African Cleaning Review SeptOct '19 issue by African Cleaning Review

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September/October 2019 | R61.50 (incl. VAT)

Sustainable cleaning â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what and why? Creating a carpet care programme Water shortages threat to business On-premise laundry benefits

contents SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 VOL 20 NO. 5 Sustainable cleaning: what it is and why it is necessary Typically, when cleaning professionals, carpetcleaning technicians, and building owners and managers hear the word ‘sustainable’ or ‘sustainability’ in reference to cleaning, they think of the use of green cleaning solutions. This is not entirely correct. The key aspect of green cleaning solutions that makes them more sustainable is the fact that they are typically made from renewable resources and no petroleum byproducts commonly found in traditional cleaning solutions. Stephen Ashkin, regarded as the ‘Father of Green Cleaning’, offers an insightful angle on the intricacies of sustainable cleaning. Read more about sustainable cleaning on pages 2 and 20

Opinion

Sustainable cleaning: what it is and why it is necessary

Industry News

Features

Creating a carpet-cleaning programme A feat of endurance for carpet care Thorough maintenance extends lifespan of commercial carpeting Simple steps towards more sustainable floor care Green cleaning unpacked The move to eco-friendly cleaning

8 10 12

Educational

20 22 24

Making the most of WhatsApp Business

FM Review

New JV offers fresh approach to property services outsourcing Challenging times builds case for monitoring water-usage patterns in facilities

Editorial

Marriot hotels chain scraps single-use toiletry bottles City’s insourced cleaners start first day of work Partnership changes lives of previously unemployed Biodegradable sugar cane bottles to replace plastic? SA Labour Department hosts employment equity workshops Facility services contractors to gather in Berlin for Global Executive Summit

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AfricanCleaningReview

african-cleaning-review Publishing Editor: Johann van Vuuren +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Advertising: +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Administration and Accounts: Nandé Jacobs Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za All editorial contributions can be sent to the editor who reserves the right to publish editorial based on the strength of its content. No articles or photographs may be reproduced, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publishers. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in African Cleaning Review, e-squared publications and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of the claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Copyright of all material published in African Cleaning Review remains with e-squared publications and its agents.

Planned features for 2019 Nov/Dec issue: Editorial deadline 18 October • Mopping systems • Fragrance systems and aircare

Update company details to appear in the 2020 Buyer’s Guide Deadline: 7 December 2019

Renew/book advertising space in the 2020 Buyer’s Guide before 30 October

Innovative high-pressure clean technology now in SA – Oertzen Recent adjustments affecting company B-BBEE scorecards – CSG Skills Institute Creating a sustainable life away from home – Tork 4D REAL Clean approach to changing the face of cleaning in SA – i-team

25 33

Save the date 2020 Executive Summit

Laundry Review

16 and 17 September, Cape Town Email nande@cleantex.co.za

Could your hotel benefit from an on-premise laundry? Professional wet cleaning

People and Events

African Cleaning Review is aimed at end users, contractors and suppliers of products and services to Africa’s Cleaning, Hygiene, Maintenance, Laundry, Pest Control and Facility Management Services industries. It is published every other month by: e-squared publications. Tel: +27 (0) 11 238 7848 or +27 (0) 72 611 1959 Fax: +27 (0) 86 672 4794 PO Box 1976, Halfway House, 1685, South Africa Email: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za Website: www.africancleaningreview.co.za

Humble beginnings no barrier to reaching for the sky – Takalane Khashane NCCA Women’s Day breakfast New BEECA offices add to creation of national footprint NCCA Gauteng branch AGM PBEH 2nd AGM

New Products

at the previous year’s advertising rates! Email africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za

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New cleaning products tackle complex cleaning of membranes in dairy and beverage industries Introducing the ‘Behind the Mirror’ washroom system

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

from the editor Read ACR in digital format much sooner in your inbox In response to the rising demand for more natural cleaning products, the opinion piece and one of the features focus on different viewpoints relating to the often-debated terms – sustainable and green cleaning. The ability to prove that cleaning businesses are able to operate sustainably will in the near future become a reality within the local professional cleaning sector. Therefore, this subject needs to be addressed urgently, and business practices need to be aligned in order for contractors to effectively compete for business in an evolving environment where the impact of cleaning on the environment will come under increased scrutiny. During August South Africa celebrated Women’s Month and with this in mind, this issue also features Takalane Khashane and her career journey from humble beginnings in Venda to her appointment as MD of the cleaning and catering divisions at leading FM firm Servest. Furthermore, this issue is packed with interesting news, educational, FM, laundry and new product articles to give you an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the professional cleaning industry between two covers. Refer to the back cover of this issue for more information about the African delegation to Amsterdam next year. Ensure you don’t miss out on an opportunity to visit the world’s largest cleaning showcase while experiencing the ambiance of this bustling European city. Follow the link to book your seat on the KLM flight to the Netherlands. News and product development keeps this industry moving by creating top-of-mind awareness and interest, therefore, remember to submit news and relevant images on a regular basis for consideration. Enjoy the read and remember that the magazine is also available on a digital platform, complete with hyperlinks to contributors, advertisers and with sharing options.

opinion

Sustainable cleaning: what it is and why it is necessary By Stephen P. Ashkin

Typically, when cleaning professionals, carpet-cleaning technicians, and building owners and managers hear the word ‘sustainable’ or ‘sustainability’ in reference to cleaning, they think of the use of green cleaning solutions. This is not entirely correct. The key aspect of green cleaning solutions that makes them more sustainable is the fact that they are typically made from renewable resources and no petroleum byproducts commonly found in traditional cleaning solutions. Stephen Ashkin, regarded as the ‘Father of Green Cleaning’, offers an insightful angle on the intricacies of sustainable cleaning.

ccording to Ashkin, sustainable cleaning entails much more than indicated above. One of the first aspects of sustainable cleaning is merely asking: does this cleaning task need to be performed or does this space need to be cleaned? For instance, requests for proposals (RFPs), also known as tenders, often specify that hard-surface floors be stripped and refinished twice per year. But refinishing a floor involves the use of very powerful cleaning solutions (many of which are not environmentally preferable), considerable amounts of water, two to several mop heads, and the use of low-speed floor machines. By taking steps to stretch refinishing cycles to 12 and even 18 months, we are doing the following: • Not using cleaning solutions, which not only may be made of nonrenewable resources, including petroleum, but also require energy when manufactured, possibly packaged in non-recycled paper, and delivered, requiring fuel, which probably releases greenhouse gases

• Reducing the need for water in cleaning, which can be a crucial concern in areas of the world such as Cape Town, South Africa, which recently experienced water shortages, helping protect vital natural resources • The mops must be manufactured, requiring materials and energy, shipped requiring fuel, and delivered, again probably releasing greenhouse gases • The floor machine requires electricity to operate and, when stripping a floor, the amount of energy necessary would probably be more than the amount used when polishing the floor. The same is true of carpet cleaning. For instance, all too often, the RFP requires carpet in the C-suite to be cleaned every two or four months. But the C-suite typically has the fewest number of people working in it, and these people are often travelling, so they are frequently away from the office. In many situations, the carpet in the C-suite will remain clean and healthy even if cleaned just once per year.

opinion Determining what tasks and what areas of a facility need to be cleaned and how often is a significant step in reducing cleaning’s impact on the environment as well as bringing sustainability into the cleaning process... Our sustainability focus in the US to date has been primarily on ways to reduce the need for energy, fuel, and natural resources in professional cleaning as well as reducing cleaning’s impact on the environment. Beyond need

Equipment maintenance

Determining what tasks and what areas of a facility need to be cleaned and how often is a significant step in reducing cleaning’s impact on the environment as well as bringing sustainability into the cleaning process. Here are some additional ways to do this:

Equipment, whether it is floor machines, carpet extractors, or vacuum cleaners, lasts longer and performs more efficiently when it is maintained regularly, plus, it often uses considerably less electricity. If the equipment includes a maintenance plan, which many carpet extractors do, adhere to it strictly.

Cold-water carpet extractors At this point, several effective cleaning solutions work well with cold water. Using a cold-water extractor is effective and reduces energy consumption considerably.

No-chemical cleaning systems The use of ozone-generating systems and engineered water to clean surfaces eliminates the need for cleaning solutions. Eliminating the need for packaging, shipping, and fuel.

Hybrid or electric cars The price of petrol and diesel in South Africa has been on a roller coaster ride, up some months, down others. In other parts of the world, switching to hybrid or electric vehicles either reduced or eliminated the need for fuel. Plus it can reduce carbon emissions by more than 90 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by as much as 60 percent.

Sustainability in your own business Our sustainability focus in the US to date has been primarily on ways to reduce the need for energy, fuel, and natural resources in professional cleaning as well as reducing cleaning’s impact on the environment. But there are four more components of sustainability we need to address:

Efficiency Efficiency refers to long-term changes that help a business reduce consumption and operate more effectively, which results in cost savings. For instance, the largest expenditure for cleaning professionals is labour. Proper training teaches workers to perform their tasks faster and more effectively, improving worker productivity, use natural resources more sparingly, and reduce waste.

Stephen Ashkin

more loyal they will be to your company and the better they will perform.

Profit Sustainability in cleaning means making money. A business is in business to make money, and one of the many outcomes of sustainability is that the business operates not only more efficiently, as discussed earlier, but it helps reduce overall operating costs. It also involves charging clients fairly for your services, being transparent in business operations, and ensuring all business practices comply with all government regulations.

Proving sustainability We’ve covered a lot of territory here. However, there is something else we must add. The time is coming when cleaning contractors will need to prove that they are operating their business more sustainably to be awarded cleaning contracts. We see this happening today all over the world. This means sustainability is no longer something cleaning contractors and carpet-cleaning technicians may want to do – it is becoming something they must do. Stephen P. Ashkin, recognised as the ‘Father of Green Cleaning’ and leader of the Green Cleaning Movement, is a speaker and author with 38-years’

GPS driving

People

As an example, Dublin is now rated the sixth most traffic-congested city in Europe with a congestion ranking of 35 percent. This means that travel time by car in Dublin is 35 percent more than in other parts of Europe. A GPS system can suggest alternative routes that can avoid this traffic, and in so doing, reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and rattled nerves.

