Some good news for a change regarding health care acquired-infections (HAIs)—a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the incidences of three common infections were down in 2018.

Acute-care hospitals reported the number of C. difficile infections were down by 12% since last year, central line-associated bloodstream infections were down by 9%, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections were down by 8%. Most U.S. states (44) improved their performance for at least three HAIs between 2017 and 2018.

However, this decrease did not apply to all HAIs. There were no changes reported in the number of cases of ventilator-associated infections, surgical site infections, or Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) between 2017 and 2018.



Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management

How to Prepare your floors by Winter

Winters in the Chicagoland area bring ice, snow, and sleet. To keep roads and walkways clear, many of us rely on sand, rock salt and/or ice melt which people then track inside, creating floor care and maintenance issues. To combat these issues, it’s important to look at the amount and type of hard flooring as well as what’s being tracked inside the building in order to determine the best floor care methods.

Evaluate Floor Cleaning Chemicals

First off, we must look at the product(s) used to maintain the outside areas. Sand requires extra sweeping and vacuuming each day. Where salt and calcium chloride are used, we often switch floor-cleaning chemicals in the winter months at locations with high foot traffic. The cleaning product we use neutralizes and counteracts the effects of calcium chloride and removes the whitish residue from floors.

Consider Flooring Materials

Next, let’s consider the type of floor that needs to be cleaned. Vinyl composite tile, also known as VCT, is an inexpensive floor that is used in many facilities. VCT is always waxed to protect the floor and give a glossy finish. Salt and calcium residue as well as water from melting snow can make VCT floors very slippery. For safety reasons as well as easier upkeep, we recommend walk-off mats at each entrance to minimize the amount of moisture that gets onto the floor. (It’s important to note that vacuums can be quickly damaged by moisture so care must be taken when cleaning walk-off mats.) Another popular flooring is quarry tile, which typically is a textured surface. Even though quarry tile is slip-resistant, we suggest placing wet-floor signs in visible areas every time it rains, sleets or snows.

Use the Best Cleaning Process

Finally, the best way to clean a large common area or open floor areas is with an automatic floor scrubber, or autoscrubber, as referred to in the industry.  An autoscrubber is a battery-powered machine that puts down water, cleans with a brush, and then vacuums with squeegee blade. These machines require a financial investment of several thousand dollars but offer labor savings over time. It’s also important to note that autoscrubbers use fewer chemicals than other methods as the machine, not the cleaning chemicals, does most of the work.


Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management

Avoiding Cross Contamination in Your Commercial Cleaning Company

When an employee comes to work sick, that illness can quickly make its way around the office. Cleaning crews can be part of the problem or the solution, depending on how well they understand and address cross-contamination.

Cross-contamination is when germs move between people in shared spaces. It most often happens when a sick person touches something and then someone else touches the same contaminated surface. It can also happen unintentionally during the cleaning process, like when a janitor cleans a toilet and then washes a countertop with the same cloth.

If your janitorial crew plays a part in the spread of viruses and bacteria in a building, it can result in real losses for your clients and, potentially, cancelled contracts for your business.

• In office buildings, illness has costs associated with paid sick days, healthcare, and decreased productivity.
• In schools and healthcare settings, illness can affect government funding tied to absentee rates or healthcare-associated infections.
• In food-service settings, a salmonella or e-coli outbreak can seriously damage a company's reputation and bottom line.

Make sure your contract cleaning company is part of the solution by using these best practices to prevent cross-contamination.

Avoid Cross Contamination with Smart Processes

Outline a clear cleaning process for your employees so they don't accidentally spread germs or miss any areas of a room. Cleaning from top to bottom allows gravity to move anything not captured in the cleaning tool to the floor so it is removed in the final step.

Here is an example of a simple process:

• First, wipe down all surfaces with cleaning solution.
• Next, use spray disinfectant on high-touch areas, like desks, phones, door knobs and push plates, elevator buttons, counters, railings, and all bathroom surfaces. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for appropriate dwell time before wiping off the product.
• Finally, clean the floor, mopping or vacuuming from the farthest inside point of the room back out the door, throwing away your gloves as you leave the room.

Don't take the common mistake of cleaning multiple areas with the same tools or supplies. Bacteria and viruses can take up residence on things like cleaning cloths or mop heads, which can then easily spread those things around if they are used again and again.

