Soap Flakes have been used for centuries for their gentle but effective cleaning power as well as their environmental credentials. Used primarily for delicate clothes washing, Soap Flakes can also be used for a range of cleaning tasks where gentle cleansing is needed. Due to consumer demand Dri-Pak, the only manufacturer of Soap Flakes in the UK, now produce Liquid Soap Flakes to fit in with customers’ busy lifestyles.

Baby’s skin needs the gentlest of care, that's why Liquid Soap Flakes are ideal for washing baby clothes. With no perfumes or fragrances they gently clean delicate clothes and leave no residue behind to irritate the skin.

The liquid is instantly soluble and does not form a gel in cold water. It can be used at cool wash temperatures, requiring less energy per wash. Suitable for cleaning delicate fabrics including wool, lace, silk and leather, Liquid Soap Flakes can be used to wash all family members’ clothes without irritating sensitive skin.

To use Liquid Soap Flakes in an automatic washing machine, simply add between 1 and 2 capfuls (depending of the water hardness) to the detergent draw and set the desired programme according to the garment washing instructions. Ensure that the drum is at least half full to prevent excess foam. For hand washing, add to warm water and wash according to garment instructions, then rinse thoroughly.

The 750ml bottle provides up to 15 wash loads, and at £2.99 provides great value for money. Pick them up in the laundry aisle at Tesco or Waitrose, as well as independent retailers or direct from Dri-Pak on (0115) 9325165

Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham

Labels: Baby Clothes, Dri-Pak, Laundry, Liquid Soap Flakes, Sensitive Skin

Many companies are falling foul of pollution regulations according to the MD of PermaClear UK, by not following Pollution Prevention Guidelines (PPG13 – Vehicle Washing & Cleaning). Richard Barker comments, “Dirty water and run-off from vehicle washing and cleaning carried out as a business or industrial activity is called trade effluent. Whether you’re cleaning just one vehicle or are responsible for a large fleet you must arrange for the collection and disposal of effluent to prevent pollution. It is illegal to discharge trade effluent into the environment or into drains without permission.”

Guidelines from The Environmental Agency outline the affects of surface run-off from vehicle cleaning. Pollutants such as detergents, suspended solids, grease and antifreeze are entering surface water drains; this is classed as pollution and could expose companies to fines and/or prosecution.

In order to prevent the risk of prosecution, companies must not allow trade effluent, run-off or cleaning chemicals to enter drains. It is a company’s responsibility to provide an appropriate way of containing and reducing the volume of water used. Recycling effluent and reusing the water is one environmental option for dealing with vehicle washing. Using washing equipment that has a collection and re-circulation process will usually require regular off-site removal of water which means that waste management licensing legislations will therefore apply. Washing equipment that re-uses water is more cost effective than using a nearby commercial wash facility but is still time consuming and potentially costly.

Richard sums up, ”The guidelines make reference to new technology that is a suitable alternative – that does not rely on the use of water to wash vehicles. For many companies involved in the fleet industry funds may not exist to put in place a water collection and removal system. Products like Permaclear’s, Pro”Dry”Clean Waterless Wash & Wax System may be the solution. Pro”Dry”Clean cleans and polishes vehicles without the use of water. It is an environmentally friendly product, as it leaves no detergent residue or dirt to run into the drains. Pro“Dry”Clean can be used anywhere and at any time, quickly and easily. It cleans, shines and protects all elements of a vehicle including bodywork, glass, wheels and trim. It can be used anywhere and is ideal for a quick clean – even when vehicles are away from the depot/office.

For further product information and bulk purchases, contact Richard Barker on 07803 608080.

Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham

Labels: car washing, environmental agency, Fleet, Hose pipe ban; car wash; drought; Pro "Dry" Clean; Waterless, Permaclear, trade effluent

Derbyshire-based flooring specialist Granwax has launched a new floor finish under their ‘Total’ brand. Granwax Total Plus is the ideal finish for many domestic and commercial environments, including hard or soft woods and pre-finished wooden floors. The treatments of cork and pine floors are especially successful due to the highly flexible nature of the finish.
Wooden floors can transform the look and feel of a room, and are a very practical choice for many environments. Easy to clean and maintain, it’s no wonder wooden floors have increased in popularity over the years. But to maintain the wow factor, choosing a good floor finish is essential.

Formulated by Granwax for versatility, ease of use as well as appearance, Total Plus delivers superior performance in a range of applications. Easy to use and with fast drying time, Plus finish offers exceptional performance, as well as outstanding style. Due to the highly flexible properties of the finish, Plus offers excellent durability qualities to minimise the risk of damage to the floor. The low-odour, and fast drying properties of Total Plus mean application is quick and easy and recoating time is minimal.

