Do you own and operate a commercial cleaning business? It is well known that a commercial cleaning business is a very lucrative venture, especially for those who know how to provide quality service. Unfortunately many new entrepreneurs lose important clients because they make careless mistakes.

To be successful in commercial cleaning, you need to know what not to do, so here are the five most common commercial cleaning complaints:

1. Poor Cleaning Service

Poor cleaning service is the most common commercial cleaning complaint. Maybe your cleaners missed a cubicle in the toilet, or maybe you used a poor quality cleaning product. Poor cleaning service can also be the result of a poorly trained employee, but whatever the reason, this complaint can completely ruin your business relationship with your client.

The best way prevent this type of complaint is to:

1. Teach your employees how to provide high quality cleaning service;
2. Create a printable outline of your client’s office space so that no spots are missed and:
3. Purchase quality cleaning products and cleaning accessories that are environmentally friendly.

2. Showing Up Late and Leaving Too Early

In business, punctuality is so important. If your employees are arriving late and leaving early it makes your whole organization look bad, and you can lose quite a lot of business through tardiness.

The only way to prevent this is to instill good work practices in each and every one of your employees. Remind them that they are representing the business when they are on the job and you will not accept tardy behavior.

3. Reports of Missing Items

A very serious but all too common complaint is that items are missing from the client’s workplace. The best way to handle this complaint is to confront your employees immediately and ask if anyone is responsible. Inform your employees that they can leave an anonymous letter if they know who the culprit is.

It is important not to jump to conclusions too quickly. If the missing item was simply misplaced and you reprimand your employees you could completely lose their trust, so wait for solid evidence. But
if one of your employees is found guilty, then it is best to terminate their contract immediately. You need to be able to trust your workers and so does your client.

4. Workers Distracting the Client’s Employees

Your customers may complain that your office cleaning staff are distracting their employees due to their unprofessional behavior. Make sure that none of your employees engage in idle conversation in the client’s office and tell them to make as little noise as possible when working.

5. Unreliable Workers

Another commercial cleaning complaint regards cleaner reliability. If one of your cleaners is consistently missing from work then you need to correct their behaviour immediately. If they are repeatedly absent then you should seriously consider terminating their contract.

The occasional customer complaint in business is inevitable, but when you stop making these five avoidable mistakes, your business will have a lot more customer recommendations than complaints. Good luck!

The Five Most Common Commercial Cleaning Complaints is a post from: Cleancorp

If you’re a small to medium sized business, commercial cleaning services can leave a heavy mark on your company budget. To make sure that you’re getting the most for your money, ask any prospective cleaning company the following eight questions:

1. What Hours Are They Willing to Work?

If you don’t might having cleaners walking up and down the corridors when your employees are busy, then this might not be an issue. But in most cases businesses prefer to have their premises cleaned outside of business hours, so be sure to ask the cleaning company what hours they work.

2. What Are Their Rates and Conditions?

Find out exactly what services you are receiving for the agreed price. Different cleaning companies will provide different cleaning packages, so it is best to have this conversation immediately to prevent any sort of miscommunication down the road. Nothing is more annoying than expecting your cleaning company to clean the whole office, only to find out that the carpet has not been vacuumed.

3. Does the Company Have a Good Reputation?

The only way to find out whether or not a cleaning company provides quality service is to ask their previous clients. Always ask for a set of references and make sure that you do your own research before making any final decision. All it takes is a simple phone call.

4. What is Their Quality Assurance Policy?

Does the cleaning company have a satisfaction guarantee? What happens if you are unsatisfied with their services? Will they send someone immediately to remedy any problem, or will you receive a credit for next time? Is it essential to find out the answers to these questions.

5. Does the Company Use Environmentally Friendly Products?

Nobody wants to use cleaning solutions and substances that damage the environment. Worse still, some of these products, which contain harmful chemicals, phosphates and toxins, can adversely affect your workers health.

6. Is the Company Insured?

This might be the most important question of them all. If the cleaning company you hire is not insured, then this could lead to major financial and legal problems down the road. For example, if your uninsured cleaners damage expensive equipment in your office that is needed for everyday business, then you will be forced to pay for repairs.

7. What Is the Company’s Hiring Guidelines?

You do not want to be associated with a company that has poor hiring guidelines. Ask how they screen potential candidates and if they have mandatory drug testing and background checks. Remember, your cleaners will have complete access to your premise. You want to make sure they are responsible and trustworthy.

