How to Efficiently Clean a Medical Facility in 5 Steps

March 19th, 2010

If there is a space that must be kept spotless clean 24/7, it is a medical or dental office.  Its cleanliness is vital to ensure the safety and comfort of the patients and the personnel.

Many medical practices decide to hire professional commercial cleaning services to take care of their daily cleaning needs; nevertheless, there are strict guidelines that must be followed by the medical staff in between patients and at the end of the day to ensure no one is at risk of injury or illness.

Among these guidelines we can name the appropriate cleaning and sanitation methods demanded for dental and medical offices established by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), as well as any personal preferences that may exist in regards to office cleaning.

In order to ensure a medical facility is completely safe and comfortable for the patients and medical staff, follow these 5 cleaning steps:

1.Replace used linens, towels, and patient gowns immediately after each patient is dismissed.  Put the dirty ones in laundry bags or the laundry area.  Empty the trashcans, and wipe all of them with a disinfectant cleaner.  Change the bags in every trashcan.

2.Gather all the used instruments and put them in an established location for sterilization or processing.  Make sure every instrument and tool for patient care is taken away from patient rooms and care areas before the next patient arrives.

3.Wipe all the surfaces with an accepted disinfectant cleaner.  This includes countertops, chairs, desk areas, patient tables, door handles and knobs, and any other surface that may have been touched, held, or could have come in contact with body fluids.

4.Clean all the equipment for patient care.  This is, dental and medical tools, procedure equipment, blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, and any other portable equipment; these should be wiped with a disinfectant as they are used during the day.

5.Tidy up the office waiting area.  Make sure the trashcan is taken away, organize and disinfect magazines and other reading materials, and clean the chairs, table surfaces, and desk areas with an accepted disinfectant cleaner.  Get rid of any garbage on the floor and vacuum or sweep the floors as much as needed.

Remember to always wear gloves and other personal protection equipment, like a gown, cap or mask, as you could come in contact with blood or other body fluids during cleaning.

Last, but not least, disinfect any toys that remain in the medical facility regularly with an accepted disinfectant, and let them air dry completely.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).

Did You Know? Plants Can Help Clean the Air in Your Office

March 17th, 2010

There are many health risks related to office spaces that are closed up, with sealed windows, maximum insulation, and no circulation of fresh air.

Several dangerous pollutants like formaldehyde, black mold, radon, carbon monoxide, and other gases, can build up inside closed areas. However, NASA has discovered that there are 15 plants that can help purify the air within a building of 1,800 square feet.

In the study conducted by NASA, several gases and contaminants were placed inside Plexiglas chambers in the company of different plants to see how effectively these plants would clean the air.  Among the plants that got rid of up to 90% of the formaldehyde present in the environment were aloe, the snake plant, the golden pothos, and the philodendron.  These are most certainly good plants to help you purify the air in your office.

When the plants were tested against benzene, the champions were the peace lily, the English ivy, the dracaena, and the gerbera daisy, which removed up to 80% of this contaminant, and they proved very effective in dealing with carbon monoxide and other pollutants too.  For example, these cut the trichloroethene levels in half, an unstable organic chemical that is present in office cleaning products, glues and paints, and that gets in the air through evaporation.

Among the most popular plants to clean the air are the ficus, the spider plant, the rubber plant, and the Boston fern.  There are also several palms on the list: the areca palm, the bamboo palm, the dwarf date palm, the reed palm, and the prayer palm.  The Chinese evergreen that grows in dark rooms is another favorite, and among the flowering plants that get the job done we can find the Christmas cactus and the chrysanthemum, which will add color to the environment while they help clean it.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).

Did You Know? Plants Can Help Clean the Air in Your OfficeThere are many health risks related to office spaces that are closed up, with sealed windows, maximum insulation, and no circulation of fresh air.

Several dangerous pollutants like formaldehyde, black mold, radon, carbon monoxide, and other gases, can build up inside closed areas. However, NASA has discovered that there are 15 plants that can help purify the air within a building of 1,800 square feet.

In the study conducted by NASA, several gases and contaminants were placed inside Plexiglas chambers in the company of different plants to see how effectively these plants would clean the air.  Among the plants that got rid of up to 90% of the formaldehyde present in the environment were aloe, the snake plant, the golden pothos, and the philodendron.  These are most certainly good plants to help you purify the air in your office.

When the plants were tested against benzene, the champions were the peace lily, the English ivy, the dracaena, and the gerbera daisy, which removed up to 80% of this contaminant, and they proved very effective in dealing with carbon monoxide and other pollutants too.  For example, these cut the trichloroethene levels in half, an unstable organic chemical that is present in office cleaning products, glues and paints, and that gets in the air through evaporation.

Among the most popular plants to clean the air are the ficus, the spider plant, the rubber plant, and the Boston fern.  There are also several palms on the list: the areca palm, the bamboo palm, the dwarf date palm, the reed palm, and the prayer palm.  The Chinese evergreen that grows in dark rooms is another favorite, and among the flowering plants that get the job done we can find the Christmas cactus and the chrysanthemum, which will add color to the environment while they help clean it.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).There are many health risks related to office spaces that are closed up, with sealed windows, maximum insulation, and no circulation of fresh air.

Several dangerous pollutants like formaldehyde, black mold, radon, carbon monoxide, and other gases, can build up inside closed areas. However, NASA has discovered that there are 15 plants that can help purify the air within a building of 1,800 square feet.

In the study conducted by NASA, several gases and contaminants were placed inside Plexiglas chambers in the company of different plants to see how effectively these plants would clean the air.  Among the plants that got rid of up to 90% of the formaldehyde present in the environment were aloe, the snake plant, the golden pothos, and the philodendron.  These are most certainly good plants to help you purify the air in your office.

When the plants were tested against benzene, the champions were the peace lily, the English ivy, the dracaena, and the gerbera daisy, which removed up to 80% of this contaminant, and they proved very effective in dealing with carbon monoxide and other pollutants too.  For example, these cut the trichloroethene levels in half, an unstable organic chemical that is present in office cleaning products, glues and paints, and that gets in the air through evaporation.

Among the most popular plants to clean the air are the ficus, the spider plant, the rubber plant, and the Boston fern.  There are also several palms on the list: the areca palm, the bamboo palm, the dwarf date palm, the reed palm, and the prayer palm.  The Chinese evergreen that grows in dark rooms is another favorite, and among the flowering plants that get the job done we can find the Christmas cactus and the chrysanthemum, which will add color to the environment while they help clean it.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).There are many health risks related to office spaces that are closed up, with sealed windows, maximum insulation, and no circulation of fresh air.

Several dangerous pollutants like formaldehyde, black mold, radon, carbon monoxide, and other gases, can build up inside closed areas. However, NASA has discovered that there are 15 plants that can help purify the air within a building of 1,800 square feet.

In the study conducted by NASA, several gases and contaminants were placed inside Plexiglas chambers in the company of different plants to see how effectively these plants would clean the air.  Among the plants that got rid of up to 90% of the formaldehyde present in the environment were aloe, the snake plant, the golden pothos, and the philodendron.  These are most certainly good plants to help you purify the air in your office.

When the plants were tested against benzene, the champions were the peace lily, the English ivy, the dracaena, and the gerbera daisy, which removed up to 80% of this contaminant, and they proved very effective in dealing with carbon monoxide and other pollutants too.  For example, these cut the trichloroethene levels in half, an unstable organic chemical that is present in office cleaning products, glues and paints, and that gets in the air through evaporation.

Among the most popular plants to clean the air are the ficus, the spider plant, the rubber plant, and the Boston fern.  There are also several palms on the list: the areca palm, the bamboo palm, the dwarf date palm, the reed palm, and the prayer palm.  The Chinese evergreen that grows in dark rooms is another favorite, and among the flowering plants that get the job done we can find the Christmas cactus and the chrysanthemum, which will add color to the environment while they help clean it.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).There are many health risks related to office spaces that are closed up, with sealed windows, maximum insulation, and no circulation of fresh air.

Several dangerous pollutants like formaldehyde, black mold, radon, carbon monoxide, and other gases, can build up inside closed areas. However, NASA has discovered that there are 15 plants that can help purify the air within a building of 1,800 square feet.

In the study conducted by NASA, several gases and contaminants were placed inside Plexiglas chambers in the company of different plants to see how effectively these plants would clean the air.  Among the plants that got rid of up to 90% of the formaldehyde present in the environment were aloe, the snake plant, the golden pothos, and the philodendron.  These are most certainly good plants to help you purify the air in your office.

When the plants were tested against benzene, the champions were the peace lily, the English ivy, the dracaena, and the gerbera daisy, which removed up to 80% of this contaminant, and they proved very effective in dealing with carbon monoxide and other pollutants too.  For example, these cut the trichloroethene levels in half, an unstable organic chemical that is present in office cleaning products, glues and paints, and that gets in the air through evaporation.

