Janitorial Services

31 Jul 2020

Commercial Cleaning, Healthcare Cleaning, Janitorial Services, New mj@5150design.net 0 comment

Tips For Hiring Medical Facility Cleaning Services

Not every commercial cleaning company is suited for medical facility cleaning. There are certain standards that need to be met to protect you, your staff, and your patients. Regardless of the size of your facility, you need to hire a company that understands the uniques needs of the medical industry and has the training and expertise to meet those needs. Here are four tips for hiring a competent medical facility cleaning company:

1) Training

Because healthcare facilities represent unique environments with very specific cleaning requirements it is imperative that you hire a cleaning company that trains their employees specifically for healthcare facility cleaning. A quality healthcare facility cleaning company will be able to describe to you the type of training they provide to their employees to ensure proper policies and procedures are followed when working within a healthcare facility.

HIPPA Compliance – Any medical facility training program should include training on HIPPA compliance. All staff should be well educated and compliant with HIPPA standards as well as any internal policies with regard to patient privacy.
Bloodborne Pathogen Training – In addition to HIPPA training, cleaning staff should be in OSHA’s Bloodbourne Pathogens Standards. They should recognize that they are not to handle sharps or waste liners marked ‘Danger – Infectious Waste”.
Cross-contamination Avoidance – The last thing you want is a cleaning company that is spreading more germs than they are eliminating. Your medical facility cleaning company should have very specific policies and procedures in place to reduce or eliminate cross-contamination and all employees should be fully trained in this regard.
OSHA Compliance – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets standards for safe and healthy workplaces and work practices. These standards are designed to protect both the worker and the business. They include guidelines for safe chemical handling

2) Experience

Obviously you want an experienced commercial cleaning company to manage your medical facility cleaning program, but a company with experience specific to the healthcare industry is paramount. An experienced healthcare facility cleaning company has processes and procedures in place that are designed specifically for the healthcare industry.

They understand the unique needs of the healthcare industry, they understand the difference between cleaning and disinfecting and the need for both, and they understand the concepts of cross-contamination and Healthcare Acquired Infections (HAIs). While training and knowledge are invaluable assets, nothing can replace experience.

3) Employee Screening

As a healthcare facility administrator, you understand the importance of trustworthy staff. The healthcare industry is often home to vulnerable populations, sensitive medical records, and prescription drugs. Yours is an industry ripe for criminal activity and it is vital that whomever you hire to provide cleaning and disinfecting services vigorously screen heir employees.

Any medical facility cleaning service worth their salt should be able to provide detailed information with regard to their employee screening processes upon request.

4) Oversight

Even with proper training and employee screening, smart medical facility cleaning services always have a supervisor on site. This practice ensures oversight of the cleaning staff and gives you direct access to management personnel. Having a manager on-site allows you to immediately address perceived problems, request specific services, and address any other issues that may arise.

In Conclusion

Hiring a medical facility cleaning service is not a hit and miss process. You should do your research, interview prospective providers, and ask a lot of questions. Don’t trust your healthcare cleaning to amateurs, hire the best.

10 Jul 2020

Commercial Cleaning, Janitorial Services, New mj@5150design.net 0 comment

Restroom Cleaning: Is Your Cleaning Company Doing Enough?

Let’s face it, nobody likes a dirty restroom. It is not just that a dirty restroom is unsightly, it is also unsanitary and could be causing health problems for you, your staff, and your customers. What is worse is that if your restroom is not clean, the rest of your business or facility isn’t clean either.

Think about this scenario: An employee enters your unclean restroom, does their business, and exits without washing their hands. On their way out they touch the stall door, the restroom door, and then proceed to use the microwave, the water fountain, and the copier machine.

Even if your workplace was clean before this single episode, it is not clean now. The fact of the matter is that an unsanitary restroom makes for an unsanitary workplace and an unsanitary workplace can lead to lower productivity, higher absenteeism, and increased costs.

So is your cleaning company doing enough to keep your workplace restrooms clean and sanitary?

