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Adam Ramsdale

Futuristic Cleaning

AI and Cleaning Services – An Unlikely Pair?

By | Blog | No Comments

What do you think of when we say Artificial Intelligence?

AI and Cleaning Services – An Unlikely Pair?

When we talk about AI, images of autonomous cars navigating bustling city streets, voice assistants like Siri and Alexa simplifying our day-to-day tasks, or sophisticated robots assembling intricate machinery on a production line often come to mind. These applications of AI have become increasingly ingrained in our modern lives. At first glance, the association may seem unusual, if not unlikely. After all, cleaning services have traditionally been seen as manual, labour-intensive and highly dependent on human judgment and skill.

The Power of AI in Cleaning

We can streamline our operations in numerous ways, enhancing efficiency, safety, and satisfaction.

Automated Scheduling: AI helps us provide more flexible and accurate scheduling. Our AI system analyses booking patterns, job duration, and travel time between locations to optimize our scheduling. It reduces overlaps and unnecessary downtime, ensuring our teams can serve more clients effectively each day.

AI generated, scheduling board

Smart Cleaning Devices: Thanks to AI, our cleaning tools have gotten a major upgrade. Robotic vacuums with AI can now map out the entire house, remember the layout, and automatically avoid obstacles. This not only makes the process faster and more efficient but also allows our staff to focus on tasks that require a human touch.

AI generated, robots in neon art style

Predictive Maintenance: AI also helps in monitoring the health of our equipment. By predicting potential malfunctions before they occur, we can prevent inconvenient breakdowns during cleaning jobs. This ensures our service is never compromised and your space gets the thorough clean it deserves.

AI generated child with robot

Personalized Services: Every office is unique and we can respect that individuality. By analysing data and feedback from our clients, AI helps us understand your specific needs and preferences better. This allows us to customize our services for each client, ensuring maximum satisfaction.

AI generated image of a warm friendly team

The Future of Cleaning

As we continue to integrate AI into our services, we look forward to further advancements. Soon, we anticipate the use of AI in optimising inventory management, enhancing employee training, and even predicting future cleaning needs of our clients based on past trends.

In the world of cleaning, we’re just scratching the surface of AI’s potential. At Ideal, we’re committed to harnessing this exciting technology to serve you better, making your experience smoother, and your environment cleaner. With AI on our side, we’re not just cleaning – we’re revolutionizing cleanliness.

Stay tuned to our blog to keep up with the latest advancements in our cleaning services, and as always, feel free to reach out with any questions or comments. Here’s to a cleaner, smarter future!

ALL IMAGES IN THIS BLOG ARE AI GENERATED.

Ballet Shoes

By | Christmas, Ideal Life, Locations, Social Media

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

EG Ideal Combo

Ideal Services Group are very proud to be the voting sponsor of the show this year and hope you’re as excited as we are! All of the performers have worked very hard to ensure you are entertained tonight so please make sure to give them a big round of applause!

                    

We know it is hard to decide but please vote for your favourite performance below!

          

Who are Ideal?

Ideal are a family owned business with a wide portfolio of commercial and industrial cleaning services throughout England and Wales. Our dedicated team ensure that we provide a bespoke and fully managed service for and on behalf of our clients.

     

If you would like to find out more about Ideal Cleaning please visit our website here, then please contact us at sales@idealcleaning.co.uk

Created with Poll Maker

Nurses standing tall

The 2021 National Healthcare Standards – What’s changed?

By | Blog, Clean Energy, Company Cleaning, eco-friendly | 2 Comments

The what?

The new National Standards of Healthcare Cleanliness 2021 were released in April 2021. It has been reported in GP Practice Management circles, as recently as September 2021, that the release of these new standards was done rather ‘quietly and without any fanfare’, with some even saying that Primary Care has been ‘kept in the dark’.

The new standards state that “The National standards of healthcare cleanliness 2021 (the national standards) apply to all healthcare settings – acute hospitals, mental health, community, primary care, dental care, ambulance trusts, GP surgeries and clinics, and care homes, regardless of the way cleaning services are provided.”

The new standards replace the National specifications for cleanliness in the NHS 2007 (and amendments) and primary care settings will have to become compliant with the new standards as these have been adopted by the CQC.

If you haven’t seen these new standards yet, then please follow the link below:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/B0271-national-standards-of-healthcare-cleanliness-2021.pdf

What’s covered?