Among the most popular plants to clean the air are the ficus, the spider plant, the rubber plant, and the Boston fern.  There are also several palms on the list: the areca palm, the bamboo palm, the dwarf date palm, the reed palm, and the prayer palm.  The Chinese evergreen that grows in dark rooms is another favorite, and among the flowering plants that get the job done we can find the Christmas cactus and the chrysanthemum, which will add color to the environment while they help clean it.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).

10 Precious Tips to Maintain Your Desk Clean and Organized

March 15th, 2010

“A cluttered desk is a sign of creativity and imagination”… this is the excuse many people give when faced with a mountain of papers, trinkets, and cups piled up on their work desks.  Truth be told, they are plain disorganized and lazy in regards to office cleaning.

When you start wasting time looking for things amid the chaos that your work desk has become, instead of investing that time in being creative and brilliant, you know it’s time to change something.

Miracles happen; even a messy person can maintain a clean and organized desk, and here we give you 10 precious tips to do just that:

1.    Create a system to manage paper
Most of the clutter on work desks is paper, thus, you have to find a place for everything:

•An inbox, a simple stackable letter tray where you can put the documents that can’t be filed yet, perhaps memos, printouts, or other random papers placed on your desk by other people.

•An incubate box, a letter tray located above your inbox one to put things that are “on hold”.  These relate to things that are not yet completed like articles you plan to read, sketches for a potential project, or information about an upcoming event.

•An action and follow-up file, an A-Z accordion file works perfect.  In it, you will put papers that require an action that will take you more than two minutes like forms to fill out, or documents you must review.

•A current projects holder, a file holder or box to put your active projects’ folders.  There should be one folder per project.

•A filing cabinet, to put completed projects, reference items, or any other material that you may be using in the future.  Employ simple flat folders labeled from A-Z to stack your information.

•Dump boxes, namely, a trashcan, recycling bin and shredder.  Get rid of everything you no longer need, in the best way possible.

Now, you need the POR system to clean your desk: Process. Organize. Review.

•Process: Put all the papers on your desk in the inbox, check each file, and ask yourself if you can act on it.  If you can:

-Do it, if it will take you less than two minutes.
-Delegate it, if you are not the right person to take care of it.
-Defer it, if it takes longer than two minutes, put it in your action and follow-up file, or in your projects’ file if it has to do with a project.

•Organize: If you don’t have to act on the file:

-If it is not needed, trash it, recycle it or shred it.
-Put it in the incubate box until you are ready to deal with it.
-File it in your filing cabinet for future reference.

•Review: Set up reviews for you to process your inbox and to organize your files:

-Daily, go through your inbox at least twice during the day, it must be empty by the end of the day to start again tomorrow.
-Weekly, at the end of the week, move the completed projects to your filing cabinet, check your incubate box and see what you are ready to tackle, and dispose of what you have put into the recycling bin.
-Monthly, at the end of the month, check your filing cabinet and clean it from files you won’t be using again.

2.Get rid of Post-it notes
These get lost easily and look ugly.  Use a notebook to write down reminder notes instead.

3.Trash any printouts
Do not keep printouts after you have completed the task related to them.  You should already have a hard copy.

4.Have blank folders and a marker in your desk
You won’t be filing anything if you don’t have things handy.

5.Schedule your reviews
Set a time to clean your desk at the end of every day.  It will become a habit fast.

6.Get rid of pens
Just keep two pens, no need for more.

7.Do not accept promotional items
This includes cheap pens, magazines, brochures, postcards, or anything else that will clutter your desk. Just say no.

8.Keep books at home
If there are books you don’t need regularly, keep them home.

9.Don’t eat at your desk
This only means more trash and dirt: paper bags, cups, utensils, crumbs, and stains.  Additionally, eating out lets you have a break from work.

10.Limit photo frames
You should have a picture of your loved ones at your desk, but don’t overdo it, it can only distract you and clutter your workspace.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).

Give Us 5 Minutes and Learn to Mop a Floor like a Pro

February 26th, 2010

Mopping the floor is one of those activities that everyone seems to know how to do, but in reality, very few people do correctly.  If you do not employ the right technique to mop, you will be creating a lot more work, and will even be promoting danger, for yourself.

Here we show you the right way to mop a floor, just like professional commercial cleaning services do:

-There are different sizes of mop heads, thus, select a weight that fits your body size.  If the mop is too heavy, you may hurt your back, because you will have to make a greater effort to move quickly and efficiently.

-Fill the mop bucket with 4 gallons of cold water, and add the cleaning product following the manufacturer’s directions.  Always chose a neutral pH floor cleaner to avoid damaging floor finishes.

-Before mopping, sweep or vacuum the floor.  If loose dirt is not removed before you mop, you will spread the soil around the floor when doing it, and this will create a mess.  Remove gum or stickers with a putty knife.

-Locate wet floor signs surrounding the areas you are mopping and their entrances.

-Begin mopping at the farthest corner of the room and move backwards in the direction of the door.  Always keep the mop bucket on the side of the floor that hasn’t been mopped yet and in a place where you won’t trip over it.

-Start the job by mopping along the baseboards to avoid splashing the walls or baseboard with the cleaning product.  Later, fill in the open areas.

-Never push the mop forward and backward, but from side to side forming an eight figure, and overlap each stroke as you move back and forth.  Maintain your back straight as you mop, never twist the spine, or else, you will strain it.  Use your arm muscles, not your back, to move the mop back and forth.

-Turn over the mop and use the other side when one side gets dirty.

-Rinse the mop in clean water and squeeze it to get as much liquid out as possible, but never force the wringer and don’t twist the head, because this will break the fibers.

-Change the water as many times as necessary.

-Once the floor is completely dry, put the wet floor signs away, and rinse out the mop head, the bucket, and the sink.  Store the mop correctly and safely, preferably hanging so that it can dry thoroughly and easily.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).

The 6 Secrets of Top Office Cleaning Services

February 25th, 2010

The average office cleaning worker normally is in such a hurry to finish the job that he or she sacrifices the quality of the work, or they are constantly struggling to clean everything up.  In the majority of cases this happens because they are not employing the right tools and products to get the job done, those that will do most of the work by themselves.

Here we present you the 6 secrets that top office cleaning services swear by, the ones that help them clean effectively and be the best at what they do, saving them and others precious time and energy:

1.    The secret of time
Lots of cleaning products demand time to work; if they are sprayed and immediately wiped they will not clean or disinfect appropriately.  Cleaning personnel must read the product’s instructions to find out how much time it needs to perform at its full capacity so that it easy for them to remove the dirt or bacteria from the surface.

2.    The secret of knowledge
Many times surfaces and objects don’t get cleaned properly because the cleaning staff is using the wrong chemical for the job.  For example, there are special products to get rid of grease accumulations. These break through the fat tackling the situation from the core, but if the cleaning personnel uses an all-purpose cleaner instead, they will have to work three times harder to get rid of the grease.

3.    The secret of shaking up
In some cases, the dirt is very much adhered to a surface, and in these cases, spraying and wiping is not enough.  The cleaning staff may need to work harder or use better tools to clean more efficiently; this is, to shake up the dirt so that it can be removed easily.  Sometimes, a slow speed floor machine works better than a hand.

4.    The secret of temperature
Some cleaning products require hot water to be effective while others need cold water.  Again, the staff must read the product’s instructions to find out the correct water temperature they should use.

5.    The secret of ventilation
In the case of carpets and floors, ventilation is key to ensure proper drying of the surface.  Without good drying, these surfaces could grow mold and mildew, creating very unhealthy conditions.

6.    The secret of soil removal
There are several cleaning tools that instead of removing soil spread it around, like feather dusters or vacuum cleaners without sealed bags or Hepa filters.  The removal of soil is crucial to clean effectively.

When hiring an office cleaning service, pay attention to the procedures they employ to clean.  Do they use professional tools and equipment?  Do they use the products guided by the labels on them?  If your answer is yes, you have found a cleaning gem, and you can trust it with your office cleaning completely.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).

The 6 Secrets of Top Office Cleaning Services

Why Hiring a Commercial Cleaning Company Can Help Protect Your Company’s Electronics

February 25th, 2010

When running and operating an office setting, one of the largest expenses you’re likely to have is buying and maintaining all the appropriate electronics.  Because computers, printers, copy machines, and fax machines can be quite expensive, especially if buying them in large quantities, it is absolutely essential to your business that your electronics stand the test of time, and don’t need to be readily replaced.  Because of this, it is very important to the overall bottom line of your business, that these electronics be properly maintained and cleaned regularly.  And one the best ways for your company to do this is by hiring a commercial cleaning service that specializes in office technology cleaning.