In many parts of the world, cleaning professionals outsource cleaning to subcontractors. There is nothing wrong with this as long as it is done legally and equitably. But all too often it is not. All workers, whether subcontractors or employees, must be paid fairly, equitably, with benefits, and dignity. Your cleaning staff are your business. Invariably, the better they are treated, the

experience in the professional cleaning industry. Stephen is president of The Ashkin Group and is the professional cleaning industry’s leading advocate for promoting sustainability. He is also CEO of Sustainability Dashboard Tools, which offers a cloud-based dashboard that allows organisations to measure, report and improve their sustainability efforts. Stephen is the coauthor of both The Business of Green Cleaning and Green Cleaning for Dummies.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

industry news Marriot hotel chain scraps single-use toiletry bottles

arriott International, the world’s largest hotel chain, announced this August that it was dumping single-use toiletry bottles as part of plans to reduce its environmental impact. But instead of moving to refillable, wall-mounted dispensers, the hotel will switch to larger pump-action bottles that contain about 10–12 times the amount of shampoo, conditioner or bath gel. These will be removed by staff when they run low and sent for recycling. “Our guests are looking to us to make changes that will create a meaningful difference to the environment while not sacrificing the quality service and experience they expect from our hotels,” says Arne Sorenson, the group’s President and CEO.

The move follows a similar recent announcement by IHG, which owns Holiday Inn, Kimpton and other brands. IHG said it would eliminate about 200 million tiny bottles each year by 2021. Last year, Walt Disney Co. said it would replace small plastic shampoo bottles at its resorts and on its cruise ships. Marriott has more than 7 000 hotels in 131 countries under 30 brands. The chain estimates that the move will prevent about 500 million tiny bottles from going to landfills, a 30 percent annual reduction from current amenity plastic usage. Plastic items take more than 400 years to degrade, and the notion that dutifully placing plastic in the recycling bin will result in it actually being recycled has been challenged,

particularly since China stopped importing millions of tons of plastic waste in 2018. A recent study published in Science Advances estimated that of the total global plastic waste generated by 2015, approximately 6 300 million metric tons, only 79 percent was in landfills or the environment, 12 percent had been incinerated, and only nine percent was recycled.

City’s insourced cleaners start first day of work

Mayor Mashaba addressing cleaning workers.

n Sunday 1 September the City of Johannesburg’s 1 879 cleaners officially started their first day of work after a process of insourcing. According to a statement released by the City’s mayor, Herman

Mashaba, the cleaning workers will gain from employee benefits such as a pension, medical aid, and an increased take-home salary. “On 17 August 2019 we welcomed the first 450 beneficiaries of this insourcing programme, and due to the sheer numbers, the remaining 1 429 cleaners were registered the following day,” says Mashaba. “Many of these beneficiaries spoke of their experiences of years of exploitation and neglect, but due to the hard work and dedication of this multi-party government they were able to share their relief and gratitude for the change that finally came.” According to the City, these cleaners previously earned R3 000 a month, while the City paid around R6 500 per cleaner to the outsourced companies they worked for. These cleaners would now be able to take home over R4 000 a month after deductions on a salary of around R5 600 a month.

Mashaba said that through the City’s insourcing programme workers would now be given “real dignity” after decades of exploitation. “In addition, the insourcing initiative will also ensure stable and predictable payments of salaries to these employees – a standard practice that was allegedly sorely missing under the previous employers,” he says. “Upon registration of the first group of beneficiaries, I expressed that there can be no doubt that there is something intrinsically wrong, cruel and insensitive about forcing people to work under conditions in which their employment is uncertain.” “The insourcing of our cleaning staff is therefore a timely step meant to keep away the ravages of politically induced, exploitative tender entrepreneurship as well as underemployment and unemployment,” Mashaba concludes.

Promote your company in The Source of Workplace Hygiene Solutions! Reach your target market cost effectively by advertising in African Cleaning Review. The direct link to end users, building service contractors, FM service providers and key institutional sectors. Contact us for more information regarding cost-effective advertising options: africancleaningreview@cleantex.co.za | www.africancleaningreview.co.za

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

editorial GCE Integrated scrubber-dryers keep Nigerian brewery floors spotless Sagamu Brewery of Nigeria, part of AB InBev, recently took delivery of two Tennant M20 combination scrubbersweepers from Goscor Cleaning Equipment (GCE), supplied through its Nigerian dealer. The two Tennant M20 combination sweeperscrubber-dryers are utilised George Jolly in the Sagamu Brewery warehouse to sweep and scrub floors. The machines have already proved their worth and George Jolly, export manager at GCE, who was part of the team that commissioned the machines in Nigeria, says the client is very happy with their performance thus far. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Tennant M20 is a fully integrated sweeper-scrubber that can scrub or sweep a large area or simultaneously perform both functions. The M20 is ergonomically friendly for operators as the operating compartment is safe, comfortable and the unit is easy to operate,â&#x20AC;? explains Jolly. The Tennant M20 can help reduce cost of ownership with optional innovative technologies that can clean harsh environments in a single pass. For example, system technology improves productivity by combining sweeping and scrubbing functions, reducing the need for multiple machines. The optional innovative ec-H2O technology reduces costs associated with chemical purchases and reduces water usage. The optional scrubbing side-brush increases productivity by expanding the cleaning path by up to 1 370 mm. Several innovative features also provide health and safety benefits for operators, employees and customers. For example, the high-capacity, multi-level, hydraulic rear hopper (110 litres) eliminates the need to manually handle debris. PerformanceView on the optional Pro-Panel allows operators to view their cleaning path without having to turn around the seat, promoting safe operation. The wet/ dry synthetic-fibre-panel filter helps maintain air quality by delivering exceptional dust control during both wet and dry sweeping. The machine also comes with innovative features for simplified operation and ease of maintenance. The Touchn-Go control module featuring the 1-Step start button reduces training needs by simplifying operation. Solution and recovery tanks allow for complete visible inspection and cleanout. The easy-to-identify yellow maintenance touch points and no-tool squeegee-and-brush access simplify maintenance. Industrial equipment group Goscor is a BUD Group company. Goscor Cleaning Equipment represents leading equipment brands across several sectors including Tennant, Elgin, Maer, Delfin, Kaivac and HighPoint (industrial cleaning equipment). For more information visit: www.goscorcleaning.co.za

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

industry news Partnership changes lives of previously unemployed

BMG and AAC team up for a clean environment in Jeppestown.

“T

hrough a partnership between engineering specialists BMG and entrepreneurs Agri Arts & Construction (AAC) the bustling Jeppestown area in Johannesburg looks much better,” says Ruth Black, Group HR Executive, Engineering Solutions Group – holding company of BMG. “The gardens and pavements around BMG’s head office and warehouse facility, BMG World, are now regularly cleaned and manicured by the eight-man

AAC team – all of whom were previously unemployed. With BMG’s assistance, AAC now has a corporate identity design, working uniforms and tools selected from the Tools & Equipment division. “The BMG team is not only proud to work with AAC, but we also enjoy a close association with Jeppestown’s urban developers, who are committed to improving the quality of life for this community. The Bjala Foundation is currently developing affordable housing

and a healthy urban environment in the city. Bjala’s programme also involves the provision of education in the area, skills development and job creation, as well as improved safety and a clean environment.” A key motivator of these initiatives, Malibongwe Sithole – Director of AAC and Bjala’s Community Liaison Officer, had this to say: “Our partnership with BMG has changed our lives for the better. The company has offered more than we expected, and this is an honour for the team. We feel important and we are proud to play an active role in keeping our environment clean.” Apart from agricultural services, including gardening, weed removal and cleaning, AAC also sources handmade crafts from rural communities in KZN, which are sold at the KwaMai-Mai Market in Jeppestown. The company’s construction services undertake minor renovations like flooring, plastering, painting and cleaning services.

Biodegradable sugar cane bottles to replace plastic?

100 percent biodegradable bottle made from sugar cane is being manufactured in South Africa by the Air Water company. The company that introduced machines to the country that make water from the humidity in the air has embarked on a conservation campaign titled ‘Zero Plastic, Zero Harm’, which aims to create awareness around plastic usage. The process of making these bottles involves the sugar cane fibre and a polylactic acid. The beauty of it is that

it is 100 percent compostable. “If you put the bottle in a compost heap, it will disappear within 150 days. It adds nutrients to the soil and if you burn it, it is a very good waste-to-energy fuel and is totally non toxic. The concept behind this was to create a bottle where every single component, including the lid and the label, are biodegradable,” says founder and CEO of Air Water, Ray De Vries. The idea of producing the sugar cane bottles came about during the recent Cape Town drought.

SA Labour Department hosts employment equity workshops

he Department of Labour conducted employment equity roadshows in the form of workshops throughout the country during the period August 20 – September 26 to create awareness about the Employment Equity Act. The workshops, with the theme ’real

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

transformation makes business sense’, were aimed at employers or heads of organisations, academics, assigned senior managers, consultative forum members, human resource practitioners, trade union representatives and employees. They focused on the requirement for employers to report on remuneration

data and the International Labour Organization convention on eliminating violence and harassment in the workplace. The Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration also conducted presentations on cases of violence, harassment and dispute resolution.

industry news Facility services contractors to gather in Berlin for Global Executive Summit

he World Federation of Building Service Contractors (WFBSC) is hosting the premier event for executives of the world’s leading facility services contracting firms in conjunction with the CMS Trade Show in Berlin on 27 September 2019. This powerful one-day summit will provide insights, training and networking, in addition to access to hundreds of CMS trade show exhibitors showcasing the latest technology. The summit will be facilitated by Professor Goutam Challagalla from the International Institute for Management Development – one of the world’s leading universities, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, and focused on the education and development of global executives. Professor Challagalla is sought after

by leading global firms to consult on issues of disruption, preparing for the future and positioning global organisations to stay relevant by meeting the future needs of their customers. Through a mix of lecture, case study exercises and industry panels, attendees will deepen their knowledge and understanding of topics focused on leadership in the digital age, industry transition, artificial intelligence, digital readiness and digital business opportunities for the facility services contracting industry. In between sessions, there will be ample time for networking with fellow leaders from around the world. “This event allows WFBSC to

work towards our mission to achieve universal recognition for the facility services contracting industry and to improve the awareness, knowledge and professional competence of its worldwide membership,” says Roger Goodman, Global Executive Summit Chairman. “We are excited to bring together this group of senior executives to discuss the trends impacting the industry, address the challenges our customers are facing and to prepare our organisations for the challenges that lie ahead.” Summit registration includes access to the CMS Trade Show. For more information, visit: www.wfbsc.org

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

feature carpet care

Creating a carpet-cleaning programme Today a myriad of flooring options are available for an office environment. Choices include hardwood for a clean, rustic look or tiles for a calming, modern atmosphere. However, those may require more daily upkeep, as dirt and dust will settle on the floor and be easily stirred up by people passing through. Carpeting, on the other hand, adds to the aesthetics of the office environment and will trap the soil that employees and visitors carry in. This type of floor surface comes with countless benefits but will require a maintenance programme to uphold its durability and cleanliness.

talian Global Services, one of the most trusted outsourced service providers and managers of facility services in the US, provides insight into the importance of creating a complete carpet-care programme in your facility.

