Is mud and debris from dirty shoes and boots driving you mad? Don’t worry, Stainless Steel Manufacturing & Equipment Ltd can help.

We understand how much of a nuisance muddy boots can be – especially in hygiene conscious environments – and that’s why we supply a selection of boot wash stations to suit the requirements of food and pharmaceutical companies across the length and breadth of the country.

Every boot washer is manufactured in-house to an exceptionally high standard and will keep those mucky shoes and work boots from messing up your site cabin, cleanroom, production or processing plant. It will also speed up the process of workers entering and leaving hygiene critical areas. However, there are a number of options to choose from, and knowing which is right for your industry can be easier said than done.

So, to help you make an informed choice, we thought we’d share a little more information about the different types of boot wash station available and offer a few useful tips for buying one.

Types of boot wash stations

A boot wash station will reduce the amount of dirt that is picked up and brought inside, protecting your workforce against accidental slips, trips and falls. And, here at SSME, we provide two kinds:

• Manual boot wash – as you’d expect, this allows you to scrub your muddy footwear by hand. Instead of bending down, untying your laces and removing your shoes or boots, the manual boot washer has a foot-operated valve on the underside of the unit. That means, you simply place your foot on the base brush to dislodge any foreign objects or contaminants from the sole and use the water-fed handheld brush to wash the top and sides.
• Automatic boot wash – both quick and easy to use, the automatic wash station is a safer alternative and will scrub and sanitise the tops, sides and soles of dirty footwear – saving you the time, effort and mess of cleaning them manually. These units control the dosing of detergent and water to ensure a thorough clean, meaning all you need to do is put your foot into the boot wash and push the button. The brushes will then begin to rotate and tackle dirt and debris.

Alternatively, you might be interested in an automatic sole washer. These offer a more compact and cost-effective solution for cleaning the soles of footwear and can be sold individually or as a complete sanitising unit with a turnstile. The latter are typically positioned in the corridors so that workers are obliged to pass over them and clean their boots or shoes on entry and exit.

Top 3 factors to consider when buying a boot wash station

1. Space

Before you rush into choosing a boot washer, you need to think about how much room is available and where exactly the unit will go.

In most cases, these stations are positioned at entrances and exits or sometimes in access corridors. However, some are more compact than others. Typically, manual boot washing stations are the most flexible and can easily fit in the smallest of gaps without going unnoticed by staff members, whereas their automatic counterparts tend to require more space.

1. Size of workforce

As well as available space, it’s worth considering how many people will be using the boot wash station.

Here at SSME, we supply manual boot washers in 1-4 stations – perfect for small to medium-sized businesses – allowing up to 4 members of staff to clean their footwear at the same time. But, because users are washing their boots manually, it can take longer than the automatic stations. While these only allow 1 person to sanitise their footwear, they do so in a way that is quick and effective – speeding the process up for all.

1. Budget

Everyone would love the luxury of an automatic boot washer for their industrial setting, but it’s not necessarily the most feasible option.

The best thing to do is set yourself a realistic budget and assess the available options. If you’re after a tailored solution for your hygienic environment, we highly advise you get in touch with our team to discuss your requirements in more detail. This way, we can offer a no-obligation quote.

And remember, if you’re spoilt for choice or would appreciate an expert opinion on which boot wash station suits your needs best, we’d love to hear from you. Simply give us a call on 0121 661 6346 or email sales@ssmeltd.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you.