Your computers, copy machines, and office printers are important investments that need to be protected.  But oftentimes office equipment such as this can go unprotected for months to years at a time, damaging the equipment, giving it a much shorter life span.  Dust buildup overtime, can get into the equipments’ circuitry and cooling systems reducing their ability to work properly and keep from overheating.  This dust can also clog up the air inlets, and may result in an improper air flow, which can slow down or even break your equipment.

To prevent this, it is important that your company take all the necessary precautions to ensure that you’re not replacing your expensive office equipment every few years.  And the best way to do this is by hiring an outside commercial cleaning company that specializes in cleaning office equipment.  These companies will not only clean your office from top to bottom, but will also carefully clean each piece of office technology you may have, ensuring a proper life cycle for all your equipment.  This way, not only will you have a sparkling and well organized office space, but you will be saving your company thousands of dollars by properly caring for your office’s electronics.

A professional commercial cleaning service that specializes in cleaning office electronics will also be able to help you maintain your equipment so that it will stand the test of time.  One way to do this is to offer you advice on how to take better care of your office equipment.  Some advice they may give you is to try using covers on your keyboard, mouse and screen when you’re not using them.  This will prevent dust from getting into cracks and crevices, while reducing cleaning frequency.    They will also teach you the appropriate ways of cleaning computer screens and other sensitive equipment, so that it does not cause damage.

Try researching commercial cleaning companies in your area, ask them if they specialize in cleaning office electronics, and any other cleaning services they provide.  This way, not only will you have a clean and well organized professional office space, but you will not have to replace your costly office electronics every few years.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).

The Benefits of Hiring an Office Cleaning Service

February 24th, 2010

As we know, it can be quite a difficult task maintaining a business office, especially if your company does not have a professional office cleaning service of their own.  Cleaning the office can be a monotonous activity, especially if you have more important work that is being put off so you can take care of the necessary cleaning.  Today’s modern offices need sweeping, mopping, dusting, scrubbing everyday, and this can be an overwhelming task if it is not clearly defined and addressed.

Because employees will often resent it if they are forced to clean the office along with everyone else, then from a managerial standpoint, this will only lower employee morale and cause unneeded problems and conflict down the line.  If you are forcing your employees to address these cleaning issues, then it is not only taking them away from the job that your paying them to do, but oftentimes, the cleaning work done will be substandard at best.  For all of these reasons, many business owners decide that it would be best for their company to just hire an outside office cleaning company, who are professionals, and can do the job much easier than your employees, while cutting out all the unnecessary conflict associated with office cleaning.

The aim of using a professional office cleaning service is to make sure that your entire business premises, including offices, bathrooms, and hallway areas, are kept spotless and well organized at all times.  Because commercial cleaning services are a professional operation, they will most likely make use of the newest technologies and tools, to make offices as clean as humanly possible.  This not only saves your employees time and effort from doing the job themselves, but the end result will be a much cleaner and happier office.

Some professional office cleaning companies may offer additional services as well, including handyman services, superintendent services, and pest control.  This can save your company money because you won’t need to hire additional pest control or repair companies to fix any ongoing problems at your business office.  Professional office cleaners should take care of all cleaning responsibilities including sweeping, mopping, dusting, waxing, vacuuming, trash collection, polishing, sealing, and cleaning the carpets.  Some office cleaning companies may offer extra carpet care like washing and steaming of the carpets, for a little bit extra.

An office cleaning company will get your office looking the best it ever has, without all of the fallout of making your employees get their hands dirty.  A good commercial cleaning company will follow the appropriate office cleaning standards, while maintaining your facility, and restoring a professional image to your business.  It is recommended that you research the different companies in your area.  Before hiring an office cleaning agency, make sure to ask them for some references, so you can get some secondary feedback about their service.  Hiring an office cleaning company will not only help your business to maintain the kind of image it’s looking for, and can also boost employee morale at the same time.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).

The First Step towards a Truly Clean Office: A Safe, Clean and Organized Janitor Closet

February 22nd, 2010

A proficiently organized janitor closet is the first step to ensure your office is truly safe and clean.  Why?  Because places with important amounts of human traffic, like hospitals, apartment buildings, hospitals, and office complexes, depend on organized and efficient janitorial services to run smoothly, and this can only be accomplished if the cleaning supplies are in order and adequately stored.

Janitors’ closets are, in many cases, the neglected source of many chemical dangers and accidents.  A janitor closet must have more than enough room to hold all the cleaning equipment and products.  The size of the space will depend on the size of your office and its needs; however, there should be enough room for extra supplies and for the staff to move freely and safely around.

Every janitor closet must have a good place to put the ‘material safety data sheets’ (MSDS). These explain the correct use of every chemical, and the entire cleaning crew should know them by heart and must know where they are in case of an emergency.  In the same way, the cleaning staff must know how to dispose of dangerous products or materials. They should be trained for it, and it is your responsibility, as the hiring company’s owner or representative, to ensure the office cleaning services you hire are professionals in preventing accidents as much as they are for cleaning.

A well-equipped janitor closet must contain:

-The relevant MSDS sheets

-The appropriate labels for all bottles

-A list of emergency phone numbers

-First aid kit

-Extra supplies

-Protective equipment like goggles, gloves, and aprons

-A sink and tap with the right drainage

-Enough room to safely store the equipment and products

No one should neglect the janitor’s closet when checking safety and health aspects at the office.  If there’s room for everything, it is easier to store it and keep it clean, organized, and safe, and it is also easier to deal with an emergency in case there is one.

Janitor’ closets are a priority on the lists of health and safety inspectors.  They check that these comply with every health and safety regulation, like the MSDS sheets, the storage capability, type of ventilation, and proper work area for the staff.  Your company can save lots of money and prevent serious emergencies by complying with these simple guidelines.

But maybe the most important thing is that all the office cleaning personnel receive the right training and that they know where everything is in the janitor’s closet.  They must respect your company’s policies and standards as well as reinforce the good habits and safety procedures your business abides by.

The janitor’s closet may be the smallest room in your office’s building; however, it is most certainly not the least important.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.maintenance-one.com as the original source).

How to Confirm that Your Office Cleaning Company is Really Doing a Green Job

February 19th, 2010

There is a lot of value in an office cleaning company that promises and reinforces green cleaning.  However, one thing is promising, and a very different one is actually talking the talk and walking the walk.

Here is a list of the points you have to supervise in order to confirm that your office cleaning services are really green cleaners.  As you will see, the fact that you use commercial cleaning services does not mean you don’t have to keep an eye on the job being done:

1.    Check the office’s entrance
The entrance to an office is the place where most contamination settles, because everyone goes through there.  Office cleaners must be good at containing this pollution immediately, before it gets into the building.  The entrance and mats should be cleaned and vacuumed very frequently.

2.    Check if they reduce airborne particles and chemicals
How exactly do you do this?  It’s very easy. Check if the cleaners are using microfiber cleaning cloths; these trap the dust in the cloth and do not let it disperse, and they also reduce the need to use chemicals for cleaning.  If the cleaners use chemicals, see that they apply it to the cloth instead of spraying it on the surface that is being cleaned; this will ensure the chemicals are contained.

3.    Check if they use the right vacuums
The right vacuums are hepa vacuums, which reduce airborne particles.  The cleaners must empty and clean them frequently to ensure they work well.

4.    Check the products they use
A green office cleaning company will only use green cleaning products, and they will also be knowledgeable about chemical management systems to dilute the products correctly.

5.    Check that they follow the directions on cleaning chemicals and disinfectants
In order to do this, you have to read the directions yourself.  Most disinfectants need time to settle in order to work well, and every cleaner should follow the directions on how to properly and safely use every chemical.

6.    Check that that they use the right mops
These are the microfiber flat type, which grab and get rid of dirt instead of moving it around the place, like normal mops do.

7.    Check that they use effective methods to avoid cross contamination
For example, cleaning cloths organized by color: red to remove dust, yellow for toilets, blue for windows, etc.  They should also categorize mop buckets and handles by color to avoid mixing chemicals.

8.    Check if they use recycled products
Green cleaning services promote the use of recycled paper products on bathrooms and kitchens.

9.    Check if they have green cleaning training programs for their employees
The only way for an office cleaning company to go green is to teach their staff why it is important to be green.

Green cleaning, as much as green living, is not something you can impose on someone. It has to be understood in order to be accepted as a way of life, and a way of cleaning.

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No Air Fresheners at the Office Please!

February 19th, 2010

No one wants to be surrounded by foul odors all day, especially when you’re trying to get your work done, but beware of trying to mask those odors with commercial air fresheners!  There is plenty of doubt surfacing as to whether or not these perfumed culprits are actually quite harmful to our health.

If your office cleaning company uses natural green cleaning products, you should have no need for them in the workplace anyway, but many individuals like to have that little stick, or gel, or spray to chase away odors just in case.  If you’re one of those people, here is a bit of information on the downside of air fresheners and also some tips on keeping the air fresh naturally!

