, a first aider should be adequately protected against hazards to their own health. This means having disposable gloves, aprons, face shields, cleansing wipes and biohazard disposal bags on hand as well. This prevents the possibility of cross infection or contamination.

All staff, not just those trained for emergency situations should be aware of where first aid supplies are stored. In the event that trained personnel are indisposed it is best not to have to explain where this equipment is stored at the time.

With the relevant provisions in place for your company you can ensure that the appropriate measures have been taken and should anyone need it; the essential safety supplies to deal with an accident are never far away.

Prochem are a worldwide manufacturer of heavy duty cleaning machines and chemicals. Their products range has machines that are suitable for use in industrial, commercial and domestic environments. These machines range from small, handheld units for quick response or hard to reach places to truck mounted machines which power steam or pressure cleaners.

One of the smallest Prochem machines is the Spot Pro. This is a compact extraction unit which can quickly and effectively deal with spills and stains. This can be used on upholstery as well as carpet flooring. It is entirely self contained as it has storage for rinsing solution and the recovered waste water. During use the unit wets and rinses the carpet or upholstery and vacuums up the waste water. If your business involves cleaning carpet flooring or upholstery for your customers they are sure to be impressed with the quick response time and top notch end result.

At the opposite end of the scale for portable Prochem machines is the Steempro range. These machines are fitted with wheels as they are too large to carry. They have castors on the front for steering and larger non-marking wheels at the bach on a fixed axel. This allows the operator to pull the machine behind them up a flight of stairs without damaging the flooring.

For even heavier duty tasks truck mounts are the answer. These units are too large to be fitted into a portable housing but they can be fitted to a platform with wheels as opposed to a truck or van in order to use them in areas which are not accessible by vehicles. The Everest truck mount is a fine example of the range. The unit generates 3000psi from its 46hp Nissan engine. This makes light work of cleaning all types of hard surface and pressure washing.

Prochem also provide a range of cleaning chemicals to support the range of Prochem machines. These include a range of powder and liquid detergents for carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning chemicals, deodorisers, sanitizers and other cleaning chemicals including a series of products which use natural ingredients for cleaning surfaces which may be damaged by a chemical with a high PH.

There are many different cleaning machines available for commercial, industrial and domestic use on the market today. These fall into several categories, each has its own speciality and purpose. These categories will be explained in this article.

Dry Tub Vacuum Cleaners

These are the conventional vacuum cleaners used in domestic and commercial situations. They generally have a base which contains the electric motor, vacuum assembly and storage for the mains cable and accessories. A hose is normally attached to the base and a nozzle or attachment is fitted to the end. The power of these cleaning machines is measured in several ways but the most useful is the airflow statistic. The lower power units may be less than 40 litres per second, while the most powerful go beyond 80 litres per second.

Industrial Vacuum Cleaners

These cleaning machines tend to be far larger than dry tub vacuums. The extra capacity and range allows larger floor spaces to be covered much more quickly. This makes a huge difference if larger tasks are being carried out on a regular basis.

Upright Vacuum Cleaners

These are the standard upright vacuums you are used to seeing around the home. While they tend to be less manoeuvrable than their dry tub counterparts, they can be used in for the same tasks and remain a popular choice.

Wet Pickup Vacuums Cleaners

The overall design of these cleaning machines is similar to the dry tub vacuum; however they also soak and rinse the carpet flooring while it is being vacuumed. The waste water is collected in the cleaning machine to be emptied later. Using either water or a cleaning solution spills and stains are removed with ease.

Scrubber Dryers

These are some of the largest cleaning machines. You may be used to seeing them around supermarkets and other commercial workplaces. They are generally used on hard floors and contain some sort of power supply to allow them to move as far as possible without interruption. While the majority are easy to use, some require specialised training especially if they have motorised wheels. Once the onboard power is spent they must be full recharged.

Sweepers

These are essentially manually driven versions of the mechanism on a street sweeper. This allows litter of any kind to be collected from an indoor or outdoor floor surface.

Carpet Cleaners

These are slightly larger versions of the wet pickup vacuums. Specifically designed for commercial or industrial environments, these cleaning machines will allow the operator to quickly clean carpeted areas to a professional standard with the minimum of effort.

Polishers

These heavy duty cleaning machines are generally used on tiled or parquet flooring to provide a shiny finish. They are held by the operator in a similar way to the upright vacuum cleaner.

Steam Cleaners

These cleaning machines are intended to degrease and sanitise appliances such as hobs, ovens etc. Some of these machines use a continuous fill instead of using a tank so that they can run continuously without the need to refill it with water.

Pressure Washers

These incredibly useful cleaning machines can be used to clean walls, floors and even vehicles extremely quickly and thoroughly.

Osprey is a manufacturer of steam cleaning machines with over 15 years of experience; their products are widely used for industrial and commercial cleaning in six countries worldwide.

Osprey is part of Proventec, a British company which also supply a variety of chemical coatings which make surfaces flame retardant or abrasion resistant.

Osprey steamers are designed to be lightweight and economical while providing three main uses. They can be used as wet or dry vacuums as well as chemical injection vacuums which break down contaminants before removing them using the rinse action of the wet vacuum. Osprey steamers can be used to clean kitchen or catering appliances and windows as well as flooring.