Why switch to carpeting? Hardwood and tile floors give the office a clean and consistent look. However, they’re often covered up with mats or rugs in strategic locations, which can make the choice of those materials futile. Instead, go with carpeting from the start. This will not only give your office a softer and padded surface that will feel better under your feet, but will also save you money since you won’t have to purchase extra rugs. According to the Carpet Institute of Australia Limited, wall-to-wall carpeting will also reduce costs in other areas as well. The material is a great insulator, which means it will trap heat in the winter and cold in the summer. This will lower heating and cooling expenses throughout the year. Carpeting also prevents noise from reverberating throughout the office. Less noise means fewer distractions and increased employee productivity. Staff and environmental health will also see the benefits of office carpeting. The material improves indoor air quality by trapping dirt, dust and pollutants within its fibres, The Carpet and Rug Institute explains. It will remain in the carpet until the surface is cleaned, and the dust won’t be stirred up by people walking on it. This is beneficial for employees who have

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

allergies, asthma or other respiratory issues. Carpeting also emits the lowest amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared to other flooring materials, which means there are fewer toxins in the air. According to the Carpet Institute of Australia Limited, 90 percent of any VOCs the material has left from manufacturing will disappear within a few days of installation.

How can you clean your carpets? While wall-to-wall carpeting is beneficial because it traps air pollutants and soil, it also gets significantly dirty before the material shows it. Manufacturers create carpeting so that the fibres hide how much dirt the material is actually holding. If you wait to clean it until the carpet looks soiled, you’ll be replacing the flooring long before you want to. However, by implementing a complete carpet maintenance programme, you’ll be able to keep your office floors looking as good as new. According to The Carpet and Rug Institute, you’ll need to follow these five steps in order to keep your carpets clean:

need to be cleaned more often than the rest of the building since most of the dirt resides in entrance mats.

2. Routine cleaning The building should have a set schedule that determines which areas need to be vacuumed on which days. Locations such as entrances, hallways, elevators and lobbies should be maintained daily, as these are high-traffic areas. Offices and conference rooms can be vacuumed less frequently, but should still be addressed at least twice a week. Occasionally, cleaning staff should clean more thoroughly by vacuuming under and behind furniture and along the walls and corners.

3. Spot and spill removal Accidents happen. People may track in mud, sand and debris during bad weather or they could spill their beverages. The office needs a method to clean these spots immediately. If they are given time to set in, they will become permanent stains and the carpet will need to be replaced.

4. Interim maintenance 1. Soil prevention It is imperative to put measures in place to stop dirt and pollutants right at the door of the building. By placing entrance mats both outside and inside the facility, you’ll be able to eliminate most of the soil entering the office. These mats should be between 2.7 to 4.5 metres in length to prevent approximately 80 percent of the dirt and moisture from getting too far into the building. However, the mats will

In business, appearance is everything. You wouldn’t want the cleanliness of your office to impact on the professional image of your organisation. Unlike routine cleaning, an interim maintenance system focuses on the high-traffic areas, such as entrances and lobbies. The frequency and depth of this programme depends on location, use and colour, as certain areas and shades will look dirtier than others.

feature carpet care

5. Deep cleaning Despite regular cleaning, carpets will lose their lustre over time. The colour will fade and they may appear dirty no matter how often you clean the carpeting. However, a deep cleaning programme can have it looking as good as new. This uses stronger equipment to remove soil that is deeply embedded in the fibres

as opposed to just eliminating the particles on the surface. When it comes to cleanliness, the success and ease of the job depends on the vacuuming process. Upright vacuums with a brush bar are best for high-soil areas, as the spinning broom will stir up the dirt so the suction can collect it. After you have taken care of those locations, you can switch

to equipment that is convenient and quick for the area cleaned. Backpack, stand-on and wide-area vacuums are much more efficient and will clean a larger space in a shorter time. Carpeting does require an in-depth cleaning programme, but both you and your office colleagues will notice the benefits of having this type of flooring installed in your facility.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

feature carpet care

A feat of endurance for carpet care Despite the appeal of interiors with minimalist styles and gleaming surfaces, we have an enduring fondness for carpets. They provide brightness, texture and a sense of Gordon McVean

comfort. Those qualities can be sustained – giving this flooring asset a surprisingly long life – when carpet is properly maintained. Gordon McVean, International Sales and

Marketing Director at Truvox International, outlines the importance of a multi-step approach to carpet cleaning and maintenance; the best way to ensure that carpets and their appeal endures.

he most immediate threat is premature wear, which is why routine vacuuming is crucial. With a continuous heavy footfall of traffic, frequent and professional cleaning of carpets is a necessity. Carpet fibres collect dust, grit, soil and stains, and unless they are regularly removed by vacuuming, this abrasive material accelerates wear while also detracting from the carpet’s appearance. A cleaning regime geared to wholelife carpet-care begins with vacuuming but does not end there. Interim and deep cleaning are required to preserve the good looks of carpeting and safeguard this asset. The frequency depends on the intensity and type of traffic. This makes economic sense too, as appropriate cleaning and treatment will lengthen the serviceable life of the carpet, which means less money spent on renovation or refurbishment in the long run. Improving the performance and lifespan of flooring will also provide a healthier environment for staff, helping reduce work absenteeism.

Using the correct equipment Today’s carpet-cleaning equipment can help the cleaning team achieve great results. However, if one piece of equipment is expected to become ‘the total solution’ instead of being one part of a multi-step cleaning programme,

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

this is also bad practice. Specific methods might be required for different types of carpet, for example, if carpet tiles are used rather than woven or tufted carpet. If the correct equipment is used with quality cleaning solutions, sufficient soil can be removed to improve the appearance of the carpet. However, thorough vacuuming to remove the particulate grit and soil must precede it. Low pile might look better if cleaned with pads instead of being extracted, but it won’t be really clean unless it is correctly vacuumed to remove heavy, dry soiling.

Innovation in vacuuming Regular vacuuming is essential to keep carpets looking fresh and bright. Technical advances are setting the latest generation of vacuums apart from their old and familiar predecessors in terms of efficiency, manoeuvrability and sustainability. Our most notable example is the transformation of the traditional upright vac to battery technology. This awardwinning cordless technology is taken a stage further with the VBUII, which boasts a removable battery, allowing the operator to quickly double its running time of more than 50 minutes. Light yet powerful, this cordless vacuum is ideal for quiet and unobtrusive cleaning, without the hassle and risk of a trailing cable, making daytime vacuuming

around visitors and employees seamless and safer. Light and highly manoeuvrable machines are a popular option, as this makes transporting the machine between cleaning jobs or to different parts of a building easy. Weighing just 6 kg, our compact tub vacuum, the VTVe has an ‘A’ energy rating and comes with a 32 mm-diameter toolset – so it is compatible with standard consumables. Both its crevice tool and dusting brush are stored conveniently at the back of the machine, while a wand holder facilitates tidy storage. Any advanced vacuum should also safeguard indoor air quality to help control allergies. This is crucial where hygiene is a priority, but we also believe it’s important in every business sector.

Interim cleaning The extent of spills and stains may dictate the timing of interim cleans. The advantage is that interim maintenance cleaning is both rapid and effective when performed with a specialist spray extractor. For example, our Hydromist range is designed to suit all areas, from small to large venues. These machines inject a cleaning solution and extract dirt with a powerful vacuum. Specialist pre-spotting solution should be used to tackle localised stains. continues on page 12 >>

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

<< continues from page 10

A clear and wellplanned maintenance and cleaning regime is the best way to ensure that carpets and their

Thorough maintenance extends lifespan of commercial carpeting

appeal endures.

Carpeting is an investment that businesses make to ensure their work

Where carpets are extremely dirty, leaving the Hydromist-sprayed cleaning solution to stand for 5–15 minutes will allow the detergent to emulsify the dirt before vacuuming.

environments are professional and comfortable and it remains a popular

Deep cleaning

to be about 12 million square metres per year. Proper carpet care can,

When staining is extensive – or it’s time for a deep clean – the most effective way to restore carpet to its pristine glory is through encapsulation. Deep cleaning is imperative because of the other 20 percent of soils not removed by vacuuming. These are sticky or oily substances that adhere to carpet fibres. Interim cleaning with extraction will remove some of this material and keep the carpet looking presentable. But soils embedded deep in the pile pose an even greater challenge. Encapsulation provides the answer by taking advantage of polymer chemistry and scrubbing technology designed for the task. Our Cimex-Encap carpetcleaning system features polymer chemistry that encapsulates dirt for cleaner carpets for longer, with a specialised cleaning solution applied using the three-brush scrubbing machine.

Plan ahead A clear and well-planned maintenance and cleaning regime is the best way to ensure that carpets and their appeal endures. With a dedicated cleaning team, and machines with state-of-the-art technology to ensure outstanding results every time, the finest attributes of the carpet can be enjoyed to the full. For more information visit: www.truvox.com

feature carpet care

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

choice for noise insulation. According to leading carpet manufacturer, Belgotex, the total amount of carpeting sold in South Africa is estimated

however, be a complicated part of commercial cleaning and facility management, especially in high-visitor-traffic areas.

ndustroclean Managing Director, Emma Corder, says that longevity and ease of care are the top considerations that need to be made when choosing commercial carpeting. “Whatever you choose, make sure that it’s rated for commercial use,” she advises. “Commercial carpeting is usually denser and tougher, so it would have a greater lifespan than that of carpeting solutions for homes.” Creating a thorough maintenance plan is considered to be key to extending the life of a carpet and plays a role in ensuring a healthier workplace for employees. Corder offers the following tips for cleaning and maintaining commercial carpets:

Keeping dirt out: walk-off or entrance matts Preventing dirt from spreading throughout the office should start at the entrance. This can be done by using matting or walk-off tiles. This is one of the most important maintenance tasks that can be done in a facility. It could be as simple as placing a welcome mat in the doorway. Bigger mats are, however, more efficient for getting rid of dirt from shoes before entry. Traditional matting is said to be suited

to offices with designated cleaning staff who monitor and maintain it to prevent accidents, while walk-offs might be better for an office with no supervision in place.

Soil wicking Soil wicking occurs as water evaporates and dirt remains on the surface of the carpet. Using too many chemicals and water increases the chance of soil wicking occurring. It is, therefore, important to be armed with efficient spot-removal and carpetcleaning techniques. Managers have to provide cleaning staff with the correct chemicals and cleaning equipment to tackle stains and spillages. Using the wrong product can be disastrous, while the right machine can easily save the day. The use of a solvent-based product before a water-based product is recommended when it is unclear what has caused a stain. It is important to realise that the wrong chemical will seal in the stain.

