One of the key contributing factors to climate change is the sheer volume of single-use plastic making its way to landfill or the ocean where it stays for potentially hundreds of years. The UK Government is committed to a future of recycling and reducing the amount of plastic packaging and waste that is entering landfill. They are specifically keen to target businesses and manufacturers to use recycled goods where possible.  So, to enforce and encourage this, the HMRC has introduced a tax to be applied to some plastic packaging manufacturing and imports. In this blog we will look at this in more detail and see the impact this may have on your business and how we may be able to help you solve your plastic tax problems.

What is the Plastic Packaging Tax?

UK HMRC is introducing a plastic packaging tax. It covers plastic packaging products that do not contain at least 30% recycled content and targets both UK producers and importers of plastic packaging. The tax also covers packaging that is already “filled” when imported into the UK.

The tax came into force on 1 April 2022 and is charged at a rate of:

• £200 per tonne from 1 April 2022
• £210.82 per tonne from 1 April 2023

There is a threshold of 10tonnes per year, meaning some small businesses may not be affected. Current estimates show that around 5million tonnes of plastic are used annually in the UK, predominantly plastic packaging, but with only a very small amount of this being recycled. The plastic packaging tax aims to minimise plastic waste and generate an investment in recycling.

There are 2 types of packaging that qualify for the plastic tax; that which is used in a supply chain or that which is single use for consumers. Focusing specifically on the impact for the supply chain, the government states if it does any of the following functions: contain the goods, protect the goods, handle the goods, present the goods, or deliver the goods, then it will be subject to the plastic tax.

Who does it affect?

The plastic tax is effectively aimed at the manufacturers, importers, and retailers rather than the consumer. The main objective being that by targeting the issue higher up the supply chain the plastic tax will tackle the large volume of plastic waste by encouraging more businesses to include more recycled plastic in packaging. It is hoped that ultimately a shift in demand will stimulate investment in recycling processes, infrastructure, or better yet sourcing alternative materials. By introducing this tax, the hope is it will force businesses to become more eco-friendly and consider more sustainable long-term solutions for packaging their products.

What can we do to help?

Of course, switching to using recycled materials or alternative materials is great in principle but is not always an option. IBCs are not currently exempt from the plastic tax, so maybe it’s time to think outside the box? Our state-of-the-art IBC cleaning station and dedicated cleaning processes allow us to clean a large number of IBC’s a day using our unique ultra-efficient high pressure omni-directional spinner cleaning heads. Utilising our extensive cleaning processes means that your IBC is no longer single use. As the IBC is now reusable use you can potentially avoid the tax altogether or drastically reduce any outgoings.

It is important that you follow the advice given by the HMRC here to make sure you are registered and ready to comply with the new plastic tax legislation. If you are interested in our professional IBC cleaning services and would like more information on the different services we offer, get in touch now to see how we can help you.

In industrial settings, hygiene and cleanliness are essential not only for the employees’ health and well-being but also for the equipment’s overall productivity and longevity. Using a combination of industrial cleaning equipment such as industrial vacuum cleaners, industrial steam cleaners and carpet cleaners, is perfect for cleaning large, industrial spaces. In this blog, we’ll go over how to use these powerful floor cleaning machines in an industrial setting, step by step, to keep the workplace clean and safe.

Selecting the right equipment

A few important things to consider before you start a clean are things like the size of the space to be cleaned, the surface material you need to clean, and the degree of soil or stains you need to clean. Bearing these things in mind will help you choose the right cleaning equipment. For example, a steam cleaner uses high-temperature steam to sanitise and disinfect various surfaces, whereas a carpet cleaner uses a combination of detergent and water to clean carpets only. If you’re still not sure what industrial cleaning equipment you need, then you can always get in touch and chat with experts like us and we’ll help you choose the right machine for you.

Readying the area for cleaning

It is absolutely necessary to properly prepare the industrial space before beginning the floor cleaning process. Debris, equipment, and other items that could impede the cleaning process or endanger safety should be removed from the area first. Start by using your industrial vacuum cleaner and thoroughly vacuuming the area to remove any loose dirt or debris from the surface. A carpet cleaner or industrial steam cleaner will run more smoothly over a debris free surface and deliver a much better end result.

