Intensive summer refresher - rationell reinigen Gebäudedienste

As a rule, basic cleaning projects in school buildings are reserved for the holidays. This is also the perfect time to get all those long-awaited repairs and renovations done that involve other specialized contractors. The timing is tight and the place can get pretty busy. Besides their professional know-how, facility services providers must also demonstrate organizational skills.During the last fall break, basic cleaning at the Erich Kästner School in Fürstenwalde, just east of Berlin, included giving the glazed surfaces the Puraqleen treatment. This innovative system features a water treatment unit that demineralizes tap water using quartz sand. “In the past we manually cleaned the eight-meter-high glazing at the gable,” reports Alfred Jäckel, Managing Director of Aedes Dienstleistungen GmbH, Dresden. The costs and effort involved were considerable: A lifting platform had to be rented and the cleaners had to climb a ladder and literally go out on a limb to reach those hard-to-reach glazed areas. “All the moving around and setting up over and over again resulted in lots of unproductive time,” he recalls. That is a thing of the past now: Using a modular tube system made of a carbon or aluminum alloy and various purpose-designed brushes, cleaning glass surfaces up to 20 meters above the ground is a cinch, promises the manufacturer. Based on Alfred Jäckel’s experience, the potential savings generated by the new system are substantial compared to the conventional cleaning process. Aedes had previously had a good experience on other buildings with a rental system, so they eventually developed their own system a year ago. “It not only opens up new revenue streams for us, but also takes the pressure off our cleaning crews. And because they are now standing on firm ground rather than teetering on ladders, safety is up, too,” says Jäckel. Still, holding that tube and keeping their aim true is not without its challenges for the two window cleaners on staff at the time of writing. They work as team in half-hour rotations. This time the glass surfaces in the Erich Kästner School had to be selectively cleaned again to remove the chemical residue from previous cleanings. “Come back next year and you’ll see only spotless glass after just one pass,” he adds with a knowing smile. The system offers another key advantage: Because it uses demineralized and chemical-free water so that less atmospheric dirt gets deposited on the glass. The waste water doesn’t have to be collected and disposed of separately but can drain off unhindered to the ground. In sync with the janitorial crew“The high volume of waste water produced, however, precludes the system from being used in enclosed spaces on a regular basis. That can sometimes be a drawback, albeit a small one,” Jäckel adds. Meticulous manual work is also necessary for cleaning the lighting fixtures, the fire-proof doors and skylights, all the windows of the class rooms and function rooms, and the steel traverses of the handrails and gallery railings. Apart from bringing all the glazed surfaces back to sparkling life, it was also high time to give the floors in the entire school building a basic cleaning again, worn down by the soles of thousands of children in the course of a school year. As the cleaners only had one week left, everything had to be perfectly organized. Alfred Jäckel: “We got together with the school’s janitors in Fürstenwalde and the other trades that had been contracted for special jobs during the holidays to coordinate. This way, we could prepare and save time as well as make sure we wouldn’t be stepping over each other.” By the time the cleaning crews arrived, class and function rooms had already been cleared out, with tables, chairs and other furniture neatly arranged in the hall. The cleaners could get to work immediately and ensure a thorough job. In the course of their work, they also removed chewing gum, marker traces and other tough stains. In the class rooms they gave blackboards, sinks and permanently installed equipment a full makeover. A cleaning pole and a single disc scrubberThe next step was to start with basic cleaning in earnest. “Because the new floor finishes had to cure for at least 24 hours before bearing any loads, our team got started on the linoleum flooring in the classrooms first,” explains Jäckel. A pre-formulated dosage of a solution containing a special-purpose cleaning agent (Li-Ex, Kiehl) was used to remove marks and detergent residue from the previous school year. This intensive cleaning, anti-foaming product was specifically developed for use on both alkaline-sensitive and alkali-resistant flexible flooring, but also for natural and artificial stone. It removes polymer coatings, maintenance coatings as well as oil and grease stains. First, the solution was applied to the edges with a pad on a pole, then the whole floor area was scrubbed with a single-disc machine. “Green pads safely loosen and capture dirt without damaging the floor,” he emphasizes. The fifteen minutes it takes for the product’s action to unfold were used to prepare the cleaning process in the neighboring classroom. After letting it soak for the required time, the solution was removed with a wet vacuum cleaner. The final step was a neutralizing process which consisted of wiping the floor down with clear water that contained a