What are Risk Phrases and Safety Phrases?

When you are looking at your Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) usually towards the end of the document, you will find the risk phrases and the safety phrases. The risk phrases and safety phrases are part of the European Union Directive but are used internationally.

This is what they may look like on your MSDS:

These R-phrases, as they are sometimes called, give specific information regarding any risk with a substance. There is a long list of R-phrases and they cover risks attributed according to the nature of a cleaning chemical in the form it is sold in. This means that it is not measured by its individual components nor is it rated in the form it is used in i.e. diluted.

Safety Phrases, or S-phrases, give the user safety advice for using the cleaning. These are slightly different to risk phrases as they offer specific advice for handling cleaning products. A risk phrase will say irritating to skin and a safety phrase will say wear gloves.

Even if a cleaning product is very safe it may still carry risk and safety phrases. One safety phrase that should be on almost all cleaning products is S2 – Keep out of reach of children.

Risk phrases and safety phrases will give you the knowledge you need to handle you cleaning products with safety first. Blendwell Chemicals will be happy to supply you with a MSDS for each cleaning product that you buy from us. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures all their cleaning products in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are your best local cleaning products wholesaler.

Are there HACCP compliant cleaning products for high level disinfection?

Photo courtesy of Sanja Gjenero

Blendwell Chemicals manufactures a range of cleaning products specifically for use in the food industry. These food safe cleaners are in our H-range of products.

Sporequot H is a QAC (Quarterary Ammonium Compound) disinfectant. It is designed for both normal and high level disinfection and sterilization. It can be used through foaming machines if required. This disinfectant provides excellent microbicidal efficacy.

This cleaning product can be used in all water conditions and is totally free rinsing. It is capable of killing all bacteria, bacterial spores, fungi and yeasts. It is important to use this disinfectant only after the area has been cleaned and any soiling removed.

For more information on our HACCP cleaning chemicals please visit www.blendwell.co.za. Blendwell Chemicals is a manufacturer and wholesaler of a huge range of cleaning products.

Are there any cleaners that also disinfect and are HACCP compliant?

Photo courtesy of Jana Kollorova

The answer to that is – YES. Absolutely! Blendwell Chemicals manufactures a range of cleaning products that have specifically been designed for use in the food industry. The H-range cleaning products are all HACCP compliant.

Alko H is a concentrated, ready to use surface disinfectant. This cleaning product contains alcohol and is ideal for areas where rinsing surfaces after cleaning is problematic. It is suitable for all food related industries and can be applied to all food contact surfaces.

This cleaning product does not contain any perfume but it does smell because of the alcohol it contains. You should not dilute this cleaning chemical. Use it through a spray bottle and spray surface that it needing disinfecting or cleaning. It can be left to dry (evaporate) and will not contaminate food that is later prepared on that dry surface.

Blendwell Chemicals is able to supply wholesale bulk cleaning products for use in the food industry. This HACCP compliant range is called the H-range. You will find Blenwell Chemicals in Midrand South Africa.

4 Tips for Cleaning Carpets

Sometimes it can be really hard to keep carpets clean. At home, the dogs, the kids and who knows what else trudge in a huge amount of mess. In the office, everyone walks in with mess from outside or the factory, workshop or warehouse. A simple little vacuum is not going to be able to keep things neat and tidy.

 Blendwell Chemicals manufactures a range of cleaning products designed specifically for cleaning carpets when you need some extra cleaning.

• First things first, try to stop dirt at the door. Have a door mat for people to wipe their feet on before entering. I have not yet been able to train my dogs to do this but small children can be taught. Make a game out of it and sing a silly song while you do it to get them in the habit.
• Always do a spot test on a piece of carpet that can be covered and is unobtrusive. You want to make sure that this is the right cleaning product for your carpet and a spot test is the best way to do this.
• Choose the right cleaning product for you. If you have a carpet cleaning machine, you will need a low foaming cleaning product. If you are cleaning by hand, you will need a high foaming product.
• Maintain your carpets between big cleaning sessions but vacuuming regularly and cleaning up spills immediately.

You’ll be able to keep your carpets looking new and fresh by following these tips. For more information on carpet cleaning products, please visit www.blendwell.co.za/Carpet_Cleaning. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures all their wholsale cleaning products at their factory in Midrand.

Other Areas to Clean in School Toilets

You will need to make allowances for the cleaning of all items within school toilets as a way to ensure the best hygiene standards are met. Some of these things will only require once a day cleaning and others will need even less.

