Microfibres saves time and improve health at Giggleswick School

"Cleaning with Vikan microfibres cloths and mops has led to vastly improved cleaning results, financial savings and a happier workforce as well as a healthier environment."
John Gleave, Domestic Manager, Giggleswick School.

About Giggleswick

Giggleswick is one of the leading independent boarding and day schools in the north of England. The 600-student establishment was founded in 1512 and now comprises a junior and senior school with seven boarding houses and around 50 full-time staff members.

Challenge

Maintaining high levels of cleanliness throughout the extensive public school premises and seven boarding houses is no mean feat. Much time and effort was spent carrying mop buckets full of water and chemicals up and down the many corridors and staircases. Giggleswick was in need of a more effective cleaning solution, which would deliver labour- and cost-savings.

Solution

Vikan demonstrated how their hygienic cleaning microfibre system could overcome the cleaning challenges that the premises presented, and the domestic manager was encouraged enough to set up a trial.

During the trial, the school quickly established that the Vikan system was not only effective but eliminated the use of heavy buckets, reduced cross contamination through a zoned use of mops and cloths, while the ready-to-use tools and single work process saved time.The trial results impressed the school to the extent that they decided to end the use of chemicals (apart from toilet cleaners) and turned the entire cleaning operation over to ultramicrofibres.

As well as capturing 99.9% dirt, dust and bacteria, the school soon discovered that, without chemicals, surfaces not only stay cleaner longer, they also retained their sheen. The school reports great satisfaction in achieving good cleaning results using less water, no chemicals and in a reduced time, and estimates that their annual savings on chemicals alone amounts to hundreds of pounds. As an added benefit, the school's medical team is also seeing a considerable drop in the number of breathing complaints among students and staff since the microfibre system was introduced.