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Keep Your Workplace Clean and Organized

Ever wondered why companies insist that their employees keep their workplaces clean? Not only is a dirty workplace a terrible place to work in, but it also lowers productivity and efficiency. Cleaning up after a day of work is just as important as what you do for a living.

Japanese companies innovated a productivity philosophy called “5S,” which stands for five Japanese words that refer to a methodology not only for cleaning, but for business. The 5S methodology is all about eliminating waste, speeding up daily tasks, and improving the quality of the workplace. We can use the 5S methodology in Kenya to help us organize your tasks at the end of every working day.

Seiri (Sorting)

Go through everything in your workplace. Check your shelves, desks, and even the file structures in your office computer. Keep only the items you need at work, and discard or store everything else. Sorting and storing reduces the time you spend looking for a particular pencil, a notepad, or a certain file on your computer, which means that you can devote more time to work.

Professional Cleaning Services Nairobi

Seiton (Set in Order)

“Set in order” means that there’s a place for everything, and everything should be in its place. After a day of work, take the time to see if your writing materials, tools, notes, and files are in their correct and proper order. It also means that you can improve the work flow for the next working day.

Seiso (Sweeping)

At the end of each working day, take the time to clean up after your office space. Clean up after any mess you make. Not only should you do this out of courtesy, but “seiso” also means that you know the exact place of everything you need for work. It also means that when you enter a clean office, you should work and leave in a clean office.

Seiketsu (Standardizing)

Almost every company has a standardized manual on company behavior and workplace cleanliness. If your company assigns cleaning tasks, you should know exactly what you should do and stick with that role for the particular task.

Shitsuke (Sustaining)

A systematic and productive workplace is not a one-day-affair just because the boss or some prospective clients are around. Sustaining your cleaning tasks is important to improve productivity and increase employee satisfaction. Remember that if you cannot sustain 5S, you have to start over.

The 5S system may sound simple, but it demands dedication and commitment. With 5S, you can be sure to complete your office cleaning tasks in no time.

How Your Business Can Benefit From Professional Office Cleaning in Kenya

A lot of organizations give importance to cleanliness. Have you thought about yours?

A living space that looks clean could actually be hiding layers of dust, dirt and grime. You believe that an occasional spring clean will do the job for you. But it is not enough; every company needs a deep clean and here are reasons why you need to do it. These reasons could act as an incentive for you. So, take heed.

1. It prolongs the life of office supplies –

An office environment is made up of multiple valuable items; there’s electronics, furniture, carpets to name a few. The more regularly they are maintained, longer they will last. Dust buildup can cause computers and printers to malfunction. Stains can ruin the look of carpets. Professional office cleaners can give you a thorough and timely cleanup that will prolong the life of your office supplies.

2. Preserve the health of your employees –

Working in a dirty office environment can pose a serious health risk to your employees. In an office, there are a dozens of people sharing equipment and utilities. These surfaces become magnets for dirt and germs, making it very easy to spread infections. Poor indoor air quality can trigger allergic reactions and asthma.

A cleaner workplace will promote better health. To add, a clutter-free (where everything is organized properly) office will prevent the chances of injury caused due to trips, slips and falls.

3. Increase employee productivity –

Lower absenteeism is directly linked to increasing employee productivity. The state of the office also affects the morale of the employees. A clean environment, where everything is at hand, motivates them to work and keeps them focused. It is annoying if you have to keep dropping your work and go looking for things you need. The clutter and dirt can become a major distraction. A healthy physical space will reduce the losses caused by sick days and ill employees. If you care for your employees, they will care for you too.

4. A business image –

Imagine walking through a door to see papers lying in an untidy pile, a few stains decorating the walls and floors that have collected scum? If you are a client, you will hesitate to do business with this one! A clean and tidy office projects a positive business image;

Yes, it’s important to have a clean office, but there’s not always the time to do it personally. This is where an office cleaning service can step in.

• By outsourcing cleaning and maintenance tasks to an office cleaning company, you will be able to focus on other core jobs increasing productivity.

• You can be assured that the cleaning routines will be performed on a regular basis.

• Also, when you hire an office cleaning service, you are calling in a team of trained and skilled professionals who know the right techniques and cleaning materials to use to create a hygienic environment.

• You will save time and money.

So, hire an office cleaning company today, and ensure that your business premises are spotless, organized and hygienic.

