Category: Commercial Cleaning

15 Mar 2020
urgent care cleaning

Best Practices For Urgent Care Cleaning

urgent care cleaning

Do not underestimate Urgent Care cleaning best practices!  Professional cleaning is an essential maintenance practice at Urgent Care clinics.  Germs on surfaces, airborne threats, and other pathogens can spread quickly.  Without a proper cleaning plan in place, contamination can become an unhealthy problem.

Ideally, urgent care clinics will retain the services of a respected commercial cleaning service provider. A professional commercial cleaning company will understand the complexities of urgent care cleaning and have the tools and training already in place to perform a thorough cleaning.

Companies familiar with medical facility cleaning will already have a plan in place that can be customized to meet the needs of your facility. To ensure that your commercial cleaning provider is proficient in medical facility cleaning, take note of the following best practices:

1.  Target High-Touch Surfaces

Any facility sanitation plan should focus on high-touch surfaces. These are the. surfaces that are most often touched like bed-rails, countertops, restrooms, door handles, medical equipment, etc.  Bacteria are most likely to be found on these surfaces and they should be sanitized regularly.

A professional cleaning company will target these areas using commercial-grade disinfectants and clean microfiber cleaning cloths or disposable disinfecting wipes. However, even with regular commercial cleaning services, it is important for staff in a medical setting to maintain the cleanliness of these surfaces throughout the day.

2.  Limit Cross-Contamination

Cross-contamination is the act of transporting germs and bacteria from one place in a facility to another and can be done unintentionally during cleaning. For instance, a custodian could wipe down a toilet that was exposed to norovirus and then use the same cleaning tool to wipe down the sinks, spreading the virus.

Urgent care centers have different types of rooms that serve various purposes and there is often a tendency to assume that some areas are more susceptible to germs than others. The reality is that nearly every inch of your facility has the potential to harbor germs.

Your commercial cleaning company should be well aware of these facts and should approach the cleaning of your facility accordingly. They should never use the same mop and/or cleaning cloth in different areas of the facility, should always use commercial-grade disinfectants, and should follow a prescribed cleaning plan.

Many professional cleaning companies use color-coded microfiber cloths and mop heads to help limit cross-contamination. For instance, red will be used for sanitary appliances, restroom floors, toilets, and urinals. Yellow is used for restroom sinks, towel dispensers, hand dryers, soap dispensers, door handles, and walls. Green is used for general food and bar cleanup in non-preparatory food areas, such as lunchrooms and breakrooms. Blue is used for areas such as hallways, offices, and classrooms.

3.  Reduce Airborne Threats

An Urgent Care center cleaning plan should take into consideration airborne threats. These threats can be caused by improper disposal of hazardous materials or using the wrong equipment. To reduce airborne risks, be sure to use HEPA filter vacuums and microfiber towels.

Additionally, proper waste disposal is essential. For example, avoid pushing air out of a utilized trash container.  This will send bacteria into the air.  Likewise, failing to roll up soiled bed sheets or fabrics can create airborne bacteria.

Complete Care Maintenance – Your Healthcare Facility Cleaning Vendor

Need help with your Urgent Care cleaning program?  We provide full-service medical office and urgent care center cleaning.  Of course, we follow Urgent Care cleaning best practices.  Contact Us today to learn more about our medical facility cleaning expertise. We offer customized cleaning plans to suit your facility and have extensive commercial cleaning experience in the healthcare field.  Finally, you’ll appreciate our professional and responsive approach!

05 Mar 2020
cleaning and disinfecting

Commercial Cleaning and Coronavirus

cleaning and disinfecting

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has compelled facility managers to seek professional commercial cleaning companies to ensure the safety of their staff and clients. In light of the virus spreading across nearly every state, businesses are increasingly realizing the significance of maintaining clean and sanitized facilities to reduce the risk of infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that the virus can remain viable on various surfaces for hours to days. This underscores the importance of regular cleaning and disinfection to safeguard the well-being of your clients and employees. High-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, elevator buttons, desks, tables, faucets, sinks, and toilets need consistent cleaning and disinfection to minimize the spread of the virus. Moreover, several other areas in your facility can be potential breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses.