Many air fresheners on the market today contain chemicals known as phalates, which are suspected of causing cancer, birth defects and fertility problems.  Conclusive evidence has not been confirmed regarding the amount of exposure required before adverse affects take place, but as a precaution many countries have banned the use of phalates in some cosmetics and children’s toys.  This should tell us that being exposed to this dubious chemical is not a good thing, and might as well be avoided if possible until evidence is found to the contrary.  So, where does that leave us with our concerns about nasty odors in the office?  Well, the truth is, some simple answers can be found right under our noses!

Cleanliness, of course, is the first defense against odors.  As mentioned above, if you have hired a diligent and efficient cleaning company, your office should be free of odors anyway.  But for those not so pleasant smells that waft in from time to time, you can try these things:

_Open windows to bring a bit of fresh air if possible to eliminate a temporary odor from a burned lunch or food spill.

_Empty all trash containers daily or immediately if something is really smelly and shake a bit of baking soda into the bottom of the trash can as well

_If you have a garbage disposal, run a piece or two of lemon through the system every so often

_Heat a small dish of water and cinnamon in the microwave for a few minutes to eliminate odors both in the oven and the room

_If someone in the office has a green thumb, consider placing a few houseplants throughout the office.  Plants act as natural air purifiers and look pretty too!  There are also commercial companies that will provide and maintain plants for the workplace in the event that no green thumbs can be found!

_Consider putting a small personal air cleaner on your desk.  These can be found in a variety of sizes and price ranges and work quite well to keep small areas odor free.

_Zeolite crystals also help to eliminate stubborn odors that are sometimes hard to pinpoint.  These crystals are usually sold in a mesh pouch and can often be found in home, farm and hardware stores.  They absorb odors for a period of time and then can be refreshed by being placed in the sun for a time.

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4 Steps for Reducing Paper Clutter

February 17th, 2010

Waste removal is quite often a part of your office janitorial services, but reducing personal paper waste is something every individual can and should make a concentrated effort to achieve.  While there is nothing we can do about some documents that require filing and storing, there are many simple ways to work towards having as paper free a work environment as possible.  Here are 4 steps you can take to help reduce the paper clutter that has to be removed from your workplace.

1. Sort

The first step to reducing paper clutter is to decide exactly which documents must be kept and which are headed for the waste bin. At this stage you are determining the final destination for all the paper that collects in various spots around the office.

There will be papers that must be filed for keeping and need to be easily accessed if and when necessary, such as tax documents, legal agreements etc. These will go in a pile for filing. If you’re ever in doubt as to whether or not a document is needed for official purposes, always file it away.  Better to be safe than sorry, but don’t let it be an excuse to keep every piece of paper that crosses your desk!

Then there are those papers that should be kept for future reference but not for official purposes, such as advertising materials, brochures, business cards etc. and these will go in a pile for scanning.

And finally, there are those papers that have no further purpose and can be thrown away.  These will go in a pile for the shredder.  Now you’re ready to make those piles of paper disappear!

2. File
All documents in the “file pile” can now be filed away in appropriately labeled folders for quick access whenever necessary. Make it a habit to go through the filing cabinet at least once a year to determine if there are documents there that can be removed.

3. Scan
Investing in a good quality scanner for your computer is a must in order to reduce paper waste. Each of the documents in this “paper pile” can now be individually scanned into your computer and kept in a properly labeled folder on your desktop. You should also back up your scanned items on a memory stick or CD for safekeeping in case of a computer crash.  A hard copy can always be printed again if needed, and the document is readily available at the click of your mouse for reading, editing or reference.  Once scanned and electronically filed, these documents can now be moved to the shredder pile.

4. Shred
There are mobile shredding companies that will come to the workplace for shredding larger amounts of paperwork, bur individual paper shredders are inexpensive, easy to use, and will allow you to take care of paperwork yourself as you are finished with it.  Once shredded, the paper is off your desk, into the recycle bin, and gone from the office!

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Fabulous Tips to Keep Your Electronics Clean

December 22nd, 2009

Keeping your computer and other electronics clean not only helps to control the spread of the germs that can linger there, it also helps prolong the life and health of your electronic equipment.  Computer screens, keyboards, scanners, fax machines and computer towers are all magnets for dust and debris.  Even in a workplace that is kept clean by professional janitorial services, the necessity to keep electronics clean may be entirely up to the individual.  Here are some handy tips to remember to help keep your electronics in tip top shape.

For cordless phones or cell phones, a cotton swab dipped in a bit of rubbing alcohol is a good natural stand by.  Just dip the swab in the alcohol and work it into all the little crannies and crevices.  The alcohol kills germs, and dries quickly leaving no residue behind.  A very similar product that can be used in the same fashion is alcohol wipes.  They work under the same principles as the swab but they are a little harder to get into all the tiny crevices.

Tiny crumbs and dirt particles love to hide away inside your keyboard.  Not only can this be unhealthy, it can also cause keys to stop functioning properly.  There are cans of pressurized air that can be purchased that essentially blow this dirt right out of your keyboard.  If you don’t want to pay for canned air, there are other methods to keep your keyboard clean.  A small artists brush can be used to dislodge debris in your keyboard, then simply vacuum with the brush attachment of a regular or small hand held vacuum.  There are small vacuums actually sold for this precise purpose and are small and handy to keep in your desk.

Always remember to use a vacuum to remove dust and hair from around tower fans.  Dirt forgotten here can easily cause your electronics to overheat and prematurely burn out.  Also, wipe down all cables and dust out all plugs and ports.  There are a thousand places where dirt and debris can hide and be overlooked.

Monitor screens should never be cleaned with harsh cleaners or water.  Use a specialty wipe that has been treated with a safe cleaning chemical intended for monitor and lap top screens.

A soft, dry lint free cloth is the best tool to use to clean computer discs, CDs or DVDs.  Just wipe them gently in a circular motion.

It is always best to turn off your equipment before cleaning, and always check the manufacturer’s instructions for any specific maintenance and cleaning suggestions.

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Why You Mustn’t Overlook Duct Cleaning

December 21st, 2009

As winter approaches and we start thinking about keeping the workplace nice and toasty, we must not overlook the benefits of having air ducts cleaned and ready for an efficient heating season.  If you have a commercial cleaning contract, you should check with them to see if they offer this service, and if not, ask if they can recommend you to a reputable company.  The good health of employees is paramount to a productive workplace and the most important aspect to consider is the air we breathe.

Here are some important facts to consider before you make a final decision on duct cleaning.

Duct cleaning generally refers to more than just the duct work but also includes all the components of heating and cooling systems including registers, vents, coils, drain pans, humidifiers and housing units for all the systems.  Many of these parts are not visible so it is hard to see dirt, mould and moisture that might be hiding there.

Contaminants that are not cleaned out of the duct work get blown back through the system and float in the air we breathe.  This is not healthy for anyone but people prone to allergies or asthma can suffer a lot from breathing in this polluted air.

If you are uncertain whether a duct cleaning would benefit your office, you can have a pre assessment done to determine the state of your system.  Not all ducts need cleaning if the system has been properly installed and maintained and is running efficiently.

An average duct cleaning will most likely run the company anywhere from $500 to $1000, depending on the size of your office space.  When searching for a company to perform the cleaning, be certain that they are registered with the National Air Duct Cleaners Association.

There is no EPA certification for duct cleaning as actual health benefits have not been studied and documented.  They will not endorse the cleaning of ducts as a benefit to the air quality of a workspace.  They do however, recommend against having chemicals of any kind added to the heating and cooling systems as part of a duct cleaning process. These chemicals that are supposed to keep your air clean and fresh can actually be very detrimental to good health so it is recommended you refuse this service if the duct cleaning company recommends it.

Whether you decide to have the job done or not, just be sure you are adequately informed on all the pros and cons.  In either case, there are some things you can do to make the air in your workplace healthy.  Change any filters as necessary and be sure they are installed properly.  Vacuum the office often to remove dust particles. By staying on top of the cleanliness game, and hiring professional janitorial services, you will help maintain a greener more efficient office, and save more money too!

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Common Mistakes You Want to Avoid when Running a Commercial Cleaning Business

December 18th, 2009

Running your own commercial cleaning company can be a great opportunity for yourself to run your own business, make a nice amount of money, and devote yourself to something you enjoy doing.  But as with any business, there are common pitfalls involved, which if properly avoided, will mean a smoother and more profitable business.  By just following a few of these easy tips, and being more aware of possible pitfalls in the future, your commercial cleaning company will prosper, as well as make profits year in and year out.

One of the biggest mistakes commercial cleaning services make is that they often don’t know what the right price is for doing a particular job.  This can be a common problem when your company is just starting out, and you may be unsure of what the market value might be, or you may want to slash prices to stay ahead of the competition.  Knowing the right pricing levels for each particular job may be crucial to your success or failure.  If you are charging too much, you might lose much needed contracts, business that your company just can’t afford to lose.

