Steve and Jean Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.thejanitorialstore.com.

Does your cleaning business have a website? Bet you've heard this question before. What's the big deal? Why does a local cleaning service need a website? Isn't that for companies who do business all over the country? Sure, it is, but if you haven't joined the millions of businesses who have a presence in the Internet, then you're missing a huge marketing opportunity. Here are a few reasons your cleaning company needs a website:

1. Websites Offer and Inexpensive Way to Promote Your Cleaning Business – Your website is continuously there promoting your business and possibly generating sales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
2. More Potential Customers Will Find Your Cleaning Business – Increasing numbers of potential customers are using the Internet to find cleaning service providers.
3. Your Website is a Constant Showcase for Your Business – A website can showcase everything your cleaning business has to offer in one convenient location; from your customers' own home or office!
4. Customers Can Check Out Your Cleaning Company Anonymously – Visitors to your site can spend as much time as they like getting to know you and your company; and no hovering salesman means less pressure for your potential clients.
5. Enhance Your Marketing Efforts; A website can effectively supplement and enhance your company's marketing activities. Be sure to add your website URL to all marketing materials, including your Yellow Pages ad. Check to see how many of your competitors have a website URL listed in their ad; you might be surprised! Potential customers will notice this and will probably visit your site so they can find out more about your business without the added sales pressure (See #4).
6. Answer Customers' Frequently Asked Questions – A lot of your time can be spent answering the same questions over and over again. These are the questions customers want to have answered before they decide to do business with you. Posting these answers on your website is convenient for the customer, and frees up your time as well.
7. Establish Your Brand with Your Own Domain Name – (www.yourcompany.com) establishes strong online brand identity, and also allows you to set up email addresses specific to your own company, which creates a more professional appearance in the eyes of your customers.
8. Greater Consumer Impact – The Internet provides a level playing field for all companies. A well-designed website for a small company can have just the same impact and presence on the web as a multi-national corporation.
9. More Marketplace Exposure – The Internet opens your business up to a wider area of potential customers. Other websites, like Chambers of Commerce sites will link back to your site, thereby giving you more chances of being found by potential customers.
10. Gain an Edge Over the Competition – Your competitors could potentially have a substantial market share and be further along the cutting edge of marketing technology over your company due to their existing presence on the web. Your cleaning company simply cannot afford to be left behind!

So how do you create a website if you have no knowledge of how to build it and have a very limited budget with which to create it? Check out The Janitorial Store's Online Web Builder (coming soon!), which is exclusively for small janitorial and cleaning service companies. So easy to use, you'll have your website up in no time!

This article was created by Steve and Jean Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more
profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weeklycleaning tips at http://www.thejanitorialstore.com.

Are you just getting starting with your cleaning business? If so, you are
probably looking for good equipment at an affordable price. One place you can
begin looking is Ebay. But
where do you start and how do you know if you are buying a "good" piece of
equipment?

There are two ways you can begin searching for equipment on
Ebay. First, you can go to the Equipment for
Sale page at TheJanitorialStore.com, where you'll see a list of categories
of cleaning equipment. We've actually done the work for you – just choose the
category you're interested in, for example, ProTeam Back Pack
Vacuums, and you'll see an up-to-date listing of all ProTeam vacuums listed
on Ebay right now. If there's one you're interested in, just c.l.i.c.k on the
item and you'll be taken to that listing.

The second way you can search for equipment on Ebay is to go directly to
their website (Ebay.com), where you will see a search box. Here you can type in
what you are looking for – burnisher, carpet cleaning equipment, vacuum cleaner,
etc . Once you find the piece of equipment you are looking for, carefully read
the product description and what, if any return policy the seller has.
It's also very important to check out the seller's feedback. Is
the seller reputable? Do they ship things timely? Does the seller promptly
answer e-mails if the buyer has a question?

How do you put in a bid? Click on the "place bid" button. If
you have an ebay account you simply sign in and place your bid. If you do not
have an e-bay account, it will walk you through the steps to create an account.
Most larger items for sale on e-bay will have a minimum bid starting price, so
don't expect to get a carpet cleaning machine for $1.00! Consider not only the
price of the item you are buying, but what is it going to cost to ship it?
Remember, the cost of shipping is added on to the final price you pay for the
equipment and is NOT included in your bid.

Besides just "bidding", some items will give you the option of "Make
an Offer" or "Buy it Now". If you really want the piece of equipment
you can forget about just putting in a bid and give the seller an offer or
accept their "Buy it Now" price. This avoids the auction process and you don't
have to worry about someone else putting in a higher bid and w.i.n.n.i.n.g the
item.

Before buying a piece of equipment on Ebay consider your maintenance
needs. Do you have a local janitorial distributor or supply store where
you can buy parts or that can help you to maintain and repair the equipment? If
you are planning on maintaining the equipment yourself, do you know how? Do you
have somewhere to buy replacement parts? Does the equipment come with a manual
or is there a manual available (look on the manufacturer's website)?