Train your cleaning crews to segregate equipment—having a set of color-coded microfiber cloths and mops used exclusively in the restroom or lunchroom, etc. Also, store cleaning tools using the same method of separation so a kitchen mop doesn't end up touching a bathroom mop.

Avoid Cross Contamination with Color Coding

You can't always be on-site with your cleaning crews to check that they are properly segregating equipment. Plus, janitorial companies often have employees for whom English isn't their native language. Implementing a color-coding system can address both of these issues.

Choose products that come in several colors (most commonly red, yellow, blue, and green).

Color coding can prevent spreading contaminants by using the wrong tool in the wrong area. Janitors can see at a glance what should be used where, regardless of language barriers.

Color coding can also be applied to cleaning equipment such as mop handles and colored mop buckets. Of course, a system is only as strong as the training behind it. Be sure that everyone on your team knows and understands the color system. In the case of language issues, consider using pictograms in addition to text to explain the colors.

Avoid Cross Contamination by Switching to Microfiber

Ordinary cleaning cloths are often made of large cotton fibers. Microfiber cloths, on the other hand, are typically made from polyester or polyester blends and have fibers that are smaller than a strand of silk.

When a traditional mop or cloth touches a surface, it becomes contaminated. As soon as you put it back into the water or move it around the room, it contaminates the water and the next surface.

The unique construction of microfiber allows it to attract up to 99% of particles—about three times more than cotton. It has a positive charge (like a magnet), which attracts dirt and germs, and is super porous so it holds the particles tightly. In short, microfiber picks up and removes contaminants rather than redistributing them around the room like cotton.

Although it will require a financial investment, switching to microfiber wet and dry mops, cleaning cloths, and dust wands will vastly improve the quality of your work. It will more successfully remove illness-causing pathogens and greatly reduce your cross-contamination risk.

Look at Other Tools

There are other tools that can also help reduce cross-contamination:

• A flat mop with a built-in tank that squeezes out the water is a better option than a traditional mop with a basic bucket. It holds dirty water, increasing the risk of spreading contaminants around.
• Spray-and-vac systems provide an alternative to mopping. It dispenses fresh cleaning solution for each application, then sucks up the solution. This eliminates the spread of contaminants via a mop head.
• HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaners capture 99.9% of particles, far more than traditional vacuums.
• Choose certified green cleaning products over hazardous chemicals whenever possible to maintain a healthier and safer environment. 

Preach Hand Hygiene

Proper hand hygiene is the simplest and most important way of preventing cross contamination. Teach your staff to wash their hands properly and at the appropriate times (after using the washroom, eating, touching a surface with bare hands, etc.).

What's more, talk to the facility owner or manager about how you can help them promote hand washing among building occupants. Ideas include offering hand hygiene supplies (soap, towels, hand sanitizer) and providing signage that encourages handwashing in every restroom, lunchroom, and breakroom.

The most essential element of a program to prevent cross contamination is training. Make sure everyone knows your processes, tools, and expectations. Ask supervisors to keep a close on workers in the field to be sure best practices are being used on a daily, ongoing basis. Revisit your training on a regular (at least annual) basis to keep the issue top-of-mind.


Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

3 Technologies to Eliminate Germs from High-Touch Surfaces

Contamination of high-touch surfaces is responsible for the transmission of pathogens in various settings. Its impact is most severe in school and health care facilities and is one reason why health care-associated infections (HAIs) continue to be such a serious problem.

Although the number of HAIs has been steadily decreasing in the United States, "on any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one health care-associated infection," according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In school environments, contaminated surfaces not only spread disease within classrooms but also can spread infections, such as influenza, within a community.

The professional cleaning industry plays a crucial role in stopping the spread of infection, but before cleaning staff can eliminate pathogens, they must first find them. In the past, laboratory technicians would swab surfaces and use a petri dish culture to confirm the presence of pathogens. The findings would not be available for two to four days, giving the germs opportunity to sicken more people.

Technological advances are providing quicker methods to locate pathogens, enabling the professional cleaning industry to better meet its goal of protecting human health. While these technologies have drawbacks, they do show promise.

Prove Contamination With Paper Stickers

In May 2019, a report in the Journal of the American Society for Microbiology found that paper stickers can be an effective tool to determine if contamination exists on surfaces. For up to seven days, researchers placed stickers on multiple high-touch surfaces in food service locations. After analyzing the stickers, the researchers found they revealed a considerable buildup of contamination on these surfaces.

