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What Questions Should You Ask A Commercial Cleaning Before Hiring?

Do you want to hire a commercial cleaning company for handling post-construction cleanup of your office? Opting for a reliable company can enable you to create a trustworthy relationship that will last for years. There are many companies offering the same services. Choosing the right one can therefore be a tough task. To ensure that you are hiring a trustworthy company, you need to ask the following questions to the cleaning service provider-

How Long Have You Been In This Business And What Type of Cleaning Projects Have You Handled?

Make sure that you don’t opt for a commercial cleaning service company which has just ventured into the business. As in any other business, experience matters a lot and top commercial cleaning companies have a better understanding of client needs. Therefore, looking for a company which has the experience and manpower to successfully handle the post-construction cleanup of your office area. Check the company’s track record well before hiring.

If you require office cleaning services, don’t go for a janitorial services company that has worked on medical cleaning projects in the past. Instead, go for the one which has enough experience and willingness to work according to your needs.

How Do You Check The Background of Your Employees?

Any reliable janitorial service company will screen an applicant for drug use and check whether the person has a criminal history or not. They will look for employees who can work as per the needs of clients. This might be done through personality testing. Moreover, verifying early employment record and checking references can help a company to build a great team. If the company that you want to hire takes shortcuts for screening applicants, there is no point opting for their services.

What Type of Training Does Your Staff Receive?

Once an office cleaning company hires a suitable applicant, they will offer him the tools he needs to clean your office area. But to handle cleaning projects with precision, comprehensive training is necessary. If a company offers services beyond basic cleaning such as medical cleaning and industrial cleaning, then the company should offer its employees with training which is in sync with the type of facility they have to clean.

How Do You Manage Your Team?

Once the cleaning company hires suitable candidates and trains them, they must manage the latter efficiently. The success of a cleaning business to a great extent depends on the employees. Even highly skilled and well-trained cleaning professionals need to be motivated so that they feel that they are the vital part of the organization. They must be held accountable for their work and offered incentives for performing beyond expectations. But when they are not performing according to expectation, they have to be managed in a better way so that they do not repeat the same mistakes again.

What Type of Green Cleaning Program Do You Have?

Green cleaning companies focus on sustainability, health and safety and environment. Basic green clean practices usually include proper chemical storage, labeling and disposal. Good green cleaning practices also include limiting disposal of plastic trash liners. This can be done by reusing them in case they are intact. It can save money and reduce the amount of plastic trash that your office generates.

Is Your Company Insured?

The office cleaning company you hire must be insured. Are you aware of the different types of coverage a commercial cleaning service should have? These include general liability, worker’s compensation, umbrella policy and automobile liability. Check coverage to be assured that the company you hire is adequately protected.

General liability insurance protects your property against various claims of alleged negligence or wrongdoing by a cleaning company. The company whom you hire needs to have at least $1,000,000 of general liability insurance. A worker’s compensation insurance on the other hand covers job-related accidents which might injure, disable or kill an employee. Such an insurance covers your staff within the workplace and also during business trips. Check whether the cleaning company has at least $1,000,000 by verifying their insurance certificate.

An automobile insurance protects people and property from accidents involving the cleaning company’s vehicle as they come and leave from your business premises. The company must have a commercial auto insurance policy to protect the company’s assets. Umbrella policies on the other hand cover all the losses hat are not included in general liability, workers compensation and auto liability insurance. Companies of any size are vulnerable to litigation worth millions. In case the actions of the company resulted in an event that led to great financial losses, a commercial umbrella liability insurance policy will urn out to be your savior. This policy will cover those areas which are not covered by other policies. A cleaning company must have a minimum of $500,000 of umbrella coverage on the insurance certificate they possess.

6 Reasons You Should be Looking for Roof Cleaning in London

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You may have noticed that your roof is no longer the same color it was when it was new or since the last clean. All the same, you have been putting off looking for roof cleaning in London because you think it doesn’t yet look too bad or maybe you are worried about the cost. Whatever the reason you may have for putting off the task. The following reasons should make you act faster.

A Clean Roof is Healthy

If you care about your health and all those who live under your roof, then you must start looking for roof cleaning in London. Roofs are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria, algae, and fungus. The combination of sunshine, rainwater, and lack of ventilation can turn a collection of dirt into that dark growth you may have noticed on the roof. According to experts, that growth is called Blue-Green Algae and it can produce potent toxins. The UK center for Ecology and Hydrology warns that it has been known to cause the death of animals like dogs, horses, and birds. It might have a sickening effect on humans as well.

You should have experts climb up there and clean the roof before it builds up to toxic levels.

Your Roof Will Last Longer

Unless you have no problem dealing with costly repairs, you must keep your roof clean. Bacteria that make a home on your roof can begin to degrade the asphalt shingles on the roof by eating away the limestone. Sometimes, plants may start to grow on the roof because of the collection of dirt and seeds deposited by birds. These plants will grow roots that will undermine the roof causing the roof to start leaking. By spending just a bit of money on cleaning the roof, you can avoid having to spend on roof repair and replacement.