Different options for easier maintenance Carpeting experts recommend carpet tiles for offices, as they are easier to replace. Textured carpets, on the other

feature carpet care for a monthly or weekly clean. Identify the most suitable vacuum cleaner for your carpet type and business space and make sure that the relevant staff members know how to use it correctly.

The importance of deep cleaning

hand, can be treated for further stain resistance during the manufacturing process and are thought to be perfect for high-traffic parts of the office. The texture allows for easy stain removal, hides imperfections caused by wear and tear, and is less likely to trap odours since dirt is not easily absorbed.

Treat spots, stains and spills with urgency Accidents happen really quickly, so take immediate action for any spillage on

carpets to reduce permanent damage. Find the correct carpet-cleaning solution that will remove the spot effectively without discolouration.

Vacuuming everyday makes a difference Vacuuming on a daily basis, especially in areas where traffic volumes are high, will keep carpets looking fresh. Draw up a schedule for this if you don’t have a daily office cleaner. This will be more efficient than leaving it

Schedule a deep clean for your business at least twice a year to get rid of dirt that may have set in over time. A vacuum cleaner only sucks up dirt on the surface, so you’re only getting to a small fraction of the dust trapped. By deep cleaning your carpets, you can remove all hidden stains, allergens and stains that a vacuum cleaner isn’t able to get to. This helps to restore the carpet to its original condition and will extend its life. This should be left to professionals, so if you don’t have inhouse maintenance facilitators, book your carpet-deep-cleaning sessions with a carpet-cleaning company. Industroclean stocks a variety of vacuum cleaning solutions suited for all carpet types, from machines that extract dry dirt to those that remove sticky dirt and residue. For more information visit: www.industroclean.co.za

SHARE YOUR OPINION WITH US The African Cleaning Review (ACR) magazine is evolving and we need readership input in order to guide us in the process of best servicing the professional cleaning industry. Your input is valuable to us; all you have to do is to take less than 5 minutes to answer a few questions. The process is very simple, just scan this QR Code with your smartphone, or alternatively, type the URL into your internet browser. Then answer the 10 straightforward questions about the magazine. Thank you. The ACR team

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African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

educational

Making the most of WhatsApp Business Many people probably depend on WhatsApp in their to day-to-day lives to keep in touch with friends and family. However, are you making effective use of the popular messaging app as a business tool? More than five million businesses around the world use WhatsApp Business. Alcatel takes a look at how this great Android app could benefit your business.

To get started with WhatsApp Business, download the app from the Google Play Store. Then create a profile for your business to help your customers find valuable information — like your website, location, or contact information. to harness this tool in order to get excellent business results: So, what is WhatsApp Business? It is essentially a version of WhatsApp designed for smaller businesses and you can download it from the Google Play Store for your Android device. WhatsApp Business includes the WhatsApp features that you rely on, such as the ability to send multimedia, free calls, free international messaging, group chat, and offline messages. With the popularity of WhatsApp in South Africa and the rest of the world (1.5 billion-plus users), it’s a useful, lowcost channel for communicating with your customers around the world. You can run both WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business on the same phone, though they will need to be associated with different phone numbers. This lets you keep your business and personal communications separate. To get started with WhatsApp Business, download the app from the Google Play Store. Then create a profile for your business to help your customers find valuable information — like your website, location, or contact information. Once it’s all set up, you can use WhatsApp to market your business, answer customer questions and so much more. The following tips will assist you

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

1. Ensure you are able to meet customer expectations Remember, it’s called instant messaging for a reason. Customers who send a question or order via WhatsApp will anticipate that you will respond more promptly to a WhatsApp message than you would to an email. Ensure that you are prepared to meet their expectations – you simply cannot take two or three days to get back to someone, as you might when they send an email. You should aim to respond within an hour or two, and certainly, not longer than 24 hours.

2. Use custom messages for automation To save time, you can create a greeting message to automatically introduce customers to your business, set an away message when you’re unable to answer, or save time with quick replies to re-use answers to frequently asked questions.

3. Publicise your WhatsApp details everywhere If you are going to use WhatsApp as a communications tool, make sure that people know which number to use to reach you. Add your WhatsApp

Business details to your business cards and signage. You can add a link button on your website and social accounts to make it easier for people to reach you.

4. Take advantage of different messaging and file formats With WhatsApp Business, you can share text messages, PDFs, videos, locations, photos, voice recordings and more in response to a customer query. If you’re providing tech support to a notebook computer user, you can send them a how-to video or screenshots to help solve their problem. Someone looking for directions to your office? Share your location. Need to share a company brochure? Package it as a PDF you can send to a client when enquiring about your services or products. You can even just add a cute GIF or meme to add a little lightness to your chats with a customer.

5. The WhatsApp status is a handy marketing tool You can use the WhatsApp Status feature to post updates that vanish after 24 hours. This is a great way to alert customers to time-limited specials, give them a behind-the-scenes glimpse of your business, or invite them to check out a new blog post. You also can share links, photos, videos or text in your status.

facilities management review

New JV offers fresh approach to property services outsourcing Leading South African property developer and investor Atterbury has launched a new property services joint venture with Excellerate Property Services (EPS) designed to add significant value to its properties under management.

Pictured from left to right: Lucille Louw – MD of Atterbury Asset Managers, Nomzamo Radebe – CEO of JHI Properties, Marius Basson – Managing Director of ATTX, Louis van der Watt – Group CEO of Atterbury and Marna van der Walt – CEO of Excellerate Property Services.

TTX, as the new property management partnership is named, is a game-changing endeavour. It applies a novel, vertically integrated joint-venture approach to property services, which removes the defining line between asset manager, property manager and landlord. ATTX is designed to deliver efficient, operationally effective and strategically aligned property services. The ATTX team operates alongside Atterbury Asset Managers at Atterbury’s head office and benefits from Atterbury’s proven property strategies, but its operational activities

are the responsibility of JV partner Excellerate. The property-services specialists work in a focused environment with the dedicated systems and processes needed to optimise their specialised service delivery, yet they remain closely connected with the property owner and asset manager, in an environment that reinforces performance delivery. Lucille Louw, MD of Atterbury Asset Managers, says, “ATTX is a best-inclass property-services business that benefits both partners. It is the start of an exciting new chapter in Atterbury’s

25-year history. We have mapped out a long-term plan to improve our overall property-services delivery infrastructure with Excellerate as our partner.” Marna van der Walt, CEO of Excellerate Property Services, notes that ATTX is the ideal model for effective and efficient delivery of property services. “Creating joint ventures eliminates having to choose between outsourced or in-house-only models. This in-housed-outsourcing business structure allows integrated service delivery while ensuring operational accountability.”

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

editorial Oertzen

Innovative high-pressure clean technology now available in SA Earlier this year Hako Gmbh, with headquarters in Bad Oldesloe, Germany, acquired a 100 percent shareholding in the Ammersbek-based company von Oertzen Gmbh from Lampe Privatinvest. von Oertzen is known as a leading solutions provider of customised high-pressure cleaning systems for customers in the B2B segment. The wide product portfolio, which can be tailored to meet individual customer requirements, comprises high-pressure cleaners and high-pressure extinguishing technology as well as customised solutions for cleaning assembly lines, machines and receptacles used in hazardous areas such as potentially explosive environments. For over sixty years, von Oertzen products have been renowned for their superior performance and outstanding durability. Hako Gmbh is the leading company of the cleaning machines division within the Possehl Group. Employing over 2 000 staff worldwide, Hako is one of the leading corporate groups globally in the area of cleaning and municipal technology and constitutes an important pillar of the Possehl Group’s corporate portfolio. Over recent years the Hako Group has continued to grow organically in a continuous and sustainable manner through launching numerous innovative

products and investing in modernisation projects. “I am particularly pleased about adding the strategically significant acquisition of von Oertzen Gmbh to our list of successful internal achievements. The company’s product portfolio with a focus on professional highpressure cleaners ideally supplements Hako’s range of high-quality cleaning-technology products such as sweepers and scrubber-dryers as well as our municipal technology products such as outdoor cleaning machines and multi-functional vehicles,” says Mario Schreiber, member of Possehl’s Executive Board and CEO at Hako. In future von Oertzen is set to develop independently as a specialist supplier and niche marketer within the Hako Group while concurrently profiting from the Group’s international business orientation. This high profile acquisition will benefit the Southern African market as EIE Cleaning Equipment, a division of EIE Group (Pty) Limited – the local Hako distributors, will now also distribute Oertzen highpressure cleaning equipment through the group’s extensive distributor network. For more information about Hako or Oertzen cleaning equipment visit: www.eiegroup.co.za or email: antonys@eiegroup.co.za

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

facilities management review

Challenging times builds case for monitoring waterusage patterns in facilities While much of the country’s focus has been centred on the Eskom crisis and the rising costs of electricity, scant attention has been paid to another lurking crisis: water shortages. With ageing water-supply infrastructure, coupled with municipal mismanagement, water supply is fast becoming a threat to business continuity.

