Choosing a cleaning agent: Man or machine?

MANILA, Philippines - Which is the best and most cost-effective cleaning agent: man or machine? There are many reasons to consider a floorcare machine.

"The choice between man and machine depends on the specific cleaning needs at a particular site. For example, in a commercial building such as an office, a scrubber drier may be more effective than manual cleaning to cover large square meters of floor space. Using a machine will also deliver more consistent cleaning and drying results and in the case of a TASKI scrubber drier, it is able to dispense the right amount of cleaning solution onto the floor according to the speed of the machine," said Jon Altenberg, senior director for Global Building Care Portfolio, Sealed Air.

TASKI by Diversey floorcare machines  is backed by over 50 years of proven technology and cleaning performance. Diversey is an established industry brand for cleaning and hygiene solutions and is now part of the Sealed Air corporation, a global leader in food safety and security, facility hygiene and product protection.

Altenberg said that while smaller and portable cleaning tools such as vacuum cleaners and mops would be better for individual offices, this may not be the case for commercial buildings with bigger floor areas. This does not mean, though, that manual labor could be easily dispensed of when it comes to cleaning.

"In many cleaning operations, manual labor is still indispensable and even in situations where machines are used, man is needed to operate and maintain them," he said. 

What is essential is to find the right machine that delivers the utmost cleaning solution while at the same time offering ease of use and operability.

Choosing the right machine for the job

So how does one choose the best machine for the job? 

The first consideration is to match the machine to the application," Altenberg advised.

This means the application should be proportionate to the size of the site and its characteristics.

"If the machine is too big, it will always be under-utilised and can never justify the investment. If it is too small, it cannot cover the floor quickly enough which means it will be unproductive and uneconomical and perhaps suffer from overwork which can lead to unreliability," Altenberg said.

Power is another thing to consider. While cable-powered machines may offer 24/7 availability, for example, they are restricted by the length of their cords.

"Battery-powered machines offer complete autonomy and can free-range where the presence of a cable is undesirable or unsafe," Altenberg said, adding that this the reason why they are the preferred choice for retail, healthcare, transport and daytime cleaning applications.

The batteries must provide enough power, though, as "over-specification can be uneconomical."

"Batteries must also, of course, be recharged but advances in technology mean they now offer more uptime and are much more energy-efficient than their predecessors. Under the TASKI by Diversey product range, the TASKI Swingo 760 comes in a battery-powered or cable-powered model," Altenberg said.

Choosing the right pad or brush and even the design of the squeegee and its blade is likewise important.

"Textured or tiled floors require equipment that can clean in recessed surfaces. In general, if the pad or brush is too abrasive it can damage the floor but if not aggressive enough, it will not have the desired performance to remove soil or finish," Altenberg said.

When it comes to the squeegee, Altenberg said "pickup mechanism is fundamental."

"The aim is to leave the floor clean and dry so it can be walked on almost immediately. The patented W-shaped squeegee used on many TASKI machines, for example, has self-levelling castors to follow closely the profile of the floor. With its two direct-suction points this helps ensure 99% of water or solution is removed with reduced risk of clogging the pick-up. A tricycle layout generally enables a machine to follow the contours of the floor better than four-wheel models," he said.

All these will be for naught, though, if the machine does not offer, as earlier mentioned, "ease of use and operability."

Maintenance is also key.

"Many larger machines cost as much as a small car yet operators ignore anything beyond the most basic service checks. With machines of all sizes a service contract or, at the very least, regular maintenance can prolong working life and protect investment. TASKI has increased component commonality across its range which helps service engineers achieve much higher first-time-fix rates," Altenberg said.

To meet the specific needs of customers in Asia for superior floor-care solutions, Sealed Air has recently launched a new line of ‘made in Asia for Asia’ TASKI floor-care machines in the region, including the Philippines.

To learn more about TASKI by Diversey's floor care systems, please visit www.Taski-Performance.com. or call +632 8459400/ +632 8459458
email [email protected]