Posts Tagged ‘janitorial’

David Holly, co-author of Green Cleaning for Dummies and founder of Green Cleaning University offered this advice on the topic of laundering microfiber cloths:

“You really have no worry about machine washing in hot water – the typical hot water temperature of a home or commercial machine is below the temperature that can harm the fibers of a well made micro fiber cloth.

The two products to avoid are bleach and fabric softener. Bleach WILL damage the fibers. Fabric softener eliminates “static cling” or electrostatic energy – this is a critical part of what makes a micro fiber work. However, if you accidentally use some fabric softener – don’t panic – just rewash the cloth(s) and you’ll be fine. There is no permanent damage from this.

When washing, use a VERY SMALL amount of detergent. Micro fibers release the soil when washed very easily. Overuse of detergent is at best wasteful and at worst will load the cloth with detergent that remains after drying. A good starting point is 1/2 the amount you would normally use for a comparable size load. As with many chemicals in our business – more is NOT better.

A single cycle is fine for cleaning the cloths. There is no additional benefit from washing for more than one cycle – just wasting water and energy. The nature of the fibers helps prevent mold, mildew or other “nasties” from growing. By the same token, drying is not necessary either. They will air dry very quickly and will not mildew as they dry. If you choose to machine dry – this is where temperature IS an issue. Use a LOW setting. Dryer temps are MUCH higher than wash temps.

Do NOT dry any other cloths, rags, towels or other clothing with your micro fibers if you choose to machine dry them. They will pull all of the lint off these other materials and become so loaded that they may be worthless in the future.”

Copyright TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved.
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.

Whether you’re providing cleaning services to residential homes or commercial facilities, the amount of profit you’ll make is directly related to how quickly and efficiently you or your employees can clean. The less productive you are, the lower the profits.

Since every location is different, you’ll want to establish a routine for yourself or your employees so the same path is followed each visit. Generally, you’ll work in circular patterns, either clockwise or counter-clockwise.

If possible, carry as much as you can with you so there’s no need to run back and forth to pick up and drop off equipment or supplies. You should be able to carry spray bottles of all-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner, as well as microfiber cloths. To keep things together, buy a portable caddy, which you can carry with you. If working in an office, use a brute (trash can on wheels), and attach an apron or caddy that can carry your supplies. This will enable you to collect trash, dust, clean the breakrooms and restrooms without having to go back to collect different cleaning supplies.

Avoid backtracking and moving about the home or office erratically. This wastes precious time, and increases the chance that one or more tasks will be missed. When each home or office is given a specific route, it’s much easier to get into a flow or rhythm each time it’s cleaned.

When deciding on a routine, think logically. In homes, you may start with the back bedrooms and move forward to the entryway, leaving kitchens and bathrooms for last. For offices, you’ll usually work your way around the office removing trash, dusting, and spot cleaning. Then you’ll clean break rooms, coffee centers and rest rooms, leaving the floors for last.

When routines are established early, you take the guesswork out of cleaning, which means a bigger bottom line for your cleaning business!

Copyright TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved.
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.

When you’re in the cleaning business, chances are your employees will need to use ladders for some of their cleaning tasks. Whether it’s to wash windows or to dust a hard-to-reach ledge, training your employees to use ladders safely is very important if you don’t want them to fall. The following are tips for using ladders safely:

• Use a ladder that is the appropriate size for the task at hand.
• Use ladders that are in good condition. Check rungs to make sure they are secure and check your shoes for grease and grime, and clean if necessary.
• Never use a metal ladder when working with electrical fixtures.
• Stepladders should be opened fully with spreaders locked in place. Never use a stepladder as a straight ladder.
• Use both hands when climbing a ladder. Keep your weight centered between the rails and do not overreach on either side.
• Carry tools and window washing equipment on a tool belt.
• When working at heights exceeding 6 feet, have a second person hold and steady the ladder. Ladders should not be stored where they present a tripping hazard, nor where they can fall on people.
• Ladder angle – one foot out for each four feet of ladder working length.
• Always use a ladder or footstool on a flat, stable floor.
• Never stand on chairs, desks, boxes, books or other objects to reach up high.
• Never lean or reach to one side of the ladder. Instead, get down and move the ladder.
• Use caution cones when working in areas where there are a lot of people.

Copyright TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved.
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

If you clean commercial office buildings, you should know the difference between Class A, Class B, and Class C buildings. Why? Because when you bid on office buildings, you’ll most likely charge more per square foot for a Class A office than you will for a Class C office.

Property managers and owners of Class A office buildings usually have very high standards of cleanliness. They may also have specialized cleaning needs. Because of this you’ll be able to charge more for cleaning services.

Class A buildings have high-end finishes such as hard wood moldings like maple and cherry; 6 panel doors; countertops and flooring made from corian or natural stone such as granite and marble; sinks and faucets that are corian, china, and gold. Class A buildings will have high quality carpet or carpet tile, windows and doors. The building exterior will have an upscale design and look, and you’ll see more angles and architectural details. You’ll also see natural stone, granite, stamped concrete, fountains, high-end lighting and landscaping.