Not All Commercial Cleaning Companies Are Created Equal

Commercial cleaning companies come in all shapes and sizes and like in any industry there are those who do an exceptional job, those that do a mediocre job, and those that do not do a good job al all. When it comes to keeping your restroom clean, mediocre doesn’t cut it and if they are doing a poor job, you may as well clean it yourself.

The best commercial cleaning companies do many things better than the other guys, but the two things that make them stand out is their understanding of the cleaning process and their adherence to it. Exceptional commercial cleaning companies have processes in place that help ensure consistent and thorough cleaning, and the one place where these procedures are most evident is the restroom.

Restrooms Cleaned Right

A truly professional commercial cleaner understands that an unsanitary restroom is a catalyst for an unsanitary workplace. They understand the difference between cleaning and disinfecting and the need for both. They understand dwell times, cross-contamination, and the value of a truly effective and efficient cleaning process.

First off, a well-organized commercial cleaner has the right tools and cleaning agents required to properly clean a restroom. They will use a variety of cleaning products for different tasks, disposable or color-coded cleaning cloths to avoid cross-contamination, and will thoroughly clean and maintain their equipment after each service.

In addition, a professional cleaning company will adhere to safety procedures, blocking off restrooms, posting wet floor signs, and donning protective equipment to protect themselves and others. They will be familiar with the chemicals being used and be well-versed in how to use them safely.

Dust Above The Floor Surfaces

Dusting above the floor surfaces first helps to ensure that you do not dirty lower surfaces later in the process. Be sure to clean any soiled areas on walls, stalls, and doors, remove graffiti, gum, and clean grout lines.

Check and Refill Dispensers | Empty Trash Receptacles

Check to make sure that dispensers, hand dryers, etc. are working properly and refill those that are running low. These should include toilet paper, sanitary napkins, paper towels, and soaps. Empty trash receptacles and replace liners.

Pre-cleaning Toilets and Urinals

Toilets and urinals should be pre-cleaned by removing any debris from in and around these fixtures, placing urinal strainers in a disinfecting solution, and dispensing of depleted urinal cakes.

Cleaning High-touch Surfaces

The first step in any sanitizing process is to clean. Cleaning removes soils and dust from a surface and prepares it for effective disinfection. Failing to clean first, is failing to disinfect.

Toilets, urinals, sinks, dispensers, countertops, door handles, and other high-touch surfaces should all be cleaned thoroughly.

Accounting For Dwell Times

Once all high-touch surfaces have thoroughly cleaned a disinfectant should be applied. This includes the disinfecting of toilets, urinals, sinks, countertops, door handles, and other high touch surfaces. Once applied, move on to other tasks to allow for appropriate dwell times.

Fixtures and Glass

Assuming appropriate dwell time has elapsed, remove any disinfecting solution from sink fixtures, dispensers, and door handles. Polish these surfaces with a metal polish or glass cleaner. Glass cleaner will generally shine fixtures without polish buildup. Wipe mirrors and glass surfaces with glass cleaner and designated cleaning cloth.

Wipe Down High-touch Areas To Dry

Assuming appropriate dwell times have elapsed return to the high-touch areas to complete the disinfecting process. Be sure to use the appropriate cleaning cloth for each respective surface. You don’t want to wipe the countertop with the cloth used on the urinal. Be sure to replace any urinal strainers and disinfectant cakes after wiping down urinals.

Mop The Floors

At this point, the only surface remaining should be the floor. Restroom floors should be cleaned with the appropriate mix of cleaning agents and water. Too much of a chemical agent will leave the floor sticky and dull, not to mention more prone to dirt buildup between cleanings.

A microfiber mop is the best mop option as it does not require repeated dipping in dirty mop water and will not leave your floors as wet. In addition, microfiber mops tend to more effectively remove dirt, as opposed to pushing it around.

We Can Help

Need a commercial cleaning company that does restrooms right? Complete Care can help! Contact us today to learn how we can help keep your business or facility clean and sanitary.

