How Clean is Your Clean Restaurant?

Great food and perfect ambience are synonymous with your restaurant. People from all over flock to experience the buzz you have created. Your hard work and efforts have paid off.

From all of us at Alsco, we would like to congratulate you for a job well done. We look forward to your continued success and more!

There is, however, a great challenge that every success story tends to miss. It’s quite easy to overlook because they lurk at a microscopic level. Yes, the dirt and germs! They plague each and every corner and can overthrow you from the pinnacle of your triumph.

Yes, the dirt and germs! They plague each and every corner and can overthrow you from the pinnacle of your triumph.

We know you have tried all measures to keep your restaurant and your kitchen spick and span. As expressed earlier, chances are there are still minuscule organisms invisible to the naked eye.

So how clean is your clean restaurant really?

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six Americans gets sick from foodborne diseases every year. These are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites that are found in most institutions in the food industry.

Part of a restaurant’s operation is its regular cleaning and sanitizing chores. As this becomes routine, it also becomes easier to oversee some areas.

Let us help guide you to effectively cover those spaces.

Follow Where the Hands Are

The dirtiest equipment in the office? It is nowhere near the restroom as others may think, it is right in front of every desk – the keyboard.

It can harbour more harmful bacteria than a lavatory seat. You will never know where your customers came from.

Items and equipment that are in direct contact with their hands or fingers need special attention.

Is the Sneeze Guard guarded?

We often see this glass contraption in buffets or food bars where items are displayed on counters. Its primary use is to avoid contamination which ironically is the same place where all the germs are collected. Glass and mirrors easily collect dirt.

Also, imagine the number of persons pushing their fingers onto it – you can never be sure where they previously stuck their fingers right?

Alsco’s wipes and some glass cleaning liquid can do a remarkable job at maintaining the cleanliness of your sneeze guards. Make sure to keep to your cleaning agenda with an hourly swipe at that glass, whether it looks clean or not.

The Hands that Touch the Door Handles

Hands are in direct contact with door handles. If you average, for example, a hundred guests every day, chances are 70% of them touched your doorknobs. Now keep that thought in mind and think about the door handles of the restroom.

It is, therefore, important to cleanse it hourly or as frequently as possible.

The Telephone

You find them on the counters, the front desk, and in the kitchen. It is as close to being a keyboard and worse.

Not only are the hands there, but its mouthpiece can also have plenty of viruses. You can address these issues in two ways.

Either have your visitors and customers involved or you and your staff can add to your hourly cleaning routine.

You may have Alsco’s soft kitchen wipes beside the phone and a hand sanitizer. Add an appealing catchphrase like “Don’t spread it, wipe it” – your imagination and creativity is key to this project.

Telephones in the kitchen area should be a major concern. This is the part of the restaurant where food is kept and handled all the time. It goes without saying that extra care is essential.

Have your crew involved, and if you can do it with your customers, it will be a lot easier to implement simple rules around the kitchen.

The Mats that Matter

On average, the pairs of feet that enter your establishment can bring in a little over a hundred grams of dirt per day. That is the primary reason why floor mats regulate the inflow of travelling dust and grime.

The biggest question, however, is how efficient your mats are in keeping up with their purpose.

The rental lift-and-lay mats from Alsco is a trusted solution for providing excellent results.

They are many times better than ordinary mats you find in the market. Check this link out to learn more.

Washroom Dispensers – Touched by Unwashed Hands

It is ironic that a tool that dispenses soap and sanitisers can actually be a breeding ground of germs and disease. They can spread throughout your washroom like wildfire, it can most likely contaminate other areas of your establishment too.

A better and healthier alternative is to go with the industry trend in sanitizer and soap dispensers. Touch-free dispensers are making a new wave in the market. A regular dispenser can cost around $0.028 USD per hand wash considering all factors.

An automatic no-touch dispenser ensures that only the required amount of soap is dispensed each and every time – making it brilliantly economical.

As the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” Hopefully, we were able to guide and help you be more conscious about your restaurant’s cleanliness.

Alsco is an industry leader in providing healthier, safer, and greener solutions. We can offer customized solutions to tailor-fit your needs.

Contact us now and our professional sales representatives are on standby to answer your questions and give you a free quote.

Photo: Free-Photos

Café 101 – 11 Useful Tips to Successfully Run a Café Business

Who wouldn’t like to start a cafe? The joy from smiling customers who you get to serve your masterpieces is way better than pushing pencils on an 8-hour job.

While you’re already drooling and your creative think tank is overflowing, let me first burst your bubble.

As this is a very popular venture, starting a cafe requires not only your desire but a lot of strategic planning.

Consider the fact that you are not the first to set up shop – competition can be tough and compelling. There is more to just the aroma of the coffee you serve than meets the eye.

Starting a cafe? Partner with Alsco, for one annual fee, you’ll have a constant supply of clean, hygienic and high-quality linens every single day! Contact Also now!

Check out these facts:

• The average “life” of a café is between 2 and 3 years, then they are “adopted” by a different owner.
• 70% of cafes shut down its operation within the first 12 months.

