Category: Commercial Cleaning

13 Feb 2021
urgent care cleaning

Urgent Care Cleaning 5 Best Practices

urgent care cleaning

Urgent Care clinics require constant cleaning and disinfecting under the best of circumstances. With flu season in full swing and a lingering pandemic, the importance of urgent care cleaning and disinfecting protocols can not be overstated. Whether you hire a professional cleaning company to manage these tasks or train in-house staff to address your clinic’s cleaning needs, there are some very basic protocols that need to be followed.

1) Prioritize High-Touch Surfaces

High-touch surfaces are those that tend to come into contact with patients and staff on a regular basis. Door handles, light switches, bed rails, telephones, and shared office equipment are just some examples of high-touch surfaces. These surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected multiple times per day to help reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria.

The first step is to thoroughly clean the surface with the appropriate cleaning agent and allow it to dry. Step two is to use a CDC-recommended disinfectant to kill any bacteria that are residing on the surface. Be certain to allow for the appropriate dwell time as per the manufactures recommendations.

2) Develop A Cleaning Strategy

To properly clean and disinfect your urgent care facility it is important to develop a strategy. Once developed, your cleaning strategy should be used as the defacto procedure by which every facility cleaning session is completed.  Your cleaning strategy should prioritize when and where cleaning should occur and in what order.

Urgent care facilities typically have a variety of rooms that can be classified based on their utility and general ‘dirtiness’. A doctor’s personal office space is likely not as dirty as an examination room or the facility’s restroom. When developing your cleaning strategy it is wise to address the least dirty areas first and move on toward progressively dirtier areas of the clinic. Prioritizing cleaning in this way can help reduce the spread of germs and bacteria.

3) Use Proper Chemicals And Equipment

Knowing which chemicals to use on which surfaces is extremely important as some disinfectants are more effective on certain surface types and some surfaces can be damaged by too harsh a cleaning agent. In addition, some chemicals can cause respiratory distress in some individuals. Know your chemicals and how and where to use them.

Utilizing the right equipment is nearly as important and can reduce effort and promote more effective cleaning and disinfecting. For instance, microfiber mops and cleaning cloths can help reduce bacteria when compared to other options. Take the time to learn about the best equipment and cleaning supplies for your clinic’s particular needs.

4) Reduce Or Eliminate Cross-Contamination

As an urgent care facility manager, you are acutely aware of the dangers of cross-contamination. One of the most important considerations for any cleaning protocol is how best to limit or eliminate the potential for cross-contamination. Cleaning cloths and mops used in one area should always be decommissioned prior to moving on to another area of the facility. They should be placed in a sealed plastic bag for laundering. When preparing to clean the next area on your list always start with fresh cleaning cloths and mop heads.

5) Reduce Airborne Contaminants

Your urgent care cleaning strategy should address airborne contaminants and utilizing the proper equipment and procedures is the key. For instance, using HEPA filter vacuums and microfiber cleaning cloths can significantly reduce airborne particulate and bacteria. Protocols should be put in place for waste disposal, proper bedding and laundry procedures., and hazardous waste disposal.

Want Help Setting Up Your Urgent Care Cleaning Program?

Complete Care Maintenance can help you to set up an effective cleaning and disinfection protocol for your urgent care facility. Even better, we can provide urgent care cleaning services for you saving you time and money while giving you, your staff, and your patients greater peace of mind.

01 Feb 2021
dealership cleaning

Commercial Cleaning Makes Car Dealerships Shine

dealership cleaning

Do you know why some car dealerships seem to shine when you walk out on the showroom floor? Do you know why some dealership service departments are clutter-free with spotless workshop floors? They are either using a commercial cleaning company or have very well-trained in-house staff.

Smart car dealership owners understand the value of first impressions when working with customers and they know that appearances are important. It is so important that many car dealerships invest a great deal of money in commercial cleaning to ensure that customers are ‘WOW’ed when they walk through the door.

When a showroom floor is so meticulously clean that you can see the reflection of the car of your dreams, when the parking lot is free of trash and debris, customers believe that you are serious about what you do, that you take pride in your business, and care about them. It’s a win-win situation for you, your staff, and your customers.

