COMMERCIAL CLEANING TIPS - Kansas City Commercial Cleaning

Category : COMMERCIAL CLEANING TIPS

The 5 basics of a janitorial and office cleaning service

The 5 basics of cleaning your office.

This breaks down into 5 simple categories to make your office look nice! Of course you can go above and beyond. But if you hit these 5 things, you will be safe!

We like to do these things in order. Do not stop and switch from one thing to the other. Complete all in one category and then move on to the next.

Dust – Dust keyboards, monitors, picture frames, etc. Basically any horizontal surface needs to be dusted.
Wipe Clean – This includes but not limited to toilets, mirrors, glass, desks, etc.
Trash – Go around in a methodical fashion and collect all of the trash. If the trash can has gum in it or other debris, replace the liner. If not, keep it in there. No reason to be wasteful.
Vacuum – This is pretty self explanatory. Make sure you are pulling out chairs and getting under the desks.
Mop – Use fresh mop water and a floor disinfectant. Also make sure your mop head is soaking up water appropriately. Mop dry. Do not leave puddles.

Those are the basics. If you go around the office or commercial property and do all of these 5 steps at once, you can save yourself some headache. This also helps to insure that you do not miss anything. If you switch between tasks, it increases the chance that you will forget something that you were doing previously. Don’t get caught in trap!

Need help and don’t feel like messing with it? Call Elite Clean Co! Our office cleaning and janitorial services are sure to impress! 913-713-9579.

Elite Clean Co.

COMMERCIAL CLEANING TIPS
07/30/2019
Kansas City Janitorial and office cleaning services

Kansas City Janitorial Service

The main reason we are in business is because most people simply don’t like to clean. Everyone is capable of doing it, but very few people want to do it. That is where Elite Clean Co comes in! We service many types of commercial properties with our janitorial services. If you are anywhere in the Kansas City Metro Area, give us a call. It would be our pleasure to come out and give you a free office cleaning quote.

Elite Clean Co.

Making A Good Impression With Your Front Lobby

A positive first impression for your office space is key in ensuring clients will return to your business. Because the front lobby of your business is the first space your customers will see, it’s imperative that attention is dedicated to your front lobby and keeping it clean. Here are five ways to keep your front lobby looking its best.

Focus on Highly Trafficked Spots

While almost every portion of your front lobby will be used at one time or another, there are some spots that are used more often than others. These spaces typically include the space in front of the front desk, the area in front of offices and entrance doors, and bathrooms. While your entire space requires cleaning attention, it is usually wise to take the extra time to clean these high traffic areas to keep your lobby looking its best.

Use Mats In Doorways

Consider using entrance mats or throw rugs around doorways that are used most often. These mats can be easily cleaned and will prevent dirt to build in your carpet. They are also helpful in preventing your carpet from becoming worn in these specific areas, which can help your lobby look more professional.

Fresh & Clean Scent

Smell can be a major factor in memory for most individuals. Scents can easily become attached to both positive and negative memories, and you don’t want the smell of your lobby to be linked to a negative impression. To keep your lobby smelling its best, allow fresh air in with open windows when weather permits. The vents of your HVAC system should also be cleaned before the office is closed up tight during the winter months to prevent stale, unclean air from circulating throughout your office and lobby.

Dusting is Never Overrated

While dusting may seem overrated with all of the new cleaning tools available today, but dusting is still necessary. Dust can easily rest along the surfaces of your lobby, which can leave a poor first impression in clients.

Clean Windows

Windows allow your clients to see the inside of your front lobby before they even set foot inside. If your windows are dirty or smudged, your potential client is already left with a negative impression of your business.

Elite Clean Co.

Maximize Your Kansas City Office Space

If you want to increase productivity in the workplace, it is a good idea to start by ensuring a clean and organized space for your employees to work. Most employees spend just as much time, if not more, in the office as they do at home; therefore, it is important to maximize office space and keep things running smoothly. This is also true if you work from home, as it will keep your work area clean and encourage productivity. Below are four simple ways to maximize office space.