Mirrors will require daily cleaning. Any stainless steel fitting surrounding the mirrors should be kept bright and shiny.

Walls and partitions should be spot cleaned as required. They should be checked daily.

Ceilings, windows, airvents, lights and fittings do not need routine cleaning but that doesn’t mean these items should be forgotten. When they do require periodical cleaning hot water and detergent is the best cleaner.

External pipework from toilets and basins should be cleaned weekly with hot water and detergent.

Feminine hygiene bins should be cleaned on the outside daily. Bins must be lifted off the floor during mopping of floor. Sanitary product disposal bins should be emptied and cleaned regularly preferably by a registered company.

Please also be aware that drinking water should not be available in the toilet facility areas.

For more information on cleaning products please visit www.blendwell.co.za. Blendwell Chemicals is a manufacturer and wholesaler of cleaning products in Johannesburg, South Africa.

How to Clean High Risk Areas in School Toilets

Previously I wrote about cleaning the low risk areas of school toilets. Now, it’s time to deal with high risk areas. It will be necessary to have your colour-coded cleaning accessories at hand and fresh hot water with correctly dosed cleaning product properly diluted. These are areas that have regular contact and are most likely to be exposed to germs and bacteria. It will be necessary to clean these areas a minimum of twice a day, perhaps more.

Sinks and basins can be cleaned using a cream cleaner.

The toilets should be cleaned with your hot water and detergent mix. Both top and bottom of the toilet seat should be cleaned as well as the flush handles. Door knobs and any locking mechanism will need to be cleaned. Surrounds underside of urinals should be cleaned as well as any disabled persons grab rails.

Taps and soap dispensers should be washed and dried as well as hand driers. Special attention should be paid to the undersides and sides of hand driers and soap dispensers.

This should cover the highest risk areas of your school toilet facilities. If there is every any blood of faecal spillages these must be cleaned up immediately and the area disinfected thoroughly.

Regular and planned cleaning in toilet areas will make the school toilets hygienic and keep students healthy. For more information on cleaning, visit www.blendwell.co.za. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures cleaning products for all industries in Midrand, South Africa. We are your best local cleaning chemical manufacturer and wholesaler.

How to clean low risk areas in school toilets

After assessing your school toilets and deciding on which areas are high risk and which are low risk, you would have been able to get ready for some cleaning. With your colour-coded cleaning accessories in hand, you should be able to refer to your cleaning schedule and get started.

General areas will need a minimum of a daily clean. It’s a good idea to use a general purpose cleaner and hot water with the right colour-coded cleaning equipment. All surfaces should be manually cleaned as well as dried before the space can be used again. If there is the possibility of an outbreak of infection then all surfaces should be disinfected. These areas must be properly cleaned before disinfection takes place.

Floors should be mopped at least once a day. If there have been any blood spillages, disinfection will be necessary.

Bins must be emptied at least twice a day. This may be different in other environments. If paper towels are used and only small bins are provided they may need to be emptied after each break. The outside of the bins should also be cleaned daily. If there is obvious soiling then this too may need to be more frequent. All bins should also have liner bags.

For more information on cleaning products for toilet facilities, visit www.blendwell.co.za. Blendwell Chemicals is a manufacturer and wholesaler of cleaning products. We sell our vast product range to resellers and contract cleaners from our factory in Johannesburg, South Africa.

4 Tips for Cleaning School Toilets

When it comes to school toilets, cleaning should be taken very seriously. Dirty toilets in a school will negatively affect school attendance. Children who get sick more often are also less likely to achieve good marks so making sure that these facilities are hygienic is really important.

• Creating and sticking to a cleaning schedule is a great way of doing this. In fact, have two schedules – one for deep cleaning and one for maintenance cleaning.
• Each area within your toilet area should be assessed to decide what type of cleaning it requires. Some areas like the basins may be considered a lower risk area than the flush handles of toilets.  High risk areas should be cleaned with one cloth and low risk areas should be cleaned with a different cloth. To make this easier, each area should have colour-coded cleaning equipment that is used exclusively for cleaning that area. This will prevent germs and bacteria moving from one area to another.
• It is a good idea to start cleaning with the lowest risk areas and finishing on the highest risk areas. This does not mean that all areas must be cleaned every time cleaning is done but rather the lowest risk area for that cleaning rotation should be done first.
• You should also try to ensure that areas are dried thoroughly before users have access to the facilities.

For more information on cleaning and cleaning products, please contact Blendwell Chemicals in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are the best local manufacturer and wholesaler of cleaning products. Please visit www.blendwell.co.za.

