Efficiency is something that every business values. After all, greater efficiency equals greater productivity. If your commercial cleaning service provider is not efficient, they could be costing you more money than you thought. So, how can you tell if your commercial cleaning company is efficient? Here are a few tips:
Proper Equipment
Proper equipment is essential to efficient cleaning. Well-maintained equipment designed for the task at hand helps ensure that the job gets done quickly and correctly. Poorly maintained or outdated equipment is not only less capable of doing the job but is potentially less energy-efficient and this directly impacts your bottom-line.
You should take the time to ask your commercial cleaning service about their cleaning equipment. Is it energy efficient, well-maintained, and are the staff trained in its proper operation?
Proper Cleaning Solutions
Using the appropriate cleaning solutions for various surfaces in your facility ensures proper cleaning and standardizing the chemicals used by the cleaning staff makes them more efficient. Standardizing the range of cleaning products allows your cleaning service to achieve savings through simplified training, elimination of waste, and a reduction in administrative costs. Commercial cleaning companies that realize these savings often pass those savings on to their clients.
Recognizable Processes And Procedures
If when observing the cleaning crews at work you see that they all perform their tasks with very similar patterns, you can chalk that up to efficiency. For instance, they always dust and clean higher surfaces first and work their way down, they change chemicals and/or cloths when moving on to different surface types. These are recognizable procedures and processes and indicate that the staff is well-trained and that the training is uniform. Companies that practice uniform training and enforce policies and procedures are creating more efficient employees.
Managerial Oversight
While rigorous training and enforceable policies and procedures go a long way toward building reliable staff, nothing ensures compliance as well as supervision. Does your commercial cleaning company assign crew leaders? Is there a go-to person that you can reach out to should you have questions or concerns? Does company management visit your facility to ensure satisfaction with the services provided?
Commercial cleaning companies that provide some type of oversight tend to have more efficient staff, greater policy compliance, and more uniform performance.
As a business owner, you have plenty to worry about and your parking lot is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. After all, it’s just a parking lot. Right?
Wrong.
You need to start viewing your parking lot as an asset just like your office, retail space, or other commercial building. Like these assets, your parking needs to be well-maintained and cared for. Here are five good reasons to keep your commercial parking lot clean:
First Impressions Matter
Your parking lot is likely the first thing prospective customers see when they visit your business. A clean, well-maintained lot is much more inviting than a lot riddled with potholes, oil stains, and debris. Show your customers that you care about their experience with your business by making a good first impression with a clean parking area.
It Shows You Care About The Neighborhood That You Serve
How you view your maintain your property reflects your feelings about the area in which you do business. You do not want a neighboring business to pile trash in the back, or create a hazardous or unpleasant environment. Show respect for your neighbors and the neighborhood you serve by maintaining a clean and presentable outdoor space.
It Keeps The Pests Away
A parking lot full of trash and debris can become a feeding ground for rodents and other animals. Rats, raccoons, and other unwanted animals that frequent your parking lot will eventually start frequenting your place of business. The last thing that any business wants is a rat or rodent infestation and once your business becomes infested, it can be very difficult to eradicate them.
It Extends The Life Of Your Parking Lot
Like any other asset your business owns, it pays to take care of your parking lot. Regular cleaning and maintenance of your parking area can extend the life of the asphalt by reducing wear, preventing standing water, and discouraging vandalism. The buildup of dirt, grime, oils, and chemicals can seriously impact your lot’s longevity, encouraging erosion, cracks, and potholes. In the long run, maintaining your parking lot is a great deal cheaper than replacing it.
It Reduces Liability
Debris in your parking lot can be an invitation to a lawsuit. Large debris can damage vehicles and tires and may represent a tripping hazard. Oil stains, chemical spills, and standing water are accidents waiting to happen and as the lot owner, you could be held liable. Very few things can destroy a successful business like a successful lawsuit. Keep your parking lot clean and keep the ambulance chasers at bay.
It is a brand new year and the perfect time to consider hiring a commercial cleaning service. While this seems like a pretty straightforward task, there are certain steps you should take to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. After all, your organization is unique and has specific commercial cleaning needs.
Not All Commercial Cleaning Services Are Created Equal
Commercial cleaning companies come in all shapes and sizes and not every commercial cleaning company is suited for every business. It is important that you as a business owner ask the right questions of prospective cleaning companies to ensure you find a good fit. Here are seven key questions to ask all cleaning companies that you are considering for hire.
What Cleaning Services Do They Offer?
Let’s face it if the company you are considering does not provide all of the services that you require, they are not a good fit. For instance, if your business requires parking lot sweeping services or warehouse cleaning services, you may find that many commercial cleaning services fall short in these areas.
Likewise, it is important to consider other essential cleaning services like floor care, window cleaning, and restroom cleaning. These are the areas that your customers will see and you want to make a positive impression.
How Much Do They Charge For Their Services?
