I have an app for that

I don't write many memo's anymore, not like I used to when working for the Mega Service firms. Usually a few a year regarding upcoming training programs, new equipment, updated chemicals it's really all I ever do anymore.

Today however, I found myself writing a new memo to the entire staff based on some surprise inspections I pulled over the last few nights.

I love arriving in a building at night, announced and definitely unexpected. But I digress, back to the memo, here it is in recap form:

To the staff of L & K Cleaning:

After visiting all of the buildings over the last few nights for quality control inspections I would like to thank everyone for their fine efforts and the results you have all achieved.

That being said, I am forced now to remind everyone about our cell phone policy.

You were hired to clean buildings, we have spent the time and money on training you, providing you with the latest in equipment and chemicals in which to perform your tasks. We also provide you with paid safety and health training classes 2x a year, in return, we expect you to be cleaning for the 3 to 5 hours per night that you are in your assigned building.

I was dismayed by the number of people I found using their phones while on the job and want to reiterate our cell phone policy.

You may not use your phone while on the job unless it is to contact your supervisor or team captain and in an actual emergency.

You should not be chatting, twittering, texting or playing angry birds while at work and on the clock. If you are found violating this rule you will receive a brand new L & K App called Angry Mule.

Shortly after receiving this app you will then be able to tweet about what a jack-ass your FORMER boss is.

An Interesting study on workplaces

Women's desks, even though they may appear cleaner are really not according to this University of Arizona study comparing men's workstations with women's work stations.

http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/health/women%E2%80%99s-desk-may-look-cleaner,-but-experts-say-they%E2%80%99re-not

But our female customers don't need to be concerned!

We at L & K Office Cleaning use products like PortionPac Red Germicidal cleaner on all exposed surfaces with each cleaning.

Read about our other programs to keep you safe and healthy at work here.

Spring will be here, soon

It may not look like it outside right now and it certainly doesn't feel like it but Spring is just around the corner. If you are not on our carpet maintenance plan then now is the time think about scheduling your spring or early summer carpet cleaning.

Also, if you are not on our regular floor care plan, then also take the time now to schedule your strip and wax and get your floors back in shape.

If you are not on one of our package plans, maybe you should be? Those customers are already scheduled and some of them are already started!

Don't forget to check out our 10th Anniversary specials page on our website too! Deals and discounts to help celebrate 10 great years in business.

Winter Safety

Winter time in Wisconsin sure is pretty when it starts but by January 5th almost everyone is tired of it.

This is our annual Winter Safety Message.

While everyone is conscious about lawsuits stemming from slips and falls on ice, you also need to be aware of the potential damage ice melt and salt can do to the interior furnishings of your building. Excessive ice removers can damage your flooring and carpeting so be cautious on how much is applied outside.

The other annual tip is electrical safety.

Leaving the holiday decorations plugged in and running all night is not advisable, costs more money and is fire hazard.

So is the number of personal space heaters that are left running under desks, these can really raise your electric bill.

Hope everyone has a safe winter!

Ants

It's that time of year again. April and May showers have brought out the ants!
You will start to notice little signs of ant colonies in/near vending machines, cafeteria's, break rooms, coffee stations, restrooms and the janitor's closet. They are attracted first to moisture and second to a food source.

We clean each time, as scheduled and remove all traces of food that might attract them. If we are not cleaning on a daily basis then you too will need to do your part in policing these areas to avoid infestation.

Maids or Commercial Cleaning

Let's take a moment for a little clarification and hopefully reduce some common mis-conceptions.

We in the janitorial industry are not maid services, they are in the housekeeping industry. Companies like Molly Maid, Merry Maids, Polly's Broom Holders etc... are in the house cleaning industry, they perform services such as doing your dishes, vacuuming your drapes weekly, pulling out all your furniture each week to sweep and vacuum behind, etc...

Janitorial services or commercial cleaning companies like L & K Cleaning operate off of cleaning specifications that are submitted with their price proposal. When you ask your office cleaning service provider to pull out all your filing cabinets to clean behind them, you will be getting a quote or price estimate. Yes we vacuum your drapes, once every 6 months, not weekly. No we will not run around and collect your 400 coffee cups off of your desks unless that was specified during the bid walk. We don't water your houseplants on your desks either.