Paper stickers are an inexpensive, simple, and effective method to locate contamination. However, the analyzation process takes valuable time, and the stickers only pick up pathogens on the area tested, not the surrounding area.

ATP Marks the Spot

Although adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has been in use since the 1930s, it was first introduced to the cleaning industry about a decade ago. ATP monitoring systems detect living cells on a surface. Users simply swab a surface then place the swab inside the ATP unit. Results are usually available in about 20 seconds.

While ATP does not reveal which specific pathogens are on a surface, it serves as a red flag that they may be present. Cleaning professionals use ATP to test a surface before cleaning and again after cleaning to determine cleaning effectiveness. However, like paper stickers, ATP only detects pathogens on the specific areas tested.

Imaging Paints a Wide Picture

The health care industry, one of the first industries to use imaging technology, found it useful to find the growth of cancer and other abnormalities in the human body. In the professional cleaning industry, workers use imaging technologies in schools, food service facilities, and health care settings to take pictures of a wide area. These pictures indicate if pathogens are present based on the color, intensity, and concentration of images shown. 

Taking Responsibility for Infection Control

While the obvious reason for using technologies like the ones mentioned above is to quickly find and remove pathogens, cleaning professionals should be aware that there is something much bigger at play here.

Many germs are developing into superbugs that spread diseases immune to the medications used to treat them. Pharmaceutical companies have set a limited amount of time and money in developing new antimicrobials. This puts greater responsibility on the cleaning industry's shoulders to find and proactively eradicate harmful pathogens. With these technologies and the implementation of effective cleaning methods, we will be up to the challenge.






Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Acoustic Flooring Solutions for Health Care and Education Facilities

Facility design elements are crucial in allowing building residents to experience and utilize the space in a healthy and productive manner. Healthcare facilities need to support concerns of fatigue, health, and safety, as well as address worker efficiency, environmental considerations, and acoustics. In a similar vein, the design of educational facilities should encourage learning and exploration while minimizing distractions for students and faculty.

Although education and healthcare facilities have marked differences in their built environments, they both benefit from building designs which muffle sound.

Create a Healing Environment

Noise is ever-present in the health care environment and can have a direct and measurable impact on patient health and satisfaction, staff productivity and ultimately impact operational reimbursements. The Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey, which provides results related to a patient’s experience of care, found noise to be the number two pain point for health systems in patient satisfaction scores in the hospital environment. Moreover, excessive noise disturbances can affect a patient’s ability to heal, potentially increasing the need for medication and impacting overall length of stay.

There are three contributing factors to disseminating sound in a space: the wall, the floor, and the ceiling. Research published in The Journal of Acoustical Society of America suggests that hospitals battle with noise and “chronic physiological changes are linked to a bad sound environment.” Health care facilities use hard surfaces to support infection control, such as drywall ceilings and acoustic wall panels. Unfortunately, these surfaces can be difficult to effectively clean and disinfect. Facility managers must select flooring that supports hygiene as well as acoustics.

As a structural component that covers every square inch of a building, the right flooring product can have an actionable impact on patient satisfaction, operational optimization, clinical efficiency, and total cost of ownership. Premium rubber flooring is a solution that can improve acoustics with reduced footfall sound and improve safety and cleanliness through its wasability. With low-maintenance requirements, rubber flooring allows for quick, quiet and nondisruptive cleaning, supporting a calm healing environment without compromising the integrity of perceived cleanliness.

Boost Concentration

The environment in which students learn can have a positive or negative effect on educational outcomes. A basic component of the learning environment is the ability to hear and be heard clearly. According to the Acoustical Society of America, many classrooms nationwide have a speech intelligibility rating of 75 percent or less, far below the recommended 95 percent. Furthermore, the noise levels in a typical classroom average 65 decibels, which is the threshold for serious health damage with long-term exposure.

Poor acoustics in educational facilities can lead to lower academic performance, fatigue, annoyance and stress. Schools and universities have the opportunity to evaluate sound-absorbing ceiling tiles and acoustical wall panels in their overall acoustical solutions. In addition to using these noise-mitigation measures, a third-party study found premium rubber flooring is up to four times quieter than vinyl composite tile.

Make Acoustics a Priority

The findings of the "in room" impact room study quantified how hard and soft flooring materials can impact the acoustic environment, allowing facility mangers to make informed decisions when selecting flooring materials. The study evidenced a significant degree of acoustical separation between 10 different floor coverings by using various impactors as noise sources. Results show the 4 mm premium rubber acoustic flooring provides greater or equitable “in-room” noise reductions as compared to carpet and the best reduction in impact noise from small falling objects.