As a business owner, you are always mindful of your bottom line. Because of this, the cost of commercial cleaning services is an important consideration. While we tend to gravitate toward the lowest-cost option, it is important to remember that value is not necessarily synonymous with cheap.
A professional cleaning service will want to visit your facility to provide a realistic estimate. This is a good time to point out any special needs or areas that require more attention. Onsite evaluations are valuable because they allow you to better understand what factors are being considered when preparing your estimate.
If you are working with a tight budget, the onsite evaluation can be a great time to seek advice with regard to which services are most important and which can be easily managed in-house.
Do They Offer Flexible Scheduling?
This is a very important consideration. For many businesses, commercial cleaning must be done outside of normal business hours. If this is the case for your business you need to ensure that the provider you are considering can meet your scheduling needs.
In conjunction with the scheduling options, it is important to know what type of security protocols the company employs, whether or not they have effective employee screening practices, and whether there we be management staff accompanying the off-hours cleaning crews.
Is The Company Bonded And Insured?
The answer to this question is a potential game-changer. If the commercial cleaning service you are considering is not bonded and insured, you should thank them for their time and send them on their way. You do not want to be responsible for damages or injury that occurs due to a contract employee’s negligence.
This is very important, so do not be afraid to ask for verification of insurance policies before signing on the dotted line. Any reputable company will be very well insured and will be proud to show you their coverage details.
Does The Company Have Their Own Equipment?
A professional commercial cleaning company should have modern, well-maintained equipment to meet all of your facility’s cleaning needs. Even if your facility requires unusual or unique cleaning services, your commercial cleaning provider should have the equipment and supplies required to get the job done.
If your building or facility has large areas of hard flooring, it is important that you ensure that prospective providers have high-quality equipment and the experience to properly care for your flooring. The last thing that you want is to see your cleaning crew dragging in rented stripping, waxing, or polishing machines.
What About Quality Control?
Do not be afraid to ask about quality control policies and practices when interviewing commercial cleaning service providers. Well-managed commercial cleaning companies understand the importance of regular training, procedural cleaning practices, and effective quality control measures.
Ask about procedures for training staff, evaluating performance, onsite inspection, and managerial oversight. You want to ensure that your facility is cleaned thoroughly every time and you want a cleaning company that strives for the same.
What Do Their Other Clients Say?
One of the best ways to vet prospective providers is to ask for references. If they are a regional provider it is quite possible that they service other businesses in your area. This makes it easy for you to reach out to existing customers to get reviews and insights as to how well the cleaning company performs.
While this step can be time-consuming, it is a great way to evaluate a commercial cleaner’s quality of work and determine if they work well with the companies they serve.
In Conclusion
When hiring a commercial cleaning service for your building, office, or facility it is important that you make an informed decision. Take the time to ask questions, verify documents, and reach out to current and past clients. Place more importance on quality and value rather than price and convenience. You want to build a solid, longstanding working relationship that will undoubtedly save you money in the long run.
The terms ‘cleaning’, ‘sanitizing’, and ‘disinfecting’ are often used interchangeably, but the reality is that all of these terms are distinct, and knowing the difference is imperative for maintaining a healthy workplace environment. So, what exactly do these words mean?
Cleaning
Cleaning removes allergens and microorganisms from the environment. When a surface is clean, soap or detergent has been used to remove dirt, germs, and impurities. Surface cleaning helps reduce the number of germs that can lead to infection, however, it does not necessarily kill any germs. In general, it is safe to clean surfaces where the risk of spreading pathogens from the surface is low.
Disinfecting
Disinfecting a surface means that chemicals are being used to kill germs. This does not necessarily mean that dirt, germs, and impurities are being removed from the surface, but by killing the germs, the risk of spreading infection is lowered.
For a disinfectant to kill germs, its labeled dwell time should always be allowed. A dwell time, or contact time, is the amount of time the manufacturer has determined, through laboratory testing, that the disinfectant should remain wet on a surface. If proper dwell times are not followed, germs and pathogens may survive the application.
Making sure the disinfectant stays wet is crucial. There is an array of factors that play into how long the disinfectant will stay wet including the application method and composition of ingredients in the disinfectant. The type of surface, humidity, air flow, and temperature are all factors that can affect the amount of time it takes the disinfectant to dry on a surface.
Sanitizing
Sanitary surfaces can be created either by removing germs (cleaning) or killing germs (disinfecting). There are a few different methods used to achieve a sanitary surface: heat, radiation, and chemicals.
To sanitize through use of heat, steam, hot water, or hot air can be used at the appropriate temperature for the recommended amount of time.
Chemicals that are effective sanitizers at the proper concentration include chlorine, iodine, and quaternary ammonium. Just as the proper dwell time must be followed for a disinfectant to be effective, a chemical sanitizer must also be allowed to sit for its recommended dwell time.
