Hygiene Tool Storage – what’s right for you?

Storage of cleaning equipment is a hot topic within the food industry and quite rightly so! From my experience, looking after the hygiene tools which clean your site makes sense and has significant benefits. 

These include;

• Helping to increase your cleaning standards,
• Reducing product rejections,
• Improving cleaning efficiency,
• And ultimately maintaining your brand image.

I regularly visit various customers who manufacture fantastic products from artisan bread to aeroplane wings and I’m frequently asked “which tool storage solutions would I recommend for their site?”

My answer is either a hygienically designed wall bracket or a robust shadow board - both solutions are very effective and help to create a clean, tidy and organised working environment for any business to thrive.

So what would I recommend? Below I have detailed tool storage solutions available from ourselves at Vikan which are designed increase cleaning efficiency, reduce hygiene tool damage and cross contamination;

Fully Colour Coded Wall Bracket

• Perfect for production areas with limited space
• Hygienically designed making it easy to clean and maintain
• Tools accessible and easy to audit
• Small footprint but large capacity

Stainless Steel Wall Brackets

• Robust, durable and hygienically designed
• Perfect for production areas with limited space
• Small footprint but large capacity
• Tools accessible
• Not Colour Coded

Shadow Boards

• Fixed or mobile versions available
• Fully colour coded
• Tools easily accessible
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Provides instant management and auditing overview

My top tips below will help you make an informed decision on the tool storage most suitable for your site;

• Understand the ‘flow’ of your operation in detail - When designing your cleaning procedures, ensure your storage accommodates only the tools required for cleaning each specific area of your site. Learn more about how the 5S principles of Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardise, and Sustain can improve your operational efficiency.
• Tight for Space? A tool bracket or a mobile shadow board might suit your requirements more than a wall mounted shadow board.
• Look for Hygienic Design – All Vikan wall brackets are hygienically designed meaning they are easy to clean and maintain. They can be dismantled easily for deep periodic cleans as well as daily maintenance.
• Double Storage - Mobile shadow boards can be double sided so you can hold non-food contact hygiene tools on one side and food contact hygiene tools on the other - Effective and efficient.
• Only One Colour – For best practice, only have one colour of hygiene tool on each tool bracket holder or shadow board - this prevents any potential cross contamination issues.
• Glass breakages and Allergen Spills - Shadow boards are great for storing emergency spill kits. Position the shadow board prominently near a potential hazard for easy access when required.
• Stainless Steel Hooks are recommended for tool storage on shadow boards, they are hard wearing and prevent hygiene tools from slipping from the shadow.
• Working in a Damp Environment? A heavy duty shadow board will stand up to the rigors of being foamed and washed on a daily basis compared to cheaper alternatives.
• Last but not least Equipment Storage – To prevent hygiene issues it’s always a good idea to store cleaning tools with the heads facing toward the floor. This reduces the potential of dirt and bacteria spreading onto your products.

For more information on the most effective hygiene tool storage for you, please contact myself, Ally Scott at asc@vikan.co.uk.