"The Squeak Files"

Check it out!

2011-12-08T08:36:00.001-06:00

Click on TALK TO THE CLEANING SPECIALISTS! and check out our new Facebook Landing page! What do you think?

Special Services Summer!

2011-06-28T08:26:00.003-05:00

This spring and summer has seen a surge of what we call "Special Services". Special services include quarterly or yearly services. Strip/wax floors, carpet cleaning, window washing, ultrasonic blind cleaning, touchpoint cleaning and deep office cleanings are examples of these services. Deep office cleanings have been especially successful! These cleanings can be a mixture of the some or all of the services above, along with wall scrubbing, vent/air return cleaning, baseboard cleaning, soffit and light fixture cleaning, removing stains from the exterior and interior of almost anything. This process is extremely labor intensive, taking 2.5 days to complete (usually over the weekend). We only use green chemicals and green techniques to minimize any exposure to allergens. Having this service done in your office results in a clean, sanitized, disinfected space. This service is an investment in your business and shows your customers and your employees. It demonstrates that you care about their health and wellness, not to mention an aesthetically pleasing building! For more information on this and all of our services visit us here. Follow SECC on Facebook and on Twitter.

Servicing The Community

2011-01-21T15:20:00.002-06:00

Squeak E Clean has inked a contract with a non-profit community organization in St. Paul! Great! Now the HARD work begins. Often times we walk through a building that has not been properly maintained and put together a customized plan based on this obvious need. More often than not, the tenants/owners of these buildings do not have the cash flow to support the services they need. So they cut our specs and us being Squeak E Clean, we over perform and are underpaid. However, this most recent walk through, we developed a plan to maintain this building and increase services as the cash flow increases. We've established a real partnership with this non-profit, a vested interest and a game plan. As we over-perform, they'll succeed and we'll revisit and increase service. That's what you get when you work with SECC, quality service, fair prices and a team of people who are committed to your business' success! You invest in us and we'll do the same!

Cleaning for Health vs. Cleaning for Appearance

2011-01-21T15:05:00.004-06:00

For many years people judged the cleanliness of a space based on a visual assessment. But just because something looks clean doesn't mean it is clean, which is why the green cleaning movement has revolutionized the cleaning industry.

Touch points like door handles, elevator buttons, fax machine buttons and telephone handsets normally cleaned at most once per week, are now getting disinfected daily in order to protect building occupants from germs and bacteria.

Many cleaning companies used to use a simple all-purpose cleaner with a fresh scent to clean restrooms years ago. The restrooms might have "looked" clean, but we all know now, that in order to clean for health we should sanitize or disinfect surfaces to prevent the spread of germs. Although no disinfectant is totally "environmentally friendly", there are more choices being made available that are less harmful to the environment.

If it smells clean it must be clean. This is a misconception many of our clients have. It is our job as building service contractors to educate our clients on the fact that environmentally safe products do not have a scent.

Cross contamination is now being taken seriously in all areas of cleaning. Cleaners who used to use one cleaning rag to clean the restroom are now using color-coded microfiber cloths, so as not to cross-contaminate surfaces.

It is your job to help your clients understand the importance of cleaning for health vs cleaning for appearance. Inform them of the benefits to the building occupants - a healthier workplace leads to less absenteeism and more productive employees. And a cleaning company that uses less harmful chemicals will not cause problems for building employees with chemical sensitivities.

And finally, in order to implement your "cleaning for health" program, employees must understand its importance to the health of the clients and also to their own health. Implement a "best practices" approach to training, so they understand the methods required to protect themselves and building occupants.

SEASONS CHANGE, CLEANING NEEDS CHANGE...

2010-10-27T09:27:00.006-05:00

The last 24 hours here in Minnesota have been a weather person's dream! High winds, rain, dropping temps and culminating with some snow. As I awoke this morning, to see the flurries furiously falling (bet you can't say that 3 times, ha! I thought immediately of the recent training we did with our staff regarding seasonal change and how it affects our tasks.

