Sweeper-Scrubber Styles

There are two basic types of cleaning machines which both fall under the definition of “Sweeper-Scrubber”, even though their cleaning methods are quite different. In spite of this difference, manufacturers and distributors of cleaning equipment have taken to grouping them under a single category. Both styles can sweep and scrub, but let’s take a look at what makes them different.

Up to $300K in Silica Dust Control Penalties for VA Contractor

If cancer and lung disease don’t convince you to abide by OSHA’s silica dust control regulations, try $304,130 in fines. That’s what highway construction contractor, Lanford Brothers, may be facing for five alleged violations this year.

Mowing the… floor?

Even if you’re a sweeper/scrubber newbie, thinking of your floors like a lawn in need of mowing can simplify a potentially overwhelming job and purchasing decision into something more familiar and manageable. With the right tools, you may even find that cleaning the floor becomes as therapeutic and satisfying as mowing the lawn is for me.

Social Media for Business

In today’s business world, your website and social media presence has a major impact on consumers buying decisions. We believe it should also be a positive reflection of who you are as a company. At Bortek, we enjoy adding informative content along with our own personal flair!

6 Machines People Mistakenly Call “Zamboni”

What’s that machine called that cleans the floor? Or the road? It’s not a Zamboni, I’ll tell you that.

Sweeping the Moon – Can it be done?

What’s the largest area of dirty ground that’s yet to be cleaned? That’s right, it’s the surface of the moon. It’s a menace, and something needs to be done! Something like… sweeping it up. Could it be done?

American Made: In whole or in part?

Beware of foreign critical components hiding in “American” machines! The US has had a long tradition of dominance in the Cleaning Machine industry. Unfortunately, that has dramatically changed with cheap Chinese imitations of American designs, and machines imported from all over the world.

Why (Not) to Buy Factory Direct

“Factory Direct” is a popular purchasing buzzword with an assumed consumer-friendly connotation. In some industries, it makes sense to attempt to cut costs this way. But when dealing with cleaning equipment, the so-called “middleman” distributor can offer value with which the manufacturer can’t compete.

Planned Maintenance: A Routine Check-Up for Your Cleaning Equipment

You may very well be healthy as an ox, but the goal of these scheduled appointments isn’t always to check on a current ailment, but to get an overall examination to prevent any issues BEFORE they happen! Planned maintenance, sometimes called preventive maintenance, works the same way with your cleaning equipment!

A Company’s Culture and Strategy

Here at the ‘tek, where I’ve worked for what’ll be 20 years on New Year’s Eve 2018, I’ve seen the company’s culture evolve exponentially over the past couple of years. As a company we are trying to capture this thing we’ve created in words. Pretty tricky. Nutshell? Everybody’s nice.

Hand Soap: Does it matter?

Washing your hands is one of the easiest and most well-known methods of preventing the spread of germs. But how much does soap help clean compared to washing with water alone? And what’s with antibacterial soap? Read on, and learn soap works and how to properly wash your hands.

Self-Driving Floor Scrubbers

Long-gone are the days of the broom and dust pan for cleaning warehouses, retail stores, schools, etc. The floor scrubber alleviated a significant amount of time and labor costs and shows significant improvement to the quality of all floors.

National Safety Month - Avoiding Fall Hazards - Don't fall for unsafe ladder practices

Safety Month: Don’t Fall For Unsafe Ladder Practices

Comparing the number of cited ladder and scaffolding violations, the latter outnumbered the former, the ladder. However, as the ladder sees more daily use than the latter by load-laden laypeople, I’ll be focusing on the former. With these tips, both ladies and lads will be able to follow ladder law to the letter.

Paper Towels vs. Air Dryers: Not so cut-and-dried

You’ve likely heard the great debate concerning the use and hygiene of paper towels compared to electric air dryers. However, although there have been many articles on the topic recently, and even an episode of Mythbusters back in 2013, the study results aren’t as clean as one might think.

Importance of a Clean Workplace

Of the list of priorities a business owner has to consider, dusting the office desks or sweeping the warehouse floors may seem low on the totem pole. Busy schedules, heavy workloads, and day-to-day operations are at the forefront of what is considered important. However, the importance of a clean workplace cannot be overstated enough.

National Safety Month: Emergencies and Wellness - Learn how to prevent workplace injuries and illnesses

National Safety Month: Emergencies & Wellness

June is National Safety Month, and so it’s the perfect time to take a look at what measures to take to avoid preventable injuries and illnesses in the workplace. Plan ahead with these tips for dealing with environmental and medical emergencies, improving health in the workplace, and drawing awareness to the dangers of fatigue.

Rent vs Buy

Choosing whether to buy or rent your cleaning equipment is based on your company’s individual needs, as there are pros and cons to both renting and buying. It pays to evaluate your company’s current situation and capabilities, your future plans, and to carefully consider which method of acquiring cleaning equipment will be most advantageous to your business. Simply stated, which decision is going to make your life easier? Are you prepared to make this decision?

The Bortek Blog