On the other hand, if your company is charging less than the market price, you may be undervaluing your work, and losing much needed capital.  The most important thing to figure out when you’re quoting a company is to calculate your expenses, by the market price, and figure out a comfortable medium price that you can live with.  Figuring out the right pricing system will be a crucial element to your long term success, or failure.

Another important pitfall to avoid while running your own commercial cleaning company is not knowing your employees well.  Many times in commercial cleaning companies, the owner usual hires his employees through contracting firms, or may have assistants do the hiring themselves.  This can sometimes cause problems if you are not familiar with who exactly is representing your business.  If you want your business run a certain way, and you want your employees to represent your company in a certain manner, then it might not be a bad idea to do all the hiring yourself.

Another common problem that many business owners fall into is hiring the wrong people.  This may include people who are not legal citizens, or unqualified family members.  Hiring illegal immigrants can be dangerous to your business if you’re not careful.  Hiring illegal immigrants is illegal, and although they may save your company expenses in lower wages, they may hurt the reputation of your company, as well as make you incur heavy fines if they are discovered.

You must also be careful when hiring close family members.  Oftentimes, owning your own business can be a great opportunity to create good job opportunities for fellow family members who might be looking for work.  This can be a great asset to a family; it can help families prosper, as well as bring them closer together.  But on the other hand, it can also break families apart.  If things don’t work out, and you have to end up firing a close family relative, this could be potentially detrimental to your long term relationship.  The smart advice is to hire family members, only if they are qualified for the job, and if you can properly separate your family life from your business life.  By following these tips, your commercial cleaning company is sure to have a more successful future, as well as stay ahead of the competition.

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What to Look For in a Commercial Cleaning Company

December 17th, 2009

As we all know, personal appearances and first impressions can be crucial when owning and operating a business.  If your office or store is sloppy, and poorly organized, your customers, as well as your clients, will see your business the same way.  Having an organized and messy office can show your work to be less than quality, and can be detrimental to your business down the line.  Much of this can be avoided by simply hiring a professional office cleaning company to clean your office one to two times a week.  But when hiring a professional office cleaning company for your business, there are a number of important factors that you must bear in mind.

One of these important factors, that should be investigated, is the company’s reputation.  Does the company have a good reputation?  Have you ever heard of this company before?  Where you referred to this company by a friend or colleague, or did you simply pick them out of a phone book?  Although this doesn’t mean they won’t do a good job, it is also important to hire a company that you can rely on, and has an established reputation.  When evaluating a cleaning company make sure you see if they have any good recommendations on their website or provide a list of references you can check out prior to entering into a contract with them.  By doing your research early, you will be saving your company time and money down the line.

If you have found an office cleaning company that you’re comfortable with, the next step would be to enter into a binding contract with that company.  But before you do you must first negotiate what the pricing will be, as well as the services they will provide.  It is important before entering into any contract that both parties are as clear as possible on the terms of the contract.  Make sure you provide a list of all the services that you will require, and make sure that everything is clearly listed in the contract.  This way if either party is not living up to their end of the bargain, you will be legally able to dissolve the contract on account of violation of the terms.

It may also be a good idea to install security cameras in your office to make sure that everything is running according to plan.  This can be a good protection for your company, in case anything gets damaged or stolen.  Make sure you have security cameras positioned in key areas so as to monitor any suspicious behavior, and make sure you have enough of them to monitor as much as you can.  This way the office cleaning company will have no excuses in case of stolen or damaged property, as well as less than desirable work.  This is also important in a legal sense, as the video evidence will be more than sufficient if they deny the event, and you’re looking for legal compensation.  By taking the proper time to evaluate each company, and protecting yourself with cameras and a strong contract, you will be able to choose the best office cleaning company to fit your company’s needs.

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Are Your Office Bathrooms Really Clean?

December 16th, 2009

Nothing says ‘spotless clean office’ like ‘spotless clean bathrooms’; equally, nothing says your commercial cleaning company provides quality service like the pristine restrooms in your office building.  More often than desired, clients go into an office bathroom only to be greeted by nasty smells or very strong scents that clearly state that no care is being put into cleaning it effectively.

There is a process for cleaning an office bathroom effectively and professionally.  For example, the cleaning staff has to study the restroom to identify where the odors come from in order to get rid of them.

Odors can come from many sources, for example from dirt, bacteria, and drains, among others.  To keep odors under control, cleaners have to thoroughly clean and disinfect every surface in the bathroom; mopping every day will get the surface dirt off, but the cleaner may have to use a more aggressive method to get rid of the dirt that has penetrated the grout.  The proper training of the cleaning staff will ensure bathrooms are correctly cleaned.  A properly trained employee will get rid of the dirt you can see as well as of the one you can’t, he or she will know what cleaners and disinfectants to use and how to use them, contributing to solving the odor problem, instead of creating it.

The staff must recommend the best products to help keep the restrooms smelling fresh, like commode mats for urinals and toilets to avoid any urine from dripping on the floor and to diminish odors, and air fresheners with soft fragrances that are not offensive to the user.

After odors have been controlled, a bathroom is considered spotless clean if the following are met:

-    Dispensers are free of spots and dust, and are correctly filled with the right supplies.

-    All the trash is gone and a clean liner has been installed into the trashcan.  The trash can’s outside has no stains, fingerprints, and dust.

-    Toilets, urinals, and urinal screens have no soil, spots, stains, and urine or other fluids, on the inside and the outside.

-    Sinks, fixtures, and drinking fountains have no water spots, stains, soap, and dirt around the base.

-    Countertops and ledges have no soil and dust.

-    Mirrors have no stains, fingerprints, water spots, streaks, and other residues.

-    The bathroom floors have no dirt, hair, paper, gum, soil build-up, urine, and other fluids.

-    Floor drain covers have no soil, lint, mop strings, and dirt.

-    Ceiling vents have no dust, lint, and build-up.

-    Partitions, doors, doorknobs, walls, and ceilings have no soil, stains, fingerprints, water spots, and graffiti.

The best way to ensure your commercial cleaning service is doing a superb job, besides checking their work personally after cleaning, is to be honest and see if you would be willing to use that bathroom yourself every single day.  Everyone is extremely picky about the restrooms they use, and if you are certain that you would feel comfortable using your office’s public bathrooms this means they probably are spotless clean.

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How to Choose Green Cleaning Products

December 15th, 2009

Green cleaning stands for cleaning that promotes a healthy environment for people while being eco-friendly.  Green cleaning involves a lot of considerations, like reviewing the cleaning procedures and equipment the cleaning company uses, as well as the cleaning products they employ.

It’s easy to assess if a cleaning business is using the right vacuums and dusters for green cleaning, however, it is not so simple to know if the products they are using are truly green.

Here we give you some tips to help you identify if your office cleaning service is truly working green:

1.    The products they use should be certified by Green Seal, which provides environmental certification standards for green cleaning products based on scientific examination.

2.    The products should not be toxic for humans or animals, and especially marine life.

3.    The products should be biodegradable, meaning they may be disintegrated by microbes.  The longer it takes to disappear, the more harmful it is. The products should have a label stating that they are biodegradable.

4.    Check if the product is concentrated or ready to use.  Ready to use products contain 90% water, meaning more energy and packaging were used to produce them, and extra packaging means extra solid waste.  Concentrated cleaning products use much less water, less packaging, and weigh less, diminishing the cost of fuel needed to transport the product to the stores.

5.    Green cleaning products work perfectly well with cold water.  This saves energy, contrary to products needing hot water, which require much more energy to work well.

6.    Products shouldn’t contain chlorine bleach.  Residue water containing this chemical can cause a toxic reaction when in contact with other chemicals.

7.    Green products are not made with petroleum.  Petroleum is a non-renewable resource, it is flammable, and can be toxic if it is inhaled.  Green cleaning uses products made from pine oil or citrus, which are renewable resources.

8.    Green products do not come in aerosol.  Aerosol bottles are dangerous if they are perforated, because the spray is out of control and can put people at risk of over exposure.

9.    Products should be pH neutral (7.0), which is safer for both the environment and people.  Alkaline or acidic products may burn your skin.

10.    Green cleaning products come in recycled containers.  In many cases, post-consumer materials are used to manufacture the containers and cardboard boxes.

There are many ways to do things, but there is only ONE right way.  If you are truly committed to green living, you should go all the way and ensure you are making the right choices, to the last detail.  Ensure that the office cleaning company you hire is in line with your life philosophy and doing its part to contribute to the health of the planet and its preservation.