Changing seasons, changes and often times expands our task lists. As the leaves fall and temperature drops, Squeak E Clean, switches to our customized winter months task list. One service we offer during the cold weather months is touch point cleaning. Touch point cleaning is a very detailed cleaning which involves disinfectant cleaning of door knobs, light switches, keyboards, phones and all other surfaces frequented by multiple people. This cleaning reduces employee exposure to illness. When we prepare a proposal, we also prepare a winter addendum. We talk to our customers about what we foresee their winter needs will be. We talk about the amount of salt on the ground, their previous experiences and how we can maintain the same appearance all year round. Winter months are filled with carpet cleanings, floor scrubbing, air return and vent cleaning. This time of the year can be trying on your office space, unless you're working with US! Preparation is key!

IS CUSTOMER SERVICE DEAD? PART II

2010-09-16T13:47:00.003-05:00

Over the past weekend, SECC completed an intense deep cleaning of a well-known dental practice in the Twin Cities. We'd completed another back in January and it was a resounding success. The practice manager sang our praises, told every one who listened how thorough we had been. We were off! We approached this next opportunity with the same vigor. This practice was older, had had little maintenance over the years and we knew it would be a challenge to gain their appreciation. After walking through with the specs and double checking every inch, I was satisfied that we had reached our goal. I left the keys inside and walked away proud of my team. But Monday morning rolled around and I received an email from the practice manager. She was unhappy, there were things she wanted done, that were not contained in the specs, that she "assumed" were included. I was initially deflated, you see, 30+ hours of work had went into refreshing this space, and it was visibly better, but the things that mattered to them, weren't done. And that is all that matters. After asking for specifics changes, I scheduled this weekend to go back in and get it right. At the end of the day, SECC is in the business of customer service. "Always be humble enough to receive criticism, always be hungry enough to want to be the best!" ~Sparkle Wimberly

Old Bug, New Places

2010-08-30T11:59:00.003-05:00

Bedbugs are a sneaky, icky insects that feed on the blood of mammals and birds. BEDBUGS have re-emerged in America in the mid-1990s. But the situation has gotten out of hand in recent years. Now, USA Today reports, even workplace infestations are on the rise:

[Nearly one in five exterminators have found bedbugs in office buildings in the U.S., according to a recent survey of extermination firms by the National Pest Management Association and the University of Kentucky. That compares with less than 1% in 2007.

"It's a national issue," says Ron Harrison of pest control firm Orkin. "Not all of us have to go to work and worry about it, but we all have to be sensitive to it."

Most cubicle dwellers and corner office executives are blissfully unaware of bug problems. And many wrongly think infestations take place only in the homes of unclean folks or in college dorms. But bedbugs can survive in a multitude of eek-evoking settings, such as offices, movie theaters and libraries]

Here are some tips for workplace protection from Bedbugs:

Bedbug tips while at work:

Metal is better than wood when it comes to furniture etc., because bed bugs generally can’t climb on metal.

Looking into new company sofas? We recommend staying away from compartment dividers, especially if they are made of felt, as these dividers increase bed bug hiding areas.

Encasing bags/briefcases brought to work in bed bug proof luggage linersdecreases the bed bugs’ ability to get into the work place.

Use hard sided briefcases, as opposed to soft suitcases or bags.

Inspect your clothing before entering and leaving the office building.

Reduce clutter to reduce bed bug hiding spaces.

Know what bed bugs look like and if there are reports of bed bugs in your area, and let your employees know the signs of a bed bug infestation.

Inspect clothing, crevices, furniture, carpets, curtains, and wall hangings for bed bugs.

If signs of a bed bug infestation are found, contact a licensed pest control professional in your area immediately to arrange for an inspection and possibly extermination.

Squeak E Clean's staff is trained to recognize pests that contribute to problems in the workplace. Use a company who can help maintain a healthy and safe work environment.

Giving Back. It's who WE are!

2010-07-30T13:57:00.004-05:00

When most people think of small business they do not think of community involvement. Usually small businesses are just trying to grow and maintain, stay above water. While they may personally care, their business model does not support it. We at Squeak E Clean, feel that a portion of the work we do, should be to support the issues that are important to us. Education, mentoring and cancer awareness are a few of items of importance to us. Recently, we did some "cleaning for a reason" cleaning the homes of terminally ill cancer patients. We're the flagship sponsor for Domingo's Walk~Breakfast for Life centered on Oral Cancer Awareness. We've been panelists for 100 Strong Who Care and mentors for Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and supporter of Women's Advocates. I share this not to tout our involvement but to demonstrate that businesses, their owners and operators can make time not just to create jobs but to help change the world we live in for the better.