Be that as it may, every business venture has its own corresponding risk and impending challenges. You have to be battle-ready to move forward. This is no fairy tale land but a success story is inevitable if you acquire the right attitude and motivation.

What direction should you be headed? What should be avoided and whose advice should I heed? Questions will overflow but here are 11 practical tips to step up your game in starting a cafe.

Let’s go through some tips on how to start up your cafe

1. Make that Dream Come True

It doesn’t come easy, you may want to overlook the settings. The general appearance of your café can be built from the bottom up. Never let your emotions get the better of you in making a decision. Knowing the right people will help you realize the amount of investment you need to put it. Negotiations can be very tedious and may entail a lot of drawbacks, be prepared.

2. Go to the Drawing Board

With your emotions checked, it is now time to foresee realistic business goals before buying a café. Marketing and Operations are the key to success and should be the focal points of the business. Entice investors and banks with a well-planned business proposal.

3. Secure the Permits

Everything should be legally taken cared of. Setting up any business for that matter necessitates all the required permits. Manage your time well to spend enough time in acquiring insurances, permits, and licenses.

4. This is When Creativity Kicks In

Look around you, almost every business venture has a theme, from a rock concert to zen. Make your think tank work and come up with a motif, it pays a lot to make a random feasibility check of the business area. Make your café stand out!

5. Be Professional

It may come to you as a hobby but you always have to consider that running a business involves customers. You have to be consistent in dealing with all aspects of operations. It has to reflect on how you conduct yourself as an owner and a leader to your staff. By professionalism, we mean that standards have to be met – like presentable catchy menus and an engaging website.

6. Be Your Own Customer

I am pretty sure you are a critic of some of the cafes you have visited before. What can you do differently? How will others react? Fill in the shoe of a customer to find ways and means to continuously improve your craft.

7. Communication is Key

As with any other relationship, open communication not only with your staff but most importantly with your customers will substantially improve your service and your revenue subsequently. Make sure that policies are consistent and attainable. Do away with line items that you foresee will cause confusion.

8. Never be a Snob

Suppliers are your friends. Develop a lasting relationship with suppliers and distributors because if you take care of them, they will surely take care of you. You will never know when an emergency will strike and having them as your best buds can actually mean a lot.

9. Learn to Embrace the Concept of Change

What is trending now may not have the same impact the next week, or month. Our fast-paced lives continuously evolve in a surprisingly short amount of time. Your great concept for a menu may be the talk of the town this month but never expect it to be eternal. You need to learn to adapt and innovate. Take some time to be on top of what’s hot and what’s not.

Marketing and Promotion

10. Marketing is the Lifeblood of the Business

You may have the most lucrative shiny shimmery shop but if no one knows about it, it’s as good as a nothing. There is a variety of marketing channels that you may want to juggle – although it is advisable that you strategically plan these marketing plans.

Traditional marketing includes flyers, word of mouth, and old-fashioned ads. Digital marketing is the fad nowadays, utilize the many avenues of the world wide web and make good use of social media.

11. Establish Relationships

As mentioned earlier, word of mouth is a very good marketing opportunity. As with taking care of your suppliers and distributors, it is best to establish a fanbase. These “regulars” will give you a stable audience so provide them with perks like loyalty discounts and incentive programs.

Alsco can Help

Also is a leader in providing convenient and economical solutions for maintaining the highest linen standards for any business venture. Our fully-managed tea towel rental service is no exception: we offer quality fabrics, sizes, and colours with no up-front capital outlay; regular pick-up and delivery; and a flexible inventory management system.

Partner with Alsco and find out how it feels to have an endless supply of clean linen. Enquire now!

Sources and Recommended Reading
1. ‘How To Start A Café’, Wikihow (website)
2. ‘How To Run A Café’, Businesses For Sale (website)
3. ‘Attributes Of A Successful Café Owner’, Craig Reid, The Café Ninja (blog)
4. ‘My Top 5 Tips For Café Success’, Craig Reid, The Café Ninja (blog)
5. ‘A Passion for Caffeine: How To Start A Coffee Shop’, Sydney Morning Herald
6. ‘The 11 Biggest Mistakes You Can Make When Buying a Café That Could Cost You Tens Of Thousands Of Dollars’ (pdf), Rita Srblin, The Café Coach (website)

Image Courtesy: Flickr Image by avlxyz

Hand Sanitiser vs. Soap and Water – Which is Preferable?

Washing hands is an effective way to minimise the spread of germs and deadly diseases. In recent times, we are fortunate to have multiple ways to keep our hands clean thanks to the invention of hand sanitisers.

Now, here is a quick question: Is hand sanitiser more effective or superior to washing hands the old fashioned way?

Washing Hands with Soap

Over and again, washing hands with soap and water has been proven to rid bacteria that could cause debilitating disease. Washing with hand soap, however, does not necessarily mean it can kill the bacteria.

When washing with soap, dirt, and germs trapped within the natural oils of the skin are lifted and suspended in water. In order to ensure efficacy, washing hands must be done well.