Tips for Cleaning Rexine Made Products

Rexine is a trademarked name for an imitation leather which is made by covering a woven surface with cellulose nitrate along with other things such as camphor oil or alcohol. This is also used as a material for the purpose of bookbinding as well as upholstery covering. Rexine is also used widely used for the purpose of upholstering and trimming all the interiors of motor vehicles that have continuously been produced by the British car manufacturers. Apart from motor vehicles, they are also used for railway carriages.

Artificial leather

Rexine is described as a brand of an artificial leather. It is particularly very durable which means that it is also a high- end product. This durability has ended up satisfying millions of users around the globe. You can also be one of these customers. There is a need of materials made with Rexine because of the high level of sophistication and comfort that they offer. Below are a few tips that you can follow while cleaning Rexine.

1. Don’t overdo it

This is the secret to cleaning cloth materials. You never have to overdo the cleaning because it can seriously damage the product. A minimum amount of cleaning can also go a long way.

2. Use appropriate agents and tools

Not every tool or agent will be good enough to clean the material appropriately. You need to make sure that the tools you use are appropriate enough. There should be no room for error as far as these tools are concerned.

3. Don’t clean often

Yes, Rexine materials do not require cleaning regularly. If you do it seldom, it is more than enough. This is the best thing that Rexine products and materials possess. They are easy to manage and use which means that are low- maintenance.

4. Don’t damage the leather

As you know that the leather is artificial. This means that you must take adequate care of this leather. Even a slight damage can cause problems in the long run.

If the above tips are followed without fail, you will be able to safeguard Rexine for a long period of time. This is exactly we require as users or customers and this is exactly what you will be able to get in the long run. It is one of the important things to remember.

Improve Air Quality With Upholstery Cleaning

Carpet steam cleaning is essential. Yet many people have little knowledge about this crucial aspect of cleaning. There are a number of reasons which necessitate the proper cleaning of upholstery. For many people it may come as a shock as to how vital it is to have your upholstery cleaned.

The most important factor that necessitates that you have your upholstery cleaned is the effect that filthy upholstery has on the air quality in your home. Of course your furniture will look good and have an extended life once you avail professional upholstery cleaning but the main reason is to rid the air of allergens. But naturally the quality of air in your home is very important and it can drastically be improved by cleaning your upholstery. With time dust and bacteria get embedded deep within your upholstery such as the couches, chairs and other furniture. As a result people living in your home can develop health problems such as allergies and breathing problems. When you have your upholstery cleaned you will notice a drastic improvement in the air quality and consequently you will be able to get rid of the root cause of the spread of various health problems.

Sad but true, most people never avail professional upholstery cleaning services, primarily because they are unaware of the implications of dirty upholstery. Health experts suggest that upholstery cleaning should be conducted once every two years. This is the bear minimum standard although a yearly cleaning would do much better. By getting your upholstery cleaned at the hands of the professionals at regular intervals you will benefit by good air quality and great looking furniture. Furthermore you can have the same cleaning company give your upholstery a fabric protection application that will make it immune to developing permanent stains.

When you consider the seriousness of the health risks that arise due to negligence of upholstery cleaning then you well definitely consider it to be well worth investing in. Eczema, asthma and a host of other breathing and allergy problems can arise due to unclean upholstery. If you are thinking not spending on upholstery cleaning will save you money then you are wrong because you will most likely be spending that money, probably even more, on providing your family with medical treatment. The same goes for offices and other professional institutions which will have to compensate their employees for medical care if they fall sick due to the poor air quality that arises because of dirty upholstery.

Carpet cleaning is not rocket science and you can conduct it your self. However you need to be very careful in selecting the right products which will clean your upholstery effectively without causing any damage. This can be quite a time consuming job which is why it is much better to render professional services. Furthermore if you have upholstery of different fabrics then you will need to by various different products which will definitely not be cost effective. Add to that the time and effort you will have to put in and you will realize that you are much better off getting the professionals to do the job.

Top Three Advantages of Hiring a Cleaning Service for Your Home

The home is where we are supposed to find solace after a whole day’s work. However, with all our busy schedules and the various things that we need to get done outside of our comfort zone, we often forget that it also needs some tender loving care and upkeep. If you are a busy individual with no time to maintain the hygiene of your abode, it might pay to hire a deep cleaning service from time to time. Below are some of the advantages you can enjoy when you hire someone to maintain the cleanliness of your home.

