Spring is here! And for some of us, that means spring-cleaning will be added as an item on our to-do lists. Spring-cleaning is, after all, one of the rites of the season.

My spring-cleaning ritual has always included my office environment. Over the years, I have carved out time to organize, de-clutter and refresh my space. By doing so, I created a space with a “fresh start” so to speak.

After each spring-cleaning initiative, I felt energized and renewed. It turns out that my external surrounding was more important than I realized. It was linked to the way in which I sustained my leadership vitality. When my space was clean, I experienced reduced stress and enhanced productivity.

These spring-cleaning habits date back to my days as a young professional. I started my career with IBM where a clean desk policy was enforced. Each night, before leaving the office, I organized my space. Some nights it was my turn to be “on duty” as the clean desk administrator, writing up those who failed to maintain standards. Thus, I learned early on the habits of and reasons for maintaining a clean office environment.

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Floor care has long been considered an essential service for nearly every building service contractor. Most film and television depictions of cleaning employees, after all, show a janitor with a mop and bucket.

Of course, the mop-and-bucket method won’t work for every flooring surface. There is no one-size-fits-all procedure or chemical.

The key to maintaining a variety of floor surfaces is to keep abreast of the trends, know what covering and what finish you’re dealing with, and make sure you have the right procedure for the right material.

Here’s a rundown of what cleaning contractors need to know about the most common flooring types.

Resilient
Chances are, the stereotypical janitor seen on television is mopping a resilient, or vinyl composite tile (VCT), floor. These floors have been popular for years, and for good reason, says Donna Ward, marketing communications manager for flooring manufacturer Mannington Commercial, Salem, N.J. Vinyl has a proven track record when it comes to stain resistance, affordability, and ease of maintenance.

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The CDC recommends and encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as door handles, counter, tabletops, light switches, bathroom fixtures, phones, keyboards, tablets, and tables, to name but a few. With the electrostatic application, the disinfecting chemicals will cling to all surfaces, even areas that are normally hard to disinfect. When it is imperative that all surfaces are treated it is recommended to use electrostatic treatment. At DI Facility Services, we use electrostatic treatment helping our clients to keep their businesses clean and safe for all.

Give us a call at DI Facility Services to see how we can help keep your facilities clean and safe.

Wayne Holland – President, DI Facility Services Chicago

After months working from home or furloughed, a return to office life is looming for many of us as restrictions are eased. The office, however, is going to be a very different place when you do finally make it back to your desk. Not only has your employer had to make big changes regarding hygiene levels and employee safety, but you do too. Here we talk to health and safety expert Neil Cruden about how you can help to make your workplace as safe as possible and avoid the spread of Covid-19.

Companies have had to implement serious changes to the workplace to protect staff during the pandemic. This is evident in those places already open, such as supermarkets, factories, garden centres, healthcare facilities, and car showrooms, and will extend to offices when they start to open their doors too. Think staggered schedules, increased cleaning, one-way systems, screens, floor markings and barriers to help with social distancing.

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Wayne Holland – President, DI Facility Services Chicago

It’s difficult to perceive the importance of hygiene. Most people consider “cleaning” to be a sequence of tasks to be completed, but for others, it is a sort of art. One thing we do know is that people prefer to be clean. Being clean has an impact on everything we do, including the judgments we make and the ideas we create. The apparent cleanliness of anything has a big impact on how we feel about it. We form opinions of people, products, and businesses based on not just how clean it appears but how clean it feels. We naturally associate clean spaces with health, positivity, and vibrance.

A recent study that measured the public’s opinion and attitude of a facility based on its perceived cleanliness found that the level of cleanliness was 3x more influential in determining the overall customer rating compared to any other metric.

Understanding the perception and importance of being clean is important to appreciate its value – and cost. Many people believe that cleanliness is the most crucial element for customers when evaluating a restaurant; yet, it is apparent that offering a satisfying dining experience requires more than just good food and competent service. More than half of gym-goers expect their facility to be germ-free. Nobody wants to sit in someone else’s sweat, and when the floors are dusty and the toilets are in disorder, it’s easy to conclude that the equipment is unsanitary.