Not only highly resilient, Plus is also UV stable meaning no yellowing will occur with age, so floors will stay pristine regardless of age and exposure to sunlight. It’s chemical resistant properties and high durability mean Plus finish will look immaculate for longer.

Carl Blythe, Granwax Director remarked “We developed Total Plus specifically to be easy to apply, to perform exceptionally and crucially, to look great. The finish provides superb colour enhancements to enrich the natural beauty of the wooden floor. Plus can be used in a range of environments, both residential and commercial, due to the highly versatile nature of the finish, without compromising the look of the floor”.

All Granwax products are NMP-free and all water-based finishes have very low VOC levels of less than 90 grams per litre, making them safe for use in confined areas as well as meeting the EU air quality legislation regarding VOC’s, meaning you can be sure that Granwax Total Plus provides the highest standard of safety

Granwax Total Plus comes in a gloss, silk and satin finishes and is available in 5 litre packs from selected hardware stores and distributors.

Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham

Labels: Floor FInish, Granwax, Wooden flooring

Exide Technologies (CMP Batteries Ltd) will be demonstrating the wide range of their product portfolio on their stand, number 19L120, at IMHX, with the focus on the strength afforded to their UK customers. Exide is the only manufacturer of both batteries and chargers, ensuring the products are matched correctly and thereby extending the life expectancy whilst helping customers achieve maximum efficiency.

Exide are keen to show how their products can save money as well as helping to reduce CO² output. Using high frequency chargers, for example, can reduce power consumption by 11% which equates to a whole life cost saving of around 10% over a 5 year period, as well as offering other operational advantages such as reduced charging times and extended life.

On display will be state of the art lithium ion batteries from Exide’s new division, ReStore Energy Systems, which has been launched to concentrate on renewable energy as well as the lithium ion product. ReStore is currently focussing on supporting motive power customers by developing the lithium ion product into this particular market.

Nigel Darke, Business Director at Exide’s Industrial Energy Division, commented “Lead acid has been the cornerstone of the motive power battery market for over a century and is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future thanks to its deep discharge capabilities. Lithium ion has recently been adopted by other transport sectors such as electric cars. Our Onyx lithium ion batteries are lightweight and offer large capacities and are already powering underwater autonomous vehicles and robotic equipment. The weight of lead acid batteries has particular benefits for counterbalanced trucks but Exide’s R&D centres are continually investing in new technologies and extending existing technologies into new sectors so this product could be on a Warehouse Managers’ shopping list in the near future.”

The theme of the stand is Energy from Exide and the company will be showing that they can provide power for ALL applications, not only motive power but also standby power and renewable energy applications, as well as covering transportation with their diesel starting batteries. In fact any power requirements which a typical Distribution Centre Manager may have can be provided.

Exide also specialises in niche products such as flame retardant batteries for potentially flammable applications and Copper Stretched Metal (CSM) specifically developed for very narrow aisle (VNA) use.

Visitors to the stand can also learn about the recently launched Powergap rental scheme which can help when the size of the battery fleet needs to be increased at certain times of the year, such as the run up to Christmas.

The stand will also feature Exide’s in-house service which gives national coverage and responds quickly and efficiently to customers’ needs which, together with their proven capability, combine to give customers a competitive advantage.

Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham

Labels: Exide Technologies, Power Gap; Materials handling; Battery

The time has now come to upgrade conventional incandescent bulbs for drivers of HGVs and vans according to the Operations Director of HGV Direct – the truck parts supplier. “The price of LED units has come down massively over the last few years. In addition to improved visibility, there are particular benefits for drivers of HGVs and trailers to replace the entire unit for one with LEDs” says Chris Knowles.

Chris continues, “Not only are Light Emitting Diodes far more energy efficient than ordinary bulbs, in which the majority of energy is wasted as heat, but the main advantage for drivers of HGVs is how robust they are. The filaments in incandescent bulbs are very fragile. It only takes a pothole or speed bump to blow a bulb. The average life of a bulb is 1,000 hours, but in practice can blow as soon as they are replaced. LEDs are designed to last 100,000 hours and saving a direct impact are unlikely to fail. And even if one does, because they are in a series, then it does not affect the performance of the total unit. Although the cost of incandescent bulbs is very cheap, with typical labour rates of £30 per hour, the real cost of replacement is much higher. When you consider possible lost revenue from downtime, then the economics are glaringly clear – the additional purchase cost is likely to be recovered within 6 months for most HGV drivers and even quicker for vehicles that regularly travel off road – like quarries.”