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Know Your Office Kitchen and Boardroom Etiquette

November 30th, 2009

The office kitchen and the boardroom are places that everyone uses.  Your commercial cleaning service may do a nightly cleaning of these rooms but they don’t look after the small personal types of tidying up that need to be done after each and every person uses the space.   There are some simple manners and common courtesies that should be kept in mind by all.  Here are a few to consider.

o    Be considerate.  Everyone is entitled to some space in the fridge and cupboards.  Don’t just cram your lunch into the front spot.  Take the time to arrange your items carefully among others that might already be in there.

o    Identify what belongs to you.  This will help to avoid any misunderstandings in the case of misplaced, discarded or wrongfully eaten food. A half eaten sandwich on a shelf may be something you planned to eat later but another well-meaning colleague might assume it is a leftover from some earlier meeting and toss it away. If it’s yours and you want it, label it so others know!  Likewise, if you come across something unidentified in the fridge, try to find out who it belongs to before deciding to throw it away.

o    Delegate a person in the workplace to be in charge of creating a cleaning schedule for things like dishes etc. that the janitorial services maybe don’t cover or might take care of much later.

o    If your day off or the weekend is approaching, be sure to remove items that belong to you that will spoil during that time.

o    If you drink the last of the coffee in the pot, it is considered polite to make another pot.

o    If you use the microwave to reheat leftovers, be sure to wipe it down if your dish has overflowed or sprayed around the oven.  Spills that are left unattended not only dry hard and become more difficult to remove; they also create an odor for the next person who uses the oven.

o    Crumbs and spills in the kitchen and the boardroom should be swept up as they happen to leave the room neat and tidy for the next person’s use.  Tables and counters should also be wiped down. All empty disposable cups and napkins should be disposed of at the end of meetings.

o    Replace bottled water in the fridge if you use the last of the supply, or arrange to have a new water bottle put on the cooler if you use the last of it.  Likewise, replace the paper cup holder if you use the last one.

These are just a few of the little things that each person can be aware of and do as needed to help make the office a cleaner, healthier place for everyone.

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Does a Clean Workplace Mean Better Productivity? Absolutely!

November 30th, 2009

Studies show that a clean and organized work space increases and sustains increased employee productivity.  We all feel better in an atmosphere that is relaxed and free of clutter and chaos.  If your company has invested in the services of an office cleaning company then they are doing their part to ensure a clean working environment.  So what can you, as an employee do to help?  Consider taking these actions to help keep your office a place that is conducive to efficient working habits.

o    Keep your desk and work station organized and free of clutter.  Use trays or filing boxes to take care of loose papers and folders.

o    Streamline your processes so you can keep things tidy.  Handle notes, papers and correspondence that cross your desk as soon as you can.  Handle documents only once, putting them straight away into their proper place.  Items that you set aside to look at later seldom get remembered and more often end up being buried under other paperwork.

o    By being organized you will also save tons of time by not having to look for things.  Nothing is more frustrating than having to stop midway through a task to locate a stapler, paper clip or file folder.

o    Invest in the use of a paper shredder to quickly dispose of paperwork you no longer need and also to reduce the volume of paper waste left behind for the cleaning company to dispose of. It is a standard security feature in a lot of companies anyway, so just make it a personal goal to do it as soon as possible instead of letting the paper pile up.

o    Keep personal belongings out of the way and in their proper place.  It’s hard to move about quickly if you have to be conscious of tripping over a handbag here or a shopping bag there.  Keep that extra sweater on a coat hanger up and out of the way instead of on the back of your chair where they can fall on the floor and get in the way.  Make it a habit to take home items each night that you don’t use every day.  Extra coffee mugs, water bottles and thermos jugs can quickly clutter up a desk and make it difficult to work efficiently.

o    Limit personal items that you bring to work and find a convenient place for things such as plants, pictures and radios so they don’t clutter up your work area.

By just keeping these simple techniques in mind you will be doing your part to contribute to a healthy, happy chaos free workplace.

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Your Commercial Cleaning Company Should Go the Extra Mile

November 30th, 2009

So you’re certain that you have selected the best office cleaning service available because they charge you something that is within the range of your budget; they offer you flexible schedules to fit yours, they use only natural products that are eco-friendly, and they are very attentive and always happy.  You are right, it sounds like you have won the janitorial services’ lottery.

However, have you considered that there could be more they should do for you? If you haven’t, think again, because there is, and here it is:

1.    Your cleaning company must be able to grow with you.  If you really plan to get your business ahead of the game, you should make sure the cleaning service can adapt to your ever-changing business needs.  Is it a small, medium, or large company? Does it work with companies of many sizes? Does it have a history of success in many areas, like office cleaning, shop fitting cleaning, and builders’ cleanup? If you are taking the time to create a trusty relationship, and are investing money on cleaning services, you have to make sure this relationship matures along with your business.

2.    Your cleaning service must be timely.  Obviously you established a cleaning schedule with them, so make sure they comply with it and that you are getting the best out of your money.  The service must understand the importance of your time, since it can directly affect your employees’ health, your image, and the working atmosphere.  So, if they cannot get it done, be certain that someone else can.

3.    Your cleaning company has to work with a variety of business fields.  So, how is this important for you? When a cleaning service works with different size and background companies this shows their top priority is flexibility, professionalism, and to please, no matter what.  On the contrary, someone who just provides service for small companies, for example, tells you that their potential is limited.

4.    Your cleaning service must be recognized by national organizations.  If you’re certain you have hired the best, they surely have to be listed and recognized by national boards and have to have earned awards.  These honors represent the hard work the company has put into giving the best cleaning services and in keeping its clients happy and tended to, such good work that it got someone’s attention.  You can be certain these companies’ employees are highly trained, even scientifically, to know exactly what products to use in which areas without causing any harm.  It sounds amazing, because it is.  If your company advertises that they have earned important awards, you truly found the best out there.

Taking the time to thoroughly research the commercial cleaning services offered can really pay off.  If you want the best, the four considerations above are key to ensure your cleaning services will not let you down.  This is something you shouldn’t be asking for; it is something that should be offered to you from the beginning.

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A Successful Business Is a Clean Business

November 30th, 2009

Many professionals go to college and earn important degrees in order to be able to create and run a successful company, however, those MBA’s and PhD’s forget to teach them some of the basic and simplest secrets to success.

What follows may seem pretty obvious, but it truly is not.

Every successful company’s trademark is a beautiful office, one decorated by professional interior designers and with the footprint of modernity and class all over it.  The rationale behind this powerful investment is that an inviting and interesting ambiance for employees and a professional look for the customers translate into a good image and more sales.

However, there is little or nothing a top-notch office décor can do in the presence of a dirty office.  Many owners and managers forget to think about the cleaning and maintenance of their office, an aspect that is a clear and basic management consideration and one of vital importance.  Office cleaning can mean the difference between skyrocketing or free falling in business.

A company that shows a great interior décor but is dirty and not cared for shows its clients it doesn’t care for detail.  It is clearly just presenting a facade that fools no one, because what this dirt translates into is a lack of concern about long-term results and actions.  Additionally, it is obvious that the personnel working there must be desperate, because no outstanding professional will accept working in an environment that could make him or her sick and where clearly there is no interest in providing quality care for the most valuable asset a business has: its employees.

You certainly don’t want your company to be perceived as careless, dirty and unkempt, even less so in times when every little extra care you put into your business can separate you from the hundreds, if not thousands, who are closing their doors.

One of the reasons why office cleaning is so neglected could be because it is a time consuming and very hard effort, and many professionals don’t even know where to start.  Come on! They got an MBA in Engineering, not in Office Cleaning, and it’s true. This type of cleaning requires specialization; it calls for an expert.

Your best choice for efficient commercial cleaning is to hire professional janitorial services, otherwise, you will have to sacrifice your time doing what you do best, to keep your office impeccably clean.  And we know this won’t happen, right?

In order to select the best cleaning company for your needs, call several services and take them through your office so that they can evaluate what is needed and what they can offer.  Ask them for a detailed estimate, including number of janitors, their specialties, schedules, materials needed, and frequency of cleaning needed to maintain the space sparkling.  Ask for references, trained personnel, and prefer companies that give you ample details.

Even though it may cost you money, think about your image and consider what it is worth.  This could be one of the best or worse decisions of your career, without question!

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What is the Quality of the Air in Your Office?

November 30th, 2009

Air quality is something everyone needs to be concerned about.  You have invested in quality janitorial services to keep your office free of dirt, bacteria and toxins.  It is just as important to ensure that the air in the office is clean and toxin free as well.  So, how do you know if the air quality in your office is healthy? Consider these points.

The air quality in a building is a constantly changing thing.  Any efforts to improve or change it have to be made on an ongoing basis and monitored continuously.

Bacteria do not just exist on surfaces, but travel through the air as well.  These bacteria can come from dust mites, animal dander, spilled water or other liquids, as well as poor cleaning habits in general. Inadequate humidity control and poor ventilation can also be contributing factors.

Cleaning products and chemical spills of even the smallest amount can reduce air quality.  Furniture, carpets, wall coverings and office equipment can all give off gases that affect air quality.

Minute particles of airborne pollutants can enter the building from outside and be harmful to the health of workers inside.  Renovation activities such as sanding wood or drywall, painting, and even cleaning can introduce harmful products into the air.

