Spring Is Here

Warm weather is on its way, and it’s time for facility managers and building owners to review their cleaning programs and planning for spring. Daily cleaning tasks and deep cleaning initiatives go a long way toward preparing a facility for a new season for occupants and visitors.

Here is a list of 5 tips for facility managers and building owners to review while planning for the annual seasonal clean up!

1. Freshen up facility appearance: Take time this spring to focus on small details. Whether bulbs and ballasts need to be replaced, addressing the small issues will improve to the overall appearance and operations of the facility. Partner with a vendor that is capable for handling these common handyman tasks to help maintain the building.
2. Focus on flooring: Winter weather results in excessive wear and tear and a dulling of the appearance of flooring. Investing in a deep cleaning service for your tile and carpeting will go along way in the appearance of your facility. If you hold out to long on your flooring it will end up in a more expensive outcome. It will help delay replacement costs.
3. Refresh restrooms: Daily cleaning always helps facilities stay expectable for customers. Springtime is a great time of year to do a deep clean from top to bottom.  Address dirty restrooms by implementing a deep cleaning service for restrooms that effectively removes built-up soils by sanitizing surfaces and fixtures using a high-pressure, chemical injection washer.
4. Clean air conditioning units: Most air conditioning units are not used through the winter. To ensure the best indoor air quality, facility managers should complete a comprehensive air conditioning coil cleaning service. Air conditioning units that are not properly cleaned can lead to lingering odors, allergies, unit failure and high-energy bills. Completing regular air conditioning coil cleaning removes dirt, grime, and built-up sludge from the air conditioning units to improve indoor air quality, and lower energy bills.
5. Go green: 84% of U.S. adults prefer to do business with companies that use environmentally friendly products and practices. Start out your spring green by selecting products that meet the requirements for the EPA’s Design for the Environment Program.

Good luck with your spring-cleaning and always remember Common Sense Building Services is always ready for any task you are ready to tackle! Happy Spring!

SALT DAMAGE TO FLOORS

Snow again? Do you know what that means? More mess on those floors at the office! How can one keep up with cleaning during this long winter? Well with hardwood, laminate and even some vinyl flooring, care, cleaning and maintenance may require more time and effort in the winter than you want to deal with. Snow, slush, mud, road salt, and ice-melt chemicals can excessively track into the office. Inside, the residual water from any of these elements can stain and warp some floors, even lead to swelling of the flooring, as well as mold and mildew growing in and under the floors. Winter can be rough, so here is something you might consider getting your floor through the winter season.

What can I do to protect my floors this winter, you ask? With all floorings it is very hard to keep them looking nice in the winter. Salt is hard on varnish and can even cause warping. Carpet is also hard to keep clean so it’s good to have floor mats to catch slush and snow at the door when a customer comes in. It is important to keep these mats as clean and dry as possible. You may even consider investing in an additional mat that you can use while drying the other.

If you do end up getting stains on your office carpet our professional crews are highly trained in everything a building may need. This includes carpet and floor cleaning, janitorial services, upholstery cleaning, and many other specialized services. We leave our clients satisfied with our quality services, our green cleaning products, and team cleaning techniques that can help make your building Energy Star Efficient. Its time to upgrade. Put CSBSI up to the challenge!

Thanks and Safe Cleaning,

Common Sense Building Services, Inc.

Sensitive Flooring

About 30 years ago, entire countries started banning carpeting from schools. People assumed carpeting contributed negatively to several health factors in children. Now, we know this information was false. Studies have shown carpeting actually reduces airborne illnesses by trapping the bacteria. A high-grade vacuum, as used by our cleaners, can later extract the impurities.

Though carpeting has been cleared of any wrongdoing, it still may not the best flooring material for sensitive areas. Hard-surface flooring usually meets the demands of sensitive environments. These include the following: terrazzo, stone, granite, marble, and many more. Look for flooring materials that meet the current LEED certification requirements.

After purchasing the right flooring for your sensitive area, it is important your cleaning crew understands how to clean it properly. Some flooring materials should not be dust mopped, while others shouldn’t be mopped using chemicals. CSBSI understands the need to keep the flooring looking new! We are able to service and maintain your floor the right way because we have the knowledge and experience to do it!

Thanks and safe cleaning!

Common Sense Building Services, Inc.

Walker Art Center cleaned by porcelain gods?

The Walker Art Center is a top 10 nominee for best public restroom in America! Beautifully designed, the Walker’s restrooms are an experience in their own respect. Sleek, lustrous and most importantly cleaned to perfection make the WAC a top restroom in the country!

Here at CSBSI we are proud to be partnered with such a great organization and facility to help maintain the level of prestige they hold and strive for. Feel free to click here and VOTE for the Walker Art Center!

Thanks and Safe Cleaning,

Common Sense Building Services, Inc.

INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH, Part III

In particular facilities, certain care must be taken around machinery, equipment, supplies and chemicals. Cleaners must be informed of any contact that needs to be avoided or cleaned a specific way. The building’s management, along with our own team provides training regarding safety precautions, specific chemicals and equipment and any particular procedures that should be used.

Training a new cleaning crew in facilities with machinery includes teaching many different procedures and rules for that particular location. Cleaners should make sure equipment is properly turned off, no abrasive materials or sharp tools are used that may scratch the surfaces. Any soil should be removed by a plastic putty knife or dustpan. Any excess fluids or oils should be dried with towel so the liquids do not ruin the machinery. Cleaning chemicals should be tested to make sure they are not too strong or too weak. If the cleaners are too strong, paint may be inadvertently removed. Cleaners can also prevent rust on the machinery by applying a lighter coat of machine oil to clean, bare iron.

