Keeping Your Business In Top Shape With Commercial Cleaning Services
What kind of impression does your business environment make to customers accessing the facility? Is it an inviting setting, or does it make them doubt the quality of your products and services? What about the employees? Are they comfortable at their workstations, or are they exposed to health risks during their time at the office? A clean environment is necessary to create a healthy workspace for your staff, and provide customers with a comfortable setting to engage you in what you’re offering. As part of the building maintenance program, the surfaces, appliances and structures around the property need to be taken care of to protect them from premature deterioration as well.
Common Areas Calling For A Professional Clean
- Window & Curb Care
From the sidewalks and walls, to the windows, the state of the outdoors has an instant impact on the curb appeal. These are surfaces that are exposed to pollution, dirt, traffic, organic waste from birds and insects, as well as the elements bearing down on the structures round-the-clock. Windows in particular are susceptible to extensive damage when dirt and grime are allowed to remain on the structure for long. From weakened glass panes to corroded frames and unsightly sills – they all need to be dealt with. When it comes to first impressions, the customers, vendors, suppliers and other potential partners accessing the facility will be sure to note the state of the windows, landscaping, signage and other exterior surfaces even before they walk through the front doors. There are also businesses like stores where the windows are used to display merchandise – and if they are in a soiled state, it directly impacts the sales that would have been made.
Having your windows taken care of as part of the commercial cleaning process will allow more natural light into the space. That dust and gunk that accumulates over time reduces the amount of light getting into the interior, making the working conditions dingy. The productivity of your employees is directly tied to the conditions of their workplace. You want them to carry out their activities in a vibrant setting, one where they can focus on their tasks without feeling like they are trapped all day. In fact, access to natural light and outdoor views is the leading desire in the workplace environment. With more natural light enhancing the look and feel of the workplace, your employees will be better placed to achieve higher work rates.
You also want to prolong the life of the windows. The dirt, overspray, and other particulate matter building up on the glass panes can cause them to get etched over time. This causes spidery cracks, which can lead to breakage of the installation. Getting this included in the commercial cleaning package of your service provider will get rid of the threats to the glass panes, allowing the installation to last for longer.
Allowing substances like mould and algae to overrun the different surfaces can cause extensive damage, with the growths eating away at the paintwork and causing it to deteriorate. It weakens the structure of materials like wood, as well as exposing persons on the premises to health risks due to the mould spores that are released into the surrounding airspace.
Additional benefits of having the window cleaning carried out professionally include:
- Safer approach
This is in two ways: ensuring that the cleaning products and tools that are used are safe for the windows, and secondly, the personnel themselves using procedures that will not put them at risk of bodily harm. There is a wide range of cleaning agents available in the market, and working with harsh products can damage the windows and surrounding structures. The professionals use processes like pure water window cleaning, where ultra-purified water is pumped up telescopic poles, and used to clean the windows. This coupled with agitation from soft-bristled brushes, gets the grime off the windows, without putting the structure at risk.
For the personnel themselves, their safety is a critical issue especially when dealing with windows on the upper floors. You don’t want to endanger your staff by having them work precariously on ladders. Methods like the use of telescopic poles allow the commercial cleaning crew to access the high-rise windows from the safety of the ground. That has the extra benefit of speeding up the cleaning process, as they are able to move from one window to the next with less effort compared to the traditional ladder, or working with the conventional suspension gear.
The commercial cleaning contractors also put in place warning signage around the area being worked on, to avoid accidents especially with all the employees and customers walking around the premises.
- Free up your workforce
You want your employees to focus on their service delivery, to not take precious time away from their work desks to clean the windows. Leave this to the certified professionals who have both the equipment and experience needed to deliver the desired results in a fraction of the time, and let your employees focus on growing your business.
Graffiti can also be a menace. Ruffians, rioters, and overenthusiastic “artists” deciding to use the walls and fences of your business premises to showcase their message can put a dent in your image. Graffiti all over the surface paints an image of an area where security is a concern. In other cases, your business ends up being used as a platform to spread a message that you may not even agree with. Whichever the case, you don’t want the graffiti remaining on your exterior building surfaces – which is also why it is incorporated as part of the commercial cleaning services. The graffiti removal agents that are used will depend on the particular area being worked on, since the goal is to get rid of the unwanted material without damaging the underlying surface. Getting this carried out by a professional contractor will ensure that the right measures are undertaken, without posing a risk to the installation.