Why We Do What We Do!

2010-07-19T12:19:00.004-05:00

When people find out that I own and work in the commercial cleaning industry, I'm often asked, "is it boring?", "do you wish you were in another field?" and the most asked question, "do you do residential?". The answer to all 3 of these questions is NO! Commercial services requires me to use all of my talents; marketing, sales, customer service, logistics, planning, and budgeting. Squeak E Clean has become successful because Mario and I spend a lot of time thinking of new ways to meet, court, and maintain our clients ever changing needs. We look at the relationship with each client as an individual one. We regularly review each building, notate the nuances and what we can do to keep each building as well maintained as possible. This efforts results in a totally customized cleaning system. Squeak E Clean defines success as happy clients + happy employees = sustained and new business!

MEET THE TEAM PT. 2

2010-06-30T10:12:00.006-05:00

In 2003, Ms. Sparkle Wimberly joined Squeak E Clean Commercial Services, Inc. as the Operations Manager. Sparkle originally from San Francisco, CA. She attended Howard University in Washington, D.C. which is where she met Mario Wimberly. Sparkle majored in Psychology and minored in Business Administration. She relocated to the Twin Cities in 2003 where Squeak E Clean was a small start up business. Initially, she wanted to pursue employment in her field of psychology. She became a Mental Health Provider and provided in-home counseling services to children and families. As rewarding as this was, Sparkle found herself in a management position within a year. Her desire to create and operate systems was evident. After 3 years with this agency Sparkle expanded her counseling back ground into the education field. She became an Enrollment Counselor for a national on-line university. This position incorporated sales into the counseling structure. For 2 years, Sparkle honed this skill set mixing sales with customer service. In 2007, with the impending birth of her first child, Sparkle thought intensely about joining SECC full-time. When her job back filled her position, Sparkle took the leap of a lifetime and became the Operations Manager of Squeak E Clean Commercial Services, Inc. Her duties include, customer service, sales, employee hiring and management. She assists with marketing as well. Sparkle's skill-set are vast and she learns new things quickly. Since joining the team, SECC has grown by 120%! After all, 2 heads are better than one!

MEET THE TEAM PT. 1

2010-06-23T09:57:00.005-05:00

Squeak E Clean Commercial Services, Inc. is a total facilities management company located in Burnsville, Minnesota. Mario Wimberly, Vice-President started Squeak E Clean in October of 2000. He has the distinction of more than 14 years of direct experience in janitorial and total facility management. Mario worked as teen for J's Janitorial, cleaning local businesses, like pool halls and restaurants. This is where he learned to work independently, the techniques to cleaning and his thirst for entrepreneurship. Mario went off to Howard University; where he studied and excelled in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. He also played Division 1 Soccer for Howard and was initiated into Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Xi Chapter. Mario's summers were spent interning with Prudential and General Mills. With education complete, Mario returned to the Twin Cities in October 2000 ready to begin a new and exciting chapter in his life. Squeak E Clean Commercial Services, Inc. was founded on the simple principles of quality service and excellent customer relationships. Mario has worked tirelessly to establish a business model that is innovative, constantly changing and exemplifies a strong company with strong values and integrity. He is a marketing trailblazer as it relates to commercial cleaning. He uses social media to create transparency about Squeak E Clean, what we are and what we do. It is his hope, that it translates to a company you can trust and choose to do business with.

SQUEAK E CLEAN'S QUEST

2010-06-15T15:07:00.004-05:00

Since it's inception, Squeak E Clean Commercial Services has made community service and involvement a cornerstone of our business. We have either been personally involved or acted in the capacity of a sponsor for several different community agencies. I'm sharing this information, not for accolades but to set the stage for our newest community partnership, the Domingo Williams Foundation. In May of this year, the Squeak E Clean Commercial Services family lost someone very dear to them to Oral Cancer. The mission of the Foundation is to raise funds to support education, awareness, research and treatment of Oral Cancer.

We are proud to be their Flagship Sponsor! Please come out and support Squeak E Clean Commercial Services, Inc. at The First Annual Breakfast For Life ~ Domingo's Walk on August 21, 2010 at Enjoy Restaurant, Apple Valley, MN! We hope to see you there!