Engaging the services of a professional commercial cleaning company ensures thorough cleaning and disinfection of these areas. Complete Care Maintenance is dedicated to ensuring that your facility is virus-free, and we can perform our cleaning services after hours to minimize interactions with your staff and customers.

Besides professional cleaning, there are several practical steps you can take to maintain a safe environment for your customers and staff. The CDC has issued guidelines that are instrumental in ensuring safety and preventing the spread of the virus:

Regular Hand Washing:

Promote and encourage regular hand washing for your staff and customers. Ensure the availability of hand sanitizers for use.

Social Distancing:

Discourage close personal interactions and maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet from others. Advise individuals who feel unwell to stay home and self-quarantine for at least 14 days.

Hygiene and Shared Items:

Encourage staff not to share items like coffee cups, borrow pens and pencils, and avoid using communal water coolers. Provide disinfecting wipes in break areas and common spaces for everyone to use. Items like microwaves, coffee pots, doorknobs, and food prep areas should be routinely wiped down.

Clean Workspaces:

Make sure that workspaces, desks, keyboards, external pointing devices, and office equipment such as printers, copiers, and shredders are wiped down before and after use. Equip areas with disinfecting wipes to facilitate cleaning.

Maintaining a clean and virus-free work environment is vital, especially during this pandemic. A professional cleaning staff can ensure that your place of business is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected after hours, providing a safe space for your employees to work. While these are challenging times, we can all contribute to reducing the impact of the virus by ensuring clean and sanitary commercial spaces.

With professional cleaning, rigorous safety measures, and cooperative efforts, we can navigate through this trying period and promote a safe and healthy environment for all.

 

 

15 Feb 2020
clean doors

Don’t Forget The Doors

clean doors

When assessing your commercial cleaning company, it’s essential to look beyond the obvious cleaning tasks such as floors and restrooms. Often overlooked but equally critical are the doors in your commercial space. Doors are among the most frequently touched surfaces, making them potential hotspots for the spread of bacteria and viruses. Whether you’ve outsourced your cleaning needs to a commercial janitorial service or are managing cleaning in-house, ensuring that your doors are cleaned and disinfected should be a top priority.

While entrance doors are the most visible and commonly used doors, it’s crucial to understand that every door in your facility requires regular cleaning and disinfection. This includes entrance doors, restroom doors, office doors, and breakroom doors. The cleaning approach may vary depending on the type of door.

Glass Doors:

For glass doors, a high-quality glass cleaner should be used to clean the glass surfaces. Additionally, door handles, especially on glass doors, should be thoroughly cleaned with a microfiber cloth sprayed with a disinfectant cleaner. Glass doors often accumulate fingerprints and smudges, making it essential to maintain their cleanliness.

Wood and Panel Doors:

Wood and panel doors should be cleaned and disinfected with a high-quality disinfectant spray and a microfiber cloth. When cleaning these doors, ensure that you cover the entire surface, with special attention to areas that are frequently touched. Don’t overlook the top edge of the door, as it tends to collect dirt and dust over time.

Doorknobs and Handles:

Doorknobs and handles are of particular concern because they are the most touched parts of any door. To effectively eliminate bacteria and viruses, pay close attention to these areas. Use a high-quality antibacterial or disinfectant spray and meticulously clean all knobs and handles. Thorough cleaning of these high-touch areas is critical to maintaining a clean and safe environment.

Why Complete Care Maintenance is Your Ideal Choice:

At Complete Care Maintenance, we take our commitment to commercial cleaning services seriously. We understand that every detail matters, including the often-overlooked components like doors. Our professional janitorial staff pays meticulous attention to these areas to ensure that your clients and staff can enjoy a clean and healthy environment.