“Noise is an adverse auditory event, it is neither benign nor considered neutral,” said Susan Mazer, PhD, founder of Healing HealthCare Systems Floor coverings can mitigate unwanted ambient noise and have a favorable impact on a building’s occupants, fostering health, wellness, learning and operational outcomes.

3 Technologies to Eliminate Germs from High-Touch Surfaces

Contamination of high-touch surfaces is responsible for the transmission of pathogens in various settings. Its impact is most severe in school and health care facilities and is one reason why health care-associated infections (HAIs) continue to be such a serious problem.

Although the number of HAIs has been steadily decreasing in the United States, "on any given day, about one in 31 hospital patients has at least one health care-associated infection," according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In school environments, contaminated surfaces not only spread disease within classrooms but also can spread infections, such as influenza, within a community.

The professional cleaning industry plays a crucial role in stopping the spread of infection, but before cleaning staff can eliminate pathogens, they must first find them. In the past, laboratory technicians would swab surfaces and use a petri dish culture to confirm the presence of pathogens. The findings would not be available for two to four days, giving the germs opportunity to sicken more people.

Technological advances are providing quicker methods to locate pathogens, enabling the professional cleaning industry to better meet its goal of protecting human health. While these technologies have drawbacks, they do show promise.

Prove Contamination With Paper Stickers

In May 2019, a report in the Journal of the American Society for Microbiology found that paper stickers can be an effective tool to determine if contamination exists on surfaces. For up to seven days, researchers placed stickers on multiple high-touch surfaces in food service locations. After analyzing the stickers, the researchers found they revealed a considerable buildup of contamination on these surfaces.

Paper stickers are an inexpensive, simple, and effective method to locate contamination. However, the analyzation process takes valuable time, and the stickers only pick up pathogens on the area tested, not the surrounding area.

ATP Marks the Spot

Although adenosine triphosphate (ATP) has been in use since the 1930s, it was first introduced to the cleaning industry about a decade ago. ATP monitoring systems detect living cells on a surface. Users simply swab a surface then place the swab inside the ATP unit. Results are usually available in about 20 seconds.

While ATP does not reveal which specific pathogens are on a surface, it serves as a red flag that they may be present. Cleaning professionals use ATP to test a surface before cleaning and again after cleaning to determine cleaning effectiveness. However, like paper stickers, ATP only detects pathogens on the specific areas tested.

Imaging Paints a Wide Picture

The health care industry, one of the first industries to use imaging technology, found it useful to find the growth of cancer and other abnormalities in the human body. In the professional cleaning industry, workers use imaging technologies in schools, food service facilities, and health care settings to take pictures of a wide area. These pictures indicate if pathogens are present based on the color, intensity, and concentration of images shown. 

While the obvious reason for using technologies like the ones mentioned above is to quickly find and remove pathogens, cleaning professionals should be aware that there is something much bigger at play here.

Taking Responsibility for Infection Control

Many germs are developing into superbugs that spread diseases immune to the medications used to treat them. Pharmaceutical companies have set a limited amount of time and money in developing new antimicrobials. This puts greater responsibility on the cleaning industry's shoulders to find and proactively eradicate harmful pathogens. With these technologies and the implementation of effective cleaning methods, we will be up to the challenge.


Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Spot/ Stain Removal 101

Follow these 6 steps to remove a spot or stain effectively.

1. Identify the type of spot or stain.
2. Identify the correct detergent for treatment.
3. Make sure you have the correct tools needed to get the task done.
4. Sparingly apply spotting detergent and tamp into the area.
5. Blot area with a white towel.
6. Rinse and dry.






Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Employ Common-Sense Solutions to Eliminate Workplace Germs

From office buildings and educational facilities to shops and warehouses, workplaces are a hotbed of germs. With the advent of flu season, the National Safety Council (NSC) reminds facility managers and cleaning staff that simple policy changes combined with thorough cleaning methods can eliminate pathogens and keep employees healthy, Occupational Health & Safety reports.