IS CUSTOMER SERVICE DEAD?

2010-06-09T14:14:00.003-05:00

Today, online, I reviewed my landline phone bill. I noticed that for the past 2 months I've been getting charged for internet service that I actively had removed after a bad encounter with the technician. I called the 800 number, was placed on hold for 45 minutes, only to have to repeat myself several times. Total time spent on correcting the original issue 1 hour and 15 minutes! The Customer Service Rep then wanted me to complete a survey about her service! Moral to the story, people in general have come to accept poor service as a standard. Such that, when hiring a commercial cleaning company or total facility maintenance company, the customer does not even consider, "how will this company respond to service issues"?

Squeak E Clean's cornerstone is exceptional customer service. Period. The policies that we've written and abide by, support the customer, their concerns and the method in which those concerns are rectified. Squeak E Clean is so much more than a “Mom & Pop” shop. We operate with the organization and follow through of a company 3 times our size, yet with the "personal touch" that makes each client feel as if they are the only one. All calls and emails are returned and problem solved within the hour. Service issues are resolved the same day. We are available to our customers 24/7/365. Why? Because that's what real customer service is.

WHO? WHAT? SQUEAK E CLEAN

2010-06-07T12:17:00.004-05:00

Who is Squeak E Clean Commercial Services, Inc.? Well I could spend a ton of words and tell you about our services, our products, etc..., but really Squeak E Clean is comprised of hard-working, customer service oriented people, who spend hundreds of hours, training, researching, implementing policies and procedures to perfect the way we do business.

Our specialty is providing local businesses and property management companies with exemplary janitorial service at reasonable rates. Our management team has over 10 years of experience in all aspects of building maintenance.   The size of our firm enables us to minimize turnover and ensure integrity while, at the same time, allowing us to give a “Personal Touch” that so often goes unseen with many larger competitors. The cleaning service industry in general is a saturated market. The MN Secretary of State has over 100,000 cleaning companies registered. More and more people choose to enter this field yearly. Reasoning is usually the same, low start up costs. Unfortunately, this is does not usually result in a successful business. Squeak E Clean has managed not only to survive since its inception in 2000 but has found a way to thrive. Customer service, high standards, networking, social media, positive relationships, exemplary long-term employees are examples of what has contributed to our success.

Take a moment to learn more about us, we're on Twitter click here and Facebook click here! A different kind of company!

H1N1 Prevention, Treatment, Cleaning and Contamination

2009-10-08T15:07:00.003-05:00

Prevention & Treatment

What can I do to protect myself from getting sick? Oct 8
This season, there is a seasonal flu vaccine to protect against seasonal flu viruses and a 2009 H1N1 vaccine to protect against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (sometimes called “swine flu”). A flu vaccine is the first and most important step in protecting against flu infection. For information about the 2009 H1N1 vaccines, visit “H1N1 Flu Vaccination Resources.” For information about seasonal influenza vaccines, visit “Preventing Seasonal Flu With Vaccination.”

There are also everyday actions that can help prevent the spread of germs that cause respiratory illnesses like the flu.
Take these everyday steps to protect your health:
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.*
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.
Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Keep away from others as much as possible to keep from making others sick.
Contamination & Cleaning
How long can influenza virus remain viable on objects (such as books and doorknobs)?
Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on the surface.
What kills influenza virus?
Influenza virus is destroyed by heat (167-212°F [75-100°C]). In addition, several chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap), iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human influenza viruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time.

*What if soap and water are not available and alcohol-based products are not allowed in my facility? Updated on Sept 14
If soap and water are not available and alcohol-based products are not allowed, other hand sanitizers that do not contain alcohol may be useful.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?
Germs can be spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth. Droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person move through the air. Germs can be spread when a person touches respiratory droplets from another person on a surface like a desk, for example, and then touches their own eyes, mouth or nose before washing their hands.

How should waste disposal be handled to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus, it is recommended that tissues and other disposable items used by an infected person be thrown in the trash. Additionally, persons should wash their hands with soap and water after touching used tissues and similar waste.

What household cleaning should be done to prevent the spread of influenza virus?
To prevent the spread of influenza virus it is important to keep surfaces (especially bedside tables, surfaces in the bathroom, kitchen counters and toys for children) clean by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label.

