We’ve talked before about the irony of commercial cleaning: when your custodial provider is doing its best work, it’s rarely noticed by tenants and staff. Restrooms stay clean, trash disappears, and the environment is always comfortable, as if by magic. To maintain this level of service requires a stable, knowledgeable team – and one with relatively low turnover. What’s the effect of turnover? Every commercial cleaning team has some turnover, and this can, at times, be a good thing. Long-term employees may retire or change careers, making room for new workers with different experience and skills. It can invigorate teams, encouraging them to examine and improve their daily procedures. But if your commercial cleaning provider has trouble keeping a team together, your property will most...
Whether for a downtown office building or a medical equipment manufacturer in the suburbs, property owners and managers are always looking for cost efficiency. But when it comes to commercial cleaning providers, an enticingly low price up front can cost time and money in the long run if your chosen company can’t deliver what they’ve promised. To help sort out the difference between commercial cleaning providers that are cost-conscious and those that may be overpromising with a low price, we’ve put together some tips for choosing a great team, as well as some red flags to watch out for. Always remember, if the up-front bid for a custodial program sounds too good to be true – well, you know the rest. The attraction of low...
On the horizon: commercial cleaning trends for 2022 What would a new year be without a look at upcoming facilities management trends? Here at Clean-Tech, we’re looking at new ideas, solutions to ongoing challenges, and the trends commercial spaces are likely to see in 2022. Read on for a glimpse into our crystal ball – and let us know what you think! Are these the facilities trends you’re most likely to encounter over the next 12 months, or do you see others ahead? 1. Changes in the way we use commercial spaces Fluctuating space usage was one of the more challenging trends coming out of the pandemic. To comply with (often fast-changing) rules regarding the number of workers or customers in commercial spaces, hybrid schedules...
What's your water management strategy? Water management doesn’t always get its due. Urgent priorities – especially those related to keeping everyone in your commercial spaces safe and healthy – will always come first. However, taking time to plan and implement water-conserving measures has the potential to save money and natural resources. With workers starting their return to offices, this is a great time of year to review water usage in your commercial spaces and improve conservation efforts. Most importantly, make sure you work with the right commercial cleaning team to assess and upgrade your water-use policies and equipment. Why conserve water? We’ll start with the most obvious reason: clean water is a finite resource, and we should all take steps to preserve it. It’s just the...
Improve Your Indoor Air Quality in Five Steps Whether your commercial space is open at full capacity or taking a phased approach to welcoming workers and the public, indoor air quality is likely top of mind for everyone in your organization. Indoor air quality is an important factor in keeping workers and customers safer and more comfortable in our post-pandemic world. Although we don’t have definitive proof that COVID-19 can be spread via HVAC systems, there is evidence to suggest it can happen. According to guidance from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), transmission through the air of COVID-19 is “sufficiently likely that airborne exposure to the virus should be controlled.” But how should commercial properties approach indoor air quality improvements?...
Plan for the "human factor" when contracting commercial cleaning services No matter how many positives come out of an organizational change, it still can be stressful for the employees involved. Plan for the "human factor" throughout your transition process. It’s human to resist change and hang onto predictability – especially at work, where we depend on familiar systems and processes to get our jobs done. Facilities management, of course, is no exception. At Clean-Tech, we help commercial property owners and managers transition from in-house to contracted facilities services every day. One of the most frequent questions new clients ask us is, “How will this affect our people?” It’s a question we love to hear, because it means we’re talking with leaders who share our commitment...
How to create healthier, more welcoming commercial spaces As offices and other commercial buildings continue to reopen – some after more than a year – people are eager to interact with colleagues face-to-face and return to a more normal routine. There are still plenty of questions, though, about what “normal” should look like and how businesses will integrate cleaning and disinfecting into their workspaces. Right now, we see an important opportunity to create environments that balance cleanliness with comfort, offering a safe, welcoming space for all. THE NEW WORKPLACE How the pandemic will change office schedules – remote, in-house or hybrid – remains to be seen, but we do know the majority of people want the option of working in a company space at least...
Recycling is a big part of every facilities management program – and getting bigger. Recent research from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that Americans have increased the amount of waste they recycle from less than 7 percent in 1960 to 32 percent today1. Add the increased interest in sustainability from the general public, and a robust recycling program is no longer a nice-to-have option, but a baseline expectation of workers and your customers. By the way, recycling isn’t just about long-term sustainability. The EPA also estimates that recycling and reuse activities in the United States account for 681,000 jobs and $37.8 billion in wages. The best news? Office waste is up to 94 percent recyclable, which means commercial spaces can show meaningful, measurable results with the right program....
Preparing commercial spaces for hurricane season In 2021 the U.S. will see an above-average number of hurricanes, says the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA).1 How can commercial properties prepare for a hurricane or other severe weather event? One important way is by working with an experienced custodial services provider. Atlantic Hurricane Season runs June 1 to November 30, and the states most likely to experience hurricanes2 are: Florida Texas Louisiana North Carolina South Carolina Alabama Georgia Mississippi Commercial property owners and managers across the country hold the safety of their workers and customers above all else. During hurricane season in particular, managers face difficult, unpredictable challenges, especially in the southeastern U.S. where hurricanes are more likely to happen. Keeping everyone prepared can reduce property damage and...
Contracting custodial services: A step-by-step guide More than ever, commercial property owners and managers are contracting commercial cleaning partners that specialize in the client's business type. It makes sense. Delegating these services to proven and trusted commercial cleaning partners can help businesses reduce costs, diffuse risk, and increase facilities program effectiveness. An efficient external provider also takes pressure off of internal staff members, allowing them to focus on mission-critical projects. Most of all, the right commercial cleaning provider helps build a better business environment by creating safer, cleaner, more appealing spaces. For all these reasons, specialized facility types - whether industrial, medical, or other commercial spaces - are seeking commercial custodial service providers that are experienced in their area of business. Finding the right commercial...