Workplaces are the site of 2.8 million non-fatal workplace illnesses and injuries every year, with many of these from poor infection control, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As a result, businesses spend close to US$46 billion on workplace cleaning every year

Some simple solutions include enacting policies requiring workers to stay home when they are sick and making sure workspaces are well-lit with natural light, as UV light from the sun can help destroy harmful bacteria. Focused cleaning of high-touch areas, such as light switches, door handles, and surfaces in break rooms and other common areas, can keep the germiest areas more hygienic. Employers should also encourage their staff to regularly wipe down electronics, including company computers as well as personal devices such as mobile phones.


Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

5 Reasons Commercial Cleaning Clients Switch Cleaning Companies

Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” This is an old saying that does not often apply to most commercial cleaning clients because what they want is value for their money. Industry research indicates clients are likely to switch cleaning companies after the contract time expires or when they are dissatisfied by the service. Commercial cleaning providers are bound to have occasional hiccups when it comes to service delivery. This is because the human element involved in service delivery is not perfect. Most of these problems can be resolved with proper communication. However, how many mistakes are too many.

Here are 5 reasons commercial cleaning clients switch their cleaning companies

1. Your cleaning service people’s problems become your client’s problems

2. Poor communication

3. Security Lapses

4. Professionalism and training

5. Poor Quality Control

Just like every service business out there, cleaning is a service based business that relies on people to get the job done. Because of that, the biggest asset for cleaning companies is their workforce. A janitorial service that takes shortcuts in any of its hiring processes is bound to have service delivery problems. Shortcuts such as inadequate employee screening, illegal subcontracting or hiring, and lack of training and oversight, results in high employee turnover. This means new faces frequent your client’s facility resulting in inconsistent service delivery which leads to losing clients. At Cleanway Maintenance, we take pride in hiring vetted cleaning agents, and receive thorough customer service training to ensure we maintain a 100% customer satisfaction rating.

Just as earlier mentioned, a commercial cleaning service provider will always experience hiccups, in line of service delivery. However, effective communication can effectively iron out these issues. Professionally speaking, a service provider should get back to the customer within 48 hours. How else will you know whether or not you are meeting your client’s expectations if you don’t communicate regularly? The client is likely to opt for another service if they do not get prompt responses every time they try to reach out to your service. Cleanway Maintenance offers direct access to a professional cleaning service representative, as well as 24/7 phone access to answer any questions or remedy any concerns.

Security is paramount and depending on the type of company, security lapses can be a severe and dangerous problem. Do your employees often leave alarms off, doors unlocked or not properly locked? One of the major concerns for the clients when dealing with cleaning agents is the security of their premises. As such, clients will work only with companies they can trust. This trust includes being responsible for security measures. A high employee turnover is also a security risk for the client. It is usually difficult to recover when trust is breached, especially when dealing with security issues. Cleanway Maintenance keeps a close eyes on all employees and ensures they all follow proper security protocols to ensure the safety of our clients facility, equipment, and inventory.

The commercial cleaning services goes beyond cleaning the facilities. It also involves having the right knowledge and skills to get the cleaning job done well. This can only be achieved through proper training and hiring of the right people. Having unprofessional workforce is the root cause most of the other problems on this. Resulting in termination of contracts. Cleanway Maintenance provides employees with monthly, weekly and daily training and motivation, to ensure work is getting done with efficiency, excellence, and professionalism.

Most vendors deliver quality service for a while, but this quality starts to fade away with time. It may not be possible to achieve quality service always. However, the good service should not be a once in a while affair; it should be nearly always. The client needs consistent and reliable service, or else they will start looking elsewhere. Cleanway Maintenance offers customized cleaning plans to ensure the quality, expectations, and demands of clients are being met every step of the way.

Don’t entrust your facility to just anyone. Ensure you have done the proper due diligence and work with an experienced company that can provide the security, guarantee, and satisfaction you’re looking for from your cleaning provider.






Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

10 Safety Considerations for Construction Clean up

Unlike standard janitorial services, construction cleanup requires attention to every surface. From drywall dust to large sawdust and paint-splatter, there’s a wide range of service to implement.

Keep in mind that initial steps involve removing debris before getting down to surface cleaning. Due to the nature of drywall dust, literally every surface has to be considered: Walls, light fixtures, and window frames and sills. In some cases, even ceiling surfaces demand cleaning. It can be a massive job.

You will probably hear the following fibs from the client whose building you are servicing:

• Fiction No. 1: You will be the last contractor through the building. After three decades, I have yet to see this happen. Cleaning contractors typically have to clean, and then clean again after construction is complete.

