For many business owners and housekeepers trying to wrap their head around best practice for the ‘new normal’ amongst B&Bs, hotels, self catering facilities and campsites, one of the biggest grey areas is knowing exactly what to use when cleaning rooms.
Not only is it essential to thoroughly plan what, where and how frequently you will be cleaning in accordance with your new and improved risk assessment – which is where a deep cleaning checklist comes in handy – but also to assess how powerful the cleaning products you use are.
It has been concluded by The Journal of Hospital Infection that this strain of Coronavirus resembles that of other human coronaviruses, meaning traces of the virus could survive for as long as nine days on surfaces such as metal, glass and plastic.
Opting for BS EN 1276 or EN 14476 certified products, therefore, is an easy way to guarantee that the cleaning products you use are suitable for the heavy duty, rigorous cleaning in your guest rooms, communal areas and receptions to give you that extra peace of mind that your accommodation is safe and sanitised.
When it comes to understanding cleaning standards, it can seem somewhat overwhelming, so we’ve created a user-friendly guide on what both cleaning standards mean, as well as the products we supply that have full certification in these standards.
BS EN 1276 certification means that a cleaning product is antibacterial. It is a European standard used in the hospitality industry and food preparation environments that standardises the effectiveness of chemical disinfectants.
To qualify for this standard, a disinfectant must effectively kill 99.999% of bacteria, most specifically MRSA, within 5 minutes of use. It is heavily recommended to choose products that adhere to this standard for efficient cleaning in catering environments by the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
While BS EN 1276 pertains to being bactericidal, in other words prevents the growth and spread of harmful bacteria, BS EN 14476 certification means the cleaning product contains antiviral ingredients and is required to kill viruses including Poliovirus, Norovirus, Influenza A and adenovirus.
Though this standard has not yet been tested for its effectiveness on COVID-19 just yet, it is highly recommended by the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) that “to be sure of killing viruses you should use a disinfecting agent certified for EN 14476.”
The simple answer to this is no. While standard cleaning products may claim to kill 99.9% of germs, BS EN 1276 and BS EN 14476 certification guarantees that the product you are using will kill up to 99.999% of germs within 5 minutes of use.
So, to summarise, the Professional Association of Self Caterers advises that you should:
"Disinfect using appropriate products and ensuring it is left on the surface for the required time to kill the virus: make sure the product will work on enveloped viruses. Look for […] EN14476 and follow manufacturers guidelines."
We’ve been working hard to source and supply some great product ranges all in one place for our customers to easily stock up on the essential items they need. Below are some of our most effective cleaning ranges:
Janstar are the cleaning experts with a range of highly effective solutions designed for commercial environments. Despite their powerful formulations, all Janstar cleaning chemicals are biodegradable as well as made in the UK.
Handy Janstar Antiviral & Antibacterial Hygiene Wipes are also an essential addition to your cleaning caddies, cupboards or simply to carry around for quick and easy sanitisation on-the-go.
The Bright Earth Multi Purpose Cleaner (500ml & 5L) is a highly effective and versatile. It's certified BS EN 1276 to kill 99.9% of bacteria and BS EN 14476 against coronavirus. Bright Earth is an ethically-sourced cleaning range, made in the UK with vegan, cruelty free and biodegradable ingredients.
All bottles and containers are made from recycled plastic and are recyclable.
It’s easy to assume that products with commercial-level certification are full of industrial, harmful chemicals to easily blast through dirt and grime. This, however, is not the case. Bio D offer fully natural formulas with a plant powerful kick while still maintaining the requirements of the British cleaning standards. Boasting a huge range of effective cleaning products available, with Bio D there’s no reason your rooms can’t be cleaned with both sanitising and sustainable ingredients.
Founded back in 1993 with the ambition to provide accommodation providers with an extensive and innovative range of products to help operate their business – in short, your one stop shop for all your hospitality needs.
So hard to find fitted sheets with a 'deep' enough 'skirt' to cope with mattress protectors and even slim toppers. These sheets are great, no fight to get them on!!!
Had some of these whilst on holiday recently and have been looking for them! Lovely, and so useful in the small packets!