After an Executive Summary (which states “Healthcare establishments must be able to demonstrate how and to what standard they are being cleaned.”) and an introduction, the main sections of the standards document cover the following headings:

  • General principals and definitions of cleaning and disinfection.
    • This provides a clear definition of the terms ‘Cleaning’, ‘Disinfection’, ‘Sterilisation’ and ‘Decontamination’ and explains that these are not interchangeable terms.
  • Cleaning responsibilities.
    • Explains how to assign the responsibility for specific cleaning functions.
  • Safe cleaning frequencies
    • An appendix provides baseline required frequencies for healthcare organisations.
  • Risk categories and standards for functional areas.
    • This covers how to assess all functional areas and assign them the appropriate Functional Risk Category (FR1 to FR6).
  • Effective cleaning and infection prevention and control.
    • This provides guidance on classification of infection risk and practical advice on methodology including colour-coding, protection, hygiene, training, uniforms and waste management.
    • Policies and strategic planning.
  • Auditing and monitoring information.
    • Principals and scoring.
  • Audit process.
    • Technical, efficacy and external auditing.
  • Advice on digital and technological auditing.
  • PLACE and the National standards.
    • Encourages patient-led assessments of cleaning standards (however, this is mainly in connection to hospital and hospices).
QMC Domestic Services
QMC Domestic Services

Some of these requirements may seem a little daunting for those in primary care, GP surgeries and clinics without large IPC teams. But there’s no need to panic – Help is at hand.

Ideal Cleaning Services provide daily cleaning services to NHS Trusts, Sexual Health Clinics, GP Practices, Dental Clinics and Vaccination Centres.

We are conversant with the new standards, Functional Risk Categories, performance parameters and cleaning frequencies and the Auditing and Monitoring principals for the new national standards.

We can help you determine the Functional Risk Category of each room, agree the responsibilities framework and train our staff on the appropriate cleaning methods and frequencies for each area. Our Area Supervisors will then undertake a regime of audits and inspections to provide you with the required Auditing and Monitoring information.

If you would like us to visit you and discuss how we can help you comply with the new requirements, then please contact us at sales@idealcleaning.co.uk

We’ll undertake a free site survey and provide you with a no-obligation proposal and quotation.

Gloucester Quays

Guinness Trust

By | Case Studies | No Comments

Following a further competition under ESPO Framework 263_16 Ideal were awarded the contract by The Guinness Partnership for Office Cleaning Services (Daily Office Cleaning, Window Cleaning and Washroom Servicers) for their 11 main office facilities. Guinness operates across most of England, with offices in four regions – North-West, North-Central, South-East and South-West.

These offices have a wide geographic spread with 2 locations in Oldham and main offices in Crewe, Sheffield, Chesterfield, London, Milton Keynes, Bristol, Havant, Exeter and Gloucester.

The contract commenced in July 2019 and is over seen centrally by Chris Dring our Assistant Managing Director, with service delivery managed from our 5 main Regional Offices. A further office in Brixton, London was also added at the start of the contract and further smaller depots are programmed to transition over to Ideal as existing service contracts expire.

 

Covid-19 Pandemic

How to prevent germs from spreading during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

By | Uncategorized | No Comments

The ongoing Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has impacted businesses of all types and most companies have had to review and re-assess their working practices to protect their staff and customers. Many organisations had to, or chose to, close their business premises and where possible staff have worked from home, but as the lockdown is further relaxed more companies are looking to re-open premises, either wholly or in part, and need to make sure that they meet their legal responsibility to protect their employees and other people on site.

Because of this contract cleaning has now taken on a new meaning as the Covid-19 virus continues to sweep the globe. Whether you are a private landlord or a commercial property owner then gaining the confidence of your tenants and employees and showing that you are proactively protecting their health is vital. Professional cleaning firms like Ideal Cleaning Services Ltd are busier than ever as cases of Coronavirus continue to be reported, with doctor’s surgeries, offices and schools seeking deep cleaning services following patients, employees, teachers and pupils being tested for the virus.

I recently read an article that I found very interesting and which provided some very good ideas and advice as to how best to avoid the spread of germs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Because I thought the information provided was so relevant I have used some of the relevant points in this article because it is only through continued awareness that we will eventually win the battle with the Coronavirus strain Covid-19.

Commercial cleaning companies are reporting that clients, particularly those in UK cities, such as large businesses and restaurants, are now more often requesting further services, such as preventative deep cleans, since Coronavirus cases hit the UK. However there is cleaning and then there is disinfection and cleaning to prevent the spread of germs. A Coronavirus deep clean should include the close and careful sanitisation/disinfection of all touch points, floors and fittings. Germs can easily and quickly spread from one person to another by touching unclean equipment or surfaces. The key to success in any clean is attention to detail but in the case of a Covid-19 deep clean this is even more important.

Following a deep clean a full fogging service, carried out to the correct European (EN) standards for killing bacteria and viruses, is a sensible additional precaution for the highest level of hygiene.

Public Health England (PHE) has published advice on what people need to know about cleaning (in non-healthcare settings) if someone suspected of carrying the Coronavirus has been present. This guidance has been prepared based on knowledge of other viruses and is being regularly reviewed and updated.

Risk analysis

If you are carrying out a deep clean at premises where you suspect someone may have been carrying the virus, the main risks to consider are:

  • Contaminated surfaces
  • Virus shedding from people who may be carrying it
  • The amount of time an infected person spent in the setting
  • The amount of time that has passed since the individual was last in the setting.
No alt text provided for this image

Studies of other viruses suggest that these risks are most likely to be reduced significantly over 72 hours. It is therefore recommended that an area be kept closed and secure for 72 hours, before cleaning, as the amount of virus living on surfaces will have dramatically reduced over this period of time. The same period of time is recommended for the disposal of cleaning items and personal protective equipment (PPE).