“F

or commercial property owners and managers, one of the greatest threats to business continuity is the increasing instability of supply,” says Lisa Shaw, Senior Manager, CBRE Excellerate Utility Management. “As more municipalities struggle to meet demand, we are already seeing a negative impact on shopping centres in particular.” According to Shaw, municipalities will have to begin to invest in new and alternative solutions to meet demand. “Water has been a relatively lowcost item, and the current costs that municipalities charge are not necessarily reflective,” she explains. “Looking ahead, it is likely that the costs of water and sanitation (which are closely linked) will increase significantly – and businesses and consumers will have to absorb that cost.” For commercial property owners and landlords, there is a tendency to react to rising water bills by jumping to expensive solutions. Yet according to Mary-Ann Sakaravidi, Operations Manager, CBRE Excellerate Utility Management, the first step should be to pay close attention to current water usage – and identify any leaks and wastage. “The challenge is that because water has historically been a low-cost item, nobody pays attention to usage

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

patterns,” she says. “In a shopping centre or high-density environment, managers are not able to conduct an accurate water balance. This exercise helps you to identify where you have unaccounted-for water usage, and the resultant cost impact. If you don’t know where it’s going, you cannot allocate it to operational costs, or tenant costs, for example.” This is when the business case for water meter automation comes into its own. In order to be able to conduct an accurate water balance, landlords need to have automated water meters in place. While smart electricity meters are relatively commonplace, water meter automation is often not considered a priority. “However, more often than not, water meter automation projects uncover surprises for landlords and tenants,” adds Shaw. Water meter automation makes it possible for the management team to see water usage in hourly time intervals, which means that water supply and demand can be accurately balanced in a snapshot of time. It also enables the analysis of night flows and quickly uncovers costly leaks and wastage that might often have gone unnoticed for months or even years. “Good data takes the guesswork out of conducting feasibility studies and developing, implementing and tracking water-saving projects. Once you

understand where water is being used and how much is being used, you can start looking at projects like technology solutions, operational changes and alternative water sources,” says Shaw. Technology also plays an important role in proactive facility management, user education and behaviour change. Notably, water differs fundamentally from electricity management in that water gets lost. Automated alerts and regular reports help FM teams to react quickly to new issues like failing solenoid valves, tank overflows, or underground leaks. Sakaravidi also draws attention to the importance of educating the people who work and operate in buildings and malls. This will include the tenants, cleaning staff, security teams. “There is essentially a community that is operating within a mall or centre, and it is vital to get this community to take responsibility for water usage,” she says. “Saving water cannot be viewed in isolation, as a separate function.” Indeed, it is the integration of the various teams and functions within a centre that ultimately leads to behaviour change – and to material improvements in the use of critical resources. “The ‘soft stuff’ is essentially the hard stuff,” adds Sakaravidi. “It’s about getting teams and staff to join you on the waterconservation journey.”

editorial CSG Skills Institute

RECENT ADJUSTMENTS AFFECTING COMPANY B-BBEE SCORECARDS The recent amendments to the 2013 B-BBEE Codes of Good Practice gazetted on 31 May 2019 have brought about numerous changes to the Skills Development and Enterprise & Supplier Development scorecards for entities with an annual turnover exceeding R50 million (hereafter ‘Generic’). Not all companies are aware of how this will affect their current B-BBEE scorecard. CSG Skills have considered this information and highlighted the main changes, as this could affect many organisations in the professional cleaning sector. Gazetted changes are to be implemented within 6 months of the date of publication in the Gazette. It is, therefore, important to note that this will impact certain companies within their next verification cycle.

Changes to the skills development element • The target for expenditure on training for black people was previously 6.0 percent of the annual payroll for 8 points. This has been amended to 3.5 percent of payroll for 6 points. • This reduction was made to accommodate the inclusion of a 2.5 percent of payroll target for expenditure on bursaries for black students at higher education institutions. There are 4 points allocated to this. Entities may also claim stipends for these students as

part of their spend where this was previously not permissible. • A further amendment was made to the portion of the scorecard dealing with “learnerships, apprenticeships and internships” and “training for black unemployed people”.These are now combined and require entities to have 5.0 percent of their head count on learnerships, apprenticeships and internships for a total of 6 points. • Informal training (such as workshops, seminars, conferences, short courses and internal training) may not exceed more than 25.0 percent of training. This has been increased from the previous 15.0 percent. • Absorption has been revised and no longer includes further education but rather requires long-term employment (which means the individual may continue working until the mandatory date of retirement).

Changes to the enterprise and supplier development element • The preferential procurement scorecard has increased from 25 points plus 2 bonus points to 27 points plus 2 bonus points. The additional 2 points are to accommodate the change in the target spend with 51.0 percent black-owned suppliers increased from 40.0 percent to 50.0 percent of total annual spend on purchases.

• Purchases from Generic entities may be recognised as that of an exempt micro enterprise (turnover less than R10 million) or qualifying small enterprise (turnover between R10 million and R50 million), provided that the first purchase from such an entity was under a scorecard meeting either criterion. This is permissible for a period of up to 5 years. • The amendment has also allowed for 51.0 percent black-owned Generics to be recognised as enterprise-development or supplierdevelopment beneficiaries. In order to qualify, such entities should already have been a beneficiary prior to becoming a Generic. Such an entity may also only be recognised as a beneficiary for a maximum of 5 years from the date when they first received assistance. It is critical for entities to evaluate their current B-BBEE targets to ensure that they have aligned such targets to the new amendments and to avoid a drop in B-BBEE score. The CSG Skills expert team of B-BBEE consultants can assist any organisation that may require more information on the new amendments and how the changes would impact their organisation. For more information visit: www.csgskills.co.za

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

feature sustainable cleaning

Simple steps towards more sustainable floor care It’s no wonder that floor care consumes a large portion of most cleaning budgets (it has been estimated that approximately 67 percent is related to floor care) and is generally more labour intensive than any other cleaning task.

ut when it comes to environmental impact, floor care is one of the biggest culprits in any cleaning programme. The industry is bringing even safer, green floorcare options to the forefront, and more and more facilities are adopting sustainable floor-care practices. These practices significantly decrease your programme’s environmental impact, and also can save money and time when implemented correctly, according to Jim Flieler, vice president of Canadian sales and marketing for Charlotte Products Ltd., a producer of innovative cleaning solutions that help make work and living environments healthier and eco-friendlier.

Strip less by cleaning more Of all the processes that go into a floor-care programme, stripping and refinishing can have the biggest impact on human health and the environment. That’s because floor strippers can be much harsher for the environment and human health, plus the process is very labour and time intensive. Keep in mind that these harsh products are flushed down the drains into the watertreatment facilities or waterways. One of the easiest ways to make your floorcare programme more environmentally preferable is to make your floor finishes more durable, reducing the need to strip and recoat your floors frequently. While many newer, trending floor types like concrete, terrazzo and luxury vinyl tile don’t need to be stripped or finished, more traditional flooring like wood floors and VCT (vinyl composite) will continue to need this step. However, there are ways to prolong the time in between the stripping and finishing process. Some educational

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

institutions are now able to prolong the time in between stripping and finishing for more than five years, protecting the health of the students and staff in their buildings without compromising the integrity of their floors. Implementing that schedule can be simpler than you realise. By simply following five critical elements of floor care and paying close attention to pre-routine, routine, and interim procedures, you can drastically cut down on the required frequency of stripping and refinishing your floors. Pro-tip: Preventive matting and frequent dust mopping may be two cost effective ways to prolong the need to strip. Frequent dust mopping is an easy way to extend the life of your current floor-care programme and reduce the risk of slip-and-falls, airborne debris, and allergic reactions within your building.

Five critical elements of floor care There are five critical elements of floor care that need to be incorporated into any programme to protect occupant safety and preserve flooring substrates. However, the goal of a more environmentally preferable floor-care programme will be to strictly adhere to the first three elements regularly to prolong the need for completing the fourth and fifth elements. Pre-routine: Imagine the advantage of preventing up to 85 percent of all dirt from entering your facility. That’s what pre-routine floor care will do for your entire floor-care programme, cutting your job virtually in half. Soils originate and are tracked long before a facility is entered. Parking lots, garages, and pavements are all areas where debris and other contaminants are picked up

on footwear and ultimately tracked into a facility. Using the right equipment to manage these soils, and a highly effective entrance-matting programme, will protect your flooring and prolong its life. What are the two most effective ways to do this? Regularly sweep sidewalks and parking lots that are in close proximity and implement an appropriate entrance-matting programme. You can manually sweep or use a walk-behind, power, or ride-on sweeper for your sidewalks and parking lots, but the most important part will be doing it regularly. Routine maintenance: Routine maintenance is actually the easiest and least costly element of your floorcare programme. It is imperative in keeping your floors safe, consistently clean, and preserving the finish and floors themselves. Your routine floor care will include dust mopping, damp mopping, and a good quality cleaner. Colour-coded microfibre dust-mop systems contain dust better than traditional dry mops and use less water and chemicals when used in a dampmop system. Because over 90 percent of the cost of floor care is labour, a simple change to microfibre will have significant cost savings because of the time-saving factor. Autoscrubbers can also significantly reduce cleaning time and improve efficiency. Remember that a very small percentage of your floor-care budget goes toward products. A high-quality, neutral floor cleaner for daily cleaning is recommended. Use disinfectant products only when needed, and winter floor cleaners only during the months when you are combating winter residue, to keep your staff’s chemical exposure to a minimum.

feature sustainable cleaning

When it comes to environmental impact, floor care is one of the biggest culprits in any cleaning programme. The industry is bringing even safer, green floor-care options to the forefront, and more and more facilities are adopting sustainable floor-care practices. Interim maintenance: Soils permitted to penetrate through floor finish can cause your floors to look scratched and worn, reduce traction, and lead to slip-and-falls. Interim maintenance, which includes spray buffing and traction enhancement, will restore shine while preventing slip-and-falls. Spray buffing, burnishing, autoscrubbing, and frequent damp mopping are all elements of interim maintenance that, when performed regularly, will help preserve your finish and prolong the time in between deep stripping/finishing. If you are following the first three critical elements of your floor-care programme regularly, you will need to complete steps four and five less often, thus protecting the environment and human health while saving time and money in the long run. Partial restorative: When your floors stop responding to interim maintenance, you will want to consider partial restorative, also referred to as scruband-recoat, to get your floors into shape. Partial-restorative floor care is the process of removing one to two coats of damaged finish and embedded dirt to prepare the floor for a fresh top coating. This is done in half the time, with half the chemicals, of the deep-stripping process. This step prolongs the time your facility can go between the need to deep-strip floors. You will find excellent results in half the

time of deep stripping, and by saving time and reducing the intensive floor-stripping process, you can even improve your team’s morale. Complete restorative: Eventually, you will need to deep strip your floors. Some facilities can prolong the need to strip floors for years when adhering to the first four elements of floor care listed here. When the time comes, consider using a sealer in conjunction with a finish to preserve the finish even longer the next time around. In fact, tests have shown that a floor coated with two coats of finish and two coats of sealer will stand up to more wear and tear than a floor coated with just four coats of finish. By regularly adhering to the first three of these five critical steps and paying special attention to the details, your floor care programme will shine.

