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See how Sierra Blair-Coyle scales a 33 storey skyscraper – with two vacuum cleaners

Songdo Two Vacuum Cleaners Blog Post Image

 

On both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, you may have seen the Oreck adverts with David Oreck. In each of his adverts and product demonstrations, Mr Oreck uses the vacuum cleaner’s suction abilities as a selling point. For his vacuum cleaners, he uses a tenpin bowling ball as a demonstration prop, differentiating his cleaners from the Dysons, Kirbys and Electroluxes of this world.

If you never got to see the ads on British television (they were usually on UK Living between a rerun of Crosswits), you may be more familiar with The Wrong Trousers. In Nick Park’s follow-up to A Grand Day Out, Wallace invents a pair of Techno Trousers. They have suction controlled feet. With some modifications, they were controlled by Feathers McGraw, a rogue penguin. Asleep, Wallace was ushered to a museum, where he was accessory to a plan to steal a diamond.

Twenty-three years after BBC One’s premiere of The Wrong Trousers, we see real life mirroring art (well, almost). Using two vacuum cleaners, we see Wallace’s climbing feat mirrored by Sierra Blair-Coyle. With the aid of fall arrest equipment, she scales a 33 storey skyscraper in Songdo, South Korea.

The method of this madness? It is part of an advertising campaign by LG for their CordZero Climber range of vacuum cleaners. The selling point is similar to David Oreck’s: the cleaner’s suction abilities. Interestingly, the CordZero’s motor is 28% smaller, 24% lighter, and 13% more efficient than its competition’s vacuum motors. This clip below shows Ms. Blair-Coyle scaling the tower block.

“We wanted to demonstrate that today’s vacuum cleaners include sophisticated technologies that can undertake extraordinary challenges and thanks to Sierra, I think the message came through loud and clear.”

Who needs bowling balls to sell vacuum cleaners? We think LG have pulled off a cracking stunt.

Clean Hire, 19 August 2016.

Meet the Canadian window cleaner duo behind Saskatoon’s kilted window cleaning service

Saskatoon skyline window cleaner post image
The Saskatoon skyline: Also the preserve of the Lesser Spotted Kilted Window Cleaner. Image by Scott Prokop (via Shutterstock).

They are men, they’re men in kilts. Yes, window cleaners in kilts. Plus they do a host of other things like pressure washing, carpet cleaning and gutter cleaning. Since 2002, parts of Canada and the USA have had their windows cleaned by kilted window cleaners.

The company, Men in Kilts, was formed in 2002 when Nicholas Brand, an exiled Scotsman living in Vancouver decided to add a kilt to a window cleaner. Gradually, the business grew. Their first franchise was in Victoria, British Columbia. The business really took off when they entered a partnership with a Calgary-based window cleaners.

Today, the company has gone beyond its window cleaning roots and have added other services to their roster. Gutters, sidings, and driveways are cleaned by the kilted crusaders. Some franchises also offer blind and carpet cleaning, moss and snow removal, and lawn care. For time-pressed households, Happy Holidays become Happier Holidays, as Men in Kilts can install your Christmas lights. No more National Lampoon style cack-handedness.

Two recent converts to Men in Kilts are Mark Brosinsky and Sergey Zametalin. This June saw the twosome, and Ardiena Schatz, set up Men in Kilts’ Saskatoon franchise. Both Mark and Sergey are seen on the streets of Saskatoon with kilts and “No Peeking” T-Shirts.

Mark wanted a break from the stultifying corporate world. His interest in Men in Kilts marked a career change for the window cleaner. Sergey emigrated to Canada to join his family this March. He was drawn to the idea of kilted cleaning by a billboard sign. The looks that Mark and Sergey received from the public was amazing, to say the least. Ardiena Schatz has previously worked in the gas and oil industries, so her knowledge of working at height comes in handy.