They are also supplied with a variety of accessories to make them as versatile as possible and avoid the need for a water reservoir by implementing a continuous fill system. Collectively, large tasks are sped up considerably using this method as it can be operated nonstop.

One of the advantages of using and Osprey steamer is the lack of chemicals. This makes it possible to thoroughly clean vinyl and tiles flooring without the risk of damaging the surface with detergents.

The size of these products varies drastically depending on the intended task. The TidyVap and MiniVap are highly portable machines intended for smaller jobs where details is the main concern. The larger machines in the Osprey steamers range include a reservoir to store water. One of the primary uses of these machines is in environments where hygiene is critical. Hospitals are a prime example. When surfaces are cleaned using traditional methods such as mops and chemicals, the result can be misleading. While all visible traces of dirt may be removed, bacteria can often remain and multiply. Using steam, these machines kill and remove all traces of harmful bacteria. This reduces the risk of bacteria developing into the anti-biotic resistant MRSA bacteria.

A multitude of chemicals are used to clean all kind of surfaces. This article covers the main categories these products fall into and how they achieve their intended purpose. These solutions remove contaminants from surfaces in a few different ways. Water acts as a natural detergent when used on a surface as it removes particles by either absorbing them or washing them away but when a surface is stained; water alone does not suffice so chemicals are added to clean the surface using different techniques.

Abrasives

Some chemicals simply make a cleaning solution more course than water which allows more of the contaminant to be drawn away from the surface. The higher the speed of the abrasive solution, the more of the contaminant is removed.

Surfactants

This is a property of cleaning chemicals used in detergent. It drastically reduces the surface tension of water and is able to break down solid particles and suspend them in the water.

Emulsifiers

These cleaning chemicals cut through and suspend dirt in a solution which can then simply be washed or vacuumed away.

Oxidants

These cleaning chemicals break down organic materials by attracting the oxygen from them. Once broken down they no longer stick to the surface and can be thoroughly cleared away using a vacuum.

Enzymes

These are bacteria that digest protein, fats and carbohydrates. This technique is commonly used in fabric softeners.

Acid/Alkali

If the surface is able to resist the corrosion of a higher or lower PH than neutral, these cleaning chemicals can break down any particles which are not part of the surface material. The resulting waste can then be simply washed away.

Dry Cleaning

Not all cleaning chemicals are supplied in the form of a liquid or contain water. Dry cleaning chemicals are supplied in the form of a solvent which may be a liquid solid or gas but do not contain water. This enables the surface material to dry much more quickly. This technique is often used for delicate fabrics or high traffic, carpeted areas which cannot be allowed a long time to dry.

Many modern cleaning chemical solutions combine these properties to make the most effective cleaning solution for a particular task.

There are numerous floor cleaning products available on the market today from steam cleaners to polishers for hard floors and wet and dry vacuums as well as a range of chemical cleaning supplies for carpets. While each of these products is suitable for particular types of flooring, other factors can influence your buying decision so knowing the correct product for the job can avoid damage to the flooring and speed up the cleaning process.

Hard floors can benefit from a layer of acrylic or oil based polish that seals the surface and makes dirt easier to remove. Once a floor has been given this kind of pre treatment maintaining the surface is much simpler. It should be regularly vacuumed to remove debris especially before polishing. A seal is essential if you intend to regularly use alkaline cleaners to prevent damage.

If you wish to apply a seal to Thermoplastic or PVC flooring, you should use a water based acrylic seal to avoid damage. Solvent based sealants will damage this kind of flooring. By the same token, water based polishes are recommended to keep this kind of flooring clean and avoid any damage over time. If you have tiles made from Thermoplastic or PVC they should not be cleaned with water during the first 28 days.

Cleaning supplies for larger hard floor areas also include upright sweepers. These devices are extremely useful if you have a high traffic area that regularly gets littered as they collect dirt and litter into an integrated container.

In the most extreme cases (often outdoors) the best solution is a pressure washer. These effectively use water as an abrasive but results are quick and predictable. These cleaning supplies make light work of cleaning concrete or asphalt floors.

If you need a carpet cleaning machine for industrial or commercial use on a large area it may be the case that a vacuum cleaner that includes a soak and recover mechanism is simply too impractical. In these cases it is best to use a dedicated carpet cleaner. These are large upright machines that have no hoses or nozzles. They are simply mounted on wheels and equipped with a water dispensing and recovery tank. This makes cleaning the larger carpeted areas much easier and normally include an optional hose and nozzle to reach the corners and other hard to reach places.

One common problem with carpeted areas are heavily soiled or stained patches. To deal with these effectively you should use a pre spotter. This is a chemical designed to deal with these situations before any further cleaning takes place.

If you need to clean large carpeted areas quickly there are a huge range of cleaning machines to choose from. Prochem are manufacturer specialising in top end carpet cleaning machines. In most commercial and industrial environments there are large floor spaces that simply cannot be cleaned using standard vacuum cleaners as they do not have the range, adequate power or the capacity to deal with large pieces of debris which collect in these environments.

