Posts Tagged ‘commercial cleaners’

Does a Clean Workplace Mean Better Productivity? Absolutely!

Monday, November 30th, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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What is the Quality of the Air in Your Office?

Monday, November 30th, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Commercial Carpet Cleaning: Which Type to Choose?

Monday, November 30th, 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Important Tips to Select the Best Office Cleaning Service

Saturday, September 26th, 2009

Given the amount of activity that happens daily in an office, it is necessary to clean it regularly to ensure your clients, regular visitors and of course, your employees, enjoy the space and perceive you as a winner.

A dirty and messy office not only scares clients away, but will directly and drastically affect productivity, while it can even cause disease to proliferate.  On the other hand, a clean office welcomes people and makes them feel good, while your people will be able to work more efficiently and happily.

As you can see, cleaning an office is a serious activity and one that demands a professional, to ensure it is done correctly and fast, without disturbing your business activities.  Hiring an office cleaning service is a necessity, and you must take the time to make sure you are hiring the best one for the job.

Office cleaning services should be provided by professionals who really understand how buildings operate and who know the guidelines in regards to chemicals and cleaners in order to avoid allergies.  These services should free business owners from the hassle of inspecting and investing time in controlling the office’s cleaning, they must be very strict in regards to chemicals, and they have to respect the office’s established schedule to perform their job.

A good office cleaning service will not touch the employees’ things; it will only clean the spaces without invading the area.  Most companies offer these services: restroom cleaning, disinfecting, trash collection and removal, sweeping, mopping and vacuuming, dusting, vent cleaning, window washing and cleaning of light fixtures, among others.

A serious office cleaning company will have impeccable references to back up its performance.  It must offer these references to the clients so that they can confirm how satisfied other users are.

Big companies require regular cleaning services, while smaller ones may need it sporadically.  In any case, you can easily identify its necessity based on the amount of activity at the office.

Make sure you trust the service, check that certain things are not disappearing from your office after the cleaners have been there and have clarity on what supplies they will be bringing with them and what you need to provide.

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