At a minimum, disposable gloves and an apron should be worn. Additional PPE for the eyes, mouth and nose might be necessary if visible contamination is present. Your local PHE Health Protection Team can advise on the most appropriate PPE for cleaning settings where a higher level of virus is indicated. The correct PPE is a must so don’t cut corners just to save money.

No alt text provided for this image

Responsible waste removal is essential if infection is suspected. Contaminated waste should not be stored with normal waste for 72 hours. If this is not possible then collection can be arranged through a specialist waste contractor who will treat it appropriately.

To protect the health of your property and its occupants and assuming you do not use a cleaning company, you may want to provide your employees or tenants with a daily cleaning schedule, for ongoing germ control. Here are 10 top tips and pieces of advice to stop the spread of germs in building or home:

  1. Focus your cleaning efforts on areas of the building where germs are most likely to spread, for instance the kitchen and the bathroom.
  2. Soap and hot water will rinse germs away, disinfectant will kill them. In the case of the COvid-19 virus a recommended and proven Viricide will be required
  3. Damp surfaces are a breeding ground for germs so make sure you thoroughly dry all counter tops and chopping boards.
  4. Make your cleaning schedule a regular one, tackling germ hot spots on a daily, rather than a weekly, basis and focus on all touch and contact points.
  5. Clean your cleaning equipment. Unless the tools you’re cleaning with are germ-free, then you’ll only be spreading harmful bacteria around. Use disposable cloths where possible. Reusable cloths should be disinfected after use or washed at 60C after each use. After washing, dry all cleaning equipment thoroughly.
  6. Use two different coloured buckets when using liquid cleaners – one for mopping, one for rinsing.
  7. Consider steam cleaning carpets and soft furnishings for effective germ control.
  8. Wash household linens, towels and underwear at 60C to kill germs.
  9. Use hands-free bins for food waste disposal to minimise the risk of germs spreading.
  10. Store pet food and equipment separately from the rest of the household to prevent any cross contamination.

In these challenging times, when hygiene is an even more critical concern than before, we understand that many companies may be re-evaluating their current cleaning requirement and in these cases it is important to do your home work! Whether you are undertaking deep cleaning and disinfection works yourself or using a cleaning company, due diligence is a must because it is more important than ever now to get it right.

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Our company along with many others have been working hard to support their clients through these unprecedented times. In many cases our teams have not only supported frontline workers but have been the frontline workers. Where customer’s premises have remained open they have continued to provide routine and deep cleaning and disinfection fogging services, and in the daily working practices, work schedules have been re-focused with an emphasis on the regular disinfection of contact points, such as door handles/touch plates, handrails, keyboards, telephones and desk surfaces, to protect against Covid-19 transmission, whilst also maintaining critical hygiene standards in workplace kitchens, tea points, canteens and washroom facilities.

Where customers are now looking to re-open premises and receive staff back into the working environment, We as a specialised company are able to provide Return to Work Deep Cleaning to premises with our Specialised Industrial Division utilising ‘Fogging’ techniques to disinfect the air and all surfaces within an office/work space. This technique will not harm furnishings, carpets or I.T. equipment and leaves a residual film offering further anti-virus protection for up to 30 days after treatment and some peace of mind. Yes we are fully aware that these programs and processes will not stop everyone from catching the virus but it willNo alt text provided for this image

As an employer, owner or a proprietor it is as stated by the HSE your responsibility to protect people from harm. This includes taking reasonable steps to protect your workers and others from coronavirus. Coronavirus can transfer from people to surfaces. It can be passed on to others who touch the same surfaces. Keeping your workplace clean reduces the potential for coronavirus to spread and is a critical part of making and keeping your business ‘COVID-secure’.

I know that we are in unprecedented times and that sometimes we will feel as if we are walking through a minefield because of the uncertainty we face daily, however remember you are not in this alone and if you are undertaking deep cleaning and disinfection works yourself, don’t be afraid to ask for advice or help from an experienced and qualified cleaning company. After all it is what we are trained to do!

Fogging

Coronavirus…

By | Blog, Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Coronavirus, eco-friendly, Ideal Life, Industrial Cleaning, Social Media | 3 Comments

Media hype or do we have anything to really worry about? How best to disinfect your site.

What classifies a virus as a Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they are RNA viruses that are surrounded by an outer coating comprised of a lipid bi-layer (water-insoluble fatty coating). Enveloped viruses spread through a “budding off” process during which a new virus becomes wrapped in an outer coating. However, if this layer is dissolved, these viruses are relatively easy to kill—making them more susceptible to disinfectants than non-enveloped viruses. The Novel Coronavirus therefore falls into a category of viruses that are most susceptible to disinfectants.