How Commercial Cleaning Benefits You

As the owner or manager of a car dealership, you receive many benefits from hiring a commercial cleaning service to manage your dealership’s cleaning. Improved employee morale, lowered maintenance costs, improved customer perceptions, and increased productivity are all benefits associated with a clean and tidy dealership. These and other benefits associated with a clean place of business add up to higher sales volume and a better reputation for your dealership.

In the long run, hiring a commercial cleaning company can actually save you money. Outsourcing your cleaning to professionals frees up your staff to focus on their actual jobs of selling and servicing cars, managing day-to-day operations, and chasing leads. In addition, you are no longer required to purchase and store cleaning chemicals and supplies as these will be provided by your cleaning company. A quality commercial cleaning company will also offer restroom and breakroom supply replenishment services which can save you even more.

How Commercial Cleaning Benefits Your Staff

There are hundreds of studies indicating that there is a strong relationship between employee morale and workplace cleanliness. A clean workplace makes for a happier, more productive workforce where employees take pride in their jobs and are more prone to speak highly of your dealership.

There are also health benefits associated with a clean and sanitary dealership. Fewer sick days, healthier employees, and a safer work environment are all benefits that a clean dealership provides to its employees. Not to mention the fact that they do not have to worry about being assigned restroom duty during their shift.

How Commercial Cleaning Benefits Your Customer

Shopping for a car can be a stressful endeavor and for many people, it ranks right up there with going to the dentist. Ensuring that your customer’s shopping experience is a positive one means providing an inviting and safe environment. Outsourcing your cleaning to a professional contractor helps ensure that customers feel comfortable when entering your dealership.

Most customers shop around when deciding on a new car. This means that they may visit several dealerships on a given day and while they may be looking at prices, trade-in values, and financing options, the impression that they have regarding your physical plant can often be a deciding factor. Don’t let the dealer down the road outshine your facility.

 

 

30 Jan 2021
healthcare facility cleaning

5 Areas Hospital Cleaning Crews Often Overlook

healthcare facility cleaning

Medical facility and hospital cleaning is a serious business. Proper cleaning and disinfecting is crucial to overall health and safety and is a vital aspect of any infection control program. Furthermore, while hospitals and medical facilities are very stringent with infection control protocols, recent studies show that there are still areas within these facilities that are routinely overlooked. Here are five areas within your medical facility that cleaning crews might be missing:

1) Privacy Curtains

Privacy curtains are designed to provide privacy for patients and are likely one of the most touched items in a hospital setting. Nurses, doctors, visitors, and patients are coming in contact with these cloth room dividers and every one of them is potentially leaving germs behind. In fact, a recent study in the American Journal of Infection Control tracked the contamination of ten freshly cleaned curtains and within two weeks, nearly 90 percent of the curtains had been colonized by potentially dangerous antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA).

While there are no CDC guidelines specific to privacy curtains, it is recommended that these be changed out at least weekly with freshly sanitized curtains.

2) Bed Rails

Like privacy curtains, bed rails are touched by a variety of people on a given day. Healthcare professionals, visitors, and patients are touching these rails on a regular basis and the bacteria they leave behind can survive for weeks. In fact, studies have shown that MRSA can survive for nearly a year on these stainless steel structures. Therefore, without regular cleaning and disinfecting, bed rails have the potential to spread germs and bacteria throughout your medical facility.

Bed rails should be cleaned and disinfected at least daily, but more frequent cleaning is recommended.

3) Over-The-Bed Carts

That little rolling cart on which your delicious hospital meals are served is a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses, and germs. Additionally, bed carts are a high-touch item on which bacteria are deposited and picked up multiple times per day. Considering that these carts are typically used to serve food cleaning and disinfecting them should be a priority. This is not a place where germs should be present.

These items should be wiped down with disinfectant after every use and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected every day.

4) IV Poles

According to a 2012 study in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology, these mobile hangers for IV fluids harbor various strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These ‘Superbugs’ are highly infectious and difficult to treat as they are resistant to common antibiotics.

Patients and staff alike should use hand sanitizers before and after touching the IV pole and the poles should be cleaned and disinfected daily.