Equipment to include in a sustainable hard-floor care programme Here are some expert tips to help match floor equipment to do the work described in this article. Many facilities have expensive pieces of floor equipment sitting in their custodial closets. If that’s you, use them! • Sweepers: A broom with an attached dustpan and microfibre dust mops are traditional pieces of equipment that will get your routine floor care

accomplished. But when you’re working in a larger facility and time is of the essence, consider investing in a sweeper. Floor sweepers pick up dry debris just like a broom with an attached dustpan would, but they move much more quickly and can work on a variety of surfaces. • Floor scrubbers: Floor scrubbers use water and a cleaning solution to remove dirt from floor surfaces. They leave floors dry because they pick up the water, rather than spreading it around. • Scrubber-sweepers: Can’t decide if you need a scrubber or a sweeper? Scrubber-sweepers combine a scrubber and sweeper into one machine, with sweepers in the front and scrubbers in the back. • Floor machines: Floor machines, sometimes referred to as swing machines, are like multi-tools for floor care. They are used for scrubbing and polishing floors. But they can also perform burnishing, stripping, and sanding with interchangeable pads. • Burnishers: Burnishers polish floors using a spinning mechanism combined with weight and a forward and backward motion to achieve a glossy, high sheen. • Air blowers: For an extra safety precaution, an air blower can quickly dry a floor to ensure that building occupants will be able to safely walk on the surface soon after it has been treated. Jim Flieler is vice president of Canadian sales and marketing for Charlotte Products Ltd., a producer of innovative cleaning solutions that help make work and living environments healthier and eco-friendlier, while supporting business sustainability.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

feature sustainable cleaning

Green cleaning unpacked According to the Green Building Alliance, green cleaning is best described as the use of cleaning products, supplies, and equipment that damage neither human health nor the environment. A few criteria that differentiate green cleaning products from more traditional products are renewable or sustainably harvested raw materials, non-toxic ingredients, responsible manufacturing, biodegradable packaging, and capacity for safe disposal or reuse.

Labels that claim a product is ‘natural’, ‘environmentally friendly’, or ’non-toxic’ are virtually meaningless, as those terms have not been defined with set standards and therefore are an easy way of greenwashing customers. Why clean green? The biggest concern with many typical cleaning products is their adverse effect on indoor air quality. People spend around 90 percent of their time inside facilities, which is where most exposure to pollutants occurs. Indoor air is often 2 to 5 times as polluted as outdoor air, and in certain cases can be many times worse. Compounds that are harmful to human health may in fact produce that ’fresh’ smell associated with a recently cleaned building. Without proper ventilation, toxins can collect inside and cause respiratory or other health symptoms. Even common cleaning products sometimes contain carcinogens, allergens, hormone disruptors, and various other harsh or toxic chemicals. Repeated exposure to these compounds has been linked to symptoms ranging from headaches,

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

depression, allergies, and rashes to decreased fertility or cancer. According to the American Association of Poison Control Centers, cleaning products are one of the top five substance classes involved in reported toxic exposures. Aside from health effects, it is also important to consider the impact of products on the environment, in their extraction and manufacture as well as where they end up. Cleaning products that go down the drain can be especially harmful, and some are known to bio-accumulate in wildlife. As another example, detergents are conventionally made from petroleum, a high-impact, non-renewable resource. Billions of tons of paper towels and toilet paper are used each year, often bleached and from virgin pulp, and even warm-air hand dryers have a surprisingly large carbon footprint. Green cleaning at its best is an

integrative process that includes cleaning supplies, equipment, and fixtures, as well as the cleaning products themselves. There is currently no third-party organisation dedicated to testing and regulating cleaning products. Labels that claim a product is ‘natural’, ‘environmentally friendly’, or ’non-toxic’ are virtually meaningless, as those terms have not been defined with set standards and therefore are an easy way of greenwashing customers. Likewise, ‘unscented’ can easily mean there are fragrant compounds in a product to mask unpleasant chemical smells. There is no requirement for companies to list the ingredients in their cleaning products, which results in words like ‘fragrance’ or ‘carrier’ appearing on labels. Look for brands that do disclose ingredients to make it easier to avoid toxins. Cleaning needs vary widely based on building size and use. For commercial buildings, it’s worthwhile to consider sustainably sourced paper products, biodegradable trashcan liners, highspeed hand dryers, and efficient equipment in addition to non-hazardous cleaning products. Some cleaning service providers specialise in green cleaning while others may be willing to adopt new practices. Knowledgeable cleaning staff are especially important in healthcare facilities, schools, or other buildings where cross-contamination or improper disinfecting of touch points could pose serious problems. Green cleaning is an important component of indoor environmental quality and, therefore, a clear green cleaning policy should be a prerequisite for facility maintenance.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

feature sustainable cleaning

The move to eco-friendly cleaning The rendering of professional cleaning services is extremely competitive with fierce rivalry based on price within an industry that is constantly under ever increasing pressure to reduce facility service costs. This article offers a service provider’s perspective on the move towards sustainable cleaning solutions. The professional cleaning industry in South African comprises approximately 1 350 contract cleaning companies. Only approximately 700 of these are members of the National Contract Cleaners Association (NCCA). In fact, there are only a few large players. Many of the medium-sized companies employ around 1 000–3 000 cleaners and the bulk, at least 60 percent, is composed of small- and micro-enterprises employing fewer than 100 cleaners.

Wahl Bartmann

ahl Bartmann, CEO of Fidelity Services Group, says, “Fidelity Cleaning Services, which forms part of the larger Fidelity Services Group, is a relative newcomer into this highly competitive industry and still needs to make its mark. It is clear within the current environment, however, that it is becoming more challenging each year to maintain service levels and pricing due to the low barriers of entry within the cleaning industry. We do, however, believe that if we can offer real value to customers through dedicated client services, a huge national footprint with over 120 branches across South Africa, implementation of eco-friendly cleaning chemicals and methods and proper staff motivation, we will be able to keep ahead of global trends and embrace the big drive towards eco-friendly or green cleaning.”

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

These days, the industry has all but jumped on the bandwagon of sustainable, green, eco-friendly cleaning, which has mainly been fuelled by a more informed and more discerning customer base. Bartmann says that this, together with legislation in many parts of the world, has compelled the cleaning industry to adapt to and adopt this change in trend. “Although the most obvious move to a sustainable cleaning process is simply to remove non-eco-friendly cleaning products from your repertoire, this is not always that simple,” says Bartmann. He says there are still questions around whether these eco-friendly alternatives offer the same strength or efficacy of cleaning and some are also more expensive, which creates challenges in a highly cost-conscious environment. A key supplier of chemical products to Fidelity Cleaning Services says that while the majority of cleaning companies use local chemical manufacturers, there is no official local standard to test green chemicals against. This does, unfortunately, lead to some companies green-washing. It’s important to look at the eco-friendly sustainability from an integrated approach taking into consideration the source of the ingredients and route to market including their carbon footprint. In South Africa, many cleaning service suppliers have started sourcing international eco-friendly solutions and are looking for innovations in organic or enzymatic cleaning products and alternative methods of saving water by using dry cleaning and residual cleaning products, for example.

This trend makes sense. In many cases dry cleaning and residual products are not only environmentally smarter methods but more efficient than water-based cleaning. Bartmann agrees. “Apart from the actual products used, companies need to look at processes and procedures as well as the tools used for cleaning. This could make the largest impact. Sustainability starts with efficiency. The faster you can clean more effectively, using less water and cleaning agents greatly reduces the environmental impact your cleaning may have. The impact of high traffic and employee misuse increases dirt, grime and germs through continuous compacting and wear and tear on floors and surfaces. This provides unique challenges for those servicing the commercial and office environments.” Bartmann says that ultimately sustainable cleaning is not only about the products, tools and methods used, but rather a way of business and set of behaviours encompassed by the company and staff. “Staff, if trained well, will know what product should be used where, not compromising the efficacy of the product, for example. They will also understand the holistic cleaning approach. This, in turn, leads to the sustainability of the building’s overall health, increased morale, productivity and business longevity,” he concludes. Fidelity Cleaning Services offers comprehensive, scalable, and experienced cleaning-solutions offerings in South Africa.

editorial Tork

Creating a sustainable life away from home At Tork, we are committed to creating a more sustainable life away from home. We help you deliver sustainable solutions in your business operations, answering customer and consumer needs and demands. This includes everything from improved health through better hygiene, to more resource-efficient solutions to reduce waste or create a better work environment for your cleaners, chefs or healthcare professionals.

How we enable a more sustainable life away from home Today, people spend more and more of their time in environments away from home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in workplaces, hotels, schools, restaurants and airports. This means that the demand for solutions to make life away from home more sustainable increases.

Our mission is to develop solutions to make life away from home more sustainable. Our sustainability commitment is based on three areas of influence, where we think our products and solutions will make the largest impact: wellbeing, more from less, and circularity.

Wellbeing Hygiene, health and wellbeing are closely connected. In developing countries, access to clean water and improved hygiene practices are fundamental in preventing the spread of disease. But also, in parts of the world where this is less of a threat, hygiene is essential for health and wellbeing. In hotels, restaurants and cafĂŠs, for example, hygiene plays a key role for reputation, not only preventing the spread of illness from the kitchen to customers, but also in keeping all areas fresh and presentable at all times. In hospitals, up to 70 percent of healthcare-associated infections can be prevented with improved hygiene practices, and improved hygiene standards in pre-schools and schools can reduce absence rates by up to 54 percent. continues on page 26 >>

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

editorial Tork Reducing environmental impact in the form of waste and carbon emissions is a key concern for all businesses today. Through hygiene-education programmes, research and partnerships, we are dedicated to raising hygiene standards for everyone away from home. Our focus on wellbeing also means developing solutions to make facility management less stressful and physically demanding, for example, by introducing ergonomic packaging or with data-driven cleaning systems. And in industrial settings, our cleaning cloths reduce the need for solvents by up to 41 percent.

More for less Reducing environmental impact in the form of waste and carbon emissions is a key concern for all businesses today – regardless of sector, size or location. We provide solutions that reduce waste and carbon emissions, without compromising on quality. Making more from less means re-thinking how we design and produce things throughout

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

the value chain. Through life cycle assessments, we systematically assess environmental impacts associated with all stages of a product’s life, and find ways to do more with less. We also develop solutions that reduce consumption, such as one-at-a-time napkin dispensers.

Circularity The next big leap to ensure a sustainable future will involve re-thinking business and consumption. Societies are slowly transforming from linear to circular, and this takes new business models that address a responsible use of resources through a mindset of ‘design, reduce, reuse, and recycle’. When it comes to professional hygiene, recycling is more of a challenge due to safety concerns, but there are a number of partnerships between businesses and wastemanagement companies that explore the possibilities of recycling everything

that is produced. At Tork, we have taken this development to action and created circular solutions for our customers, with Tork PaperCircle® (in the EU) and Closed Loop Recycling (in the US). Essity recently published its second integrated Annual and Sustainability report, reflecting how deeply embedded sustainability is within our business. Building on this, we have now released the second version of ‘Sustainability in brief’, which gives a comprehensive overview of sustainability at Essity. Link to our sustainability report: https://www. essity.com/sustainability/reporting-and-data/ sustainability-in-brief. For more information contact: kirsty.collard@essity.com About Tork® The Tork brand offers professional hygiene products and services to customers ranging from restaurants and healthcare facilities to offices, schools and industries. Products include dispensers, paper towels, toilet tissue, soap, napkins, and industrial and kitchen wipes.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

laundry review

Could your hotel benefit from an on-premise laundry? TOP 5 FACTORS IN HOTEL LAUNDRY PROVISION • 95% Hygiene • 94% Laundry quality • 93% Cleaning results • 91% Reducing errors and damage • 90% Keeping control of the process

hat matters most to your guests about their stay at your hospitality facility? What’s going to make them return time and again and ensure that any review they make on TripAdvisor is a positive one? Here follows a step-bystep guide for hotel owners, managers and housekeepers. According to recent research conducted by Miele with hotel owners, managers and staff, it’s actually the bedroom that has the greatest impact on how your guests feel. Not only this, but cleanliness of the room, and the bedding itself, are guests’ two highest priorities. What this shows is just how critical the correct laundry processes are to your hotel’s reputation. Despite the laundering of bedding, towels and other guest linen being a behind-thescenes operation, effective laundry was more closely linked to guest happiness than any other hotel objective in the survey.