• Fiction No. 2: You have five days to complete the cleaning. In fairness to construction companies, a lot of services go into developing a building. In my personal experience, no construction crew has finished the job when specified.

• Fiction No. 3: The area will be clear and empty for your service. This just never happens. Carpenters, plumbers, flooring installers, and electricians are all at work. Items may be left behind; cardboard boxes and pallets that shed debris are very common. After you clean around them and move them, there will be a dirty spot.

1. Floor Care
2. General Contractors
3. Timing
4. Documentation
5. Timing and Leadership
6. PPE
7. Other Safety Factors
8. Training
9. Insurances
10. Create Solutions
More than Cleaning

With these points in mind, here are 10 areas for outside contractors to consider to best prepare for a construction cleanup project:

Knowing what flooring materials you’re working on is a must. Using the incorrect process or materials can damage a flooring surface. No one wants to be responsible for creating these kinds of headaches.

Laminate flooring, luxury vinyl tile, and ceramic tile all have different care requirements. Grout will likely develop a haze during construction. This will require special attention with an acid cleaner.

One of your best choices is to stay in close and friendly contact with the general contractor. As other contracted specialists are in the space, cleaning services staff will be interacting with a lot of people. Remember that regardless of when construction is complete, your cleanup deadline will have a fixed end date and will not change.

Let’s assume the project specifications provide “five days to service the building with a crew of 10,” and the job is due on the 30th of the month; however, by the 25th, the construction isn’t complete. Most likely, the lost days that you originally allotted to complete the job will be taken from the cleaning schedule. That’s the truth.

Now, let’s say you end up with three days to clean instead of five. You now have new questions to answer: Will your crew of 10 still be able to complete the job on time? Will adding more hours to each of the three remaining days be enough? If you need to add more personnel, are they trained and available? Perhaps most importantly, are they adaptable?

A punch list is a follow-up list for the commercial cleaner after the cleanup is complete. These items can vary from a missed area to a new cleanup duty as a result of another contractor. For example, if an electrician adds a wall outlet, he will cut a hole, leaving a small amount of debris. The cleaner probably won’t miss it during the initial cleanup process, but if it was added late in the game, it will show up on the punch list as a to-do item.

For this reason, documentation is extremely important. For each shift, have the general contractor perform a walk-through with a check list of required cleaning tasks. This doesn’t mean repeat work will disappear; however, your work will be verified. Take pictures of completed areas. In the event you need to charge for additional hours, good documentation is the best defense.

Additionally, if the general contractor requests something you advise against, have them sign off on your recommendations. Should there be any issues after the fact, you will have documentation of your recommendation to back you up.

Understand that construction cleanup will require physical and mental agility. There will be surprises. If you are mentally prepared, those will become less daunting. In addition, providing strong leadership to your crew and having an open working attitude toward the general contractor can help ease tensions.

In some cases, contractors in the space will create work for the cleaning crew. Prepare your cleaning crew for this. In the event this occurs, they should know to bring the issue to the cleaning crew leader, so he/she can work it out, instead of instigating a conflict with the contractor.

Be sure your crew is familiar with all personal protective equipment (PPE) and risk factors. Note the potential existence of silica from concrete and other airborne debris, and be sure to put respirators through a fit test. This will ensure that your crew is trained and familiar with this equipment.

Safety glasses, nitrile gloves, and dust masks are a given in construction cleanup jobs (see our article on PPE). If construction cleanup is performed in the evening, bright reflective vests are also strongly suggested. Use leather gloves in the event of moving heavy equipment or pallets. Other items include hard hats, steel-toed shoes, and full-length pants.

We see a steady increase of cleaning crew members who want to listen music during their service. On sites where we perform construction cleanup, this is strictly forbidden. The ability to hear what’s going on around you is a matter of personal safety.

Make sure all staff are ready to act at a moment’s notice. Instruct your cleaning staff on the contents of your first-aid kit and proper use of the supplies in it. Last, construction cleanup is hard work – stay hydrated. This begins with training yourself and then your staff. ISSA’s Cleaning Management Institute (CMI) is excellent for these needs. You will need a plan in place to address emergency needs should they arise. When working in large spaces with high ceilings or racking, cleaning takes on a new dimension. The cleaning contractor will need to ensure that staff members have passed training for working on lifts, and tying off areas for safety tethers. Before submitting your bid on construction cleanups, speak with your insurance carrier. Some services may be outside your scope of coverage. There are options, but doing so without the proper insurances can put you at astronomical financial and personal risk. Should you have an area that’s ready before others and can be closed off, tape off the doorway and mark it as “cleaned” to signify that you are done in that space and have honored the general contractor’s request. Most importantly, remember: You’re working with people. Whether you are dealing with your crew or the general contractor, everyone is working to get the job done. Every general contractor has their own personality. Get to know who you’re working with, as positive interaction with the general contractor can set the tone for the entire service. Understanding who they are will help you complete your service with as little friction as possible.