The commercial cleaning process also entails using power washing systems to work on the sidewalks, walls and other building exteriors to get rid of the grime that has been accumulating. The professionals use industrial-grade pressure washers that reduce the amount of time and effort needed to give the exteriors of your building a thorough wash. The grease, grime, salt residue, and other gunk that has accumulated on the surfaces are dealt with. Having this cleaned on a regular basis will lower the cost of maintenance over time, since the dirt and grime will not get ample opportunity to set into the affected surfaces, and you will have protected the different structures from deterioration. You get to save money on reducing costs like paintwork, since the surface coatings will have been protected from disintegration and degradation.
With the pressure washing system, the powerful jets of water used reduce the reliance on chemicals for the task, since the mechanical forces themselves will be able to dislodge the material that is on the surfaces. There will be situations where additional chemical treatments are required such as when dealing with fungal growths on the building exteriors. Here the solutions used will get to the roots of the growths, killing them and preventing them from sprouting back up. Note that the pressure itself also reduces the amount of water used, when compared to traditional approaches like working with a garden hose. This makes commercial cleaning a more environmentally friendly approach. The exterior building cleaning typically focuses on:
- Walls
- Gutter and rooftop cleaning
- Driveway and parking lot cleaning
- Communal areas like pathways, balconies and social gathering areas where you want to have a clean and hygienic space for visitors to the premises to relax in.
- Dusting
Dust is an everyday problem. This particulate matter is a combination of bits of soiling that are tracked into the premises underfoot, dust that is carried into the building by gusts of wind, pollen, dander, upholstery and fabric fibres, skin flakes – the list goes on and on. The particles proliferate the indoor airspace, coating the work desks, machinery, getting into the HVAC systems and being recirculated throughout the building, creating a health hazard. The visible dust is unsightly, painting an image of a workspace in neglect, which creates a further dent in your business image. Phones, pictures, walls, computer monitors, the tables and floors – they all need attention. When left to build up and harden, it stains furnishings, and creates unsightly films on the glass and mug surfaces. When left for too long, the discolouration can become permanent.
A dusty and untidy office space becomes a germ haven, and also causes increased cases of allergic reactions. The accumulated dust becomes an irritant to the respiratory system, and can particularly be very problematic to persons with conditions like asthma and bronchitis. You don’t want customers accessing the facility to keep on sneezing, coughing, having a runny nose, sore throat or itchy eyes. Your employees getting allergic reactions all day while at work due to the state of affairs will dampen their productivity. The airborne dust accelerates the spread of contaminants in the facility.
Note that failing to institute dust control measures as part of the commercial cleaning also puts the systems in the facility at risk – especially the heating and cooling systems. Those build-ups that are in the hard-to-reach spots are also a nuisance, which reduces the lifespan of the affected products. Depending on the particular environment involved, the dust can also mix with moisture, and contribute to issues like mould growth, especially since spores also form part of the particulate matter that is accumulating in the indoor space.
Different dusting tools are used as part of the commercial cleaning process. This includes microfibre cloths – both dry and wet, static dusters, extension dusters that get to those hard-to-reach areas, and high-powered HEPA vacuums to get rid of that particular matter without recirculating it back into the airspace.
Note that routine dusting should be part of the building care and maintenance program, even in between the professional commercial cleaning sessions. Start with the high surfaces, working downwards. Move phones, paper weights, pictures and similar objects, dusting under them and then putting them back in position. While dusting, avoid mistakes like flicking the dust cloth, since this simply spreads the dust into the air. Equipment like computer monitors and those flat screen TVs in the conference rooms should be dusted with microfibre cloths, gently wiping the surface. Don’t use paper towels, window cleaner or tissue paper in these situations, to avoid damage to the screens or cases of leaving smudges or fingerprints on the surface. There are also antistatic wipes available that have been particularly designed for use on computers and LCD screens.
With professional commercial cleaning services, you get to ensure all the areas in your workplace have been covered – including the air vents, ceilings, and hard-to-reach sections of the premises They already have a wide range of equipment needed to get rid of the particulate matter, carrying out a thorough process while ensuring that persons in the premises are kept safe. All this is done in a fast and controlled manner, to reduce the disruption to your day-to-day activities.
- Restrooms
Dirty restrooms are unhealthy, unsightly, assault your senses, and in general cast the business in a negative light that takes so long to recover from. Clients and visitors accessing the premises will be bound to remember if the washrooms are in a soiled state. It burns into their memory, and is a pointer to how the management runs the affairs of the business. Every individual is disgusted by dirty and unsanitary washrooms, – and they are unlikely to keep the opinion to themselves, going further to voice their complaints to their family and friends. The negative word spreads like bushfire, and more so if they proceed to share this feedback online. Routine restroom cleaning is a core part of the business care and maintenance program.
Whether it’s for a restaurant or an office building, customers are put off by unclean restrooms, and are unlikely to return to the premises. Moreover, with this negative feedback spreading amongst their social circles, it ends up doing the business more harm over the long haul. So, what causes increased dirt levels in restrooms?