If you doubt me, call a few housekeeping or maid services and ask for a price quote for cleaning your office that includes all these extra services. I will match their price, service to service.
I need the increase with the price of gas going up.

Of Mice and Mainly -- your office

It's been a very long, cold and snowy winter here in southern Wisconsin. Record breaking snowfall, 84" so far, long periods of below freezing temperatures are causing a larger than normal number of non-paying tenants to invade your offices.

When winter is this severe, forage for mice and rats is even more scarce than usual. This causes them to seek out food sources in areas where they normally would shy away from. Mainly, your front office. We have noticed that a number of our customers have set out traps and bait trays this past winter.

You're just not putting them in the right place! Next to your file cabinet may make you feel a little more secure but by the time that mouse has found your bait or trap they have already contaminated a lot of areas within your office.

Most rodents are entering your building from the warehouse, loading dock, storage area or manufacturing area. This is where there are more points of access. This is also where you need to focus on trapping or poisoning them before they make it all the way to the front office to get to the receptionist candy dish.

A couple of tips to reduce these vermin is in the area of prevention.

1. Had a birthday party? Don't leave the cake out, especially uncovered, put it in the refrigerator or have someone take it home.

2. All those boxes of cookies, crackers, bags of candy and other goodies stored under the desks? Not a good idea, it's a junk food buffet for these critters and what they don't get now, the ants will find in another month.

3. Break areas, coffee stations and cafeterias--don't leave food out overnight, close up the donuts and put away the bagels, besides eating that stuff after it's been out, uncovered all night, isn't healthy for you either!

We clean all of these surfaces nightly and take out the trash as well but we won't throw away food that isn't marked 'TRASH'.

For some of our customers that are only serviced sporadically, ( anything less than 5x a week is sporadic) we clean these areas on each service call but you will need to keep watchful eye on the food invitations left out on the nights we aren't scheduled.

Remember that mouse droppings can carry the Hanta Virus which has been proven deadly to humans. If you see mouse droppings or other signs of vermin post a note on our communication portal and we will address it immediately on the next service call. We are trained in hazardous material handling and infectious disease prevention.

I can't wait for spring and warm weather and I know most of you can't too!

As always if you have any concerns or questions post a note on the communication portal or email me at ken@lk-clean.com or laura@lk-clean.com . If you have lost or misplaced your access code for the communication portal, please email ops@lk-clean.com

MRSA, Staph, Resistent bacteria

With more and more resistant strains of bacteria and other nasty germs growing at an alarming rate many customers ask us; 'What can we do to prevent contamination here in our office?"

1. While we clean each time with a disinfectant and sanitizing agent, the cleaning and disinfecting only lasts until the next contact with that object, be it door knob, light switch or telephone.

2. We strongly recommend that employers purchase bottles of Hand Sanitizer to keep in high traffic/usage areas like the mailroom, copycenter, coffee station etc...

3. We have provided a one time courtesy bottle to all of our customers.

4. We also encourage employers to reiteriate the importance of hand washing especially after using the restroom.

5. The chemicals we use are Green Seal Certified disinfectants and cleaners. We use these to safely clean the surfaces in your facility while still remaining conscious of the environment.

Feel free to contact us at ops@lk-clean.com with any questions or for more information.

Salt, Ice Melt

A quick comment on the application of ice melt or salt.


It is not necessary to match each individual snow flake with a granule of salt or ice melt.

Over salting or de-icing can lead to a number of collateral damages.

1. damage to your sidewalk or pavements
2. damage to your interior carpeting from walk-in traffic
3. damage to your floors, marble, vct, terrazzo, brick, pavers etc.
4. increased indoor pollutants from compounds that dry and then become airborn


Just a few pre-winter warnings from your local custodial service.

Need a good cleaning contractor? Go to www.cleanpeers.com and click the link for Find A Cleaner.

Office Safety tip

Turn off those space heaters at the end of the day.

1. They are a fire hazard if left running
2. They are extremely expensive to leave running all night.


Do not run electric or phone cords across open traffic lanes or aisles. Use the rubber cord covers available at officemax or officedepot.

Winter is Approaching

Have you ordered your salt or ice melter yet?