So, we know that detergent based products will not be effective against any of the above and we also know that many of the disinfectants on the market today are limited in being validated against killing spores.

No alt text provided for this image

In the UK our approach to Infection “Prevention” is fairly limited, we tend to deal with outbreaks as they arise, after much disruption and cost, instead of having robust preventative measures in place.

I have for some years now been promoting a “whole room” disinfection approach; what does that mean I hear you ask? Well, a traditional clean of a room will treat approximately 30% of surfaces in that room, not bad really, but the problem is the bacteria can be (and probably is) all over that room and any that is not eradicated will quickly grow back!

So, a “whole room” approach is required, using a dry mist 5% hydrogen peroxide fogging treatment. This technology ensures a validated 99.9999% disinfection leaving little chance of the room not being properly disinfected.

No alt text provided for this image

It used to be that only hospitals and laboratories required a high-level disinfection process, this is no longer the case; everywhere that people congregate requires an appropriate level of protection against viruses, bacteria and spores. The sooner we accept that this level of treatment is not a luxury, but an essential element of the cleaning regime, the quicker we will be able to feel comfortable in public or work spaces such as offices, shops, hotels, bars, cinemas, libraries, public transport, etc.

How do we prevent and disinfect against COVID-2019 Novel Coronavirus?

When preventing the further spread of the Novel Coronavirus, it is critical to listen to guidelines put forth by government protection agencies. According to the CDC, in the absence of an available vaccine against COVID-19, the best way to prevent against infection is to avoid exposure to the virus and take standard preventative actions to respiratory illness (e.g. wash hands; avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth; and avoid close contact with people who are sick).

When it comes to disinfecting environments that have been exposed to the virus, Public Health England (PHE) has determined that the COVID-19 has met the conditions outlined in the PHE’s emerging viral pathogens guidance, meaning eligible products can apply to receive kill claim amendments for the coronavirus. This process helps assist healthcare facilities to select a vetted disinfectant against coronavirus. In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended using a hospital-grade disinfectant effective against enveloped viruses.

Extract from an article by Oliver Canty, CEO of IC Solutions a supplier to Ideal Cleaning Services Group Ltd who use Sterisil ICS 010 for VHP fogging.

By Mark Dickinson

Ideal Social Housing Cleaning

Is Your Factory Really Clean Enough even at high level?

By | Blog, Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Company Cleaning, Industrial Cleaning | No Comments

Maintaining a high level of cleanliness is vital for factories. Not only does it affect the health and safety of the workplace but it affects the quality of the products they’re handling.

Each year an average of 22 workers die in workplace accidents. There was also an average of more than 3,100 reports of major injuries and about 4,100 reports of injuries that kept workers away from work for seven days or more during the last years. 

Health & Safety inspections are carried out on a regular basis to determine the  cleanliness and safety precautions carried out by the business. Failing to comply with the guidelines set out by the government in The Health and Safety at Work Act (HSWA) 1974. Along with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. Puts employee lives at risk and may result in fines and loss of the business.

Furthermore, to prevent this from happening; factories need to meet all of the required health and safety standards. Some of which can be met by implementing the correct cleaning methods.

Over time

Dirt and grime build up on floors and at high levels which can seriously affect the safety and also the productivity of the work place.

An approach of deep and regular cleaning are recommended to meet the inspection standards. Whilst this can be done in house by employees; hiring a commercial industrial cleaning company with experience in factory cleaning improves the overall cleaning results.

Cleaning each individual machine daily is unrealistic and counterproductive. In other words. cleaning the finer details should be done as part of a monthly clean. This depends on the products your business handles and the mess associated with them.

Regular cleaning is recommended daily to take care of all the main health and safety concerns. Keeping on top of floor cleanliness to prevent slips and trips. Cleaning down workstations and removing waste. As well as meeting hygiene requirements for communal areas as a vital part of a daily cleaning routine.

Peace of Mind

A brought professional cleaning company is better for business as they can clean within a schedule. Ensuring it works best for the day to day running of the business. Cleaning done in house isn’t a good use of time and adds an increased health and safety risk. Commercial cleaners will also conduct regular cleaning audits to ensure cleaning standards are always maintained.

As a example, most factories have vaulted ceilings with steel supports and fixtures. High-Level Cleaning is specialist work and therefore includes: windows; warehouse walls; light fittings; office blocks; roofs, or the inside of factory walls. Dust and debris build up and is blown off the high points down to lower areas contaminating the other factory spaces. This is overlooked until pointed out by inspectors or interrupts and affects the manufacturing process. Avoiding high level cleaning is a false economy as  it has a increased fire risk and in the case of a fire even led to fire spreading rapidly.

Due to the nature of high-level cleaning and the dangers associated with cleaning in difficult to reach places. It is essential that cleaning staff are certified to work with the types of machinery for accessing these types of areas. For this reason and for peace of mind using a high level cleaning company makes sense. Not just from a safety aspect but also from a monetary one.