Printing, faxing and copying equipment can release chemicals into the surrounding area.

Excess humidity can create all kinds of air quality related hazards, with mold being at the top of the list.  Even the drain pan in your fridge can be a breeding ground for bacteria if not kept clean and dry.  Likewise, low levels of humidity can create air that is too dry, resulting in various related health issues.

Indoor air quality is achieved by the conditioning of outdoor air that is carried inside through the air conditioning or heating systems.  If these systems are improperly maintained the quality of indoor air will be reduced significantly.

Placement of office furniture and equipment can also have an effect on indoor air quality.  Office partitions and furniture can obstruct air flow as can blocked registers, ultimately resulting in poor indoor air quality.

Cooking odors from inadequate kitchen ventilation can be bothersome and unhealthy.

Maintaining good indoor air quality is not difficult but it does require effort and communication among workers.  The services of a good office cleaning company and good equipment maintenance will go a long way to keeping the air quality where it should be.

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Commercial Carpet Cleaning: Which Type to Choose?

November 30th, 2009

If your office is carpeted, chances are you will need the help of a commercial cleaning service to get them cleaned.  You may already have this service as part of your cleaning contract, but have you ever questioned how your office carpets are cleaned, and if the methods are safe for you, your colleagues and the environment?

There are basically two types of carpet cleaning: dry cleaning and steam cleaning.  Dry cleaning involves the addition of a cleaning powder deep down into the carpet absorbing dirt particles as it is beaten into the carpet.  The powder is then vacuumed out and the dirt along with it.

Steam cleaning is basically a water extraction method of cleaning.  Cleaners are applied to the carpet via a stream of very hot water and then vacuumed up, extracting dirt at the same time. There are fans of both methods and it’s hard to say which will be right for you. Here are a few of the pros and cons of each to consider.

Vacuuming the powder out of a carpet completely can be difficult.  Particles of the powder may remain in the carpet and move into the air as people walk on the carpet releasing chemicals and toxins that everyone then breathes in.  However, this is a generally a much more cost-effective method of carpet cleaning as the equipment used is much less expensive, but many people question that all of the cleaning compounds can ever be removed by a vacuuming process.

Steam cleaning or hot water extraction seems to be the method most used and preferred by cleaning companies and consumers alike.  Part of the reason for this is that large trucks with exterior motors and pumps can be brought on site to extract the dirty water.  The motors on these machines are much more powerful that those of portable units that can be brought right inside a building, with the end result being less residue left in the carpets. This means fewer toxins remaining behind that can move into the air, and less residue in the carpet that can attract soil and stains, and also less drying time for your busy workplace.

The high temperatures of the hot water used can also be better for destroying bacteria that can lurk in your carpet, providing further support to the theory that steam cleaning, or hot water extraction is the best carpet cleaning method.

Regardless of which method is ultimately used in your office or building, keeping carpets clean is of the utmost importance.  In addition to regular cleanings, daily vacuuming and immediate spot removal are the two best ways to keep office carpet in tip top shape.

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A Clean Office is a Swine Flu Free Office

November 30th, 2009

It only takes a cough from the colleague sitting next to us to turn us all into hypochondriacs.  We immediately think we are being infected with swine flu and run to the nearest pharmacy only to find out that all the facemasks are gone.

It’s true that we have to be cautious in regards to swine flu; it is very contagious since it expands through droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.  An infected individual can infect others even one day after symptoms start and up to seven days after being sick, however all extremes are dangerous.  Not everyone with a cold is infected with swine flu; remember that the symptoms are very similar to those associated with a common cold: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills, and fatigue, and only a doctor can confirm if someone is indeed infected with swine flu.  What we all can and should do is work on prevention.  Prevention is the key to stop this dreaded virus for good.

We have to be especially careful around crowded places, and this is why keeping a clean environment in the office is vital to ensure your safety while at work.  A clean office will not allow the virus to spread, because it will not survive for too long.

Every office, be it small, medium, or large, must be cleaned daily.  If yours was cleaned three times a week until now, request a change.  Your commercial cleaning service will work with you to define a daily schedule that is right for you.

Encourage visitors, clients, associates, and suppliers that come to the office to sanitize their hands by placing respectful requests and signs in the appropriate places.

And personally, what can you do to stay healthy and avoid being the cause of others getting sick?  As much as possible, avoid commuting with the crowd, so ask for a flexible schedule at work.  Wash your hands frequently, and as soon as you arrive to the office or home no matter where you have been; always have a hand sanitizer with you in case there is no way to wash your hands. Cover you mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Clip your nails regularly and keep them clean because they are where viruses love to reside. Exercise regularly, learn to manage stress, and get a good night’s sleep. Drink lots of liquids and eat healthy foods, and most importantly, do not go to work if you feel even a little sick.

Professional commercial cleaning services are trained to use the most efficient cleaning methods to ensure your office is 100% free of viruses.  They make sure employees have a good supply of tissues on their desks, keep a close eye on the stock of soap and hand drying supplies to make sure these are always available, and clean those difficult areas that are normally forgotten but touched continuously, for example, light switches, corners, door knobs, keyboards, and phones.

Do your part and let the professionals deal with the rest, so that you can work and live in peace and health.

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Is Your Office Under Carpet Stain Alert?

November 30th, 2009

Keeping carpets clean is the hardest thing to achieve when dealing with office cleaning.  If don’t believe it, just ask your commercial cleaning company.

Every carpet needs regular cleaning to keep bacteria, dust, and dirt under control.  These are guilty for the deterioration of carpets and can really shorten their use.  However, the worse problem commercial cleaning staff encounters is stains.  These really make the carpet look ugly and convey an unprofessional image.

Here we present several tips to help you keep your carpets clean when an emergency occurs and the professionals are not around:

1.    Coffee stains
This is probably the most common type of stain that you will find in office carpets.  When dealing with a coffee spill, soak up the excess with a towel, clean with soda water, dry with a cloth, and repeat until the stain disappears.

2.    Wine stains
We’ve all been there.  You’re having a sweet glass of red wine to celebrate a colleague’s birthday or an office achievement when suddenly, tragedy strikes!  Red wine is spilled over the white carpet.  Luckily, this is a very easy problem to solve: just pour some white wine or soda water over the fresh red wine spill.  If you spill white wine instead, spray with soda water.

3.    Beer stains
These are not very common in the office, but if you happen to spill some, you should soak up the liquid with a paper towel and clean with warm water or soda water.

4.    Chewing gum
This is a true nightmare!  If you don’t get it right, you will lose your carpet.  We recommend putting ice in a bag and rubbing it on the gum so that it solidifies, and then scrape as much as possible with a blunt knife.  After this is done, use carpet shampoo to clean the spot, wait until it dries, and finally vacuum it.

5.    Ink stains
These are also very common in the office.  The treatment will depend on the type of ink:

-    Ballpoint ink stains have to be dried up ASAP.  Wipe with menthylated spirits or apply a stain remover.

-    Fountain pen ink stains have to be diluted with soda water and washed out as much as you can.  Make a hot mixture of soap flakes, leave it on the stain for fifteen minutes, and clean.  Repeat this procedure until the stain is gone.

6.    Grease, oil, fat, and candle stains
Put blotting or brown paper on the stain, put a cloth over the paper and iron the spot at medium heat so that the grease adheres to the paper.  Later, apply carpet shampoo.  If the stain shows up again after a few weeks, it means the grease was sucked inside the carpet, and you will have to look for professional treatment to clean it.

7.    Tar stains
These also give cleaning staff the biggest headache.  If you don’t remove them right, you will have to simply change the carpet.  Start by scraping the excess tar off, combine equal parts of glycerin and water, apply and leave for one hour; finally rinse with water.  Do this until the stain is no longer visible.

Yep!  Stains can cause you physical pain!  You and your personnel should be extra careful when handling beverages or materials that could cause serious stains. Prevention is the best practice; however, accidents happen.  Stay calm, follow the instructions above, and call your office cleaning service immediately for professional support.

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Go For Green Cleaning At the Office and Save Yourself

October 28th, 2009

People today, and the generations to come, have to live with the sad and threatening reality of Global Warming over their heads.  Global warming is the result of glaciers melting, sea levels rising and rain forests and wildlife dying, and we, human beings, are to blame.  Yes, read it again:  It is our fault, we have been reckless!

It’s been ages of releasing harmful gases and toxic chemicals into the atmosphere while performing our daily life activities what has taken the planet to the sad point where it is today, worse then ever before in history.

The problem with global warming resides on the changes it causes on the Earth’s climate patterns.  As the globe spins, new heat goes along, collecting moisture from all over the oceans, rising somewhere and settling somewhere else.  Global warming is changing the weather configuration that is vital for living organisms of all kinds, and only we, as its cause, can work on the solution.