Prochem supply a range of machines which are specially designed to make cleaning wide open, hard floor areas easier and quicker to clean. The Polaris range of Prochem machines are in their element when it comes to industrial or commercial floor cleaning tasks. Although they are designed to be as easy to use as possible, Prochem provide a training course to inform operators of the best practices and troubleshooting techniques.

Polaris SP500

This is the smallest machine in the Polaris range and is capable of cleaning up to 300 metres squared of floor space per hour. The Polaris range is also fitted with a self levelling brush which helps keep the cleaning mechanism in contact with the ground removing the need to adjust it manually. This increases the efficiency of the machine and reduces the time spent on the task. Prochem also specify that these machines should be able to operate at a maximum of 70 decibels so that the machine can be used in situations where disturbances are to be kept to a minimum.

Polaris SP700

This is the next Prochem machine in the range which boasts increased vacuum airflow. The increased capacity also allows the operator to continue using the machine for longer before having to stop and renew the fluids.

Polaris SP800

This Prochem machine is the next step up from the SP700. With increased tank capacity and increased airflow it is able to offer a significant reduction in the time taken to perform a cleaning task while remaining true to the commitment of 70 decibels for quiet operation.

Polaris SP1200

This is the largest in this range of Prochem machines. When compared to the 19 litre capacity of the SP500 the 45 litre capacity of the SP1200 means even more uninterrupted use. Further reducing the time taken to cover any given area.

Additives

This range of Prochem machines allows the operator to add chemicals for even more thorough cleaning. These include a defoamer and detergent which are also supplied by Prochem.

There are numerous chemicals which are used for cleaning in industrial situations. Today’s market carries a range of products which are specifically designed for one or more tasks. With these products you can achieve some great results with minimal effort and without risking damage to the surface on which they are used.

If you need to clear ice or snow away from a walkway or stairs you could simply clear it away using a shovel and grit. There are however occasions where grit is going to damage the surface beneath and leave an uneven surface under foot. On a stairway this can cause major problems if someone has an accident. For these reasons Magic Ice Melt was developed. This is an extremely useful product to keep by in preparation for those cold months. A light coating will dissolve the ice and keep it from refreezing for up to 24 hours. The added advantage is it causes no corrosion or rust to the surface beneath. This is the perfect way to keep the entrance to your workplace clear of hazards for the entire day.

Another common problem experienced by businesses is chewing gum. This sticks and dries on carpets, matting and vinyl as well as being tricky to remove from outdoor surfaces like concrete and tarmac. The solution is a chewing gum remover cleaning chemical. This product can be poured straight into a steam cleaner and applied to the affected area immediately. While it is recommended that the product is tested on a small, inconspicuous area before applying it to fabrics or carpet, the vast majority of surfaces will show no evidence of its use.

Spots and stains from substances such as grease, ink and oil can mean a lot of work to remove them effectively. It is for that reason a spot and stain cleaning chemical has been developed which can effortlessly treat surfaces leaving no trace of its presence. By leaving this chemical to soak for longer it is also possible to remove thick substances like wax and tar.

Many organisations use Altro flooring which is specially designed to provide safety features such as allowing people to walk barefoot on a wet surface without slipping. Cleaning these kinds of flooring can be tricky as they can be damaged if the correct cleaning chemicals are not used. This is the perfect application for Universal Powder. Designed to be non-foaming, non-toxic, non-caustic and acid free, this cleaning chemical is extremely effective on vinyl and plastics.

Barrier cream is a cleaning chemical which is applied directly to the skin. This is often used in hospital environments where any contact between a patient’s skin and contaminants could cause irritation. This cleaning chemical is also used in industrial situations where workers may come into contact with irritants such as working with solvents found in mineral oils, gasoline etc.

Over time more and more organic alternatives to these products are being developed which prove just as effective and will not cause any adverse effects once they are disposed of. These are just some of the modern applications for cleaning chemicals which are making life easier for those tasked with fixing these problems.

If you have an organisation which makes use of a building you will be aware that washrooms provide essential services to customers, staff and visitors alike and you have an obligation to maintain washrooms, primarily for hygiene purposes but also to ensure that everyone receives the same experience. For instance, paper disposables need to be regularly replenished; floors need to be kept clean and other services such as vending may be required and they all need to be maintained.

Washroom services allow you to rent any required hardware such as vendors, dispensers, barrier mats and hand dryers that may be required and within the contract, arrange maintenance. This allows you to keep the washrooms in your organisation clean and well stocked without having to hire dedicated staff.

Barrier mats are specially designed non slip floor mats which are placed before the exit of a washroom. This prevents dirt from leaving the washroom. As part of the service the mats are regularly taken away, laundered and returned while leaving a replacement. With all of that taken care of you can rest assured that the barrier mat is always in top condition.

Odour control and air care is another great example of a consumable which needs to be replaced regularly. The dispenser also needs to be serviced on a regular basis. This is another perfect candidate for a washroom service. By renting the equipment and having it regularly serviced you can be sure that it will not run out and will continue to work as effectively as the day it was installed.

One of the most popular washroom services is water management. Intelligent devices are used to manage the timing and flow of water from all of the mechanisms that dispense water in your washrooms. For example these devices prevent routine flushes from happening overnight when no one is in the building. Using this service has saved companies up to 80 percent of their water usage.