5) Elevator Buttons

Elevator buttons are one of the most touched items in any building and in a healthcare setting. As such, they can harbor a huge number of nasty germs. Countless individuals utilize the elevator every day and with every press of a button, there is the potential to leave behind (or pick up) germs and bacteria. According to a recent study in the Journal of Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, more than one-third of 48 buttons swabbed were contaminated with MRSA.

The reality is that elevator buttons are often overlooked by cleaning crews and they have the potential to become virtual Petri dishes for a plethora of germs and bacteria.

Want Expert Advice On How To Keep Your Medical Facility Clean And Safe?

Complete Care Maintenance can help with all of your medical facility cleaning needs. We provide expert advice and on-site facility evaluations to ensure that your facility’s specific needs are met. Call or contact us today to get started!

 

 

20 Jan 2021
day porter services

How Day Porter Services Can Improve Your Business

day porter services

Do you find that as the workday unfolds your facility begins showing the wear and tear of everyday activities? Does your entryway get dirtier every time someone comes through the door? Do your restroom supplies run low by noon? Is your breakroom a mess at the end of the day? If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, you should consider day porter services.

Many businesses rely on a commercial cleaning service to manage their facility cleaning after hours. This ensures your facility is clean and fresh when you walk in the door every morning, but is that enough? Day porter services are designed to ensure that your facility remains clean throughout the day. Here are five ways that day porter services can improve your business:

1) Ongoing Cleaning And Disinfection

Cleaning and disinfection of high-touch areas is not a one-and-done proposition. Disinfection should be performed regularly throughout the day to minimize the spread of germs and viruses. Hiring a day porter service will ensure that these surfaces are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day making your facility safer for you, your staff, and your customers.

It’s not just high-touch areas that require ongoing cleaning. Restrooms, breakrooms, and entryways are all areas that tend to get dirty as the day progresses. Having a day porter at the ready helps to ensure that these problem areas are addressed throughout the day.

2) Restocking Of Restroom Supplies

Keeping your restrooms clean is just one part of a day porter’s restroom maintenance protocol. They also take responsibility for ensuring that your restroom supplies like hand soap, toilet paper, and paper towels are always restocked.

Restocking services can go beyond the restroom as well. For instance, it may include restocking breakroom and kitchen supplies, filling hand sanitizer dispensers, and even changing lightbulbs and HVAC filters.

3) Maintaining A Safe Environment

Day porters also help enhance workplace safety for both staff and guests. In addition to the ongoing cleaning and disinfecting of high-touch surfaces, they will ensure that entryways and parking lots are free of clutter and slip hazards. Furthermore, they are ready to address spills and wet floors and will even place hazard signs for damaged walkways and wet areas.

4) Liaison Services

Day porters can also provide liaison services for third-party vendors that you hire to perform more specialized tasks. Having your carpets and/or furnishings professionally cleaned? Having your building’s exterior power washed or a landscaping crew working outside? All of these tasks become much easier with a day porter on hand. Your day porter can coordinate with them, supervise their work, and ensure that they do a thorough job, leaving you to attend to the business of the day.

5) Improved Facility Appearance

Likely the greatest advantage of having a day porter on staff is the overall appearance of your facility. Your entryway and reception areas always look clean, your restrooms and breakrooms are always well maintained and supplies never run out. Maintaining a clean, safe, and functional workplace enhances customer perceptions, improves employee satisfaction, and boosts morale and productivity.

Is Hiring A Day Porter The Right Decision For Your Business?

While day porter services may not be right for every business, they can improve day-to-day business operations when you hire the right service provider. Complete Care Maintenance can help to evaluate your business needs and provide you with a customized day porter service plan that will address all areas of concern.

 

10 Jan 2021
firing your cleaning company

5 Signs That You Need To Fire Your Cleaning Company

firing your cleaning company

Are you feeling a little underserved by your cleaning service? Have they become complacent in their cleaning duties and no longer go the extra mile to make your facility shine? Has the cost of the service steadily increased without any recognizable benefit to you? If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of these questions, it might be time to consider a new provider. Here are five signs that you need to fire your cleaning service and look for a new provider:

1) Apathetic Cleaning Crews

Apathy is like a virus and it can spread like wildfire within a team. If your cleaning crew seems less than enthusiastic about the duties they perform, if they are wavering in their commitment to a job well done, it may be time to look for another provider.

