The owner of a Bristol cleaning company has taken on the role of disinfecting cashpoints for free – in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Neil Marsh, who owns Cleansec, has been getting up at 4am each morning to clean dozens of cashpoints in Bristol and Weston-super-Mare in a bid to stop the virus spreading.
Neil, 42, uses Dettol antibacterial spray and kitchen roll to clean the cashpoints, cleaning up to 40 across Bristol in one session.
He struck on the idea after seeing his workload fall due to the strict Government guidelines in force during the UK wide lockdown.
As well as cleaning the cashpoints, Neil has also been offering a free service to shops which are still open, cleaning their door fronts, frames and handles in a bid to limit transmission of the virus.
He carries out the cleaning in between visiting clients which are still open, such as churches used as foodbanks and nurseries caring for children of key workers.
“I just wanted to do my bit,” said Neil, who set up Cleansec four years ago.
“Due to the lockdown my workload isn’t as heavy as it used to be.
“So I have been going out in between my clients to do the extra cleaning free of charge.
“I get up at 4am or 5am and go and do the cashpoints before anyone is out on the streets.
“I noticed that there are a lot of older people still using cashpoints as many don’t like to use the chip and pins with their cards.”
Although Neil, who works with commercial and domestic clients, is focusing his cashpoint work in Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, he is hoping to expand into other areas including Nailsea, Clevedon and Portishead.
He was also cleaning parking meters but has put that on hold for now due to the lockdown and as councils across the region drop charging during the outbreak for key workers.
“It’s a way of me saying thank you to the clients which are in these areas which have supported my business,” he said.
“And if what I am doing helps limit the spread of the virus I am happy.
“It also gives a little reassurance to those people using the shops and the cashpoints.”