Organize Documents

Even though computers handle almost every aspect of our business lives, you will be hard-pressed to find an office that is 100% paperless. There are many instances where hard copy documents are still needed. Files, as well as the cabinets used to store them, take up large amounts of office space. The common practice today is to store files offsite in a storage space, clearing up more room in the office.

Adjust the Lighting

It is always best to allow as much natural light into the office as possible. Sunlight can drastically increase a person’s mood and will make sitting in an office all day seem less cramped and bland. Of course, natural lighting is not always possible, or there simply isn’t enough of it to illuminate the entire office space. If this is the case, recessed lighting or overhead down lighting is a wonderful alternative. Avoid floor lamps as they can take up a lot of space, and try to find light bulbs that mimic natural lighting.

Think Vertical

The best way to maximize office space is to build up. Simply keeping things together and more organized frees up a lot of space and prevents a cluttered workplace. Utilize shelves, wall hooks, bulletin boards, and other useful tools to help you keep things off of the floor and away from the walls.

Remove Clutter

Clutter can be more than just books and paper, and it can significantly decrease productivity by making things harder to find and, therefore, taking more time to accomplish simple tasks and creating a stressful work environment. In addition to the regular office mess, too many decorations – such as magnets, photos, Christmas cards, and other memorabilia – can result in a completely disorganized mess. While it is nice to have family photos to look at while you’re away, try to keep these things to a minimum while you are at work and save the décor for your home. The primary concern ought to be a clean and productive workplace.

Keeping up with these four simple steps will help you maximize office space and increase productivity in the workplace. Hiring a professional is a wise decision since most employees have enough work to do without spending extra time organizing and deep cleaning. Elite Clean Co in Kansas City, provides quality office cleaning services; let the professional do their work so you can get back to doing yours in a clean environment.

Elite Clean Co.

How To Clean & Disinfect Your Workplace Computer Keyboard

Keyboard cleaning should be a regular part of your company’s strategy to keep your facilities spotless. According to a study at the University of Arizona, office workers are exposed to more germs from their computer keyboards than toilet seats. While this may sound rather improbable, the reality of the matter is that our desks are bacteria cafeterias with office keyboards harboring enough bacteria beneath the keys to get your employees sick.

With that little tidbit of information, you might want to consider cleaning and disinfecting your keyboard regularly by hiring a reputable commercial janitorial services company, particularly if your employees share keyboards and mouse.

Here are five steps that our experienced janitors have laid on how to thoroughly clean your keyboard:

Turn Off the Computer and Unplug the Keyboard
Before beginning any cleaning activity, shut down the computer and ensure that all electrical sources are turned off. Don’t forget to unplug the computer too. Doing so will not only protect you from the risk of electrocution but will also prevent any moisture from frying the hardware as well as avoid any damage to the machine. It will also prevent you from entering dozens of commands and keystrokes in an open document or software as you clean.

Remove Loose Crumbs and Debris
Most people eat while they work, at times some food debris and spilled drinks may accumulate in the dark recesses beneath the keys. These food crumbs and debris combined with dirt and dust can create an excellent breeding ground for bacteria as well as stop keys from working altogether. To clean your keyboard, simply remove loose crumbs and debris by turning your keyboard upside down and then gently tapping and shaking it. Alternatively you can use a can of compressed air to knock loose debris and dirt pieces out of the keyboard spaces.

Clean and Disinfect the Keys
Depending on how much of time you are willing to devote to the task, you can use two options. If you are short of time, you can use wipes treated in isopropyl alcohol solution to go over each key, both on top and sides. The purpose of Isopropyl alcohol solution is to rid the keyboard of germs and bacteria.

This step should be utilized on a regular basis particularly when the user gets over cold or other illnesses. The other choice you can use is to remove all the keys using a blunt object and washing them in a solution. However, for commercially clean keyboards, it is vital to hire experienced janitorial services to prevent damaging or discoloring the keyboards.

