Needs-based Cleaning in Iceland – an Experience that Elevates Cleaning to a New Level

October 2024 was special for our team – for two weeks, we had the opportunity to work with specialists from the large Icelandic cleaning company Solar ehf to develop and optimize their cleaning processes.

Our goal was to find practical solutions that would help make cleaning more efficient and needs-based, and to improve service quality. This opportunity arose thanks to Erasmus+ mobility project no. 2023-1-EE01-KA121-VET-000133792, which supported our learning mobility and provided an opportunity to share our knowledge and experience in an international environment.

Cleaning in Iceland – Current Situation and Challenges

Approximately 376,000 people live in Iceland, a significant portion of whom work in the service sector, including cleaning. A large number of cleaning staff are from Poland, which makes teamwork international and diverse. In Iceland, the quality of cleaning work is assessed according to the INSTA800 standard – this is a quality assessment system that allows for objective measurement and control of cleaning results.

How We Improved Cleaning

1. Analysis of Cleaning Methods and Supplies

First, we conducted a thorough review of the methods and supplies currently in use:

• How often is cleaning performed and according to what principles?
• Why have the current cleaning agents and supplies been selected?
• What are the biggest current challenges in cleaning?

Based on the analysis, we made recommendations to simplify the work. Our goal was not to make changes just for the sake of change. We aimed to find solutions that solve problems and make cleaning more efficient.

2. Optimizing the Dampening of Cleaning Textiles

We placed great emphasis on the dampening of cleaning textiles. We conducted experiments with dampening cleaning cloths to find the exact amount of liquid needed to dampen one cloth and described the dampening process. As a result of the testing, we found that specifically for Solar ehf’s cloths, 20ml of moisture per cloth worked best. We also documented the test results in training videos to ensure a consistent understanding within the company.

3. Optimizing the Use of Cleaning Agents

We identified that the cleaning company used various cleaning agents, and several of them were in spray bottles. Analyzing the data revealed that, for example, 974 bottles of cleaning agents were used annually. We conducted an experiment where we determined that to empty one spray bottle, it had to be sprayed 800 times – such an activity is strenuous and unergonomic for the cleaning operative’s body.

We found that, in fact, one universal cleaning agent is sufficient for daily cleaning, with only one additional cleaning agent for salt removal during winter. A major challenge was dosing – how to find the easiest and simplest solution for dosing? We jointly tested several solutions using measuring spoons, cups, and pipettes. The solution turned out to be a tablet-based system, where the cleaning agent solution is prepared in the cleaning room using water and a tablet – this ensures precise dosing and reduced chemical load.

4. More Efficient Floor Cleaning

During the development work, we conducted an experiment where we cleaned the same area with the mops previously in use and, for comparison, with a floor squeegee and cloths. As a result of the testing, it was found that cleaning the same area in the current manner required 1.5 kg of mops, compared to 150 g of cloths with the new method. This means that by adopting the new tool, the resources spent on washing cleaning textiles can be reduced 10-fold!

Results and Impact

• Solar’s key personnel acquired new knowledge and skills that will help them better organize their daily work.
• Training videos create an opportunity for all employees to understand the cleaning processes uniformly.
• Cleaning agent consumption decreases, which means a smaller environmental impact and more sustainable cleaning.
• Employee workload decreases because physically demanding activities were replaced with more ergonomic solutions.

Training in Iceland also greatly developed us as a company – we were able to share our decades of experience and put our skills to the test on an international level. This was a valuable experience that proved that our knowledge and approach to cleaning are world-class, and that cleaning can be simple and effective when done consciously and purposefully!

Solar’s feedback on our work was outstanding – in their estimation, there are no better trainers and cleaning service practitioners in the world than the Puhastusekspert team! This is a great recognition for us and gives us motivation to continue our mission – to jointly create a consciously cleaner world!