Category: Commercial Cleaning

The Importance of a Vacuum Cleaner

One definite requirement to cleaning the house is and always has been the vacuum cleaner.

Believe it or not, there is a more effective cleaning system than the same vacuum which has been around for so many years. It is the central vacuum cleaner and they are becoming common in a lot of homes. It has a stronger suction that provides a greater cleaning ability.

With the central vacuum, dust and debris is sucked into the unit because it is located in the central position of the house. The bag isn’t being carried around with the unit like the portable vacuum so this means there is no chance that dust will be re-circulated around the house.

You can buy a central vacuum with a Hepa filter so that the tiniest dust particles can be picked up and trapped. With the central vacuum all dust can be removed from the house. It is a fact that dust can be attached to the exterior of the house as well, this can also be removed as part of the process.

There is another system available which with the rotation of air inside the machine separates the dust and dirt and propels it into the bag. This system is called the cyclonic system.

Although this method is not as efficient as the Hepa filter because there is a small percentage of dust will not be picked up. An additional filter on the central vacuum system can help to remove dust that was left over.

Here are a few big differences in the portal vacuum and the central unit: the central unit has the convenience of not needing to be pulled around the house as you clean and it also has the power in which the great suction operates.

For those who may be suffering from an allergic reaction to dust mites, this central vacuum system is the best investment for your household.

Domestic Cleaning Or Commercial Cleaning, What Is the Difference?

Is there really a difference between domestic and commercial cleaning? In short the answer is yes; but there are various factors that make it so.

With commercial cleaning the work is considered a necessity for running the business so becomes a business expense. Business expenses are part of a budget therefore the cost of having the premises cleaned needs to fit into the allocated amount. This is not the case with domestic cleaning as it is purely a decision of the homeowner to clean their property themselves or pay to have it done.

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Domestic Cleaning

There are certain expectations of cleaning by property owners, but the kind carried out with commercial property does depend on the business. Any business handling food is meticulous about keeping the place hygienically clean. Health requirements are such that if they do not keep the properties as clean as the set Health Standards they could lose their licence to sell food. This is a great incentive for people to work hard at keeping up the standards. Usually the cleaning is done by the employed staff. It is part of the closing down ritual so they know when they arrive the following day there will be no contamination.

Should a building contain offices for professional consultants or financial institutions the requirements are not so strict. A thorough vacuum and the hygienic cleaning of all the bathrooms are usually sufficient. Because offices house many desks with computers most cleaners are not required to dust. They are expected to empty the rubbish bins, but vacuuming the floor is the main prerequisite.

Many commercial buildings, especially large city skyscrapers leased by various organisations, tender out their cleaning. This helps them cope with the annual cost and it is budgeted into their expenses. Sometimes the cheapest tender is chosen but this does not guarantee a thorough job.

For a commercial cleaning company to make a profit they must ensure that the number of worked hours they pay for are less than the money they receive for the work. Should they have underquoted to get the job, less time is spent cleaning on each floor making the quality of the clean not as diligent as it probably should be.

office cleaning in Kenya

Commercial Cleaning

There are thousands of commercial buildings and many areas that need to be cleaned and kept in pristine condition. Floors and bathrooms inside the buildings are a must for daily cleaning but the windows of the buildings also need a regular removal of dust both inside and out, especially if it is a shop front used for promotion of sales. Wooden or vinyl floors must be regularly polished to keep up the shine. All these jobs need to be carried out by professionals in those fields.

Because commercial cleaning is usually done by Cleaning Organisations the owners of the building will not meet the cleaners. If the job is not done well the lessees of the space will complain to the owner. This is unless the lessee has arranged the cleaning themselves. As cleaning in commercial property is usually done outside of business hours the cleaner is very rarely seen and in some cases it is not the same person doing the job each day.

To ensure the cleaning is kept up to standard, owners of commercial properties take out Contracts with Cleaning Companies. This is where the tendering becomes an advantage. The Contract is signed for a certain period of time, and at the end of that Contract the owners of the buildings can renegotiate their cleaning costs and requirements. If they are not happy with the kind of cleaning they are receiving they look elsewhere.

Commercial cleaning can be a lucrative business, but matching the quality with the charge is the difficult part and many commercial cleaners charge less than they should just to obtain the jobs. Once they have the Contract they sometimes ‘on sell’ these Contracts and make money from the new arrangement. Depending on how much the contract is worth, determines the amount of time that can be spent cleaning. Each cleaner is allocated a specific number of minutes to clean an area or floor and the work has to be finished in that time. Speed does not always combine with efficiency and quality is not always received.

The reduction of spending for cleaning, and the small profits to be made can cause many commercial cleaning jobs to be rushed and poorly administered.

Cleaning a home is different. To the homeowner their property is their castle. They will be much more fastidious about the results. They are paying for the cleaning out of their own pocket and they want to see some value in return for that expenditure. The work is more demanding than cleaning a commercial property.

