Floorcare Focus 2014

EC J Floorcare focus A supplement to European Cleaning Journal

SEPTEMBER 2014

CONTENTS

ECJ Floorcare Focus - September 2014 |

ECJ FLOORCARE FOCUS 3 More than just a machine Foreword from Nilfisk-Advance Group president and ceo Jonas Persson.

6 Floor planning Floor cleaning in public areas must be fast and efficient.

11 A shine on performance A look at how floor pads help cleaning contractors to cut floorcare costs.

17 Keep it safe Floors represent all kinds of hazards, particularly for those who clean them.

20 Clean up every aisle Guidance on the importance of effective floor cleaning in retail applications.

25 How difficult can it be?

Floorcare is a difficult task, so who is training the cleaners?

28 Regular care essential A look at the cleaning and maintenance of carpets.

Sponsored by

31 Efficiency and ergonomics Mopping systems continue to play an important role in modern floor cleaning.

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Editor Michelle Marshall Features Writer Ann Laffeaty Advertisement Director Chris Godman Advertisement Sales Carole Dawson Circulation Marie Payne

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European Cleaning Journal is published six times a year by Criterion Publishing Ltd. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in European Cleaning, Criterion Publishing Ltd and its agents can accept no responsibility for the varacity of claims made by contributors, manufacturers or advertisers. Copyright for all material published in European Cleaning remains with Criterion Publishing Ltd and its agents.

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FOREWORD

More than just a machine Professional cleaning customers are demanding customers. And we are quite happy with that, because this drives the development and innovation of ever increasing high quality floorcare products that meet the exact demands and needs of the customers.

Looking back at floorcare cleaning in recent years, there is no doubt that the increased automation of the cleaning process is a key trend. This has led to an ever increasing demand for new ways of cleaning and more efficient cleaning equipment.

Another general trend is the demand for more compact products. We see smaller and smaller scrubbers in the walk-behind range as well as within ride-on scrubbers. Comparing scrubber dryers of today with how they looked 15-20 years ago is not only reflected in the higher performance but also in the actual footprint. Today, all leading manufacturers of floorcare equipment offer well performing compact 14-inch scrubber dryers for small retailers and offices – something which was unheard 20 years ago.

Total cost of ownership Also the customers’ approach to cleaning and focus on improving their business has altered.

In the past, customers mainly focused on the more basic parameters - such as price per unit, service coverage and response time, as well as the quality of the cleaning and the machine itself.

These factors obviously remain important, but the evaluation of a choice of supplier is becoming a more holistic evaluation based on economic KPIs linked to the total cost of ownership.

Suppliers need to be able to document expected lifetime of their products, running cost including preventive maintenance, cleaning cost per site and square metre, or a chosen time period, consumption of consumables such as pads and squeegees and other wear parts.

Customers want to be able to make very exact budgets for what the actual cost of cleaning a site will be.

And the cleaning industry – manufactures and suppliers – has responded to these new requirements.

More manufacturers are focusing increasingly on improving the customer business and not only on improving the machine. Across the industry, this has been a key focus area for years, also at Nilfisk-Advance. We recently launched the TrackClean concept that records and monitors operational data like working time, time of day, and geographic location relating to the customer’s fleet, and transmits it to a secure web portal. Based on this data, the customer can intelligently optimise the cleaning program and reduce cost. This is just one example of manufacturers’ focus on improving the customers’ business and meeting their daily challenges instead of only focusing on improving the machine – and there are plenty of similar examples across the industry.

Greener cleaning The strong focus on running cost also requires the manufacturers to provide solutions for minimising the use of chemicals and the ability to make a precise dosage for a given cleaning application. In addition, adjustment and calibration of the machines need to be easy and intuitive so that expensive breakdowns and mistakes are avoided.

Continued page 4

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 3

FOREWORD More than just a machine (continued)

When the industry reduces the consumption of resources, it will benefit both our customers and the environment. More and more the environmental aspects of cleaning needs to be considered, by using recyclable materials and being able to document a manufacturing process which lives up to current standards of an environmentally responsible behaviour for large corporations.

Strong partnerships Listening to customers’ needs and understanding their business is crucial for the future development of the industry. We have come far but this needs to be strengthened further as a key driver of developing floorcare.

As professional business partners, we must constantly innovate our business in order to strengthen our customers’ business. This is a promise we make to our customers as their trusted partner. We need to stay committed to helping our customers achieve their business objectives by keeping our focus on quality, innovative product development and a strong supply chain. In order to succeed we complete comprehensive analysis, and we continuously seek to engage in productive partnerships and in dialogue with our customers. Measuring customer satisfaction on an ongoing basis and frequently involving the customers in the development process is necessary to establish an innovation process which aims at increasing customer satisfaction over time – and in order to meet the customers’ requirements of tomorrow.

At Nilfisk-Advance, we are convinced that the increasing dialogue with customers will continue and will be further strengthened. We will continue to put ourselves and our suppliers through the strictest quality programmes in order to meet the customers’ needs in terms of cleaning solutions, products and services.

Future of floorcare So, where will the development take floorcare cleaning? There is no doubt that technological development has already taken us far and looking ahead, we believe that innovation will continue to make both end users and managers life easier when cleaning. Innovation will decrease the time spend on cleaning, minimise non-cleaning problems and improve the service of the machines. This will eventually improve customers’ business.

The level of cleaning performance has increased significantly in recent years – and will continue to do so.

Enjoy your reading of this floor care special issue!

Jonas Persson President and ceo, Nilfisk-Advance Group.

Nilfisk considère qu’une des grandes tendances du moment concerne l’automatisation accrue des processus de nettoyage et qu’il en a résulté une demande accrue en équipements efficaces et en nouvelles méthodes de nettoyage.

Laut Nilfisk ist die zunehmende Automatisierung des Reinigungsverfahrens ein wichtiger Trend, der zu gesteigerter Nachfrage nach effizienterer Ausrüstung und neuen Reinigungsmethoden geführt hat.

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 4

A detta della Nilfisk, l’aumento dell’automazione nei procedimenti di pulizia è una tendenza importantissima che ha portato a una maggior domanda per attrezzature più efficienti e nuovi metodi di pulizia.

PRODUCTIVITY

Floor planning Floor cleaning in public facilities needs to be fast and efficient to minimise the amount of time that parts of the building are out of action. Ann Laffeaty looks at the need for speed in any floor cleaning operation and finds out what companies are doing to improve the productivity of their systems.

When a floor is out of action due to cleaning or maintenance, productivity will suffer since it will prevent a free flow of people moving around the building. This can be inconvenient in offices and pubic buildings and costly in retail outlets. And in hospitals and emergency rooms, people’s lives could be at stake if the route to vital treatment areas is out of bounds while the floor is being cleaned.

So how do floorcare companies balance the need for speed with the requirement to keep floors clean and safe at all times?

3M’s business development manager for cleaning Tim Copner says this can be a dilemma for floorcare product manufacturers. “The floors in a hospital, for instance, need to be in operation again as quickly as possible after cleaning,” he said. “And in a retail environment where cleaning is likely to be ongoing it is all about footfall. This means that the business would suffer if the floor were to be out of action for long.”

He says a balance needs to be struck between speed and effectiveness. “If you clean a floor quickly but have to repeat the process every few days, productivity will suffer,” he said. “And since most of the cost of cleaning is labour-related, the need to speed up the process is crucial.”

According to Copner, some floorcare processes can be carried out while the floor is still in use. “You can simply cordon off an area when carrying out a regular daily clean. And if you are buffing the floor using a floor pad it is a dry operation, which means that people can simply step around the machine.”

3M’s Scotch-Brite High Shine Floor Pads have been designed to speed up floor polishing and improve productivity, claims Copner. “These have been developed to leave a high gloss on floor surfaces up to 20 per cent more quickly than our previous products,” he said.

According to Copner the process of applying a floor protector can be particularly time-consuming. “The area usually needs to be closed off for 24 hours

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 6

afterwards so that the product can cure,” he said. 3M offers two Scotchgard floor protectors that are said to allow the floor to be used again after two to four hours.

Besides the healthcare and retail sectors, the need for productivity is particularly important in industry and in the contract cleaning sector says Kärcher’s environmental matters public relations officer Linda Schrodter.

“Apart from the heavy labour costs in any contract cleaner’s operation, cleaning also requires a fair amount of energy and other resources,” she said. “The quicker and more efficient the cleaning process, the lower the consumption of electricity and cleaning agents. This will protect the environment, the user and the bank account.

Speed key “Cleaning, too, should not disturb normal operations and should be integrated into standard work processes and speed plays a key role here.”

She says floorcare systems manufacturers can help by developing machines that are easy to use and have no complicated start-up phase. “This allows the user to start cleaning quickly – which is particularly advantageous in an industry where staff change on a regular basis.”

Easy operating instructions and quickdrying cleaning agents can also speed up cleaning, says Schrodter.

She claims Kärcher machines offer a number of features aimed at improving productivity. “Our FACT system adjusts brush speed which allows the machine to cope with a wide range of cleaning problems with a higher degree of precision,” she said. “Our Auto Fill function, too, automatically fills the fresh water tank to 50 per cent. And our DOSE system enables detergent to be added during the cleaning process.”