You Can Take Your Needed Rest

Work can take a toll on our well-being. Sometimes, we can even get sick if we have exhausted ourselves too much on office responsibilities. Going home is often a welcome respite after every shift, but going to a filthy house can often add only to stress. Would you be able to sleep in a place with too much clutter? Probably not! Clean surroundings mean a good night’s sleep and a relaxed mood. Hiring a professional cleaning company to clean up your home while you are in the office doing your daily job responsibilities can greatly take the stress out of your system. You can go home to a spotless house and no longer need to think about spending time mopping floors, scrubbing tiles, or arranging clutter. All you need to do is relax and take the rest your body greatly needs.

Your House Will Be a Lot Cleaner

As homeowners, we are often very familiar with every corner of our house. However, we mostly clean only the obvious surfaces and take for granted areas where germs and bacteria could freely multiply. These include small cracks in the home, window blinds, sinks and cabinets, and even door knobs. When you hire a cleaning service, all these areas will be given attention and cleaned thoroughly. This means that your home will be cleaner and safer from all types of illness-causing organisms.

You Will Be Able to Spend Time on More Important Things

Sanitizing your home can eat up a lot of your time. It can even take away the moments that are supposed to be spent with your kids and loved ones. When you hire a deep cleaning service, you can have all the free time you need to spend quality time with the people who really matter in your life.

Deep cleaning services may look expensive at first glance, but if you have tried them and have enjoyed their services, you might just be able to appreciate the help they contribute to your life.

Easy Hardwood Floor Cleaning Tips

Maintaining a hardwood floor in prime condition doesn’t take much skill or effort, but it requires consistency and good care on a daily basis. Especially for rooms that experience heavy traffic or are exposed to additional “treatment” from kids and pets, it’s essential that you keep an eye for suspicious stains, marks and spilled or sticky substances.

Since floor are generally separated into wax finished and surface finished, the exact hardwood floor cleaning tips often differ depending on what finish you’re dealing with. Apart from the regular dust-mopping, sweeping and vacuuming with an appropriate extension, you need to know how to take care of “accidents” and minor damage that the floor would inevitably experience sooner or later.

Starting with the regular cleaning routine itself, never use water to clean the surface. Unless the floor manufacturer (if you have a prefinished floor) or the floor finish manufacturer (for floors finished on site) allows the use of damp mops, you’re only going to cause a lot of grief to the protective coating and in no time, to the wood underneath it. Once done, the floor would experience many negative side effects such as buckling and crowning, as well as the surface losing its color and shine. On a side note, don’t use domestic dust and surface cleaners, but rather what is recommended by the manufacturer of your floor. If the latter is unknown, use a generic hardwood floor cleaner that’s designed for the type of floor finish you have.

When it comes to dealing with stains, like from a pet or ink, the sooner you react the better. You would almost always have to use a very fine or fine steel wool to take off the finish away (wax or polyurethane) before you can reach the contamination. Use a recommended wood floor cleaner and a bit of mineral spirits to remove the stain, wait until the area dries up, then rewax and buff, or refinish. Remember to never use wax on a surface finish. Sometimes if you spot the problem too late and it goes too deep, replacing the boards might be your best option.

To deal with minor scratches, just rewax if it’s a wax finish floor and buff. For surface finishes, use a touch-up kit made for surface finished floors. You can find the latter in most specialized shops. Food stains and chunks need to be blotted lightly with a damp but well wrung out cloth, then scrapped off carefully without damaging the surface. Plastic tools do a better job in this case.

Certain oils and grease can be very dangerous to a floor, so make sure you take care of them immediately. For wax finished floors, soak up the substance thoroughly, then blot the spot with a clean cloth and follow up with a dry cloth to remove the residue. Repeat one or more times if necessary. Use mineral spirits and trisodium phosphate (if you have) on a soft cloth to rub the area gently until the problem disappears.

Lastly, mildew and mold are constant enemy of houses with higher humidity levels or leakages. To take care of these on a hardwood floor with both wax and surface finishes just use an approved wood floor cleaner. Additionally for wax finishes, you may have to rub the spot with a finer steel wool, then rewax and rebuff. Burns and marks are the least you’d want to see on your floor, so if that happens consider replacing the strips or planks if it goes too deep. Otherwise you can try to resand and refinish.

Understanding the dynamics of office cleaning before hiring a professional cleaning company in Kenya

Office cleaning must take place every day to make sure that your visitors will always have a great first impression of your company. Having a messy and dirty office can definitely scare your clients away and if you are not pleased with the way your office looks, it is probably time you hired office cleaning services providers. A clean and organized office will cause a very good impression and it will also enable you to work more efficiently. Furthermore, cleaning services will help you find what you need much faster and at the same time increase your productivity at work.