To effectively wash hands:

• 1-3 ml of soap should be used, with just enough water to make a lather.
• Scrubbing between fingers, fingernails and wrists should be done in no less than 20 seconds.
• Thorough rinsing should be done, and lastly
• Hands should be dried after washing.

Recent research has shown that drying is very important to the effectiveness of hand hygiene. If you do not dry your hands properly after washing, it could turn into a breeding environment for bacteria to spread.

The Facts about Hand Sanitisers

Hand sanitiser use bottled gels as an alternative for old-fashioned handwashing with soap and water.

Do hand sanitisers virtually kill 99% of germs as they claim? Of course, they do. However, not precisely on the hands. The truth is, these products are commonly tested on inanimate surfaces and the claim of its effectiveness is based totally on that. But, if tested on hands, the outcomes will be exceptional.

Hand sanitiser is an excellent alternative when the right facilities are not available. However, it shouldn’t replace washing hands with soap and water because there are more aggressive forms of bacteria available that sanitiser cannot fight.

Additionally, hand sanitisers aren’t as efficient as soap and water in reducing dirt and grease. So if your hands are visibly dirty, it is better to wash with soap and water. If not, you can make use of hand sanitisers.

The main ingredient in hand sanitiser is alcohol. The alcohol kills the bacteria by softening the bacterial membrane, permitting the alcohol to render micro-organism useless.

But this doesn’t mean that you should use any hand sanitiser containing alcohol. Always choose the one with at least 60% alcohol — anything less is regarded as ineffective.

It is also essential to know how to use hand sanitisers properly. Firstly, do not be too conservative with the quantity. Squirt two to three pumps of the product on the surface of your hand, rubbing the entire surface of your hands. Ensure you do not exclude your fingers and underneath your nails; don’t stop until the product dries out.

Hand Hygiene In The Workplace

Having a pleasant and safe working environment is one of the most crucial requirements for any employee. After all, most of us sacrifice almost all of our weekly hours to work at a paid rate.

So long as working conditions are concerned, there are some things that generally tend to irritate some employees, including poor water quality or access to none at all, unfavourable temperatures, offensive odours, messy kitchen environment, and a lack of hygiene.

The workplace is perhaps the most common place to contact diseases. However, the only way to reduce the contamination of diseases is to ensure that the environment is kept clean, and it involves more than simply emptying bins or vacuuming the floor.

Wiping off your keyboard, telephone, and desk is the number one place to start eliminating bacteria. The kitchen region is likewise critical. Having things like liquid soap, clean towels, towel roll dispensers, and bench wiping liquid can also help this region stay clean. Finally, and most significantly, is the washroom area.

Particularly in working environments such as schools, hand sanitisers bring about reducing the spread of infection via dirty hands.

The Ultimate School Washroom Guide shows you how to take proper care of your school washroom and protect the health of all the staff and students.

Keeping hands clean is vital in reducing the spread of diseases because it’s our hands that do most of the work and come in contact with multiple people as well as items around the office. Good quality liquid soap, sanitising systems, and anti-bacterial products must be made available at all times.

So, Which is Better?

In case you are evaluating whether to spend money on hand sanitisers or on hand soap dispensers, there shouldn’t be a debate.

Both are very important in the workplace to help workers stay healthy and happy. Both are effective at protecting you from bacteria and viruses.

If there are specks of dirt or oils on your hands, the best way to clean it is to use hand soaps with water. Hand sanitisers should not replace hand washing with soap but in areas where there is no water available, or instances when you need to immediately disinfect your hands, hand sanitisers come very handy.

These should have a significant place in your office, too — have them strategically positioned in some areas of the workplace e.g doorways, elevators, floors etc. If this is implemented, it will be much easier for them to remember to keep their hands clean.

Need a hand soap dispenser or hand sanitisers in your workplace? Alsco provides fully-managed hand care systems and supplies for a convenient and cost-effective hygiene solution for your workplace.

Enquire now and get the best price quote!

Image Courtesy: Flickr Image by Chiot’s Run

How Defibrillators Save Lives

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in many countries. Roughly 6.4% of people above the age of 15 suffer from either heart disease or a stroke each year.

This may not seem as bad as you think, although considering that this statistic is above road incidents and cancer diagnosis’, it’s probably worse than you’d think.

The majority of these cases happen within a business workplace. Whether they are an employee, a visitor, or a customer.

The fact is that due to the amount of time that is spent within a workplace, the risk of going into cardiac arrest while at work is significantly higher than anywhere else.

As low as 20% of cardiac arrests happen inside of a medical facility, with the remaining 80% of cases happening at home, a workplace, or out in public.

Is your workplace ready for medical emergencies? Contact Alsco for carefully sourced, hospital-grade and regularly restocked first aid kits and defibrillators.

The “Kerry Packer” Effect

Kerry Packer had fallen victim to another cardiac arrest in 1990 and was lucky enough to have been treated effectively by one of the two ambulances which had a defibrillator available within them.

