Know your options
April 1st 2006

Different types of floor require different types of cleaning; it sounds obvious but, according to Karcher, it is sometimes overlooked

It's essential that any contract cleaning firm is fully aware of the machinery available for different types of cleaning and that they weigh up the options to assess which offers best value," says Lee Norton, sales and marketing director commercial/ industrial at Karcher UK.

Scrubber Driers

A large area of hard flooring, such as the entrance to an office building, might require a scrubber drier. Karcher's BR 530 scrubber drier covers large areas quickly and has a built-in charger for fast recharging in any location. In comparison, smaller areas, such as toilets, washrooms and cafeterias, might demand a BR 400 which is compact for manoeuvrability and scrubs, dries, polishes and sprays in one.

Upright vacuum cleaners

The Karcher EB30 is a powered broom that can be used to clean up localised dirt and can be carried on a typical janitor's trolley.

Powered by battery, the EB30 is very quiet to use and has no trailing cables so can be used throughout the day without the risk of disturbing or tripping customers or staff.

For larger areas, for example office corridors, Karcher's upright vacuum cleaners - the CV 36/2 and 46/2 - are popular choices. These have two motors; one for beating the carpet and the second for lifting the pile and vacuuming the dirt. They are designed with a lay-flat feature meaning they can clean easily underneath desks and other office furniture.

Cylinder vacuum cleaners

Karcher has three cylinder vacuum cleaners in its range. The latest addition is the new T7/1 vacuum cleaner. This seven litre, one turbine tub vacuum cleaner is the new sister cleaner to the larger T12/1 and has been designed to operate in smaller areas. With the same robust design as the T12/1, the T7/1 features an ergonomic design with a simple, yet rugged, on/off foot switch and a lightweight hose for effortless use. Both the T7/1 and T12/1 can be specified with a Hepa filter to trap allergenic particles.

Longer, 12 metre cables are now fitted, as are hooks for temporary cable storage as well as a cable wind-round moulding on the tub. There is also an easy-to-use clip for floor tool stowage during work breaks.

When especially quiet operation is a requirement, Karcher's T 201 is the most appropriate choice. This produces only 59 decibels and makes it ideal for daytime cleaning noise-sensitive areas.

"When considering cleaning machines for a variety of different floors then it is important to consider the whole range of applications that might be used so that the best and most cost effective machine is chosen," Norton concludes.

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