Eternal shine of the spotless kind: Hospitality’s hygiene stars

For Dan Francis, UK sales director at Biological Preparations, cleaning technologies should be designed with operations in mind. “Take the traditional two-stage cleaning process: apply the product, then rinse it off,” he says. “This doubles the workload for cleaning teams. And if the second step is skipped or rushed, it can leave spaces looking less clean.”

 

He says Biological Preparations’ Biotech range solves this issue by eliminating the need for rinsing, something which has proved useful at Estelle Manor hotel in Oxfordshire. Executive housekeeper Aoife Caffrey says: “The introduction of Biotech products has meant faster, more effective cleaning. We’re saving time without compromising hygiene. They’ve not only helped streamline operations but also supported our sustainability goals, including achieving Green Key and reducing water consumption.”

 

Green and clean

At Alchemilla restaurant in Nottingham, its sustainability efforts also extend into cleaning and maintenance. It installed Robert Scott’s Toucan Eco Active system, which takes water and salt and activates them through electrolysis to create a multipurpose disinfectant cleaner available on tap. One activation produces 10 litres of disinfectant and cleaning solution, equivalent to around 16 600ml spray bottles.

 

“Knowing we’re using considerably fewer chemical products and further reducing our plastic waste output is exactly what we set out to achieve”

 

Alchemilla uses it to clean all areas of front of house, including tabletops, glassware, windows and mirrors, fridges, furniture and washroom facilities. Head chef and proprietor Alex Bond estimates the restaurant has saved an average of £200 a month on the cost of chemical cleaning agents, as well as a reduction in the volume of plastic waste.

 

He says: “The staff have found the system easy to use and incredibly time-saving, which always helps at the end of a long shift. The results have exceeded our expectations and knowing we’re using considerably fewer chemical products and further reducing our plastic waste output is exactly what we set out to achieve.”

Sybron sales and marketing director George Mason feels that reliability is the most crucial aspect of the cleaning regime in any catering environment. He says: “SyBio is a gold standard sustainable cleaning solution and has 30 times more actives versus other bio-technology products on the market. We provide customers with a controlled dispensing system which guarantees the correct amount of product is used. This correct dosage delivers the right level of cleaning.”

 

Back of house, if warewashers aren’t cleaning to an optimum level, this can negatively impact service, with smeared glassware or greasy dishes. Therefore, Hobart Service complements its range of warewashers with its own brand Hyline chemical range, including warewashing detergent, glass washer detergent and rinse aid.

 

Sales and marketing director Victoria Carroll says: “Our detergents having been scientifically developed to be suitable for those in both hard and soft water areas. Hyline chemicals are also highly concentrated, meaning a lower dosage is required to achieve a consistently outstanding, hygienic clean. The lower dosage also requires less energy to clean, delivering ongoing energy savings for business owners.”

 

Hardware for the hard work

It’s not just chemicals which ensure spotless surface – machines can also make light work of scrubbing, helping to facilitate staff. At the Royal York & Faulkner hotel, a seafront hotel in Sidmouth on the Jurassic coast in Devon, the housekeeping team have used Rotowash floor-cleaning machines for the past year to keep all guest areas clean.

 

The housekeeping manager there says the hotel needed one machine to cope with all surfaces: “The Rotowash handles tiles, vinyl and even entrance matting with ease – and it dries fast, which is essential during busy service times.”

The machine uses a twin cylindrical brush to scrubs deep into textured floors while claiming to use up to 90% less water and fewer chemicals than traditional models, helping reduce slip risks and support the hotel’s sustainability goals.

 

Meanwhile, Kärcher UK launched battery powered modular dry vacuums in April, and will be following this up with corded models this summer. The range consists of the modular T 10/1 HEPA and T 15/1 HEPA, and the T11/1 Re!Plast vacuum cleaners – each designed with sustainability and performance in mind. Created to provide suction power, ergonomic operation and low noise levels, the vacuums can help hospitality staff to efficiently clean without disturbing guests.

 

Washroom areas can sometimes be forgotten about when it comes to hygiene maintenance, and according to a problem detection study conducted in the US, UK, Mexico and China in 2020, 71% of cleaners wish their washrooms were easier to restock. Hygiene supplies firm Tork has created the Tork Xpress Multifold Hand Towel System to free up staff time and improve the guest experience. The system means that hospitality sites could serve twice the number of guests in their washrooms before needing to refill.

 

Prioritising hygiene isn’t just about cleanliness – it’s about protecting the business, staff and customers. By investing in efficient systems and smart workflows, hospitality businesses can create safer, more welcoming environments that keep guests coming back.

 

Suppliers

Biological Preparations biologicalpreparations.com/biohygiene

Delphis Eco www.delphiseco.com

Hobart Service www.hobartservice.co.uk

Kärcher UK www.kaercher.com/uk

Robert Scott www.robert-scott.co.uk

Rotowash www.rotowash.com

Sybron www.sybron.co.uk

Tork www.torkglobal.com/gb/en

 

Main photo: Halfpoint/Shutterstock