3 Tips For Keeping The Office Clean Throughout The Winter

Snow may be white, but we all know it can create quite the mess. No matter what, slush on the ground and wet weather conditions significantly increase the amount of moisture that is (accidentally) brought indoors, which inevitably affects your building’s entire cleaning routine. Wintertime can really dirty the office quickly, so here’s a few tips to help keep things clean and dry when it’s cold outside!

 

cnn.com

cnn.com

 

1) Windows are often neglected in the winter months, but clean windows are essential to maintaining a clean and dry office. Make sure your building’s windows are washed regularly so that sunlight can shine through bright and clear– this will not only fill your office with natural light, which has many work productivity benefits, but having sunlight in the office also greatly helps to absorb excess moisture (especially on carpets). Clean windows in the winter helps the indoor air stay clean and dry, helps the floors stay dryer and safer (wet floors = an accident waiting to happen!), and can help prevent molds from growing (a warm and damp office can quickly become a cesspool of germs!).

 
2) Floors are probably the most obvious areas of the office that need regular maintenance and frequent cleaning throughout the winter. Despite high quality floor mats and/or requiring employees to vigorously wipe their feet upon entering the building, both carpets and hard floors will still get wet and lots mud, snow, and even salt and sand from the sidewalks will find a way indoors. Often, carpets and floors will need to be vacuumed every day to get rid of the dirt and grime that’s tracked in, and the hard floors will most likely need to be mopped daily so that they do not stay wet (again, wet floors are a huge liability and are very dangerous). To prevent scratching and damage, your hard floors will also need to be buffed or sanded regularly, or even stripped and then resealed so that the winter moisture does not destroy them.

 

 

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3) Last but not least, disinfect your office consistently and prevent the flu and other germs and pathogens from spreading! Just make sure that the disinfectant products used in your office are environmentally friendly and safe/non-toxic (at GBS, we only use non-toxic cleaning products and disinfectants!). Things like doorhandles, office supplies, computer keyboards, and work surfaces are huge hotspots for germs and will require a daily wipe down to ensure nobody gets sick! Encouraging employees to wash their hands is also a great way to reduce germs from spreading in the office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

crosswalk.com

crosswalk.com

 

Not all green cleaning companies are equal

Thinking of switching to a greener janitorial service? Going green is a great idea! But make sure to do the research and ask the right questions when choosing a new service— not all green cleaning companies are equal, and finding the right one for your business or facility can require a little detective work. Below are some great tips on what to look for when it comes to finding and hiring a more eco-friendly cleaning company. For more information on green cleaning and building services, please feel free to get in touch with us at GBS Commercial Cleaning! We’d be happy provide you with an estimate and customized janitorial plan that meets your facility’s needs. Give us a call today at 303-443-3366 

Image: pbm.com

Image: pbm.com

How to Evaluate a Green Cleaning Company 

From: GreenBiz.com

Many companies, which outsource their janitorial service, are not taking advantage of the benefits of green cleaning. Unlike many capital and resource intensive green initiatives, such as installing solar panels, green cleaning can be implemented quickly and easily. In addition, green cleaning can have a net positive impact on your bottom line by making employees more productive and healthy while reducing water and energy usage.

What should you know when evaluating a green cleaning company?

Not all green janitorial companies are created equal. You want to make sure the company you choose uses the tools and techniques necessary to effectively clean your facility. You also want to avoid firms that greenwash (pun intended) by painting a false picture of being environmentally friendly.

How? Discuss the following 10 questions with your prospective or existing janitorial service provider:

  1. Green cleaning is about cleaning for health. Ask your provider to define “clean.” If appearances are the only element discussed, this is your first warning sign.
  2. Green cleaning is not just about using green cleaning chemicals or substances. Cleaning substances represent only a small percentage (5 percent on average) of the total effort required to clean your building. Ask your provider what tools its teams use to get the job done. They should be using microfiber mops, dual chamber buckets and microfiber cleaning cloths, just to name a few.
  3. Diseases can be spread by cross-contamination. This often happens when mops and cleaning cloths are used in restrooms and then re-used in other parts of your building. Ask how your service provider to describe what its teams do to avoid cross-contamination.
  4. Janitors are historically the fifth most injured workforce in the United States and your company could be liable for heavy fines if a janitor is injured while cleaning your building. Ask your cleaning firm what it specifically does to comply with OSHA regulations so your risk will be minimized, provided you maintain a safe environment for workers. OSHA requires a written Hazard Communication Plan, an inventory of all chemicals, a log of training and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), which detail the risks, precautions, and first aid associated with a chemical or substance. Furthermore, each janitor must be able to articulate his or her company’s safety program, and the physical documents about emergency procedures must be accessible to the janitor within 10 minutes in the event of an accident.
  5. Many janitorial workers are prone to excessive use of water and electricity. Ask what sustainability practices are used to reduce the use of these natural resources, without compromising the cleanliness of the places the firm serves.
  6. Janitors who work in teams and specialize on focused roles are able to achieve a higher level of cleanliness with less time and effort. Find out if your provider uses area, zone or team cleaning methods.
  7. Consistency in tools and processes translates to a consistently clean building. Ask your provider if the same types of chemicals or substances, tools, equipment and processes are used for all clients. Inconsistencies can be a sign of challenges in quality control on a regular basis, and can pose greater problems when staffing shortages occur.
  8. Tools and equipment quickly lose their effectiveness as they are used during the shift. Ask how often vacuum filters are emptied, how often mopping solution is replaced and if these filter and solution changes are tracked and logged.
  9. Each chemical, solution or substance used dramatically increases the chance of improper mixing and improper application. This can result in injury to the janitor or damage to your building materials. Ask how many substances each janitor uses on a daily basis.
  10. Properly fitted backpack vacuums are ergonomically correct, remove more dust from the environment and enable the janitor work faster than traditional push vacuums. This equipment protects the cleaning worker and collects dust instead of redistributing in your environment. Ask your provider what type of vacuum the company uses.

If your current or prospective janitorial service provider is able to answer all of these questions clearly and confidently — and you feel comfortable with their answers — then you will likely reap the benefits of having a healthy indoor environment.

Source:  GreenBiz.com