The various cleaning machines available on the market today are making cleaning tasks ever easier. This article examines some of the techniques these machines use to gain better results with less effort.

Steam

The abrasive power of water plays a huge part in the cleaning of carpets and fabrics. Cleaning machines circulate steam through a small area of the material at speed to draw contaminants away. The heat and speed of the steam helps separate any dirt from the material, the flow of air then helps to dry the surface immediately after the steam has been applied. In some cases the area being cleaned needs to be ready to use directly after the cleaning has completed. If this is a requirement, a more powerful vacuum will help dry the area more quickly.

Chemicals

In some cases water alone may not be enough to achieve a suitable result. In these cases a detergent is added which cuts through the dirt and suspends it in the condensed steam. When the cleaning machine collects the waste water the detergent and contaminants are drawn along with the water leaving the carpet as clean as it was before it was soiled.

Sweepers

Litter can be a big problem as well. In large areas open to the general public, vast amounts of litter can be left behind and manually collecting it would take an unfeasible amount of man hours. If the floor surface was tough enough and the area had vehicular access you could simply use a street sweeper however this is not always practical to use such a large machine inside venues such as large exhibition halls. The ideal solution in this situation is a sweeper. These cleaning machines are miniature versions of the mechanism on a street sweeper and they allow the user to simply push the device along as it automatically collects and debris in its path. While these machines can be used indoors and out on hard surfaces such as parquet, tiles or tarmac they are not suitable for the soft undulating ground of a field.

Scrubber Dryers

When very large floor spaces need to be routinely cleaned the simplest way to get the best result is using a scrubber dryer. Some of these cleaning machines are large enough to have a ride on capability and do the job of a steam vacuum cleaner by simply running over affected areas. Some of these cleaning machines also combine the ability to collect litter with steam, detergent and a vacuum. The largest of these machines is capable of cleaning an area up to 6000 metres squared in a single hour.

If you are thinking of purchasing hand dryers for your establishment you will find that there are many different designs from numerous manufacturers. This article examines some of the most popular products from several manufacturers in order to build up a frame of reference.

Multi-Dri

This manufacturer produces one of the most common hand dryer designs. The typical white enamel, wall mounted ‘cassette’ style with rounded corners and a steel vent which can be flipped over to direct air towards the face. They are reasonably quick at drying hands and very simple to use. They are also easy to fit and service as the front can be removed without having to un-mount the unit and all components are then accessible straight away.

Super

This manufacturer produces another widely used hand dryer design; a slim box which tapers towards the top. This is excellent for fitting in areas where space is a concern. These hand dryers are available in wither a matt or polished stainless steel finish. One of the benefits of these hand dryers is the operating noise. They are designed to be as quiet while performing their function as well as possible.

Dolphin

This manufacturer produces another common design of hand dryers. They are almost square in appearance and have a tubular vent. The device is triggered by hands being in close proximity to the vent. It can also be turned to direct air towards the face. They are also available with a push button mechanism if you prefer.

Dolphin also produce a more unusual hand dryer which combines a hot air hand dryer with paper towels. This design allows the unit to be fitted into a recess in the wall and houses storage for paper towels and an integrated bin.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi are producing a range of hand dryers which change the way hot air is delivered to the operator’s hands. By refining the shape, angle and number of vents they have created the ‘jet towel’ design. This delivers a flow of air at speeds of up to 180 miles per hour which is quick enough to simply draw moisture away from the operator’s hands without heating the air. They also produce a similar model which slightly heats the air to decrease the amount of time taken to dry hands even more.

Dyson

Dyson produce the Air Blade which is similar in design to the Mitsubishi devices. The use inserts their hands between two narrow streams of fast moving air which is then drawn away and collects into a channel below. The main advantages to hand dryers which use the speed of the air flow as opposed to high temperatures are a more comfortable temperature for the user and lower power consumption which can make a significant difference over time.

Osprey DeepClean manufacture a range of heavy duty steam cleaning machines which are used commercially in healthcare, industrial, catering and hospitality industries to name a few. The current range of Osprey steamers include machines ranging from very compact, portable units for smaller tasks, to large street cleaning units. This article examines the spectrum of Osprey steamers from the current range and suggests suitable uses.

MiniVap

This is the smallest machine in the current range of Osprey Steamers. The abilities of this unit make it excellent value for money as it is capable of handling the majority of tasks in smaller guest houses and nursing homes. It is ideally suited to cleaning limescale and stains from all washroom furnishings as well as removing mould from the grounting in between tiled walls or floors.

TidyVap

The TidyVap is ideal for people who need to clean the inside of kitchen appliances as it is small and portable while providing ample steam cleaning power to easily deal with hobs, ovens, refrigerators, fryers and kitchen surfaces. It is also supplied with several accessories which make it possible to clean with a level of detail that simply cannot be achieved with other cleaning methods.

ProVap

There are two models in the ProVap range and both are available with or without integrated vacuums which can be used with or without the steam feature. These machines heat the steam to over 170 degrees centigrade which quickly strips most forms of grease and grime leaving an almost dry surface behind. The models which include the integrated vacuum collect the remaining waste water and store it in an in-built tank. They also have a detergent tank which helps remove especially stubborn contaminants from the target surface.