How to clean your driveway, forecourt or workshop and still be green!

Long gone are the days of green cleaning only being for hippies who had no real need for serious hygiene. Going green is now a global concern and we can all do our bit to help the earth. A few years ago, it was easy to say that green cleaning products were just not strong enough to clean properly. This has changed. Nowadays, with technological advances, green cleaning products can be just as powerful as traditional cleaners and without the damage to the environment.

One such cleaning product is Eco-Lyte DG. This powerful cleaning product is made for simple salt and water so it has no impact on the environment. You can’t just mix salt with water in your kitchen and expect the same results. This cleaning product is made by salt and water passing through a specialised electrical process which activates its cleaning potential. Eco-Lyte DG is one of the products that result from this process.

To clean your driveway, forecourt or workshop floor, simply pour an even layer of Eco-Lyte DG over the floor and allow it to rest for about 20 minutes. This will give the cleaning product time to work and will cut down on scrubbing time. Then take a hard broom and scrub the floor clean. Rinse the floor with a hose to remove all the dirt and squeegee the water away. Be sure to put adequate signage around the area being cleaned to alert people of the possibility of slipping.

For more information on this amazing cleaning product, please visit www.blendwell.co.za/Eco-Lyte_DG. Blendwell Chemicals has a massive range of cleaning products manufactured at their factory in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are the best local wholesaler of cleaning products. 

5 ways to clean driveways, forecourts and workshop floors

Driveways, forecourts and workshop floors can get really dirty. Typically you can expect a fair amount of grease and oil on these floors and that can take some serious cleaning power. Usually these floors are made of brick or concrete and in some cases they can be painted.

• Caustic based cleaners like Conclean are very powerful cleaners but they can be too much for your floor. If the floor is painted then this cleaner can strip the paint. This product is recommended where driveways and forecourts are grease stained.
• Non-caustic cleaners like Yellow Floor powder work really well on painted surfaces and unpainted alike. Yellow Floor Powder is a blend of concentrated detergents and surfactants so you can be sure that it will clean up the grease quickly and easily.
• An acid cleaning product like Brickwash will work very well on building sites to remove excess cement. Do not use this product for regular cleaning as it is not intended for this purpose.
• Wac GP Cleaner is a fabulous all-purpose cleaner which is great for maintenance cleaning.
• Maxi Clean is another all-purpose cleaning product that may be a better option if your regular cleaning needs an extra punch.

Cleaning driveways, workshop floors and forecourts does not need to be the biggest headache anymore. Blendwell Chemicals offers you easy, practical and affordable cleaning solutions. For more information on these cleaning chemicals, visit www.blendwell.co.za. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures all their cleaning products in Midrand, South Africa and is your best choice for a local wholesaler. 

4 Safety Tips for Cleaning School Toilets

Photo courtesy of Carlos Paes

School toilets need to be cleaned with all the highest standards of hygiene in mind. Keeping this area clean can help prevent the spread of disease and improve school attendance. Using a cleaning system similar to a HACCP cleaning system, may be useful. HACCP was developed by NASA to ensure food safety for astronauts. It has been adopted by the food preparation industry to keep food safe. The principles of HACCP ensure that germs are not spread and there is no cross-contamination of bacteria.

• Use colour-coded cloths for cleaning different areas. Toilet pans, urinals and cisterns should be cleaned with one cloth – you could make this one a red cloth. Then basins, taps and cubicle doors and door handles and locks should be cleaned with a separate cloth and this one could be green. Do not use the same bucket of cleaning products for these two cloths and do not let them lie together when not in use.
• Cleaning products should always be handled responsibly and staff must be trained about proper handling and dilution.
• Cleaning products must always be stored in a locked room that is not accessible by students. 
• All staff that clean must be familiar with their products and have all necessary safety gear including safety goggles, masks, acid-resistant overalls, acid-proof gloves and safety boots.

For more information on cleaning products for all areas of a school please visit our website at www.blendwell.co.za. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures a huge range of cleaning products in Midrand, South Africa. We are the best local wholesaler of cleaning chemicals.

3 tips for better school toilets

Hygiene principles need to be followed in schools. Children are often more susceptible to illness and with such large groups of people gathering in one spaces germs can spread really fast. The toilets in schools should follow strict rules to stay clean and help to minimise the spread of any germs. Children are also more vulnerable to exposure to chemicals and this should also be controlled.

Ensure proper ventilation of the toilet areas when cleaning is taking place. This will ensure safety for the people cleaning the toilets and quicker dispersal of any fumes from cleaning products so that children are not exposed.

