Full Size Housekeep Cart 60X22X50 Black

An important but sometimes overlooked factor which is essential to maintaining a clean and professional appearance at hotels, motels and resorts is the selection of efficient and staff-friendly housekeeping carts.

 Housekeeping carts (sometimes referred to as “maid carts”) are used every day and are a common sight that patrons encounter.  Hotel housekeeping carts must have the strength and capacity to transport and hold items such as towels, tissue paper, toilet tissue, room supplies, cleaning supplies, brushes, brooms, dustpans, waste baskets, fabric bags (for linen storage) and vacuum cleaners.

 Hotels want to avoid situations where patrons encounter carts which appear to be disorganized or unsanitary.  Thus, not only is the cart’s capacity critical, but its ability to keep as many items out of view as possible, and to keep open items in designated compartments, is also important. 

 Hotel maid carts should feature ergonomic handles for easy pushing and steering, enabling maids or cleaning personnel to efficiently maneuver the cart while avoiding physical strain.  Maid carts should also be equipped with bumpers to protect walls and furniture.

 Proof of how seriously housekeeping carts are taken by hotel management came in 2006, when Rubbermaid’s High Security Housekeeping Cart received the Editors’ Choice Award at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York City.  Noted for its superior organizational capacity in a more compact footprint, this cart features dual access via easy opening, locking cabinet doors, and a hood that keeps cleaning supplies within easy reach, yet concealed and secure.

 Most popular housekeeping maid carts, whether compact or high-capacity, feature a wide range of accessories and storage options.

 Hotels and motels also utilize numerous similar carts such as janitor carts, cleaning carts, turndown carts, and service carts (for room service).

 For more information on a variety of housekeeping carts and other carts designed for hotels and motels, visit http://www.bestjanitorialsupplies.com/facility-maintenance-and-safety-supply/housekeeping-and-janitor-supply.html.

 Principally, work gloves are designed to protect employees’ hands.  Hand and finger injuries rank second only to back injuries in causing lost work days, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).  A recent BLS study revealed that 70% of workers who suffered hand injuries were not wearing gloves.

 The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends that workers use gloves which are specifically designed for the hazards and tasks of their workplace.  For protection against chemicals, glove selections should be based on the chemicals to be handled, plus the chemical resistance and physical properties of the glove material.

 Employers benefit from ensuring that employers wear the correct gloves, because a safe and productive work environment is good for the bottom line.  Companies should provide gloves that are comfortable and fit well, and hold training sessions detailing which gloves are best for certain tasks.

 The wide variety of work gloves available includes: Kleenguard powder-free latex gloves for light-duty jobs; Kleenguard blue nitrile gloves for food handling; and flock-lined gloves for chemical handling, dishwashing, general cleaning, and food processing.  Glove styles ideal for manufacturing or warehouse work include leather palm, string knit, dotted canvas, cotton canvas, and Jersey knit.

 For more information on the types of work gloves available for different purposes, visit http://www.bestjanitorialsupplies.com/skin-care-and-personal-hygiene/gloves/work-gloves.html

Recent studies have shown that rental shop towels are responsible for significantly higher landfill waste than disposable wipers, and that the laundering of reusable shop towels results in high levels of hazardous wastewater contamination.

A recent study by the Gradient Corporation showed that the use of rental shop towels can result in health and safety issues for workers, because the towels can retain elevated levels of toxic heavy materials such as lead, oil, antimony, and cadmium.  Traces of these metals can then be transferred from shop towels to the hands and mouths of workers.

Alternatively, many disposable wipers are manufactured without potentially harmful chemical binders or other agents.  Their packaging also protects the wipers from liquids, dust, and other contaminants.

In industrial or factory settings, disposable wipers are successfully used to wipe heavy-duty machines and parts, metal shavings, surfaces with solvents, and other rough surfaces.  They can also be used for application of thinners and solvents, adhesive cleaning, and the removal of lubricants, grease, or soil.