Revolution

This Osprey steamer is designed specifically for use in guest houses, small hotels, restaurants, shops and even leisure centres. It is also possible to operate this machine continuously which eliminates time spent refilling tanks.

Contractor

These Osprey steamers are designed to be extremely hard wearing and robust. It is capable of heating steam to 180 degrees centigrade and delivering it at 8 bar pressure. The extra large non marking tyres make it as suitable for road cleaning as kitchen equipment. This is the perfect tool for the contract cleaner that needs to be ready for anything.

In today’s market there are numerous products which make cleaning tasks easier and quicker. Knowing exactly what is out there can help save time and money when undertaking cleaning tasks. This article examines some of the less common cleaning supplies which make light work of tasks that otherwise would take longer and yield a worse result.

Kitchen and Catering Cleaning Supplies

Wherever food is prepared it is essential to maintain a good level of hygiene regardless of the type of environment. Domestic Kitchens are just as susceptible to dirt as industrial catering environments. However the size of the food preparation area and regularity at which it is cleaned may demand different tools. Domestic appliances such as cookers, refrigerators and freezers are not used heavily enough to demand a vigorous cleaning routine and normally the right chemicals will perform satisfactorily. Strong Alkali detergents can be very effective at removing grease and grime from ovens and grills however detailed cleaning in hard to reach areas can be a problem. There are in fact alternative cleaning supplies which can do the job without the use of chemicals such as steam cleaners but these tend to be large devices that cannot be justified for the domestic kitchen. Recently there have been steam cleaners appearing on the market which are much smaller, about the size of a domestic vacuum, which will easily clean appliances and surfaces thoroughly in a fraction of the time.

Carpet Cleaning Supplies

For carpets in domestic settings, dry vacuum cleaners are normally sufficient however there are occasions where a detergent and water need to be added to restore the carpet.

Hard Floor Cleaning

Hard flooring such as concrete or ceramic tiles are generally cleaned using a scrubber dryer which continuously soaks, brushes and dries the floor making it extremely quick and easy to clean open plan floor spaces. There are also more compact versions which can be used in more restricted areas. Parquet floors can have a glossy finish which needs to be maintained. Cleaning supplies for this purpose include polishes, anti-slip chemicals and polishers. Polishers are cleaning machines that can be manually driven or, for larger machines, driven by electric motor to speed up the process.

Outdoor Cleaning Supplies

Using a pressure washer makes cleaning the exterior of vehicles, driveways and even walls a vast amount easier that it was prior to their invention. Larger pressure washers are normally fitted with large, anti-marking wheels that allow the machine to be moved up and down stairs without damaging the flooring beneath.

Litter is a huge problem in places where there is a steady flow of traffic. In wide open areas it is not always practical to manually pick up pieces of litter. In these situations it is much easier to use a sweeper. This is a machine which can be pushed along or driven by the operator, clearing any debris in its path.

When some of us finish our hand washing routine after using the facilities at public (and some private) wash rooms we may get the option of using one of several methods of hand drying, namely: Paper Disposable Towels, Warm Air Dryers or the new Jet Air Dryers. In this article I explore the history, cost effectiveness and the environmental impact of paper disposables.

Hand washing was originally a religious practise during the rituals of several faiths including Hinduism and Judaism but it was not used to cleanse the hands of infection until hundreds of years later.

In 1847 Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian-born physician, observed while working at a Vienna obstetrics clinic that there was a significant rise in Fatal Childbed or "puerperal" fever cases in women who had been assisted by medical students rather than by midwives. He found that these medical students had performed autopsies on patients who had died from bacterial sepsis before assisting the women. After implementing a strict hand-washing regime, mortality rates dropped ten to twenty fold within three months even though hand-drying methods had not advanced.

Although the Chinese Emperors in the 14th century used a form of paper towel it was not until 1880 that toilet paper was invented by the 'Albany Wrapping Paper Co.' Before that time people in the 'Wild West' of the USA used paper from magazines and catalogues -the publication 'The Farmers Weekly' even had a hole in the corner so it could be hung!

Disposable paper towels, as we know them now, were invented by Scott Paper. 'Sani-Towels' -the first disposable paper towel for classrooms in Philadelphia, USA was produced after Arthur Scott heard about the practise of using separate towels which were used once rather than a cloth one, which was not disposed of, in the battle against the common cold and Influenza in children.

The disposable paper towel was born.

These days there are many different styles and designs of paper disposables on the market which compete with the other form of hand drying -electric hand-drying. In a survey conducted in the UK it was found that 58% of respondents believed that electric hand dryers were more hygienic than hand towels which is in contrary to the findings of a Westminster University Study. The study examined the three current ways to hand dry: Disposable Paper Towels, Electric Warm Air Dryers and the new Jet Air Dryers and conclusively found that where paper towels reduced the levels of bacteria, both electric hand dryers increased the levels of bacteria.

There were other problems associated with the electric hand dryers -cross contamination due to the blowing of micro-organisms up to 2 metres in the case of the Jet Air Dryer! It was clear that the humble disposable paper towels are the safest way to avoid the spreading of germs within washroom environments.