Clean the Keyboard Trenches
Now that the keys are removed, it is easier to clean the hidden dirt and dust out. You can use your can of compressed air to drive out the dust or alternatively use a gentle vacuum to suck off the dirt. Dunk a piece of cotton wool into a solution of isopropyl alcohol and disinfect the inner surfaces of the keyboard.

Re-assemble the Keyboard

After ensuring that the keys are completely dry, pop them back into place. Each key should snap back into place after applying a little amount of pressure. Since you might forget where some of the keys go, you can consult your keyboard maps or simply leave the job to a janitorial professional.

While some these steps are simple, most of them are simple and require the services of a janitorial professional. If you need commercial cleaning services in the greater Kansas City area, please contact Elite Clean Co today and we will help you keep your employees healthy.

Key Takeaways:

Clean you keyboard thoroughly at least once a year. During the winter months you should clean it more often because of the flu and other colds that are passed around the office.
Prevent the growth of germs, don’t eat at your keyboard.
Invest in a keyboard plastic cover. These are typically molded to the shape of your keyboard and can extend the life of them significantly.
If you are sick wipe your keyboard down after each use to prevent the spread of germs.

Elite Clean Co.

Office Carpet Cleaning Ideas And Tips

Regular carpet cleaning not just ensures you a healthy life but also prolongs the life of your carpet. No matter how much money you have spent while installing carpet, without a touch of care, your carpet will certainly get deteriorated pretty soon.

A clean carpet can add value to your home, can help in getting rid of pollutants, allergens, bacteria, and keep your office odor free. One process, several benefits – Isn’t it worth trying? So, let’s look at some of the quickest yet effective carpet cleaning tips that can help you win this battle.

Don’t love spills!

Spills, such as tea, coffee, milk should be removed right after the mini accident. This is because, if you do it early, your carpet cleaning solution can collect most of the liquid before it soaks in. In other words, a quick treatment can keep your carpet from stubborn stains. But, resist the temptation to rub as it can only make the case even worse.

Vacuuming, obvious but always!

Whenever you are treating your carpet with some cleaning solutions or washing the entire surface, make sure you vacuum any surface debris. It will make your cleaning process a lot easier – it stops your carpet washer from getting clogged up. Say, if you have organized a Christmas party at your home, stuffs like pine needles and tinsel can play havoc with your cleaner.

Cleaning solution – Not an experimental thing

Though trying some unknown cleaning chemical (other than the manufacturer’s recommendations) seems tempting many times, this is the first thing that you need to avoid. These chemicals can damage your carpet and even invalidate its warranty.

Appropriate cleaning solutions that are specially designed for your carpet will not produce excessive foam, hamper the color or leave any sticky residues, which can later invite more dirt. These chemicals can handle high-traffic areas and think about the allergy sufferers. So basically there are only two types of cleaners you can rely on. First, the one suggested by the manufacturer. Second, there is no second.

While using the cleaner for the first time, make sure that you try out in a small surface where it is not easily visible. This will help in stopping some sad possibilities like color fading or other such issues.

Start furthest from the door:

It is pretty obvious that you need to start carpet cleaning from the corner furthest away from the door and work back towards the door. This means, you don’t have to walk on damp surfaces ruining your entire cleaning purpose.

Never over-soak:

Your carpet has certain saturation point. So, never soak the carpet above the point. Till the saturation point, your carpet won’t take longer time to dry. But after that, it takes much more time to dry and your entire cleaning process may seem ineffective. Further, if you lay your carpet without drying properly it can lead to moisture. The moisture can only create a sad story. One ideal way to get rid of moisture would be opening doors and windows. They can help big time in speeding up the drying process. Apart from it, you can turn on your heater on a low setting.

Treat stubborn stains:

You can handle all the stubborn stains and high-traffic areas with some special yet simple methods. You can use a wash tool or hose on the surface as it will give a more thorough cleaning effect. If possible, try to pre-treat the areas before applying the wash tool to scrub. You might come across some oily stains that demand more than just a single application. For such cases, you need to do your homework a bit.