04 Jun 2020

Business Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Janitorial Services, New, Residential Cleaning Doug Mcmurtrie 0 comment

Going green and clean: Top eco-friendly commercial kitchen and office cleaning tips

Office and Commercial kitchen and cafeteria cleaning don’t need to be back-breaking, noxious-smelling activities to be feared. In this article, we’ll give you some advice on office cleaners, commercial green cleaning products, and go through some ways to save the environment at work.

We’ll look at:

Traditional office and kitchen cleaning supplies
Eco-friendly cleaning products
The power of steam cleaning
The pros and cons of the DIY eco cleaner
Deep kitchen cleaning checklist
Office cleaning tips
Other ways to go eco-friendly in the office

Read on to discover how to go green and join other eco-friendly businesses that are helping save the environment.

Keeping your kitchen and office clean and tidy is a basic business health and safety requirement. It’s necessary to help keep your employees and customers happy and healthy. There are expert teams out there who specialise in professional kitchen cleaning and office cleaning so you can be confident you’re meeting all the guidelines. But if you’re looking for ways to be green about your cleaning, it may be a good idea to talk to them about the chemicals and equipment they’re using in your workplace.

Traditional office and kitchen cleaning supplies

While effective and excellent at killing germs and viruses, a lot of the harsh chemicals used to clean professional workspaces are bad for the environment. Some even contain phosphates, which can be harmful to aquatic life. Others use hydrocarbons and compressed gas, which is terrible for air pollution and global warming. And that’s not even taking into account the single-use plastic and packaging that a lot of these come in.

Having a conversation with your kitchen and office cleaners about sourcing more environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies and methods is a simple way you can go green and clean.

Eco-friendly cleaning products

People can be sceptical about sanitising offices and cleaning kitchens with green products, but they’re just as effective at removing dirt, grime and bacteria. Swapping to eco cleaners is the first (and easiest) step you can take in your ‘how to be greener’ journey. And what’s great is that there are loads of products out there that fit the bill, such as degreasers, surface cleansers, and even washroom supplies.

Using more products like these is responsible, effective and good for the environment.

The power of steam cleaning

When it comes to kitchen cleaning and sanitizing, there are so many extra spaces you have to consider. Ceilings can become caked in grease, kitchen ducting can harbour dust, and grates, drains, and sinks can start to smell so much sooner thanks to the fat and food waste siphoned away.

There’s a lot of potential for bacteria in a kitchen, so regular deep cleans are necessary to help avoid customer illness and keep your business compliant with all regulations. But these deep cleans don’t need to be full of harsh chemicals and commercial green cleaning products – Steam cleaning is one of the best ways to be green and clean.

Steam Cleaners can reach temperatures between 66-149° C, so they’re certainly hot enough to kill germs, melt grease and remove a multitude of stains with zero scrubbing. And there’s not a chemical or cleaning agent in sight. You can steam clean your floors, surfaces, and appliances. They’re ideal for those out-of-reach places too. Just be careful not to use them on anything porous or prone to heat damage.

The pros and cons of the DIY eco cleaner

In your eco-friendly cleaner research, you’re sure to come across some do-it-yourself cleaning solution recipes. Vinegar sprays, lemon juice, bicarbonate of soda solutions – they’re all well-known for their home-cleaning prowess, but are they suitable for use in commercial kitchens and offices?

They’re certainly effective, but having overwhelming vinegar and lemony smells in a kitchen could be confusing for cooks. You need to take into account the time some of these take to work. Some bicarbonate of soda oven-cleaning hacks need overnight soaking to break down stains.

Using pantry staples may seem like a low-cost, eco-friendly option for cleaning your kitchen and office, but you’ve got to consider the time spent, any leftover scents, and overall effectiveness. Professionally-produced cleaning products are thoroughly checked for their efficiency – can you say the same for your homemade vinegar/bicarb solution?

