February 2017 - Cleanhire

How eight Mumbai teenagers created a new approach to train cleaning

Mumbai Train Line — **Thanks to eight teenagers**, the daily commute to Mumbai could be cleaner. Image by Albert Bonjoch (via Shutterstock).

It’s a late Saturday afternoon aboard the Liverpool Lime Street train to Wigan North Western. After its return journey, the train’s next stop will be Allerton depot, where it will be cleaned for the next shift. It is strewn with litter from doorway to fold-up table. With bits of newspaper and drinks cans sharing the third carriage with St. Helens Central bound passengers. These days could be over, thanks to eight Mumbai teenagers who have created a novel approach to train cleaning.

Their invention hasn’t only impressed engineers; it has been seen by India’s railway minister, Suresh Prabhu. The teenagers, aged 12 to 14 years old, have invented a system where rubbish can be deposited through a vent. Their system has split vents in each compartment of the coach. With a foot pedal, passengers can deposit their waste into the vents. Then the refuse would be sucked up by a system similar to a vacuum cleaner. Having attracted the interest of India’s railway minister, it aims to make train cleaning easier.

The rubbish is sucked in with the vacuum system, where it is collected in waste chambers underneath the coach. Each coach will have three waste collection chambers. The students estimated that each passenger generates five litres of waste. For example, a British Rail Mark III coach (74 standard class seats) would potentially carry 370 litres of waste – slightly more than a small wheelie bin.

In the UK, our trains tend to have litter bins beside the doors. Our use of saloon style carriages rather than compartments could make installation difficult. Installing a similar system where most carriages have airline seating would make for tighter legroom (which is no good for tall passengers). On a diesel multiple unit (such as those seen on the Wigan Wallgate to Southport route) this would mean less space for its underfloor engines.
Clean Hire, 22 February 2017.

Tefal takes on the vacuum cleaner market alongside Dyson with a new bagless cleaner

Non Stick Frying Pan — **A Non-Stick Frying Pan:** one of Tefal’s best known product lines. Image by Family Business (via Shutterstock).

Tefal: what is the first thing you think of when you hear the name Tefal? The first thing that springs to mind is cheese toasties. Teasmades and kettles. Anything to do with cheese and bacon or both, or chips. The brand name is a portmanteau of the first three letters of Teflon and the first two letters of the Aluminium. But vacuum cleaners???

We have learned from the Which? Magazine website how Tefal’s creation will give James Dyson and Co. a run for their money. As with Britain’s market leading manufacturer of cyclonic vacuum cleaners, Tefal’s models are bagless. It is claimed their models have powerful suction capabilities, capturing 99.98% of dust.

Their most powerful cleaner, the Tefal Air Force Extreme TY8865HO has a 6200 rpm motor with a delta shaped brush head, headlights, and a lithium battery. It is a lightweight rechargeable cordless cleaner with a powerful motor, a bit like a Jack Russell Terrier at full tilt. After charging, the vacuum cleaner is operational for five minutes shy of an hour. The recommended selling price for the 25 volt cordless vacuum cleaner is £270.

Should every home have one?

There has been favourable reviews for Tefal’s entry into the high powered world of vacuum cleaner manufacturing and design. We like the sleek slimline looks and think the Air Force Extreme range are a useful sidearm for your home. Get one for the stairs: there’s no need to worry about the hose or tripping over the flex.

The Tefal Air Force Extreme range of vacuum cleaners are readily available from most electrical shops and online retailers. Please note that some models come under the Rowenta name.

Clean Hire, 15 February 2017.

How to get to know your Tennant M20 scrubber sweeper through this training video

We at Clean Hire are fans of the Tennant M20 scrubber sweeper. There is not a single word we could hold against that incredible hulk of a machine. We love how it makes light work of the mightiest forecourts and warehouses.

Us telling you about how good it is isn’t enough. You may be the proud owner or hirer of the Tennant M20 and wish to brush up your skills with the scrubber and sweeper. For your very eyes is the official training video by Tennant themselves.

More M20 Action

As a Brucie Bonus, here’s some more footage of the M20 in action. This clip below has some serious Tennant thrash (turn the volume right up if you like this kind of thing).

Clean Hire, 03 February 2017.

What not to flush down the toilet

Thou Shalt Not Flush Toilet... image by Ewais (via Shutterstock). — **Thou Shalt Not Flush Thy Paper Towels, Ear Buds or Condoms…** Public toilets image by Ewais (via Shutterstock).

You may have come across Water UK’s Poo, Pee and Paper campaign in the last two years. If you thought the Poo, Pee and Paper campaign was a call to make the most of your public conveniences, think again. It highlights the three things you should flush down the lavatory. Which, in other words, concerns one’s bodily functions and toilet tissue. Continue reading “Thou Shalt Not Flush Down Thy Lavatory…”