Bio-Productions’ floorcare technician Chris Barsby says floor cleaning relies on good preparation and initial treatment. “If the area needs to be cleaned quickly and Continued page 8

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Ideal for all smooth surfaces such as PVC, linoleum, screed or stoneware. The floor is squeegeed with oil- and wear resistant lips and the water is vacuumed: no risk of slipping, no footprints. It is very quiet, as well as hygienic.

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PRODUCTIVITY efficiently then certain questions should be asked, such as: How much wear is this floor likely to be subjected to? How do we want the finished floor to look – should it have a high gloss or a satin finish? And how much time will the operators have on a daily/weekly basis to maintain the floor?

“It is no use treating all floor areas the same since the amount of traffic on each will vary enormously. This means the type and depth of the protective polish applied can also be varied. So it is worthwhile to discuss with manufacturers or suppliers which products are most suitable and which will result in the minimum degree of disruption and the best results.”

He says productivity is particularly important in areas that are subject to constant budget reviews such as schools, hospitals and council premises. “However, the actual savings made in terms of reduced chemical costs are a mere drop in the ocean when compared to salaries, equipment, etc,” he said. “It is usually the case that in order to save money today, flooring is allowed to degenerate to a point where either serious time and money needs to be spent on bringing it back to the required standard, or new flooring needs to be purchased.”

Impact productivity

needs to be both quick and thorough,” said Carl Robinson, marketing manager of contract cleaning specialist Nviro. “This is not just for the sake of appearances, but also to ensure that everyone using the facilities are safe.

“Debris, detritus and spillages can cause havoc in buildings where there is heavy footfall such as in schools, colleges, universities, hospitals and shopping centres, not to mention factories and industrial settings.

“People working in kitchens and food preparation areas are also at particular risk from slips and trips caused by dirty flooring. In all locations, regimes need to include routine maintenance and also have a responsive element so that incidents and accidents can be dealt with promptly.”

He says scrubber dryers that leave floors clean and dry in a single pass are the best option for locations where productivity is key. “Battery-operated machines are also increasing in popularity,” said Robinson. “Not only do these eliminate the risks of trips since there are no trailing cables, the process of cleaning in different parts of the building is also speeded up since operatives do not have to unplug the machine and coil up leads, and then plug it in again.

Bio-Productions’ Hyflex is a tough floor emulsion polish said to last for up to two years before a re-coat may be required.

Specialist tiled floors can require extra care and this can impact productivity, says Host UK managing director of Mike Egerton. The company’s Host Sponges are said to clean grouted floors more rapidly than traditional tile cleaning systems.

“Luxury vinyl tiles and grouted tile floors can be difficult to clean,” he said. “People tend to use quite strong chemistry on them and it is often a case of the cleaner getting down on their hands and knees.”

Host Sponges are made from an organic material and Egerton claims this acts like a household sponge to absorb the dirt on the floor. “It speeds up cleaning on grouted floors and can also be used on safety flooring,” said Egerton. “Productivity is the most important issue in cleaning because it is the key to reducing costs.”

Contract cleaners also fully understand the need to speed up cleaning processes to maximise productivity. “Floor cleaning

“Although this doesn’t sound as though it would have much of an effect on productivity, you would be amazed at the time savings that can be made from battery-powered floor cleaning machines.”

Le nettoyage des planchers dans les établissements publics doit se faire rapidement et efficacement pour minimiser les temps de mise hors service des locaux.

Ann Laffeaty examine les imperatifs de la rapidité dans toute activité de nettoyage de plancher et note les mesures prises par les entreprises pour améliorer la productivité de leurs systèmes.

Die Bodenreinigung in öffentliche Einrichtungen muss schnell und gründlich ausgeführt werden, um die Dauer, für die Teile des Gebäudes unzugänglich sind, auf ein Minimum zu beschränken. Ann Laffeaty befasst sich näher mit dem Geschwindigkeitsbedarf bei Bodenreinigungsarbeiten und findet heraus, wie Unternehmen die Produktivität ihrer Systeme verbessern.

Ease of use

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 8

Carpeted floors also need to be cleaned swiftly to maximise productivity within a building. Nviro uses a dry foam method said to be quicker than traditional extraction methods. “Our rotary machines are fitted with a water tank to apply the solution and scrub the carpet in one,” said Robinson. “The solution crystallises around the dirt which is vacuumed up when dry – usually after just one or two hours from application. This means that a thorough clean can be undertaken overnight, out of conventional hours - and with workers returning the next day to carpets that are both clean and dry.”

According to Robinson, ease of use for the operative will speed up the cleaning process and improve productivity. “A well-designed machine not only makes the task quicker and easier, it will also be more comfortable to use while reducing operator stress and strains – which will in turn prevent absenteeism.”

So speed and efficiency is important in floorcare – but it is not the be-all and endall says Bio-Productions’ Chris Barsby.

“Floor cleaning - and subsequent polishing to protect the floor - should not be rushed,” he said. “It can be a false economy to short-cut the cleaning and protective process.”

And Kärcher’s Linda Schrodter believes the floorcare process will eventually be speeded up anyway due to technological advances. “I predict there will be new battery systems in future which facilitate even longer run times, plus a higher degree of automation in cleaning processes,” she said.

Il lavaggio dei pavimenti nelle strutture pubbliche deve essere veloce ed efficiente per minimizzare il periodo di tempo in cui quella parte dell’ edificio non può essere utilizzata. Ann Laffeaty prende in esame la necessità di velocizzare le operazioni di lavaggio dei pavimenti e scopre quello che le imprese mettono in atto per migliorare la produttività dei loro sistemi.

FLOOR PADS

A shine on performance 3M talks about how effective floor pads are helping cleaning contractors to cut floor care costs without compromising on performance. Not only that, they are creating new revenue streams by enabling contractors to offer specialist tasks.

In an increasingly competitive market, cleaning contractors are under constant pressure to reduce their floor care costs without compromising the quality of their service. Retailers, airports, shopping malls and hotels all view clean, glossy floors as critical to their brand perception and customer experience, while hospitals and professional kitchens place the highest demands on standards of floor hygiene and cleanliness.

Given that over 90 per cent of floor cleaning costs are tied up in labour, the best way for contractors to maintain their margins is to increase their productivity – by finding less labour-intensive solutions or removing processes altogether. At the same time, issues of safety and sustainability continue to rise up the agenda.

This need to clean harder, faster, brighter and safer is driving innovation at 3M, the company that developed the original non-woven floor pad as long ago as 1958. Today, 3M remains at the forefront of the industry by focusing on three key areas of importance to their customers – reducing costs, enhancing product performance and improving sustainability.

“Our specialist floor pads are not only helping contractors to cut costs without compromising performance” says Tim Copner, Business Development Manager, 3M Cleaning Products. “They are also creating vital new revenue streams by making previously specialist tasks available to the general cleaning contractor.”

Restoration innovation Trizact Diamond HX Discs by 3M are a good example of how 3M innovation is reducing costs and driving new business for contract cleaners, without the need to invest in new people or equipment.

Grinding and polishing dull and worn stone floors has traditionally been an expensive, highly disruptive and dirty process requiring the use of specialist contractors. Trizact Diamond HX Discs

allow contract cleaners to restore the shine themselves, quickly and easily, using their standard machinery. Being a wet process, no dust is generated whilst the results, claims Copner, are remarkable.

“One contractor told us that a major client of his was “doing cartwheels” because his 20 year old floors were made to look like new.”

Ranking alongside stone floor restoration for cost and inconvenience is conventional floor stripping, which involves the mixing and application of potentially hazardous chemicals – a process so time consuming and labour intensive that many premises put up with dull and dirty floors for much longer than they would like.

Recognising the need to improve safety, sustainability and productivity, 3M has developed Scotch-Brite Surface Preparation Pad (SPP), which can quickstrip and deep clean a wide variety of floors with neutral detergent or water alone, and with minimal mess and operational downtime.

Customer trials reveal that stripping with the Scotch-Brite Surface Preparation Pad versus conventional chemical stripping shows an average time saving of 3.93 man-hours per 1000 sq. ft., yielding a 74 per cent reduction in labour costs.

For the toughest stripping jobs, which require the removal of four or more layers of finish build-up, 3M recommends its most aggressive floor stripping pad, the 3M High Productivity Pad. Like the SPP, the High Productivity Pad is a safe and sustainable alternative to chemical stripping, being designed for use with water or neutral detergents, and with standard speed rotary floor machines.

Polished performance Glossy floors are certainly an increasing priority for major retail outlets, with many adopting diamond floor pads to polish their floors to a brilliant shine. However, in response to customers’ demands for a premium pad that boosts productivity and Continued page 12

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ |11

FLOOR PADS A shine on performance (continued)

Glossy floors are certainly an increasing priority for major retail outlets, with many adopting diamond floor pads to polish their floors to a brilliant shine.

lowers costs without compromising shine, 3M has developed and recently unveiled Scotch-Brite High Shine Floor Pads by 3M. “Many pad systems require multi-stage processes,” explains Copner. “Using a unique combination of abrasive minerals, Scotch-Brite High Shine Floor Pads restore, clean and shine in a simple twostep process. They also go on working for up to three times longer than other Diamond floor pads. Not only do they incorporate mineral abrasives on both surfaces of the pad for double-sided use – they are unique in containing them within the pad itself for even greater durability.”

