Traditional window cleaning involves a bucket,  JA022021

or even simpler: JA1059,

soapy warm water, Micro fibre cloths JA021065 (or even better, a moon strip sleeve on a T bar), a squeegee and window rubber scraper as well as ladders and maybe some additional tools, such as a scraper, for more difficult marks or blemishes JA003055C

Waterproof neoprene gloves are also useful: PGL01GL .

Click on this link for our range of these items click here.

Alternatively, if you need the professional window cleaning range Unger brand, just phone us on + 353 47 76500

This old fashioned cleaning method is to firstly wash the window: Start from the top with a sponge and warm soapy water and then to wipe all that solution from the window.

Again, start at the top running across and back until all the glass is cleared, making sure to get into the corners. Blue Mila roll/garage is a great aid to polishing the glass after cleaning. The paper not only absorbs the moisture but removes the grime as well.  We know just the place to buy this: – JA10053

Stubborn stains may be removed with Fortisan Crystal Clear or a little vinegar solution before cleaning the whole pane of glass. Bird droppings may need soaking in warm water before they can be removed. Builders residue such as paint or cement and plaster will require a scraper. Care must be taken with a sharp scraper not to damage glass and window frames. In fact you should insist that your builder or decorator remove paint or plaster as they put it there in the first place. If it requires any white spirit then a paint retouch may be necessary.

Deionised water: for Professional Window Cleaners

Forthcoming EU legislation regarding the use of ladders will force the window cleaning professionals to use what is known as the “water fed pole” system using 100% pure deionised water. From the window cleaners point of view this reduces risk of accidents as the work is done while standing on the ground.

Why pure deionised water? Normal tap water contains chemicals such as calcium, fluoride or other salts that will leave streaks and spots on your window if left to dry naturally. In contrast, pure water dries spot free when left to dry in sunlight or the wind.

Pure water is created by a filtration process. This has the advantage of being environmentally friendly and eliminating the use of chemicals and detergents. Pure water has the capacity to absorb large amounts of dirt from your windows. The difference from a customer’s perspective is that initially windows are left wet, as opposed to traditional methods. This may seem a little disconcerting at first but the windows will dry spot free.

In addition to cleaning your windows the water fed pole system has the advantage of cleaning the frames at the same time.

NB If your windows are particularly grimy than using deionised water may take 2 or 3 cleans before they sparkle. Flakey and loose paint will also be removed from any frames.

JBS Group has introduced a complete range of colour coded cleaning equipment – in line with the standard colour coding from the British Institute of Cleaning Science. The logic of colour coding is simple: use different coloured products in different areas and avoid cross contamination.

Red:            Washrooms
Yellow:    Clinical/medical/healthcare areas
Green:      General food/bar, catering
Blue:         Low risk areas

JBS has the full range of colour coded cloths, mopping equipment and brushes in our e-catalogue http://asp.webpublication.co.uk/v2/indexPop.jsp?id=242/743/1328&lng=en 
and in our online shop
http://www.jbsgroup.ie/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=colour+coded&search_in_description=1

Paper towels are the way to go…

In November 2008, the University of Westminster – London, stated at the EUROPEAN TISSUE SYMPOSIUM, the final result of an interesting investigation. The investigation consisted on comparing the number of bacteria found before and after washing and drying our hands.

The result clearly showed the harmful effect caused by using Warm Air Dryers instead of Paper Towels. Hand Hygiene is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Washing and rinsing do not remove all dirt and bacteria from the skin. It is drying that completes the job.

Warm Air Dryer +254 % - Increase the amount of bacteria.
Paper Towel         -77 

Drying Efficiency
 The results show that hot air dryers are considerably less efficient and slower, with an average of 47 seconds to achieve 90% of drying; this is almost 5 times more than the paper towel, which in 10 seconds gets the same percentage.

Therefore, it has been proven that drying with a paper towel is the optimal method, since it removes dirt, grease and bacteria from the skin, in areas where the air dryer fails to act.

STUDY CONCLUSIONS
In summary, the results of the study indicate that the paper towel should be used in places where hygiene is crucial and critical, such as hospitals, clinics, industries, schools, kitchens, public casinos and all sites where there is manipulation of food and many people living together.

Hand hygiene: The air drier increases the amount of bacteria on hands; while paper towels, reduce this amount.

Drying performance: The paper towel has a higher efficiency than the electric dryer in normal use. Speed: The air dryer takes 5 minutes than the paper towel to dry hands.

Please see link below to view the video of Toilet Paper Disolving Properties Test.

Toilet Tissue Test

At JBSGroup.ie we get a lot of requests for cloths, duster, mops. We are happy to supply these at best price – but there is actually a better value method. A lower “cost in use” method of cleaning. By using microfibres, instead of normal cloths, mops, rags and dusters, customers will spend less on their cleaning supplies.