8. Will You Receive Incentives?

Find out beforehand if there are any special advantages in hiring a particular company. If you remain a client for a set period of time, will you receive a discount? Do they provide their own cleaning solutions? (i.e. paper towels, cleaning products, etc.).

As a final note, remember to use local businesses. For example, if your premise is located in Melbourne, simply type ‘office cleaning Melbourne ’ into Google and compile a list of cleaning companies.

With these eight questions, you will be able to find a cleaning company that best suits your company’s needs. Good luck!

Eight Questions to Ask When Hiring Commercial Cleaners is a post from: Cleancorp

Experts will tell you that a clean environment is a productive environment and this has been borne out by successful businesses across the country. It is easy to underestimate the power of image but it is an undeniable fact that if a business has a strong clean image backed by a crisp fresh work environment, it reflects not only on the business but in the performance of staff as well.

You know how it feels when you walk into a well lit store that has clean shiny surfaces and well ordered stock on the shelves as opposed to a stale dusty environment where it is difficult to find what you want. Which store do you return to?

You can bet your bottom dollar that the staff in a clean fresh office will be happier and more efficient than those who are forced to work in a dusty grimy environment. It is not just the staff who feel better, but the customers too. When people walk into your business their first judgement occurs when they assess what they see around them, we all do the same thing, so don’t underestimate the impact of a clean fresh working environment.

Keeping the work environment clean is a cheap and cost-effective way to keep staff happy. The workplace needs to be fun to maintain morale and this is much easier if everything is clean and sparkling. A company that takes the care to provide an optimal working environment for their staff will benefit from heightened staff loyalty and better performance.

A recent study in the UK revealed that 67% of employees consider that the decor and condition of a workplace significantly contributes to morale and overall performance. Of these respondents, a staggering 80% stated they would be happy to help clean up the environment themselves but thought it was the employer’s responsibility in the first place. Of job applicants, 76% stated they would be reluctant to work in a dirty or unclean environment.

This evidence demonstrates the opportunity that employers have to make a major impact on profits simply by keeping the office as clean and well ordered as possible.

Here are some things you can do to keep your staff happy and to improve efficiency.

• Make sure that you employ good commercial cleaning services to clean your office every day.
• Introduce a clean desk policy were all employees keep their working services as free from clutter as possible.
• Try some feng shui techniques like de cluttering all sections of the office including the kitchen and the refrigerator. Also try to use natural cleaning products instead of harsh chemicals and use aromatic herbs like rosemary and mint to keep the air fresh. Another good feng shui tip is to keep the entrance to your office sparkling clean especially the doors and reception area.
• Ensure that staff only consume food in the kitchen area and never at their desks, this will avoid keyboards from becoming contaminated with stale food particles that attract insects and bacteria.

For some it may be a simple matter of common sense, but if you ever needed convincing that a clean crisp office environment will benefit you, these facts should tip the evidence in your favour.

Top 4 Tips to Boost Staff Morale and Productivity is a post from: Cleancorp

Dust mites are everywhere and there’s just no escaping the fact that they will infest your carpets and if left to their own devices, each female will lay up to 100 eggs during its 80 day life cycle. Can you imagine the trouble this can cause in your office if your carpet cleaning efforts are not up to scratch?

Although dust mites do not attack the human body directly, their presence can trigger an allergic reaction causing great discomfort to those who are susceptible to them. In fact, it is not the dust mites themselves that cause the problem as much as the protein found in their remains and in their excreta, namely DER p1.

Sometimes, normal carpeting cannot remove the remains of dust mites and that is why commercial carpet cleaning needs to be called in.

The more people you have working in your office, the more likely it is that dust mites will be present in the carpet. This is because human bodies shed skin in small quantities all the time and this is what attracts dust mites in the first place. In the home it is easy to take remedial action like changing your bed linen regularly and cleaning pillows on a regular basis. But in an office environment where carpets are the main affecting element a specialist cleaning program needs to be implemented to rid the office of these pests.

The fibres of most carpets have a rough fibrous surface that hold dust mites within the pile even when a normal vacuum cleaner is used to suck them out. Only a commercial cleaner coupled with specialist cleaning agents can do a proper job of removing them almost completely, the operative term here is ‘almost completely’ because dust mites are impossible to entirely eradicate.

Let’s look at the best strategy is for keeping your office as free of dust mites as possible.

