Suppliers of Domestic and Commercial Cleaning Equipment Since 1991

Tel: 0800 9154 154

Home -> Did you know?

Resources

Are you considering starting or expanding a contract cleaning business?

'Contract Cleaning Services: UK' is an essential marketing tool just published by MSI which will enable you to:
· Compare the changes in demand for contract cleaning services, by type, over the next 5 years.
· Examine the highly fragmented nature of the industry.
· Appreciate what you need to achieve to gain a lead on your competitors.
· Analyse the performance of 8 leading players in the industry.
· Understand the structure of the industry, with an analysis of the number of cleaning companies by size, and the number of employees.

Some interesting cleaning related facts, figures and articles

-  recycled paper uses more chemicals to produce than pure pulp!

- mixing bleach and acid toilet cleaner (i.e. Vortex and Toilet Duck) produces the potentially fatal chlorine gas,similar to mustard gas used in the 1st World War - NEVER LET YOUR STAFF MIX CHEMICALS TOGETHER UNLESS INSTRUCTED!

- our products will soon appear on TV. We recently supplied the set designers for the tv series ‘Noah’s Ark’, filmed locally!

- car wash owners have been told to remove a cheeky sign after council officials got into a lather. Soapy rides' outdoors advert - which features a girl in a bikini leaning over a car bonnet - boasts 'the best hand-job in town'. But East Riding of Yorkshire Council claims the sign, in Goole, is intrusive, has 'dominant visual impact' and should not have been erected without permission. It has threatened legal action. Nigel Kenning of Soapy Rides said 'signs and adverts are supposed to have visual impact'

- although we encourage recycling, do you know how your waste is recycled? Recently, a Scottish Power confidential customer questionaire was discovered used as wadding for a firework in Sri Lanka by a British tourist! IF IN DOUBT DON’T THROW IT OUT!

- during the last few years our key chemical supplier has launched a huge number of new and revised formulations - some obvious - the revised toilet cleaner and bactericidal washing up liquid that they have sought to protect with patents, most others less obvious, new raw materials, huge increases in cleaning performance, vastly reduced environmental impact, and bactericidal systems with increased kill rates. The impact of these changes can be seen in our ability to beat other suppliers offerings on a performance and price basis. This process of modernisation will continue giving our customers a demonstrable competitive advantage.

- the law now allows for a £25 ‘on the spot’ fine for littering!

- the single blade window cleaning squeegee was invented in 1936 by Ettore Sceccone and is still the most common form of commercial window cleaning today!

- all aerosols have to be cfc free by law!

- the law requires that a copy of the Health & Safety at work act is displayed by EVERY employer!

- our least expensive product line is a ‘brass squeegee clip’ at 17p and the most expensive is the ‘Performer Catalytic’ truck mounted carpet cleaner at £15,995.00 + vat (complete with free brass squeegee clip)!

- a russian smuggler was recently arrested in Sydney, Australia when found with 6000 bottles of Vodka. When questioned he insisted it had been 'contaminated' when bottled, and he was simply going to sell it as cleaning fluid. (look out for next months special offer - half price blue label multi purpose cleaner 40% proof active)

- since being appointed safety officer for Cardiff Council, David Spear has been knocked down by a police car, run over by a fire engine, had his neck broken in an ambulance crash and had his hand crushed by a dustbin lorry!

- it has been stressed by the ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ group that 90% of all litter is cigarette related!

- Dyno-Rod recently had to pay damages of £1.2 million to rival pest control company Rentokil after poaching staff who took ‘confidential information’!

- a recent ‘public toilet seminar’ was held at the Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire, to encourage the provision of well maintained, modern and clean public conveniences!

- industry studies show that 40% of cleaning budgets are typically spent on floorcare, 52% of which is on chemicals!

- Express Cleaning Supplies was the first UK janitorial supplier to offer secure online ordering in 1998 and the first to show online video demonstrations in 2000.

- the Health and Safety Executive state that over 5000 enforcement notices have been issued for breaches of C.O.S.H.H. (control of substances hazardous to health). If you would like help or advice regarding compliance please ask!

- a sign spotted in St Andrews Golf Club reads: Would all members please refrain from wiping their dirty balls on the toilet towels. The caretakers wife will oblige with a damp cloth when necessary!

- under the Town Police Clauses Act of 1874 in Glasgow you’re not permitted to wash the outside of your windows on a Sunday, those above ground floor that is!

- no less than 75% of sickness in Europe and North America can be traced to improper food-handling. Why not ask for details of our bactericidal catering products.

- salt is often used in manufacture to thicken neutral detergent (washing-up liquid)!

- organisations within the cleaning industry include the: B.C.C., C.S.S.A., A.B.C.D., A.D.M., I.C.M.M.A., N.C.C.A., B.I.C.Sc., C.A.M.R.A.S.O., S.D.I.A., B.A.C.S, C.S.S.N.T.O. and the B.I.F.C. - T.T.F.N.!

- Taiwanese toilet attendants actually live with their families in some facilities!

- the Health & Safety Executive has estimated that, within the hotel and catering industry alone, accidents can cost up to 8.5% of company turnover!

- over 5% of the Worlds population carry Hepatitis B!

- ‘bristles’ for brushes are generally not bristle at all. Amongst products used are natural coco from Sri Lanka, tampico and rice root from Mexico, bassine and cane from India, broom grass from Lesotho, gumati from Indonesia, sherbro piassava from Sierra Leone, horse hair from Uraguay and, of course pure bristle from China. The humble broom is therefore a truly cosmopolitan tool, with hardwood stocks mostly from - can you guess? - Britain!

- the latest ‘Britains Cleanest City’ has just been launched, whereby a survey will be made by a team of experts from the British Cleaning Council, of the cities’ streets, squares, parks, shopping centres and public buildings!

- our green scourers make ideal model hedges. We recently supplied a local company which makes architectural and landscape models for organisations like the BBC Special effects department, Madam Tussauds and Paramount Studios!

- under the Town Police Clauses Act of 1874 it is a crime to shake a carpet or rug in the street, but not a doormat - so long as it’s before 8am!

- a simple search on the Internet produced two million Web sites on public toilets worldwide!

(if you have any interesting comments, facts, figures or stories relating to any cleaning topic please let us know!)