Get to know the equipment

Read and understand the user manual provided by the manufacturer before operating any professional carpet cleaning machines or industrial steam cleaners. Familiarise yourself with the equipment. Pay close attention to the guidelines for maintenance, recommended cleaning methods, and safety instructions. Throughout the cleaning process, safe and efficient operation is ensured by taking the time to understand how the machine works and how to operate it.

Pre-treating stains & high-traffic areas

If you’re aware of stains or stubborn marks on any of your surfaces, using an appropriate stain remover or spot cleaner is a worthwhile step to take, before bringing in your industrial cleaning equipment. Allow the stain or spot cleaner to infiltrate the stain for the recommended duration prior to continuing with the cleaning process. Pre-treating stubborn marks like this improves the efficiency of the cleaning process as a whole and helps to loosen stubborn stains for your carpet cleaner and steam cleaner to get the job done properly.

Operating the carpet cleaner or industrial steam cleaner

Fill the cleaning machine’s reservoir as directed by the manufacturer with the recommended cleaning solution and water before beginning to use the equipment. Depending on the kind of surface and the amount of dirt on it, you may want to change the settings on the carpet cleaner or steam cleaner before starting. Begin from one corner of the floor space and work consistently in one direction across the whole area. For a thorough clean, use consistent, even pressure,

Drying the surface

Drying the surface after using a piece of industrial cleaning equipment is essential to prevent mould growth. Ventilate the industrial space by opening windows or using fans to aid the drying process. Avoid walking on the damp floor or carpet until it is completely dry to prevent footprints and potential damage.

Equipment maintenance and regular cleaning

It is essential to adhere to a routine maintenance schedule to guarantee the longevity of your industrial cleaning equipment. After each use, thoroughly clean the equipment to remove any remaining dirt or cleaning solution. For optimal performance, regularly inspect and replace any damaged or worn parts.

Utilising carpet cleaners and industrial steam cleaners in an industrial space can greatly enhance cleanliness and hygiene, leading to a healthier, happier, and more productive workspace. Browse our range of industrial cleaning equipment on our website.

If you’re a business that relies on a fleet of vehicles to handle your workload, then chances are you’ll regularly find yourself tasked with cleaning those vehicles, and that can be an enormous task! Automotive cleaning is vital if you’re going to keep them in tip top working condition though and let’s not forget how a dirty vehicle can reflect on your brand and business. It is something that’s well worth taking seriously and investing time and money in buying or renting the right cleaning chemicals and equipment to do the job, and that’s where we come in. Here’s our complete guide to automotive cleaning including the equipment and chemicals we recommend…

How to clean vehicles properly…

1. Work in a cool space, so on hot days make sure you’re washing your fleet in the shade! This is important because working in a hot or sunny environment may cause water, soap and other cleaning chemicals used during the cleaning process to dry too quickly, causing unwanted streaks and smears on the paintwork.
2. Start with a rinse down. We recommend using a pressure washer for this as it will help remove any loose dirt and grit from the vehicle’s surface before you start scrubbing. This is important because starting to lather up with soap before any loose dirt is removed can cause scratches and damage to the paintwork. Don’t forget, when it comes to pressure washers you now have the option to go green as well, by using one of our revolutionary electrically heated pressure washers. They have low running costs, high performance and zero emissions.
3. Wash the vehicle top down with a traffic film remover (TFR). Our non-caustic traffic film remover is a great example of a TRF and it is the perfect cleaning solution for removing grease and road film from all manner of vehicles. It can be used in pressure washers too, which makes it super easy to apply, speeding up the entire automotive cleaning process. If you’d like to know more about traffic film removers and how to use them, then check out our other handy blog post that tells you everything you need to know about TFRs.
4. Rise down as you go. By rinsing as you go you can more easily avoid any soap marks drying onto the paintwork. This makes for a better finish overall and saves some elbow grease when it comes to drying and polishing later, if you’re aiming for a streak-free shine.
5. Dry the vehicle off. Similar to our point above about rinsing down, also taking the time to dry your vehicle properly is key for a streak free shine as well. The best things to use here are a chamois leather or a microfiber cloth.
6. Wax and polish to finish. Once the vehicle is clean and dry, following on with a wax and polish will help create a protective barrier on the vehicle paintwork, meaning fewer washes are needed in the future to keep it looking it’s best.

Don’t forget, cleaning the inside of a vehicle is just as important as cleaning the outside of a vehicle too and for that, you can’t get a better piece of cleaning equipment than a powerful professional vacuum cleaner and we have those for sale and to hire too! If you need to invest in cleaning equipment and chemicals to help keep your fleet looking it’s best, then speak to our experts today and we’ll find the right solution for you.

