Now that is a challenge

During an average Saturday afternoon, I find myself in the drinks section of a well-known supermarket chain. Little did I know that I would be drawn into what I found to be a slightly old fashioned and dare I say it dangerous way to clear up a spill.

Firstly I’ll set the scene; Saturday afternoon (obviously busy) amateur trolley drivers everywhere. Small children screaming about sweets and wanting the most outrageous Halloween costume possible for a 5 year old, a replication of the Scream movie mask where the character in question chases his victims, normally in the dark and stabs them! Not exactly a pumpkin outfit! An unsuspecting male shopper receives a friendly nudge by a total novice trolley driver and whoosh out of his hand flies a bottle of wine. Now a few events unfold, the male bottle-dropper has a quick look round to see if anyone has noticed, then debates whether to leave the spill to get help, realising the hazard he waits until a staff member can be located, that staff member asks the gentlemen to wait while he gets the cleaning equipment and can start the clean-up operation.   Yes I watched, yes I timed it, why you may ask? Because this example can be linked to the most hazardous spill scenario, a spill where people are involved. So I thought I would set myself a little challenge. With all my knowledge of liquid spills could I beat the spotty supermarket shelf stackers’ time and more importantly what did I do that he did not.

Here is a series of photographs showing the event, I shall demonstrate the same spill situation but with new techniques to show how it hopefully should be done, compare times and discuss why new technology should be embraced.

Smashing a bottle of wine is actually a difficult operation particularly if you are trying to keep the spilt fluids radius to a minimum to demonstrate a similar clean up.
So what was wrong with the clean up at the supermarket chain?

• No caution sign.
• Area was not sectioned off.
• Clean up with a mop does not leave the surface dry.
• By leaving a caution wet floor sign up you are simply acknowledging a hazard not solving it.
• The smashed glass remains in both the mop and the bucket, which could prove dangerous.
• Does not seem the most hygienic was of cleaning, mops harbour bacteria.

Using Spill-Aid, a non selective granular absorbent the spill could have been cleaned up faster & left the surface completely dry with the added benefit that all of the waste could be put straight in the bin.  Spill-Aid dramatically absorbs all liquids* and semi liquids of any viscosity from any surface, leaving the surface clean & dry instantly and safe to walk on. Totally inert, environmentally friendly with no ill effects on humans, animals, soil, plants, tiles, cement or asphalt amkes Spill-Aid the most remarkably safe product on the market today.


A mop is not a solution to cleaning up a spill, you can never get the surface dry, no matter how hard you try, which has to be the most important thing when people/public are nearby, 1 make the area safe, 2 clean up the spill as quickly as possible leaving the floor dry. With a mop you always have to wait for the surface to dry, so for example in a chilled food isle this may take a while due to the low room temperature.

So in short if you spill a variety of liquids the easiest fastest and safest way to clean it up no matter what the viscosity is, use Spill-Aid.
So below is the video of me clearing up a bottle of wine my time 2min 20sec, the supermarket shelf stacker - over 6mins and the surface was not left dry.