One contract cleaner that has recently experienced the performance of 3M floor pads at first hand is Europa. The company is responsible for cleaning and maintaining the floors at Centre:MK, one of the UK’s busiest shopping centres, with 1.3 million sq ft of retail space and over 24 million

visitors each year.

When Europa was challenged to restore the shine to Centre:MK’s Grade 2 listed Travertine stone floors, they chose to work with 3M. “We tried a number of different systems and processes to get the results we wanted” said Jason Buckley, Environmental Manager, Europa. “Not only did the 3M system deliver the best results, it was the most cost effective solution we came across.”

3M recommended the use of ScotchBrite Surface Preparation Pads in certain areas to deep clean the floor and remove stains without the need for chemicals. Two grades of Trizact Diamond HX Discs by 3M were then used in other areas to grind and polish dull and scratched floor to a smooth sheen, without reducing slip resistance.

Finally, Scotch-Brite High-Shine Floor Pads were used to buff and polish the floor to a brilliant shine, creating an ambience worthy of a top retail destination.

Having restored the floors, Europa is now able to maintain them year-round at a total lower cost. The 3M floor pads strip and clean with fewer passes than the previous system, significantly increasing productivity. They also clean deeper so the floors don’t need to be revisited as often, reducing labour costs.

As well as being impressed with the results, Buckley was reassured by the 3M team who were on hand to advise him throughout the entire process. “They were extremely knowledgeable about the different floors in the Centre, and very keen to share their expertise.”

Prevention pays The better a floor is protected, the less you need to clean it - but sometimes the protection itself can be part of the problem.

Few environments place such high demands on hygiene and cleanliness

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 12

as operating theatres. So when Clane Hospital in County Kildare wanted to improve public perceptions about floor cleanliness, it also turned to 3M for help.

The melamine floors at the hospital were scrubbed and sanitised every day, but their appearance suggested otherwise.

The problem lay with the traditional acrylic floor finish which was susceptible to scratching and yellowing. 3M recommended stripping the multiple layers of old acrylic using Surface Preparation Pad by 3M. Two coats of Scotchgard Resilient Floor Protectors by 3M were then applied to the clean melamine, creating a tough, durable protective barrier with a high shine finish.

“Maintaining vinyl floors with acrylic protectors is incredibly labour intensive” says Copner. “It requires four or more coats to achieve the desired protection and needs to be stripped at regular intervals – a messy and time-consuming business.

Scotchgard Resilient Floor Protectors by 3M are scientifically formulated to keep floors looking their best with less maintenance and fewer chemicals. Just two coats of the non-yellowing, lowodour formulation produce a clean, glossy surface that’s up to twice as resistant to abrasion as traditional floor finish when tested under laboratory conditions. It dries much more quickly too, significantly reducing operational downtime, and it’s easy to spot repair, with clear implications for on-going maintenance costs.”

“Scotchgard Resilient Floor Protectors is a 100 per cent improvement on what we had before” confirms Clane Hospital’s Maintenance Manager, Pat Mulhall. “Now our theatre floors are not only spotlessly clean – they look it too.”

3M is also lightening the load at Chesterfield Royal Hospital which asked for help protecting and maintaining its extensive network of vinyl floor corridors.

3M recommended a combination of Scotchgard Resilient Floor Protectors, Surface Preparation Pads and Scotch-Brite High Shine Floor Pads to deliver a brilliant, longer-lasting shine that is quicker, easier and less costly to maintain.

The benefits of working with 3M have been enormous” says Margaret Wright, Patient Services Supervisor at the hospital.

“Our cleaning staff no long need heavy mops, buckets and chemicals to maintain clean, glossy floors and they are so much more productive.”

“Chesterfield’s experience is a great example of 3M ‘systems’ approach to floor care” says Copner. “The greatest piece of advice we can offer floor cleaning contractors and facilities managers is that

FLOOR PADS prevention is always cheaper than cure.

That’s why we are committed not only to developing floor pads which clean and shine faster and harder, but also protective coatings which reduce the need for floor maintenance altogether.”

Clean sweep For ongoing floor cleaning and maintenance, the 3M colour-coded range of floor pads continues to set the standard for performance and durability – whether stripping, cleaning, buffing, burnishing or polishing.

“Each floor pad is precision engineered for a particular floor surface and maintenance task, and manufactured to the highest quality standards” says Copner. “Uniform mineral distribution and coating throughout every 3M floor pad results in less vibration and 3M explique la manière dont les tampons à plancher aident les entreprises de propreté à réduire leurs coûts de soin des plancher sans aucune compromission sur la performance. De plus, ces équipements offrent de nouveaux flux de revenus aux entreprises de propreté en leur permettant de proposer l’exécution de tâches spécialisées.

machine wobble, reducing operator fatigue, extending the life of the pad, and producing better overall results.”

For example, new Melamine Floor Pads by 3M are specially designed for daily, deep and spot cleaning of ceramic, polished concrete, Terracotta and other micro-porous floors which represent a particular challenge to facilities managers and contract cleaners. Not only can they remove ingrained dirt and unsightly scuff marks without the need for harmful and costly chemicals and additives – they have also been shown to cover up to 5X more floor in independent laboratory tests, resulting in significant costs savings.

Indeed extensive testing of its entire floor pad range, undertaken by 3M, has shown that they remove deep scuff marks 7 times faster, are nearly 40 per cent more aggressive at floor stripping, provide a 25 3M teilt mit, wie wirkungsvolle Bodenpads Reinigungsunternehmen helfen, die Kosten für Bodenpflege zu reduzieren, ohne Zugeständnisse bei der Leistung machen zu müssen. Und nicht nur das, sie schaffen auch neue Einnahmequellen, da sie Unternehmen in die Lage versetzen, spezielle Reinigungsaufgaben anzubieten.

per cent better cut on the Schiefer test, and have 50 per cent better burnishing durability than their closest competitors.

Add their safety and sustainability advantages and you can see why more and more contractors and facilities managers are choosing to work with 3M. “At 3M we have long recognised that what is good for the environment can also be good business” says Copner. “Growing numbers of building managers have committed to sustainable practices and will give preference to suppliers who can support them. At the same time, others remain under the mistaken assumption that sustainability and cost savings are mutually exclusive. 3M is happy to prove the doubters wrong.”

3M, Trizact, Scotch-Brite and Scotchgard are trademarks of 3M Company. www.3M.eu/floorpads La 3M ci informa su come sono efficaci i dischi per pavimenti nell’agevolare gli appaltatori di servizi di pulizie ad abbattere i costi della cura dei pavimenti senza compromettere il risultato finale. Non solo, ma creano nuovi flussi di entrate permettendo agli appaltatori di offrire lavori specializzati.

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ |13

COVER STORY

It’s all about the customers’ business Having easy and quick access to professional service is a key factor in running your operations smoothly, and with maximum uptime. Based on extensive customer research Nilfisk-Advance has launched a series of new service solutions to match the needs of the professional cleaning customer.

Making the most of cleaning has two important requirements. The ability to deploy high quality cleaning machines is a critical first step. But having easy and quick access to professional service is another key factor in running cleaning operations smoothly, predictably, and with maximum uptime.

“Nilfisk-Advance has manufactured high quality cleaning equipment and delivered professional service since 1906, and we are committed to constantly living up to our customers’ requirements,” explains Michael Mortensen, General Manager of Global Commercial and Service Excellence at Nilfisk-Advance.

“This is why our new service contracts are put together to fit specific, and different needs. In order to craft our solutions just right, we asked more than 1,500 of our professional customers around the world how service adds value to their daily operations. We asked them what is important to them in terms of service offerings, how they would like to get in contact with us, by phone or via a mobile app to name some examples and we asked them how they wish to order service, spare parts and the like. The new Service Solutions are all based on that feedback,” Michael Mortensen says.

One size does not fit all Nilfisk-Advance launched three different Nilfisk Service Solutions. The company realized that one size does not fit all, and when signing a service contract with Nilfisk-Advance customers now have the opportunity to choose from a range of different solutions developed to match their specific service needs. Each solution consists of a carefully selected set of features, fit to match specific needs.

The Service Solutions come in three sizes; STANDARD, PLUS and PREMIUM. STANDARD – Professional maintenance. Your contract encompasses two yearly maintenance visits and 48 hours response time. Breakdown visits and spare parts are billed separately.

PLUS – Optimized performance. With the Plus solution you have a firm grip on your maintenance and repair costs while knowing that your performance is never compromised, only optimized.

PREMIUM – Maximized uptime. If uptime is your absolute top priority and key concern, Premium is the best choice. A quarterly maintenance visit is included, and all variable costs are included in the contract.

Whether customers decide to opt for a Standard, a Plus or a Premium service contract, the specific services included are handpicked from the full range, covering elements like regular maintenance visits, service reports on every visit, loan machines, spare parts, breakdown coverage, and extended warranty.

COVER STORY

Global presence Service concepts are of course not new to Nilfisk-Advance. What has been new in this launch is the global alignment of the solutions meeting customers’ demands across borders: “The main goal for us has been to make it as easy as possible for our customers to choose between our Service Solutions. More and more customers work across markets and borders and the research gave us the opportunity to share best practice from customers all over the world,” Michael Mortensen explains.

Nilfisk Service Solutions are not only a fast and reliable back-up in the event of a breakdown.

