Promised Hospital Deep Clean Misses Target

March 31, 2008 Posted by Administrator in : News , add a comment

The NHS target to deep clean all the hospitals in England by the end of March is likely to be missed.

Ministers expect 93% of trusts to have completed the process by today (Monday) and the rest have apparently started their cleans and will finish soon.

However, the Tories said it was a shambles as not all the money promised to cover the costs of cleaning has been used correctly. 

A total of £60m has been spent on cleaning but the Tories say just £15.6m has gone to hospitals to pay for it.

To add to the criticisms, infection control experts have said that the programme is a gimmick and that it will only have a short-term impact on hospital infections such as MRSA.

Dr Jodi Lindsay, an expert in Infectious diseases: ‘The reason that it’s not going to work is that MRSA is carried by people and as soon as you deep clean a hospital, if you let people back into it again, you’re going to have the same MRSA problem.’

Cleaning firms have said the government should instead have properly funded day-to-day cleaning.

Hospitals Get Major Clean in Bid to Fight Superbugs

March 11, 2008 Posted by Administrator in : News , add a comment

Two UK hospitals are being given a deep clean later this month. The West Kent Primary Care Trust hospitals, will be cleaned as part of the Government’s Deep Clean directive to help fight superbugs.

Livingstone Hospital and Gravesham Community Hospital are the lucky two hospitals that have been chosen. Each clean will last for between three and four days.

The Deep Clean directive has been introduced by the Department of Health to help reduce infections in hospitals across the country.

Chairman of the Patient Public Involvement Forum Diane Steltner has said: ‘Any form of cleaning is always good and a deep clean for a hospital is extra special.’

Takeaways in Dorset Under Threat if They Don’t Start Cleaning Up

March 7, 2008 Posted by Administrator in : News , add a comment

Takeaway owners in Bournemouth could have their licenses reviewed if they fail to clean up their premises.

According to the local community between the hours of 12-4am the town is a disgrace with all the litter. The takeaways are supposed to be cleaned up outside every 30 minutes but this doesn’t appear to be the case.

Cllr David Smith, cabinet member for the community says: “I don’t think that’s happening. If they don’t comply, their licences will be reviewed. I want to see this town clean 24 hours a day, not 20.”

Cllr Smith has said he wants licensees to take responsibility for sweeping up the pavement outside their own premises.

Unilever Being Investigated by French Cleaning Authorities

February 27, 2008 Posted by Administrator in : News , add a comment

French competition authorities are investigating Unilever and Reckitt Benckiser over price-fixing on household cleaning products.

The cleaning product makers are among nine international businesses caught up in a cartel investigation, which examines increases in price that were said to be agreed in 2005.

Unilever, whose brands include Cif cream cleaner and Domestos bleach, confirmed that it was co-operating with the French authorities over the investigation that began last year.

It is thought that SC Johnson, the US maker of Pledge furniture polish and Glade air fresheners, tipped of the French Authorities, according to Le Figaro newspaper.

If they’re found guilty, the companies risk fines of up to 10 per cent of their global sales.

PM Promises a £50m Deep Clean for Hospitals, But is it an Empty Gesture?

January 15, 2008 Posted by Administrator in : News , 1 comment so far

Cleaning contractors are concerned that Gordon Brown’s policy to spend £50m on deep cleaning hospitals, will be an “empty gesture”.

At a Labour conference in September the Prime Minister promised that all hospitals would undergo a deep clean, that would see hospitals as clean as the day they were new.

This is to be put in place in the fight against superbugs like MRSA.

Andrew Large of The Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA) said: ”These deep cleans will be an empty gesture unless they are backed up with long-term investment in cleaning”.

He continues: “We will not make any progress in the fight against infections like MRSA, if we do these deep cleans and then let the situation go back to what it was. It will have been a futile exercise.”

The 1,500 hospitals in England have until the end of March to complete the deep clean programme.

Bosch in Trouble Over Dishwasher Claims!

January 3, 2008 Posted by Administrator in : News , add a comment

A recent Bosch dishwasher advert has been taken off the TV because it implied their machine always used less water than washing up by hand.

A voiceover said:  ‘Did you know that washing up by hand uses up to three times more water than if you used a fully loaded Bosch dishwasher?’