How to Maintain a Healthy Breakroom

Germs spread easily when people spend a lot of time indoors, in close proximity to each other. This is especially true in the workplace, where several factors combine to create a perfect storm of contagiousness: numerous people occupying a closed space, highly trafficked common areas, and, sometimes, a culture that discourages sick employees from staying home.

According to a recent survey Staples conducted of workers throughout the United States, 44 percent had the flu last season, and nearly half of those people (45 percent) believe they caught it from a co-worker. Moreover, employees report taking an average of just 2.7 sick days to recover from the flu, meaning they’re coming back to work when their disease is at its most contagious (i.e., three days after symptoms first occur).

Every space in the workplace, from a private office to the shared restroom, provides an opportunity for germs to spread. The breakroom is particularly vulnerable. Consider how employees use the space: they congregate there throughout the day; touch common objects like faucets, doorknobs and drawer handles; and their hands are often near their mouths as they munch on snacks. One ill-timed sneeze during lunch can lead to several colleagues coming down with a cold within the week.

Facilities managers can take several proactive, simple steps to stop any office outbreak in its tracks. There are many tried-and-true cleaning methods and products out there that can keep the breakroom a welcoming place while also protecting employees’ health. Here are a few tips:

Stock the Breakroom With Hygiene Supplies

Keeping hand soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and facial tissues readily available will help workers practice good hand hygiene. Make it convenient for them to make healthy choices. 

Regularly Clean and Maintain the Breakroom

Given the volume of people moving in and out of the breakroom over the course of the day, the cleanliness of the space can quickly decline. Be sure you’re checking in throughout the day to wipe down tables, drawer handles, etc., and dispose of waste including used tissues or napkins. At the end of the day, you (or a cleaning service) should fully clean the room from top to bottom with appropriate disinfectants. Communicate to your colleagues that they should be cleaning up after themselves, too.  

Procure Effective Cleaning Products

Not all disinfecting products are made equal. Some are effective against certain germs but not others, and some require more work to disinfect effectively.

For example, several types of cleaning wipes require that you wet the surface you’re cleaning with the wipe—and keep it wet—for up to 10 minutes. However, the surface may dry on its own before 10 minutes, and employees will likely need to use that table or counter during that time. Peroxide-based wipes, on the other hand, require less contact time (one to five minutes) and can be effective against a broad range of pathogens, including cold, flu, norovirus, and tuberculosis.

It’s important to read cleaning product labels to note the ingredients as well as the directions for use, to ensure the product’s safety and efficacy. In addition, never use aerosol cleaning products in the breakroom, as they can contaminate food containers and potentially make employees sick. 

Provide Education

Preventing the spread of illness in the workplace is a collaborative effort requiring buy-in and participation from everyone in the building. Facilities managers can play an important role in providing the education their colleagues need to keep each other healthy. In the breakroom, this could include posting signs describing the correct way to wash one’s hands and tips for avoiding the spread of germs, such as coughing into one’s sleeve.

Of course, it isn’t possible to completely avoid illness in the workplace; you can’t control your colleagues’ hygiene habits, where they go, and what they do outside of the office. But maintaining a clean, safe breakroom—in addition to all of the efforts that go into creating a hygienic workplace—can have a significant impact on the health and wellness of all employees, and by extension, the organization’s success and productivity.


Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

10 Tips for Vacuuming Success

• Clean your filters regularly. Keeping vacuum filters clean is essential for maximum efficiency. Check the filters frequently and clean and replace as needed.

• Change the bag. Vacuum cleaners can only pick up material if air can flow through the bag, so check it frequently.

• Listen to the tone. Often the vacuum itself will let you know there is a clog or blockage. Listen for a change in the sound, and check for blockages.

• Don’t bend over. You don’t need to bend over like you’re scrubbing the floor. Let the vacuum do the work. This will save the machine and your back!