If the toilet area does not have windows there must be mechanical ventilation. When cleaning is taking place windows must be opened or mechanical ventilation must be switched on.

Drinking water must be made available to students but it may not be situated in the toilet areas.

For better hygiene in schools follow these simple tips and others brought to you by Blendwell Chemicals. Blendwell Chemicals is a manufacturer of cleaning products and we manufacture a huge range of cleaning chemicals in Johannesburg, South Africa. For more information please visit www.blendwell.co.za. We are your best local cleaning products wholesaler.

4 tips to help you clean your house FAST!

There are very few people who enjoy housework. I am not one of them. I do enjoy having a clean house but I prefer not to do the work. I am able to manage having a slightly untidy house most of the time although I hate to admit it but there are those days where bombsite might be the best description of my home. Before I had children I had no idea how messy they really are.

I’ve worked out a couple of ways to get cleaning done faster and with less fuss:

• Start from the top – wipe the counter before you sweep the floor; dust before vacuuming; that sort of thing. General rule of thumb is do floors last.
• Dry first, then wet – a wipe with a dry cloth can take away a lot of the dirt. A wet cloth can make some cleaning take longer.
• Clean emergency messes straight away. When your precious little one spills a tub of yoghurt across the floor, clean it up immediately. Before you know it, it will be spread to every corner of your house so contain it before it grows. Also, someone could slip and hurt themselves.
• Teach your children – it may be frustrating at first but it’s worth taking the extra time to show them how to clean properly. Before you know it they will be able to get on with it while you do something else. And mostly, they do like helping…

For more information on cleaning products, visit www.blendwell.co.za. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures cleaning products in Midrand, South Africa. We are the best local wholesaler of cleaning chemicals.

2 products for cleaning stainless steel factory floors

Stainless steel factory floors can be tough to clean. There is bound to be a certain amount of grease and grime on these floors so you’ll need some powerful cleaners. This does not mean that you can only use traditional cleaners. There are some green cleaning products that can do the job without harming the environment.

• Enviro Maxi 

Blendwell Chemicals has an eco-friendly cleaning product from the EnviroBlend range of cleaners called Enviro Maxi. This is an industrial strength cleaner that can make tough cleaning jobs really simple. Enviro Maxi is made with raw material that are safe and from renewable sources.

• Eco-Lyte DG 

You can also get the Eco-Lyte range of eco-friendly cleaning products from Blendwell Chemicals. Eco-Lyte DG will easily clean your stainless steel factory floor. Eco-Lyte cleaning products are made from salt and water that has been passed through a specialised electrical process. These cleaning products have no impact on the environment but are extremely powerful.

For more information on Blendwell Chemicals cleaning products please visit www.blendwell.co.za. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures all their cleaning products in Midrand, South Africa and are your best local cleaning products wholesaler. 

5 Tips to Maintain School Toilets

School toilets can get messy fast so maintenance work is vital. It needs to be planned and structured and also able to accommodate spot checks and cleaning.

• School toilets should be kept in a good condition.
• Supplies of toilet paper, soap and paper towels must be well stocked at all times.
• Any repairs that are required must be done promptly so that service is not disrupted.
• Planned maintenance is best done outside of school hours.
• The school should always have spare locks for the cubicles so that these can be replaced quickly when necessary.

For more information on cleaning products required for school toilets please visit www.blendwell.co.za/Kitchen_And_Bathroom_Cleaning_Products. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures cleaning products in Midrand, South Africa. We have a huge range of cleaning chemicals available. We are your best local wholesaler.

Six tips for cleaning toilets in schools

When it comes to cleaning in schools we would all like to imagine that our children have pristine toilets to use when they’re at school. I’m sure we all know what a mess our kids can make at home so several hundred kids should make an enormous mess. If the toilets are not hygienic, the kids will get sick more often. It’s vital to keep these areas clean.

Every school should have a cleaning plan:

The toilets should be cleaned at least twice a day and they should be checked after peak periods, like breaks.

Not all toilets should be cleaned at the same time to ensure that there are always facilities available to pupils.

Toilet facilities should remain open throughout the school day.

Toilet facilities should only be closed for temporary cleaning or maintenance purposes.

Ensure that your plan includes a provision for extra spot cleaning as necessary.

At least three times a year there should be deep cleaning taking place and this should coincide with school holidays. Deep cleaning should be administered by a specialist company.