They are the customers’ guarantee of professional maintenance visits from trained technicians that are present all over the world. The Service Solutions are launched in a number of European markets already and will be rolled-out in markets across the world.

Using customer feedback Developing products and service solutions based on customer feedback is not new to NilfiskAdvance. The company has in recent years conducted a number of extensive and unique customer research programs which have formed the basis of multiple product launches and new product offerings.

The Total Care program aimed at contract cleaners is one example of customer feedback materialized directly into a unique concept making it easier for customers to choose the right machines, fully utilize resources and determine the most efficient set-up for the cleaning site, combined with new service agreements and customized financial solutions.

Also, the development of TrackClean from Nilfisk-Advance derived directly from specific customer feedback. TrackClean records and monitors operational data like working time, time of day, and geographic location relating to the customer’s fleet, and transmits it to a secure web portal. Based on this data, the customer can intelligently optimize the cleaning program and reduce cost.

Facts – Service Solutions • More than 75,000 professional customers trust Nilfisk-Advance to manage their equipment’s service requirements • Nilfisk-Advance Service Solutions technicians are continuously educated – and devoted – to maintain and repair machines, and always ready to help you • Our technicians only use original equipment manufacturer spare parts, fixing problems quickly and durably for maximized uptime

HEALTH & SAFETY

Keep it safe Floors represent all kinds of hazards, particularly for those who clean them. ECJ asks manufacturers and cleaning contractors what they are doing to keep floors, cleaners and floorcare equipment safe.

Floors can be dangerous places. Slips, trips and falls are the biggest causes of workplace accidents according to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work.

Cleaning a floor will control the problem since this removes the debris and spills causing the falls. But the act of cleaning will also expose the cleaners to risks since not only will they be working on slippery floors, they will probably also have to negotiate trailing machine cables.

There are other health and safety issues in floor cleaning too, such as bending and stretching and working with chemicals.

It is therefore up to the floorcare manufacturers and cleaning contractors to keep the cleaning workforce safe.

Data from EU member states indicates that slips and trips are among the most common types of accidents involving cleaners. Contractors are well aware of the threat this poses. Head of health and safety at Grosvenor Services George Parish says it is a particular problem in the retail sector. “Falls can occur as a result of leaves or mud being brought in from the outside, as well as from spilt drinks and food,” he said.

“Daytime cleaning allows operatives to respond to spillages and incidents on the spot, and this prevents any disruption while minimising the risk to customers and the client’s own employees.”

He says slips can occur when visitors to a building ignore ‘wet floor’ signs. “We are looking at ways to make warning signs clearer to the public, such as including messaging on entrance matting,” he said.

General operations manager for contract cleaning specialist Julius Rutherfoord Andres Balanta says his company is also alert to the threat of slips and falls.

“We ensure that all floor areas are dry before we leave them,” he said.

“Cleaning is typically scheduled so that it is completed before people enter the building and ventilation is used to make sure areas are thoroughly dry. And yellow

signage is used to advise where cleaning is being undertaken.”

One of the chief aims of chemical manufacturers is to formulate products that prevent slips and trips according to Bio-Productions managing director Mike James. “The aim is to create a smooth surface – but if it’s too smooth, you are going to have a slip problem,” he said. “All floorcare products now contain anti-slip properties but slips and trips could still occur if people walk rainwater on to the floor or if it becomes dirty.”

Bio-Productions’ Solacare floor maintainer is designed to provide an anti-slip finish. “Anti-slip technology these days is fantastic,” said James. “The products are hard wearing and you can create a very shiny surface that will not be slippery unless it is wet. But it is important to use a product that is appropriate to the floor. Manufacturers make polishes for specific applications and particular types of flooring, and you could have a slip issue if the wrong type of product is used.”

Avoid trips and slips Global marketing director of Diversey Care Irina Klemps says trips and slips need to be avoided at all costs. “If a client or visitor to a site falls on a slippery floor, the property owner would receive a compensation claim,” she said. “And if the owner had hired a contract cleaner to clean the floor, the claim would be passed on to the contractor. Therefore a wellmaintained floor will help to prevent both injuries and financial losses.”

She says most slip accidents occur when people walk on floors that are not completely dry. “Diversey puts huge efforts into developing scrubber dyers that have an optimum suction power so that cleaned floors are dried immediately,” said Klemps.

“If floors cannot be cleaned with a scrubber dryer we recommend that customers close off the floor area they are about to clean. Otherwise they should perform an intermediate clean using Continued page 18

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ |17

HEALTH & SAFETY Keep it safe (continued) the dry mopping method, or carry out a more in-depth clean with a wet mop or a machine when the facility encounters less traffic.“ 3M business development manager for cleaning Tim Copner says litigation cases concerning slips and falls are becoming particularly common in the US. The company’s Scotchgard Stone Floor Protector and Scotchgard Resilient Floor Protector are both said to have anti-slip properties.

“With most floor protectors you typically have to strip the floor every year and reapply the product,” adds Copner. “This is a hazardous task as it requires the use of strong chemicals - and during the process the floor becomes as slippery as a sheet of ice.” He claims 3M’s own floor protector only needs to be applied once which avoids the need for hazardous re-applications.

Using too much cleaning agent can be another cause of slips and falls according to Kärcher’s environmental matters public relations officer Linda Schrodter.

“The cleaning agent will leave behind a layer of oil over time,” said Schrodter.

“This problem could become worse if, for example, the machine’s suction components are not serviced on a regular basis. This means the machine will not vacuum dirty water up properly.”

She says accidents concerning floors can be prevented by adapting the machinery to meet the needs of each cleaning job.

“Parameters such as detergent dosing, brush pressure and energy consumption should all be set according to the job in hand,” she said.

“One-step cleaning is best if the level of dirt allows.” This enables the water to be applied and vacuumed up again during the same pass, avoiding the potential danger of leaving the floor wet.

Schrodter adds that dusty floors can present another hazard in warehouses and workshops, and 3M’s Tim Copner agrees. “Dust can be a health and safety problem when renovating stone floors with a diamond grinding action,” he said.

“Sometimes areas need to be closed off since inhalation is an issue when you have these huge amounts of dust.” 3M’s Trizact product combines diamond technology with water to create a slurry. This is said to eliminate the dust problem when renovating floors.

Toll on the cleaner The physical act of floor cleaning can also take its toll on the cleaner, says Copner. He claims the company’s Easy Shine Applicator Kit has been specifically developed to allow operators to apply

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 18

floorcare products with a minimum of physical strain.

“Aches and pains can be an issue with cleaners, and our applicator tool helps to alleviate this problem because it takes the form of a backpack,” he said. “This means the cleaner does not have to carry the liquid in one hand which could cause him or her to overbalance, and any stress on the part of the cleaner is reduced.”

Grosvenor Services also aims to reduce the strain on its cleaners when carrying out floorcare tasks. “The increasing use of lightweight machinery has improved health and safety for the cleaner,” said Parish. “Extendable brushes also ensure that the cleaning operative can work in an upright position. This not only helps to prevent strain injuries, it also allows the job to be completed more efficiently and in less time.”

The use of hazardous or irritant chemicals on floor surfaces are yet another health and safety issue for cleaners says Bio-Productions’ Mike James. “Probably the worst health and safety situation I’ve encountered was when we received a telephone call from a hospital where three workers had been found unconscious after having used a solvent stripper in a confined area without ventilation - while smoking,” he said.

Diversey Care’s Irina Klemps agrees that floorcare chemicals need to be handled with care to avoid potentially disastrous results. “If a cleaner mixes an acidic product with another that contains chlorine, the chlorine gas this creates could knock the user out,” she said.

“All users should wear gloves while cleaning with irritant or hazardous products, and when handling certain chemicals the user should also wear goggles and sometimes other safety equipment as well. Failure to follow these guidelines could result in a chemical burn to the skin or even blindness if a corrosive chemical spills into the eye.”

According to Klemps, closed chemical systems such as Diversey’s own dosing platforms will help to prevent health and safety issues since the cleaner will not come into contact with high chemical concentrates.

“Each chemical has its own safety data and product information sheet which contains information on how to use the chemical and what safety precautions to take,” she said. “If the cleaner follows these instructions, no risk or damage to the user will result.”

Kärcher’s Linda Schrodter says personal protective equipment is essential when

HEALTH & SAFETY operatives are using certain chemical products on floors. “Acid and alkalinebased cleaning agents can be very aggressive if they come into contact with eyes or skin or if inhaled or ingested,” she said. “And highly flammable cleaning agents should only be used in well ventilated rooms.”

A rather surprising safety issue mentioned by Schrodter involves the noise levels of floor cleaning machines. “These machines should not operate too quietly,” she said. “They must be visible or should make a noise when in operation to avoid the risk of accidents or collisions. Either lights or warning signals should be applied.”

And she says floor mopping can pose health risks in the form of crosscontamination, particularly in hospitals. “If the mop head is not replaced on a Les planchers peuvent représenter différents types de risques, notamment pour ceux qui les nettoient. ECJ demande aux fabricants et entreprises de nettoyage ce qu’ils font pour assurer la sécurité des planchers, des nettoyeurs, et des machines de nettoyage.

regular basis, germs could be spread across the floor and this could result in a health issues.”