But we have to weigh up the good points with the bad and where the disposable paper towels fall down slightly from its lofty perch is environmental impact. Some paper towels are manufactured from new tree stock but most contain high recycled content but the manufacturing process has a hefty carbon footprint.

Even though the initial outlay for installing a paper towel dispenser is inexpensive compared to the electric hand-dryers, the ongoing costs can mount up and can be significantly more expensive over the life of the dispenser -even taking into account the energy costs of the electric dryers. The other problem can be ongoing maintenance -the dispenser will need refilling at frequent intervals and repairs or replacements may be necessary.

Wastage is another problem as the used paper towels will need to be removed (and cleaned up as many used paper towels end up on the floor!) from the washroom. The paper waste cannot be recycled because of their high recycled fibre content and the problem of safe bacterial management so unfortunately most will end up in landfill -the best solution is to compost the waste and there are more green schemes available for industry to utilise and help the environment in this way.

It seems the choice is up to the individual service provider and weighing up the pros and cons, finding features that are the most important to them -whether it is the hygiene concerns, overall costs or environmental impact, will all count towards the decision to use one form of hand-drying over another. Maybe it is down to the users of the washroom to voice their preferences or give them multiple options and install both a disposable paper towel dispenser and an electric hand-dryer.

In conclusion, the humble paper towel -which is over 120 years old, holds its own against newer hand-drying technologies and surpasses them in certain tests -especially the important hygiene aspect. If the problems of waste and disposal are solved then the disposable paper towel will continue to feature in washrooms of the future.

Once it was a luxury product –only found in the top hotels and restaurants but now they are ubiquitous throughout the washrooms of the world. Once a technical marvel with little evolution over the past sixty or so years and only recently updated to dry hands faster, more efficiently and hygienically superior to other methods of hand drying. What am I talking about? Yes the Electric Hand Dryer!

An inventor from Chicago, George Clemens, developed the first electric hand dryer back in 1948 and over the past sixty years has had little evolution in design save for a couple of advancements in sound suppression, motor efficiency and usability.

Essentially the design consists of a motor, fan, heating element, enclosure chassis and a button to switch it on. Relatively recent advancements to the design consist of an infra-red sensor to switch the dryer on with a timer to switch it off after a set number of seconds of use. The benefits of these small changes include: less risk of cross-contamination as there is no button to touch and the saving of energy as the unit will automatically switch off –it cannot be left running which was a problem with the old designs.

There have been many reports into the hygiene aspect of electric hand dryers –many suggest that because it takes so long to effectively dry your hands using one (on average up to 30 seconds) that many users leave with wet hands. This is a problem as bacteria can increase on wet hands over to 500% of an unwashed hand! To combat the problems of hygiene, time to dry and energy expenditure, several manufacturers have come up with new ingenious designs which claim remarkable results compared with the old warm air hand dryers –they are the new Jet Air Hand Dryers.

These new machines use the latest technology and some claim to dry your hands in less than TEN seconds. One product uses unheated air flowing at over 400mph to ‘squeegee’ the water off your hands and another uses warm air flowing at 180mph to particulate and evaporate the water in next to no time!

The benefits of these advances are manifold: less time to dry means that more users will leave the washroom with dry hands stopping the risk of bacterial infection; less time means that less energy is consumed and are therefore more eco-friendly than the old warm air models and even disposable paper towels. The initial outlay for these types of machines is quite high compared to other forms of hand drying but over the life of the product the costs are much lower –to the finances and the environment.

As this new technology evolves in the coming years it may sound the death knell for the old warm air dryers and even the disposable paper towel dispensers. As costs come down, they get more eco-friendly and further hygiene measures are added these new machines will be ever-present in the washrooms of the future.

When trying to remove oil stains or chewing gum from floors or graffiti from walls, having the right tool for the job not only ensures that you can complete the job to a satisfactory standard but also ensures that it is completed in a timely fashion. Cleaning surfaces outdoors can present several issues which make the task difficult. One of the issues is a finding a suitable power supply. Many public locations will not have a supply of mains power and it is impractical to run an extension from the nearest socket. The solution is either a unit which contains its own power supply or a steam cleaner mounted to a vehicle which can supply the power.

The second issue presented with outdoor cleaning is time. As these areas are normally wide open spaces, using time effectively is crucial and being able to scour oil, grease and chewing gum effectively allows a single operator to cover a large area. Saving on man hours can be an effective way of cutting costs. One of the ways Osprey steamers address this issue is by allowing the operator to add a mild detergent to the flow of steam which helps cut through contaminants while the steam is used as an abrasive. To further reduce the time required to perform an outdoor cleaning task, continuous operation means there is no need to stop and refill the water reserve. Osprey steamers are capable of running continuously where a supply of water is available which drastically reduces the time required to perform outdoor cleaning tasks.

Using modern steam cleaners such as the current range of Osprey steamers make it possible for a single operator to perform the job of several contract cleaners using other means. If your company occasionally need to clean the premises outside, purchasing or hiring an Osprey steamer could represent a drastic saving in time and money.