Other factors that influence the efficacy of a sanitizing chemical include temperature and concentration. Most chemical sanitizers should be kept between 55 degrees F and 120 degrees F. If the concentration of the sanitizing agent is too low, the microorganisms may survive the application. If the concentration is too high, the chemical could be toxic.
In Summary
Being able to understand the differences between these key phrases can help you determine the level of cleanliness necessary for a particular surface. In general, it is safe to clean surfaces where the risk of spreading pathogens from the surface is low. A disinfectant should be used on surfaces where there is a greater likelihood of pathogen transfer such as gym mats. Sanitation is commonly used on food contact surfaces as part of the food code.
Need help with cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing your workplace? Complete Care can help.
Let’s face it when it comes to retail sales the holidays represent one of your busiest times of the year. Increased foot traffic in and around your store presents opportunities to gain new customers, and the cleanliness of your retail space is of paramount importance. Research has shown that cleanliness and presentation in a retail environment has a direct influence on a shopper’s decision to make a purchase. A clean retail space is more inviting and encourages shoppers to stay longer. (more…)
The holidays, as one of the peak seasons for many businesses, see a surge in foot traffic. While increased customers are fantastic for profitability, it can take a toll on your floors. Neglecting floor care and protection can result in substantial costs for floor restoration or replacement down the road – something that can negatively impact your bottom line. This is precisely where commercial floor cleaning services come into play!
This comprehensive guide has been crafted to shed light on how holiday traffic influences your floors and to offer insights into minimizing damage while prolonging the life of your company’s flooring.
Winter Weather and Its Effects on Your Floors
When the winter months roll in, which often correspond to the busiest time for many businesses, the extreme temperatures, rain, snow, ice, and salt introduce a set of genuine threats to your floors. Here are some of the ramifications these elements can have:
Rain, ice, and melted snow can wreak havoc on your floor’s finish.
The use of road salt can leave an unattractive white residue behind.
Abrasive salt particles are capable of easily scratching floors in high-traffic areas.
Floor Care Tips for Different Floor Types
There is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to proper floor care. Different types of flooring necessitate distinct cleaning and maintenance methods – strategies that a professional floor care company possesses in-depth knowledge about and can competently implement.
Wood Floors
Wood floors have a tendency to expand and contract in response to fluctuations in temperature and humidity. During the cold winter months, wood floors contract, leading to gaps between planks. While this is a natural occurrence for wood floors, it brings about additional challenges for their maintenance. These gaps often accumulate water, dirt, and salt, which can damage the wood and obstruct the gaps from closing when the weather warms. It is imperative that all foreign materials be removed from these gaps to ensure the health of your wood floors.
Thoroughly cleaning and polishing your wood floors before the onset of winter can help mitigate the detrimental effects of water, ice, dirt, and salt. Regular professional wood floor cleaning services will ensure that your floors maintain their health and beauty throughout the coming year.
Tile Floors
Tile floors generally fare better under harsh winter conditions and increased foot traffic; nonetheless, they still require proper care and routine upkeep. Different types of tile warrant diverse cleaning methods and specific cleaning products. While certain tile floors react poorly to strong chemicals and abrasive cleaning techniques, others require more robust cleaning measures.
During the winter months and periods of heightened traffic, the grout between tiles can become discolored and soiled. Regular professional grout cleanings will ensure that your floor’s grout remains intact and retains its color, leaving your floors immaculate and inviting.
Linoleum Floors
Linoleum is a favored flooring choice due to its affordability and typically straightforward maintenance. However, the winter months pose a potential threat to your linoleum’s finish due to an excess of sand, dirt, and salt. These materials are abrasive and, coupled with increased foot traffic, can scratch, mar, and dull the floor’s finish. In these more challenging seasons, it is crucial to pay extra attention to your linoleum and enhance your floor care program accordingly.
Like all flooring types, linoleum requires specific cleaning agents and techniques to ensure proper maintenance. If you are uncertain about how to care for vinyl or linoleum floors, it’s advisable to contact a professional floor care specialist.
Carpeted Floors
Carpeted floors necessitate more frequent vacuuming during the winter months because of the elements and the heightened foot traffic. Wet shoes, carrying dirt, salt, and deicing chemicals, can quickly result in stains and visible ‘traffic paths’ on your carpet. Failure to fully remove this debris through regular vacuuming and deep cleaning can lead to the breakdown of carpet fibers and a reduced lifespan for your flooring.
Consistent vacuuming, spot treatment of spills and stains, as well as mid and postseason deep cleaning by a commercial carpet cleaning company, can help your carpet look fantastic throughout the peak season and beyond. Be sure to check if the commercial carpet cleaning services near you offer any seasonal carpet cleaning specials at this time of year.
The holidays indeed usher in a hectic time of year for both you and your floors. Whether you require residential floor cleaning services or commercial floor maintenance, connecting with a reliable floor care professional near you will undoubtedly help maintain the integrity of your floors throughout this bustling season.