A good cleaning company

Using ladders is generally a thing of the past and with Health and Safety rules, insurance and regulations. These are in place to keep areas clean and safe. A good commercial Industrial cleaning company should have fully trained and certified operatives that can operate cherry picking machinery allowing them to access impossible to reach corners.

Not only will a clean and safe environment protect employees from harm, it can also improve the quality and levels of production. No one will work in an environment they feel unsafe or unhygienic.

Compiled by Mark Dickinson

Mark Dickinson

7 Reasons why you should also switch to a Hybrid Vehicle.

By | Blog, Clean Energy, eco-friendly, Ideal Life | 36 Comments

Repost – 7 Reasons why you should also switch to a hybrid vehicle.

Hybrids Are Cleaner

As a traditional vehicle ages, it may create more emissions than it did when it was new. Whereas, as renewable energy resources become more available, your HEV (Hybrid Energy Vehicle) will only become cleaner as time goes on. Yes, it’s true that hybrids burn the same fuel source as a normal car and therefore produce the same environmentally damaging gasses as conventional vehicles. However, hybrid vehicles are much more fuel efficient and therefore produce a lot less CO2 emissions.

Keys hand over

Hybrids Retain Their Value

Hybrids are one of the new crazes in the car world. Due to this they are able to hold their value a lot better then a normal petrol or diesel vehicle. Also due to the amount of technology it takes to get a hybrid to work effectively, it normally means that the specs of the car are better inside giving them a higher resale value.

Hybrids Are Incredibly Quiet

While tyre and road noise from a vehicle will not be impacted by changing the inner workings, the noise that is being produced by the engine will be reduced dramatically. If you have seen or been inside an HEV while it is in motion you will know that (at low speeds especially) the noise pollution is heavily reduced.

Hybrids Require Less Maintenance

Due to the fact that the cars engine will be running a noticeable amount less then with a ‘normal’ vehicle. It is safe to say that the engine will not be working as hard as it will be with a petrol or diesel adaptation of the same vehicle. Therefore, the car will require less services and brake checks.

Hybrids will not hurt your energy bill as much as you are led to believe

When you consider the amount that you will be saving at the filling station and the energy efficient changers that an environmental conscious person makes, e.g. turning lights off when not in the room and less TV time. Then you will notice that you may be able to save more money then you thought you would. A usual worry about hybrid and electric cars is they will increase the electric costs 10-fold however this is not the case.

Hybrids require less fuel therefore less cost

Even though you will still need petrol to power your vehicle, you’ll need a lot less of it to get from A – B. The large fluctuations in prices from pump to pump may not be as much of an “physical” pain when driving a hybrid electric. Some Companies, like Tesla, even offers free charging for users, if having brought their car from them, making the cost even cheaper.

Tesla Charge Point

Tesla charge point

Hybrids are more affordable than previously thought

Many people are under the misconception that hybrid vehicles are very pricey as they are filled with ‘futuristic technology’. However, they are a lot less expensive they people think. For example, you can pick up a brand-new Toyota Yaris Hybrid for around £16,000.[1]

Check out our 7 more reasons here.

Resources:

[1] – https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/yaris/build?path=engine/09a6531a-c3f1-4d2d-b4d3-eb45cbb35478/7b77d85b-8f26-4645-82ac-22154a7d6293/ac526909-cafb-4bf4-b397-267a05ca692a&financeOption=cash

How can tech help you be a cleaner you?

By | Blog, Clean Energy, Company Cleaning, eco-friendly | 2 Comments

Tech is now a part of our day to day life; we use it on the regular some of us require it to be able to function properly in our personal and working environments. It has become so much of a norm now that we don’t notice it and we sometimes expect it. Below are some points that you can use to help you be a cleaner healthier person as well as clean the environment around you.

How can the technology help me personally?

Medicine and technology go hand in hand, if you have a problem and go to a GP then they will undoubtedly be using some tech to find the cause of your problem. However, we are going to look at some easier accessible equipment to help a daily user.

Firstly, a new movement by the Amazon Alexa and NHS, if you have an Alexa then it will start to give out health advice which is verified by the NHS to its user. This is a big leap and could help save many lives in the future as well as keep the users of the Amazon product assured knowing they have that advice to hand if required.

Secondly, apps such as Samsung Health and Headspace are apps which can be used to control breathing, stress levels and can help perform meditation. This allows app users to take time out, collect their thoughts and create some mindfulness for themselves. Something that we all need from time to time.

How can technology keep me safe?

There are many different security devices which will allow you to have that little bit extra piece of mind when going about your day. One example is home security cameras which can be access from anywhere but only one a device of your choice. An example Yi home, who allow you to log into an app and control the cameras (even audio) from wherever you are.

However, being safe in day to day life is one thing but what about being safe online? VPN’s can ensure that you browse and access the internet safely and securely. It encrypts any data passing through it to add an extra layer of security; making public Wi-Fi safe!

How can Tech clean my environment?

A question that we, Ideal Cleaning Services, get on all our big contracts is “How to you use technology to help your business?”. We do not have a simple answer for this though, we are constantly adapting and adopting new technologies to be able to provide the best service possible for all our clients.