Risks of mopping Diversey’s Irina Klemps says her company’s Taski Quantum product aims to alleviate this problem. “Our new mopping system uses double-sided mops which the cleaner does not touch when changing mop-heads,” she said. “Touching mops is a health and safety risk since the mop might be contaminated with bacteria.”

The cleaning machines themselves could pose a further risk to cleaners if the operator has not been sufficiently trained in their use, says Klemps. “It is crucial that cleaners closely follow the user manual instructions when using floor cleaning tools and machines,” she said.

“Any cleaner using a Taski machine Böden stellen alle möglichen Gefahren dar, insbesondere für diejenigen, die sie reinigen.

Das ECJ erkundigt sich bei Herstellern und Reinigungsunternehmen, wie sie für die Sicherheit von Böden, Reinigungspersonal und Bodenpflegeausrüstung sorgen.

receives in-depth training beforehand on how to use it correctly. And every machine has an emergency button which turns it off immediately if, say, the machine is not responding properly or if the user loses control over it.”

So it is clear that cleaning and maintaining floors can be a hazardous business and that operator health and safety should be protected at all costs. But this is for highly practical reasons as well as for humanitarian ones.

As Schrodter puts it: “Health and safety plays an extremely important role in the development process. Injuries to cleaning staff always result in downtime for the cleaning company and thus cost money. So all risks of injury must be removed as far as possible, and user and environmental protection must be ensured.”

I pavimenti rappresentano numerosi tipi di pericolo, particolarmente per coloro che li lavano. ECJ chiede ai produttori e agli appaltatori di servizi di pulizia cosa fanno per mantenere sicuri pavimenti, addetti alle pulizie e attrezzature per le pulizie.

RETAIL HYGIENE

Clean up every aisle Floor care is an essential element of retail store cleaning, in terms of customer perception and risk management.

In supermarkets, the issues surrounding food safety must also be considered.

Here Cameron Adams, global director of strategic planning and development for retail at Diversey Care and Dale Grinstead PhD, food safety technology Fellow, offer advice on setting up an effective programme.

Creating and following a floor care schedule ensures that floors are cleaned as frequently as possible and can remain in top shape. Floors should be cleaned at least once a day.

Floorcare should always be a staple of retail store cleaning programmes. When a customer walks into a retail space, what do they notice first? Likely, it’s the floors. A dirty floor can communicate that the rest of the store is not up to standards and scare customers from walking beyond the entrance matting.

Floorcare is also essential for encouraging risk management and food safety. Recent studies show that pathogens such as Listeria, can not only contaminate retail floors, but can also colonise on surfaces, especially if there is water or soil present. A 2012 study in The Journal of Food Protection noted that Listeria colonising in floor drains in food processing facilities can be transferred to food contact surfaces if strong hoses are used to clean floors.

Retail facilities can maintain cleanliness, food safety and customer satisfaction while staying committed to the triple bottom line of ‘people, planet, profit’. To ensure clean floors day in and day out, improve customer perceptions and lower costs, cleaning staff of retail stores should keep the following tips in mind: 1. Create a regular schedule for cleaning floors. Creating and following a floorcare schedule ensures that floors are cleaned as frequently as possible and can remain in top shape. Floors should be cleaned at least once a day. Cooler floors should be deep cleaned once a week.

Organisations should also take seasonal changes and varying climates into consideration when creating a floorcare schedule. During winter months and rainy seasons, floors should be mopped or wiped down as snow and mud are tracked into the store and across floors by customers and employees.

2. Select the best method for cleaning retail floors. Floorcare machines, such as auto scrubbers, are effective at removing dirt, debris, water and other soils from floors. If using auto scrubbers, cleaning staff should select machines that are easy to maintain, as certain types can be more

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 20

manageable than others. Staff must be careful if using an auto scrubber behind the counter, as they can spray pathogens to other surfaces.

A smart approach is to gently hose floors with a cleaner to remove soil, or clean them with a mop and bucket, rinse with either a hose or a mop and bucket with fresh water, apply a sanitiser and allow the surface to air dry. Microfibre mops are great for light or moderate soils, but if the soil load is too high, they will be no more effective than regular string or rag mops.

When working with mops, the changing of mop heads is a potential source of cross contamination. Soiled mop heads can contaminate hands and subsequently other surfaces can be affected. The latest generation of mopping systems with no-touch technology provides a better hygiene security than traditional Velcro mops. No-touch mops allow for disposal directly into the laundry bag without any hand contact.

Daytime cleaning caution Daytime cleaning is cost-effective, more environmentally friendly and typically produces higher quality cleaning results compared to night cleaning. However, retailers must be cautious with daytime cleaning. If this approach is to be used, it is more ideal for the front of the house.

In the back of the house, there is a higher risk that machines will interfere with food that is being processed. Staff should steer away from using machines and sprays in these areas and toward mops and buckets to avoid creating aerosols, which can land on food contact surfaces.

3. Maintain cleaning equipment. If the tools used to clean floors are not well maintained, they can become sources of contamination. This includes mops, buckets, squeegees and machines. Tools should be cleaned after use with a fresh solution of the cleaner that was used on the floor, then rinsed with fresh water, sanitised and stored in such a way that Continued page 22

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RETAIL HYGIENE Clean up every aisle (continued) they dry as soon as possible. Mops should not be stored in buckets of cleaner or sanitiser.

4. Conduct employee training. There is a high turnover rate in cleaning staff, so continued training is vital. New staff members should be trained at the onset of their employment and seasoned employees should undergo training when work tasks change or when monitoring shows that cleaning is inconsistent with expected results.

Training should focus on educating employees to use the proper products and tools for each area of the store and to adhere to proper dilution ratios. Employees must follow the manufacturers’ instructions and avoid playing home chemist; more is not always better.

Improper usage or dilutions is wasteful

Floors should also be kept in good repair.

Grout in disrepair and cracked tiles are a food safety nightmare because they can harbour micro-organisms and are more difficult to clean.

they can harbour micro-organisms and are more difficult to clean. Thus, floor maintenance should be incorporated into a floorcare schedule as well to ensure that high traffic areas or places where moisture gathers remain in shape over time.

6. Think like the customer.

Metaphorically speaking, cleaning staff should put themselves in their customers’ shoes when completing cleaning tasks because the perception of cleanliness impacts a customer’s decision to frequent a business.

Satisfaction with cleanliness and costly, and the wrong combination of chemicals can have harmful results.

Finally, cleaning tasks should be easy for employees. If something is too complex, it is less likely to be completed in the proper way.

Small details 5. Pay attention to overlooked areas and small details. Cleaning staff should give extra attention to frequently overlooked areas, such as places where higher risk products are stored. Higher traffic areas, higher soil load areas, such as meat rooms, and areas that tend to get wet, such as around sinks, should not be overlooked.

Floors should also be kept in good repair. Grout in disrepair and cracked tiles are a food safety nightmare because Le soin des planchers constitue un élément essentiel du nettoyage de magasins, vu du point de vue du client et de la gestion des risques. Dans des supermarchés, les enjeux de la sécurité alimentaire doivent être pris en considération, et Diversey Care prodigue des conseils sur la mise en place d’un programme efficace dans ce domaine. 705

According to August 2012 online survey responses from more than 1,600 individuals in the USA, UK, the Netherlands and Spain who are responsible for purchasing food in their households, 37 percent of customers noted they will leave a supermarket without making a purchase if they are not satisfied with the level of cleanliness in the store. Customers

who stay, but are also not satisfied with the level of cleanliness will cut their spending costs by an average of 45 per cent, resulting in lost revenue for retailers.

If cleaning tasks are not producing high quality results, organisations need to reassess the processes, products and tools that are being used.

From a food safety perspective, there is a potential for cross-contamination to occur if floors are not properly maintained and cleaned. Fortunately, if cleaning staff notice floors are already well maintained, they’re more likely to keep them looking good over time. And since customers rely on a limited number of clues to determine if a retail store is safe, floor cleanliness being one of them, retail stores need to continually focus on floor cleanliness. By following these six tips, retail facilities can help ensure food safety and keep customers returning. www.diversey.com

European Cleaning Journal is the only magazine serving the pan-European professional cleaning industry. Visit our website and register now for your regular copy: www.europeancleaningjournal.com Bodenpflege ist ein wesentlicher Aspekt der Reinigung von Einzelhandelsgeschäften, sowohl in Bezug auf die Wahrnehmung des Kunden als auch das Risikomanagement. In Supermärkten muss außerdem die Lebensmittelsicherheit berücksichtigt werden, und hier bietet Diversey Care gute Ratschläge zur Einrichtung eines effektiven Programms.

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ |22

La cura dei pavimenti è un elemento essenziale per le pulizie dei punti vendita, in termini di percezione della clientela e del rischio delle direzioni. Nei supermercati, vanno anche considerati i problemi legati alla sicurezza degli alimenti, in questo articolo la Diversey Care offre consigli su come avviare un programma efficace.

Best in the business

The New Floor Revelation Chicopee® is always focused on innovation. Creating cleaning solutions that are hygienic, efficient and ergonomically safe is our passion. That’s why we’re so pleased to introduce our newest revelation: The Stretch ‘n Dust series.

Stretch ‘n Dust towels are uniquely designed to make cleaning the floors in large institutions easier and more convenient than ever before. Restaurants, hospitals, schools, hotels and office environments will enjoy cleaner, more hygienic floors in less time.

