ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A film depicting an employee at a Hong Kong bakery using a mop and bucket to clean the bread shelves has gone viral and resulted in the staff member's resignation.

A local resident witnessed the incident at the Tsz Wan Shan bakery and shared a photo online, adding the caption: "I wouldn't dare to buy from here again."

The photo attracted numerous comments and sparked disgust and criticism of the bakery's hygiene practices. While it was unclear as to whether or not the cleaning equipment had been designated specifically for the bread shelves, mops are generally held to be used for floor cleaning.

Following the incident the bakery has issued an apology and stated that the employee involved had resigned. Meanwhile, local residents noted that the business had suspended operations for a day and arranged for a staff member to thoroughly clean the bread shelves with a cloth.

The availability of technology and the trend for sharing online has left no hiding place for errant cleaners. In November 2024, A cleaner at a five-star hotel in Crete was caught on camera rummaging through a British family's belongings and drinking from their bottle of Sprite.

Holidaymaker Tommy Hudson had brought a camera along after reading traveller reviews claiming that items had disappeared from their own rooms at the five-star hotel.

And in 2023, a cleaner at a Benidorm hotel was caught stealing perfume and cigarettes from a couple who had set up their laptop up to record. Holidaymakers Alastair and Sue Conner laid the trap for the cleaner after noticing items going missing from their room.