Commercially upright

The cleaning of any commercial space has to be done quickly, efficiently and regularly so the correct choice of vacuum cleaner is essential, not only for performance but also for the comfort of the user, says Justin Binks of SEBO

Flooring in commercial premises is often a combination of both hard and textile flooring.With many surfaces to clean, choosing a vacuum cleaner that can accommodate both saves time and effort, thus keeping cleaning costs down. Upright cleaners with strong suction and driven brushes are the most effective models for carpets as they groom, lift the pile and remove dirt far more effectively.Cylinders tend to crush the pile and trap the dirt, removing only visible surface litter. This, in turn, leads to dust and allergy accumulation. Good quality upright vacuum cleaners also have different height settings to allow adjustment to different pile heights and constructions.An electronic guidance for brush height on certain models ensures optimum cleaning results and longer brush life.

Easy-to-use A key advantage of an upright cleaner over a cylinder model is its ease of use.Cleaning operatives sometimes have to carry heavy cleaning equipment across very large areas, and this inevitably takes its toll upon the operative's health and safety. Pulling a cylinder can also lead to accidents, such as trapping power cables or disturbing stock. A major benefit of a good quality upright is its lightness.

Choosing a vacuum cleaner that is no more than 9kg in weight can be beneficial for operatives.

Today's technology allows many advances in the design of uprights including time saving features, such as multiple-layer bags to seal in dust and dirt, multistage filtration and low noise.The latter is particularly pertinent in situations where cleaning operatives have to work with residents in situ, such as nursing homes and hospitals.

Efficiency savings In Sebo's opinion upright cleaners are inherently more efficient than cylinders.Not only does the rotating brush provide better cleaning efficiency but, it also covers the floor much quicker.When using cylinders, the operator has to scrub the floor with the floor nozzle, putting in much of the physical action themselves, whereas with an upright the brush roller does the work.The operator just has to move the upright over the floor and, if this is done in a systematic way - such as overlapping one pass sweeps - then the floor area is cleaned significantly faster than is possible with a cylinder, thus saving considerably on time related costs.

Commercial cleaning is a consistent, regular task that should be conducted to the highest standards. By using quality, reliable and long lasting equipment, this can help to facilitate and speed up the cleaning process. It can be a false economy to buy a cylinder vacuum cleaner for commercial purposes as they don't necessarily perform to the same standards as an upright and and operator costs can be much greater for the same amount of area cleaned. In the long term, it is worth investing in a quality, reputable upright that offers reliability, superior performance and efficiency.