If we take a look back at that time, we can compare it to the current age and day where there are AEDs placed even in public areas so that if a citizen requires the use of one, life could potentially be saved.

With that in mind, a lot of larger businesses have taken this effect into consideration and have invested in AED units throughout their business as a safety precaution.

Why Time is of the Essence in

– In the event of a heart attack, depending on the level of severity, time is vital.
– If someone who has gone into cardiac arrest hasn’t received help within the first 10 minutes, both CPR and defibrillation will be ineffective and unhelpful.
– With the previous point in mind, response times are estimated at over 10 minutes and in some areas, even longer.

However, the fact that AEDs (otherwise known as Automated External Defibrillators) are becoming an essential part of a business’s medical set up is a huge step in the right direction.

A Serious Example of Why AEDs Should Be in Place

The story that follows shows just how critical an AED unit is to save lives, especially in the workplace.

During December of 2011, the HR Advisor (and fortunately the Head Office First Aid Office) of a large business attended a Christmas lunch at one of the company’s branches, along with their National Sales Manager and their Regional General Manager. During the lunch, the HR Advisor had spotted that one of her colleagues seemed to be in distress and therefore went on to approach the colleague to provide the assistance that was necessary.

After questioning the colleague, she discovered that she had not only shortness of breath, but had been feeling pains in her arm along with feeling pressure on her chest, on her neck, and on her face. On top of that, the HR Advisor had found out that her colleague had been prescribed heart medication in the past due to heart problems, but had stopped taking the medication over 6 months prior to that day.

The HR Advisor asked another of her colleagues to instantly call Triple-O and get the AED that was in the workplace. In the meantime, she helped the colleague in distress get herself into a more comfortable position that was closer to the ground.

Fortunately, once Triple-O was contacted they arrived within minutes and were impressed due to the first aid assistance that had been offered by the HR Advisor.

Unfortunately, after the colleague had been taken to the hospital and had undergone bypass surgery, she was unable to return to her workplace due to her ongoing health issues.

Access to AEDs

Ensure that your workplace has access to high quality and fully-managed Automated External Defibrillators (AED) at all times. You wouldn’t know when you would need one to save lives. Time is very important. Enquire about our high quality, easy-to-use, and reliable portable defibrillators now!

Managed Bins vs DIY Sanitary Disposal System

Having an experienced and compliant workplace cleanliness partner says a lot about your business.

Not only that, a clean washroom is important for ensuring that your employees and your customers are comfortable using them.

When you are designing a washroom that is not only comfortable and hygienic but welcoming to the users, it’s important that there is a suitable sanitary waste disposal system in place.

There are two options that you have when considering sanitary disposal in a businesses washroom.

They are:

• A DIY sanitary disposal system
• Utilising a managed sanitary disposal system

DIY Sanitary Disposal

The first thing to make sure when considering a DIY sanitary disposal system is that you have the right equipment available. This includes lids on the bins which seal properly, in order to make sure that there are no horrible odours.

It’s also important to make sure that these bins are emptied regularly. On top of that, it’s important to provide signs to let the users of the washroom know where they should be disposing of their sanitary items.

If this isn’t done, then you run the risk of these items being flushed and having to pay for a plumbing service.

DIY Sanitary Disposal systems:

• Biodegradable antibacterial liner – MAYBE
• EPA approved sanitary disposal – NO
• Sanitary bins removed and replaced during servicing – NO
• Flexible servicing schedule in place based on the washroom’s traffic – NO
• Easily recognised by users – NO

Managed Sanitary Disposal

When using a managed sanitary disposal system, there is no need for you to have signs in place for a woman to know the purposes of a sanitary bin. On top of that, there are many hygienic benefits in place, for example:

• Bins are emptied regularly and cleaned if necessary, preventing odours and bacteria building up
• Sanitary disposal units are properly sanitised with an anti-bacterial liner, ensuring maximum hygiene is in place and a pleasant fragrance is provided at all times.

Most importantly, all sanitary bins are emptied on a regular basis.

Managed Sanitary Disposal systems:

• Biodegradable antibacterial liner – YES
• EPA approved sanitary disposal – YES
• Sanitary bins removed and replaced during servicing – YES
• Flexible servicing schedule in place based on the washroom’s traffic – YES
• Easily recognised by users – YES

Sanitary Bins from Fresh & Clean

The feminine hygiene service which is offered by Fresh & Clean is in place to ensure that both your female employees and your female customers are comfortable with your washrooms.

For convenience, the bins will be wall-mounted and easily recognisable. If you offer a changing facility, Fresh & Clean have a hygienic nappy disposal system in place which is equally as safe and hygienic as the sanitary disposal systems.

If you work in a school, for instance, make sure that you dispose of school washroom waste properly and that your school washroom is a safe and healthy place for all the staff and students.

Experience hassle-free waste disposals, consider Alsco’s fully-managed sanitary, waste and hygiene services. Enquire now!

Do Fragrances Affect Productivity?

Believe it or not, Japanese studies have shown that fragrances affect productivity in workplaces. The study that they performed consisted of using aromatherapy among their employees, which not only energised them but increased how efficient they were.