So, where next for the Men in Kilts? New York? Chicago? St. Helens or Wigan even? The site of kilted cleaners in Peasley Cross would be a sight to behold. Onwards and upwards we say.

Clean Hire, 11 August 2016.

5p plastic bag charges see a drastic drop in single use carrier bag usage

A clean street, especially one cleaned by one of our hired industrial cleaners, brings us great joy.  In the last year, you would have noticed a few things in our towns and cities.  Most tangibly, fewer plastic bags littering the pavements.  It has become the in-thing to buy a ‘bag for life’ and uses the same bag for months or years.  Some people plump for canvas tote bags that are fashionable and functional. Continue reading “English Plastic Bag Use Plunges 85%”

A compendium of window cleaner centred mishaps

Window Cleaner Emoji image by Christos Georghiou (via Shutterstock).
Window Cleaner Emoji image by Christos Georghiou (via Shutterstock).

We have only just passed the halfway point of 2016, and this year is probably the most tumultuous in living memory.  Iconic singers have passed away.  There has been a lot of bad feeling on these shores and overseas. As for laughter, somewhat lacking.  Hence our latest post, which is entitled “It Shouldn’t Happen to a Window Cleaner.” Continue reading “It Shouldn’t Happen to a Window Cleaner”

A look at the Bristol-based company who uses vegan-friendly cleaning products

Bristol Temple Meads station by Ariadna De Raadt (via Shutterstock).
Bristol Temple Meads station. Image by Ariadna De Raadt (via Shutterstock).

Households and businesses alike have expressed concerns about the environmental impact of their cleaning products.  They wonder if the bleach or multi-purpose cleaner they have used will pollute the seas or give off noxious fumes.  In a previous post of ours, we mentioned how S.C. Johnson have decided to disclose all the ‘ingredients’ in their products.  Recently, we have learned about a cleaning company who have opted for vegan-friendly products.  If you live in Bristol, Bath or Cardiff, a company known as Gleem does just that.

Continue reading “Why Gleem Goes for a Vegan-Friendly Clean”

A selection of suction sycophants: in other words, vacuum cleaner enthusiasts and popular cultural icons

Suction sycophant image by Ljupco Smokovski (via Shutterstock).
Image by Ljupco Smokovski (via Shutterstock).

We at Clean Hire not only hire a number of industrial vacuum cleaners.  We are also passionate about vacuum cleaners and other cleaning products.  It is our life, our raison d’etre – our reason for being in plain English terms.  Needless to say, we salute like-minded people with a great interest in vacuum cleaners.  Suction sycophants if you prefer.

For our latest post, we salute four suction sycophants. Some people are fans of vacuum cleaners in the same way some of us like steam trains, photography, and American comics. Continue reading “Dedicated Followers of Suction”

Shock as Indian Railways’ permanent way is paved with rubbish

Indian train tracks image by Joe Ravi (via Shutterstock).
Image by Joe Ravi (via Shutterstock).

Since UK rail privatisation began in 1994, Rail magazine’s Stop and Examine column had a long-running strand known as BB&W (or the Bin Bag and Weedkiller strand in its longhand form).  It named and shamed parts of the UK’s rail network dogged by trackside refuse.  For instance: overgrowing foliage, abandoned wagons or substandard tracks with poorly maintained fishplates.

Continue reading “Clean My Coach? What About The Tracks?”

A selection of cleaning quotes and advertising slogans in relation to cleaning

Cleanliness they say is next to godliness.  If cleaning quotes featured on Pointless, you’d be looking at 80 to 90 points for our first sentence.  For our latest post, here’s a few more quotes and slogans you may, or may not have heard of.

  1. Trigger’s Broom

The late great Roger Lloyd-Pack is best known for his role as the dim-witted Trigger in Only Fools and Horses. In the first part of three episodes in the sitcom’s 1996 Christmas special (entitled Heroes and Villains), we see the road sweeper talk to Sid about his award.  What was to follow was one of Trigger’s greatest quotes – possibly one of the greatest cleaning quotes ever to grace our television screens.