Elite Clean Co.

COMMERCIAL CLEANING TIPS SAVING MONEY
08/13/2017
COMMERCIAL CLEANING KANSAS CITY, COMMERCIAL CLEANING TIPS, OFFICE CLEANING

Lower Office Water Consumption Equals Lower Office Expenses

Almost 40% of the US will be experiencing some kind of drought this year.

While water conditions and restriction in California are making headline news, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, as of the end of March 2015, 36.8 percent of the contiguous United States were experiencing moderate to severe drought conditions.

More drought stricken states will be following California’s lead in mandating a 25% reduction in water consumption by both residents and businesses.

So how do commercial facilities – light industrial manufacturing, office buildings, schools, medical, etc. – reduce water consumption by one-fourth?

While it may take a little time, ingenuity, and some cost, according to the Pacific Institute, which conducts research on environment and sustainability issues, it can be done… and potentially easier than expected and in the long term will lower office expenses.

The Institute recommends the following five steps that can help reduce water consumption by about 25 percent, if not more:

Fix Leaks: Repairing leaking fixtures and pipes can save five to as much as ten percent of the water consumed in a commercial facility.
Retrofit: Old or inefficient restroom fixtures should be retrofitted to reduce water consumption. According to the Institute, the average toilet uses 2.8 gallons of water per flush (GPF). This is more than double the 1.28 GPF of a high-efficient toilet. Older toilets use 3-6 gallons! The average worker uses the toilet 3-6 times per day.
Replace: With some restroom fixtures such as urinals, it may be more water and cost efficient to replace the unit rather than retrofit. Of the 12 million urinals installed in the U.S., 65% use more than 1.0 to as much as 3 GPF. Replacing these with water-efficient urinals can save facilities about 4,000 GPF per urinal annually. Replacing these with waterless urinals can save 35,000 gallons per urinal annually.
Recycling: Many industrial users now use potable (drinkable) water in manufacturing. Using recycled and retreated water can scale back water use considerably with little impact on operations.
Cooling: Related to this, cooling systems can be adjusted to recycle more water, again reducing consumption substantially.

Elite Clean Co.

Keeping The Office Clean Between Janitorial Visits

At Elite Clean Co, we want to make sure that we meet all of your Kansas City commercial cleaning needs. So, we will not only work with you to create the perfect program for your needs and budget, but we will even offer valuable tips to use in between our visits to ensure the cleanliness of your property. We want you to keep your office clean between our visits!

First and foremost, we recommend that you take a moment and imagine you are a client entering the office. Walk around the office and make note of any areas that are cluttered, or just plain messy. Be sure to follow the same path that one of your clients might take and to be unbiased. Don’t make excuses for any area or person, because your clients won’t. After your initial assessment, follow these tips to make sure your office is as clean as you can make it without us.

Organize those loose papers piled around the office and on desks. Paperwork piles can look messy and lead to time-consuming issues whenever your employees need to find needed files. Try using filing cabinets and desktop trays, or go paperless and scan everything to store electronically.
Dust and wipe your electronics to keep them clean. Using disinfectant sprays or wipes can also cut down on the rate of cross-infections when your employees start to get sick.
Empty trash cans and small waste buckets as often as needed. Don’t be afraid to take those bags out to the dumpster either, instead of piling them up in a corner and waiting for us to gather them for you. We are more than happy to do so if you would prefer, but your clients may not understand your aversion to the dumpster as much as we will.
Disinfect the restrooms daily; they are a high traffic area and do not take long to look unkempt. Simple steps will get them through to our next visit without making people squirm when they open the door. Wipe the toilet seats and lids, clean off the sink and counter areas, and refill the soap dispensers, paper towels and toilet paper whenever needed. And if someone leaves a mess on the floor, don’t be afraid to grab a broom.
Make sure your employees keep the break room clean and presentable. This means having them wash, dry and put away dishes immediately after they use them. The counters and refrigerator should also be clean and organized. Have employees write their names on the food they place in the fridge, that way when the it starts taking on a life of its own, the owner can be easily tracked down to slay the beast.
Above all, keep all public areas respectable. Some of the people walking into your office will never make it past these areas, so if that’s the only impression they will get of your business, make sure it’s a good one.