How should linens, eating utensils and dishes of persons infected with influenza virus be handled?
Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick do not need to be cleaned separately, but importantly these items should not be shared without washing thoroughly first.
Linens (such as bed sheets and towels) should be washed by using household laundry soap and tumbled dry on a hot setting. Individuals should avoid "hugging" laundry prior to washing it to prevent contaminating themselves. Individuals should wash their hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub immediately after handling dirty laundry.

Eating utensils should be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap.

WHAT DO OFFICE TENANTS WANT??

2009-07-23T08:23:00.002-05:00

Sometimes we as cleaning business owners and managers think we know what our customers want so that's what we focus on. But what do tenants of office buildings really want from their cleaning service?

The following are some of the things that office tenants feel are the most important services they want to receive in their buildings:

Provide a speedy response to any problems that arise during the day. Quick response to both property manager and tenants.
Knowledgeable about cleaning issues, able to solve problems quickly.
They want a cleaning service that pays extra attention to detail and is committed to doing a good job.
They like to see familiar faces in the cleaning staff, so they value low turnover.
They like to see cleaning personnel in a uniform and personnel who are courteous and act professionally.

The following are the most common reasons property managers replace their cleaning service:

Lack of response to concerns and problems.
Repetitive problems.
Have to request something more than once before the task is taken care of.
Lack of communication.
Reactive versus proactive in their approach to cleaning issues.
Lack of attention to detail, poor quality cleaning.

Preventing Bacteria Growth

2009-04-29T09:50:00.001-05:00

In the world of cleaning, we as business owners need to educate ourselves and our employees on how to clean and sanitize the surfaces we care for. Bacteria growth is a big concern for our clients because they want to protect their employees, customers and visitors from unhealthy environments.

Understanding bacteria and how it grows and moves is one of the starting points in learning how to keep the environments we care for, clean.

Bacteria Reproduction Facts:

Bacteria reproduce by dividing. Once the cell reaches its maximum size it starts to come together in the middle and eventually breaks in two. This process can take 15 to 30 minutes.

In just 5 hours, one bacterium can turn into over 1 million bacteria.

Since you would rarely start with just 1 bacterium on any given surface, you can see where bacteria can spread into millions and billions of bacteria very quickly.

How Bacteria Spread:

Bacteria don't spread on their own. Here are some ways bacteria find their way to other surfaces.

People are carriers of bacteria and can pass the bacteria to others in a variety of ways.
They can travel through the air when someone sneezes.
We deposit them on objects we touch, so bacteria can literally be anywhere. This is why cleaning companies must pay particular attention to "touch points" like door knobs, telephones and desk tops when cleaning and disinfecting.
Animals and insects can carry bacteria.

Methods of Killing Bacteria:

Heat - this method can include sterilization (steam under pressure), moist heat (autoclaves), boiling, and dry heat (hot air sterilization).
Cold - cold doesn't actually kill bacteria, but it inhibits the growth.
Direct sunlight or ultraviolet light.
Chemical Agents like disinfectants or germicides.

By having an understanding of bacteria and how it spreads, you can make more informed choices on the products you choose to use and what areas may be at higher risk of bacteria growth.

Copyright © TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved.
Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com.

Disinfectants and Green Cleaning

2009-04-29T09:33:00.002-05:00

There is a lot of confusion surrounding the question of using disinfectants and providing green cleaning services. The first thing to keep in mind is that there is no such thing as a safe disinfectant - they are all designed to kill organisms.

As a green cleaning service provider, your goal is to look for opportunities to reduce the use of disinfectants. In many cases, people are using disinfectants in areas where a general purpose cleaner would suffice. If you just need to remove soil from a surface, then use a general purpose cleaner. Disinfectants should only be used in areas of high risk. High risk means there is a possibilty that a disease causing organism could be transferred from an object or surface to a person.

There are manufacturers who sell environmentally friendly disinfectants like Rochester Midland's Envirocare Neutral Disinfectant. What makes these types of cleaners "green", is that they are a less hazardous alternative to conventional disinfectants. In other words, they cause less damage to the surface you're cleaning, they're less corrosive, and they cause less irritation to respiratory systems. They do kill the organisms they're intended to kill, but without killing aquatic life.