  1. Unblocking writer’s block

You wouldn’t have thought the author of murder mystery books would have come up with some cleaning quotes.  Well, think again.  Agatha Christie claimed that washing up formed a part of her creative process as seen in this image.  The setting in the image is Stoke Gabriel village, where Agatha Christie’s house was.  Her former home, Greenway, is in the care of the National Trust.

  1. 1001: a carpet cleaning odyssey

“1001 means a big, big carpet for less than half a crown”

For our first advert clip, Cussons’ 1001 cleaner enabled households to clean their carpets affordably.  It was launched in the 1940s as a product which (it claimed) has 1,001 uses.  By the 1960s, it carpet cleaning abilities were extolled in the clip seen above.  Since 2004, the 1001 brand has owned by the makers of WD-40.

  1. How self discovery applies to vacuuming

Though not a cleaning quote, Mahatma Gandhi’s quote is applicable to the fact we provide a service.  In our case, this means hiring industrial vacuum cleaners.  It also means impartial advice and professional services.

Any more cleaning quotes?

You can either add a few more to the list, or you could let us do a quote.  For one of our quotes, why not discuss your requirements over the ‘phone on 01744 633738, or by email us on info@cleanhire.co.uk.  We shall be happy to get back to you as soon as possible.

Clean Hire, 06 June 2016

Cleaning giant details ingredients of all their British and European cleaning products

SC Johnson Cleaning Products Image

SC Johnson, whom many of you may remember as Johnson Wax, are on a crusade to improve transparency between themselves and their customers.  With health issues and the likelihood of cancers caused by cleaning chemicals, the company has embarked upon a mission to explain.  This time, the makers of Toilet Duck and Shake ‘n’ Vac, have decided to detail every single ‘ingredient’ used in their products.

Known as What’s Inside SC Johnson, their handy website tells you:

  • The composition of Shake ‘n’ Vac’s lemon fragrance;
  • Which materials are used in Goddard’s Silver Cloth;
  • How Benzophenone-12 is used in Duck 3-in-1’s Purple Wave rim block.

Continue reading “SC Johnson: Their Mission to Explain”

Now you can play Candy Crush Saga AND do a spot of vacuuming from your smartphone – thanks to Botvac

 

You’ve got to love the robotic vacuum cleaner. No trailing wires; nor heavy bags to dump; not to mention their portability. Soon, they’ll reach a price that is suitable enough for most users. Neato is one company which has made robotic vacuums worthy of their premium price tag. Their latest model, the Botvac Connected, does everything your typical robotic vacuum cleaner does – and more besides.

 

As well as the usual sensing technology, the Botvac Connected has WiFi capabilities. After linking it up with your WiFi box (in the same way you can access the internet on your PC or smartphone), you can control Botvac through an iPhone or Android smartphone. The ‘phone app has details of your cleaner’s battery life and cleaning status.  You can move the vacuum cleaner to a given spot with your smartphone, like a radio-controlled car.  Or you can let it clean its merry way for an hour.

 

Better still, if you’re away from home and able to find a suitable WiFi hotspot, you can switch your Botvac Connected cleaner on several miles from home. After returning home, your carpet is cleaned. If you wanted to, you can put your feet up and play Candy Crush Saga (other smartphone games are available) whilst Botvac does the rest. This time-lapsed video clip shows you how.

 

What’s in the box: features of the Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum

 

  • Ultra performance filter;
  • Spiral blade, combo, and side brushes;
  • Charging base;
  • Power cord;
  • Boundary markers;
  • Brush and filter cleaning tool;
  • OLED display on vacuum cleaner;
  • iOS and Android compatible smartphone app.

 

Price:

 

The Recommended Retail Price for the Botvac Connected Robot Vacuum is £599.  Online, the lowest price we have seen is £499 (from Thurgo, Exeter).  The most common price is £549, as charged at Maplin and The Wright Buy.