However, some tips for any readers who want to use some cleaner alternatives are: switch to a hybrid vehicle (we have two previous blogs on why you should switch to one, which can be found here pt1 and pt2). Also you can use renewable energy within the home or control it easier using HIVE or BULB which provide easily controlled and renewable energy.

FAQ

FAQ’s and Archive

By | Blog, Commercial Cleaning, Company Cleaning, Ideal Life, Industrial Cleaning, TUPE | 7 Comments

Frequently asked Questions

Below are some of the most popular frequently asked questions that our sales ops receive on a daily basis, we hope this helps.

Q: Are you local?

A: We have branches all across the country, covering England and Wales. Click here to find out where our regional offices are based. We assure that every area is supervised and the location will not affect the service.

Q: What will happen to my staff if we change to you?

A: The best way for us to answer this question is by getting you to look at a previous blog post by us. All the relevant TUPE information may be found in blogs TUPE pt1 & pt2.

TUPE feat Image
TUPE Feat Image

Q: What type of premises do Ideal clean?

A: We are a business-to-business provider with two divisions. Our Office and Commercial Cleaning division provides regular routine cleaning for; offices, retail, medical surgeries, showrooms, communal areas of social housing and more.
Our Specialised Industrial Division offer specialist cleaning in an industrial environment including: production lines and machinery; the removal of waste products using MOVAC Vacuum Tankers and the provision of Legionella Services  (we are an LCA registered company). Above all, we are experienced and equipped to work at height and in enclosed spaces.

Q: Can you provide a quote over the phone or email?

A: We can – but this would only be an ‘indicative quote’ or estimate and would be subject to an actual site survey by one of our Field Sales Representatives. A full site survey is the best way to accurately quote for your cleaning needs and allows us the opportunity to discuss your requirements with you in detail.

Q: How can I trust that Ideal will provide a good, reliable service?

A: Established in 1946, we remain family-owned with four generations of experience and investment in the cleaning industry. Meanwhile, we operate and conduct our business in an ethical and transparent way. Ideal’s overarching approach ensures we make every effort to manage required services on behalf of our clients providing; cost-effective, added value and improved services.

Ideal’s senior management take an active role in the set-up and ongoing development of the service. In addition, we meet (and often exceed) our customer’s needs and expectations through; structured contract management and supervision, strong family values, well trained motivated staff, quality goals and customer partnership approach.

Don’t just take our word for it – Check out our Testimonials

Archive (By Month)

cleaning hack

5 Office Cleaning Hacks You Can’t Live Without

By | Blog, Cleaning, Uncategorized | No Comments

Let’s face it, life is short, therefore we want to utilise what time we have to ensure that we live life to the fullest! See the guy in the image above? he doesn’t spend hours on his house chores, so why should you? How about instead, you try these awesome cleaning hacks that are listed below!

OH CRUMBS!

We all like to snack at our desks; biscuits, crisps and chocolate. What do all of these leave? Crumbs. A select few of us would either leave the crumbs there, or sweep them onto the carpet. Instead, get a sticky note or some tape and start dabbing it onto the crumbs, This should effectively get rid of them!

Watch out for those crumbs! But it sure does look good

Wipe on, roll off

DUST! It’s everywhere, it’s created on the daily and there is no place it doesn’t settle. Places like light fixtures and lamps are one of the most common places for dust to gather and be in sight. Some tips recommend using a wipe or dry cloth but this doesn’t always work. However, if you use a sticky cloth roller it can gather the dust and easily remove it from the object. Works EVERY time.

Sick of them table top marks?

In my opinion, this is a life saver. It works with tea, coffee and water marks. If wipes are not working we suggest you try using a hair dryer to make the stains easier to remove. This will allows you to wipe the marks off, however then further add protection for next time; use olive oil so the table looks refreshed and new!

Grease and burnt bits just wont go away!

We all have that pan/tray that we either leave till last or don’t use because we know how much of a pain it’s going to be to scrub that burnt on food off. Even worse when the rough side of the sponge just wont do the job! No worries, if you create a tin-foil ball it will work as a tougher scrubber and make the job easier for you.

Toothpaste isn’t just for teeth

I’m sure you have heard of some of the magical things that you can use toothpaste for. One example is it can be used to repair scratched CD/DVD’s by getting a small amount on a cloth it can help repair minor scratches. However, this isn’t the tip we are here to tell you about!

Did you know, you can also use it to rejuvenate beat up trainers, adding it to the material can give the outside of the show a new lease of life.

Hybrid cars lined up

More reasons why you should also switch to hybrid vehicles

By | Blog, Clean Energy, eco-friendly, Ideal Life | 4 Comments

More reasons why you should also switch to hybrid vehicles 2:
“Cool Prius” – Nobody.

The last time we spoke about Hybrid Vehicles the reception and the way the audience interacted was amazing. It meant so much to us, that in order to try and replicate that; we are doing a second one!