If you're looking for cleaning equipment – give Ebay a try! You might be able
to find just what you need at a fraction of the price. Just be sure to follow
the above tips to make sure you're getting a fair deal.

This article was provided by Steve and Jean Hanson who helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more
profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly
cleaning tips at http://www.thejanitorialstore.com.

Being in the commercial cleaning business one of the biggest challenges is removing dust and one of the main problems I have dealed with is removing dust from desk.  When you are standing looking down at a desk, it's very easy not to see all the dust. 

The tip is to get down to the level as if you were sitting at the desk, at that level you will see all the dust and it can be easily removed.

p.s. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.thejanitorialstore.com. The information provided by the janitorial store helped us get our business up and running.

Pick the biggest, baddest task on your cleaning schedule (you DO have a cleaning schedule I hope?), and knock it out first. Ignore the pain. When training for sports we hear 'no pain, no gain,' and it applies to work priorities as well.

 

Since the fall of the economy in 2008, it's becoming more and more evident that janitorial business owners need to increase the efficiency of their operation if they want to survive. When you increase efficiency you stop wasting time, which saves money.

Most janitorial companies don't even realize the waste that occurs in their own business. These are the things that you need to be aware of and change if you want to continue adding profit to the bottom line.

How do you get started?

Dusting is an essential task your employees need to do in every office building.  Visible dust creates an unsightly office building which can translate into an uncaring image.  A well dusted building translates into a positive and pleasing appearance to both employees and visitors.  A clean working environment also encourages neatness and better work habits.

Dusting is also essential as it improves environmental safety.  Accumulated dust can be an irritation to eyes, lungs and skin, and plays havoc with individuals who have allergies.  If dust is left to accumulate, it can soil hands, clothing and paper items and also cause damage to electronic equipment.  Proper dusting is an important part of good sanitation practices.  Airborne dust and contaminants can spread infection.

If proper dusting is not done on a regular basis, dust builds up, hardens and becomes thick in corners and hard to reach areas.  Dust can stain furniture and cause an unsightly film on glass and hard surfaces.  If dust is left long enough on hard surfaces it can eventually cause permanent discoloration.  Accumulation of dust can also interfere with the proper operation of a building’s heating and cooling system.

To properly dust office buildings, you should have the following equipment and supplies on hand:  microfiber cloths, static dusters, extension dusters, cotton cloths, disinfectant, all-purpose cleaner, and window cleaner. Back pack vacuums with brush attachments or crevice tools should also be used for getting into hard to reach areas.

How often should you dust?  Dusting should be done once or twice a week on horizontal surfaces.  Sides of desks, file cabinets and other vertical surfaces should be dusted once every two to four weeks.  A good general rule to follow is if the surface is above eye level or below knee level; dust it every two to four weeks.  Surfaces that are between eye level and knee level should be dusted on a weekly basis.

Following the steps outlined below will make your dusting faster and more effective:

1)     Dust high surfaces first and work downward.  Start at one end of the room and move in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction.

2)     Move objects (phones, paper weights, pictures, etc.) and dust under them.  However, work papers should not be moved.  Dust around any papers left on desks or tables.  Papers in a pile can be moved slightly so you can dust under and around them unless your client has instructed you not to disturb any paperwork.

3)     Do not carelessly flick your dust cloth, static duster or extension duster as you dust.  This will spread the dust, but not capture it.  Instead, wipe the surface. 

4)     Telephones should be feather dusted on a daily basis.  If the building is not cleaned daily, then feather dust the phones every time you clean the building.  Telephone handsets should be cleaned with a disinfectant on a weekly basis.  Spray disinfectant on a rag and wipe the handset and cradle only.  Never, spray cleaner directly on to the phone.

5)     Once a week dust and/or clean the following: light switches, door jambs, hand rails, spot clean walls and smudges on interior glass.

6)     Chairs should be dusted from top to bottom.  Start by dusting any trim on top, then the sides and work your way down to the bottom legs. 

7)     When dusting blinds, first dust across the top.  Then close the blinds and dust the entire surface.  Close blinds to the other side and dust the newly exposed surface area.  Another way to dust blinds is to use a back pack vacuum with a brush attachment.

 8)     In hallways and corridors make sure to dust fire doors, fire extinguishers, exit signs, show cases, bars on exit doors, door frames, and any other horizontal surfaces.

9)     Make sure to dust any areas where dust can accumulate, such as clocks, picture frames, cabinet tops and sides, the sides of desks, partitions, air vents, lights, baseboards, and window sills.

10)  Use a back pack vacuum to clean hard to reach areas and upholstered furniture.

Proper dusting will help to ensure that your office buildings have a neat and tidy appearance.  Dusting is also necessary to ensure a clean work environment and a healthy building.  Paying attention to details while dusting will help guarantee a satisfied client!

Copyright (c) The Janitorial Store (TM)

Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.thejanitorialstore.com.

"We don't do windows." How many times have you heard that phrase before? Well if you have a cleaning company, then you probably don't want to say that to your customers, because you'd be turning away a profitable add-on service…and who doesn't want more sales and profits?