Rubbermaid Commercial Products, And for my next trick

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And for my next trick
June 17th 2011

Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) has launched a mopping system which it says will dramatically slash both water and chemical use. Georgina Bisby reports

When I heard that Rubbermaid Commercial Product’s (RCP) new cleaning system did something amazing with water, I couldn’t help hoping that they’d discovered how to turn it into wine. However what they have achieved – turning dirty water into clean water – comes a close second.

The Hygen Clean Water System is the result of a three year R&D project by RCP in which the company set about tackling what it had found to be the most common obstacles to efficient mopping; dirty mops and dirty water.

During the research period Rubbermaid came to the conclusion that in general the mopping process was far from ideal. Firstly because it is not an uncommon sight to see people cleaning with dirty water but also because even when water is changed frequently enough a great deal of time, water and chemicals are expended in this process. So Rubbermaid set about re-inventing mopping.

Getting clean

The result – the Hygen Clean Water System addresses all of these issues. The system consists of a mop bucket with a built in filter which with a simple tip of the bucket filters the water to turn it from dirty to clean. This water can then be used to mop again with no need to add more chemicals. In addition the bucket’s wringer system allows the cleaner to ensure the mop itself is kept clean during the mopping process. A choice of eight double-sided mops designed for a variety of floor tasks and cleaning tasks allows the system to be adapted to a task’s needs. Dusting and damp mopping is also achievable with one tool with the double-sided microfibre dust and wet mop plus. Mentioned above are just a few of the features of the mop system (read more at: Rubbermaid.eu) but the company says that it anticipates that it will be the product’s simplicity which will be key to its success.

Cleaning can often be a harsh working environment so it is essential that products are designed with ease of use in mind. “The Hygen Clean Water System’s integrated water filter was specifically designed with the bottom line and end user in mind,” explains Rubbermaid’s product manager for EMEA Sophie Mathey-Debaumont. “It improves productivity, reduces both water and chemical usage and creates healthier, safer environments.”

The system is suggested to be ideal for use in offices and institutional buildings, hotels, restaurants and catering outlets, retail premises, healthcare sites and many other locations with daily cleaning regimes. RCP will not be drawn on how much water and chemicals the product could save because it will vary depending on a location but they suggest in many instances one fifteen litre bucket full of water and cleaning solutions will last a whole shift.

Water of life

To coincide with the launch of the HYGEN Clean Water System, RCP has also announced that it is supporting WaterAid, an international nongovernmental organisation which uses practical and sustainable solutions to improve access to safe water, improved hygiene and sanitation for some of the world’s poorest communities.

As part of this initiative, RCP has pledged to donate a minimum of 1% of the value of sales of the HYGEN Clean Water System to WaterAid for a period of not less than three years. Now I’ll drink to that.