So if you're searching for a way to replace your conventional disinfectants and still provide green cleaning services, look for a product manufactured by a reputable company who offers many Green Seal certified or Eco Logo certified products. These companies have done extensive research and development of environmentally friendly products.

Copyright TheJanitorialStore.com. All Rights Reserved.
Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com.

What is the Difference Between Sanitizing and Disinfecting?

2009-04-29T09:06:00.001-05:00

In the cleaning industry, there are many misunderstandings about disinfectants and sanitizers. The terms are interchanged quite frequently in discussions, as many people believe they have the same meaning. And although similar, there are differences between sanitizing and disinfecting.

A disinfectant is a chemical that completely destroys all organisms listed on its label. The organisms it kills are disease causing bacteria and pathogens, and it may or may not kill viruses and fungi. From a legal standpoint (EPA guidelines), disinfectants must reduce the level of pathogenic bacteria by 99.999% during a time frame of greater than 5 minutes but less than 10 minutes.

A sanitizer is a chemical that reduces the number of microorganisms to a safe level. It doesn't need to eliminate 100% of all organisms to be effective. Sanitizers do not kill viruses and fungi, and in a food service situation the sanitizer must reduce the bacteria count by 99.999%. Sanitizers are required to kill 99.999% of the infectious organisms present within 30 seconds.

If you clean food service areas, then you'll be interested in sanitizers. If you clean medical facilities you'll be more interested in disinfectants. If you provide green cleaning services, you may want to consider which one will have the least harmful enviromnental impact. If you just need to remove soil, you should consider using an all-purpose cleaner rather than a disinfectant or sanitizer.

How is YOUR professional image?

2009-04-29T09:05:00.003-05:00

Is your professional image what it should be to gain more respect from your clients? Are you commanding attention to your company in a positive way? When someone hears your company name, does the thought "professional" enter their minds? Or is the image they conjure up one of the "typical, stereotype, janitorial employee"?

As an industry, we have not enjoyed the same level of respect as other industries. It seems that we are perceived as dealing in "dirt" and therefore, we must not have the intelligence, desire, or ability to do anything else!! How WRONG can that be?

Let me tell you about how far our industry has come in just a few years. My first BSCAI convention was in 1991. I had just joined the association and didn't know what to expect or what this group was all about. My "perception" of the industry was, in fact, similar to what most "outsiders" still believe today. I was pleasantly surprised to see a few men in suits, very few women at any seminars and most of the rest of the attendees looking overall pretty scruffy. Many looked as if they had just returned from a night of floor work or construction cleaning! As I looked around the tradeshow floor and the educational sessions, I thought "What have I gotten myself into??" These folks can't be serious business owners.

My how the times have changed! As the years have gone by, our industry has raised the bar on professionalism and business practices. This is due in part to the increased educational opportunities that are available, the attraction of "suit types" to our industry and a general desire to be respected business owners and managers.

At the last BSCAI convention as well as at the recent ISSA, there was a clear message among the attendees. WE ARE SERIOUS about our businesses! Were there more "suit types"? Not necessarily. But gone was the scruffy, "just came from the job" attire. Attendees were well-groomed, dressed casually and comfortably, but businesslike.

So, how does all of this affect YOUR business? How does it help YOU get new business? Both residential and commercial?

The image you portray to your prospect clearly tells him or her what you think of his or her business.It sends a message about how you will treat their business and ultimately how much respect you have for that business. If you want to be respected as serious about your business and a professional in the industry, your presentation to the prospect must convey that message.

Here are some things you can do to send the right message:

• Be on time for your appointment. Time is money and if you are late, you give the impression that you don't respect the prospect's time. If an unforeseen situation makes you late, a call to the prospect is in order.

• Come prepared with paper, pencil, business cards and any other company materials that you can leave behind.

• Make certain that your clothing is neat, clean and in good repair. A company shirt is fine. If you are doing a walkthrough with multiple bidders, you might want to consider a more professional sport coat, jacket or even a suit. These will be larger accounts with large companies bidding and many will be in jackets. Ladies, a jacket always gives a professional look to a dress, pants or skirt.

• Keep a change of clothing in your office for last minute appointments where first impressions count. You will always be able to make a quick change should the situation arise and you need to make that first impression.