- Poor cleaning practices
The higher the levels of traffic witnessed in the premises, the more intense the cleaning required. Poor cleaning practices are the leading cause of deteriorated restroom conditions. From mistakes like ignoring the toilet base – where urine residue and other contaminants build up, to the cleaner not using the right tools and products for the task, to outrightly skipping tasks that are required – it all contributes to the mess that developed over time. Here, the solution is simple: have a strict restroom deep cleaning program in place. Powerful cleaners are used to get rid of the build-up and neutralise the odours being generated. This is with the business’s own in-house crew. Restroom care is also included as part of the commercial cleaning programs with different packages depending on the service provider in question.
- Low-frequency cleaning
This particularly affects busy office buildings, establishments like schools and campuses, factories with multiple shifts being run, public restrooms and other areas that witness high traffic levels in the washrooms – without a comparatively high cleaning frequency. Here, additional service hours are required to keep the premises in proper condition throughout the day, including stocking enough restroom cleaner agents, paper towels and toilet paper.
- Poor restroom habits
The fault here lies with the people using the washrooms themselves. Users peeing on the toilet seas, those who fail to flush the urinals – perhaps out of a fear of touching the handle, or simply forgetfulness – it adds to the burden on the restroom cleaning crew.
- Broken down urinals and toilets
In this case, the facilities themselves have been damaged and it can be attributed to user error or lack of maintenance. Broken fixtures, urinals whose flushing mechanism has been ruined, plumbing problems – the underlying issue needs to be resolved, and the restrooms given a thorough wash during the commercial cleaning session.
- Poor ventilation
When airflow into the restroom is disrupted – such as when there are loads of dust that have accumulated in the vents, it results in stale odours in the facility. That musty smell adds to the already present odour problems that typically affect washrooms.
Does your business premises need the restrooms worked on as part of the commercial cleaning services? Here are some signs that you should dial up the pros ASAP:
- Lingering foul smells
Are there strong odours emanating from the washrooms – even going as far as permeating across the rest of the office space? The build-up definitely begins in the urinals and toilet bowls, then when it’s left unattended to, continues to get stronger and spread to the surrounding environment. It needs to be dealt with as a priority.
- Complaints from employees
The employees spend all day at the business premises, and they are bound to frequent the washrooms the most. Initially, the employees keep most of the complaints to themselves. However, they are still uncomfortable, and this affects their productivity. When words start spreading, then things are already past their tipping point. When employees complain about the soiled nature of the restrooms, then you should quickly bring on board the commercial cleaning professionals to resolve the issue and restore normalcy to the facility.
- Toilets become unusable
From the toilets being too dirty that no one dares go in, to cases where the systems get clogged, this calls for urgent intervention.
- Surface Cleaning
How much cleaning do the high-touch surfaces in your business premises get? These are those areas where it is vital to give them lots of attention to minimise the spread of germs and bacteria in the workspace, to reduce cases of employees falling sick. While infections are primarily spread through respiratory systems, especially when people are in close proximity to each other, another common way is through the hands – either when people are shaking hands, or when surfaces touched become a medium of spreading the infection. These include:
- Door handles, door knobs, push plates as well as access control facilities
- Light switches in the meeting rooms, kitchens, warehouse lights, power outlets and store room lights
- Lift buttons
- The desk area: including the cabinet and storage handles, desk divider, touch pads, keyboards and mouse, as well as the desktop surface
- Chairs in reception/lounge areas
- Shared kitchen appliances like fridges, kettles, microwaves and cupboards
- Washroom facilities including flush handles, dispensers and hand dryers
- Shared equipment like card machines, delivery crates, water coolers, office printers or photocopiers, and touch screens
The list could go one. Some surfaces are particular to industries, such as the rails and frames of hospital beds. The high-touch surfaces need to be cleaned periodically, using products that kill the high concentration of microorganisms that are on the surfaces, with products that will get the task done without damaging the underlying material. For instance, you don’t want to corrode the door handles or light switches in the process of disinfecting them, or ruin the LCD screens of the monitors. This high-frequency cleaning is carried out with in-house resources, strictly adhering to the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the different types of surfaces. This should be done multiple times each day. Deep cleaning is also carried out occasionally, in line with the commercial cleaning program that you have set in place.