• Don’t forget the edges. Dust and debris will gather along the edges of a room. Improve your customer's experience by not just vacuuming the center of the room.

• Avoid cord damage. Coil the cable starting from the machine end every day. That way it won’t get twisted and damaged in the long term.

• Keep it clean. Use a damp cloth to clean the vacuum inside and out. This will keep it in good condition and clean equipment also makes a better impression on your clients, your staff, and the public.

• Don’t carry it. Pull the vacuum on its wheels rather than carrying it. Only carry it if you’re going upstairs.

• Vacuum up the stairs. When you’re cleaning stairs, place the vacuum at the bottom of the stairs and vacuum up. Don’t risk an injury by placing the vacuum above you at the top of the stairs.

• Carry scissors. Keep a pair of scissors handy to cut off any hair that collects around the roller brush of an upright vacuum cleaner.

Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Flu Season is Finally Over

Just when you thought the 2018-19 flu season was over, it suddenly spiked. Lasting 21 weeks, the longest in a decade, the last flu season was unusual in that it had two separate waves of influenza, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

CDC officials explained the unusual pattern as almost having two flu seasons within one. Flu activity surged between October 2018 to February 2019, then a second surge occurred in mid-February lasting through mid-May. A typical flu season has one spike in winter.

Despite its length, the last flu season was only moderate in severity, with an estimated 36,400 to 61,200 flu-related deaths. In comparison, the severe flu season of 2017-2018 was responsible for more than 80,000 deaths, including 180 children.


Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

12 Simple Steps for Better Deep Cleaning

1. 1. Vacuum thoroughly first. It’s important to vacuum the carpet thoroughly to remove loose debris before extracting with water. Make several passes at different angles to remove as much soil as possible. 

1. 2. Use a pretreatment cleaning solution. If the carpet is heavily soiled, consider using a pretreatment chemical spray. This will break down the dirt and allow for faster, more efficient cleaning. 

1. 3. Use good-quality detergent. Not all detergents are made equal. Check both the quality of the detergent and the material that it’s designed to clean.

1. 4. Use the warmest water possible. Check the material of the carpet and set the water temperature on the machine accordingly. Start farthest from the door. This will prevent you from having to walk on wet carpet. 

1. 5. Use tools to good effect. Use the appropriate tools for cleaning stairs, upholstery, and other unique surfaces. Also, use the tools for concentrated cleaning to break down dirt near entrances and in high-traffic areas. 

1. 6. Extract moisture after cleaning. This will speed up the drying process and prevent it from smelling musty. 

1. 7. Allow carpets to dry completely. Damp carpet attracts dirt, so make sure your carpet dries completely before allowing footfall. Make sure the central heating is on and open the windows or use a fan.
2. 8. Clean your dirty water tank. Debris from carpet fibers can build up and cause a blockage. 

1. 9. Keep the unit clean, inside and out. Clean equipment will have fewer service issues and will make a better impression on anyone who may see it—clients, staff, supervisors, and the public. 

1. 10. Keep the batteries in tip-top shape. Keep the batteries charged and check the water level on a regular basis. 

1. 11. Service your machine regularly. Preventative maintenance reduces downtime and lowers your total cost of ownership. Don’t wait until the carpet cleaner breaks down before you contact a maintenance engineer. Waiting until the equipment is broken will cost you in staff time and more.

Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Workers Report Workplace Hygiene Concerns

A recent survey on worker behavior concerning illness in the workplace, conducted by cleaning firm Cleanology, found that facilities management employees were most concerned about workplace hygiene, Qube Magazine reports.

The survey found that 80% of facility management (FM) workers believe sick colleagues are responsible for passing on germs, compared to 66% or workers in other sectors. The FM workers also were more hygiene conscious, with just over half likely to carry sanitizing spray at the workplace to disinfect surfaces.

Among workers in all sectors, almost two-thirds said they feel pressured to go to work when they are ill, even when it impedes their productivity. More than 60% said they are not able to work to the best of their abilities when they are sick, and 57% of FMs felt they were more likely to make mistakes when sick.

Men were more likely to take sick days, with one-third of men calling off sick compared to just one one-quarter of women. Interestingly, men were also more likely to voluntarily do workplace cleaning, with 25% of male workers reporting they cleaned the workplace toilet even though it wasn’t part of their job duties, while only 17% of women picked up a toilet brush at work.






Article by Cleaning & Maintenance Management.