Although LEDs are not available to be used as the main headlight, every other set of lights on an HGV and trailer can use LEDs. Chris sums up, “LEDs are instant on/off whereas incandescent bulbs take time to glow up/down. Also, if a driver were to mistakenly leave the lights on for an extended period, there is a very real danger of flattening the battery. Leaving LEDs on during a long break will have no detrimental effect when coming to start the vehicle. Another advantage is that they drastically reduce the likelihood of traffic violations and PG 9s. With a typical 'cheeseburger' rear light/indicator LED unit costing just £24.50, it really is an investment worth making.”

Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham

Labels: bulbs, Heavy goods vehicle, LED, trailer parts, truck parts, vehicle visibility

Granwax Flooring has announced Rhino 2K as part of its ‘Total’ product relaunch. Rhino 2K gives the perfect finish for all wood floors subject to heavy wear. Ideal for schools, leisure centres, museums and retail outlets, Rhino 2k works brilliantly on wood block, strip and parquet flooring on both new and refurbished floors.

Heavy traffic can wear down the finish of a floor quickly, leaving the wood looking unsightly and susceptible to damage. Rhino 2k has a two-part system that ensures a beautiful finish with extremely high durability. Rhino 2K’s ‘duro-elastic’ technology ensures excellent abrasion resistance and wear qualities, as well as superb flexibility to minimise the risk of panellisation. Once fully cured the finish is also chemical resistant, meaning the floor should remain in pristine condition whatever gets thrown at it.

Hard wearing, but with a range of beautiful finishes, Rhino 2K delivers on both practicality and aesthetic quality. Not only highly durable, Rhino 2K’s finish is also UV stable so no yellowing will occur with age and exposure to sunlight, meaning the floor will look pristine for longer. Rhino 2K is self-priming, making it quick and easy to apply, without the need for a primer. The water based polyurethane solution is also fast drying, allowing light traffic after just a 12 hour drying period.

Granwax has almost a century of flooring experience and are committed to developing their products whilst reducing their impact on the environment. Using renewable resources to base many of their products on, Granwax also look to use as few harmful substances as possible, whilst still delivering on quality.

Rhino 2K comes in Silk, Matt and Ultramatt finishes and are available in 5 litre packs from selected hardware stores and distributors.

Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham

Labels: Durability, Floor FInish, Granwax, Wooden flooring

Had an amazing time at this year’s music festivals? Plenty of sunshine, camp fires and the odd mud fight will have left you with a summer full of great memories - good music and great times with friends! But now it’s time to clean that smelly pile of camping gear you’ve been avoiding, otherwise next year’s festival might see you in the damp, mouldy tent in the corner of the field. Try some of these handy tips to keep your camping gear fresh and clean for next year!

Start with your tent, as it is probably the most vital piece of camping equipment at a festival! If your tent has been put away when it is damp and dirty, this can create a breeding ground for mould and rot, and left long enough means your tent may be damaged beyond repair. To ensure your tent is usable for the festival, pull out all the components and check for any damage, missing parts or bad smells. To get rid of any mould or mildew residue, gently brush off any excess dirt, then wipe clean using a soft bristled brush and mild solution of Liquid Soap Flakes and warm water. Leave to dry in a well ventilated area out of direct sunlight. You may want to consider using a water-proofing product for the flysheet.

Next to tackle is that smelly sleeping bag - start by simply giving it a wash! For synthetic sleeping bags, clean in the washing machine on a gentle wash with a small measure of Liquid Soap Flakes. If you have a downs sleeping bag, lay the bag in a bath of lukewarm water and Liquid Soap Flakes and gently squeeze the soap solution throughout. Do not twist or wring the sleeping bag as this may damage the downs. Refill the bath at least three times, each time gently squeezing the clean water through the bag until the water runs clear. Dry the sleeping bag flat on the ground until partially dried and then hang outside until it is dry throughout.

Once your equipment is clean and packed up in preparation for the festival, half fill two clean socks with bicarbonate of soda and knot them at the top. Place these inside the tent and sleeping bag and then fold away as normal. The Bicarbonate of Soda will prevent odours from building up, and leave it smelling clean and fresh. So all you’ll have to worry about when you get to the festival, is having a good time!

Liquid Soap Flakes are ideal for cleaning outdoor equipment as they remove dirt and grime without damaging waterproof coatings, unlike detergent cleaners and washing powders. Liquid Soap Flakes and Bicarbonate of Soda are produced by Dri-Pak and are widely available from independent hardware stores and supermarkets, including Tesco and Waitrose. For further information and cleaning tips around the home visit www.dri-pak.co.uk

Public Relations by Freestyle PR - part of Freestyle Marketing Nottingham

Labels: cleaning, Dri-Pak, Festivals, Liquid Soap Flakes, Sleeping bag, tent