Exciting innovation redefines commercial floor cleaning
Exciting innovation redefines commercial floor cleaning
For many years there was little innovation in the cleaning industry. Ten years ago in 2014 the i-Mop scrubber dryer revolutionised floor cleaning. Now the manufacturer i-team Global have just upped the game again by launching the new i-walk. This is the very latest innovation in floor cleaning technology, and enables operatives to work smarter not harder. Temco was privileged to be invited to the global product launch in London on 1st October 2024.
In this blog we look at how this exciting innovation redefines commercial floor cleaning.
The new i-walk
What is the i-walk
The i-walk is a groundbreaking co-bot that redefines cleaning, delivering unmatched efficiency and precision cleaning. It works by attaching to the i-mop XL, transforming it from a standalone cordless scrubber dryer to an automated co-botic which will clean up to 300m2 with only one minute of set up time.
The i-mop XL is a patented flexible floor scrubber dryer that revolutionised cleaning in 2014. This is an innovative floor scrubber dryer which combines the flexibility of a floor mop with the power and speed of an industrial machine, cleaning 70% faster than conventional wet mopping. It will improve the appearance of the hard floors considerably as it is highly effective at removing dirt.
Greener
The i-mop already is a very eco-friendly cleaning machine. It uses an advanced recovery system that cuts water usage by 70% and reduces chemical use compared to manual cleaning. This makes it a greener and a more environmentally responsible floor cleaning choice.
Safer
The i-walk's suction system ensures surfaces dry very quickly, reducing the risk of slips and falls after cleaning. Plus it's battery operated so no trailing cables which further improves safety.
Complete the work even when short staffed
The combination of the i-mop XL and the i-walk frees cleaning operatives from repetitive and time-consuming tasks. By reducing the need for manual labour, it allows staff to focus on other tasks rather than floor cleaning. This not only makes their jobs more enjoyable, and offering the client a real benefit.
For cleaning companies facing staff shortages, this technology facilitates the maintenance of high cleaning delivery standards with reduced operatives onsite.
TemcoUK Facility Services is a professional commercial cleaning contractor
Temco is a professional commercial office cleaning. We offer office contract cleaning and periodic cleaning such as floor maintenance.
Our cleaning managers are experienced and we have a stable team. This gives you consistency, reassurance and expertise for the management of your contract. We tailor our office cleaning service to meet the unique requirements of your business.
If you would like further information please contact us on LinkedIn, email hello@temco-services.co.uk or call us 01895 520370.
Cleaning advice for a COVID-Secure workplace
Since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in England on 19th July, the advice has changed from work from home if possible, to promoting a gradual return to the office. Industry experts predict that by September many office workers will be back at least some days in the office. Good hygiene has never been more important, and staff need to feel confident that their workplace is a safe. In this blog we look at cleaning advice for a COVID-secure workplace.
Current Government guidance requires employers to complete and implement a COVID-19 risk assessment and take action to prevent transmission, this includes
- One-way systems to minimise contact
- Social distancing
- Desk partitions if face-to-face working or allocating workstations to individuals
- Effective cleaning
Employers have a duty to keep staff and visitors safe whilst on their premises. Keeping the workplace clean and hygienic reduces the potential for coronavirus to spread and cleaning plays a major role.
5 Cleaning tips and advice for a COVID-Secure workplace
-
Use anti-viral disinfectant cleaner
Using professional grade products proven to kill coronaviruses is key. Cleaning products which have been independently tested to EN14476 – the European Standard for Virucidal Effectiveness – guarantees that the product is effective and suitable for use not only against COVID-19 but also against a range of pathogenic viruses including Influenza A (H1N1 and Swine Flu).
Implementing a clear desk policy helps to keep surfaces clear so that cleaning routine are effective. Cleaners won't usually move personal items on desks, so having clear areas will make it easier to clean surfaces, keyboards and phones.
-
Update Staff training to ensure cleaners understand how to clean effectively
COVID training is essential so that the team know how to clean and sanitise effectively. For example, understanding chemical contact time and correct clean cloth usage.
Contact time is the time stated by the manufacturer on how long the chemical needs to be left in order to kill the bacteria or virus. It is typically anything from a few seconds to 5 minutes. It matters because this is the time required for the chemical to be effective.
Using clean cloths is of paramount importance to avoid cross contamination when cleaning and sanitising. Used cloths should be cleaned at 60 degrees or sanitised after use.
-
Enhanced cleaning with a focus on High frequency touchpoint cleaning
Reviewing and updating cleaning schedules is important to make sure the tasks reflect the new requirements. Touchpoints are areas which are frequently touched within an office, such as
- door handles, push plates and stair rails
- light switches and lift panels
- kitchen appliance handles
- coffee machines, printers and photocopier buttons
Identifying and focusing on these touchpoints will reduce the risk of cross contamination. The visible presence of cleaners or day housekeepers sanitising throughout the day will provide additional reassurance to returning staff that their workplace is hygienic and safe.