If your company provides on-site client service, you’ll profit from paying particular attention to the following areas:

• Keep all surfaces free of dirt – tables, countertops, windows, mirrors
• Clean where you walk – regularly maintain floors/carpet, remove clutter
• Pay extra attention to sanitary spaces – address bad odors, kitchen areas
• Do not forget the small stuff – door handles, ceiling fans, baseboards

DI Facility Services of Chicago Facilities Services Management can help you run a gym, restaurant, medical office, auto dealership, and more! Commercial cleaning, disinfection, repair, and maintenance services are our specialties. We design solutions that are tailored to your specific requirements and exceed your expectations. We are your one-stop-shop for all service provider requirements.

Call us today at 312-982-0103 to learn more about how we can assist you with your facility management needs!

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Wayne Holland – President, DI Facility Services Chicago

In the previous post, we discussed the various design options available and how they can aid in keeping toilets clean and in good repair. It’s also critical to have a well-thought-out strategy and adequate training for your cleaning crew. Maintaining the cleanliness of your restrooms is not a one-time occurrence. It’s a meticulously planned procedure that ensures the removal of dirt and filth, as well as the elimination of germs, bacteria, and viruses, protecting your clients, staff, and reputation. Staying on top of restroom cleanliness requires a well-thought-out approach.

Proper Training for Commercial Cleaning  Crews:

To begin, you should provide all cleaning employees with both orientation and follow-up training. Ensure that proper procedures are followed on a daily basis. Staying on top of your restrooms requires consistency.

Cleaning methods are an important element of the process that should never be overlooked, according to cross-contamination cleaning training. It should also underline the importance of not taking shortcuts. All methods, jobs, frequencies, equipment, and chemicals must be understood by cleaning employees as part of the process. They must also be taught a cross-contamination-free cleaning procedure. Cleaning from high to low, or from inside to out, for example.

Make PPE Standard Operating Procedure When Cleaning:

Personal protective equipment (PPE) should be properly trained in order to reduce injuries and protect employees and other building occupants. Changing gloves on a regular basis, for example, reduce the risk of germs, bacteria, and viruses spreading from one room to the next. The protocol should be spelled out in detail so that the cleaning crew understands exactly what is expected of them. All federal, state, and local ordinances should be met or exceeded during training.

Proper Use of Cleaning Chemicals:

Managers should specify which chemicals will be utilized and how they will be used. This involves following the manufacturer’s instructions to get the most out of your product. A broad-spectrum germicide disinfectant should be used in restrooms and cleaning staff need to know the “dwell or kill time” of the disinfectant.

Eliminate Cross-Contamination:

It is a good practice for cleaning staff to assume all surfaces are contaminated. Additionally, emphasis should be placed on the minimization of cross-contamination. For instance, a cloth used to clean toilets and urinals should not be used to clean the sinks or other fixtures in the restrooms. It is a good practice to use multi-colored microfiber cleaning cloths. You can assign a specific color to specific fixtures reducing the opportunity for cross-contamination to occur. Same with the use of chemicals. Cleaning staff should be trained to know which chemicals to use on which surfaces to maximize effectiveness.

Include Safety Standards in Your Restroom Cleaning Plan:

To provide a germ, bacteria, and virus-free environment, it should be understood that cleaning restrooms are not a once-a-day task. It is important to understand when the restrooms are being used more frequently. A good example would be over the lunch hour. Cleaning staff can keep an eye on things and provide clean-up when necessary.

Restrooms are an important part of the facility and they need to be properly maintained. Having the proper safety training in place for cleaning staff will ensure that they are knowledgeable of the types of germs, bacteria, and viruses they will encounter and how to properly clean and disinfect your restrooms. It will also reduce the chance of cross-contamination and help protect anyone using your restrooms.

When establishing or updating your restroom cleaning plan, please consider using DI Facility Services of Chicago. Our staff at DI Facility Services are fully trained in the cleaning and disinfecting of restrooms. And with our new All Cleaner XP System, we can provide a cleaning solution that will be the capstone of your restroom maintenance program. Our touchless system helps to reduce cross-contamination and will help to keep your restrooms in tip-top shape. A properly and well-maintained restroom will reduce the spread of germs, bacteria, and viruses within your facility.

Give us a call today at 312-982-0103 to find out how we can help using our All Cleaner XP System!