What are the best floor cleaning equipment for warehouses, and why?

It’s imperative that you know how to clean your warehouse floor, and what the best tools are for the job. Warehouse floors are typically big and are bound to become unclean fast during the course of daily work. So, when it comes to cleaning warehouse floors, you need warehouse floor cleaning equipment that does the job, and does the job well.

The Floor Sweeper

It goes without saying, but a floor sweeper is a no-brainer when it comes to floor cleaning equipment. They are of course an integral piece of machinery that is used to collect and remove debris and dust from a floor, starting with smaller machines for smaller areas, to the bigger ride-on machines used for what we’re discussing here – warehouses.

Our recommendation here would be two ride-on models, the Lavor SWL R 1000 ET or the Lavor SWL R 1000 ST Bin Up. The former is easy to maintain and offers up to a maximum of 24,000 square meters of cleaning power on a full battery, offering high productivity and success. It can manage tough debris and can control fine dust super well, thanks to robust heavy duty sweeping and built-in dust control systems. The latter model is very similar, but its key feature is that the machine is equipped with an unloading mechanism which allows the collector tank to be raised up to 110cm in height and then emptied into a waste bin, alleviating any user fatigue.

The Scrubber Dryer

Scrubber driers are one of the first pieces of floor cleaning equipment that come to mind when we consider cleaning equipment for warehouses, however, the floors must be debris free to avoid damage. These work by using one or more rotating brushes which act on the floor surface and replicate the action of a scrubbing brush. A cleaning solution is then used in turn to get rid of the grit and grime from the floor. There are many different models and makes available, so it’s important to understand what the best scrubber drier for use in warehouses are, as some models are more suited to smaller spaces. In our expert opinion, the Lavor XS R 75UP is our scrubbier drier of choice for warehouse floor cleaning. It has been designed for maintaining and deep cleaning large areas, with a capacity to clean up to 4350 sqm. It is quite compact in its size and so has great manoeuvrability. This then allows for maintaining cleanliness in hard-to-reach places, making it an ideal problem solver for warehouse-based businesses. It is easy to use, cost effective and very user friendly.

Industrial Vacuums

Then of course we have vacuums. These are smaller than the previous machines mentioned but are great when it comes to certain aspects of warehouse floor cleaning, such as hard to reach places, stairs, or just for picking up specific types of waste. For instance, some vacuums specialise in picking up liquids and oils like the Kärcher IVS 100/55 M, whereas vacuums such as the Kärcher IVC 60/12-1 EC H Z22 ATEX are purposefully made to pick up combustible and explosive dusts of ST1, ST2 and ST3 CLASS, as well as your usual dirt and debris. It of course depends on your warehouse and what is it used for as to which vacuum is right for you, so if you’re not sure, feel free to get in touch with our team today and we can happily recommend the best vacuum cleaner for your warehouse.  

We’re not just experts on vacuums, scrubber driers and floor sweepers though, if you have any questions regarding what equipment you should use to clean your warehouse floors, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Fleetclean. Alternatively, you can look at all the products we have to offer by visiting our products page, or exploring what we have available to hire

There are many reasons to want or need to clean an IBC or Tote. It may be that you are a company who uses Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC’s) also known as Totes for transporting raw ingredients, chemicals or liquids.

Top Tips for Safe DIY IBC Cleaning:

• Check any product labels attached
• Ask questions as to the last use of the IBC
• If hazardous, do not take ownership or handle the IBC
• Assume the worst – If no labels are present or there is no available data regarding the last product – refuse the IBC or refer to a commercial cleaning station

Companies who use IBC’s will often require periodic cleaning to ensure no cross contamination of product or the IBC’s are safe for disposal. In some cases the IBC’s will require periodic testing and inspections to ensure they are fit for use. Companies who handle IBC’s will be aware of the legal requirements of IBC fleet management.

There are obvious differences in the clean required for a DIY enthusiast and a company who uses IBC’s. To effectively clean an IBC for reuse, particularly in the IBC fleet hire market, you would require a professional IBC clean which is recorded and traceable.

The DIY enthusiast may find a cold water rinse with the garden hose is all that is necessary. It all depends on the last product and the use for which the IBC is intended.

Why is the last product important?

