Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/265861
C l e a n i n g N e w s W e d n e s d a y , N o v e m b e r 2 0 , 2 0 1 3 1 0 DON'T LET YOUR FACILITY IMAGE GO DOWN THE DRAIN By Lori Huffman, Sr. Marketing Manager, STOKO Professional Skin Care The general soap supplied in public rest- rooms in commercial office buildings, schools, universities and workplaces – you've got to have it. It is used by most all who use the facilities, yet it all goes down the drain in the end. A consumable, a necessity, a commodity. With the plethora of available products, which do you choose? What's important? How are they different? Does it matter? The user experience of the soap in a restroom leaves a lasting impression and contributes to the image of a facility or establishment. Therefore, he formulation is important so it has a pleasant fragrance which is not overpowering, and it has a pleasant feel and it leaves the hands feel- ing clean and fresh, not dried out. While spa fragrances are trendy, they can also be subjective with varying levels of acceptance from person to person or male vs female, and can go out of turn as fast as they came in. A neutral fresh scent is a safe, cost effective bet to appeal to a broad and lasting user base. The soap of choice in recent times is foam. It has a nice feel, it encourages hand washing (the CDC recommends that hand washing is the most effective way to rid the hands of germs and stop the spread of disease), and most impor- tantly to facility management, it is the most cost effective. Just a little product is needed to produce a good hand wash. Most systems now pump 0.4ml per pump, yet it feels like so much more in the hand. A cartridge system is far more sanitary, easy to refill and safer than tra- ditional bulk fill systems where bacteria can flourish. The dispensing system plays a role in the image of a facility as well. The appearance of the dispenser sends a distinct message. Is the dis- penser clean and well kept? Is it old and in need of repair? Does it have a nice, sleek-looking design that compliments the facility or is it just an old metal box that is gummed up and full of finger- prints? But most importantly, is it full? Keeping a clean, well-stocked soap dis- penser is tantamount in a positive user experience. The dispensing systems in the market today are designed with more thought and attention to detail. While most all systems are close in price, systems that provide flexibility with choice of soap, choice of colors, pleas- ant formulations and fragrances, pri- vate label logos and hygienic cartridge refills offer the most bang for the buck. There are also touch-free or manual options. If you stop to think about it, you wash germs off your hands after you dispense the soap. Thus, touch- free soap dispensers may not be the best choice for a particular facility. With the internal electronics and cost of batteries, touch-free systems are costlier than manual and can be more to maintain. However, touch-free soap dispensers can work with an overall hygienic perception within a restroom, especially with consistency of design if you have auto flush units, touch-free towel dispensers and open entryways into the restrooms. For a lasting and positive impres- sion, the soap and dispenser you provide in your restroom can help support the image you want to convey, or it could tar- nish your reputation. By selecting the right combination of a pleasing formula- tion, and sleekly designed dispensing system along with extras such as flexibil- ity of choice, private label logos and touch free or manual, you will help to promote a positive and upscale image throughout a facility. For more information, visit booth 3113 or contact STOKO Professional Skin Care by calling 800-334-0242, emailing info@stokoskincare.com or visiting www.stokoskincare.com. ENVIROTUB INC. LEADS THE WAY IN GOING GREEN WITH GREASE By Rodney Medina, Editor, Enviro-News Grease theft from outside storage con- tainers can cost a restaurant thousands of dollars each year. Factor in the cost of cleaning the spill that a thief may leave behind or the fines imposed by local code enforcement and the financial loss could result in the tens of thousands of dollars. There have been efforts by container makers and restaurant owners to strengthen and even lock up outdoor con- tainers, but thieves have become more desperate with their tactics. Thieves have resorted to cutting padlocks and drilling holes through plastic or re-enforced metal lids to access the oil. Despite any of these increased security measures, used cooking oil stored outside will always remain an open invitation for theft and a mess to clean up. The solution? Bring grease storage inside the store. Envirotub Inc., a Southern California company showcased the top- selling indoor grease storage contain- ment system at NRA 2013 in Chicago. The product, called the Envirotub, was the first indoor storage product intro- duced to the market that eliminates the threat of grease theft and the potential loss of thousands of dollars. The Envirotub allows restaurants to store used fryer oil in a container (18 by 32 by 28 inches) that fits under most two and three-compartment kitchen sinks. When the fryer needs to be emptied, the Envirotub, fitted with four metal caster wheels, can be easily rolled right to the fryer for hot oil disposal. The Envirotub can withstand fryer oil of up to 300 degrees and holds up to 55 gallons or 400 pounds of used fryer oil. When the Envirotub is ready to be emptied, it can be easily rolled to the pumping truck and conveniently emptied without spillage. The wide mouth open- ing of the Envirotub allows a typical pumping hose to be inserted. The Envirotub can be emptied of all of its contents in about 60 seconds. The Envirotub is designed with a raised lip around the perimeter of the top to prevent spillage or overflow during oil transfer. To help prevent any potentially rancid odors from escaping, the Envirotub comes with an innovative twist-on lid that helps secure odors but still allows venting of heat being dis- persed from the oil inside of the contain- er. With the ability to store fryer oil inside the store, the threat of theft is effectively eliminated. Besides thwarting grease theft, there's also an added benefit to storing grease inside the store. Traditional fryer oil disposal can be very dangerous for employees. Kitchen staff risk being burned while carrying hot oil to outside containers and the areas where these containers are kept can be dirty, slippery and dangerous especially at night. Storing used oil inside the restaurant using the Envirotub helps to minimize the threat of injuries and result- ing workers comp claims. The Envirotub has proven to be a valu- able tool for restaurants, malls, hospitals, sports stadiums, colleges, food courts and grease pumping companies, all of whom share in the revenue gained by responsible and safe grease recycling programs. For more information call 866-777- 4322, visit www.envirotub.com or email info@envirotub.com.