The requirements of most homeowners are such that a reasonable cleaning job is not good enough. Expectations are high and on top of that they have all their personal things throughout the dwelling and allowing someone into their home to clean has security implications. The home owner needs to feel comfortable with the person doing the work and be sure the place will look as neat, clean and tidy as they expect after each clean.

Where do home owners go to find a cleaner? They don’t put out tenders as in the commercial world so who do they get to clean? Many people advertise for cleaners in their local papers, or they hire people who promote themselves as cleaners, also there are Cleaning Agencies who will charge a fee for finding the cleaner for them.

Homes are very rarely cleaned on a daily basis. If the home owner has a regular cleaner the dwelling is usually cleaned either weekly or fortnightly. Some home owners require their cleaner to do housework as well, so the time spent on the property can be quite long.

Just vacuuming the floors and cleaning the bathrooms is usually not enough when cleaning a home; especially as bathrooms are more than the toilets, urinals and basins. There is the shower and bath as well as the toilet and sink. Kitchens are larger with many cupboards and a stove top and probably a range hood, whereas in a commercial situation the kitchen is usually a small set of cupboards with a sink and microwave. Because the home is not cleaned daily there is also a build up of dust and dirt, and all horizontal surfaces need to be wiped.

In both cases Time is what the commercial property owner and the homeowner are paying for. With the Commercial situation a certain amount of money is allocated indicating the time allowed for the clean. In the Domestic world this situation is reversed. The homeowner pays for the Time it takes to clean their property. The size of the property and the area to be cleaned governs the Time it takes. The larger the building the more Time required. The smaller the property the Time will be less. Less Time spent, costs less, but if the property is large and the correct Time is not allocated the poorer the job.

For most commercial property owners as long as the basics are done they are happy, but with a home owner, the less work carried out means more cleaning for them to do themselves. This somewhat negates the whole idea of having a cleaner. They want their home to be pristine and clean when they return home after a long days work. To see areas that have been missed or not cleaned properly can make an expensive exercise.

So the biggest difference between commercial and domestic cleaning is the payment. The commercial world pays for their cleaning because it is a necessity. Whether the cleaning is done well or not is not really the issue, it is a cost that has to be paid and therefore an expense for the business. With the domestic situation the cost is a discretionary outlay. If people have the spare money they can afford it, if not they clean themselves and that is why they expect perfection.

Yes there is a difference between cleaning commercial property and domestic dwellings, but the kind of cleaning received is dependent on how much each is willing to pay.

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.

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.

Cleaning Stains From Office Chair Fabric – Treatment Tips

There is nothing worse than finding a nasty stain on your office chair fabric, it seems once it’s there it almost appears to grow and magnify each time you look at it. The question is what is the best way to deal with a bad fabric stain? And the answer really depends on what the stain is caused by.

Here are some of the most common stains found on office chairs and how to best deal with them.

Soft Drinks, Tea and Coffee Stains

Fabric stains on office chairs caused by soft drinks, tea and coffee are very common after all it’s just so easy to slop your drink when working in your chair.

As with the majority of fabric stains speedy treatment is vital so it is always best to act quickly. Begin by mopping up any excess fluid with a white paper towel, do this by blotting the stain and don’t start rubbing at it.

Next, mix up a solution of 33% white vinegar (acetic acid) and 66% warm water, dampen the stain with the solution with either a cloth or a misting spray.

Allow it to soak in for a short time and then blot again with a clean paper towel, repeat this process if necessary.

Grease Stains

Again speed is important when dealing with grease stains. Begin by sprinkling the greasy mark with talc or corn starch and let the grease absorb into the powder before brushing it off. This will remove any grease sitting on the surface of the fabric.

Next, use a dry cleaning solvent to damp the stain to dissolve the grease using a white paper towel to blot the affected area and remove the grease. It may well be necessary to repeat the treatment where the stain is particularly bad.

A cautionary note, before using any solvent always test it on an inconspicuous area first to make sure it doesn’t adversely react with the fabric color.

Chocolate Stains

Chocolate is a real menace in the office, you’re having a snack and before you know it a lump of chocolate falls on the chair and then you sit on it and the damage is done.

Where it’s a big lump it is worth placing an ice cube in some cling film and pressing it against the chocolate to harden it, then take the back of a pen knife and carefully scrape off the build up of chocolate.

Once you have done this use the dry cleaning solvent procedure suggested for grease stains, remembering to test for color fastness first.

General Office Chair Fabric Maintenance

You may find you will need to clean the remainder of your chair fabric if it is a few years old as spot cleaning can leave the area a lot cleaner than the remaining fabric.

It’s always a good idea to keep your chair fabric in good condition by regular cleaning, left untreated minute grit particles embed themselves and act like sandpaper causing premature wear in your seating upholstery.

Regular vacuuming with a good cleaner as well as light beating to agitate the dirt particles is a good idea and will help prolong the life of your chair’s fabric.

Where the fabric is heavily worn it may be too late to restore its finish and investing in a new chair may be necessary.