For more information on products you can use for cleaning you toilet facilities please visit www.blendwell.co.za/Kitchen_And_Bathroom_Cleaning_Products. Blendwell Chemicals is a manufacturer of cleaning products with a factory in Midrand, South Africa. We are your best local wholesaler of cleaning chemicals. 

What are the 8 control measure for HACCP? Part 1

When you have a HACCP system in your establishment that grows, prepares or packages food, you will need control measures in place to avoid contamination of your food.

• Only use approved suppliers. Suppliers who understand your commitment to HACCP will be able to support your efforts to avoid contamination. Their products should be tested from time to time to ensure quality.
• Well-designed premises and equipment. If you have the right equipment and everything is laid out well, your systems will be easier to work. When things are in their place and your space makes sense, everyone can work more comfortably.
• Prevent pest infestations. A good HACCP system will have many preventative measures. Pests are attracted to all food stuffs and making sure you have adequate pest control is vital.
• Correct cleaning and disinfection. Using HACCP compliant cleaning products in a responsible manner is going to help you to avoid contaminations in your food factory.

Blendwell Chemicals manufactures its own range of HACCP compliant cleaning products. For more information please visit www.blendwell.co.za/Food_Industry_Cleaning_Products. Blendwell Chemicals is a manufacturer and wholesaler of cleaning products in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

How to remove stains from a tablecloth

Lots of fun has been had and lots of food has been eaten and now the tablecloths look more like wars have been fought on them. If there were children at the table it’s usually worse. Not necessarily just because of the children but because mom’s red wine was inevitably spilt by one of the children.

When there are stains the best thing is to remove them as quickly as possible. If it’s red wine, you can douse the area with salt to soak up the wine. You can also get the table cloth off the table and rinse it in water – fast. This is my method for everything including my white pants that my two year old drew all over with black permanent marker. Give a light rub when wet to help loosen the fibres to release the stain. Always make sure that if it is a type of food that is spilt that you have removed as much of the solid parts as you can before making it wet.

The next part is a little bit of magic. Take Blendwell Chemicals Oxygen Bleach, just a scoop to 5 litres of water and let it soak. You can give it an extra rub to make sure the cleaning product gets into the stain. Leave it to soak. I often leave my very well stained table cloths soak for a day or two. Take it out and wash as per normal. Your tablecloth should look like new.

This is a cleaning chemical I cannot live without – you really should try it. Even my white pants have no sign of ever being in contact with a permanent marker. For more information on what Blendwell Chemicals manufactures please visit www.blendwell.co.za to see their huge range of cleaning products. Blendwell Chemicals is in Halfway House and is the best local wholesaler of cleaning products.

What's the best way to clean a toilet?

If you’re the one left cleaning the loo, best you get yourself the right cleaning products and cleaning accessories to get the job done.

Toilets need regular cleaning to ensure that any unpleasant lingering smells are kept far away. You’ll need a pair or household rubber gloves and a toilet brush. Blendwell Chemicals Wac GP Cleaner would be a great cleaning product to use. You can pour 50-100ml into the toilet. Leave for a few minutes and then brush clean. Flush the toilet to rinse.

If you need to disinfect the toilet, you can use a strong disinfectant like Killogerm. Blendwell Chemicals has made Killogerm to be used at a ratio of 1:100 parts water for disinfecting toilets.  

Blendwell Chemicals can supply you with all the cleaning products you need for cleaning toilet facilities. We are a manufacturer of a huge range of cleaning products which we supply wholesale to contract cleaners and resellers. Our factory is in Johannesburg, South Africa and you can find out more about our cleaning chemicals by visiting www.blendwell.co.za. 

Spread of bacteria stops here!

Using the right cleaning chemicals is important. Using those cleaning products the right way is vital. Using the correct cleaning accessories makes all the difference. So you think you’ve got it covered?

What about cleaning your cleaning accessories? When was the last time your sponges, clothes, brooms and mops got cleaned? This is a breeding ground for all sorts of germs and bacteria. If you’re taking the time to do some cleaning, cleaning your cleaning accessories is worth the effort.

You can put your clothes and sponges in the dishwasher when you’re running a load of dishes to expose them to some high temperature cleaning. Brooms should be brushed out and mops can be given and quick scrub. When you have washed these items, be sure to put them in a sunny spot to dry out. If they have the chance to dry out every day they will be less likely to carry bacteria.

For more information on cleaning and cleaning products, please visit www.blendwell.co.za. Blendwell Chemicals manufactures a massive range of cleaning products and is in Johannesburg, South Africa. We are the best local wholesale supplier of cleaning chemicals.