Like all of Chicopee’s products, the new Stretch ‘n Dust wipes are designed for sustainable, long-lasting use. The wipes come in a range of weights and a unique 3D structure, which makes the cloths far more effective in picking up dirt and dust, and they last longer, too.

Stretch ‘n Dust wipes prevent cross-contamination and allow for a more hygienic result. The strong, durable wipes are the ultimate floor-cleaning partner. Because they need to be replaced less often, they save both time and money for any organisation.

Ergonomics and efficiency are key words in the cleaning industry.

With Stretch ‘n Dust floor towels, cleaning staff will get the job done faster, with less bending to replace towels. And since Stretch ‘n Dust wipes work on every type of floor surface, the staff won’t need to learn several different methods for cleaning the floors.

Just one Stretch ‘n Dust wipe will do the whole job.

The perfect match Stretch ‘n Dust floor towels come in two distinct types, ensuring the right match for all your cleaning needs. The features of each speak for themselves.

Stretch ‘n Dust Oil Impregnated The Oil Impregnated Stretch ‘n Dust towel works best on wood floors and linoleum. Unique features include: •Carefully balanced oil impregnation that picks up every speck of dust and dirt, but leaves no slippery residue behind; •An unmatched 3D print and bonding technique that holds more dirt and ensures a clean, hygienic floor; •Extreme durability and longlasting quality.

Stretch ‘n Dust Tacky Impregnated The Tacky version of the Stretch ‘n Dust is ideal for any floor type: wood, tile or linoleum.

And don’t let the name fool you: these cloths are the smoothest path to a clean floor.

•Ideal for environments (such as supermarkets or offices) with several floor types. No more changing cleaning products or cloths for every surface: Stretch ‘n Dust Tacky cleans them all; •The ‘tacky’ substance – to which every bit of dust and dirt sticks – is woven into the internal fabric of the cloth – so dirt sticks to the cloth, but the cloth will never stick to the floor; •The wipes leave no residue behind: only clean, hygienic, dust-free floors; •Stretch ‘n Dust Tacky is available on a handy, perforated roll that makes it easy to use on other surfaces besides the floor. Tear off a 32cm sheet for hand cleaning, or a 64cm sheet for the floors.

Champion quality Hygiene. Efficiency. Ergonomics. With Stretch ‘n Dust, you’ll not only make your floors sparklingly clean – you’ll make your cleaning staff faster, more efficient and safer than ever before. For the most hygienic and convenient floor cleaning available, look no further than Chicopee® Stretch ‘n Dust wipes.

For more info visit our website: www.chicopee-europe.com or contact Stuart Grimley on sgrimley@pginw.com

TRAINING

How difficult can it be?

The answer is that cleaning a floor can be very difficult, given the huge range of floor types around these days. But who trains the cleaners in this complex task, and how do they go about it?

Cleaning a floor should theoretically be a simple matter of sweeping, mopping or scrubbing the surface to ensure that it is clear of dirt and debris.

But new types of flooring are being developed all the time, along with new cleaning methods, products and machinery. So training is essential to keep cleaners up to date with new floor types and processes. But who carries out this training, and how is it achieved in a multilingual industry where staff turnover is high?

Machine manufacturer Kärcher offers regular training sessions for partners, companies and customers. “We also offer an extensive training programme for sales, application and service staff through the Kärcher Academy,” said environmental matters public relations officer Linda Schrodter. “And our instruction videos are all available online. ” Physical training sessions are normally held in English, but Kärcher Academies worldwide run training sessions in various languages. According to Schrodter, floor cleaning can be complex since operatives need to consider a number of points before tackling a floor.

“They need to assess the surface structure and the type of dirt that needs to be cleaned,” she said. “They then need to decide on the correct cleaning agent and dosage, and choose from the various types of brushes, disks and rollers on the market. And they have to consider the volume of water required along with the brush contact pressure and cleaning speed.”

Identifying floors Diversey Care global marketing director Irina Klemps agrees that identifying the type of floor in question is the first major challenge for a cleaning operative.

“Although there are various methods of doing this, few cleaners are thoroughly trained in applying these identification methods,” she said. “They may also lack the precise information they need on the specific type of flooring from the site

owner or builder.

“Once they have identified the floor type, they need to choose a compatible cleaning product and method. Choosing the wrong product could ruin a floor which means the correct identification of floor type is essential.”

Diversey provides advice on the correct products and methods to use on various floor types along with a range of training options. These include classroom sessions that take place around the world and multilingual e-learning modules that can be tailored to suit individual customers.

“We also offer a ‘train-the-trainer’ programme that works very effectively,” said Klemps. “This involves intensive coaching of selected customer staff

by Diversey experts to certify them as trainers themselves.”

Diversey also offers instruction at customer sites, either in the form of proactive training or in response to specific challenges. “This can be product-based training, machine or dosing equipment instruction, safety instruction or training on the correct cleaning methods and chemical selection,” said Klemps.

“We also provide customers with printed and digital training materials including method cards, cleaning plans, training videos, product information sheets and brochures. Everything is available in all European languages and illustrated with pictograms to support multilingual staff.”

She says a continuous training programme is essential since staff turnover is so high. “Otherwise the knowledge level in customer organisations would decrease over time,” said Klemps. “A one-off initiative would therefore not be sufficient to suit the needs of the industry.

Customer support needs to be continuous and thorough.”

She says floorcare training is crucial because any damage caused by using the wrong method or product could be Continued page 26

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ |25

TRAINING How difficult can it be? (continued) make it easier for operatives to attend other training sessions and understand user manuals and instructions.”

Kärcher’s Linda Schrodter agrees with Zangger Nilsson that user-friendly machines are a major training advantage.

“Staff turnover is very high in the cleaning industry which means that machines and instructions need to be self-explanatory and to the point,” she said.

Kärcher products are clearly labelled to aid multilingual staff, says Schrodter. “We use pictograms and colour-coded controls, and the menu platforms on our machines are easy to use and feature around 18 different language settings,” she said.

The language barrier can often be a problem for a trainer confirms Hako’s application technology trainer and consultant Klaus Serfezi. “As machine manufacturers, this means our training needs to be as hands-on as possible so that all steps are selfexplanatory,” said Serfezi.

Regular intervals

costly to put right - or even irreversible.

“If you deep-strip a linoleum floor using a high alkaline stripper, the floor will be ruined and can only be replaced,” said Klemps. “And if you use an acidic cleaner on a marble surface, the stone will lose its lustre and only time-consuming crystallisation might reverse the effect.”

Like Diversey, 3M has been developing its own ‘train-the-trainer’ model to educate key members of staff in the correct way to clean various types of floors. The 3M Cleaning University has been rolled out successfully in South America and will be coming to Europe in 2015.

“We will be working with machine manufacturers to provide comprehensive training in all types of floorcare and maintenance next year,” said 3M business development manager for cleaning Tim Copner. “The course will take the form of workshop-style seminars and there will be hands-on sessions on different types of flooring and various types of machinery.

The details are yet to be finalised but sessions will be held in various locations throughout Europe.”

According to Nilfisk-Advance’s global

brand manager Lisette Zangger Nilsson, user-friendly machines can help to reduce the level of staff training required since cleaners can quickly come to grips with them.

“Our machines are clearly labelled with pictograms that show their vital functions,” she said. “It is one of the cornerstones of our development to supply products that can be used after minimal training and that come with a self-explanatory user interface. We even use QR-codes that allow the operator to watch an instruction video via their mobile phone.”

Complex procedure She says floor cleaning is one of the most complex cleaning procedures there is. “A range of solutions may be required depending on the type of floor and the kind of soiling,” she said. “Wear and tear of the floor might also be severe in high traffic areas, and it requires particular skills to preserve flooring under these conditions.

“Besides manufacturer training I would also recommend independent training and certification for cleaning staff. This will provide a clearer picture of basic cleaning techniques - and having this base will

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 26

He agrees with other manufacturers that identifying floor types can be a problem. “Some building operators are not even aware of the types of floor covering they have in their properties,” he said. “This means the building service provider will be required to use his or her expertise to determine the kind of floor coverings there are and how to clean them.”

Like Klemps he feels that any training initiative should be ongoing. “Repeating the training at regular intervals is particularly important when it comes to chemicals since new products are introduced more frequently than is the case with cleaning machines,” he said.

According to Serfezi, some service providers are not prepared to invest in sufficient levels of staff training due to high staff turnover. “This makes it even more important to train supervisors and project managers on a regular basis to keep them up to date,” he said.

Bio-Productions managing director Mike James says a floor surface can be badly damaged in cases where untrained or badly trained operatives are let loose on a floor.

“All too often we are asked how to restore or repair a floor that has been tackled using the wrong process and employing an inappropriate chemical solution,” he said. “We’ve had instances of flooring being permanently damaged through the incorrect use of equipment.”

He says regular training is the only way of making staff aware of the latest types of polymers, equipment and chemicals that are available to them. “This can be

TRAINING achieved by developing a relationship with the suppliers and manufacturers of cleaning compounds, machinery and processes as well as occasionally visiting retailers of flooring materials,” he said.

Experience on the job “It is also beneficial to experiment on flooring tiles, laminates and strips of wood to see how different compounds react on different surfaces. There is nothing like first-hand experience to instil knowledge.”