For more details on a variety of safe and environmentally-friendly disposable wipers available from Best Janitorial Supplies, visit http://www.bestjanitorialsupplies.com/paper-and-dispensers/wipers.html

 More than 700 Blockader barriers were set up in the park to help diffuse any potential confrontations when members of the controversial group Aryan Nations, described by the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader as “white supremacists,” held a demonstration in the park.  Counter demonstrations by groups opposed to the Aryan Nations were also held at the same time. 

 Barriers were set up around the perimeter of the demonstration area, and also in long horizontal lines to keep the groups separated from each other.  Barriers also kept the demonstration area clearly distinguished from the public area used by tourists visiting the park.

 Prior to the demonstration, security preparations were highlighted on the newscasts of Fox 43, WPMT, the Fox network affiliate in nearby York, Pennsylvania.  News reports showed the Blockader barriers being trucked in, and showed workers setting up barricades. 

Turnouts for the demonstrations were low, and no incidents were reported.  But the situation spotlighted the fact that police and security personnel necessarily prepare for worst case scenarios, and when they do, they turn to established suppliers such as Blockader to quickly dispatch effective crowd control products.  Blockader Steel Barriers

 Blockader barriers were among the resources used by event planners and public officials to maintain order and safety during the royal procession immediately following the wedding ceremony.  Crowds estimated at 250,000 to 500,000 lined the streets of Stockholm as the princess and her husband, Daniel Westling, were driven through the city in a horse drawn carriage. Godik Sverige AB, the Sweden-based event company working on the event, contacted Blockader when they were unable to acquire a sufficient number of barriers for this massive event from European barrier suppliers.  Blockader, which normally does not ship product outside of North America, came to the rescue by supplying 2,000 crowd control barricades  

Swedish police reported that, despite large crowds, there were no problems along the parade route.

 An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 people attend the annual concert on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.  This year’s concert featured the National Symphony Orchestra, Gladys Knight, Reba McIntire, Darius Rucker, David Archuleta, and John Schneider.

 Because of some space reconfigurations related to the event this year, event planners realized in late June (only about a week prior to the Fourth) that they would need more barriers than had been used in previous years.  Blockader, which has long-standing relationships with the Architect of the Capitol and other federal government agencies, was able to supply 400 barricades on short notice.

Receptacles at restaurants and cafeterias need to be of sufficient size to handle the volume of waste that will be created during a given time frame.  Containers are available in a variety of capacity sizes, ranging from 10 gallons to 95 gallons.

Polyethylene receptacles are appealing to food service establishments, because they don’t dent, rust, or leak, and they can withstand repeated commercial cleanings.

Food service receptacles with molded handles enable easy tilting, lifting and pushing of the container.  Receptacle bases should be able to provide adequate stability.  A wide base with molded-in wear tread offers increased stability and wear-resistance.

Rubbermaid’s “Brute” line of receptacles has proven to be popular to the food service industry.  Brute models include round containers (and lids), square containers, rollout containers, and utility containers.  The 44-gallon Brute Utility Container’s venting channels reduce the amount of force needed to remove a can liner, making it 50% easier to remove.

Restaurants, hotels, and other food service establishments also want receptacles to blend into their décor as seamlessly as possible.  With space at a premium in many locations, restaurants not only look for attractive designs and appealing colors, but also for space-saving shapes, such as corner-units.

Food service establishments also benefit from choosing receptacles which are NSF certified to Standards #2 (Foot Equipment) and #21 (Thermoplastic Refuse Containers).

www.bestjanitorialsupplies.com

In recent years, the cleaning products market has seen a major expansion in ecologically friendly products, often manufactured by mainstream companies, which are competitively priced and offer the same performance levels of earlier, environmentally-harmful products.

Products which result from an environmentally-friendly manufacturing process and which are biodegradable often are identified as “green” or eco-friendly.  These green products have often replaced chemically-reactive cleaning products which contain toxins.

Thus, in addition to being friendly to the environment, green cleaning reduces human health risks by reducing exposure to harmful chemicals.  Green cleaning has also proven to be good for business, improving productivity, reducing liability, reducing costs, and improving public relations.

The green cleaning trend has stemmed from increasing public awareness about environmental issues.  Green products and practices have also been spurred by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED rating system for certifying buildings and new construction, as well as a number of state laws mandating green cleaning.