First of all, you should know that office cleaning services are not easy as they seem because most clients are very demanding. Office buildings have strict guidelines regarding the chemicals and the cleaners that can be used, especially in order to avoid any allergic reactions. Most reputable companies hire cleaning services providers in order to avoid complications due to the fact that their employees are sensitive to certain chemicals. Also, companies who resort to cleaning services are very strict regarding the hours at which the cleaning personnel can come and do the necessary tasks.

Most office workers don’t like having their things touched or their space invaded and this is why companies ask to find the things of the employees untouched, after the cleaning. Hiring office cleaning services is not a luxury, but a necessity at the work place and these are some aspects you should consider before hiring office cleaning services. Most companies offer the following services: restroom cleaning, disinfecting, trash collection and removal, sweeping, mopping and vacuuming, dusting, vent cleaning, window washing, cleaning of light fixtures, etc.

Also, don’t forget about the references and keep in mind that the cleaning services provider you are interested in should offer you a list of companies to contact in order to obtain certain references. Give them a call and see if they confirm if the company is reputable and if it offers excellent services. If the office cleaning services provider can’t put at your disposal such a list, it is probably better that you moved on to another company. If money is a problem, you can select companies that offer daytime cleaning in order to save energy and money, this being a cheaper option. However, you should also keep in mind the fact that the employees might be the disturbed by the cleaning personnel and this might affect their productivity at work.

If you own a larger company, you will need cleaning services on a regular basis and the number of employees as well as the size of the space that needs to be cleaned will help you determine how often you need such services. However, a good solution is asking the office cleaning services provider to come weekly and afterwards you can schedule them more frequently as your business grows. Furthermore, make sure that you trust your cleaning services provider and that things don’t start disappearing from your office with the arrival of the cleaning personnel. Inquire about their supplies and see if they will bring them or if you have to bring the supplies.

Carpet cleaning and sofa cleaning services that takes care of any stains

The carpet and the sofa are the two most neglected places to clean in the whole house. These are also some of the toughest places to clean in the house. A lot of dirt gets collected here and stains on the sofa or carpet can be a nightmare to clean. No matter how much you try avoiding stains on your expensive carpet or sofa, they always seem to appear.

The damage stains do to your carpet or sofa:

Water or any other liquids can end up spoiling the fabric of the carpet or upholstery. And you have to find a way of covering up those stains or repairing the fabric.

But one tactic which is more effective than doing it yourself, is calling for the service of a cleaning company. Mop and Shine offer carpet cleaning and upholstery cleaning. We have highly trained staff members that can take care of such stubborn stains on your carpet or sofa. They also ensure that no harm or damage is caused from their cleaning methods or products. They use advanced tools and equipment to take care of such type of situations. They vacuum clean and dry-clean the carpet to ensure spotless results.

The benefits of carpet cleaning  and sofa cleaning:

Since carpets and sofas collect a lot of dust, this can make you ill as well as make the house look unclean so it important to ensure that these are cleaned. These cleaning services see to it that your house is completely clean. In this way you will not have to cover up any stains or dirt yourself and you can rely on us to do a professional job.

DIY Landscaping Tips

Landscaping consists of not only adding plants, bushes, trees and flowers it also includes water features, lawn furnishings and other decorative niceties to your lawn to create an attractive, comfortable garden. Landscaping makes a fun and easy project that you can do with your own two hands, and it will help the environment by reducing toxic greenhouse gases, preventing soil erosion and producing oxygen.

If you’re thinking of landscaping your garden, start by brainstorming some gardening ideas.  You can find landscaping ideas in books, gardening magazines and even at the homes of your friends and neighbors.  Once you’ve decided what you’d like your new garden to look like, plan a central feature.  Your central feature will serve as your jumping-off point when you begin your project; it will also be the most dramatic element of your newly landscaped garden.

Here are some tips to help you landscape your garden:

  • When choosing permanent features (statues, benches, swings and bird baths) choose features that will please you.  Remember, you’re going to have to look at them for a long time.
  • When choosing plants, remember that different plants bloom and flourish during different seasons. This gives you the freedom to plant a garden that will bloom all year or all season long. Some people choose a monochromatic landscaping scheme, in which they use different shades of one color.  Others use an analogous color scheme, which calls for the use of related colors, like blue, violet and blue-violet.  You might prefer a complimentary color scheme.  Use a color wheel to choose your colors.
  • Plant large, robust plants next to smaller, thinner plants to add variety to your garden beds, or use plants with varying shades of leaves or even multicolored leaves.
  • Have a close look at your garden from every angle to make sure that it works well as a whole.