splash of alcohol-based cleaner (Lorito Otto Oehme GmbH). Where and when possible, the windows were left open to allow air to circulate and the floor to dry. Give basic cleaning the time it takesFinally, the Aedes team coated the PVC floors with a metalized plastic dispersion (Thermodur, Kiehl) – a product with a high solids content that results in a self-shining floor finish. It is durably stain and smear-resistant and skid-proof. An adhesion test is re- commended, however, before using it on PU or PE top layers. In the classrooms in the Erich Kästner School, the coating process was carried out manually with a broad wiping apparatus. One application is not enough however: “You need a great deal of experience and a strong sense of the required quality to be able to judge when the optimal result has been reached,” Jäckel points out. As a rule, the Aedes crew apply two finishing coats, with an interval of one hour between passes. Badly worn floors may require more coats, of course. This work can be very time-consuming, so contractors should carefully inspect the premises and accurately take the time factor into account when costing an assignment. In Fürstenwalde, the floors were as good as new and ready for the onslaught of kid’s shoes after just a day of curing with good ventilation. The restroom tiles, too, underwent basic cleaning, using the same cleaning measures regularly carried out during the maintenance cleaning. In order to get the work done as effectively and hassle-free as possible, good time management was necessary here, as in the other areas. First of all, the sanitary appliances were thoroughly cleaned. To remove lime, urine and scale deposits in the bowls, Aedes as usual relied on tried and tested Nettesheim’s Clonett biodegradable concentrate. This product acts as a disinfectant, sticks well to the sides of the toilet bowl due to its viscous consistency and, if left to act long enough, even removes stubborn stains. Restrooms get special attentionThe exterior of the sanitary appliances, the fittings and the wall tiles were cleaned with an acid-free sanitary cleaner (Säfresan 358, Otto Oehme GmbH). Based on specific complexing agents, this cleaner unfailingly removes limescale, lime soap residues and stains without affecting materials and stone floors that are sensitive to acids. The product can be used in somewhat higher doses for tough stains and if necessary can even be used neat. In comparison with other schools serviced by Aedes, graffiti and other wall staining is rarely an issue at the Erich Kästner School, and if necessary they can be removed under special contract. Likewise, a great deal of manual work was required for the basic cleaning of the tiled floors in the toilets. “During the school year, tough residue and stains form on the tiles, especially in the grout, and the regular maintenance cleaning is not enough to clear the floors,” Jäckel observes. With a solution of a highly-active cleaner, which is acid-based and offers corrosion protection for acid- resistant surfaces (Vinox, Kiehl), the building cleaners can effectively remove traces of calcification, scale and also greasy deposits of animal and plant origin. This product is odor-neutral and develops only moderate foam when used with the single-disc machine (green pad). The floor tiles had to be cleaned by hand due to the limited range of movement in the cubicles and in the corners as well as under the wash basins. Following a short period to let its effect unfold, the cleaning specialist washed off the cleaning solution and then neutralized the surfaces with clear water, to which he had added a splash of alcohol-based detergent beforehand. Beauty treatment for textile flooringsThe textile floors in the administration rooms had to be cleaned by spray extraction. Here, the crew used a Puzzi-Profi machine developed by Kärcher. As regards chemical cleaners, the Aedes team swears by a highly concentrated carpet and upholstery cleaner (Clean and Clever Professional, Igefa), which removes stains caused by grease, protein, ink and emulsion paint, but also effectively removes rust residue and offers aerosol protection, on all colorfast and moisture-resistant surfaces made of natural and synthetic fibers. The product contains neither bleach nor optical brighteners, won’t pick up dirt and can even be used for removing stains. “Stain removal must be carried out by specific contract. However, because the floors in the Erich Kästner School are not subjected to severe stress, regular carpet cleaning is usually all you need,” according to Alfred Jäckel. After the coverings were left to dry for 24 hours with good ventilation, the janitors returned the furniture to its original location. Before the stone floors in the corridors could finally undergo basic cleaning, all the shelves, display cases and window sills had to first be sorted by the building cleaners. Because they are mounted high above ground, these items can’t be included in the maintenance cleaning for occupational health reasons. Afterwards, the same procedure was followed as with the classrooms. First, the maintenance coat along with all the dirt residue was stripped from the floors, then the solution was vacuumed off, and finally the surfaces got a brand new finish to last them at least another year. Reinhard Wylegalla | peter.hartmann@holzmann-medien.de

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