Deep kitchen cleaning checklist

To help you stay on top of it and to keep those germs at bay – here’s a kitchen cleaning to-do list of things to consider and areas you shouldn’t forget:

Think about introducing rubber mats to trap dirt and runaway food – Brush and clean these daily
Sweep and mop the floors with eco cleaners, degreasers and disinfectants
Clean high-traffic touchpoints like door handles, switches, etc. daily
Don’t forget hard-to-reach and inaccessible areas such as ceilings, lighting, shelving, etc.
Keeping all your appliances clean will improve efficiency – don’t forget to scrub those seals and shelves
Clean the kitchen vents and kitchen ducting regularly.
Give the rubbish and recycling bins a clean to reduce smells

Office cleaning tips

Offices aren’t as high-maintenance as a commercial kitchen, but there are areas which need special attention as well:

Introducing rubber kitchen mats or rugs will trap dirt and spills – you can buy machine-washable ones for ease of use
Clean high traffic touchpoints like door handles, switches and desks daily
Vacuum regularly and thoroughly clean carpets at least once per year – consider a steam carpet cleaner as a green alternative
Keep the fridge and other communal appliances clean to improve efficiency and longevity
Clean the inside and outside of the bins to reduce unwelcome smells
Encourage staff to keep with workspaces clean. This includes keyboards, monitors, and other equipment.

Other ways to go eco-friendly in the office

As well as making your cleaning greener, there are other ways to help the environment at work. For example, adding some plants and greenery to office spaces – they’re great for increasing oxygen levels and they create a welcoming atmosphere. To reduce the use of energy and encourage natural light, keep your windows clean both inside and out. And you could get some recycling bins and only choose reusable cups and plates.

Banishing paper towels is another great option – microfibre towels are super absorbent and you can get loads of different kinds of low-energy hand-dryers these days. You should also consider smarter dispensers and sensor taps – they’re much more hygienic and reduce water consumption too.

There are so many different ways you can help the environment and keep your commercial kitchens and offices clean, all you need to do is take that first step.

08 May 2020

Business Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Janitorial Services, New, Office Cleaning mj@5150design.net 0 comment

Your Public Restroom and Your Reputation

Your business’ reputation is one of your most important assets, and as a business owner, you likely invest a great deal of time and effort into nurturing it. Reputation is not something that you can buy, it is a reflection of other people’s opinions and impressions of your business, its employees, and its services. Making a good first impression is the first step toward building a positive reputation.

While most business owners recognize that cleanliness is important to making a good first impression, many do not extend that philosophy beyond the lobby and reception area. Despite the common sense appearance of this thought process, you might be surprised to learn that customers are likely more concerned with the cleanliness of your restrooms.

According to a survey conducted by Bradley Corporation, the cleanliness of your restrooms is a major deciding factor with regard to customer perceptions of your overall business. According to the survey results:

69% of customers believe an unclean restroom indicates insufficient management
67% of customers experience a lowered opinion of the company when restrooms are dirty
63% of customers equate an unkempt restroom with a low degree of care for visitors’ comfort by the company

Each statistic makes it painfully obvious that the cleanliness of your public restroom has a direct impact on your customers’ satisfaction levels.

What Can You Do?

While everyone appreciates a clean restroom, no one wants to clean them. For most businesses maintaining a clean and sanitary restroom can be challenging and many use a commercial cleaning company to do the job for them. The key here is hiring the right company.

When considering commercial cleaning companies to manage your restroom cleaning needs there are several important things to consider. Obviously you want a company that is experienced, but you also want a company that can manage all of your restroom needs.

Your commercial cleaning company should:

Clean and disinfect all areas of the restroom with particular emphasis on high-touch areas like door handles, stall doors, faucets, hand dryers, and dispensers.
Clean and disinfect toilets and urinals, including hard to reach areas behind toilets and urinals
Clean and sanitize floors, walls, and countertops
Clean and sanitize sinks
Empty trash
Restock soaps, toilet paper, paper towels, feminine hygiene products, urinal cakes, and other restroom supplies.