What is Microfibre?

Microfibre refers to synthetic fibres that measure less than one denier.(Denier is a unit of weight for measuring the fineness of threads)

Microfibre then is very thin.

The most common types of microfibres are made from polyesters and polyamides.

Why use Microfibre?

• Less chemicals
• Absorbing ability (7 times it’s own weight)
• Lint free
• Non abrasive
• Quicker Cleaning

Does it save money?

• Cloths and Mop pads can be washed up to 500 times
• Quicker cleaning compared with other conventional products
• Tests prove Microfibre products use less chemicals

What can I clean with Microfibre?

• Glass
• Mirrors
• Chrome
• Stainless Steel
• Sanitary Ware
• Counter Tops
• Floors

So, microfibres are the smart way to clean up: the thin fibre attracts more dirt and requires less use of liquid chemicals.

www.jbsgroup.ie has a full range of microfibre products, including microfibre floor mops

Background

We all have a common interest in ensuring our hospitals are clean & hygienic. The fear of VARS, MRSA, E.coli and similar infections is a great motivator. Accordingly, a lot of effort is dedicated to regular cleaning schedules to keep wards neat and tidy. However, the key question is: how clean are they really?

Cleaning, especially in a hospital environment, is certainly more of a science than an art. Science can also help us determine if something that looks clean, is really clean.

Tools such as ATP testing are routinely used in the catering industry for hygiene monitoring, and these tools are now transferring into other applications.

ATP Swab Testing
ATP swab testing was originally trialled for determining cleanliness in a hospital environment in the UK in  2008. It is also now being used in Ireland.

What is ATP?
ATP (Adenosine triphosphate) is present in all living organisms, and is one of the molecules that provide the energy that cells need for life. The presence of ATP on surfaces is therefore an indication that bacteria or other organic matter is present on the surface.

The more ATP present, the poorer the cleanliness of the surface, and therefore the higher the risk of contamination from contact with that surface.

Nature has provided a natural way of detecting the presence of ATP. In the firefly, ATP is the energy source that fuels the characteristic glow. The firefly uses an enzyme called luciferase to convert the energy contained in ATP into light – a phenomenon known as bioluminescence. ATP swab test kits make use of this to detect the amount of ATP present – the more ATP, the brighter the light, and the higher the test results.

So, what does ATP have to do with our Hospitals? Well, it is the key test for the presence of living organisms: so if we can reduce our ATP levels, we’ll reduce the level of  germs and possible infections.

But, we already regularly hoover and clean the wards with microfibre mops.

Yes, but even with those cleaning techniques hospital can still show high levels of ATP

For example, in  a large Devon hospital, surveyed just 9 months ago, they found that, even after a the normal cleaning had been done,  there was initially over 5,000 RLU of ATP present. However, once they introduced the Contico System, the level of ATP reduced down to about 300RLU a significant and important drop.

The results are dramatic, and provide confidence that not only is the hospital looking visually cleaner, it is actually hygienically cleaner  - thanks to the Contico Microfibre System.

Regular re-testing has allowed us to confirm that this new approach is working – not only are the floors now looking clean, everyone can be confident that they are clean.

So, what is the Contico Microfibre System?

Using the New DisDry, DIS50 Mop & Dis3D Washable Mop from Contico

The Graph above shows how the level of germs in a typical hospital dropped from 5,000 down to 300 by using the Contico Microfibre System.

This is a System whereby
1)   the ward is first cleaned using a microfibre dry dusting mop. (DisDry) This clears the surface grime.
2)   Then a wet micro fibre mop is used. (The wet mop can be either disposable (DIS50 Mop for high risk areas) or semidisposable and washable Dis3D Washable Mop for normal areas).

The key benefit is that independent swab tests show how the level of germs can be further reduced from 5,000 down to only 300.

It is worth noting that the areas when initially tested had already been cleaned with traditional microfibres – and yet still showed 5,000 germs. So, it is evident that Contico’s 2^nd generation microfibres are significantly more effective than the 1^st generation microfibre solutions offered by many suppliers.

Summary
The use of ATP swabbing reflects how hygienically clean as well as visibly clean the hospital actually is. This reduction in germs was achieved using the Contico 2nd Generation Microfibre System. For this reason JBS Group suggests that hospitals trying to pursue the HIQA ideals should trial the Contico system

For further information, contact JBS at:-
JBS, Milltown Business Park, Milltown, Monaghan, Ireland (No postcode)
M: +353 86 8213722  Ph: + 353 47 76500  Fx: + 353 47 76501
grattan.boylan@jbsgroup.ie www.jbsgroup.ie