He agrees with other manufacturers that it can be a challenge to train operatives in an industry where the staff is constantly changing.

“Often the time spent on induction and training programmes is wasted because of staff turnover,” he said. “However, it is foolish to set an inexperienced operative to work with equipment and chemicals that Est-il dur de nettoyer un plancher ? À dire vrai, cela peut être très dur en raison de l’éventail immense des types de plancher en usage aujourd’hui. Cependant, qui s’occupe de former les agents de nettoyage à cette tâche complexe, et comment s’y prennent-ils ?

he or she doesn’t understand. Invariably an experienced staff member will be paired with an experienced hand who will train them while on the job.”

Contract cleaning company Julius Rutherfoord runs a BICSc-accredited training programme at its own head office.

“No-one steps out in a Julius Rutherfoord uniform until they’ve completed our training scheme,” said general operations manager Andres Balanta. “Some of our equipment can be quite technical but there’s always a right way, a safe way and a more productive way to do things.”

Training will always be a difficult issue in a multilingual industry where so many of the staff are simply passing through.

And for some manufacturers and cleaning companies, training can even be perceived as a waste of time and money. But the complexity of the floorcare industry and Wie schwer kann es sein, einen Boden zu reinigen? Die Antwort: sehr schwer, angesichts der gegenwärtigen großen Vielfalt an Bodenarten.

Wer übernimmt jedoch die Schulung des Reinigungspersonal in dieser komplexen Aufgabe, und wie gehen sie dabei vor?

the potential cost when things go wrong means that proper instruction is a necessity.

As Diversey’s Irina Klemps puts it: “Welltrained staff are an investment – but one that will result in savings by preventing damage to the floor.”

And according to Nilfisk-Advance’s Lisette Zangger Nilsson, increasing levels of automation will eventually make the training question less relevant in any case.

“We already have automated forklifts working in large areas and we will probably see increasing numbers of larger automated cleaning machines,” she said. “I would not go so far as to call these ‘robots’ since the complexity of cleaning floors and the various floor types means there is probably still a need for craftsmanship. But I’m sure this type of solution will be there some day in the future.”

Quanto può essere difficile la pulizia di un pavimento?

La risposta è molto difficile, data la gamma vastissima di tipi di pavimenti che ci sono al giorno d’oggi. Ma chi si occupa del training degli addetti alle pulizie per questo lavoro complesso, e come lo affrontano?

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ |27

CARPETS

Regular care essential Regular cleaning and maintenance is an essential part of caring for your carpets, helping to preserve their appearance and maintain their viability for many years. Natalie Dowse, marketing and product manager for Truvox International, offers advice on the best cleaning methods and machines that will deliver the right results, and care for all types of carpeting.

Carpets have played a significant role in the history of the world, developing and improving in parallel with human endeavour. They have been used to provide protection and warmth; acted as a currency in certain societies; and been an indicator of the wealth and stature of those that could afford to have them installed in their homes. Carpeting remains a popular floor covering to this day, holding on to its associations with luxury and prestige – we do still ‘roll out the red carpet’, after all. Interior design trends may come and go, but it seems there will always be a place for carpet.

Carpets are normally made from natural or synthetic fibres, but can sometimes be a mixture of both. The most well-known natural fibre is wool, which has excellent properties in terms of resilience and durability. However, it can be expensive, so manufacturers sometimes combine it with synthetic fibres. The three most common synthetic fibres are: • Nylon – soft, durable and largely stain resistant • Polyester – the fibres are able to hold colour well to prevent fading; they are non-allergenic and can even be made from recycled bottles, making them very ecofriendly; however it is less suitable for high traffic areas as its fibres can be flattened when exposed to weight • Polypropylene – these fibres have a similar softness to nylon, with added resilience and resistance to stains, mildew and shedding.

According to the European Carpet and Rug Association (ECRA), a Brussels-based organisation which represents the leading carpet manufacturers in Europe, there are many benefits to installing carpeting in work environments: • Design flexibility – there are many thousands of carpet styles, colours and patterns to choose from • Noise reduction – carpets absorb sound, especially between floors and on stairs • Safer surface – carpet not only cushions every step we take, it can also reduce the

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 28

risk of slips and falls, and minimise injuries when they do occur; plus it eliminates slipping hazards, an essential requirement for obtaining the CE mark • Thermal comfort and energy saving – carpet provides thermal resistance, also known as R-value; this means it retains warm air for longer, helping with energy conservation, as well as creating a comfortable, cosy feeling • Low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) – VOC emissions from carpet are extremely low, while it also improves indoor air quality by trapping allergens and other particles so that they do not float in the air, and can be vacuumed away • Money saving – as long as they are cleaned and maintained properly, carpets can retain their life and appearance for many years, protecting initial investments and saving money in the long run.

The virtues of vacuuming Vacuuming is one of the mainstays of any cleaning regime – but when it comes to commercial settings, vacuum cleaners need to be hard working, hard wearing, and able to handle a variety of different surfaces, dirt and debris. In industrial locations such as factories or warehouses it makes sense to use vacuums that have been built for particular jobs such as picking up metal such as screws and other hard materials – but when it comes to other, more multi-purpose buildings – such as offices, schools or healthcare environments – a multi-tasking vacuum is preferable.

The type of carpeting to be cleaned can vary significantly throughout a location. Whereas boardrooms may feature deeper-pile carpeting, surfaces in corridors or other places that experience heavier footfall may be ‘shallower’, having been worn down through continuous use.

The latest vacuum designs feature brush heads that ‘sense’ differing carpet pile heights, self-adjusting automatically to ensure they float evenly over all carpeted surfaces. This helps to ensure a more thorough clean, and also makes

CARPETS life easier for the cleaning operative, who does not have to worry about making manual adjustments to the machine. If your vacuum does need to perform on a variety of floor surfaces then models that can work at a range of different speeds could be a good option. As a general rule, a low speed is better for thick carpeting, while a higher speed is more effective and efficient on bare floors.

Upright or cylinder designs both have their advantages so it is mainly a question of personal preferences. Don’t assume that upright vacuums are less manoeuvrable than cylinders, as again the newest designs have made great progress in this area. The most versatile ones can lay almost flat, enabling them to clean the most hard to reach areas, under beds or desks, for example.

On-board accessories and tools also give access to stairs and ceilings or curtains, as well as enabling a thorough clean for upholstery and seating.

One particular advantage of an upright vacuum is its wide cleaning path. This enables a greater expanse of carpet to be cleaned than via the smaller ‘footprint’ of a cylinder vacuum.

Many upright models also have the ability to clean right up to the edge of a surface, without the need to employ crevice tools to clean the area beside the skirting board or wall edge.

Vacuums mainly deal with dry dirt, so filtration systems are also vitally important. A vacuum cleaner that exacerbates allergies for employees or customers is far from ideal, so models incorporating HEPA filtration are now the norm. Models can incorporate various numbers of filtration stages, but, for example, a three-stage filtration, including HEPA 13 filter, will provide a high filtration of all particles of 0.3 microns and larger.

A deeper clean Many organisations find that encapsulation cleaning techniques and machines are the best way to keep carpets clean, and dry, throughout the year. A polymeric carpet solution is applied to the carpet via a three brush machine. The solution releases sticky soil from the carpet fibres and then traps or encapsulates the soil as it dries.

Once the carpet is dry, the operative simply vacuums the carpet to remove the encapsulated dirt. However, care must be taken to do the job thoroughly, in order to prevent ‘wicking’.

Wicking occurs when embedded soils, which settle deep down in carpet fibres and are not thoroughly removed when cleaned with an extractor. Very often, carpets can look fine straight after cleaning, and may continue to look good for several days, but, as the carpet dries, the deep down soil that was not removed ‘wicks’ to the top of the carpet, making the surface look dingy.

The first way to ensure that wicking doesn’t happen is by vacuuming the carpet thoroughly before cleaning. It sounds obvious, but the more care taken at this stage, the better the end result will be. Compromising on vacuuming, or even worse, not vacuuming before encapsulation takes place, makes it harder for the encapsulation machine to reach, loosen and remove deeply embedded soil and dirt.

With the right care, carpets can keep looking good for much longer, reflecting well on your company image and providing employees, customers and visitors alike with a warm welcome.

Continued page 30

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ |29

CARPETS Regular care essential (continued)

Another way to avoid wicking is to allow the chemical pre-spray that is applied to the carpet more time to ‘dwell’. This improves the effectiveness of the chemicals, allowing them to dissolve and loosen dirt. However, it’s also worth remembering that using too much chemical in the cleaning process can also cause wicking problems, as chemical residue can settle in the fibres causing rapid re-soiling as the carpet dries.

Finally, operatives should take steps to reduce drying time, because simply allowing carpets to air-dry can increase the risk of wicking occurring. Air movers placed at strategic locations throughout freshly cleaned carpeted areas, can cut drying times dramatically.

With the right care, carpets can keep looking good for much longer, reflecting well on your company image and providing employees, customers and visitors alike with a warm welcome.

Cleaning equipment manufacturers are constantly updating and improving their products so it pays to do your research well, because there is an effective cleaning solution for every type of carpet. www.truvox.com Les opérations régulières de nettoyage et d’entretien de moquettes sont essentielles pour en préserver l’aspect.