Green janitorial supply products cover a wide range of items ranging from mops, napkins, bathroom tissue, bathroom cleaners, and oven cleaners to liquid laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, disinfectant wipes, lime scale removers, and all purpose cleaners.

For example, the all-purpose cleaner Clorox Green Works is cleaning powder derived from natural sources, such as coconut-based cleaning agent, corn-based alcohol and biodegradable preservative.  The product contains no phosphorus or bleach and is backed by the EPA.

Products can be recognized or certified as “green” by these entities:

• The U.S. EPA Design for the Environment recognizes products which use the safest possible ingredients.
• The Green Seal sets standards for hand cleaners based on reduced toxicity and environmental impact
• The EcoLogo (Environmental Choice) sets standards for hand cleaners which are biodegradable and have low toxicity and environmental impact
• The Art and Creative Materials Institute (ACMI) certifies products as non-toxic
• The Carpet and Rug Institute designated its Green Label and Seal of Approval for vacuum cleaners and carpet extraction equipment.

Through the development and adoption of green products, the professional cleaning industry has become a leader in environmental responsibility.  Most JanSan suppliers offer a wide range of green products which are often the best choice, from both the environmental and economic perspectives.

 The Standard Blockader provides a high-quality, low-cost option for customers needing barriers for line delineation, or to simply separate pedestrians or visitors from equipment or vehicles.  Barrier strength requirements for applications such as these are not as stringent as for mass public events or police/security circumstances, so the Standard Blockader provides cost savings with a design featuring a slight reduction in the steel tubing used, and slightly slimmer uprights.

 “The new barrier model is designed to be lighter and more mobile than the old classic crowd control barricade,” says Murray Bilby, president of the Tamis Corporation, which manufactures Blockader barricades.  “The market wanted a lower-priced barrier that still retains quality construction and a long-life span.  The Standard Blockader delivers numerous quality attributes that had not been previously available at this price point.”

 Unlike many previous “economy” barricade models, the Standard Blockader features a hook system with two hooks and two receivers per barricade, plus a bend in the top hook.  This enables a true interlock which provides the necessary stability to a line of barricades.

 The Standard Blockader also features uprights which are fully inserted into the frame prior to welding, distinguishing it from other low-priced barriers which often feature spot-welded uprights which are weaker and susceptible to breaking.  Similarly, Standard Blockader barriers are hot-dip galvanized for maximum corrosion and rust protection.

 As an added bonus, the Standard Blockader includes a center steel panel for identification signs, decals, or logos.  A welded steel bar at the bottom of this sign panel serves as a convenient carrying handle by which the barrier can be safely picked up.

For more information on the new Standard Blockader steel barricade, visit www.blockader.com/standard-blockader-barrier.html, or call 866-436-1237.

Where do most offices locate their recycling receptacles?  In addition to placing individual receptacles (which resemble traditional home or office models) alongside or under employees’ desks, recycling bins often are located at central locations such as around printers and copiers.

With an estimated 70% of all office waste being recyclable, the use of recycling containers is believed to have positive business impact from two perspectives.  Disposal of waste in proper bins boosts the productivity of employees.  A visible recycling program garners favorable publicity for a company, and many consumers select environmentally-conscious businesses.

A number of different models of recycling containers are available.  Rubbermaid’s Brute recycling container have a shape, size, and “look” similar to everyday garbage cans, but they stand out because of their blue color and the visibility of the recycling symbol.  For tight spaces, “Slim Jim” models are tall and compact.  Many have lids with slots or holes which enable source separation – keeping paper, cans and bottles, and general refuse separate.

Sometimes within an office, recycled paper will go from individual receptacles to a recycling box – a plastic container of a large enough size to serve as a central point of collection from numerous sources.  Finally, tilt trucks are larger capacity containers, on large wheels, which serve as a central collection point of refuse which is then most often wheeled to a dumpster.

Recycling containers are an important part of any modern office, and office managers and decorators now have numerous options for incorporating attractive and environmentally-friendly bins into the décor of their site.