How about signing the contract on your snow removal service?

Add more mats by the entrances to asborb more slush and reduce the slip & fall risk?


When it snows during the day, do you have your employees rotate their parking from am and lunch so the plows can clear the lot in sections?

Have you informed your employees which radio station to listen to if you have to announce closings?

Your Health at Work Conclusion

FEMA
A visit to the site above will give you a complete breakdown by threat, danger, condition for creating a proper emergency plan for your place of work.

We all know to call 911 in an emergency and rescue, fire and police will respond.

However, once they arrive, do you know what information they will need?

How many people currently in the building?
Any and all hazardous materials stored anywhere on, in or near the building?
How about any vehicles parked inside attached warehouses?
Where are the propane tanks for the forklifts stored?
Elevator emergency call down key is where?
Any auto-lock or high security doors where people may be trapped?

These are just a few of the questions you may be bombarded with and you should have some type of prepared, knowledgeable response for them. It could save someone's life.

Your Health at Work Part 3

Let's all take a deep breath.

When was the last time the air filters were changed in your HVAC system?
The CDC has published some guidelines on how frequent this should be done.

This will not only reduce air borne dust, particles, spores, pollen but also help to reduce the possibility of Sick Building Syndrome. A complete analysis of this is available from the EPA.

Remember also that the frequent changing of the filters will prolong the life of the air handling units and reduce down time. This will also save money on costly service calls and repair bills.

We offer this service as well as our other programs at L & K Facility Services.
Just give us a call at 262-790-9330

Your Health at Work Part 2

We are now entering the peak of the flu season.

Most of you should have noticed that we have placed large bottles of antiseptic hand cleaner by your break room sinks, coffee stations or bathrooms.

We provide these for your protection and to help make everyone aware of the possibility of cross contamination of surfaces that are shared by all.

We use an antiseptic wipe on each phone when we clean your office. However, if we clean your phone once per week or 5 x per week it is only clean until the first person uses it following our cleaning. Therefore, when someone who is coughing, sneezing etc... Picks up the phone on your desk to make a call, they are now transferring those nasty little germs over to the next person to use your phone. (you?)

If you would like more of the bottles of antiseptic for other places in your office please contact us at 262-790-9330

We care about our customers, 24 hrs. a day.

Your Health at Work Part 1

Your sitting in front of your computer, nice hot cup of tea or coffee next to you.

Take a sip.


Now, how was that mug cleaned? Was it put in a dishwasher? If so, go ahead and finish that java.
If on the other hand, you like 96% of office workers everywhere, you probably rinsed that mug out with some tepid water at the sink and put it off to the side for your next cup.

Some researchers at the University of Arizona, tested some common work place surfaces including spoons used to stir coffee, coffee mugs and other commonly shared utensils.

You can read about their tests in this story from the Associated Press.

The CDC did some similar tests a few years ago and found that there were more bacteria growing in one coffee mug that had only been rinsed out night after night for one week then there was growing on a public toilet seat.

Still drinking?

Before you run over to the sink to wash out your mug, grab some paper towels to wash with because those sponges and dishrags have more bacteria in them than your mug currently does. Unless that sponge and rag is rinsed nightly in a bleach solution, the bacterial growth in those items can sicken an entire building of workers. The most common bacteria that cause intestinal problems, (those solved by Pepto) are now mostly resistant to antibacterial soaps.

Those shiny floors

Did you know that many of us in the Cleaning Field consider floor work or scrubbing and waxing floors to be a form of craftmanship?

It's true, stripping, scrubbing, sealing and finishing floors requires a learned skill and the process itself is filled with numerous challenges that must be faced and conquered in order to achieve the high gloss, durable shine required in your facility.

You can protect your floors and allow that shine to last longer by installing carpet mats at all entrances from the outside and also from the inside if they lead into production areas.

While I am on the subject of carpet mats, is it me, or has anyone else noticed that the mats being delivered by the rental companies really look terrible. I was looking at these black mats in 6 different buildings just this past evening and many of them looked like they were stored in or near a moth farm. These pitiful mats were threadbare in some spots, some had stains and they were just installed today! And some looked like they were used by a teething puppy!