Apathy leads to laziness and sub-standard performance. In a cleaning crew, it will manifest itself in unfinished tasks, forgotten trash bins, and less than clean restrooms. If you find that your facility is not getting cleaned as well as it used to, apathy may be the cause.

If the apathy that you witness among cleaning crew members is also reflected in communications with company managers and owners, that is a sure sign that it is time to fire your cleaning company.

2) High Employee Turnover

If new faces are showing up on the cleaning crew every other week, something is not right. This is indicative of a company with high employee turnover rates and high turnover rates are bad for their business and yours.

If your cleaning company is having a hard time finding, keeping, or managing employees they are costing you money. New hires require training and a company that is scrambling to meet client demand is likely putting staff in the field who are not fully trained. These individuals are learning on the job and you are paying for their education.

Untrained employees are less likely to perform as well as seasoned staff and that means some areas in your facility are not getting the attention they deserve. In addition, poorly trained cleaning crews are less familiar with cleaning and safety protocols which can lead to damaged surfaces or worse, injured staff.

If your cleaning company can not maintain seasoned staff, it may be time to let them go.

3) A Lack Of Communication

Nothing is more frustrating than trying to communicate with an unresponsive provider. If you are waiting days to hear back from your cleaning company, if there is no clearly defined protocol for issue resolution or complaints, or if issues are met with empty promises that never come to fruition, it’s time to fire your cleaning company.

Any reputable provider will have clear lines of communication and a hierarchy of command. This means that if a crew member is unresponsive you can approach their team leader. If the team leader can not resolve an issue, you can approach their immediate supervisor. All issues, requests, and complaints should be resolved in an efficient and satisfactory manner and someone should follow up with you to ensure the issue was addressed.

4) Lack Of Accountability

If your cleaning company’s management staff fails to conduct routine inspections and quality checks, they are doing you a disservice. Regular inspections and quality checks help enforce accountability for cleaning crews and allow management to address issues and inconsistencies before they become commonplace.

In addition, regular inspections, quality checks, and employee evaluations help management to identify training opportunities which in turn promote better training and more efficient processes. Smart companies provide oversight in an effort to continually improve their services through better training, better management, and employee accountability.

5) Reckless Security Practices

Let’s face it, you have to be able to trust your cleaning services provider. In many cases, these individuals have access to your facility outside of normal business hours. They must be trusted to honor your facility’s security protocols. Failure to lock up, set alarms, or respect the privacy of you and your employees is a serious breach of trust that can not be tolerated.

If your cleaning services provider fails to respect your company’s security policies and protocols, fire them.

Looking For A Professional Cleaning Service?

If you find yourself shaking your head in agreement with any of the points above, it may be time to fire your current provider. Of course, before you do, you will want to vet prospective companies to replace them. Complete Care Maintenance offers a variety of commercial cleaning services to meet any business need. Call or contact us today to get a free quote.

30 Dec 2020
disinfecting retail space

Commercial Cleaning Helps NJ Businesses Rebound From Pandemic

opeen for business

A new year is upon us and many New Jersey businesses are glad to see 2020 in the rearview mirror. The pandemic made it a difficult year for businesses across the country with many having to close up shop for extended periods of time. With new vaccines being distributed in 2021 there is hope that the pandemic is now behind us and many business owners are making plans to reopen their doors. The question is how to reopen safely and successfully. Many businesses are looking to commercial cleaning services to help them rebound from the pandemic.

BUILDING CONSUMER CONFIDENCE

It is not just a matter of ensuring the health and safety of employees and customers, it is a matter of regaining consumer confidence. The pandemic has changed the way people shop, dine and consume products and services and for many consumers, a return to their former way of life is a little scary. Consumers need to know that a business can be trusted to protect their health and that means seriously upgrading their cleaning and sanitation protocols.

For businesses reopening in this ‘new normal’ commercial cleaning services are becoming an integral part of their campaign to earn trust and build consumer confidence. Cleaning crews are taking on a new role in the eyes of both businesses and consumers and what was once a hidden workforce performing their duties after hours will likely become a much more visible, public-facing workforce that will help to reassure customers and employees.

