Astral Hygiene Blog | Commercial Cleaning & Hygiene Advice UK

  The Complete Guide to Commercial Cleaning & Workplace Hygiene in 2026 Everything businesses need to know about cleaning chemicals, vacuum cleaners, COSHH, BS EN standards, sustainability and creating safer, healthier workplaces. Why Professional Cleaning Matters More Than Ever Commercial cleaning is no longer just about appearance. In 2026, businesses are expected to maintain high standards of hygiene, reduce cross-contamination risks, comply with health and safety regulations, and create environments that support employee wellbeing. Professional cleaning helps organisations: Reduce the spread of germs and viruses Improve indoor air quality Protect staff, visitors and customers Maintain compliance with workplace regulations Extend the life of floors, carpets and furnishings Create a positive first impression Whether you manage an office, school, care home, veterinary practice or hospitality venue, investing in the right cleaning products and equipment can reduce long-term cos...

  Winter illnesses round up......  14th February 2025  | By Anna Armstrong   |  Hygiene ,  Environmental Health It feels like we have really high levels of winter illnesses this year, with a large proportion of our team here at Astral off all at the same time.  We have flu, RSV, COVID-19 and norovirus doing the rounds all a the same time, which is making sickness absence really high at this time of year. There are other virus that our government are also tracking including rhinovirus, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus (hMPV) and parainfluenza ... all of these are also peaking during the current winter months.  Use a disinfectant with evidence for the intended organism and surface, following its label for dilution, contact time and any rinsing requirements. A quick spray and wipe is not a substitute for the stated contact time. In the UK, we offer free vaccines to vunerable groups for COVID-19, flu, and RSV. We have all heard the phrase 'stay at ho...

  Astonishing findings..... how often do we wash our gym kit as a nation?  22nd March 2024  | By Anna Armstrong After a sweaty workout, it can be all too easy to throw your clothes to the side, and pick them up again for the next workout. However,  reports  state that gym equipment can harbour more germs than a toilet seat, with 70% of bacteria found in gyms found to be harmful to humans. If you follow this hyper link, you'll be taken to a webpage we found which really lays out what bacteria are on each piece of gym equipment and the necessity as a gym goer to use the sanitisers provided by the gym to clean the equipment before and after touching it! Use something like this....  Cleaner Sanitiser which is BSEN 1276,  BSEN 14476.. .But what about our own gym wear and towels? Sweat and bacteria left on sportswear can lead to bacteria imbalance, odour build-up, skin irritations and even fungal infections. While guidance shows that workout clothes should b...

  The forgotten areas.....  1st June 2022  | By Anna Armstrong   |  Cleaning Tips ,  Environmental Health ,  Hygiene ,  Sustainability ,  Coronovirus In a small office environment, it is often the case that everyone has to muck in to get the office to a clean and hygienic standard before the weekend. This might mean, one of you cleaning the loos, and filling up the paper towels, one putting the hoover around, one giving the kitchen the once over, and one emptying the bins.  However, as these duties aren't really what any of your team signed up to do, and are covered in the 'or any other duties we sit fit' piece of the employment contract, this 'cleaning rota system' will be performed in a fairly lacklustre manner and many places will be missed. So where are these places?  Buttons and Lightswitches - with these areas being really high touch, and especially with the recent pandemics, these switches need to be cleaned and sanitised mor...