{"id":14285,"date":"2025-03-12T11:53:39","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T09:53:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/?p=14285"},"modified":"2025-03-12T11:53:39","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T09:53:39","slug":"need-based-cleaning-in-iceland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/articles\/need-based-cleaning-in-iceland\/","title":{"rendered":"Need-based cleaning in Iceland \u2013 an experience that takes cleaning to a new level"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"130\" data-end=\"470\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-13801 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/DSC01600-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"606\" height=\"404\" \/>October 2024 was special for our team \u2013 we were able to work with specialists from a large Icelandic cleaning company, <strong>Solar ehf, for 2 weeks to<\/strong> <strong>develop and streamline their cleaning processes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"130\" data-end=\"470\">Our goal was to find practical solutions that would help make cleaning more efficient and needs-based, and to improve the quality of the service. This opportunity opened up thanks to the Erasmus+ mobility project 2023-1-EE01-KA121-VET-000133792, which supported our learning mobility and gave us the opportunity to share our knowledge and experiences in an international environment.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"64\"><strong data-start=\"4\" data-end=\"62\">Cleaning in Iceland \u2013 Current Situation and Challenges<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"66\" data-end=\"529\">Iceland has a population of approximately <strong data-start=\"108\" data-end=\"126\">376,000 people<\/strong>, with a significant portion working in the service sector, including <strong data-start=\"200\" data-end=\"225\">the cleaning industry<\/strong>. A large number of cleaning professionals in Iceland come from Poland, making the workforce international and diverse. Cleaning quality in Iceland is assessed using the <strong data-start=\"403\" data-end=\"424\">INSTA800 standard<\/strong>\u2014a quality assessment system that allows for objective measurement and control of cleaning results.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"531\" data-end=\"569\"><strong data-start=\"535\" data-end=\"567\">How Did We Improve Solar ehf Cleaning?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4 data-start=\"571\" data-end=\"627\"><strong data-start=\"576\" data-end=\"625\">1. Analysis of Cleaning Methods and Equipment<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p data-start=\"628\" data-end=\"728\">Our first step was to conduct a <strong data-start=\"660\" data-end=\"684\">comprehensive review<\/strong> of the cleaning methods and tools in use:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"730\" data-end=\"944\">\n<li data-start=\"730\" data-end=\"796\">How often is cleaning performed, and what principles guide it?<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"797\" data-end=\"885\">What is the reasoning behind the current selection of cleaning soaps and equipment?<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"886\" data-end=\"944\">What are the biggest <strong data-start=\"909\" data-end=\"923\">challenges<\/strong> in cleaning today?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"946\" data-end=\"1201\">Based on our analysis, we provided <strong data-start=\"981\" data-end=\"1000\">recommendations<\/strong> to help <strong data-start=\"1009\" data-end=\"1033\">simplify and improve<\/strong> the work. Our goal was <strong data-start=\"1057\" data-end=\"1104\">not to change things for the sake of change<\/strong> but to find solutions that would <strong data-start=\"1138\" data-end=\"1198\">solve existing problems and make cleaning more efficient<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h4 data-start=\"1203\" data-end=\"1263\"><strong data-start=\"1208\" data-end=\"1261\">2. Optimizing the Moistening of Cleaning Textiles<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p data-start=\"1264\" data-end=\"1720\">A major focus was placed on <strong data-start=\"1292\" data-end=\"1339\">the correct moistening of cleaning textiles<\/strong>. We conducted tests on microfiber cloths, determining the <strong data-start=\"1402\" data-end=\"1445\">exact amount of liquid needed per cloth<\/strong> and describing the moistening process. Through these tests, we found that for Solar efh cloths, the optimal moisture level was 20 ml per cloth. These test results were also documented in <strong data-start=\"1641\" data-end=\"1660\">training videos<\/strong>, ensuring a consistent understanding among employees.<\/p>\n<h4 data-start=\"1722\" data-end=\"1773\"><strong data-start=\"1727\" data-end=\"1771\">3. Optimizing the Use of Cleaning Soaps<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p data-start=\"1774\" data-end=\"2017\">Our analysis showed that the cleaning company <strong data-start=\"1820\" data-end=\"1852\">used various cleaning soaps<\/strong>, many of which were stored in spray bottles. After reviewing usage data, we found that in one year, the company <strong data-start=\"1969\" data-end=\"2014\">consumed 974 bottles of cleaning solution<\/strong>.We conducted a test and discovered that <strong data-start=\"2059\" data-end=\"2113\">emptying a single spray bottle required 800 sprays<\/strong>\u2014a highly repetitive motion that is <strong data-start=\"2149\" data-end=\"2222\">physically demanding and ergonomically unfavorable for cleaning staff<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2227\" data-end=\"2505\">As a result, we identified that a single universal cleaning soap is sufficient for daily cleaning, with one additional product needed in winter to remove salt residues. One of the biggest challenges was <strong data-start=\"2443\" data-end=\"2502\">finding the easiest and most convenient dosing solution<\/strong>. Together with the team, we tested several solutions, including measuring spoons, cups, and pipettes. The final solution turned out to be a <strong data-start=\"2650\" data-end=\"2673\">tablet-based system<\/strong>, where the cleaning solution is prepared in the cleaning room using water and a dissolvable tablet. This ensures precise dosing and reduces chemical exposure.