IBC’s are widely used to carry hazardous products and IBC’s acquired for DIY use are often found in a ‘casual’ way. This creates potential risk of harm to the environment and human life.

Only IBC’s which can be positively identified as non hazardous should be cleaned by individuals. If no labels exist and there is no available data on the last product – you should assume that the last product is hazardous and ensure a professional clean is performed.

It is important that you know what the IBC last contained. Labels may be attached to the IBC, however this may not reflect the product it LAST contained as it may have been used many times since by different people, although these labels will give you some indication as to a product it ONCE contained.

Hazardous product is just that; hazardous, and so care must be taken when an IBC has hazardous labels attached.

The following signs indicate the IBC once carried a hazardous product. If your IBC or Tote has labels which contain these signs, please do not handle or take ownership.

To transport empty dirty IBC’s with a known hazardous product requires an ADR license so you may also be liable for the costs of transport, cleaning and disposal.

IMPORTANT – If no labels exist or there is no available data regarding the last product, you should ensure the IBC is cleaned by a commercial IBC cleaning Station.

So what is a Professional IBC Clean?

A professional IBC clean is performed by skilled operators, who understand hazardous chemicals and have the safety procedures, equipment and infrastructure in place to handle them.

Using high pressure water via omni-directional spinner heads and powerful pump sets, the IBC has every inch of its surface area cleaned with high pressure water. Where the last product is resistant to water, post wash preparation is performed while a chemical can be added to the wash water to assist product breakdown. The chemical and physical clean combined ensures the IBC is cleaned properly.

Along side this, the waste water is processed ready for clean water discharge or contained for lawful disposal. This is important when cleaning hazardous materials. IBC cleaning companies are bound by environmental and company law including Health & Safety Legislation which ensures a safe Cleaning process and environmentally friendly disposal of hazardous wastes.

A professional IBC Cleaning company will issue a Cleaning Document such as the European Cleaning Document (ECD) to evidence your IBC has been cleaned and poses no environmental or hazardous threats – effectively recording the IBC has been cleaned professionally.

Please contact us if you wish to learn more about our commercial IBC cleaning sales, hire and cleaning services we offer.

High pressure cleaning heads are the equipment of choice when it comes to commercial cleaning of IBC’s. Cleaning heads, often referred to as spinners because of their cleaning action, are used widely throughout the tanker and IBC (Tote) cleaning industry in the UK and across the world.

Why use a cleaning head (spinner)?

The benefits of using omni-directional cleaning heads are:

• Efficiency
• Consistency
• Reliability
• Safety

In short, the cleaning heads provide a superior clean. A clean which is safe, quick, efficient and consistent. A clean which can be tailored to meet set requirements such as temperature, pressure and volume to ensure the most efficient clean is achieved considering the containers material and size.

As the cleaning heads are placed in the centre of the container and operate at high pressures (often up to 140 bar or 2000PSI), every inch of the IBC is consistently cleaned including the difficult to reach areas such as top corners. Something which cannot be achieved by a pressure washer lance or hose adapter.

Can you sanitise an IBC using a cleaning head system?

Yes – water at temperatures up to 90’c (195’F) can be pumped through the Spinner. Injection of a Chemical (sanitizer) can also be achieved.

How much do they cost?

There are many different cleaning heads available on the market today. The costs of which vary according to the equipment. Typically £2000 (GBP) would buy a cleaning head suitable for cleaning a road Tanker where an IBC which requires a low pressure “rinse” would cost a lot less. Cleaning Heads offer a superior costs saving on the alternative options while providing a faultless clean every time.

What else is required?

Entry level IBC Cleaning systems consist of a pump which will produce the pressure required to run the spinner of choice a water supply and a connecting hose. At the opposite end of the spectrum, fully automated IBC cleaning systems can be manufactured to customer specifications. It all depends on what it is you are trying to achieve, the resources you have and the budget you have to work with.

Where can I get more information?

Please contact Fleetclean on +44 (0)1977 607087. Fleetclean Ltd is a UK Based Commercial Cleaning Company who specialise in the Cleaning of IBC’s (Totes) and supplies IBC (Tote) cleaning equipment. With over 25 years in the Commercial Cleaning of Tankers and suppliers of commercial cleaning equipment – Fleetclean can advise, supply and fit the best equipment for your requirements.

The video below shows a real time IBC Clean. Please go to 1 minute 50 seconds to see the internal view of the cleaning head in action.