TRANSPARENT CLEANING PROTOCOLS

Business leaders and property managers have a huge incentive to make cleaning highly visible. This kind of transparency will go a long way toward boosting the confidence of consumers and workers who worry about returning to public life. In a post-pandemic world, there may be nothing quite as reassuring as a uniformed janitorial service and the pronounced smell of Lysol.

In a recent study commissioned by Vital Vio 76% of respondents said they’re going to hold businesses accountable for how they clean their spaces and 51% won’t patronize establishments that aren’t transparent about their cleaning practices. StudyFinds reported a whopping 82% of Americans “said they are now more aware of, and concerned about, cleaning protocols in public areas,”.

The bottom-line for business owners, property management firms, and office managers is that heightened cleaning and disinfection protocols (and being transparent about those protocols) is the key to bringing a wary public back into the fold. Hiring a commercial cleaning service can go a long way toward achieving this goal.

HOW COMMERCIAL CLEANING CAN HELP

There are many advantages to hiring a commercial cleaning company but in a world suddenly hyper-aware and germophobic consumer perception has risen to the top of the list. While assigning in-house staff to manage cleaning and disinfecting duties at your place of business can help, hiring a professional cleaning service is likely a smarter move.

People trust a commercial cleaning company to know how to clean and disinfect. While they will appreciate staff members cleaning and disinfecting high-touch areas during their visit, seeing uniformed commercial cleaners diligently at work will instill more confidence. In addition, the mere fact that a business is willing to invest in commercial cleaning services sends a very strong message about their commitment to keeping their customers and staff safe.

The reality is that people’s perceptions with regard to commercial vs in-house cleaning are correct. Commercial cleaning companies have a great deal of expertise with cleaning products, processes, and protocols. Regardless of how efficient your in-house staff is, without proper training and experience, they will never be as effective as a commercial cleaning crew. And while perceptions are important, effective cleaning and disinfection is really the primary goal and nobody does this better than a quality commercial cleaning service.

 

 

 

 

20 Dec 2020
Healthcare cleaning services

Healthcare Cleaning Services – Unsung Heroes Of The Pandemic

Healthcare cleaning services

Those who work within the medical community are literally lifesavers. The services they provide are essential to the well-being of millions of people every day. During the current pandemic, their services are more essential than ever, and despite the growing demand for medical services, the medical community has stepped up to serve communities across the globe.

We all appreciate and respect the work that these individuals do. Without them, our current plight would be much, much worse. What is often overlooked is the behind the scenes work that is required to ensure that the medical facilities that we rely on every day are clean and sanitary.

THE COVID-19 EFFECT

One of the most important aspects of medical care is infection control and all medical professionals are trained in how to reduce or eliminate the spread of infection – a practice that has taken on new meaning in the midst of the pandemic. Still, the fact of the matter is that infection control begins with the medical cleaning services that ensure safe and sanitary healthcare environments. In the midst of the pandemic more and more healthcare facilities are turning to professional cleaning services to clean and disinfect their facilities.

All of a sudden, this pandemic is a real eye-opener for everyone about how important best practices in cleaning and disinfecting are in health care and beyond.” Keith Sopha, a veteran director of environmental services in health-care settings told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview from Ottawa Canada.

The role of professional cleaning services has become integral to the success of medical facilities in the fight against COVID-19. The fact that the pandemic is already taxing hospital and medical facility staff is just one reason why these facilities are turning to professional cleaning services. The knowledge and training, well-established cleaning processes and protocols, and reduced risk make the investment in professional cleaning services well worth it.

THE EXPERTISE

Professional medical cleaning services have extensive training in the cleaning and disinfecting protocols required for healthcare facilities. Cleaning crews that are trained in healthcare facility cleaning understand the unique needs of the medical office environment. They understand the need for both thorough cleaning and disinfecting. They are also familiar with the unique compliance requirements that medical facilities must meet and are well versed in HIPPA regulations, JCAHO standards, OSHA Bloodbourne Pathogens Standards, and CDC recommended cleaning procedures. You won’t find these qualifications with a typical janitorial service provider.