I flipped a couple of them over and they all seem to be coming from 2 companies, that bad ones that is. Aramark and Cintas. I would recommend that all my customers stop the delivery driver next week and tell him/ her that you find the conditions of these mats to be unacceptable. Here you have this gorgeous, shiny floor, provided by L & K Cleaning and then they throw down this ugly, spotted, chewed up mat!.

The Zen of Cleaning Safety tips continue

Since I have brought up the subject of office safety, I would fall short of my goal if I did not mention how to handle the cleaning supplies you will find in the janitor's closet.

Please, do not handle the cleaning supplies in the janitor's closet.

If you must, please read the labels. Yes, they smell pretty, yes they look just like some of the stuff you use at home. No, none of them are available to you at the supermarket. We buy commercial grade products from legitimate supply distributors and manufacturers. Many times these products are dangerous if not handled and used properly. It is why you will see a MSDS book in every closet. The Material Safety Data Sheets in those books match the chemicals found in the bottles.
This is per OSHA Codes, laws and standards that we must adhere.

Why am I writing about this today? Last night, I stopped in at one of my accounts and there was a woman, in the cafeteria, washing off some plates with a spray bottle from my cleaners cart. When I approached I noticed that she was using a bathroom disinfectant cleaner to clean her dishes. I then tried to explain to her that this was wrong and dangerous, unfortunately she didn't speak a word of English. In my limited capacity to speak Spanish, I got across the basic message of Parada and Peligroso.

Somehow, this woman wandered into the janitor's closet, saw cleaning chemicals and just borrowed a bottle. What would have happened if I had not seen this. Who would be to blame if she or any of her co-workers got ill from this?

We as cleaning business owners, understand that while our equipment and supplies are stored in closets in your buildings that they may be subject to use from time to time. Al l we ask is that a little oversight, control and definitely some label reading is done prior to use.

Safety Programs in your building

Safety is not just knowing not to stick your hand in a running machine. It's also knowing not to overload outlets, to not use electrical items that are not properly grounded and so on. To assist you in working out a work-site safety program in your office, here are some relevant websites:


From OSHA we have: Office Safety

From the CDC we have: Office Related Safety

From OSU we have: Online Office Safety Library

From the Underwriters Labs we have: Emergency Planning

and for those who are developing safety programs at work here is an excellent source of material including overheads, films, leaflets etc... from SafetyInfo.com


Office safety is often overlooked by many planning safety programs for industrial plants. I hope these links have provided some important information and advice.

Additional Winter Safety Information

Some other tips, hints and thoughts about winter safety.

Isn't it peculiar that we all have (or should have!) emergency supplies at home and in our cars? You know, extra flashlights, batteries, radio, blankets, maybe some canned food and bottled water, candles, matches etc...

How many of us have these same things at work? Does our workplace have any winter preparations besides the first aid cabinet on the wall?

FEMA
Has a good list and advice for surviving winter emergencies.

As well as the American Red Cross

Winter driving also presents a different set of challenges and FEMA has some great suggestions on this as well.

Thanks for stopping by, new posts early next week.
Ken
L & K Cleaning Services
Cleaning Peers & Advisors
International Cleaners Association

Winter Safety Tips

Winter here in Wisconsin is bizarre to say the least. 51 one day, 4 degrees the next.

Take the proper precautions to protect your employees, guests and your facility.

Apply a proper amount of salt or ice melt to your sidewalks. But not so much that the un-dissolved salt becomes a slipping hazard in it's own right. There are a number of different products available for ice melting. A brief description can be found at MadScience. Additional information can be found at Declaring War on Ice.

Make sure you have adequate walk-off mats in your entrances and that they cover at least 10 feet into the building. Mats also help to protect your building from the abuse of not only the salt, ice melter but also dirt, sand, grit and other debris that can damage floor coverings, tile and carpet. A great selection of mats can be found at Mats.com
Mats can also be rented instead of purchased. Companies like American Industrial can deliver and pick up mats on a regular schedule.

When you have your own staff or a service remove snow from your sidewalks instruct them to clear the snow back at least 1 foot from the sidewalk edge. This will help prevent the melting snow from returning to the sidewalk as water and later re-freezing into ice.


Thanks for reading. We will have additional winter safety tips in future posts.