We are dedicated to providing comprehensive and top-quality commercial cleaning services that go beyond the surface, including the cleaning and disinfection of doors. If you want to maintain a clean and healthy workplace, we invite you to contact us today. Our team is ready to discuss how we can tailor our services to meet your specific needs and create a cleaner, healthier, and more inviting workspace for your employees and clients.

Remember, in today’s world, cleanliness and hygiene are paramount. Maintaining a focus on every detail, from floors to doors, is a smart investment in the health, safety, and reputation of your business.

 

 

05 Feb 2020
janitorial cleaning

5 Things You Don’t Want From Your Commercial Cleaning Company

janitorial cleaning

As a business owner, you expect a lot from your commercial cleaning company, and rightfully so. After all, they are a provider that you compensate for the services they provide. While the list of expectations that you have for your janitorial service provider is long, there are some things you do not want. Here are five things that you do not want from your commercial cleaning service:

1 A Lack of Training

A quality commercial cleaning company should have well-trained, professional employees. A lack of training means that your office or commercial space is likely not being properly cleaned and cared for. This can have adverse consequences for you, your staff, and your clients – not to mention your business’s bottom line. Knowledge of proper cleaning techniques, the use of appropriate chemicals, and the safe operation of equipment are essential to efficient cleaning.

2 Poor Quality Control

Training and professionalism are not a set-and-forget type of thing – they require oversite. Employees need to remain engaged with the service they provide and to understand that their performance is constantly being evaluated. Team leaders and managers need to follow up with random inspections, ongoing training, and performance reviews. This helps ensure that your commercial cleaning staff remains focused on the work they perform. As a business owner, you expect reliable and consistent service from your janitorial services company. Your janitorial services company should expect the same from their staff.

 

3 Poor Communications

If your commercial cleaning company fails to communicate with you on a regular basis, how can they be sure that they are meeting your needs? Regular communication helps ensure that you are satisfied with the work being performed, allows you to ask questions of them, and helps to create a strong working relationship. You should always be provided with a direct line to upper-level management and should expect a prompt response to all inquiries.

 

4 Poorly Maintained Equipment

A quality commercial cleaning service understands the value of properly maintained equipment. Furthermore, equipment like floor strippers, buffers, and waxing machines must be properly maintained.  This ensures efficient operation and prevents accidental damage to floors. Even everyday items like vacuum cleaners, ladders, and booms need to be well-maintained. Besides, if your janitorial service’s equipment is poorly maintained, you should wonder how much attention they pay to other aspects of their business.

 

5 Security Lapses

In many cases, commercial cleaning crews are expected to work outside of normal business hours. This means that you must trust them with access to your facility when nobody is there. For some companies, security goes beyond ensuring that doors are locked and alarms are set.  There may be additional security measures that cleaning crews need to understand and can be trusted to enforce.

The last thing that you want is to find that the cleaning crew failed to lock your doors or turn on the alarm prior to leaving. Your cleaning services company should ensure that their staff is well-trained on security protocols and that they are individuals who can be trusted. Proper background checks and onsite supervision are essential to ensure the integrity of the staff.

Do any of the above items remind you of your commercial cleaning company? If so, Complete Care Maintenance can help. We are dedicated to ensuring that our clients enjoy a worry-free relationship with a quality janitorial services company.

 

 

26 Jan 2020
Office building cleaning company

How To Tell If You Hired An Efficient Cleaning Company

Office building cleaning company

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.

15 Jan 2020
parking lot cleaning

5 Reasons To Maintain A Clean Parking Lot

parking lot cleaning

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.

 

 

05 Jan 2020
Corporate Cleaning Services

Hiring a Commercial Cleaning Service for the New Year

Corporate Cleaning Services

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.

 

 

 

 

16 Dec 2019
disinfecting

Cleaning | Sanitizing | Disinfecting Defined

disinfecting

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.

For radiation, sanitation can be achieved through the use of ultraviolet radiation.

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.