Follow these steps and your office is sure to impress almost as much as it does after one of our visits. And if you should need a commercial cleaning for your Kansas City office sooner than planned, give Elite Clean Co a call!

Elite Clean Co.

Clean Your Allergies Away

Allergy season is upon us. We can’t wait to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, until that familiar tingling in the nose sets in. For those who also suffer from severe allergies and/or asthma, this is a particularly difficult and dangerous time of the year. In some cases, allergies to spring’s pollens and dust can turn into allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, and for asthmatics serious breathing trouble. You don’t have to seal yourself into a bubble, however, to avoid the discomfort of spring allergies. Keep things clean and fresh and be surprised at the difference it makes.

Allergy-proof Your Cleaning Products

Before you dive into your spring-cleaning, it’s important to look at what you use to clean first. This might surprise you, but your cleaning products could actually be causing your allergic reaction more than seasonal allergies. Studies show that perfumes can trigger allergies in some people and are definitely bad news for asthmatics, so dump the air fresheners, scented detergents, furniture polish, everything, and opt for natural, unscented cleaners instead.

Scent isn’t the only thing that might be irritating to you and your family. Certain ingredients that were once thought as fantastic for cleaning are also detrimental to those suffering from seasonal allergies and asthmatics. Even if you do have unscented cleaners, check the labels for ammonia, bleach, calcium hypochlorite, chlorine, D-limonene, formaldehyde, sodium hypochlorite, and sodium lauryl sulphate. Don’t be surprised if your cleaning products fail to list the ingredients, and if they do, turn them in during your city’s next hazardous waste collection.

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, there are plenty of simple, affordable, and natural cleaning options out there that will clean, sanitize, and freshen your home without harsh allergy-inducing chemicals. If you don’t want to purchase natural cleaners, make your own using ingredients such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, lemons, olive oil, salt, and white vinegar.

Clean Your Allergies Away

Once you’ve removed the irritants from your cleaning supplies, it’s time to clean. As you know, pollens and dust multiply exponentially in the spring and summer months. This is in part due to everything blooming and in part due to your doors and windows being open. Cleaning tasks that could have been put on hold in the winter cannot be set aside in spring, particularly if you are suffering from allergies. It’s time to roll your sleeves up, put on a mask if cleaning exacerbates your allergies, and follow these tips:

Start outside. It does you no good to clean the inside of your home from top to bottom if dirt and pollen is going to be tracked in from the outside, particularly if you have carpeting to trap the irritants. Keep your driveway, walkways, front porch, and patios swept clean to avoid additional dust being tracked or blown into your house.
Reduce your clutter. Speaking of dust, there is no better dust trap than a ton of knick-knacks, bookshelves full of books, boxes everywhere, magazines, newspapers, piles of clothes… I could go on. If your house is cluttered, it’s dusty, not to mention a lot harder to clean. Reduce your clutter to avoid dust traps. You don’t want the dust and you definitely don’t want the mites.
Replace mattress covers and pillowcases. Speaking of dust mites, replace your mattress covers and pillowcases with dust-proof covering. It’s also wise to replace your bedding with hypoallergenic, natural options to ensure that your allergies are not being triggered at night during your sleep. The same goes for your blankets and comforters.
Wash them weekly. Aside from protecting your mattress and pillows from dust mites, you should also wash your sheets and pillowcases weekly in your washing machine’s hot cycle, and your blankets and comforters monthly. Use unscented, hypoallergenic, biodegradable laundry detergent and soften your bedding naturally with white vinegar or baking soda.
Don’t dry outside. It admittedly saves energy to avoid using your dryer and air-dry your laundry, but as your linens and clothing are sun drying, they are also picking up pollen from the air. When your allergies kick up, dry everything in the dryer using the lowest heat setting possible to save energy, and skip dryer sheets – those are all kinds of trouble, including causing allergic reactions.
Trap the dust. Speaking of the dust and pollen outside, you need to trap the dust and pollen inside while cleaning; otherwise, it’ll just be released into the air and settle onto your floors, furniture, and décor. Use damp clothes to wipe everything down instead of dry dusting, and make sure your vacuum has a good HEPA filter that traps dust instead of kicking it into the air.
Watch for mold. Keep your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and any other area in your home where there is moisture as dry and clean as possible to avoid mold growth. Mold is a primary allergen and can be extremely hazardous to everyone’s health, particularly if you or a family member suffers from asthma. Air out damp environments and keep them clean.
Do this weekly. You might be able to clean your house bi-monthly or monthly in the winter, but you won’t be able to in the spring and summer. Perform all of the steps above weekly to ensure that you are keeping dust and pollen down to a minimum, and vacuum at least twice a week; if you notice the house becoming dirty prior to your weekly schedule, clean earlier to avoid unnecessary irritation.