In many sectors there are jobs that require employees to work in hazardous or dangerous conditions. Protecting employees is a major concern in these lines of work to minimise the effects of such an environment and keep them healthy. In catering environments you are obliged to ensure that the product is kept free of contamination. The most effective way of doing that is to provide the best possible personal protective equipment for the job. Knowing what is available will help you select the most suitable equipment and get the best price.

Dust Respirators

Many work environments have high levels of airborne particles that make the air unsafe to breath for an extended period of time. These particles could be dust, glass fibres, vapours or gases. To be sure that workers are protected from these kinds of hazard a dust respirator is the ideal solution. This simply is held over the mouth and nose by two elastic chords. To improve comfort while the mask is in use, some masks have valves to make exhaling easier and prevent the build up of hot air behind the mask.

Anti-Vibration Gloves

For workers who use vibrating machinery there is a real risk of repetitive strain injuries and arthritis if the effects of the machinery are not cushioned. Anti-vibration gloves absorb the maximum amount of the shock from vibrating machinery without impeding the movement or dexterity of the wearer.

Goggles

Another area where personal protective equipment can help is eyewear. In working environments such as workshops or garages there is always a risk of contaminating or damaging eyes due to liquids which may be hot or toxic or shards of metal or wood which can cause long lasting or permanent damage in a split second. This is why equipping workers with suitable eye protection is essential. Generally plastic goggles, treated to prevent the build up of steam will provide adequate protection. Many designs wrap around the wearers face to protect the peripheries. This design is probably the most versatile as they are light weight and represent the highest level of protection.

Ear Protection

In work environments where the noise level is consistently being contributed to by machinery there is a significant chance that employees without ear protection will develop hearing difficulties. To avoid the risks, ensure your workers have access to earplugs or protective ear covers and make use of them on a regular basis.

Hygiene

While protecting employees in hazardous environments is important, employees can also introduce contaminants into products if they are not equipped with the correct equipment. This may be something as simple as a trilby, hair net, apron, gloves or over-sleeves but must be provided to ensure consistent results.

There are many other kinds of personal protective equipment such as leg, arm and back supports for heavy lifting, anti-laceration arm/hand covers and so on which also help ensure that employees are kept as safe as possible in the work environment, most of the key areas are covered here.

If you run or own a bar or club, finding a source of bar supplies can help make bar keeping easier. From consumables like paper towels to the right glass washer, bar supplies are an integral part of day to day operations.

Pourers

One of the problems with operating a bar is making sure that drink measures are consistent and fair for every customer while making sure as little of it is spilt or wasted as possible. Bottled wines and spirits are the primary areas for concern regarding wastage. For bottled drinks, using a curved or straight pourer makes it much more difficult to spill any liquid as the flow is smaller and more controlled. For spirits, Gaskell and Chambers produce a series of measuring devices which allow you to hand the bottle upside down with the device in the top of the bottle. The valve mechanism allows the exact measure of spirit to fill the device. This can then be dispensed using a lever which is actuated using the glass underneath. Using one of these, cheap and effective devices allow you to get shots of spirits to customers extremely quickly and with exact measurements.

Consumables

A bar or club establishment requires a number of different consumable bar supplies to operate. Paper hand towels always need to be available so ensuring you have a dispenser which only allows one sheet to be removed at a time will help make the most of your supplies. Napkins also need to be kept in good supply if you are serving food. Straws and drink stirrers are another common fixture in bars and clubs which will be used at a consistent rate. Finding a good source of table consumables give your customers a lasting impression of your establishment as being well stocked.

Cleaning Chemicals

Bars and clubs require several types of cleaning chemicals to operate hygienically. Firstly ensuring all glass wear is kept in top condition is a major priority. Your customers will expect professionally cleaned glasses and the best way to do that is to use a professional glass washer. These machines thoroughly clean glass wear much quicker than a standard dishwasher but from time to time you may also find that treating glasses with a powder detergent will remove even residues left behind after routine cleaning.

Glass Storage

By making use of bottle skips and glass carriers you can make the collection of used glasses quicker and easier while reducing the risk of them being smashed.

Trays and Buckets

Drinks trays have a series of holes in the top which allow run off of drinks to be collected rather than spilt an alternative to these trays are beer cloths but either is relatively simple to keep clean. Cooler buckets for wines add a touch of class which all adds to the customer experience.

By making sure that your establishment is always well stocked with the above bar supplies you can make sure that your staff are well prepared for those times where demand is high and your bottled drinks are used as efficiently as possible. By meeting your customer’s expectations and providing a few things they perhaps were not expecting, they will be happy to come back in future.

In any catering operation there are a number of supplies which can make food preparation simpler and more hygienic. Having the right tools for the job also makes it possible to either reduce the time taken to serve customers or increase the number of customers served in any given amount of time.

Pest Control

One of the essential catering supplies in any food preparation area is adequate pest control. Insects are a constant concern and need to be dealt with as efficiently as possible. There are a number of different pest control products aimed at insects. Sprays are a cheap way of dealing with insects however it is not always possible to use sprays in food preparation areas in case of contamination. As an alternative a fly killing lamp is a far more suitable solution where insects are a regular problem. They are drawn to the light, killed and contained in the unit without giving off any by-products. Rodents are also a concern where food is being stored as well as being prepared. Bait boxes are ideal for ridding an area of rodents as they can be set down and left. While this approach, along with traditional spring loaded mouse traps actually kill the rodent, it is possible to use an ultrasonic rodent repeller. These devices emit a very high pitched noise which drives rodents away humanely without killing them.