Whether it be the smell of fresh strawberries or an intoxicating minty scent, the Japanese have managed to prove the advanced use of “smells”.

If you’re interested in this concept and are hoping to incorporate it into your workplace, contact Alsco to find out how you can improve your workplace’s air quality.

Good Smelling Air and Bad Smelling Air

“Olfactory sensitivity” is an important factor when considering how much you enjoy food, as well as when looking into certain environments.

For example, if you are looking at real estate and the property you’re looking at smells unpleasant, depending on the smell you could feel nausea, a headache coming on, or even losing your appetite. Even if the smell is ever so slight, the room can make you uneasy.

If you are uncomfortable in a certain environment, it could be the result of environmental conditions. For example, if your property is next to a busy road or a construction site, if your building has air condition (which it most likely has) then your more than likely to have an unpleasant smell filtering through your office at one point or another. Offices are often next to industrial areas, which is where these smells can be commonly found.

It’s also important to note that a lot of these smells are smells that are given off by harmful fumes, so taking care of them is in your best interests.

In case a school is your workplace, learn how to provide adequate school washroom odour control and meet all the other necessary legal requirements.

How Can You Deal With It?

There are many ways to get rid of these odours. Whether it’s through physical means or chemical means.

The most popular method that you’ll find is ventilation. While it’s often best to minimise the ventilation intake, in a lot of the hotter climates you will be tempted to increase the use of ventilation.

On the other hand, removing odours by using chemicals are generally harmful (unless they contain only natural ingredients).

Sprays such as aerosol sprays contain a variety of harmful chemicals which come with their own set of side effects such as headaches, skin reactions, or triggering an allergic reaction.

Researchers have produced a study proving that Volatile Organic Compounds have shown to cause not only headaches but depression and possibly even asthma in babies.

Clean and Go Green!

Alsco’s Odour Control systems allow you to not only get healthier air in the workplace but completely safe and green air. This product is the first-ever oxygen-based dispenser.

This means that the air freshener doesn’t use any unsafe products or toxic ingredients which can cause harm to your workers.

The refills used for this product uses only pure and concentrated fragrance oils (roughly six times more than other aerosols).

This reduces the amount of Volatile Organic Compounds that are given off by up to 90%. There are no other air fresheners that used an oxygen-based delivery system in a way like this.

In simpler terms, this is not only safer, healthier, and environmentally-friendly, it is also beneficial to your employees. Giving them better health and a productive day.

A healthier workplace means healthier workers and furthermore, less sick employees. An air freshener like this can help you reduce the carbon footprint of an office and even better, it can help you achieve LEED building certification.

Why Wait, Get it Now!

We are very confident in ourselves when we say that an Alsco Odour Control system is the answer to improving the air quality within your workplace. After you have experienced it for yourself, you’ll agree with us!

Keep your workplace smelling good and healthy, send us an enquiry. Our friendly and informed staff are waiting to help!

Image Courtesy: Flickr Image by Flower Factor

What You Don’t Know About Heart Attacks

Heart attacks are usually the leading cause of accidents around the world. AEDs (portable defibrillators) can help save lives during a heart attack.

But prevention is always better than cure.

People are encouraged to reduce the risk of having a heart attack and prevent ever becoming a victim of one. It’s important to learn what contributes to a heart attack and the different factors to consider when preventing one.

Is your workplace at risk?

With the use of both clinical studies and statistical studies, a variety of risk factors have been put together and split into two separate groups. The major risk factors, and the preventable risk factors.

Major Uncontrollable Risk Factors of  Heart Attacks

Major uncontrollable risk factors are those which you can’t change and are therefore out of your control.

• Age. The majority of those who die from either heart attacks or suffering from heart disease are above the age of 65, and as we know, unfortunately, age isn’t a factor that can be controlled.
• Race. While this is unusual and is something not many people would consider, it’s true. Studies have shown that African Americans are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure which is a contributing risk factor of heart disease.
• Hereditary. If other members of your family have suffered from either heart disease or heart attacks, then there is a higher chance that you too will suffer from these things.
• Sex. Statistical studies have shown that men are more likely to suffer from heart attacks than women, and it the risk of a heart attack can start while men are younger too.

Preventable Risk Factors of Heart Attacks

These risk factors are those which you are able to have an influence on, however, a few of them can aren’t completely in your control.

