ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

Further to reports last month that the London Underground is a "hotbed of bacteria" where nine of the world's most dangerous superbugs are flourishing, the network is to be deep-cleaned every night this summer.

The move is part of air quality improvement measures announced by Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. The intensified cleaning regime is designed to reduce commuters' exposure to dust and particles.

Researchers from London Metropolitan University had tested the hand rails, seats and walls of tube trains across the capital in order to assess their cleanliness. They found a total of 121 different types of bacteria and moulds including Staphylococcus Aureus, E.coli and the highly dangerous Klebsiella Pneumoniae.

Around 50 Tube stations will be cleaned each night with magnetic wands and industrial vacuum cleaners used to remove dust, oil, grease and metal particles.