The advert was not entirely accurate and Bosch was forced to stop the TV advert being shown in it’s current form.

The commercial did not make clear that in some cases washing up by hand could be more water-efficient than using a dishwasher, said the Advertising Standards Authority.

So it seems Bosch did not do their research properly, the research that was done, only used small samples and wasn’t enough to back up Bosch’s claims.

Watchdog said that in general, AAA-rated electric dishwashers used less water than washing up by hand, when the tap was left running.

But Bosch had not made this clear in the commercial and it’s implication was that it’s fully loaded dishwashers, always used less water than washing up manually.

Removing Those Christmas Party Stains

December 19, 2007 Posted by Administrator in : News, Cleaning Advice , add a comment

It’s Christmas party season, the time for office parties and soirees with the neighbours.  But it’s also time for post-party mess and those dreaded food stains on the furniture… Here is some advice to get rid of them easily and effectively.

Essential items that you should have at the ready during and after the party:

These items will ensure you are ready for any stain that may come your way.

Those nasty food stains:  Fristly don’t panic, sprinkle table salt on to the stain, this will prevent the stain from setting.  Remove all debris from the surface but do not rub it in, instead blot with a wash cloth or white paper towel.  When you have finished, layer the stain with sheets of paper towel topped with a heavy object and leave over night.  This will soak up the stain properly.

Remember to always be prepared, but most of all enjoy yourself it’s only a stain.

Merry Christmas!

Tips For Cleaning Your Work Desk!

December 13, 2007 Posted by Administrator in : News, Cleaning Advice , add a comment

So the chances are you are reading this whilst sitting at your wooden work desk… Now have a look, is it looking a bit dusty and a tad dirty, if so these tips are for you!

Wooden desks and other furniture require some special treatment. Take these tips on board to ensure cleaning, doesn’t ruin a good finish. 

To keep your desk dust free it is best to use lambs wool dusters or classic feather dusters.  However if you are unable to get hold of this type of duster then a dry, clean soft towel will be fine.  It is important to clean your wood from dust because it can cause scratches and abrasions. For sticky spots use soap and water, do not use cleaning sprays.

Furniture polish is a very good tool for cleaning wood, it make the surface slippery and less likely to catch dirt and dust. 

However if you choose to wax the surface, there are a lot of good waxes on the market.  Or alternatively a good homemade recipe for giving your wooden desk a deep clean, consists of equal parts olive oil, denatured alcohol, gum turpentine, and strained lemon juice. You should apply this with a soft cloth and gently buff.

Remember a clean desk environment maintains professionalism and makes yourselve and/or your company even more inviting.  So get the elbow grease going!

Key to MRSA is Targeted Cleaning?

December 5, 2007 Posted by Administrator in : News, Cleaning Advice , add a comment

An expert has said that targeted cleaning is the key to reducing hospital infections.  MRSA could be reduced if focus in on objects which people frequently touch rather than on “catch-all blitzes”.

Microbiologist Dr Stephanie Dancer found bed linen, gowns and tables were a common cause for the superbug, appose to floors. 

The MRSA rate has fallen in recent years with just 6,000 new cases in the last 12 months.  However hospital infections have not fallen fast enough for the government’s target to half MRSA rates by next year, according to 2004 figures.

Dr Stephanie Dancer emphasises the need to clean handled objects included Door handles, bed-rails, furniture and taps.  As these are all common causes.

She also claimed that the cleaning did not even need to be done with state-of-the-art cleaning agents, hot soapy water would do.

There we are then, hospitals have absolutely no excuses!

Infection Fear Due to Dirty Ambulances

November 26, 2007 Posted by Administrator in : News , add a comment

It is feared that ambulances are spreading infection because they are not being cleaned properly.

The health union found that in some areas of the UK, ambulance workers are forced to give their vehicles a “quick mop out” because they don’t have dedicated cleaning staff.

Unison have called for cleanliness standards to be applied and monitored across trusts to improve standards.

Paramedics say they do not have the time to even check the vehicles, which are never deep cleaned.

On a more positive note London Ambulance Service have introduced on-site cleaners who work throughout the night to deep clean the fleet.