• Use a commercial carpet cleaning service that regularly cleans carpets and schedules the use of a hot steam process at least every six months in conjunction with appropriate pesticides.
• Eliminate as much dust from the environment as possible from things like shelving and desks which can accumulate dust in large amounts if left unattended. This means that the cleaning contract should involve cleaning all office equipment especially hidden shelves and the tops of books or folders which may be left unused for long periods of time.
• Look at the possibility of installing air cleaners which will rid the air of dust before it can settle into the carpet.

Dust mites are a major cause of allergies and asthma so if any of your staff starts to exhibit the symptoms, like itchy or runny noses, sneezing and wheezing of any sort, you may have a dust mite problem that needs immediate attention. They thrive in warm humid climates so make sure your air-conditioning is adjusted to the lowest comfortable temperature.

Most important of all, make sure you employ a commercial cleaning service to treat your carpets and prevent dust mites in the first place.

Commercial Carpet Cleaning Services Get Rid Of Dust Mites is a post from: Cleancorp

Government occupational health and safety regulations make cleanliness and safety in the workplace a clear requirement for all businesses. But there are other benefits too, like higher staff morale and an increase in productivity so there is a positive spin-off for everybody.

Whilst occupational health and safety officers have specific tasks to perform to maintain worker safety, providing a clean environment is an integral part of this. It is now at the stage where employers can no longer leave cleaning duties to their own staff, it is clearly time to implement professional office cleaning services to ensure not only compliance with government regulations but also greater worker safety and contentment.

Let’s look at some of the benefits that a professional cleaning service can give you.

• As mentioned above, a clean environment is part of modern occupational health and safety regulatory requirements and a professional cleaning service will help you fulfil your requirements in this respect.
• Studies have shown that employees feel better in themselves when working in a clean environment and this sense of contentment is reflected in higher productivity and pride in their work. There is a positive impact on staff absentee rates and this is reflected in the bottom line.
• When you have a professional cleaning contractor on the job, you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing that the cleaning tasks will be performed on time, every time. Also, you won’t have to worry about employing cleaners and covering staff absences.
• There is no doubt that a clean office or workplace is a reflection on your business image and you can really benefit from the confidence this inspires in your customers. You have probably experienced this yourself when you visit a modern car servicing outlet. Many years ago, there was little care taken to maintain a clean environment but after the intervention of marketing specialists they began to clean up their act and these days present a spIck ‘n’ span image could give their customers confidence in their ability.

A regular cleaning regime ensures that your property not only looks good but also is free from the dirt and grime that can attract rodents and other pests. This helps businesses to avoid the costs of rodent removal and helps them to avoid other infestations for example red back spiders. In a complementary way, this also ensures that staff are protected from the spread of illness which can result in downtime and loss of production.

All in all, workplace maintenance costs can be significantly reduced when you have a commercial cleaning contractor servicing your premises and the ongoing costs are far cheaper than instigating remedial cleaning programs as the occasion arises. When employers adopt a positive attitude to the elements of occupational health and safety regulations that require them to provide a clean environment, and understand the benefits that will flow on to their employees and their business in general, the expense will be easily justified.

5 Benefits You Will Get by Getting Professional Cleaning Services is a post from: Cleancorp

Every good employer recognises their responsibilities when it comes to occupational health and safety. Government regulations make sure of this, but there are other positive spin-offs for employees as well. If cleanliness is next to godliness as the old saying would have us believe, then your office cleaning contractor needs to know what you expect as well.

It doesn’t matter what type of working environment you are involved with, whether it be in an office, factory or a retail showroom, there is one underlying element which underpins good health and safety practices, and that is cleanliness.

Occupational health and safety is all about providing a safe environment for employees to carry out their duties. The spin-off for employers is that there is a reduction in workplace injuries and a corresponding increase in productivity and staff morale.

Although we are talking simple matters of common sense here, it might be worthwhile pointing out some of the salient reasons why cleanliness is a major factor when it comes to providing a safe work area.

• A place for everything and everything in its place, or so the saying goes. One of the first principles of a tidy workplace is to make sure that tools are kept in their place at all times. This alleviates the problem of losing bits and pieces and cluttering up walkways. Work practices which were developed in factories over many decades concluded that it was not only safer to keep everything in its place were not being used, but it also contributed to high rates of efficiency.
• As dirt, dust and grime accumulate bacteria start to breed and this can be catastrophic in any enclosed working space such as an office. Bacterial infections can lead to illness, a major contributor to staff absentee rates so, once again, a clean environment contributes to greater workplace safety.
• Hazardous materials are commonly used in some workplaces, particularly workrooms or factories. The very nature of these products means that they are dangerous to human health and pose a risk unless properly handled. By keeping these products in special containers, and out of the workspace when not being used, risk is minimised and a clean environment is maintained.
• There is a clear connection between hygiene and safety and you only have to look at washroom facilities to gain a better understanding of this. With the ever present danger of bacterial transference between workers, diseases like swine flu can easily spread it hygiene standards are not maintained at a high level. That’s why commercial cleaning contractors should be obliged to meet high standards when it comes to sensitive areas like washrooms.