Points spoke about in the previous blog:

  • Hybrids are Cleaner
  • Retain their value
  • Less Maintenance
  • Will not hurt your energy bills as much as previously thought
  • Less fuel cost
  • More affordable then perceived

You can also find out previous blog here

Stylish


For a long time, when you said hybrid, you automatically thought of cars such as the Prius or the Note. Two cars which are not renown for their stylish looks and speedy nature. However, that has completely changed now! Nearly every car brand has a “Cleaner” model available. So no matter what your preference there is a hybrid or even electric vehicle for you. Below I have listed (what I think are) the five best looking Hybrid/Electric vehicles:

  1. Tesla Model S – £65,500 (After incentives)
  2. Toyota RAV4 Hybrid – £29,635
  3. Volkswagen Golf GTE – £29,740
  4. Tesla Model X – £73,200 (After incentives)
  5. Toyota CH-R Hybrid – £24,500 (Used at Ideal)

Global warming

We are in no doubt that global warming is a danger to our health and all life on this planet. We are reaching new record temperatures causing floods, droughts and increasing sea levels. Our personal vehicles (excluding vehicles used for company use) are causing 1/5 of the emissions; all that coming out of the car exhaust and polluting the atmosphere. Therefore, it is a smart and cleaner switch to go to Hybrid or even electric cars and trucks. This will result in fewer emissions and if the electric comes from a renewable source such as wind; this means it could be zero emission driving. Its not just our car’s we are making ‘Green’; check out some of the other things we do!

Large range of choice

It is thought that there are only a few types of hybrid out there. However, as you can see from the above “Stylish” section; in recent years companies have been re-thinking and trying to change the public opinion on hybrids. It is now possible to get just about any vehicle from any brand in a hybrid version. Weather you want an SUV, People Carrier, Truck or Sports car; it is now possible to get a hybrid version. (Check out some of the list above)

Big brands are now making the switch

We know that big brands don’t always control the way a market moves. Sometimes, it’s the smaller brands that will invent a technology first only for it to be “re-invented” by a bigger more popular brand. Other times the market is directed by the public want and needs, in 1997 Toyota dropped the production of the hybrid Prius due to lack of public interest and it wasn’t till 1999 that the USA “re-invented” the hybrid with the Honda Insight. However with global warming becoming more real each day the public are now looking for an alternative to their normal fuel guzzling car.

This has led to brands such as Toyota, Mercedes and BMW all adding hybrid and more economically friendly vehicles to their lines. Toyota, for example, make it possible to make nearly every vehicle a hybrid version. Due to the bigger brands making the change it may result in more of the public also following suit to be with the times.

On board Tech

Here are some images of the on board tech/dashboards of some of our favourite hybrid cars. As you can see below even the standard hybrid comes with fully interactive displays as well as customisation options and even apps to help you drive. This is partly due to them being more modern but is also helped by them having a lot more engine management.

BMS Janitorial

By | Blog, Ideal Life | 4 Comments

WE’VE MOVED!

Click here – https://www.bmsjanitorial.co.uk

We now have a designated website for all our janitorial supplies, please give us a visit.

BMS is the product store/repair centre for tool and equipment at Ideal. We aim to please and want to ensure that the customer gets the best service when walking out the door! Located at 353 Nuthall Road, NG8 5BX, our little shop is a friendly environment to ask any questions that you may want answering without worry about a sales pitch. Our team know that its not just about selling the newest and latest equipment or product and that is why we also refurbish and repair tools so you can get going again quicker!

The Store

Situated next to Ideal Cleaning Service Ltd on 353 Nuthall Road, Nottingham, NG8 5BX. If you do want to pay us a visit we are open from 8am – 5pm and will be happy to accommodate you between these times!

Otherwise, you can give us a call on 0115 913 2200, this will allow you to speak with Terry or Ernie who are our two wonderful employees. Whom often get positive reports about there work and manner.

BMS future

As well as operating a physical store we also aim to have a fully operational Facebook store and e-commerce website which we can use to sell the same products as in store. Our Facebook page has been operational for a while now gathering interest from the USA and the Philippines. As for the website that is still in development however we do aim for it to be out by mid feb.

BMS Website screen shot
BMS Website screen shot

Get in touch

Finally, we are always ready for your call and would love to hear from you and about any enquires you may have! Call us on 0115 913 2211 or email: stores@bmsjanitorial.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/bmsjanitorial/
https://www.bmsjanitorial.co.uk

2018Sum

Ideal’s 2018 Summary

By | Blog, Uncategorized | One Comment

Ideal’s 2018 Summary

2018 Summary

2018 has been a huge year for us at Ideal. We have a lot to talk about with new contracts being won as well as new and old leaving and joining the company! All in all, we can say this year has been successful in terms of friends and business and we hope to continue that growth to the next year. However, our most important mention this year is an economical and electronic switch to ZetaSafe.

