Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 30th July 2026 Issue no. 1221
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 International News
Products In new podcast, 'Unsung', cleaners across Europe tell their stories in their own words
Genie Skip Bins expands waste management services across Sydney
Introducing Arbex: a new global leader in tissue and hygiene
Vectair joins United Nations Global Compact
Butlr launches smart cleaning technology for commercial offices
Perfect allies: Lucid Bots and Vets to Drones create cleaning careers for transitioning veterans
MSIP enters into agreement to acquire majority stake in Nicollin Environnement
TVH increases warranty period to two years
Upping the pressure: clever Steemeasy upgrade boosts demand
Vectair strengthens sales leadership to advance customer partnerships
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Welcome to the Cleanzine
I often talk about how – if the cleaning teams all decided to down tools at the same time, everything would quickly fall apart, and this sentiment was underlined somewhat on Sunday morning, when London Gatwick Airport’s water supply failed. The first newsflash I heard warned that there was no running water whatsoever, meaning that washroom users could neither flush the toilets nor wash their hands. Despite the reported dreadful smells suffered by those in the vicinity, toilet bowls filling up with unflushable excrement, taps not working, (plus the possibility of ‘picking up’ something nasty while in the washroom) people still needed to use the facilities. Long queues built up at those which were still able to remain open thanks to having an emergency water supply. I can imagine the trepidation those in the queue felt, wondering what they’d face once inside… As well as sympathising with the travellers stuck at the airport for hours waiting for their flights to depart - unable to buy food or drink or enjoy decent washroom facilities, I felt for the workforce needing to appear cheerful throughout their shift while having to suffer the same issues as the disgruntled travellers and not knowing when, (or if) things would return to normal. All hail to the cleaning teams though, who, as usual, were forced to carry on regardless, all the time knowing that they’d eventually have to deal with the dreadful aftermath! My many years of attending festivals mean that I never leave home without my bottle of water, a handbag-sized hand sanitiser and my Bazoo ‘sustainable wet wipe alternative’, which means that if nothing I’d expect to find in a washroom is actually there, or if the washroom isn’t as clean as I’d like, I’ll still be ‘fresh out of the shower’ clean - and I daresay that many people picked up similar habits during the pandemic. And with severe water shortages being experienced all over and threats of similar outages to the one experienced on Sunday being made more and more often, I’d suggest that we should all make a point of carrying such essentials at all times. Well… you can’t be too careful these days, can you? I’m wondering now, as I write this, whether any washrooms have dispensers within the cubicles, containing hand sanitisers and/or wet wipe alternatives, or whether any organisations are considering having them installed. I’m thinking to improve hygiene and/or save water perhaps? If you know of any such facilities, or are considering installing such dispensers, do please let me know as I’d like to learn more.
This Week's News
Nexaro strengthens European distribution network with new partners in nine countries
With new partnerships in Spain, Portugal, the UK, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Croatia, the Wuppertal-based technology company is making its autonomous cleaning solutions more widely available to professional users. Improving cleaning ergonomics: Robert Scott’s new Ergo-Globe Curve Handle
Designed with user comfort and efficiency in mind, the Ergo-Globe Curve Handle helps reduce bending, stretching and repetitive strain during everyday cleaning tasks. Its distinctive curved design minimises the need to rotate the wrist and arm when carrying out the traditional figure-of-eight mopping action, helping operators maintain a more natural and comfortable working position. 
“By an absolute mile, SmartTask was the simplest and most intuitive product I'd seen,” says the contractor’s group commercial director,Jamie Davies. “We started using it for the cleaning teams but have now rolled it out to our security officers as well. We have nearly 15,000 staff working across over 7,000 customer sites, but thanks to SmartTask we have full visibility of our operations, helping us look after our staff and deliver the service we promise." 4M Building Solutions acquires Bluegrass Commercial Cleaning and Rainbow Maintenance Services
Husband and wife team Jared and Christy Baker purchased Bluegrass in 2015, and since then, the Bakers have grown the business into a trusted commercial cleaning leader across Kentucky. The company specialises in janitorial services, strip/wax floors and deep/disinfecting cleaning for clients in a variety of end markets including distribution, medical, banking, corporate owner occupied, government and education.  Momentum Environmental acquires Corbett Industrial Cleaning Services
The acquisition, completed in partnership with CICS founder Craig Corbett, expands Momentum's capabilities and operational presence in eastern New York and New England, supporting the company's broader growth strategy in contiguous geographies. Chartway Janitorial marks 25th anniversary by winning major family business award
It secured the public voted title at the awards ceremony hosted by Family Business United (FBU), and this impressive milestone follows its success last year when it was named national runner-up in the same awards programme.  Breaking Barriers Bursary deadline extended to 31st August 2026
The Breaking Barriers Bursary is the Worshipful Company of Environmental Cleaners' way of saying: “We see you, and we're investing in your family's future”. Veolia-operated South African waste site powered by new Rhino solar plant
Situated in KwaDukuza, KwaZulu-Natal, the plant brings clean, reliable energy to one of South Africa's leading hazardous waste management operations. The Cleanzine Archive Search We keep an extensive archive of news stories and product information that have featured in past issues of The Cleanzine. If you would like to run a search of the The Cleanzine web site using the search tool below please just go ahead by entering in the name of the person, product or company or any other key words that you are looking for. How to contact us at The Cleanzine:
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Our weekly updated Hospital Hygiene features current developments and product solutions cleaning and hygiene industry manufacturers are coming up with. Read More. Recent UK News
Cleanology promotes Juliet Widdicombe to managing director
OCS announces recommended acquisition of Mitie
SOAPBOX: Industry consolidation... but also a huge opportunity for SMEs
"I've read the articles with great interest and the proposed acquisition of Mitie by OCS is undoubtedly one of the biggest moments our industry has witnessed in many years. Should the deal complete, we'll see the creation of an FM organisation with revenues in excess of £8 billion - a remarkable achievement and a reflection of the continuing evolution of our sector. Congratulations to everyone involved. Contract cleaning market: a £200m boost in 2026
Principle celebrates another Gold Payroll Giving Quality Mark Award
SET appoints The Clean Space to support its growing London arts centres
Peartree Cleaning Services marks £20,000 support for Essex charity SNAP
Edwards Commercial Cleaning invests in Yorkshire with new local base
Events & Exhibitions ISSA Show Asia Cleantex Interclean Shanghai ISSA Cleaning & hygiene Expo ISSA Show North America WFBSC Global Executive Congress The Workplace Event CMS Asia |
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