Is your laundry process squeaky clean? While good laundry processes are vitally important, it’s not always easy to get it just right. Many hotels are using a mix of on-premise laundry facilities and outsourced services, but when it comes to quality laundry such as bedding and towels, these are more commonly outsourced. However, only half of those surveyed were highly satisfied with laundry cleanliness and less than half were very happy about the speed of the process, its quality and its costs.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

Moving these laundry processes in-house could result in more control of the process, reduced cost, higher quality and faster turnover. All great benefits you can easily realise, if only you had the space for an on-premise laundry and the staff to manage it. When we consult to potential hotel customers and help them to calculate the benefits of going on-premise, they’re usually pleasantly surprised by how little space is actually needed and how the lifetime costs can actually be much lower than outsourcing. The purpose of this guide is to help you consider exactly what a new or bigger on-site laundry facility could do for your hotel’s reputation, as well as your bottom line.

Quality counts but are you achieving it? Guests put bed and bed linen quality above anything else on the wish list for a great stay. So it goes without saying that a high-quality laundry process is something all hotels should strive for. But while your laundry processes may currently be good, can you say they are great? Many of the hotels in our survey outsource bedding and guest towels, but quality standards were often considered to be an issue. And given that hotels told us that achieving consistent, high standards in the dayto-day running of the business is their number one priority, there can be no room for error when it comes to the all-important area of laundry.

Quality right, on-site An on-premise laundry allows you to be hands-on in maintaining the extremely

high standards your guests demand, for example: How do you get quality right on-site? Our research indicates where some of your current challenges may lie. Firstly, you need appliances that are up to the job. Reliability was hotels’ most important factor when choosing on-premise appliances, yet 39 percent of hotels are using domestic washing machines and 35 percent are using domestic tumble dryers. In addition, 45 percent also said damage to washed items was an onsite issue. Commercial appliances are built to last for considerably more cycles than domestic ones are, and high-quality commercial machines will also protect your fabrics. Secondly, you need to put strong support and maintenance standards in place. Of the hotels surveyed, 52 percent told us that their onsite laundry was impacted by their machines’ needing regular repairs. So it’s necessary to look at the aftercare service that your chosen manufacturer provides. And finally, you need to ensure that your employees follow the correct procedures and also know to make thorough quality checks as standard. For instance, 30 percent of hotels reported that white goods were sometimes not used correctly – staff uniforms being washed with guest bedding, for instance. An on-site laundry can lead to high quality and improved guest experience, but the right appliances, aftercare and practices are all critical.

laundry review

Professional wet cleaning

et’s look at some of the basics of professional wet cleaning. What is professional wet cleaning? Do dry cleaners use wet cleaning? Are there special wet-cleaning chemicals? This article by Kreussler offers an interesting perspective on wet-cleaning chemicals and the professional wet-cleaning process as a whole.

How is wet cleaning different to dry cleaning? 1. Wet cleaning chemicals are gentler than dry-cleaning chemicals. 2. In the wet-cleaning process, clothes are cleaned with water, Earth’s original solvent, and mild, yet effective, detergents. 3. Wet cleaning is a solvent-free, nontoxic process. 4. It’s the safest method to professionally clean your clothes. 5. Many garments that are labelled ‘dry clean only’ can be safely wet cleaned. 6. The wet-cleaning process is more gentle than any at-home laundry. 7. It does not generate hazardous waste, nor does the process create air pollution and it reduces the potential for water and soil contamination.

What is professional wet cleaning? Kreussler developed professional wet cleaning in partnership with Miele in the 1990s. As a textile chemistry company, partnering with Miele, an equipment company, was symbiotic and we were able to create an innovative, sustainable new way for dry cleaners to process

their customer’s clothes. Wet cleaning is a more sustainable and efficient process than dry cleaning, and it’s better for the planet. We are proud that LANADOL is the original wet-cleaning chemical system brought to market. Wet cleaning has been available in textile care for more than twenty-five years. It had been the issue of heated debates in the textile-care trade: some cleaners were dismissive of it as this system was regarded as being in competition with conventional solvent cleaning. This picture has changed considerably over the years. Wet cleaning has proven its worth on the global market and turned out to be a blessing for the textile-care industry.

What is a wet-cleaning process? Wet cleaning is a procedure for the professional cleaning of textiles in water without using organic solvents. Sensitive, even non-washable textiles are cleaned in water at low liquor level with washing mechanics using intervals of short-crush momentum and longer reaction times. Newly developed care products of the LANADOL series protect the fabrics against shrinkage, reduce the swelling tendency of natural fibres and increase the surface-slide characteristics by agglomeration of colloids. Draining is achieved by extreme centrifugal acceleration in specifically designed wetcleaning machines. The subsequent drying process is carried out with drum driers with optimised preservation of the

textiles whose intelligent control and measurement technology dries the textiles to defined residual-moisture values.

Are special chemicals used? Yes, wet cleaning uses water and biodegradable detergents, but it doesn’t use harmful solvents. Our clients use the LANADOL line of professional wetcleaning chemicals. Customers will love wet cleaning because it’s a sustainable, biodegradable process. Their garments will smell fresh and be cleaned gently but effectively. Wet-cleaning technology, with specifically designed LANADOL products, offers many advantages: • Perfect cleaning results • Brilliant colours • Scented freshness • Best textile and fibre conservation • Skin-sympathetic handle • Lower costs • Best protection against shrinking, felting and discolouring • Textile care without solvent • Improvement of the customer acceptance of commercial textile care • The most ecological alternative to dry cleaning

Do dry cleaners use wet cleaning? Yes! While there are some wet-clean-only shops, many dry cleaners have added wet cleaning to their arsenal of tools to better process and clean their customer’s clothing. For more information visit: www.kreusslerinc.com

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

people and events Humble beginnings no barrier to reaching for the sky

Takalane Khashane Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane kickstarted the 2019 Women’s Month programme of activities under the theme of 25 Years of Democracy: Growing South Africa Together for Women’s Emancipation. During the month of August government hosted events that shone the light on South Africa achieving gender equality. “Women’s Month gives South Africa the space to showcase work that continues yearround in emancipating women, and challenging inequalities with a united voice,” said the Minister. With this in mind, this issue focuses on Takalane Khashane, Managing Director of leading facility management firm Servest’s cleaning and catering divisions. This article explores her career journey in order to inspire young people to explore entry-level opportunities to start a career in an economy marred by high unemployment. Managing a team of over 10 000 colleagues takes the tenacity and ingenuity that Khashane has built over the years. Securing a job traditionally entails sending a CV to a prospective employer and being called to an interview. Khashane’s career journey started differently – frustrated with attending a number of interviews and being informed that she didn’t have enough experience for the job, she took it upon herself to write directly to the CEO of a company she was interested in working for and pleaded her case.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

Soweto-born Khashane, who grew up in Tsianda village in Venda, is the fifth child in a family of seven children. She moved to Johannesburg to enrol at the University of the Witwatersrand to study Biological Sciences. Like many students, Khashane also worked part time at a restaurant in Braamfontein to fund her studies and daily expenses. “I served as a waitress and performed food-delivery duties at this restaurant, and after lunch I had to rush back to the campus to attend class. In addition to keeping me physically fit, my job also taught me a lot about people and the importance of customer service. I still use the lessons I learnt then today, and I have internalised the importance of treating each customer as if they are your only customer. Customers buy a service or a solution from you, and they want value for their money – whether it is the sandwich they bought for lunch or integrated facilities solutions, they want value for money and every rand to stand for itself,” says Khashane. She recalls that after the restaurant closed, one of the co-partners referred her to one of the major banks where there was an opening for a call centre agent. “This marked an important turn in my life. I could work eight hours, dedicate another eight hours for my studies and I could sleep for the next eight hours. I was able to send some money home to help my family with their expenses. I learned a lot about money and people. I finished my honours degree, which was selffunded; I could then afford to move out of the student residence into a small flat,” says Khashane.

Growing market share Khashane’s career has spanned a number of diverse industries since then – serving in a senior capacity for major companies in the financial services and telecommunications sectors prior to joining Servest in March 2019. Sharing more about her strategic role within Servest, Khashane says that her team is at the helm of growing Servest’s cleaning-service

solutions within the business’s integrated solutions offering. Our strategy focuses on customer acquisitions, organic growth and where feasible, mergers or joint ventures. “We are looking at growing our market share in South Africa, and we have various strategies aimed at business development and retention of existing customers. It is difficult to grow in an economy that is sluggish, but we believe that when the economy takes an upturn, it will have positive spin-offs for the entire facilities management industry.”

Impact of automation on cleaning services Khashane points out that the use of digitisation solutions such as automation and artificial intelligence does not bode well for employment generation, particularly in a country like South Africa where millions of people are out of work. “I believe that although automation is already here, it will still take some time for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to permeate our industry at a full scale. For now, we still require a human touch, even with the most sophisticated equipment being introduced to the market,” she says. She stresses that in this sector, it is important to upskill the workforce in order to re-purpose them for the new roles brought about by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The key differentiator Khashane explains that there are few to no barriers to entry in the cleaning and catering industry. In a country characterised by high unemployment and a largely unskilled labour force, these industries tend to be the sectors to which many people default to make a living. “Our colleagues are our main differentiator; without them we would not be able to do what we do. Our role is to ensure the sustainability of the industry so that we can create jobs for the country’s unemployed youth and contribute towards some of the country’s socioeconomic challenges.”

people and events NCCA Women’s Day breakfast The National Contract Cleaners Association Western Cape celebrated their first annual Women’s Day breakfast in Cape Town. The commercial-contract-cleaning industry is built on the hard work and efforts of our women members and the NCCA wishes to honour this with the first women’s breakfast held in Cape Town. This is set to become an annual event. Our two special guest speakers, Nadia Mason (Business Coach) and Sherizaan Basadien (DQ Cleaning) are both from Cape Town and have become successful business owners and leaders. Their testimonies encouraged and uplifted our guests by showing that it is possible for anyone to rise up from so little.