An important change we should make is in the way we clean big and small spaces.  The average person uses around 40 pounds of toxic cleaning products per year!  These products contain neurotoxins, carcinogens, allergens, central nervous system depressants and heavy metals, among other substances, that can produce cancer, respiratory problems, reproductive abnormalities, allergies, behavior problems, and many other serious illnesses.  Toxic products reach the environment when flushed down the toilet, when poured down sinks, when sprayed in the air, when thrown in the garbage and when dumped on the ground.  When we think about this, one can’t but wonder: What on earth are we thinking???

So, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional commercial cleaning service, change the cleaning products you use to natural ones, green products.  By selecting products that are made out of natural substances and that are environment-friendly, you are saving people, animals and the planet.  The best office cleaning companies are the ones that use natural products to perform their service, showing care and respect for their industry, profession, clients, and the world.  One thing is clear and crucial for survival at this critical point, everyone must start taking responsibility and doing his or her share.

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Take Your Business to the Next Level with Commercial Cleaning Services

October 27th, 2009

For any company seeking to take there business to the next level, there is no doubt that hiring a well established, and professional commercial cleaning service, will be an essential part to your business’s success.  As you already know, the first impression of your business made to clients, as well as customers, dictates a lot of further action down the line.  If your clients see your business as unorganized, poorly managed and chaotic, then what will that say about the person that is running the business?  First impressions are extremely important to any business looking to compete in this modern world, and you only have one chance at it.  Be sure to make it a good one.

And the best way to do that is to ensure the cleanliness of your office to a professional staff of Janitorial Services, to promote the highest quality work.  Why waste your employees’ limited time with cleaning duties, that they will only perform begrudgingly, and at 50% quality, at the most? Why not save the money you’re losing on lost productivity, and hire a professional cleaning company who can do the job right, and leave your business looking professional at the same time?

A clean and well organized place of business is absolutely necessary when competing over the long term.  Remembering that you only have a small window to make a long lasting impression, you’ll want everything to be as perfect as you can make it.  And that involves bringing in a professional cleaning crew at least once, to twice a week.  Having a cleaner and better organized office not only goes along way with your clients and customers, but also helps a great deal with your employees as well.  When professional cleaning crews are being used effectively, your employees will no longer have to worry about performing those cleaning duties on their own, and they can focus on more important work at the office.  Having a cleaner office also help productivity as a whole, because your employees will find it far easier to do their jobs, when the office is at its utmost cleanliness.

When looking for a professional cleaning crew for your business you will want to check out several companies before making your final decision.  You will want to check references of previous clients they have had to ensure the utmost quality work.  You will also need to compare their prices with prices of their competitors by calling around different cleaning companies in your area, looking for the average price.  After conducting a thorough search, and finding the best cleaning company to fit your needs, then you will want to complete the next step, which is to sign a contract. The contract that you enter with the office cleaning company should be clearly spelling out your needs as a business, and exactly what the service is intended to provide.  By being as clear and precise as possible, it will be easier to get out of a contract, later down the line, if you feel they’re not living up to their agreement.

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Office Cleaning the Way Grandma Used to Clean

October 27th, 2009

Who doesn’t believe that every past time was better?  We hear that all the time and there is a reason for it.  In the past, when our grandparents were growing up, no one wasted money, every penny was sacred.  And this was also true when cleaning.  Grandmas cleaned the old-fashioned way, and their houses were always shiny and smelling fresh.  They learned the secret from their parents: to use natural cleaning products that were superb at getting the job done.

Back then people were smart.  They did not let others fool them to spend a fortune on toxic products that could only bring harm.  In contrast, today, we are so busy taking care of our families and earning money that we have no time to learn what is actually good for us and our kids.  The wisest thing we can do in this case is to put ourselves in the hands of professionals who do know how to clean well and safely.

A professional office cleaning service will teach you and your staff about green cleaning and how to keep your office and the environment safe.  Is your business suffering from constant leaves due to asthma, respiratory conditions, allergies, and maybe even some other life threatening illnesses in employees?  Sure it is!  And toxic cleaning products are probably to blame.  It is that serious and these are that dangerous, but the companies that produce these products will never tell you what you and everyone else are exposed to, they just care about the money they make.  It is up to you to check the ingredients they contain and their long-term effects on the body, and if you don’t have the time, which most certainly you don’t, hire a commercial cleaning service that does and cares.

Office cleaning services that choose natural products containing ingredients like baking soda, borax, cornstarch, lemon juice, mineral oil and vinegar, just like what grandma used and even made herself, know about the healthy way to clean and care for their clients enough to use products that will not harm them.  These companies go beyond cleaning, as they have a more important mission, to teach you and most importantly, show you, how much better it is to clean green.

So, go back in time, and hire a cleaning company with the principles your grandma lived by, you will never regret it and will surely live longer to enjoy a healthy planet!

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Tell Your Janitorial Service To Go Green

October 24th, 2009

Going Green has quickly become one of the latest trends in a society who is becoming more and more aware of the toll they are taking on the environment.  However, many businesses are picking up on this opportunity, and are seeing what they can do to become more environmentally sensitive.  As a result, many businesses are going green, and this can’t be any truer for the Commercial Cleaning industry.

The Commercial Cleaning industry has started to take great strides to ensure that their cleaning products are not only safe for the people at the offices they clean, but safe for the environment as well.  But is it really that important to have an environmentally friendly cleaning service at your place of business?    The answer is a very emphatic yes.  Having your office cleaned with environmentally safe products helps to eliminate the excess amount of chemicals used in the office cleaning process, and can actually work to improve air toxicity.

Your workers will benefit from the environmentally safer products, by improving their health and taking fewer sick days, while the environment is benefited as well.  Using environmentally friendly products also benefits the office cleaning staff as well.  Using environmentally safer products reduces the risk of illness or injury from overly toxic products that may cause injury over time.  Natural products can reduce the risk from injury and illness which translates to days off work or at work risk liability.  By using natural products, office cleaning companies can cut down the amount of liability they need to own, passing their savings down to their customers.

Using environmentally friendly cleaning products reduces the effects that harsh chemicals have on the environment.  By not using harsh cleaning products, harsh chemicals do not pass into the plumbing and drainage systems, which could damage the environment, as well as your water supplies.  Also by not using aerosols, you are working to help against the breaking down of our O-Zone layer. Green janitorial services are most of the time available, if you just ask your Commercial Cleaning service.

Businesses doing their part for the environment contribute a great deal because they help lead the way for the rest of society.  Also because many businesses are most of the leading polluters in the planet, it is their responsibility to provide a safer working environment for the rest of society.  While you may think that having your office cleaning going green is a good idea, you may still see it as insignificant.  However, many insignificant occurrences working together can have a huge impact on society as we know it.

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Great Tips for Opening a Commercial Cleaning Service of Your Own

October 24th, 2009

Do you have experience in the commercial cleaning field, and may be tired of your low paying job?  Or are you a person with little, or no commercial cleaning experience, but is looking for a low-cost way to start a business?  If this is you, or even if you are somewhere in between, you may want to start considering opening a commercial cleaning service of your own.  An office cleaning business is a low-risk, and high reward business model, with low costs starting out.  If opening your own commercial cleaning service has been something you may have been considering, here are a few simple tips that can help you get started.

The first thing you will want to do is to ensure you have the proper funding to take on this business project.  You may have money already saved up, or you may need to borrow start-up capital from friends and relatives.  If this is not an option for you, you may want to consider going to a bank for a low-interest business loan.  To successfully receive a small business loan for yourself, you will need to be able to meet certain criteria.  You must have proof of prior work experience, and also have an above average credit standing.  They will want to have a more thorough look at your finances, and also will want to see a list of references that they can check, in regards of your character.  You will also need to show them a sophisticated business plan to ensure that your business has a plan for success.

The next thing you will need to do is to secure a business license.  To apply for a business license you will need to contact your county’s local recorder’s office, to get more information on what is needed for the application.  You could go on their website beforehand, to get more information on exactly what they’re looking for, or just go in and make an appointment.  After following the correct procedural process, it will only be a matter of days until you have your brand new business license.

The next step for your business will be to purchase some bonded insurance.  Bonding insurance is a specific type of insurance, purchased by your business to protect themselves from clients and customers.  This will come in handy if an employee of yours happens to break or ruin something at your client’s office.  With bonded insurance, the insurance company will pay for any damages incurred against your client, which can happen frequently.  Only make sure, when purchasing bonded insurance, that you do your research first.  Make sure you check out several companies very thoroughly, before finding the deal that best suits your business.

The final step you need to make is to purchase all the necessary supplies.  You can shop at wholesale commercial cleaning warehouses and large discount stores to find the best prices for your equipment.  Getting affordable, yet good and durable equipment is very important to the long term and short term expenses of your business.  Complete these steps in the proper order and your commercial cleaning service will be on its way to success and prosperity in no time.

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