<\/p>\n<h4 data-start=\"2844\" data-end=\"2887\"><strong data-start=\"2849\" data-end=\"2885\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-13806 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/20241025_110935371_iOS-scaled-e1739862965911.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"470\" height=\"350\" \/>4. More Efficient Floor Cleaning<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p data-start=\"2888\" data-end=\"2979\">During the development process, we conducted a test comparing two floor-cleaning methods:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2981\" data-end=\"3105\">\n<li data-start=\"2981\" data-end=\"3035\">The <strong data-start=\"2987\" data-end=\"3005\">current method<\/strong>, using <strong data-start=\"3013\" data-end=\"3033\">traditional mops<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3036\" data-end=\"3105\">A <strong data-start=\"3040\" data-end=\"3054\">new method<\/strong>, using <strong data-start=\"3062\" data-end=\"3103\">a floor squeegee combined with cloths<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3107\" data-end=\"3268\">The results were significant. To clean the <strong data-start=\"3150\" data-end=\"3163\">same area<\/strong>, the current method required <strong data-start=\"3193\" data-end=\"3211\">1.5 kg of mops<\/strong>, while the new method only needed <strong data-start=\"3246\" data-end=\"3265\">150 g of cloths<\/strong>. This means that by adopting the new method, the amount of textiles requiring laundering could be<strong data-start=\"3318\" data-end=\"3390\"> reduced by 10 times<\/strong>, leading to substantial savings in water, energy, and detergent usage.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3469\" data-end=\"3497\"><strong data-start=\"3473\" data-end=\"3495\">Results and Impact<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3499\" data-end=\"4023\">\u2705 <strong data-start=\"3501\" data-end=\"3558\">Solar\u2019s key personnel gained new knowledge and skills<\/strong>, enabling them to better organize daily cleaning operations.<br data-start=\"3623\" data-end=\"3626\" \/>\u2705 <strong data-start=\"3628\" data-end=\"3647\">Training videos<\/strong> ensure that <strong data-start=\"3660\" data-end=\"3723\">all employees understand cleaning processes in the same way<\/strong>, improving consistency and efficiency.<br data-start=\"3762\" data-end=\"3765\" \/>\u2705 <strong data-start=\"3767\" data-end=\"3809\">Reduced consumption of cleaning soaps<\/strong>, leading to lower environmental impact and more sustainable cleaning practices.<br data-start=\"3893\" data-end=\"3896\" \/>\u2705 <strong data-start=\"3898\" data-end=\"3941\">Reduced physical workload for employees<\/strong>, as physically demanding tasks were replaced with more ergonomic solutions.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"4025\" data-end=\"4070\"><strong data-start=\"4029\" data-end=\"4068\">A Valuable International Experience<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"4072\" data-end=\"4344\">Training in Iceland was also a <strong data-start=\"4103\" data-end=\"4152\">great learning experience for us as a company<\/strong>. We had the opportunity to share our decades of experience, apply our expertise on an international level, and prove that our knowledge and approach to cleaning are world-class. This experience reinforced our belief that <strong data-start=\"4389\" data-end=\"4479\">cleaning can be simple and highly effective when approached with knowledge and purpose<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"4484\" data-end=\"4821\">Solar\u2019s feedback on our work was overwhelmingly positive\u2014they stated that <strong data-start=\"4558\" data-end=\"4669\">there are no better trainers and cleaning industry practitioners in the world than the Puhastusekspert team<\/strong>! This is a huge recognition for us and a strong motivation to continue our mission\u2014to create a cleaner world through knowledge and expertise!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"130\" data-end=\"470\">October 2024 was special for our team \u2013 we were able to work with specialists from a large Icelandic cleaning company, <strong>Solar ehf, for 2 weeks to<\/strong> <strong>develop and streamline their cleaning processes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/articles\/need-based-cleaning-in-iceland\/\" class=\"read-more\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":13800,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_gspb_post_css":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14285","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-articles"],"blocksy_meta":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14285","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14285"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14285\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14285"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14285"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puhastusekspert.ee\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14285"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}