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In addition to their monthly cleanings, all facilities require deep cleaning. Deep cleanings are required and should be included in the building’s routine maintenance plan, whether it’s for an office, school, theater, clinic or hospital, church, library, restaurant, salon, or factory. A deep cleaning will maintain your space and keep it looking its best, as well as lift the moods of those who frequent it. Deep cleaning has been shown to make workplaces healthier and reduce the number of sick days taken by employees.

What is a deep clean?

Vacuuming, wiping and disinfecting surfaces, emptying trash, and other procedures are followed by facilities on a daily and weekly basis. Deep cleaning goes a step further than standard office cleaning. It will target areas that accumulate dirt and/or clutter over time. Furniture is moved and cleaned below, drawers and cupboards are emptied and wiped out, bathrooms are cleaned and polished more thoroughly, stains are removed from tile grout, filters are changed, and air ducts are cleaned out when a deep clean is completed.

During a deep clean, surfaces should be cleaned more completely. A full cleaning may also involve carpets and windows. Even with regular cleanings, dirt and grime accumulate with time, necessitating a deep clean to remove it, as well as those hard-to-reach locations.

How often should a deep clean be done?

It depends on the architecture and how the space is used, like with any frequency question. Knowing the hot spot regions, the number of people who use the facility, and the type of facility are all factors to consider when determining a deep cleaning schedule.

Deep cleanings should be done at least once a year. Spring is an ideal time to do a deep clean and it’s easy to remember to do a “Spring clean.” Facilities that get higher traffic or are potentially exposed to more germs, may opt to have a quarterly deep clean done.

Work with your facility manager to recognize when a deep clean is necessary and identify the areas of your facility that need the most attention. Your building will be healthier, and the people who use it will notice!

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How often should my office be cleaned?

The regularity with which an office is cleaned is determined by a number of factors, including how frequently the office is open, how many people use it each day, and what type of business is conducted there. The majority of the time, offices require cleaning more than once a week. While many workplaces only hire janitorial services once a week, they rapidly discover that dust accumulates, waste overflowing and consumables run out in-between visits.

Most offices either do not budget for cleaning services or ignore them in order to save money, and the result is that those offices are not as clean as they could/should be. Most offices require services at least twice a week. It may surprise you to learn that cleaning more frequently does not increase the cost of services and, in many circumstances, is a better option than cleaning once a week.

The cost will be slightly more, but the advantages will outweigh the cost because the office will be cleaner, better stocked, and ready to go. Customers will notice a cleaner office, and employees will take fewer sick days.

What are the “hot spot” areas in all office buildings that need the most attention?

Bathrooms, breakrooms, and communal spaces require the most frequent cleaning. Those who work full-time in an office building use the public restroom(s) on a daily basis. Many people bring their lunches to work and/or use the breakrooms on a regular basis. It’s not unusual for there to be a coffee spill (after all, what office worker doesn’t need a hot cup of joe to get the day started?!).

Lobbies, meeting rooms, kitchenettes, and outdoor patio areas are among the other common areas. Trash-containing food waste must be disposed of on a regular basis to avoid infestation. It’s critical to ensure that restrooms, breakrooms, and common areas are cleaned on a regular basis and that relevant spaces are disinfected. Trash must be removed. It is necessary to sweep and mop the floors. Phones, light switches, and any other frequently used surface should all be cleaned on a regular basis.

Other than janitorial cleaning, what regular office facility services should be managed?

When you examine everything involved with facility services, which is never just janitorial cleaning, the list of what is needed at an office space may get very long. Here is a list of services that must be addressed at any office in order to keep it in good working order.

• Window washing interior and exterior
• Pressure washing outdoor patios, sidewalks, and furniture
• Strip/wax of vinyl flooring and burnishing regularly
• Hot water extract of carpets and upholstery
• Lightbulb replacement and ceiling light fixture cleaning
• HVAC preventative maintenance and filter replacements
• Parking lot sweeping and restriping

Overall, working with a respected facility services management team on their side is the greatest method to ensure that office space in any building is cleaned properly and has a comprehensive maintenance schedule. Office personnel will not have to deal with these services on top of their regular job tasks if they have the necessary experience, tools, and agreements. It will make a significant difference in any business or office.

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