• Diet and nutrition. As an add-on from diabetes, making sure that you have a healthy diet that provides you with the nutrition your body needs is just as important. These things have an immense effect on your body, including your heart’s health. It’s important to make sure that you have a diet which is full of fish that’s rich with Omega-3, nuts, low-fat foods and antioxidant-loaded berries.
• Tobacco smoking. Smoking has been shown to have dramatic effects on your body, not just heart disease and heart attacks.
• Stress. This contributes to heart attacks a lot. If you are constantly stressed, you’re at risk of having a heart attack. It’s important that you learn to deal with stress or cut whatever is causing the stress out of your lifestyle.
• Physical inactivity. It’s important for preventing heart issues and keeping yourself healthy that you find a way to fit physical activity into your lifestyle. It will not only sustain a healthy blood flow, but it can contribute heavily to preventing heart issues.
• High blood cholesterol. Those who have high blood cholesterol are more likely to suffer from heart disease, especially if it is accompanied by smoking and having high blood pressure.
• Obesity. People who are either overweight or are obese are more likely to suffer from heart attacks or heart disease, as well as other health issues (including strokes). This is due to the increase in pressure that fat puts on the heart and how obesity increases blood pressure and cholesterol.
• Diabetes. Diabetes is common among those who are overweight or obese, however, healthy individuals can be at risk too. If you have an unhealthy diet and don’t take care of yourself, you’re setting a welcome mat for diabetes. Diabetes has an influence on your chance of a heart attack, as well as having a stroke.
• Alcohol. Alcohol contributes to your blood pressure, the more that you consume the higher your blood pressure is. As we said above, this can not only lead to a heart attack, but it can also cause a stroke among other health issues.
• Illegal drugs. Illegal drugs aren’t produced in sterile and safe labs which are run by professional chemists. They are made by people who just want to make a quick buck by selling drugs to people. A lot of illegal drugs contain unhealthy and unsafe chemicals which can contribute to triggering spasms in your heart and arteries, which can go on to cause a heart attack.

Reduce the Risks of  Heart Attacks at Your Workplace

If you look above, you can see that there are many risk factors you should consider when taking care of yourself and preventing a heart attack. While there are many of these risks that are out of our control (such as age, sex, etc.), there are just as many factors that are under our control (such as high blood pressure, stress, alcohol consumption, etc.).

Below you can find some tips that will help you reduce the risk of suffering from a heart attack as well as increase your productivity at work.

• Acknowledge the risks of a heart attack. It’s not a simple task to pull off, but the first step that you need to do is acknowledge the risks that contribute to a heart attack and support your employees during the changes you hope to make.
• Plan your intentions. It’s important that before you even make changes, you plan out the changes you hope to make. Putting together a healthier workplace isn’t the easiest task to pull off, take your time and allow your employees to contribute to the planning.
• Make changes to the cafeteria. If you have a business which offers vending machines or a cafeteria, change up what they offer. Rather than an unhealthy menu, switch to a healthier menu.
• Introduce an exercise program. Whether you’re an employer or an employee, this is simple and easy to implement ideas. A lot of people are hoping to keep healthy and get in shape, and what better way to do so than at work! There are no costs in place either unless you take a step further and hire a trainer once or twice a week, so there are no reasons to not do so!
• Make break time changes. Increase the number of break times that your employees receive and increase the length of them too. This will allow them to get some downtime and not be as stressed out, allowing not only for them to stay calm, but be more productive while working.
• Have AED’s and first aid kits installed in your workplace. While a lot of people think, “The chances of them ever being used is very small so what’s the point?”, this is the wrong angle to look at it. Instead, think of how it could one day save someone’s life.

In the unfortunate situation where a heart attack occurs, it’s important for an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to be installed in your workplace. They are one of those things in life that we don’t realise how important they are to have around until we have to use them.

Don’t risk a worker’s life, contact Alsco now and get an AED installed within your workplace.

5 Workplace Recyclables That You Were Unaware Of

When we discuss workplace recycling, the first thing that comes to mind is paper recycling. When we doodle, we throw it away. If we realise we’ve made a huge mistake, we throw it away.

Letters that we receive that have no use for, we throw them away. We use paper wipes though there are reusable cloth wipes which are more environment-friendly.

We do it every day, and we do it just as much with plastic and paper. However, while these are the two prime suspects, there is a lot more workplace recycling we can do.

Reusing and recycling resources are best valued when they’re managed properly, contact Also for fully-managed rental services.

Five Most Uncommon Items That Can Be Recycled

#1. Damaged Electronics

Forgotten to take your MP3 player out of your jeans before washing them? Dropped your phone in the sink while washing the dishes? If you haven’t, you probably know somebody who has.

When people travel, they often have their earphones in listening to music. Whether they are listening to it on their phone, or on an MP3 player, the chances are that they’ve had a few different MP3 players.

Broken MP3 players can be recycled and be put towards creating new technology. Similarly, so can calculators or broken computers.

From a financial point of view, sometimes a broken computer isn’t worth fixing and buying a new one is a better choice. If this sounds like a situation you’ve been in, recycle the broken one!

#2. Polystyrene Packing Peanuts

While these peanuts are fun to play with, they aren’t as delicious as other peanuts. The peanuts that we are referring to are the foam-like pieces which are commonly inside of your electronic packages so that they don’t get damaged.

Instead of disposing of them, collect them inside of bags and call up a local moving company. They will find a lot of use out of them and they will appreciate them due to how it can help prevent damaging their customers valuable and fragile goods.