Having a commercial cleaning company manage your restroom cleaning needs ensures that your restrooms are an asset to your company and that they reflect a positive image for your business. Your customers will appreciate it, your staff will appreciate it, and you will be assured that your clients and customers are not forming poor opinions of your business due to poor restroom maintenance.

27 Apr 2020

Business Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Floor Cleaning, Janitorial Services mj@5150design.net 0 comment

Top Tips For Maintaining Polished Concrete Floors

polished concrete

The good news is that while polished concrete floors are not maintenance-free, they generally are easier to maintain than other types of decorative concrete floors since they require no waxing or sealers. Still, without proper maintenance, your beautiful concrete floors will eventually lose their luster. This is especially true of floors in high-traffic environments like retail stores and commercial facilities.

Here are a few pro tips for maintaining your polished concrete floors:

1) Frequent Dust Mopping

Dust and dirt particles are abrasive and can scratch and mar the surface of your polished concrete, dulling the shine. Frequent dust mopping helps reduce the amount of dirt and abrasives present on your floors and will promote a longer-lasting luster.

2) Wet Mopping

Even with frequent dust mopping, more stubborn dirt particles will persist and you will need to use a wet mop to remove these particles. Always use clean water, a clean mop, and a pH neutral cleaning agent formulated to suspend dirt particles. While a mop and bucket are likely sufficient for smaller areas, an automatic scrubber with non-abrasive pads makes larger areas much more manageable.

3) Clean Spills Immediately

Spills and stains are the nemeses of polished concrete and should be addressed immediately so they are not absorbed into the concrete. Use clean water and a pH neutral cleaning agent to address stubborn spills and allow the cleaner enough time to break up any grease or grime before mopping. Do not allow the cleaner to dry on the surface as this too can damage the floor.

4) Use Floor Mats

In entryways and other high-traffic areas, consider using floor mats to protect your floors and to provide a means for people to wipe their feet upon entering your facility. Be sure to regularly vacuum your floor mats and remove them during wet and dry mopping. Just because they are there does not mean the floor underneath is maintenance-free.

5) Burnish Your Floors

Even with proper maintenance concrete floors may eventually lose their luster. If your polished concrete loses its shine you should have your floors burnished. This will bring back the original luster and leave your floors shining like new again.

Need help maintaining your polished concrete floors? Complete Care Maintenance can help! Call us at 1 (609) 275 8227 for a free no-obligation quote.

05 Feb 2020

Business Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Corporate Cleaning, Janitorial Services, Office Cleaning mj@5150design.net 0 comment

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

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 that you definitely 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 and can have adverse consequences for you, your staff, and your clients – not to mention your business’ bottom-line. Knowledge of proper cleaning techniques, the use of appropriate chemicals, and the safe operation of equipment are essential to ensuring a thorough and efficient cleaning.

2 Poor Quality Control

Training and professionalism are not a set and forget type of thing – they require oversite. Employees in any business need to remain engaged with the service they provide and need 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. Equipment like floor strippers, buffers, and waxing machines must be properly maintained to ensure efficient operation and prevent accidental damage to floors. Even everyday items like vacuum cleaners, ladders, and booms need to be well-maintained. If your commercial janitorial service’s equipment appears to be poorly maintained, it should make you 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 that can be trusted. Proper background checks and onsite supervision is 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.

16 Dec 2019

Commercial Cleaning, Janitorial Services, New mj@5150design.net 0 comment

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. 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. Disinfecting 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. 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 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.

09 Dec 2019

Floor Cleaning, Janitorial Services mj@5150design.net 0 comment

Floor Care During High Traffic Holidays

The holidays are peak season for many businesses and peak season means increased foot traffic. While all those potential customers coming through the doors is great for your bottom-line, it can wreak havoc on your floors. Failure to care for and protect your workplace floors can lead to expensive restoration or replacement costs later on – not so good for your bottom-line. This is where commercial floor cleaning services can help!

This guide is designed to show you how holiday traffic impacts your floors and what steps you can take to minimize damage and extend the life of your company’s flooring. (more…)

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