COVER STORY

Coach Cleaning

The January issue of Clean India Journal discussed at length the increased efficiency mechanised cleaning can bring both in terms of cost and the cleaning results. While building service contractors and Facility Management companies are putting equipment and chemicals to optimum use in maintaining various facilities, Railways, Airports and Highways are also experiencing the benefits of mechanisation. CIJ had earlier covered the cleaning system adopted by the Southern Railways. This time, the focus is on the Central Railway. During a visit to the Central Railway offices in Mumbai and also to one of the Railway yards, CIJ’s Mohana found that within six months of adopting mechanisation in coach cleaning, the results seem very encouraging.

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Mechanised cleaning for More efficiency

In a study conducted in the UK to quantify the social, environmental and economic contributions made by different professions, the job which topped the list for offering maximum benefit to the society was the cleaning job. The study reinforces the fact that cleaning activities help build a healthy and sustainable environment. It now becomes very important for governments, institutions, corporates, sectors like hospitality & healthcare and cleaning contractors to understand and implement various methods to make the maintenance jobs simpler, efficient and cost effective. One obvious route is the deployment of right equipment along with the cleaning workers to suit the cleaning needs. However, machines are yet to find their rightful place in India.
Clean India Journal discusses with different end-users – client companies which have been shying away from investing in cleaning machines or housekeeping companies which have taken up mechanised cleaning to remain ahead in the race or companies which show inflated profits by using less efficient machines. CIJ also brings in the opinion of equipment suppliers who are educating customers about using right machines. There is also this section of equipment providers who offload machines on to customers who are not knowledgeable enough.

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Know your wipes

In professional surface cleaning, various kinds of wipes are used for fast and effective removal of grease and grime. The choice of wipes differs with the nature of cleaning required…

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Tools are important too

Cleaning with sophisticated and state-of-the-art tools has replaced the traditional trademark of a cleaner crouching with a cloth mop and a broom, to a professional janitor holding a handle mop or a squeegee, carrying wipes in the pockets and dragging a trolley with chemicals and other accessories. Professional cleaning systems have necessitated the use of tools in applications where they complement mechanised cleaning. Mohana M

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Rhineside Story

The Rhine was dismissed as the “Sewer of Europe” in the 1970s, but today it is on the road to recovery. The story of rejuvenation can be a lesson for India where the Ganga Action Plan has run into troubled waters, reports Gunvanthi Balaram from Koblenz, Germany, and Basel, Switzerland.

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Southern Railway on the ‘Clean’ track

The Indian Railways had been the much-preferred and cheaper means of transportation for the people until a few years ago, when low cost airlines started chewing into the profits of the former with the upper middle class and middle class passengers opting for the latter. Cleanliness, hygiene, sanitation, punctuality… are some of the daunting areas that have made railways a second choice next to economic budget flights. The Indian Railways has ever since been experimenting with various solutions to win a clean chit. The modernisation and mechanised cleaning adopted at various railway stations have hiked business prospects for the cleaning industry.

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