It has been said many times that businesses have legal obligations when it comes to occupational health and safety issues. There can be severe penalties for breaches of standards and many organisations have had to appoint full-time occupational health and safety officers to ensure compliance.

The benefits however far outweigh the expense involved in implementing these safe work practices and there is no doubt that a clean working environment is part of this process.

4 Reasons Why A Clean Work Area Is A Safe Work Area is a post from: Cleancorp

How would you feel if you learnt that a keyboard is five times dirtier than a toilet seat? Well, recent studies have shown that E.coli and staphylococcus aureus accumulate on office keyboards at levels which are 150 times the safe limit! Let’s hope your office cleaning contractor is up to the task.

When you think about it, it is not difficult to imagine that bacteria can easily accumulate in the hidden crevices of various pieces of office equipment, nowhere more so than in a keyboard. After all, most keyboards have over 100 buttons each of them with five exposed surfaces not to mention what can build up underneath them all.

Keyboards are probably the most shared item in any office and staff regularly tap way without having washed their hands leading layer upon layer of potential infectious bacteria waiting with every keystroke.

It is a strange phenomenon when you consider how readily staff will use each other’s keyboards but if you were to ask them to use each other’s coffee cups you would get a completely different reaction!

Have you ever watched your cleaners at work? Is it possible that they could be using the same cloth to clean everyone’s keyboard was just a cursory wipe? Is it possible they are not cleaning them at all?

The unfortunate fact is that keyboards are the most likely source of infection and yet they go unnoticed when it comes to cleaning.

So let’s take a look at a few things you can do to make sure your staff are protected and that your commercial cleaning contractor is up to speed on your requirements.

• Request your staff to eat their lunch away from their keyboards to avoid food particles slipping down between the pads. Food particles can become a breeding ground for bacteria and you may want to point this out to your staff, or maybe give them a small demonstration; you’ll be surprised at the high compliance rate! If you have difficulty convincing your staff, remind them that it might be more hygienic for them to eat their lunch in the toilet!
• Provide keyboard covers to be used every time a desk is vacated. By simply having a cover in place you’ll be surprised how much this added protection will reduce the accumulation of dirt and grime.
• Make sure your cleaning contractor is aware of the high standard you expect when it comes to cleaning keyboards and ensure that they do not use the same cloth used on every other surface in the office.
• Have your keyboards specially cleaned at least every six months. This can be done on a rotational basis and is a great way to keep your computer equipment in near new condition.

It is not a difficult concept to get your head around when you look at the facts. Keyboards can be the main offender in spreading illness throughout the office so make sure your office cleaning regime pays special attention to your computer equipment.

How Much Bacteria Can Hide In A Keyboard? is a post from: Cleancorp

Every time you flush the toilet, thousands of tiny droplets spray through the air creating an aerosol effect that spreads germs and diseases throughout the wash room. So, the next time you are looking at renewing your commercial cleaning contract, make sure you choose somebody who is experienced enough to clean every surface in the washroom.

Washrooms and toilets need extra care when it comes to cleaning because those same water particles can be expelled like a sneeze with enough force to spread up to 80 feet! If your cleaner is not doing a good job you can imagine the health risks you are posing to your employees and visitors.

Let’s look at some facts and figures so you can completely understand the reasons to take extra special care when it comes to specifying your cleaning requirements in the washroom and toilet.

• The droplets which are expelled after a toilet is flushed can contain thousands of bacteria including salmonella, influenza and hepatitis not to mention faecal matter. One more sobering thought is that if you can smell it, you can taste it! Now, can you imagine a more disgusting thought?
• Flushing with the toilet lid down does nothing to stop the spread of bacteria because the hundreds of thousands of bacteria that have been sprayed into the air are now lurking in the bowl waiting for someone to lift the lid.
• The fine spray created with every flush can remain in the air for up to 4 hours making the spread of infection and disease even more likely.