#3. Umbrellas and Rainwear

Umbrellas are very fragile, which is unfortunate when heavy rain is accompanied by heavy winds. We’ve all walked passed an abandoned and broken umbrella on the street, similar to how we’ve all seen an abandoned raincoat. They are specially designed to prevent us from getting wet, however, they happen to be very fragile too.

Get in touch with a recycling centre and find out where you’d be able to recycle your employee’s rainwear.

#4. Mobile Phones

When we get a new mobile phone, a lot of us aren’t entirely sure what to do with our old ones. Some of us throw them away, some of us like to take them apart to see their insides, and some of us just like to sell them for a little extra cash. However, another option is to simply recycle your old mobile phone.

Selling your mobile can put you at risk of a hacker buying it from you, and taking all the data off of it (even if you have deleted that data!). This can be very worrying for those who use their mobiles for online banking. So, why not take the safer and more environment approach and recycle it!

On top of recycling, there are charitable organisations who have professionals clear the phone’s data and fix it up so it looks as good as new, sell them, and put all the profit towards charity!

#5. Prescription Glasses

After a routine eye check-up, it’s not uncommon for us to need new glasses. This leaves us with a pair of glasses that we put in a drawer, and will most likely never use again. But why cause clutter when we can simply recycle them?

Organisations such as “Lions Clubs International” have many recycling centres all over the country. They take all unwanted and donated glasses and ship them to third-world countries where the less fortunate are able to benefit greatly from them.

Talk to your employees and enquire about whether some of them have old and unused glasses at their homes and whether or not they would like to donate them to a good cause? Who knows, those glasses could have a journey of their own and be put to great use over in India.

An Example of How Effective Recycling Can be

A prime example of recycling is when we order a new television. The television will arrive in a cardboard box, a polystyrene barrier, a plastic bag, and polystyrene packing peanuts. What can you do with the packaging?

• Cardboard box – Recycle just as you would with paper.
• Polystyrene barrier – Contact a local moving agency about them reusing them.
• Plastic bag – Recycle just as you would with plastic.
• Polystyrene packing peanuts – Contact a local moving agency about them reusing them.

To Conclude

As you can see from above, there are a few different things that you wouldn’t expect to be recyclable. Educating yourself on what you can recycle is a good thing to do, as not only does it help contribute to the health of our environment, but it gives you a sense of satisfaction due to knowing that you are doing your part.

The best way for you to help and support the environment while controlling your carbon footprint – is to recycle.

So start greening your workplace today and take care of both the environment and your pocket. Use Alsco’s reusable wipes. They’re biodegradable and reusable. Send us an enquiry! Our friendly and informed staff are waiting to help.

Photo: Pixabay

Let Your Linen Do The Talking: Finding a Good Linen and Laundry Service

There’s no look more re-assuring than the appearance of clean, fresh and bright linen in your facility.

Robust linen solutions for businesses like Hotels, restaurants, clinics, and day spas – are important to ensure maximum comfort and the best experience for their customers, clients and patrons.

Alsco’s trusted service is one of the most recognized in the said industry.

If you want to impress guests with crisp, clean, quality linen, contact ALSCO now.

The Benefits of Hiring a Laundry Service

If we talk about the businesses on hospitality, catering, and care, all of them demand great assistance for cleaning and washing their linens. There are numerous benefits of availing professional laundry services.

• Efficient and timely. The sooner the linens are returned to the facility, the better. It provides convenience to business owners and customers. Alsco regularly cleans, replaces, and supplies fresh, crisp linens to your doorstep.
• Proper handling. Professional laundry services use right equipment and expertise to clean your linen perfectly. The process is done by a trained personnel who takes all the necessary steps to clean the clients’ items.
• Competitive rates. A high price may not always mean quality service, and cheap rates may lead to unsatisfactory results. Alsco guarantees the best price for their linen and laundry service which is worth every dollar you pay.
• Preserved fabric quality. Trained laundry personnel are familiar with the ways of washing a particular material. This is necessary to ensure that all the items are kept in good condition, making sure that fabrics will look its best.
• Variety of services. The ability to supply laundry services to various clients indicates that a company already has a lot of experience. They can clean different items from accommodation linen, tea towels, wipes, and more.

Qualities of a Good Linen and Laundry Service

Alsco makes sure that your items are treated in the best way possible. We value client satisfaction. There are a few things that you need to consider when you are looking for a good linen and laundry service.

1. Do they have a good reputation? Choose a partner that has a great reputation for delivering excellent and professional services. Do some research in your local area and ask for referrals from other businesses in your field. You can also check for online reviews.
2. Do they use the right equipment? A good laundry service should be equipped with the right machines to wash linen effectively. You can always talk to their representatives about the washers and the other equipment that they are using.
3. Do they offer a high-quality service? Choose a provider that offers high quality services. Go for a company that has been in business for a long time and has mastered their product range. This means that they will be flexible enough to meet your needs.
4. Do they provide pickup and drop off? The laundry service should not be a cause for delay when it comes to business operations. Find a provider that is able to schedule pickups and drop off on a regular basis. Linens should be delivered straight to your doorstep.
5. Do they follow green practices? A laundry service uses large quantities of water and detergent. So, look for a provider that follows eco-friendly practices. They should use efficient washers and dryers, and avoid the use of harmful chemicals.
6. Do they have the right certifications? You may go to the local authority to check the certification of a company. If the company is providing insurance for any damage made by them, then it is a very good service company. A money back guarantee can be a good sign.