Pictured from left to right are: Nadia Mason, Rene Arendse, Nealia Berger, Nicky Joshua, Michelle Williams and Sherizaan Basadien.

We had stunning live entertainment from a very talented jazz singer and an absolutely scrumptious breakfast. All in all, the morning was very well received and a great start to an annual function that can only go from strength to strength.

New BEECA offices add to creation of national footprint targeted industry representatives to be involved, and ultimately to build a national database of diverse and interested cleaning companies. BEECA’s strategy of launching offices across the country will not only increase its visibility, but also supports BEECA’s efforts to take the lead in poverty alleviation by supporting its members in creating employment opportunities in South Africa. For more information about BEECA visit: www.beeca.co.za

Founded in 2002, BEECA is a South African cleaning-industry association, which was established with the main purpose of being a voice for emerging as well as established black-owned cleaning companies. Seventy percent of the South African cleaning industry is composed of small and micro enterprises, therefore, BEECA realised a mandate to ensure that new entrants to the cleaning industry are compliant and suitably trained on technology, products, equipment and cleaning techniques. BEECA sets and promotes industry standards and practices, while educating and empowering its members on current and future developments within the cleaning industry. BEECA continues to grow in leaps and bounds, creating the opportunity

for nationwide expansion, thereby contributing to the establishment of a national footprint. With this in mind, new BEECA offices were launched in KwaZulu-Natal on 1 August and in Limpopo on 2 August 2019. These offices will not only allow BEECA to grow its membership base in both provinces, but it will also allow BEECA to service members better in these provinces. The goals of these launches included: raising awareness of the association, showcasing what BEECA is about and the services it offers to members, securing commitments from potential members, providing opportunities from stakeholders such as the Bargaining Council for the Contract Cleaning Industry (BCCCI), strengthening networks through inviting strategically

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

people and events NCCA Gauteng branch AGM In a sluggish economy, the Gauteng branch of the National Contract Cleaners Association (NCCA) reported a very good financial year. according to the audited financial statements presented by Treasurer Arthur Bath. In his Chairman’s Report, Patrick Makhubela commended the strong executive that played an active part in growing the branch membership. During a 2018 golf day the branch donated R50 000 to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. Makhubela in a special mention thanked supplier members including Goscor Cleaning Equipment, MilliCare and Numatic International for their generosity in supporting the annual golf day and hosting the NCCA branch meetings and workshops. Cleaning Africa Services and Afriboom hosted the compliance audit and emerging entrepreneur workshops during the past year. During the meeting Makhubela reiterated the important role of compliance auditors Richard GordonBrown, Kevin McIroy and Paul Roux. “These three people play a vital role

within the Association and their services go a long way in ensuring the credibility of our branch. Compliance is one of the best benefits we can offer our members and our membership certificate carries a lot of weight with most government entities and companies that put out tenders,” he said. The Gauteng branch increased its membership figures from 377 to 451 paid up members as at the end of March 2019. Regarding ISSA membership Makhubela said: “I am pleased to report that the National Executive have agreed to membership of the ISSA for all contract cleaning company members. You should be hearing from the ISSA in due course in this regard. We will endeavour to have a presentation on their website at the National AGM. Supplier members will be contacted directly by the ISSA to offer a reduced membership fee of this worldwide Association for the cleaning industry”. The Gauteng branch AGM was hosted by Numatic International at their premises in Midrand.

PBEH held 2nd AGM

The Professional Body for Environmental Hygiene (PBEH) held its second AGM on 28 August at the premises of NBC Holdings in Johannesburg. Chairman Thami Makeleni reported that over the past year the PBEH had focused on promoting the Body and its liaison with the Services SETA. The Professional Body submitted an application for Felicity Kent to represent the PBEH on the Cleaning Chamber Board and the Accounting Authority of the SSETA accepted her. “As the voice of the industry, specifically pertaining to skills development, it is vitally important that the Professional Body maintains a close relationship with the Services SETA,” commented Makeleni.

He further pointed out that it has been a challenging two years for the board. “We found ourselves faced with huge challenges such as funding to keep the organisation running. We are grateful and acknowledge the commitment made by the NCCA for the seed funding, which we promised to repay once funds becomes available. We also extend our gratitude to the BEECA Cleaning Association that signed in as a corporate member and maintained their membership during the last two years.” At the conclusion of the meeting PBEH members elected a new board to take the Body forward.

Visitors and PBEH members at the AGM.

The new PBEH board from left to right: Danielle Gibb, Thami Makeleni, Felicity Kent, Clive Damonze, Yakshini Padayachee and Arthur Bath.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

editorial i-team SA

4D REAL Clean approach to changing the face of cleaning in SA Currently represented in 72 countries, i-team Global is a renowned name in the global cleaning industry. The brand has taken the world by storm and has changed the cleaning perspective and outlook on a global scale. Henry Posthumus as its distributors. “In Goscor Cleaning Equipment and ITS, we have two major role players in the cleaning industry as our main distributor partners. The two companies will service the whole country, while i-team SA will focus on niche markets in South Africa,” says Posthumus. Looking ahead, Posthumus believes that “with 4D REAL Clean, i-team SA can contribute positively to the human factor by creating happy cleaners, contributing to the saving of the planet by using less water and leaving a ‘green’ footprint, and most importantly, by contributing to the profit of contract cleaners in South Africa”. Having realised an opportunity in South Africa to ‘Inquire, Innovate and Inspire’, i-team South Africa announced itself in the country at the ISSA Cleantex Africa exhibition, which took place at Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 4–6 June this year. i-team Global develops and designs high-end cleaning machines, products and utilities – ranging from scrubberdryers, vacuum cleaners and gum removers, to lighting solutions, microfibre pads and all-in-one cleaning islands. “We can assist in all market sectors with our unique 4D REAL (Reduce Expenses And Liabilities) Clean approach,” explains Henry Posthumus, Ambassador i-team South Africa. In terms of product offering, the company’s main focus in South Africa is its flagship scrubber-dryer, i-mop. This relatively compact machine solves problems of floor-cleaning systems by combining the flexibility of a floor mop with the power and speed of industrial scrubber-dryers. The i-mop family comprises three models – the i-mop Lite, the i-mop XL and the i-mop XXL.

A key talking point on this range is that it cleans up to 70 percent faster than conventional wet mopping and is easy to use in small areas that don’t need an auto-scrubber. The i-mop, and its ability to get right to the edge and under obstacles, means a virtual elimination of manual operations that are required to supplement conventional machine scrubbing. That South Africa is a cut-throat trading environment – with several suppliers vying for a share of the cleaningequipment sector – is no overstatement. Outlining i-team’s competitive edge, Posthumus says, “We believe in a philosophy of people, planet and profit, where we bring the fun back into cleaning and in the process save the client lots of money. We look at the total cost of ownership and in the end i-mop doesn’t cost, it pays!” To achieve its ambitious target to gain 30 percent of the South African scrubber-dryer market in the next three years with its i-mop, i-team South Africa has partnered with two leading players in the South African cleaning industry

For more information visit www.i-teamglobal.com or contact: henry@i-teamglobal.com

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

new products New cleaning products tackle complex cleaning of membranes in dairy and beverage industries

Chemical specialist Christeyns Food Hygiene, based in the UK, has introduced a new portfolio of cleaning products to tackle the complex cleaning of membranes in the dairy and beverage industries. Working with sister companies within the Christeyns group, Christeyns Food Hygiene has developed a range of specially blended products that are able to effectively clean plant equipment with the minimal use of chlorine.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

Chlorine has long been an essential component in manufacturing, industrial and wastewater treatment due to its ability to eliminate most pathogenic microorganisms. However, it can inhibit the performance of membranes used in the filtration process and leave chlorite and chlorate traces in the end product. Membrane filtration is widely used in the dairy industry and is a proven separation method. Complex soiling occurs during this stage of production that needs to be eliminated thoroughly in the cleaning process and any damage to the membranes due to cleaning could result in production downtime and potential costly replacement. “The new cleaning system comprises alkali, acid and enzyme technology specifically developed to remove complex soil types in dairy, beverage and brewing industries with limited use of chlorine,” states Gareth

McCabe, the company’s dairy sector specialist. “The system caters more accurately to the modern production plant with an improved surfactant structure and more complex enzyme chemistry. It is imperative to use the correct chemistry at the correct dosage for the correct circulation time to achieve a good clean that ensures product integrity. “This new chemistry is suitable for cleaning a range of membrane types including spiral-wound, thin-film composite, plate, frame and ceramicstyle filtration systems. Among other companies, Christeyns Food Hygiene works with Tetra Pak, Italy, and along with the effective cleaning, has also been able to reduce water and energy consumption in both cleaning and production. For more information visit: www.christeynsfoodhygiene.co.uk

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

new products Introducing the ‘Behind the Mirror’ washroom system Dudley Industries, as part of their global washroom offering, recently launched a new modular ‘Behind the Mirror’ hand-hygiene solution. Modulo is a new cabinet system that provides a flexible and easy-to-install solution for stylish washrooms. With space so often at a premium in washrooms, careful consideration must be given to every detail. Modulo is a convenient solution that provides a choice of hand-washing and drying options housed in a cabinet cleverly concealed behind a mirror. Unlike traditional cabinets the Modulo system provides a range of dispenser locations so that each one can be ideally positioned exactly where you need it. The simplicity of installation makes the mounting of a Modulo cabinet easy and choosing a combination of the manual and battery-operated dispensers removes the need to connect to mains power, making it suitable for all locations and washrooms.

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019

The cabinets are available in widths of 600 mm and 1 200 mm and customers can select their dispenser combination from: • Soap dispenser • Paper towel dispenser • The new AutoCut paper towel dispenser • Hand dryer Cabinet doors are available as a traditional mirror finish or an innovative tinted-glass option is available, which stylishly reveals the dispensers through the glass. Ease of servicing for the cleaning team has been considered throughout the design process. Gas-filled struts ensure that the cabinet is easy to open and the internal shelf helps to store spare consumables, making the refill process quick and easy. Constructed from stainless steel and powder coated in an attractive matt black finish, Modulo promises to be a convenient and stylish solution for all sizes of washrooms.

The Modulo system is designed and manufactured by UK-based Dudley Industries Ltd. The company boasts years of experience in the washroom accessories market, having been designing and marketing washroom dispensers since 1942. For more information visit: www.dudleyindustries.com

African Cleaning Review September/October 2019