The importance of hygiene in hospitality
Whilst hygiene has always been important to hotel and restaurant guests, Covid-19 has put cleanliness in the spotlight as people grow more conscious about the effects of hygiene standards on their health. Kärcher steam cleaners and mops offer outstanding solutions for everyday challenges in the hospitality industry.
When managed to the top standard, hygiene is not always noticed however when managed poorly it quickly comes under the microscope, something that has been intensified by Covid-19. For example, a study by P&G Professional found that a quarter of holidaymakers say they would be put off a hotel within ‘seconds’ if the cleanliness was not up to scratch and despite nearly 18 months of travel restrictions, half of adults would be put off making a hotel booking if they were not confident in the hotel’s hygiene.
Cleaning tools and processes that help to prevent the spread of germs are essential to keep guests safe and happy. Kärcher steam cleaners and mops kill 99.999% of enveloped viruses* and 99.9% of bacteria** without the need for harsh chemicals or scrubbing, when used properly. The power of steam is perfect for general hygiene on hard floors and most other surfaces around restaurants, hotels and leisure facilities.
Steam cleaner
Hotels and restaurants are constantly welcoming new people, bringing a host of germs and bacteria with them. Steam cleaners are a good choice for tackling bacteria at a low cost because they only require the use of water that is heated to an incredibly high temperature to kill bacteria on hard floors. This method of cleaning produces the same, if not better, cleaning results than the use of harsh or hazardous chemicals which helps to protect the surface being treated along with the health of the operator.
Kärcher’s SG 4/4 steam cleaner provides deep and hygienic cleaning with a steam pressure of four bar and wide range of accessories making it equally suited to detailed work around kitchen appliances and bathroom fittings as it is to cleaning floors and walls. Hospitality managers can enjoy using one simple tool to practically clean their entire venue from top to bottom. Thanks to its two-tank system, the machine can be used continuously for long periods with a total volume of four litres. In addition, the VapoHydro means the steam level can be infinitely adjusted to the cleaning task at hand, from full steam to a hot water jet to dissolve even stubborn dirt and grease.
Steam vacuum cleaners
As we start moving into cooler climates, mold and mildew will begin to appear more frequently as they thrive in cold, damp environments. Steam is the perfect solution for fighting mold which can be particularly unsightly for guests to see. Kärcher’s SGV 6/5 vacuum cleaner is an innovative steam-generating vacuum with six bar steam for easy deep cleaning and hygiene critical environments. The wet & dry function helps to cut through grease, fat and dirt, and the machine instantly dries the area being cleaned making it perfect for mould-infected areas to prevent damp. With short heating up times and all accessories kept close to hand, the SGV combines superb cleaning performance with high convenience
Floors are a particular challenge to keep clean as food and drink spills are a regular occurrence and the SGV 8/5 is the perfect solution. Whilst detergents are not necessary, it allows for the option which is ideal for cleaning large areas like floors, or where a shine or fragrance is preferred. The high handle and large wheels on the machine make it easy to manoeuvre and the long 4m suction hose allows the machine to be left outside the room being cleaned to ensure all corners are reached. The machines unique self-clean function ensures the machine itself is also fully cleaned after each use.
Hotel and restaurant guests will appreciate the level of cleanliness that steam cleaners provide and hospitality managers will be able to enjoy the low-cost and effective results achieved without the need for detergents. This also brings peace of mind that necessary precautions have been taken to prevent the spread of illness which is so pinnacle to the industry.
*Tests have shown that with spot cleaning of 30 secs at max. steam level with the Kärcher home steam cleaner 99.999% of enveloped viruses such as coronavirus or influenza (excluding the Hepatitis-B virus) can be removed on typical household, smooth, hard surfaces (test-germ: Modified-Vaccinia-Ankara-Virus).
**When thoroughly cleaning with the Kärcher steam cleaner 99.99% of all common household bacteria will be killed on typical household, smooth, hard surfaces, provided the cleaning speed of 30 cm/s at max. steam setting (test-germ: Enterococcus hirae). With Kärcher professional steam cleaners SG(V) this is 99.999%, according to EN 16615:2015-06, on PVC floors. (test germ: Enterococcus hirae ATCC 10541).