Using the right equipment for each job will reduce time and effort. Floor machines, auto scrubbers, heavy-duty vacuums, pressure washers and hoists are often used in industrial locations, and lucky for you, CSBSI has ‘em all!

Thanks and Safe Cleaning!

Common Sense Building Services, Inc.

Industrial Strength, Part II

There are many variables in cleaning a manufacturing facility. It all depends on the type of facility being cleaned. Common Sense knows it is not uncommon to have several different types of floor coverings in the same facility. We can service and maintain marble, vinyl, sheet tile, quarry tile, wood floors, Terrazzo, concrete, and many more! Some, such as concrete and quarry, degreasers are commonly used if oils and grease are present. On vinyl flooring, a neutral detergent is preferred to prevent damaging the tile or finish.  If carpet is present, deep cleaning will be needed to keep it clean, healthy and presentable.

The actual manufacturing areas of facilities also pose some special cleaning concerns as well. Simple changes, such as special trash lining may be necessary to prevent spills. Controlling water and other liquid spills will prevent injuries, electrical shock and damage to equipment that may be sensitive to moisture.

It is important for businesses to understand the cleaning crew’s level of competence. A business should never hire a crew that isn’t capable of what the business needs. Common Sense Building Services, Inc. uses common sense! Our cleaning crews receive the adequate training, support, and supervision. Our procedures and policies are developed and followed for the cleaning of all areas and equipment. Our cleaning is consistently supported and professionally managed.

Thanks and Safe Cleaning.

Common Sense Building Services, Inc.

Industrial Strength, Part I

Did you know dust is more likely to combust than the same material in a solid state because the smaller size has a larger ignitable surface area? A larger surface area of dust burns faster and requires less energy to ignite than bulk material. At least 281 combustible dust fires and explosions occurred in the U.S. industry, between 1980-2005, causing at least 119 fatalities and 718 injuries. With CSBSI, you won’t have to worry about these issues. Our team will take care of it for you!

According to the U.S. bureau, there are an estimated 338,309 manufacturing facilities with close to 12 million employees, counting for 11% of the U.S. workforce. They earn an estimated 660 billion in wages each year. These facilities all have special cleaning needs that must be met on a regular basis. Cleaning plays an important role in maintaining a safe, healthy and positive working environment in all areas.

CSBSI understands the functions and cleaning needs of manufacturing facilities. No matter the extent of the cleaning being performed, in industrial sites more than anywhere, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required and must be worn in all production areas at all times.  Some manufacturing facilities create unique cleaning challenges, such as health and safety hazards and explosion threats related to airborne and settled dust. Let our team worry about the cleanliness and safety of your manufacturing facilities so you won’t have to.

Thanks and Safe Cleaning!

Common Sense Building Services, Inc.

(Griffin, W. R. (2012). Industrial strength. ISSA Today: The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association Publication, 38(4), 36-40. )

Time, Performance and Quality

In general, when people hear “janitorial services” they think cleaning. However, CSBSI sees janitorial services as numerous types of recognized standards used to measure operational parameters. These standards include: training, production, ethics, staffing, conduct, appearance, equipment, safety, management, productivity, procedural, and processes.

As is evident from the list above, the number and variety of standards associated with custodial work is extensive. Our standards are based on time, performance, and quality. Using these three categories allows us to make sure our professional crew ‘s performance is finished in a timely manner, making sure the job is done to our quality standards, as well as the businesses’ for which we work.

CSBSI prides itself on being the local, family-owned and –operated company. We are large enough to handle your cleaning needs, but small enough to understand the importance of customer service. As management, we provide our crew with the foundation for success.

Thanks and Safe cleaning

Common Sense Building Services, Inc.

Cross-contamination

Would you use the same sponge to clean your kitchen floor and the dishes? Or how about the same mop for the bathroom floor and the kitchen floor? The CSBSI cleaning crew wouldn’t! Using the same sponge or mop for all places creates cross-contamination.

Cross-contamination is when we carry bacteria from one object to another, or object to person, or from person to person. We can cross contaminate food by not washing our hands before cooking or failing to use separate plates for cooked and uncooked food. Cross-contamination can cause serious health issues in people including: nausea, vomiting, dehydrations and abdominal cramps.

Some people don’t realize you can also cross-contaminate when cleaning! Common Sense Building Services, Inc. does know that and we take action against it in every building we clean. One way we achieve this is by using blue rags and mops for bathrooms and green for other areas. Choose the healthy option! Choose CSBSI to clean your building today.

Thanks and safe cleaning!

Common Sense Building Services, Inc.

Go for the Gold!

Is your cleaning service even reaching the podium? If not, go for Gold with Common Sense Building Services! Olympic athletes remain dedicated through years of training and different tactics. Common Sense, much like those Olympians, remains dedicated to our customers and the techniques of cleaning so that we can earn the gold.

Common Sense Building Services, Inc. is skilled in several areas of cleaning, including carpets, floors, upholstery, and janitorial services, such as sanitation. We also handle many specialty services like construction clean up, window cleaning, wall washing, ceiling cleaning, pressure washing and garage/warehouse sweeping.

Unlike the Olympics, however, we give a winning performance more than once every four years!

Thanks and safe cleaning!

Common Sense Building Services, Inc.