ZetaSafe

ZetaSafe is an electronic auditing software which our clients and employees can use in order to access data recorded by our operatives. This paper free system has saved on half of the paper we use and that is just in the beta stages of the applications release. As we move forward; we hope to cut that down further as well as give more clients access to dashboards and weekly reports received through emails. We understand that the release hasn’t been perfect however we are pushing forward, and our team is working hard daily to complete and produce the reports.

ScanningApp
ScanningApp

Promotions and Newbies

In terms of internal proceedings there have been a few new faces join and others have gone up in the ranks. We would like to officially congratulate our two new directors; Gary Benning and Gavin Ingle whose hard work and determination for the company has seen them get where they deserve to be. Also, two of the original family members; Chris and Adam Dring were promoted. Chris has become the National Operations Manager and Adam is our new East Midlands Regional Manager. Congratulations to you both. There have also been new faces who have joined the company this year. They include:

Retirement

We are always happy to see new faces join the company but sad when they leave, especially after working for Ideal for such a long time. At the end of last year Stephen Leahy left the company after over 45 years’ service. He will be missed by all at Ideal however has visited time to time during this last year to help and provide support when needed. Another retiree is Jane Oldroyd, in the Sales department for over 20 years. She was a friend of everyone and was very good at her job.

Big Contracts

This year Ideal teamed up with two major contracts in the West Midlands region. Birmingham City Council (BCC) and Pioneer group. These have allowed us to grow our team in those areas and provide the service that we see fit at our high standards.

Good business.

Ashley’s

Ashley’s joined up with Ideal midway through the year and have been working round the clock to help as well as work effectively with Ideal to complete the new tasks that we are both taking on together. All the staff transferred over and their office staff now work hand in hand with ours efficiently organising the teams which do the cleans.

Website

A major change for Ideal this year has been our new website! We now have unlimited access which we have not had previously allowing us to keep it updated and ever changing. The new site has kept the same colour scheme however has changed by condensing the previous information to more select readable sections. Also, the new blogs mean we can interact with the public daily. However, as well as us interacting with the public it has become clearer how to communicate with us.

Ideal Team-building

For a bit of fun; the Ideal family also went to an escape room. For those who don’t know, you have 1 hour to solve as many puzzles as it takes to escape the room. Out of the three teams that went two escapes and then there was a punishment for the captain of the losing team. (Pictures below)

Babies and Marriage

A massive congratulations to Chantel Fox who gave birth in December to a little girl called Phoebe, we at Ideal want to send you all our love and best wishes as we hope you have a wonderful few months away from work and spending time with your bundle of joy. A second congratulations to Nicola who gave birth to Jessica, another little girl who has made a few visits to our head office to see the staff. Finally, a huge congratulations to one of our Supervisors in Nottingham, Andrew. He got married last month and hopefully will be for many happy years.

Xmas Dinner table

The Run up to Christmas (From a cleaning point of view)

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The Run up to Christmas (From a cleaning point of view)

The run up to Christmas is the busiest time of the year whether you are a business, home-owner or event organiser you are starting to think about that all-important day! However, maybe more important than the day itself is the preparation that must be done before hand to make it run as smooth as possible. Even though at Ideal we are Commercial and Industrial cleaners, we want to share our 70 years of wisdom with the rest of you.

So here are some tips on us…

#Tip 1:

Do not start too early! Just because this blog has been released early December, it doesn’t mean you need to start cleaning RIGHT NOW. You have to remember people still work/live in the area you want to get ready. It may seem too late to a lot of you, but it needs to be done just before the day or event. If you need to hire a team then this can be done even quicker then doing it by yourself but do allow yourself more time.

#Tip 2:

Do not stress. A lot of people will use the stress to get them into the cleaning mood and kick start themselves into action. This is not advised for your mental health or for time/preparation reasons. If you are stressing it normally shows you have left it until the last minute and you don’t think you can get the job done. In any business this is a big NO. We never think we can’t get the job done, therefore will always be ready and allow plenty of time.

Stress drawn in red

Stress drawn in red

#Tip 3:

Use good quality tools. We are not suggesting you run to the shop and spend a lot of money on all the newest, strongest and most powerful chemicals. What you have may be more then good enough already; just ensure you use it safely and plentiful. We also recommend using micro-fibre cloths and read the reviews on chemical cleaners. DO NOT just look at the name and think it is good; it’s often not the case. Our stores team will be happy to advise on any queries regarding products.

#Tip 4:

Accidents do happen. We all know that nothing in life runs smoothly. Things break, tools don’t work correctly and you just can’t figure out where that last screw came from. Therefore, it is important to give yourself an extra day on any project. Use that day for if anything goes wrong to implement any required corrections. Maybe, on the off chance it all works out well; it will be a well-deserved rest. So really, it’s a win- win situation.

Broken egg, messy table

Broken egg, messy table

We will have some more tips to follow soon, hopefully these will tide over any compulsive cleaners and even help you choose a cleaning contractor in the future. If you do have an enquiry, you can contact us on: contact@idealcleaning.co.uk or Call: 0115 913 2222.