Microfibre – How is that Green?
The application of high end technology when applied to essentially every-day simple tasks such as cleaning is to some of us a fairly amusing idea, but when one stops to think, this idea permeates through every single facet of our lives.
Many innovative applications of technological inventions turn out to be incidental properties of materials which have either been designed specifically with some completely different objective in mind, or are by-products of industrial processes. In the case of micro-fibre the product was developed with no specific immediate usage planned.
The term microfibre refers to any synthetic fibre that measure less than one denier. To give you an idea, nine thousand meters of a 1-denier fibre weigh just one gram, and this would have a thickness of one 10 millionths of a meter, or the same as the thickness of a water droplet in fog.
The most common types of microfibres are made from polyesters and polyamides, e.g. nylon and kevlar. The widest adopted uses are in clothing, insulation, liquid repellent uses, and the part that concerns us – cleaning cloths.
When manufactured as a cleaning material, it can hold up to eight times its weight in water. Microfibre products have an exceptional ability to absorb oils, and are not hard enough to scratch surfaces such as paintwork or optical coatings unless they have retained grit or hard particles from earlier use.
We maintain that microfibre has all the attributes to eventually replace most household cleaning chemicals that smear and contaminate our atmosphere. Microfibre actually cleans and removes dirt and bacteria mechanically with water alone, and with no need for chemicals. What’s more you don’t throw the products away, but keep renewing them with machine or hand washing.
When viewed this way it’s arguably one of the greenest and most economic products available.
See our microfibre cloths here >>
See our microfibre mop heads and other microfibre products here >>
Water-fed Poles… Taking the Plunge
Let’s face it…
Although times are difficult, until now you’ve been getting along just fine using basic window cleaning equipment, and to be fair setting up in the window cleaning business is made all the more attractive for requiring a relatively small outlay. So why should you need to upgrade to water fed poles?
We take a look here at some of the reasons you might want to consider before dismissing it as a good marketing opportunity for the manufacturers.
The Basic Advantages
To most of us the obvious advantage of using poles is safe access to height. In reality at the heart of the pole fed cleaning concept is pure water which absorbs dust and dirt, leaving a smear free surface. Pure water leaves no residue, and there is no need to squeegee away any contaminants or beads of water which, if unpurified, evaporate leaving unsightly calcium deposits.
Using a water fed pole, one can reach windows, over lawns, flower beds and busy car parks. Their use ensures occupant privacy! Conservatories and other vulnerable areas can be accessed safely. Window frame and sill damage is eliminated.
Safety
On the face of it, it may appear to be a more relevant option for medium sized businesses with, most probably commercial customers having height considerations, and almost definately, employee safety issues to consider (see legislation regarding working at height ) But at the risk of scaremongering, just because you work solo doesn’t mean you are exempt from an accident. – Ladders with unseen workers at the top are more likely to be hit than, say a stray pet in the same vicinity by a driver when sudden choices have to be made. Objects may be accidentally dropped by operators working up ladders. Workers at ground level using poles are more visible, safe from falling and free from worry about dropping objects, and most importantly may operate alone, whilst at the same time observing proper safety legislation.
Entry Level Kit
OK. – So you’re convinced by the advantages and the new opportunities opened up by having water-fed poles, but what about the prohibitive outlay?
At first glance the world of water fed poles may seem a world away to the small operator.
Top level, all encompassing systems can involve big expenditure; but wait! For £144.95 plus VAT you can get under way with a “Residential” system, employing an in-line de-ionising cartridge and an Ionic 12ft multi pole. This does require hooking up the cartridge to a local water supply, but it gets you on, or rather off, the bottom rung of the ladder. The tag residential may imply just that, but consider the new range of jobs you can now advertise to win for such a small outlay.
Once you have a taste for it, the greater flexibility offered by trolley mounted cartridges and independent water supplies is the next consideration. The Ionic “Duplex” features a 50 litre holding tank allowing you the freedom to work without being tied to a water supply. Cost from Shineline – £846.95 plus VAT.
We think that once you’ve opened up your market, say by advertising conservatory cleaning, there will be no stopping you.