-
Antimicrobial solutions for hygienically safe workplace environments
Next generation surface protection provides hygiene solutions which are highly suitable for the workplace. Antimicrobial protective pads and wraps are effective against SARS-COV-2 and reduce the requirement for continual cleaning in high traffic areas. Using silver ion technology they degrade the biological makeup of pathogens, resulting in a much lower risk of cross contamination.
-
Sanitisation, Fogging and sanitiser supply
Specialist backpack machines can dispense a fine spray to disinfect all surfaces quickly and in a targeted manner. Delivering a liquid layer of detergent which dries quickly provides very effective virus control and allows cleaning teams to respond quickly to suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19.
For a COVID-Secure workplace another good way to promote hand hygiene in the office is to ensure hand sanitiser is readily available. This should be the building entrance, in communal areas and in meeting rooms. Together with hand washing, sanitiser reduces the risk of virus transmission. Sanitiser is available in individual bottles or in bulk 5l bottles as required.
TemcoUK Facility Services provides commercial daily office cleaning
TemcoUK provides a full range of office cleaning services which prevent the spread of COVID-19. From touch point cleaning to sanitisation and fogging, we keep workplaces hygienic and safe. Check out our services here.
Our fully trained specialist teams can carry out site or area sanitisations, and we work in line with government and industry guidelines.
Contact us for more information or for a free quote.
How Daily Office Cleaning is adapting to Hybrid Working
The cleaning industry has been adapting fast to the pandemic to ensure every office environment is safe and inspires confidence to returning staff. This blog looks at how daily office cleaning is adapting to hybrid working. For more information, please check out our latest white paper.
Changes in office use
The traditional five-day office only working week is unlikely to return. Most staff have adapted rapidly to the pandemic and have worked productively from home since March 2020. The change has become the new norm, causing an enormous shift in office use.
Offices however will not disappear and many surveys such as from PWC reveal that one third of organisations believe they will reduce their office footprint by more than 30%. The same survey showed that 71% of respondents plan to increase investment in technology that enables agile working.
Communication and Collaboration
Offices will become collaborative hubs, used to add value for collaboration and communication. The aim is to foster and build the team mentality that is vital to a vibrant business. In addition it is essential for younger workers to have access to the office for mentoring and to learn and understand the business and its culture.
Team days
Reducing and changing the office space will mean that different teams might need to be allocated different days to avoid overcrowding. Offices will have to adapt accordingly. Many are already undergoing refits to radically change the space, making it more flexible for the fluid requirements of hybrid working.
Rethinking Office Cleaning for hybrid working
Office Cleaning has changed dramatically becoming more strategic with targeted areas receiving more frequent attention. As most cleaning providers have experienced, this has resulted in a re-assessment of every aspect of the cleaning process to ensure absolute clarity for clients. They will have pared every specification down to its constituent elements, task by task, to ensure every aspect is appropriate in this new world.
And of course every site is different. This means significant planning and tailoring to the cleaning schedules like never before to ensure staff understand and implement new client protocols, taking into consideration use levels, social distancing and office occupancy.
Range of Solutions
Cleaning providers work with a number of approaches to cover every contingency.
- Daily Cleaning: Using anti-viral products proven to kill coronaviruses and conforming to EN14476.
- Reactive Cleaning: having mobile teams to quickly respond to suspected or confirmed COVID cases.
- Preventative Cleaning: installing long lasting surface protection to high frequency touch points such as door handles and push plates, and using products which offer residual protection.
Up-skilling the cleaning team
The enhanced and precise demands resulting from the pandemic carry through to the cleaning requirements for the hybrid office, so high quality and well-trained staff are essential.
COVID training needs to be meaningful including the basics, how to clean and sanitise effectively and how to work within individual office protocols.
Alignment with Facility Manager (FM) teams
Close cooperation between cleaning providers and FM teams is key to deliver a work environment that is safe from COVID. Implementation can be in a number of ways.
- Matching the cleaning to office use, reflecting for example team changeover times or busier days. It should also incorporate daily priorities and be adjusted to the new demand, with cleaning schedules updated.
- Cleaning should reflect client daily priorities and be adjusted when required to prioritise sanitisations. For example on a busy day with more staff in the office, then desk sanitisation prioritises carpet vacuuming.
- Having sufficient stocks of essential supplies becomes increasing important. This would include for example soap, sanitizer and hand towels.
- To give confidence to staff, cleaners may undertake more frequent cleaning of kitchens and washrooms and any communal area.
- There is a wide range of innovative products which can be deployed on client sites to maintain hygiene and cleanliness. Examples include data driven cleaning, antimicrobial surface products with residual protection and robotic cleaning.
TemcoUK Facility Services – keeping workplaces clean
Based in Uxbridge, London, Temco has been delivering professional office cleaning services since 2001, keeping workplaces safe, clean and hygienic.
We are agile and client focused and have adapted our business in the past 18 months to reflect the new requirements of daily commercial office cleaning. We have an excellent record of professionally managing cleaning contracts, and provide a full range of services to cover all client needs.