You might want to consider landscaping your new garden for function as well as form.  “Edible landscaping” means planting vegetables and fruits alongside decorative plants in your garden beds.  Use rows of kitchen herbs to separate patches of ornamentals.  Plant tomatoes and marigolds side by side; enjoy pea plants as a lovely flowering vine.  Edible landscaping makes your garden even more eco-friendly by reducing your dependence on the fossil fuels used to ship food to markets; it will save you money on groceries and, of course, it’s delicious.

10 Useful Office Cleaning Tips

A clean and tidy workplace is essential to any business, no matter what types of industry you are in you need an organised work environment so you and your employees can work in harmony. Offices alike need even greater attention because that is where most of the time you meet clients and prospects.

The state of a workplace in this case can often reflect how organised a business is, not to mention that a tidy office is proved to boost productivity. Who doesn’t like to walk in a workplace that is sparkling clean and tidy ready to start the daily activities, the only animal that likes to work in the dirt is a pig.

With that mind set we compiled a list of 10 office cleaning tips to help you maintain that your office is clean at all times.

1. Establish Priorities

First and foremost it is important to set priorities within the office. If your office produces a lot of paper work, assign someone to be in charge of the filling and organising all the paper work. But you should really try to minimise the amount of paper work produced within the office.

An idea is to keep everything in digitalised files and print them whenever you need them. More to that on tip nº5. If you already keep most of your files digitalised a good idea is to assign your computer savvy employee to organise them within a network so it is easy to access and ask him/her to make backups periodically.

2. Delete the Junk

It may take some time to go through those precious papers but, as you do, it will be easier for you to see how much is duplicated, unnecessary, out-of-date, and just plain rubbish. Throw out the stuff you no longer need. If there’s personal information, financial or other, on some of those sheets you are discarding, be sure to shred them! If you don’t have a shredder, invest in one.

3. Set Aside Time

It’s a good idea to set aside a specific time each day/week/month to handle the housekeeping and tidying that every office needs. Friday afternoons or Monday mornings is the best time to do the housekeeping, no need to explain why, right? Who likes to work on Monday morning and Friday afternoon? I have to be honest I don’t, hope the boss won’t read this.

4. Avoid poor indoor air quality

It is not uncommon for the air inside a home or office to be more toxic than the air outside. This is because of the presence of toxic materials and substances and the fact that homes and buildings are better insulated than ever before (which is a good thing from an energy standpoint). Keeping windows open as often as possible allows fresh air in and keep toxins flowing out. This is especially important when cleaning your home.

5. Go Digital

We are living in a digital era so why keep printing all documents and filling them into cabinets that take enormous amount of space in your office. Keep all your files digitalised and print them whenever you need them. This also applies to other types of files like video and music, no need to have piles of DVDs and CDs stored around the office keep all them in hard disk that can accessed by anyone in the office. If you don’t have it yet, get your IT guy to create a network to link all computers in your office.

6. Pay Great Attention to Computers and Telephone Sets

Have you ever taken anytime to consider how many germs there are lurking in your keyboard or on your telephone dashboard?? If you did, I think you’d find yourself not wanting to touch either again, not to mention that your computers could fry up if you don’t keep them clean. This is because when dust clogs the vents behind your computer, your CPU heats up—and heat is the biggest cause of component failure in computers.

But, don’t just go and get your nearest polish or cleaning products!! You need to be careful what use on your electrical equipment because it can be damaged with the wrong products. If in doubt ask for professional cleaning help.

7. Clean your indoor air naturally

Skip the store-bought air fresheners and instead try boiling cinnamon, cloves, or any other herbs you have a fondness for. Fresh chocolate chip cookies also have been known to create a friendly aroma. Also, plants may not make your house smell different but are good for filtering interior air–pretty much any broad green leaf plant will do. Peace Lilies are a favourite choice.

8. Incite Employees to keep their work area organised

Incite all workers to keep their desks clean and well organised at all times, put files away at the end of the day, a well organised work place is a productive workplace. It also gives a good impression to clients or perspective clients.

9. Give common areas a deep clean periodically

Ensure the offices and common areas have a Deep Clean at least once a year. This leads us to our final tip

10. Hire a Professional Office Cleaning Company

To ensure your office is sparkling clean and tidy at all times it is best to leave it to the professionals. Just like you know how to best perform in your job, professional office cleaners have greater knowledge in cleaning; therefore they can deliver a much better job.