3 replies to this topic

[pmk2060]

We are looking at improving our shoes cleaning facilities and would be very grateful for your help / ideas.

We produce bakery products and use a large amount of sultanas / glace cherries which adhere to the soles of the shoes.

We currently clean the factory shoes using a water fed handheld boot brush with a fixed nylon brush for cleaning the soles of the shoe. We do not like the current set up because water always ends up inside the shoes and the boot wash is perfect for harbouring bacteria.

Does anybody have any suggestions for how we can improve on this set up?

[psunjka]

Have you tried rubber boots? They are much easier to clean and maintain. Or over-boots like these:
http://www.gemplers....shoes-Plain-Toe
we are using them in our Ready-To-Eat area.

[Sunny in OKC]

Does anybody have any suggestions for how we can improve on this set up?

It has been some time since you posted, and you may have already found an answer, but I found this boot washer to be of sound design.
http://www.cmpsoluti...ole-washer.html

Unfortunately, I cannot attest to it's effectiveness, as we have opted for the more cost effective (read as "cheap") bucket and brush method.

Only slightly off topic, I am looking into footbath options, or rather options to eliminate customer requirements of footbaths. I have searched this forum for footbath solutions in a dry product environment. Reviewing the options, I simply do not think that a footbath, or any wet boot sanitizer, is a practical solution for our facility, and don't feel the dry solutions offered would be effective in our circumstances. We do have disposable booties that are placed over the boot prior to entering our only high risk area.

As we do not have a regulatory requirement for footbaths, my hope is to bypass customer objections by showing that footbaths simply are not warranted. I hope to show this through an extensive initial testing of boots and traffic areas for the two main pathogens of concern- Listeria and Salmonella - followed by quarterly retest of much smaller proportions, as long as no issue is found. (Of course, IF issue IS found, this whole line of thinking is blown out of the water. Then, I'm back in the market for a footbath AND testing like a maniac to find the source!) If anyone on here can point out some flaws with this line of thinking, I may be able to adjust my plan before putting it into action. Is there any other testing you would recommend that might help make my case? How can I strengthen my argument?

[rosstaylor2440]

Rubber shoes will be the best option as per my opinion, Or have to find out better method for the cleaning the shoes properly as well as without damaging shoes by the frequently washing or cleaning.-