‘Sustainability’ is much more than a recent buzzword we’ve been hearing making its way around the block.
Whilst the use of the word has certainly increased in frequency, the concept itself has been around for the last 30 years.
However, it’s only been in recent years that the commercial cleaning industry has started to shine a light on how cleaning services can help you be more sustainable.
What really? How can a cleaner make a difference in reaching my sustainability goals? Surely it’s not possible.
And we totally get it. It may seem weird that your cleaning company has anything to do with this.
But the answer’s simple – the methods and type of equipment the cleaner uses impacts/influences sustainability.
At In-Tec, we’ve guided numerous clients through the positives of having commercial cleaners use modern cleaning equipment compared to old-outdated cleaning systems.
Below, we’re going to go through 3 different types of modern cleaning equipment and how they can influence your workplaces sustainability goals. If your cleaners use any one of these pieces of equipment, you’ll come to realise that the sustainability benefits to you are very noticeable.
An i-mop compared to a mop and bucket
We’ve all seen a mop and bucket in action.
I mean, you may even have one in your own home.
But to be honest with you, they’re a pretty old and outdated invention – the string (spaghetti) mop was invented back in the 1800s!
Nowadays, cleaners have a much larger option to choose from when it comes to mopping equipment. For instance, at In-Tec, we use an i-mop which is essentially an electronic mop.
If you were to compare an i-mop to a string mop and bucket in terms of water usage, the results are enormous.
Take this example of a large architectural firm that In-Tec currently services five times per week in the Brisbane CBD. If this site used the conventional mop and bucket, it would require the mop bucket to be emptied and refilled with clean water 12 times per shift. This would equate to using 108 litres of water per shift to mop the floors.
Instead of using this monstrous amount of water, In-Tec has an i-mop on-site which only needs to be filled twice with clean water, totalling just 18 litres of water per shift. The workplace’s water usage is reduced by about 80% - you can place a big sustainability tick next to that one!
Plus, the other benefit is that you’ll have much cleaner floors.
Doesn’t that seem far more sustainable?
The reason why the i-mop saves water is because of its high speed of 350rpm and specialised brushes, which retain the water within the bristles. Additionally, a combination of powerful mechanical action and advanced solution recovery makes it possible to clean more thoroughly with a fraction of the water. The i-mop reduces environmental impact by over 75%!
There is one more important point to mention when it comes to the i-mop. For every litre of water used by an i-mop, the i-team makes another litre of water available elsewhere through the Made Blue Foundation.
The Made Blue Program invests in projects in developing countries to help provide water for those who don’t have access to it. According to i-team, each i-mop out there in the world is contributing 18 litres of water per day to the foundation.
“In January 2021, i-team contributed a total of 803.947.500 litres of water. This means access to clean drinking water for 11.013 people for at least 10 years” – i-team July 2021
It’s safe to say that we should all be careful with our water as it’s one of the most important natural resources on earth.
If your cleaner is using a string mop and bucket, then it’s not doing any favours to your workplace’s sustainability goals. You want your cleaner to be using an electric mop like the i-mop or even a flat mop which we discuss in the next section.
A pulse flat mop compared to a mop and bucket
I know I know; we’re talking about mops again…
But bear with us because this time we’re discussing flat mops, specifically those from Rubbermaid.
At sites where an i-mop isn’t practical, why would we again revert back to a traditional string mop and bucket? (they’re outdated, don’t clean very well, and aren’t environmentally friendly).
A flat mop uses one-tenth of the water and chemical of a mop and bucket. For instance, a normal mop and bucket holds 9 litres of water whilst a Rubbermaid flat mop holds 900ml.
So what’s the gain? Over 8 litres of water!
At In-Tec, we recommend having your cleaners use an i-mop for the entire site or a combination of an i-mop and flat mop for all those super hard to reach areas.
A backpack battery vacuum compared to an electric corded vacuum
Just as the string mops are outdated, so are the use of conventional corded vacuum cleaners.
So what’s the alternative?
Battery vacuums of course!
Not only do they make the cleaner more productive, but they use less electricity (power) to get the job done.
To better explain this, the saving and therefore sustainability gain comes in two forms.
In using a battery vacuum, the cleaner can generally reduce the time required by up to 40%. This results in less drain on the battery and therefore less time to recharge - the first saving in electricity usage. For example, at a large site that we clean, it used to take the cleaner 1 hour 30min to vacuum. And now it only takes 45min with the battery vacuum!
The second saving in electricity usage comes down to the start system. Let us explain what we mean.
In current electric corded vacuums, when you turn the motors on they run at full speed instantly. Whereas with a battery-powered vacuum, they have what is called a “soft start” system that slowly builds itself to its full capacity. This is to save the battery from burning out straight away – in other words, it’s more efficient.
In layman’s terms, this means that the battery vacuums need less electricity to start and run.
Plus, the power it takes to recharge the battery every night is about 70% of the power you would have used if you had a corded vacuum.
Gone are the days of outmoded cleaning systems.
A good commercial cleaning company will be equipped with all the latest cleaning technologies, products, methods, and equipment such as a quality battery vacuum.
Why your cleaners should be using modern cleaning equipment
It may seem a little far-fetched at first, but using the proper mops and vacuums really does lead to a more sustainable outcome for your workplace.
Who would’ve thought right?
The 3 types of modern cleaning equipment we’ve spoken about all contribute to the hidden sustainability things that a good cleaning company can bring to you.
Because generally, it’s the hidden things that no one ever thinks about like:
- How much power does a cleaner use?
- How much water does a cleaner use?
Though it may not have a visible direct effect on you, it’s certainly there and extremely important.
You want a cleaning company that recognizes the significance of sustainability and using environmentally friendly products. You want a cleaning company that uses the latest equipment and methods, and we mean everything from Tersano, to eWater, to i-mops, flat mops, and battery vacuums.
By finding the right cleaning company, you’ll be able to tick all the boxes when it comes to sustainability such as water usage, electricity usage, chemical-free solutions, and so much more.
If you’re after a little more information about how a cleaning company can help you be more sustainable, then schedule a call with Paul or Caitlin. We’re here to help.