Class B buildings may have some of the same surfaces as a Class A office building, but a lesser grade. You will see a mix of hard woods, wood flat panel doors, formica countertops, ceramic tile, porcelain sinks and toilets. Design and look are not at the level of the Class A building. Medium grade carpet or carpet tile. You’ll see fewer angles and architectural details on the buildings.

Class C buildings will use lower cost materials, formica countertops, vct or sheet vinyl floors, vinyl baseboards, and lower grade carpet. The design will be basic with the use of lower grade windows and doors. You’ll also see very few angles and architectural details on Class C buildings. Steel buildings would also fit into this category.

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Sometimes custodial workers are in such a hurry to get the job done that they’re not cleaning properly, or they’re working too hard to get things cleaned. That’s because they’re not letting the tools and chemicals they’re using do most of the work. Below are 6 keys to cleaning more effectively, without wasting more time or energy in the process.

1. Taking advantage of time. Many cleaning chemicals need time to work, so if you just spray and wipe, the area may not be properly cleaned or disinfected. Read the directions on the label to see if the chemical needs dwell time in order to kill germs or loosen soil so you can more easily remove it from the surfact you’re cleaning.
2. Using the wrong chemical for the job. If you have greasy build-up on a stovetop, using an all-purpose cleaner may be the wrong choice because you’ll have to work much harder to get it clean. Choosing a degreaser or citrus cleaner that can break through the grease is a much better solution.
3. Agitation. Sometimes just spraying and wiping won’t get the job done properly. You may need a little more “elbow grease”, or you may need better equipment to clean more effectively. If you have a ceramic tile floor with dirty grout, you’d be better off using a slow speed floor machine with a good cleaning chemical and a nylo-grit brush in order to agitate the soil so it can be more easily removed. This is much more effective than trying to do it by hand with a grout brush.
4. Temperature. Some cleaning chemicals work best with hot water, and some work best in cool water. Be sure to read the directions to find out what water temperature you should be using when diluting the cleaning chemical.
5. Ventilation. When cleaning floors or carpets, ventilation is important to make sure the surfaces dry quickly. If floor surfaces are allowed to stay damp, you could be creating additional problems like growth of mold and mildew.
6. Soil removal. Some cleaning tools like feather dusters don’t remove soil, they just spread it around. Likewise, using vacuum cleaners without sealed bags or Hepa filters can spread soil that was just vacuumed up out into the air again. So removing soil is key to cleaning more effectively.

Think about the tools and procedures you use to clean. Is there equipment that you can use to make the job easier and more efficient? Are you using the cleaning chemicals according to the directions on the label? If not, consider the above tips and start cleaning more effectively.

Copyright (c) The Janitorial Store (TM)

Mopping floors seems like one of those things everyone knows how to do, but few people actually know the right way to do it. If you’re not using the right technique, you’re causing a lot more work for yourself and are probably taking a chance with your own safety as well. Following are the steps to proper mopping:

1. Mop heads come in different sizes. Choose a weight that works for your body size. If you choose one that is too heavy, you’ll likely put too much stress on your back and it might be more difficult to move quickly and efficiently.
2. Fill your mop bucket with 4 gallons of cool water. Add your cleaning solution according to manufacturer’s directions. Always use a neutral pH floor cleaner to keep from damaging any finish on the floor.
3. Before you start mopping a floor, make sure you sweep or vaccum it first. If you don’t remove the loose soil, you’ll simply push it all around the floor, making more of a mess. Use a putty knife to remove gum, stickers or other items stuck to the floor.
4. Put out wet floor signs near entrances to the area you’ll be mopping.
5. Start at the farthest corner of the room and work your way backwards toward the door. Keep the mop bucket on the section of floor that has not been mopped yet in an area where it won’t be tripped over.
6. Start by mopping along the baseboards to keep from slopping your cleaning solution up onto the wall or baseboard. Then fill in the open areas.
7. Never push the mop forward and backward. Instead, move it from side to side in a figure eight motion, overlapping each stroke as you move back and forth. Keep your back straight as you mop – do not twist your spine, as it puts stress on the back. Use your arm muscles to move the mop back and forth – do not use your back muscles.
8. As one side of the mop gets soiled, turn it over to use the other side.
9. Rinse the mop in clean water and wring it out. Try to wring out as much liquid as possible, but do not force the wringer and do not twist the mop head as it will break the fibers.
10. Change water as necessary.
11. When the floor is dry, pick up the wet floor signs. Rinse out the mop head, mop bucket and sink. Store the mop properly – hang it so it can air dry.

Copyright (c) The Janitorial Store (TM)

Stripping and waxing floors is a service that many cleaning companies provide, but not all are doing it productively and safely so as to maximize profit on the job.

