Clean sweep with new hotwash machine

The Royal Borough is turning up the heat on street cleaning with the official launch this week of its new hotwash machine which will tackle pavement cleaning in the town centres and residential areas.

The machine – liveried with the council's distinctive Cleaner, Greener, Safer logo – will supplement the annual deep-clean of borough streets already carried out by contractors with a regular cleaning programme to tackle hotspots around shops, litter bins and bus shelters as well as flyposter removal. 

A special attachment for cleaning pavements without splashing, the machine can also remove chewing gum.

The machine operates by delivering heated water at high pressure to a special cleaning head for deep cleaning of floors and walls.  Unlike some cleaning machines it does not use chemicals or detergents.

Cllr Colin Rayner, lead member for highways, transport and environment, said: "We are totally committed to keeping our streets as clean and tidy as possible, both from environmental and health and safety standpoints. 

"We already carry out a very thorough deep clean once a year in the town centres, but we are now introducing a regular programme to tackle certain hotspots including shopping areas in other parts of the borough.

"One of the first areas we will be tackling is Boots Passage in Windsor – but if anyone thinks there are other areas in need of this type of cleaning we would urge them to let us know.

"It is important that we make our streets both safe and clean for residents and visitors alike, and we hope that this machine will help us achieve the pleasant environment we aim to provide for everyone who lives in and visits our borough. We have a zero policy on dirt and litter!"