Truvox International offre des conseils sur les meilleures méthodes et machines de nettoyage pour obtenir les résultats voulus.

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 30

Regelmäßige Reinigung und Pflege ist ein wesentlicher Bestandteil der Pflege von Teppichen, um ihr Aussehen zu erhalten.

Truvox International bietet Ratschläge zu den besten Reinigungsverfahren und -maschinen, um das gewünschte Ergebnis zu erzielen.

La manutenzione e la pulizia eseguite regolarmente sono parte essenziale della cura delle moquette per preservarne l’aspetto.

La Truvox International offre consigli sui metodi e le macchine migliori per la pulizia delle moquette per ottenere i risultati più corretti.

MOPPING

Efficiency and ergonomics Mopping systems continue to play a crucial role in most cleaning operations, and there has been a drive towards increased efficiency and process optimisation.

Users want quick results, with low consumption of resources.

Vermop writes here exclusively for ECJ.

The commercial cleaning sector has enjoyed constant growth for many years, with increased order volumes and a trend towards increased efficiency and process optimisation. There is high demand for systems that offer good results quickly and with low consumption of resources.

Managers are concerned not only with the acquisition cost of cleaning equipment, but with ensuring efficient procedures that minimise the consumption of resources.

The consumables used in commercial cleaning include chemicals, water, labour and, of course, working hours. There is an ever greater concentration on systems that enable these resources to be used sparingly.

For example, systems that use presoaked mops are gaining in popularity.

The precise quantity of cleaning textiles required for a cleaning operative’s shift are prepared on the trolley, with special boxes where the mops are immersed in a defined quantity of solution. The preprepared mops are then clipped onto the holder without touching or bending, direct from the box.

No need for water Such pre-wash systems mean there is no need for cleaning operatives to carry water or cleaning fluid on the trolley, making their work easier and saving them from covering long distances. It also saves time, both by reducing transit times and because the mop does not have to be rinsed or squeezed. In buildings with a high hygiene requirement, systems with pre-soaked cleaning textiles are preferred as the mops used are always fresh, thus preventing cross-contamination.

The consumption of cleaning fluid is also controlled by means of dosing attachments to apply the precise amount of cleaning fluid to the mop, ensuring it is always correctly moistened. Dosing attachments are ideal for disinfecting cleaning, or for two-stage wet-and-dry cleaning with dual mop systems. The dosing trough is shaped to enable only

one side of the mop to be moistened while the other stays dry, enabling the cleaning operative to clean and wipe dry in a single operation.

Reducing the overall weight of a cleaning system is also important in the sector. Lightweight equipment allows for more ergonomic, less strenuous working, reducing absenteeism among cleaning staff. It is also a significant factor in saving resources. Lighter cleaning textiles can substantially reduce unit laundry costs.

For example, the capacity of an eight kg washing machine drum is 35.5 units of a dual mop with a dry weight of 225 grams, but if the mop weight is reduced by 50 grams, for example by using different materials, the loading capacity increases to 45.7 units. This means that 10 more mops can be laundered per load.

Tried, tested and still good The cleaning sector is still dominated by the traditional flat mop system. Vermop has introduced a new interpretation of this classic with the Sprint V, an innovative design in which the simple press of a button opens out the two wings of the holder, forming the V shape that gives the system its name. Fitting the mop is a very intuitive process, requiring little instruction and practice. It opens up to discard the mop into the laundry bag at the press of a button, saving operatives from having to bend to remove the soiled mop.

In large buildings dual mop systems offer advantages. With its two cleaning surfaces, a dual mop enables two cleaning stages to be completed in a single operation, requiring only half the head changes. This in turn saves distance, time and laundry costs. The system also enables two-stage cleaning to be carried out in a single operation if one side of the dual mop is moistened while the other remains dry.

Single-stage dry cleaning is now often called for, especially in Scandinavian countries. With a dry mop and no cleaning Continued page 32

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ |31

MOPPING Efficiency and ergonomics (continued) fluid, dry cleaning means no need to carry water or chemicals, and no rinsing or wringing. Microfibre mop heads are generally used, as they pick up dust and dirt thoroughly. Dry cleaning not only saves resources, but also helps preserve the floor covering, especially smooth surfaces such as parquet.

Spoilt for choice Manual cleaning systems are as varied as the situations in which they are used.

Choosing the right cleaning equipment depends on numerous factors: • Size of the building - Flat mop systems for universal use are usually available in working widths of 40 cm and 50 cm. A dual mop system makes sense for a large building. In particularly small or awkward buildings, there is the option of Vermop’s Twix dual mop system. With its reduced working width of 30 cm, the Twix is very manoeuvrable and ideal for rooms with corners and recesses.

• Type of floor - Depending on the floor covering, the first decision is whether dry, moist or wet cleaning is most appropriate.

Then the type and finish of the fibres are chosen. Fabrics with absorbent fibres, such as cotton, are ideal for wet cleaning with a lot of fluid or disinfectant. Microfibres are often used for dry and moist cleaning.

Open fibres are ideal for textured floor coverings because they pick up dirt well from the grooves, while loop-pile fabrics are good for smooth floors.

• Dirt build-up - The frequency of dirt build-up in the building determines the type of cleaning (dry, moist, wet) and the frequency. These criteria in turn determine the choice of cleaning system. Pre-soaking on the trolley is a good solution for light, even dirt build-up, whereas the classic wringer system is better for areas of variable and heavy soiling.

• Laundry facilities - Buildings with central laundry facilities are best served by systems such as a pre-soaked mop, as the cleaning operative can carry all the materials they need with them on the trolley, saving unnecessary journeys.

• Any applicable legal regulations (for example hospitals, clean rooms, etc) Statutory guidelines that prescribe the frequency and often the type of cleaning are of particular relevance in hygienesensitive buildings such as care homes, hospitals and clean rooms.

Les systèmes de balayage humide continuent à jouer un rôle crucial dans de nombreuses opérations de propreté. Ils ont donc été l’objet d’efforts accrus en matière d’efficacité et d’optimisation de procédés. Les utilisateurs recherchent des résultats rapides et une faible consommation de ressources.

Ideally, solutions or measures put together using individual items should be avoided – the overall process is only fully effective if based on a well-designed concept.

In all cases a specialist should be consulted when choosing the system and equipment. Vermop advisers will gladly help with the choice of system, and are best placed to explain the equipment and how to use it.

Learn from the experts It is important to seek assistance from a specialist when choosing the system.

Various companies and institutions offer training sessions for cleaning staff, property managers and other interested parties. Vermop is one, offering regular seminars on a range of commercial cleaning topics. These seminars are usually held twice a year, and cover topics such as the basic principles of cleaning, product knowledge for special applications, and the cleaning and hygiene requirements of special buildings such as hospitals and clean rooms.

Companies can also arrange individual training programmes tailored to their own employees. These are adapted specifically to the customer’s requirements, their sphere of activity, and any cleaning equipment they already have.

Skills for the best results Detailed training of cleaning staff on how and where to use their equipment should not be overlooked – the wrong choice of equipment can not only lead to poor results, but in the worst-case scenario could even damage the floor or the surface.

There may be a wide range of textiles available on an operative’s trolley, especially in prestigious buildings with a number of different floor coverings.

Cleaning staff should therefore be trained in their uses and effects. For example, abrasive fibres remove dirt well, making them good for cleaning tiles and grout, Moppsysteme spielen weiterhin eine wichtige Rolle bei den meisten Reinigungsunternehmen, und es werden gesteigerte Effizienz und Verfahrensoptimierung angestrebt. Die Nutzer möchten schnelle Ergebnisse bei niedrigem Rohstoffverbrauch.

Floorcare Focus - September 2014 | ECJ | 32

but they may damage polished floors. The design of the mop is also crucial to the cleaning results. Textured floors are best cleaned with open-ended fibres, while looped fabrics are excellent for smooth floors.

The correct cleaning chemicals are also essential. A cleaning specialist should be familiar with the action of various chemical substances, as well as the location, type and surface of the floor where each should be used. Mistakes here could cause permanent damage to surfaces or floors.

Such damage is not always immediately apparent, but may emerge gradually with the extent only becoming visible after a few weeks. Ideally cleaning chemicals should be chosen for which selection and dosage mistakes are unlikely.

Many training courses also cover practical processes, the correct use of the equipment and the correct planning of the work. According to the Robert Koch Institute, back pain leads to seven per cent of all absences from work, topping the list of reasons given on absentees’ medical certificates. Cleaning staff should therefore be instructed on the right way to use their equipment. When choosing equipment, priority should be given to ergonomics, as well-designed and properly used equipment can spare operatives a lot of pain and save costs for the employer.

System solutions There are many ways of increasing efficiency within the cleaning process.

Excellent results are essential, but efficiency should not adversely affect employees. Ideally, solutions or measures put together using individual items should be avoided – the overall process is only fully effective if based on a well-designed concept in which the whole system takes full account of the characteristics of the building, the facilities it offers, the equipment and the staff. www.vermop.com

Register now for your regular copy of ECJ - simply complete the form inside the back cover I sistemi di mop continuano ad avere una parte molto importante nella maggioranza delle operazioni di pulizia e c’è stata una tendenza verso un incremento dell’efficienza e un’ottimizzazione delle procedure. Gli utenti vogliono risultati veloci con un basso dispendio di risorse.

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