Tackling Limescale with BubbleFlush

Introducing a chemical-free and sustainable solution with BubbleFlush

Synopsis

This trial helped Nviro demonstrate our commitment to innovation and sustainability while showcasing the potential of BubbleFlush as an effective, efficient, sustainable washroom solution.

BubbleFlush summary

Trialled in Hampshire
Public sector
Client was experiencing limescale issues in their toilets
BubbleFlush – the world’s first active toilet cleaning system
BubbleFlush was one of five winning innovations in 2023 by the Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA) Innovation Showcase
Reduces time tackling difficult to remove limescale

Facts about BubbleFlush trial

Deployed to 30 toilets on site and trialled for one month
Reduces the amount of chemicals needed
You don’t have to wait 10 minutes for the toilet acid contact time to be effective, as BubbleFlush is more effective in just 30 seconds
Reducing plastic by 17kg a year
Reducing CO2 by 12KG over a year

What a cleaner said

“BubbleFlush does what it says on the tin, and I’d like to continue using it.”

Case study

Cleaning toilets is a typical daily task for the cleaning team at Nviro, taking on average five minutes a toilet. Throughout the estate we look after, that’s a lot of time spent cleaning toilets, so we are always on the lookout for more efficient ways to do it without using strong or dangerous chemicals. So, when we were introduced to BubbleFlush, the world’s first active toilet cleaning system that, removing limescale in toilets without using environmentally harmful cleaning agents we were keen to give it a try. It works by using ultrasonic vibrations to create tiny, powerful air bubbles in the water that quickly blast away limescale and dirt. And it does all of this in just 30 seconds. It’s also ergonomically designed to prevent the backache usually involved in cleaning toilets and reduces exposure to cleaning chemicals. This means that instead of using toilet acid and leaving it for ten minutes for contact time (how long a disinfectant needs to stay wet on a surface to be effective), we can use BubbleFlush and complete the job in a fraction of the time. Initially, we decided to trial it on one site with 30 toilets to see what the impact would be and to see just how good it really was! And we asked the cleaners what they thought so that we could get some real user feedback.

Nviro wanted to try BubbleFlush on one site in Hampshire where the toilets were recognised as being difficult to keep clean due to an excessive build-up of limescale. These toilets were taking longer to clean and weren’t reaching the standards that we usually deliver. Our aim was to showcase BubbleFlush’s exceptional performance and see whether it was worth rolling it out to more sites across more of Nviro’s contracts as an efficient, sustainable washroom solution.

To start with, we completed a site assessment with our supply partner, Bunzl. We often work with experts to make sure that we are trialling the most up-to-date and innovative new products and to make sure that they will meet the needs of specific sites. This involved reviewing the current cleaning routine, identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing a plan for using it and monitoring feedback.

Next up was colleague training. We trained the cleaning team so they could use BubbleFlush themselves. We showed the team how to use the equipment correctly, the safety measures, and how to make sure they knew how to maintain it so that it lasted and worked effectively well beyond the trial.

Throughout the trial period, BubbleFlush was used on 30 toilets. We monitored and collected feedback to track the performance of BubbleFlush. Due to the heavy build-up of limescale in the toilets, we found we needed to double up the usage for the first two weeks. This removed the limescale effectively and meant we could then start using BubbleFlush once a day to maintain the standard. We continued to involve regular inspections, data collection, and working with the client to address any further issues or concerns.

The outcomes of our BubbleFlush trial demonstrated it does have a remarkable impact on washroom cleaning and that it could have a huge impact on Nviro’s and our client’s sustainability objectives. Here are some key highlights:

Chemical-free: Saving the customer 19.5 litres on chemicals, demonstrating BubbleFlush’s ability to reduce environmental impact without affecting the cleaning.
Overall Time Savings Using BubbleFlush to tackle limescale, meant our cleaning colleagues could use their time more effectively to focus on other cleaning tasks – helping to keep standards high in other areas.
Plastic Reduction: By eliminating 17kg of plastic waste annually, BubbleFlush highlights our commitment to making a difference to the environment.
CO2 Reduction: BubbleFlush will lead to a significant reduction of 12kg in CO2 emissions annually, contributing to our client’s carbon footprint objectives.

The successful trial of BubbleFlush at our client’s site in Hampshire demonstrates Nviro’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. Nviro creates clean, hygienic and safe environments for building users to thrive, and BubbleFlush is another great product that can contribute to this.

The overall outcome was extremely positive. We have since implemented BubbleFlush on multiple public sector sites. And our cleaners are happy because it is easier and takes them less time to clean the toilets, meaning they can focus on other areas. BubbleFlush has been highly recognised within the industry and was chosen as one of five winning innovations in 2023 by the Cleaning and Support Services Association (CSSA) Innovation Showcase, so we expect to see more people trying it out in the coming months.

If you are interested in using BubbleFlush on your site or finding out more information about this product, please contact one of our experts in innovation at enquiries@nviro.co.uk or call our Portsmouth office on 02392 370044.