Now that you have a better understanding of how bathrooms can be a source of harmful bacteria, you may not need any further reasons to ensure that your premises are cleaned regularly and to a standard that will stop the spread of illness through your office.

But there are other reasons for maintaining a clean and healthy washroom that have more to do with your image than anything else.

• The state of your premises is a reflection of your business image and this is never more evident than in the toilets. Imagine how visitors will feel if they find your washrooms dirty and unwashed. It could be a deal breaker.
• You have a duty of care to your employees in all matters of occupational health and safety and this extends to hygiene in the workplace. You owe it to your employees to provide them with clean washroom facilities so they not only feel a sense of pride in where they work but they will also come to appreciate the care that you have taken as an employer.
• Clean washrooms can help prevent the spread of illnesses throughout the office and this means less absenteeism and higher productivity rates.

When you consider all the evidence, it is just common sense to make sure that your washroom facilities are kept as clean as possible, and that your office cleaning contractor is well aware of your high standards.

6 Reasons Why Washrooms and Toilets Need Extra Care is a post from: Cleancorp

Commercial cleaning is an area that every business, large or small, should consider carefully. Cleaning a workplace must be a priority. Fresh clean workspaces not only benefit workers but they also impress customers and clients.

Worried About The Standard of Cleaning?

If your workplace cleaning is not up scratch chances are that staff and customers might also be affected. Staff morale can get down if they constantly feel their surroundings are not cared for. Plus there are bacteria that can spread and cause downtime.

Customers and clients will notice:

• Dust
• Smears on glass
• Dirt on floors
• Stained carpet
• Coffee mug rings on tables
• Unnecessary clutter
• Overflowing bins
• Smells

You can almost be assured that if you have concerns, others probably do also.

There are many reasons why businesses don’t look for a commercial cleaning service:

• Worried About Expense – a good service will probably save you money in the long run. By using the proper cleaning equipment they can be done in less time to a higher standard.
• Think Their Business Is Too Small — This simply isn’t true. Even one person running a business from a home office can benefit from professional cleaning routine. If you are holding client meetings in your home office show them you take your business seriously by a high standard of cleanliness.
• Have an existing cleaner – be brutally honest…is your cleaner really effective and consistent at having the workplace perfectly clean every day? The worst thing about the cleaner you might have had for years is complacency. Continually hiring and firing has a negative effect as well. Commercial cleaners will always ensure a cleaner is there at scheduled times and the cleaning is always completed to the same exacting standards.
• Other Staff Take Care Of Cleaning – this really is not an optimal way to clean a workplace. Staff who are employed in other areas generally resent cleaning. It can cause unrest if some clean more than others and may not see them available at all times for their regular position. Saving money in this way rarely works.
• You Clean Your Own Business Place – This probably the worst case scenario. If you are running a business you can’t expect to be able to clean your premises to a commercial standard regularly. There will always be times that you miss areas because of other commitments. Things that are missed begin to compound and the busier you get the more you think a quick go over will do. It won’t and this affects the performance of the business.

Cleanliness Checklist

Here are just some of the things that need to get done on a regular basis in a workplace with kitchen and bathroom facilities. There is a lot more to commercial cleaning than tidying up and a quick vacuum:

• Dust all surfaces both visible and hidden
• Wipe all surfaces not forgetting any IT equipment
• Clean all windows and glass
• Take particular notice of corners for cobwebs and dirt particles
• In and around window and door frames
• Door and draw handles
• Clean light fixtures
• Clean and disinfect toilet and bathroom basins and fixtures
• Clean kitchen sink and appliances
• Wipe over walls for any debris or food particles
• Polish all chrome fixtures
• Clean all floors, mop and vacuum, steam clean carpets if needed

This is by no means a thorough list, so you can see that even at a small workplace this is going to be time consuming on a daily basis. By all means get regular staff to wash up after themselves or keep their areas tidy, but leave the bulk of the intricate cleaning to a professional service.

Don’t Lose Business And Staff

A lack of cleanliness can lose business. A dirty workplace will deter customers from returning and new business from coming due to word of mouth. Here are the things to think about from a customer’s point of view.

• First impressions always count
• Keep your entry sparkling clean and inviting
• Think about the merchandise space the customer notices constantly
• Don’t forget the other place a customer might use, restrooms, fitting rooms, coffee facilities etc

Staff morale will be affected by a messy workplace. Show them you value what they do by providing a clean workplace every day. It will increase business productivity.

Commercial Cleaning – Will Your Premises Pass the White Glove Test? is a post from: Cleancorp