Machinery

In situations where food is being prepared to be transported a wrapping machine can reduce the time it takes to prepare the food for transit. Professional dishwashers can also save huge amounts of time as they are designed to carry out routine washes in around 2 minutes with the option of using a longer cycle where required.

Hand Sanitisers

It is also very important that there is a facility for staff to regularly wash their hands in any food preparation environment. This may be something as simple as soap and water but the priority is ensuring that staff always have soap to use. A cost effective way of doing that is by purchasing a soap dispenser and buying liquid soap in bulk. Not only are costs minimised by you can go for longer without having to reorder. If you or your staff are moving between places before preparing food there may not always be the facility to sanitise hands before starting work. A simple solution is the Purell attachment clip. This can be fixed to a bag or belt and proves the facility to use a hand sanitiser wherever you may need it.

Surface Cleaning

Keeping surfaces clean is equally as important as hand sanitising and there are many catering supplies which can help you out with that. Even when surfaces appear to be clean there is always the possibility that bacteria may contaminate ingredients unless the surface has be treated with an anti-bacterial solution, these are often supplied as wipes.

Consumables

Some of the most widely used catering supplies are parchment and baking foil. If you regularly use either of these catering supplies it should be worthwhile buying these in bulk. Scourers and cloths are also classed as consumable as they need to be replaced once they start to deteriorate.

Other Hardware

Although ovens and in some cases fridges or freezers indicate their temperature it can also be useful to have an independent means of accurately gauging the temperature. Small, accurate thermometers are relatively inexpensive and will either be designed for a specific tasks such as measuring the inside temperature of meat during cooking or a refrigerator or they will be built to withstand the various conditions which allow it to be used in all situations. Refuse collection is another key part of operating a hygienic catering workplace and making sure staff have access to bins is essential.

Any company has an obligation to provide the appropriate first aid supplies for their staff. If anyone should need medical assistance, having first aid supplied on hand can minimise the effects and increase chances of survival in extreme cases but storing these supplies require some considerations.

The contents and number of first aid kits are determined by the number of staff employed by the company. First aid kits are normally supplied with guidance for the number of people for which it is suitable. A ten person first aid kit should contain around 20 plasters, 2 eye pads, 4 triangular bandages, 6 safety pins, 8 to 10 sterile dressings, 6 alcohol free wipes and a pair of disposable gloves. In comparison a 50 person first aid kit should contain around 60 plasters, 6 eye pads, 8 triangular bandages, 12 safety pins, 12 sterile dressings, 20 alcohol free wipes and 3 pairs of gloves.

Wall Brackets

Many first aid kits are supplied with brackets for wall mounting. These are extremely useful as they keep the first aid kit in a fixed location and in plain sight. They also alloy the whole kit to be removed quickly which helps reduce the response time.

Lockable Cabinets

Although staff should always have access to first aid supplies in their place of work it can be beneficial to lock them away until they are required to ensure they are not tampered with or depleted without being replenished. An example of this would be a location for first aid supplies which is in an area accessible to the public. Of course, when using locking cabinets it is advisable to make sure a key is readily available to a first aid trained member of staff at all times. Leaving the key in the lock is not advisable, even in cases where only staff have access because the key may go missing with the cabinet locked and these problems are rarely discovered before the first aid supplies are required.

Vehicle Kits

Any company vehicle should be equipped with essential first aid supplies. These kits are generally smaller than standard first aid kits as they need to be portable and are generally only intended for use by one or two people. Often vehicle kits are supplied in a small translucent bag to make it easier to check the contents without removing them.

Burns and Bio Hazards

First aid kits are generally equipped to deal with injuries which do not include treatments for burns and bio hazards. If the place of work has a high risk of lacerations or burns additional first aid supplies for these situations should be made available to staff.

If you are looking for a way to generate revenue from your establishment’s washrooms there is no better way than fitting vending machines. They require very little maintenance and can provide services which customers or visitors will find useful. There are a number of different products which can be sold from these machines which are suitable for men and women.

Overnight Kits

If your establishment is used by people travelling long distances they may find it useful to have the ability to purchase overnight kits. Depending on the target customer you can either fill your vending machines with men’s overnight kits, which contain a toothbrush, toothpaste, a razor, shoeshine, a comb and shaving cream. If you are providing the facility for ladies their overnight kits contain items such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, a comb, sewing kit and cotton wool.

Infant Care Kits

If you are fitting a vending machine in or near a washroom fitted with a baby changing station you can provide packs of essential infant care products. This provides the customer with a nappy, wipes and a disposal bag.

Other Consumables

Washroom vending machines can also supply other products people may find useful such as mints, Paracetamol, sanitary products, tights and prophylactics. By offering a selection of products to people using washrooms in your establishment you can generate revenue while providing a service which they need but were not necessarily expecting.

By offering these products you can make sure that your customers or visitors are kept comfortable. This in turn can enhance their opinion of your company and allow them to stay longer, enjoy themselves and ultimately make buying decisions more easily.