For those offices with carpets, here a thorough round of cleaning will be required – since these flooring materials have the tendency of locking in loads of grime within their structure. The soiling that is wiped off people’s shoes as they walk about, food crumbs and the organic waste of the insects that come to feed on them, spills that get absorbed by the material, and the mould that results when the spills are ignored for long, staining from issues like drink spills or even ink blots – the carpet takes it all. That build up of dirt particles within the structure is one of the main reasons behind the wear and tear of the caret – especially if routine cleaning is not prioritised. The dirt particles are gritty, abrading the fibres of the material. This is further accelerated by the particles being grinded against the carpet as people walk on it. Stains on the other hand are unsightly, taking away the appeal of the carpet. You already spent lots of money to find the right carpet whose aesthetics accentuates your office space – and you don’t want that being ruined by blotches of stains all over the material. For the spills that are ignored, this brings about the risks of mould growths. Fungi spreading all over the carpet brings a whole range of problems – from the health risks due to the spores and mycotoxins being released into the indoor environment, to the physical breakdown of the carpet fibres since the mould and mildew will “feed” on the material.
From business premises with carpets, these can be worked on during the professional commercial cleaning session. Different methods are used depending on the carpet material, since the natural and synthetic units each have their own ideal measures. A popular method used during the commercial cleaning is hot water extraction. Here, heated water is pumped into the carpet, flushing out the gunk that is buried within the carpet. This, coupled with formulations developed to break down the stains, and others to neutralise the odours enables you to have a clean, fresh-smelling and vibrant carpet that enhances the ambience of the workspace. The commercial cleaning pros also come with high-powered drying systems, which suction out the bulk of the moisture from the carpet. This serves to reduce the drying time, thereby minimising disruption to activities in your workplace as well as preventing mould growth.
The floors take the brunt of the day-to-day grime build-up. Here specialised cleaning is required, with the appropriate method for the specific type of floor. You don’t want a case of stains setting deep into the surface, or dirt and grime that has been allowed to accumulate such that it accelerates the rate of wear and tear due to the friction effects of people walking on the surface. Remember that proper cleaning will prolong the lifespan of the floor – since repairing or replacing entire sections of the floor can get quite costly.
Different installations are worked on during the commercial cleaning, including:
- Vinyl Composition Tile (VCT)
- Asphalt tile
- Hardwood floors
- Sheet vinyl
- Laminate
- Ceramic
- Linoleum
- Luxury vinyl installations
You want to deal with a commercial cleaning crew that will get rid of the dirt and stains on your particular installation without putting the structure at risk. After all, while dirt and grime are a threat to the floor, there is also the threat from applying the wrong cleaning chemicals, equipment or processes. For instance, the formulation that would work on ceramic tile surfaces could end up damaging natural stone installations like marble. While water is not a threat to concrete floors, it will wreak havoc on hardwood floors, especially if used in large amounts.
Hiring a commercial cleaning company where the personnel have been trained on the right procedures to use with the different kinds of installations will enable you to ensure that your floor gets quality care. They also have powerful machinery that enables them to cover large surface areas within short time frames, including industrial-grade auto-scrubbers. This, coupled with ensuring that safety protocols are followed – especially setting up warning signage and sealing off areas that will get slippery while the task is being carried out, is important. Speaking of protection, ensure that you ask the commercial cleaning contractor about their insurance coverage. After all, accidents can happen, even with the most experienced companies. Insurance covering your property and the workers compensation for the personnel carrying out the cleaning task is vital. That way you won’t end up with liabilities while the task is being carried out.
For the deteriorated floors that have seen years of wear, additional maintenance measures such as polishing can be carried out by the commercial cleaning contractor. This spruces up the surface, restoring that lost shine.
Commercial Cleaning Tailored To Your Needs
Every business has its unique requirements. There are those looking for general cleaning on a recurring basis, those having the premises spruced up in readiness for an event, or cases where a business is struggling with stubborn dirt and stain spots – it can all be addressed by a qualified contractor. Commercial cleaning services can be broadly categorised into two:
- Scheduled cleaning
Here, you get to have the cleaning carried out at set intervals, such as daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. It’s essentially outsourcing the cleaning of your premises to a professional contractor, who will handle the routine cleaning to ensure that your premises is in top condition all through. This mode of commercial cleaning has the welcome benefit of reducing the overall expenses that you incur in your business’s maintenance program, since the contractor will have the equipment and personnel needed for the care of the facility, providing the commercial cleaning services without you having to incur the costs of equipping a fully-fledged in-house team to get the task done.
- One-time cleaning
These are customised one-off commercial cleaning sessions that depend on the needs of the property owner. For instance, you may be preparing the premises for a product launch, opening a new branch and you want the area given a thorough clean, you’re dealing with the aftermath of an office party and you want the workspace restored to amiable conditions, or it’s a case of heavy dirt and stain build-up which needs to be addressed to bring back the charm of the workplace. The commercial cleaning complements your in-house operations, giving the premises a top-to-bottom wash that makes subsequent cleaning by your janitorial team much smoother.
Keeping Your Business In Top Shape With Commercial Cleaning Services