• Be sure you look at everything including your shoes, briefcase and fingernails!

• Leave the cell phone in the car! Nothing creates a more negative impression than an interruption during a meeting with a prospect.

Remember that your business WILL be evaluated by the first impression you give and this is the impression that stays with the prospect. You may have the best proposal package, the best price, the best references, but if you have created a negative impression because of the image you project, your chances of winning the account will diminish. The prospect is looking at how you will treat their business and if you fail to display respect, you will fail to get the account.

Sharon L. Cowan is President and CEO of Maid For Success, a coaching firm dedicated to helping maid services understand the opportunities in commercial cleaning and how to manage both segments. Sharon is a 20 year veteran of the industry and a former owner of a successful residential and commercial cleaning company. She is a 2 time award winner and lecturer for the BSCAI and a speaker for ARCSI. She is a Board Member of the Cleaning For A Reason Foundation and an adjunct instructor at Indian River State College. She can be reached at www.maidforsuccess.com.

Cleaning Up Blood Spills on Floor Surfaces

2009-04-29T08:58:00.003-05:00

One topic of concern facing janitorial companies is the risks involved in cleaning blood spills, and how to go about safely cleaning them. While the cleaning of uninfected blood causes no risk of infection, there is no way to know through visual observation whether the blood carries infectious blood borne pathogens. While there have been no cases reported of transmittal of Hepatitis B or HIV through contact with tiled surfaces or carpet, it is wise to err on the side of caution and treat any blood spills as if they were infectious. With regard to carpeting, it should be noted that if the area of contamination is greater than 12 to 18 inches in diameter, or if the pad or flooring beneath is saturated, you should contact properly trained professionals. The affected area may need to be removed and treated as medical waste.

Specific procedures involved in treating and cleaning blood spills should be accomplished only by trained personnel. Don't simply supply your buildings with all the necessary products and equipment and expect a general cleaner to perform the necessary steps. When possible, a trained supervisor should perform this function. Advise your cleaners NOT to attempt to clean blood spills without proper training, but rather inform their supervisor.

Before attempting to clean any blood spills, it is necessary to protect yourself through the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Disposable latex gloves and protective eyewear will provide a barrier between yourself and the spill. Never reuse disposable gloves, and make sure you remove them by pulling them off starting at the wrist. Do not grab them from the finger area. Turn them inside out as you remove them, and then dispose of them in a red plastic bag marked "biohazard" designated for infectious waste. Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. Use of disposable coveralls or booties may be necessary when there is a risk of splashing or when walking through the area cannot be avoided.

On hard surfaces, the general procedure involves first spraying or mopping down a certified disinfectant, allowing the solution to sit for the recommended time, wiping or mopping the spill, then repeating a second time. Check manufacturer's recommendations for wait time. Dispose of contaminated towels and materials into a red biohazard bag, clean and disinfect equipment. Then remove your PPE and dispose of as well.

Blood spills on carpeting can be a bigger challenge, as they can be more labor and equipment intensive, and may involve the saturation of materials beyond scope of cleaning for many janitorial services. You may need to seek someone who specializes in this type of cleaning. The basic steps are the same for cleaning tile, although you will need an extractor rather than towels, mops, spray bottles, and buckets.

After putting on your PPE, apply your solution to the affected area and wait the suggested time. Blot the area with paper towels to remove excess fluids, and dispose of properly. Extract the remaining fluid from the carpet to remove excess, and rinse with cool water to remove as much as possible. At this point, totally saturate the stain with your disinfectant, allowing the recommended time. You must be careful to test the product you use for colorfastness, as some disinfectants will discolor the carpet.

Extract carpet, then saturate another time with your ordinary neutral pH extraction cleaner. Wait 5 to 10 minutes, then extract. Rinse several times with fresh water, making sure you are getting as much liquid out of the carpet as possible. If possible, use carpet fans to speed up the drying process. Clean and disinfect your equipment, remove and dispose of your PPE into biohazard bag, and wash your hands.

While cleaning most typical blood stains is not a difficult process, it is vital to perform the proper procedures. Don't rush the process. Allow your disinfectants enough time to work. Wear your PPE. Dispose of infected trash properly. Above all, the safety of your employees and your customers should be your main concern.