Enlisting the services of qualified medical facilities cleaning staff means that your facility will be clean and sanitary – a quality that helps ensures patient health and satisfaction, as well as the health and well-being of your staff.

PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES

Cleaning crews specializing in medical facility cleaning are trained in the proper procedures and protocols required for facility sanitization and disinfection. They understand the causes of cross-contamination and manage their cleaning process in such a way as to mitigate such risks. They are experienced with a variety of commercial cleaning chemicals and disinfectants and understand how to apply them, their required dwell times, and safe storage procedures. These people understand how to properly clean and disinfect in a consistent and organized fashion.

THE RETURN ON INVESTMENT

It may seem counter-intuitive to suggest that spending money on specialty cleaning will improve your bottom-line. But studies have shown that the cleanliness of your medical facility is a major factor in patient satisfaction. Because patients are more likely to recommend a hospital they perceive to be clean, it makes cleanliness a target for improvement for all hospitals.

In addition, proper sanitization and disinfection help mitigate Healthcare Acquired Infections, a major concern for all healthcare facilities. According to Becker’s Hospital Review, the total direct, indirect, and nonmedical social costs of HAIs are estimated at around $96 billion to $147 billion annually, including loss of work, legal costs, and other patient factors.

It should also be noted that numerous studies have shown that a clean and sanitary workplace promotes higher productivity, lowered absenteeism, and happier and healthier staff. While these things may seem intangible, they can have an enormous impact on your bottom line.

29 Nov 2020
office cleaning

Winter Office Cleaning Tips

office cleaning

Winter is a messy time of year. Snow and slush, salt and mud, germs and viruses all converge on your office building when Winter rolls around. And as the season drags on your regular office cleaning protocols start to fall behind. Winter is messy and it is difficult to keep up. In an effort to help out, Complete Care Maintenance has put together a few tips to help you maintain a clean tidy office during the winter months.

1) STAY ON TOP OF YOUR ENTRYWAY

In the winter months, it is important to maintain a clean and safe entryway. Snow and ice present serious slip and fall risks for you, your staff, and your clients. You can mitigate this risk by regularly sweeping or shoveling the entryway or applying salts or deicing chemicals. It is also a smart move to place rubber-backed floor mats inside the entryway to allow people to wipe their feet. This is especially true for offices with hard-surface flooring.

In addition to maintaining the ground at your entryway, be sure to clean the windows on a regular basis as slush and muck have a tendency to splash the glass, making for an unsightly entry. With the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the onset of cold and flu season, it is vital that door handles and knobs be regularly sanitized.

Placing hand sanitizer inside the entryway is a great way to encourage hand hygiene and reduce the spread of germs. It also makes your staff and your guests more comfortable and confident that you are doing your part to maintain a healthy office environment.

2) KEEP THOSE FLOORS CLEAN

Winter weather is harsh on floors. People are going to track snow and ice, salts, chemicals, and dirt in from the outside and these contaminants can quickly damage hard-surface flooring and wreak havoc on office rugs and carpets. In addition, wet floors are a constant issue during the winter months and present a serious safety hazard. Be sure to keep the floors in your office well maintained with regular cleaning and consider posting ‘Caution Wet Floor’ signs in areas where wet floors are a problem.

Thorough daily moppings are essential to remove grit and grime from hard floors and carpets should be vacuumed regularly to prevent excessive wear.

3) CLEAN AND DISINFECT HIGH-TOUCH SURFACES

Again, with Covid-19 still wreaking havoc and cold and flu season in full swing, it is vital that you clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly throughout the day. These surfaces include doorknobs and handles, telephones and computer equipment, desktops and counters, and any other surface that is regularly used by multiple individuals. Consider providing sanitizing wipes in key areas throughout the office to encourage regular disinfecting and train your staff on their proper use.

4) HIRE A COMMERCIAL CLEANING SERVICE

If ever there was a time of year to consider hiring a commercial cleaning service, Winter is it. Because Winter is one of the dirtiest seasons and because it is one of the busiest seasons, it pays to have a professional office cleaning service manage your office cleaning needs.

A quality office cleaning company will save you time and money and will help ensure that your offices are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. They will also ensure that your offices always make a good impression and can help protect the health and well-being of you, your staff, and your clients.