Choose Alsco’s Linen and Laundry Service

Alsco is a known and trusted name in the market when it comes to linen and laundry service. The company now serves over 48,000 satisfied customers across Australasia. They provide high quality fabrics linens as well as a reliable pickup and delivery laundry service.

For all your laundry queries, visit the website www.alsco.co.nz now! Get in touch with us for a regular supply of fresh, quality linen.

Photo: Pixabay

The Dirty Truth on Paper Towels and How to Make the Greenest Choice

 Going green means choosing greener options from food selection down to washroom supplies.

Maintaining eco-friendly business practices is a social obligation to your community. Obvious benefits include reducing waste and cutting costs.

So what can you do? Alsco has the answers. Employers can start with the paper towels in the workplace washroom. In New Zealand, papers represent 7% of wastes, equivalent to approximately 200,000 tonnes.

Are cloth towels really better? For green solutions tailored to your business, contact ALSCO now.

Why Going Paper Towel Free Matters?

Even with hand dryers and dishcloths in the market, paper towels have long ruled as the choice of habit. It’s one of the most wasteful things people dispose of every day without regret. Every year, discarded paper towels result in 254 million tons of trash worldwide.

To make one ton of paper towels, 17 trees are cut and 20,000 gallons of water are consumed. This creates a major drain on the earth’s resources. To replace the number of discarded paper towels, 51,000 trees are required every day.

Virgin Paper Towels Are Toxic

Virgin fibre comes straight from a tree. Can you imagine chopping down a tree for a single-use item? You may also notice how virgin paper towels are gleaming, bright white, which is actually not natural. Paper made from wood would ordinarily be brown.

Several methods are done to bleach these paper products, including using chlorine and its derivatives. In fact, the paper industry is known to be among the worst-polluting industries on Earth. The process releases cancer-causing chemicals, which pollute the air, waterways, soil and the food chain.

Dioxins and furans, by-products of pulp and paper mills that use virgin timber, are linked to a number of health concerns. These include immune system impairments, hormone alterations, birth defects, and other reproductive problems.

What Are The Better Alternatives?

According to a study, 72% of consumers would recommend a brand that supports a good cause over one that doesn’t. This just shows that going green can help you establish your company’s image as a good corporate steward.

Partially-recycled paper towels – A better alternative from virgin fibre, they contain at least some recycled content. However, trees have still been cut down to make them. Some of its content comes from papers that were left unattended for years.

100% Recycled Paper Towels – Now you are entering a green territory. These are totally chlorine-free and made entirely from recycled paper. It means no new tree was chopped down for this product. Because they didn’t go through the bleaching process, these towels are brown.

Two types of materials are used:

• Post-consumer fibre comes from papers that have already been used by the consumer and sent to recycling, such as newspapers and magazines.
• Recovered fibre comes from paper waste left over in manufacturing, such as damaged paper, trimmings, scraps, and unused stock.

A Greener Choice: Cotton Towels

Cotton towels are soft, super absorbent and comfortable to use. It is considered the greener option to using paper towels. Here’s why – paper towels involve a complex process from harvesting to bleaching, polluting the environment, all for single use.

The process for cloth napkins or dishtowels may be similar in some areas, but they can stay in your drawers for many years. Its advantage can only be lost in terms of careless washing. For instance, when you use too much water for just a few bunches of barely-soiled towels.

Here are some tips when using them:

• Always wash a full load of towels.
• Separately lightly soiled towels from heavily soiled towels.
• Use the appropriate washing cycle on your machine.
• Ensure that soiled napkins are pre-soaked.
• Avoid using dryers, let the sunlight do the drying for you.

What is the Greenest Choice?

The greenest choice are towels made from linen or hemp. Aside from being the most eco-friendly option, they are more durable too. You don’t always need to buy new ones. You can make your own dish towels by cutting up old sheets, or towels, then hemming the edges.

These are also available at second-hand stores, flea markets, and online. Cotton is still a highly irrigated crop that uses pesticides during its growth. Therefore, hemp or linen are more sustainable. In washing your eco-friendly towels, you can also use eco-friendly laundry detergent.

ALSCO Solution for your Towel Needs

Alsco’s dedicated team will help keep your business clean, green, and organised. Their trusted services include affordable washroom and hand hygiene solutions for the workplace, including hand drying supplies such as cloth towels.

Their smartly designed Continuous Towel dispenser ensures a hygienic dry with every use without the risk of cross-contamination, which is tremendously important at crowded places such as a restaurant or school washrooms. Environmental benefits include up to 63% less energy, 48% fewer greenhouse gases, and up to 79% less waste.

For all your towel related queries, visit the website www.alsco.co.nz now! Get in touch with us for a safer, healthier workplace.