Astral Hygiene Blog | Commercial Cleaning & Hygiene Advice UK

What were cleaning teams asking in 2021 as workplaces reopened? These four recordings from the Astral Hygiene archive show how the questions ranged from shared kitchens to cleaning product claims and fogging equipment. About this archive. The videos reflect the products and guidance discussed in 2021. The written companion articles give the context for each recording. Shared workplace kitchen hygiene The return-to-work series looks at hygiene in shared workplace kitchens. Read the shared kitchen companion article . Choosing a fogging machine This recording captures the questions Astral was asking about equipment selection in 2021. Read the fogging machine selection companion article . Cleaning myths and product claims Anna Armstrong discusses the product claims that were circulating at the time. Read the cleaning myths companion article . What’s in your fog? This discussion looks back at questions about the products used in fogging equipment. Read the fogging chemical...

Picture a cleaner halfway through a washroom round. The cloth they need is in the cupboard, the soap refill is on another trolley and someone has just walked over the floor they finished. A few minutes lost here and there can become a sizeable chunk of a shift. A trolley set up for the route Before the round, check the supplies for the rooms on it. Put the products, colour-coded cloths and refills you’ll use first where they’re easy to reach. A short stock check at the end of the shift makes it easier for the next person to start on time. A sequence that avoids a second pass Plan the work from higher surfaces down to the floor. Where a product needs time on a surface, follow its label and use that waiting time for another appropriate task nearby. Keeping the order consistent makes the route easier to hand over when a different person covers it. Less dirt coming through the door Look at the entrances and crossings where dirt builds up first. A well-maintained entrance mat and a quick pa...

At 7 am the dispatch aisle is clear. By 9 am there are two pallets waiting to go out, a strip of cardboard on the floor and a steady flow of people crossing the route. Which version of that aisle would you want to see a cleaning robot handle before buying one? A good on-site trial shows what happens on an ordinary working day. These five checks will tell you more about the fit for your site than watching a machine clean an empty room. 1. The route your team would actually hand over Ask the people who clean the site which stretch they sweep or scrub over and over. It might be a warehouse aisle, a school corridor or the hard floor between a reception desk and the main entrance. Pick one of those jobs and note how it is done now. That gives you something concrete to compare after the trial. 2. The part of the route that changes by the hour Walk the route with the demonstration team and point out where stock gets parked or furniture moves. Ask what the chosen robot does if its usual path ...

By Sam Dyer How do you keep a commercial washroom clean and stocked? Use a recorded routine covering toilets, basins, touchpoints, floors, bins and dispensers. Check soap, toilet paper and hand-drying supplies, and adjust inspection frequency to usage. Choose products for the surface and task, follow their instructions, and investigate persistent odours or leaks rather than relying on fragrance. A clean washroom makes a big difference to how people feel about a business. Whether you manage an office, pub, restaurant, school or other commercial premises, a well-maintained washroom helps create a positive impression and provides a more comfortable environment for staff and visitors. But keeping washrooms clean involves more than giving the toilets a quick wipe. From tackling limescale and persistent odours to keeping soap dispensers topped up, a good washroom cleaning routine needs to cover several different tasks. In this gui...

By Sam Dyer If you've ever compared laundry detergents or professional cleaning products, you've probably come across terms such as bio, non-bio, enzymatic and biological. But what do these terms actually mean? The short answer is that biological cleaning products use enzymes or microorganisms to help break down organic soils , while non-biological products don't rely on enzymes in the same way. Understanding the difference can help you choose the right type of cleaner for the job, particularly when you're dealing with stubborn stains, odours, grease or organic waste. What Does "Bio" Mean? In cleaning products, bio is short for biological. A biological cleaner contains biological ingredients, most commonly enzymes , which help break down particular types of organic matter. Different enzymes work on different substances. For example: Proteases break down proteins Lipases br...

By Sam Dyer Keeping a pub or bar clean is about much more than making things look tidy. With drinks being served throughout the day and evening, spills, grease, food debris, fingerprints and general dirt can quickly build up. A good cleaning routine helps keep customer-facing areas looking their best, while also making sure glasses, beer lines, kitchens and washrooms are properly maintained. Whether you're running a traditional pub, cocktail bar, restaurant bar or busy hospitality venue, this guide covers some of the key areas to include in your cleaning routine. Why Is Cleaning So Important in Pubs and Bars? Pubs and bars can be particularly demanding environments when it comes to cleaning. Tables need regular attention, floors can quickly become sticky, and bar equipment needs to be cleaned properly to maintain hygiene. Some areas also need specialist products rather than a standard surface cleaner....

By Sam Dyer How do you dilute cleaning chemicals correctly? Use the product’s instructions for the exact task, measure the concentrate and water, and follow the specified application and contact time. Check whether the dose is stated per litre of water or per litre of finished solution. Ready-to-use products should be used as directed, without assuming they need dilution. When it comes to professional cleaning, it can be tempting to think that using more cleaning chemical will give you better results. In reality, using the correct dilution is just as important as choosing the right product. Many professional cleaning chemicals are supplied as concentrated formulas, particularly larger 5-litre products. These need to be diluted with water before use, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Getting the ratio right can help you achieve better cleaning results, avoid unnecessary waste and use cleaning chemicals safely....