If you find after practicing these cleaning tips that your allergies aren’t getting any better, you may have to take drastic steps, such as redoing your flooring, curtains, and blinds to avoid allergy triggers like carpeting and heavy drapes that cannot be washed regularly. You might also have to keep your doors and windows shut and run your air-conditioning instead of allowing fresh, yet pollen-laden, air inside. I hope you don’t have to do this, because a beautiful spring day needs to come into your home. Either way, ease your seasonal allergies by keeping everything clean and dust-free.

Elite Clean Co.

Keeping Your Office Restrooms Clean & Sanitary

Sanitary restrooms are a must in the workplace, especially if your customers visit your location. Likewise, when co-workers must share a bathroom, it is essential to maintain a clean, pleasant environment. After all, who wants to walk in and find paper towels all over the floor or worse, an unpleasant mess in the stall? Check out the following tips to ensure that will help you keep your office restrooms clean, sanitary and in great condition.

Treat the Restroom and Co-workers with Respect

Dropping toilet paper on the floor or leaving puddles around the sink area isn’t acceptable at home, and it is no more tolerable at work. It is essential for all employees to respect their co-workers by treating the restroom as if it were their own at home. This means always flushing, discarding trash and cleaning up soap and water spills. For sanitary restrooms, everyone needs to leave the area clean after use. It is a good idea for office workers to set some ground rules regarding bathroom cleanliness so that this is consistently accomplished.

Establish Employee Policies for Restroom Maintenance

You’ve probably seen the signs people post in the office kitchen that say, “Your mother does not work here. Clean up after yourself!” This goes double for the shared workplace restroom, especially if it’s a unisex facility. Important considerations include keeping the paper towels stocked, the soap dispenser full and the bathroom tissue ever-present. Invest in a small storage cabinet to keep extra supplies close by but out of sight. A covered trash can is also important for maintaining a clean, neat image. Make sure to replace lightbulbs when they burn out as well. Finally, invest in an air freshener system so that the restroom is always pleasant to visit.

Schedule Proper Restroom Maintenance

To keep your office bathroom sanitary for everyone, implement routine upkeep procedures. Although you can put staff members in charge of keeping the restroom clean and looking good, that may not be the best use of their time. Also, your employees may not take well to those particular tasks. Working with an experienced cleaning company is the best way to handle this aspect of facility maintenance, because company employees need to handle their own work, not scrub toilets and mop floors. Professional office cleaners can make sure that the entire restroom is clean and germ-free, well stocked with products and putting forth a great image on your behalf. It is, however, a good idea to ask employees to notify management or the janitorial company of problems or malfunctions in the restroom. Not only do broken sinks or toilets make it difficult to keep a restroom clean, but they can also cause slips and falls or employee accidents.

Sharing a restroom with co-workers doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. Contact the Kansas City commercial cleaning experts at Elite Clean Co to discuss your office cleaning needs. We will handle everything to ensure that your company always has clean and sanitary restrooms.