If you want to provide floor care services, you need to make sure your employees are following the procedures YOU set for them. Below are preparation tips for stripping and waxing floors:

• Start with a standard equipment checklist. All your stripping and waxing tools and equipment should be kept separate from other cleaning equipment. We suggest keeping tools and chemicals in a heavy duty tote. Keep a laminated checklist of required equipment in the tote so you or your employees can go through the list when preparing for a job to make sure nothing is missing. There is nothing more frustrating than getting to the job site only to find that your putty knife or some other important piece of equipment is missing!
• Measure all chemicals according to manufacturer’s instructions. Read the label to make sure chemicals are being diluted properly. Employees who don’t follow directions and use the “glug-glug” method of measuring are taking risks with the floor they’re working on and they’re also taking risks with their own safety.
• After mixing chemicals, take all equipment and tools to the area being stripped and waxed. Running back and forth is a waste of time and productivity so make sure everything you need is close at hand.
• Set up temporary barriers. Use yellow tape or rope to block the area. Floors that are being stripped and waxed are slippery so keeping the area blocked off helps to prevent slip/fall accidents.
• Wear safety equipment such as gloves, goggles, knee pads and rubber shoe covers.
• After the floor has been stripped and you’ve applied the first coat of finish, you have time between coats to work on cleaning up the equipment. Make sure you train your employees to remain productive while waiting for finish to dry. Each piece of equipment can be cleaned, dried and loaded back into the vehicle.

Part of the reason cleaning companies lose money on stripping and waxing is due to lack of training and lack of productivity. The more time wasted on a job, the more money you lose. By putting systems into place for stripping and waxing floor jobs, you’ll maximize your profit.

Copyright © TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved.
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.

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the question of using disinfectants and providing green cleaning services. The first thing to keep in mind is that there is no such thing as a safe disinfectant – they are all designed to kill organisms.

As a green cleaning service provider, your goal is to look for opportunities to reduce the use of disinfectants. In many cases, people are using disinfectants in areas where a general purpose cleaner would suffice. If you just need to remove soil from a surface, then use a general purpose cleaner. Disinfectants should only be used in areas of high risk. High risk means there is a possibilty that a disease causing organism could be transferred from an object or surface to a person.

There are manufacturers who sell environmentally friendly disinfectants like Rochester Midland’s Envirocare Neutral Disinfectant. What makes these types of cleaners “green”, is that they are a less hazardous alternative to conventional disinfectants. In other words, they cause less damage to the surface you’re cleaning, they’re less corrosive, and they cause less irritation to respiratory systems. They do kill the organisms they’re intended to kill, but without killing aquatic life.

So if you’re searching for a way to replace your conventional disinfectants and still provide green cleaning services, look for a product manufactured by a reputable company who offers many Green Seal certified or Eco Logo certified products. These companies have done extensive research and development of environmentally friendly products.

Copyright TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved.
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.

 In the world of cleaning, we as business owners need to educate ourselves and our employees on how to clean and sanitize the surfaces we care for. Bacteria growth is a big concern for our clients because they want to protect their employees, customers and visitors from unhealthy environments.

Understanding bacteria and how it grows and moves is one of the starting points in learning how to keep the environments we care for, clean.

Bacteria Reproduction Facts: 

1. Bacteria reproduce by dividing. Once the cell reaches its maximum size it starts to come together in the middle and eventually breaks in two. This process can take 15 to 30 minutes.  
2. In just 5 hours, one bacterium can turn into over 1 million bacteria. 
3. Since you would rarely start with just 1 bacterium on any given surface, you can see where bacteria can spread into millions and billions of bacteria very quickly. 

How Bacteria Spread:

Bacteria don’t spread on their own. Here are some ways bacteria find their way to other surfaces. 

1. People are carriers of bacteria and can pass the bacteria to others in a variety of ways. 
2. They can travel through the air when someone sneezes. 
3. We deposit them on objects we touch, so bacteria can literally be anywhere. This is why cleaning companies must pay particular attention to “touch points” like door knobs, telephones and desk tops when cleaning and disinfecting. 
4. Animals and insects can carry bacteria. 

Methods of Killing Bacteria: 

1. Heat – this method can include sterilization (steam under pressure), moist heat (autoclaves), boiling, and dry heat (hot air sterilization). 
2. Cold – cold doesn’t actually kill bacteria, but it inhibits the growth. 
3. Direct sunlight or ultraviolet light. 
4. Chemical Agents like disinfectants or germicides. 

By having an understanding of bacteria and how it spreads, you can make more informed choices on the products you choose to use and what areas may be at higher risk of bacteria growth.

Copyright © TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved.
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.

In the cleaning industry, there are misunderstandings about disinfects and sanitizers.

If it is a food service area, then you’ll be interested in sanitizers. If it’s a medical facility, then you’ll be more interested in disinfectants.

A disinfectant, is a chemical that completely destroys all organisms. The organisms it kills are disease causing bacteria and pathogens.

From a legal standpoint, disinfectants must reduce the level of pathogenic bacteria by 99.9%, during a time frame of greater than 5 minutes but less than 10 minutes.

A sanitizer in contrast, is a chemical that reduces the number of micro-organisms to a safe level. It does not need to eliminate 100% of all organisms to be effective.

Sanitizers, do not kill viruses and fungi. In a food service situtation the sanitizer must also reduce the bacteria count by 99.9% and are required to kill infectious organisms within 30 seconds.

If it’s just general cleaning you are interested in to remove soil, you should consider using an all-purpose cleaner rather than a, disinfectant or sanitizer.

Always use a disinfectant on your restrooms.