Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 19th February 2026 Issue no. 1198
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 International News
Products Amsterdam Innovation Awards 2026: shortlist announced
Why workplace hygiene is becoming a talent retention issue
FM services market projected to reach USD 226.3bn by 2032
Clorox announces acquisition of Gojo Industries
Interclean Amsterdam 2026 to deliver expanded focus on automation, robotics and sustainability
Harrisons breaks new ground with wet wipes launch
Trinity Socket: one smart solution for a fragmented mop market
Celebrating 15 years of Morclean’s iconic Custom Plus Bin Wash
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Welcome to the Cleanzine
Just when you think you know it all... I so wish I'd received the press release from mybuilder.com a week ago, as I may have been able to do a lot more good with it prior to pancake day on Tuesday. Having said that, it made enough of an impact on me that I'm not going to forget the advice it offered, so it's worth sharing now.
I've known for years now to thoroughly wipe oily pans, butter knives and dishes etc with tissue before washing them up - so as not to contribute to the fatbergs our water companies have to deal with, (she says, giving herself a virtual pat on the back). What hadn't occurred to me, (red faced here) is the damage I'm doing with other things. My family stopped eating meat more than a decade ago, so no meat fats for disposal, but we do make gravy, and I'd not realised that we shouldn't tip leftovers into the sink - nor lumpy milk or yoghurt residues. I won't be doing it again now that I know better!
Unlike many of those who took part in the survey (learn more at https://www.mybuilder.com/profile/mj_flook_plumbing), I've never poured pancake batter down the sink - since every last bit is cooked and greedily devoured, along with copious amounts of fresh lemon & some sugar. Like them though I’d not realised that batter falls into the category of fatberg-forming FOGs (Fats, Oils, & Greases), along with custard and creamy liqueurs such as Baileys, which can form a coating on pipes that may lead to blockages. (Baileys? Who has Baileys left over to tip down the sink?). I wouldn't be stupid enough to pour candle wax down the sink, but apparently others do, along with coffee grounds! Mybuilder.com’s advice is that if you do break the rules, immediately run hot water and leave it running for several minutes, adding lots of soap, to keep everything in liquid form until it’s out of your pipes. Don't use chemicals such as drain unblockers which are often ineffective against FOGs and can cause damage to your pipes. A simple plunger can actually be more effective.
Finally, I believe I've used the term 'The best laid plans...' in a Leader previously, but I suppose with more than 35 years in the industry, it’s only to be expected that things occasionally go awry. I was due to cover the Manchester Cleaning Show this week without John Austen who had commitments back at base, but came a cropper last week when the lace of one hiking boot got caught in the hook of the other as I was running. Readers in Australia may have felt the impact when I hit the pavement! The Manchester Shows are always lively with loads to see and interesting people to meet up with. I'm disappointed not to be there and hope that everyone involved is having a good couple of days.
  This Week's News
CHSA celebrates excellence, commitment and talent with new Awards
The winners of the inaugural Awards will be announced at the CHSA's annual Gala Ball, which takes place on Thursday 18th June at voco St John's in Solihull. Tennant appoints Sandro Haim as VP and general manager EMEA
Prior to this appointment, Sandro held senior leadership roles within Tennant, including leading the company's business in Latin America, with responsibility for driving commercial execution and growth, achieving a seven-fold expansion of the business in the last 15 years.  Newly-published research shows steady growth in the UK cleaning, hygiene & waste industry
The value of the cleaning, hygiene & waste industry continues to grow, reaching almost £72bn according to latest figures, with the number of staff employed and number of businesses also on the up. The rise from 67.7bn in 2022 (the figure has been revised up) to nearly £72bn in 2023 for the amount the sector contributes to the nation's wealth maintains its position as one of the UK's top 10 industries, according to the British Cleaning Council's 2026 annual research report.
Furthermore, rising healthcare infrastructure development, regulatory compliance mandates and heightened focus on patient safety standards are expected to sustain consistent demand for comprehensive hospital hygiene management solutions throughout the forecast period. New EU eco-design regulation to reduce waste by ending destruction of unsold apparel
According to global apparel sourcing agency Epsilon Global Sourcing, the regulation represents a structural shift in how brands, retailers and manufacturing partners manage overproduction, compliance and inventory risk across international supply chains.  A clean floor isn't a safe floor: uncovering the hidden dangers
“Slips, trips, and falls remain the single most common cause of major injury in UK workplaces. They aren't just HR headaches; they are a financial drain, costing employers approximately £512 million annually in lost production and legal liabilities.  SafeSeat: Industrial toilet seat designed to solve annoying workplace issue
In factories, warehouses, offices, retail spaces and hospitality venues, toilet seats are often fitted with domestic toilet seats simply because they are cheap and readily available. In high-traffic environments, however, these seats quickly become loose and unstable. This creates daily frustration for users, repeated maintenance call-outs, and a potential health & safety risk. ERC sees TVH as example of remanufacturing success
European heads of state meet in the castle Alden Biesen in Belgium to discuss how to strengthen the single market, reduce economic dependencies and boost EU competitiveness in a new geoeconomic context. Hosted by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, the meeting includes French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Viridi and Zschimmer & Schwarz collaborate on CO2-based surfactants
Viridi's technology facilitates the use of captured carbon dioxide as a renewable carbon source in chemical manufacturing. Following extensive trials conducted by Zschimmer & Schwarz, multiple potential applications and use cases were identified. By further adopting the Viridi technology, Zschimmer & Schwarz aims to enhance both product sustainability and production efficiency. New partnership strengthens Trojan Battery's distribution footprint
Based in southern California, Motive Energy will serve as a regional option to Continental Battery Systems - Trojan's national distributor. Churchill duets with Glasshouse International Centre for Music
The contract covers the internal cleaning of the iconic venue in Gateshead, on the banks of the River Tyne. Operating as a charity and recently marking its 21st anniversary, the building requires a highly flexible schedule that aligns with the needs of performances and daily operations.
The 98-acre site consists of a 30,000-tonne tissue mill, a tissue converting plant for both rolled and folded products, a national distribution centre and the Flint factory, which is equipped with state of the art converting equipment to produce environmentally friendly and compliant wet wipe products. 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
UK Industry Associations unite in landmark article to challenge cleaning career perceptions
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Manchester Cleaning Show celebrates the city's influential role in shaping UK cleaning sector
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