Professionally Cleaned Roofs Look Beautiful

After years of exposure to different elements, your roof loses that bright beautiful look that it had when it was new. A professional cleaning company can remedy that with a good cleaning job. You can have your roof looking as good as new if you let trained cleaners remove all the dirt, algae, and stains that may have covered the beauty of the roof. A beautiful roof also has another advantage as explained below.

The Value of the House Appreciates

Put yourself in the shoes of someone looking for a house to buy, if you see a roof with algae growing or one that has lost its gleam, would you be moved to pay more for it than you would for one that has a new roof? Most likely not, a dirty roof is going to give the impression that the house is old and probably needs a lot of fixing, it also raises health concerns. If you are hoping to resale your house, roof cleaning services would be one of the items on your checklist as you prepare it for viewing.

A Clean Roof is Safer

If you have an antenna on your roof, you might need to climb onto the roof to adjust it. This can be a risky endeavor in general, but the risk may be increased if the roof is dirty. You are more likely to slip and fall off a dirty roof because it is slippery than a clean one. If you have any reason to climb onto the roof, it is a good idea to keep the roof clean. You will even find it easier to see how safe it is to step on particular areas if the roof is not covered in leaves.

Your Roof Doesn’t Need Replacement

Many homeowners look at the change in color of the roof and imagine it is time to change the roof. You probably tried to clean it yourself but it just did not look as good as you hoped. Well, you do not need to look for an expensive quote for roof replacement, you just need to look for roof cleaning. The change in color of the roof is usually algae that are trying to protect from the sun. if you can get the algae cleaned off, you will have the roof looking much brighter. A mistake many homeowners make however is to use a pressure washer which will cause damage to the roof. You need professionals for this job.

Final Tip

When you are looking for roof cleaning services, ensure you find a provider who knows what they are doing. Find out if they have done something similar near you and go ahead and look at the results. It is a good idea to choose experienced roof cleaners who also have the right equipment to carry out the job. Ask as many questions as you need to be convinced they are the right people for the job.

4 Reasons you Should Hire Commercial Cleaning Services

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If you are a business owner, you would know the importance of task delegation and knowing everyone’s strengths and weaknesses. Your employees are hired to do your work, and therefore, they need the focus and energy. But, if diverted from their focus, they might lose out on the energy and not be able to give a good performance. Therefore, it is necessary that you hire a professional cleaning service to keep the office neat and tidy. Some business owners divide the tasks amongst the employees to keep the office clean and save the cost. But, they won’t be able to do a good job, lose out on their own time and also become less efficient. An office space should be clean so that employees get a good environment to work in. If the office space looks shabby and untidy, it affects your employee’s productivity and could make them depressed. So, instead of saving costs, hire a professional cleaning company who will keep your office clean and also improve the productivity of your employees. There are more than a few reasons for you to hire a professional cleaning company.

1. It Creates a Lasting Impression

Your business is run by your clients. When they walk into the office, you would feel that they don’t care about the looks, but that’s not true. They judge you by the office, and it helps them form an impression, whether good or bad. It doesn’t matter if your office is big or small, but what matters is that it is kept neat and tidy. The carpet is cleaned, the floors are scrubbed, and the toilets are sanitized. If your client is happy with his first impression, there are chances that he will retain the contract for long. If you are looking for janitorial services, make sure that they are experts in their field. Don’t go for unprofessional cleaners who would end up making a mess. If you are in the hospitality business, cleaning is an essential part of your service. So, make sure you hire the best service to keep your hotel/restaurant neat and clean.

2. It Increases Productivity

When your employees realize that you are hiring professional cleaning services to keep the office nice and clean, they will feel like they are given importance. Imagine walking into an office which is shabby and unclean? No employee would like to work in such an environment that is demotivating at every stage. They may already be burdened with the work, and if you don’t invest in keeping the basic hygiene of the office, they will feel like they don’t matter to you. But, with a little investment, you can clean up the office and help boost the morale of your employees. Once they feel like they are considered a part of the office family, they will feel happy and will naturally become more productive. This is ultimately good for your business and your everyday routine.

3. It Creates a Healthier Environment

A shabby and dirty office is not just aesthetically unpleasing but also harmful for your employee’s health. Most offices have an HVAC system which means molds, bacteria, viruses can quickly pollute the air. The interiors need to be cleaned properly and regularly to avoid the employees contracting any illness. If you run a hospital or a clinic, it is especially important that you hire the best cleaning service to keep your patients and staff, healthy. Even the meeting rooms and conference rooms that are used by several people throughout the day need to be cleaned and checked for any molds. Other common shared areas like pantries, canteen, and recreational rooms should be cleaned regularly and kept neat and clean. Even doors, windows, doorknobs, computers etc. should be cleaned and sanitized to keep viruses away. You need professional cleaners to take care of these tiny details, and it is not your employee’s job to look after the cleanliness of the office. Yes, maintaining basic hygiene of the desk is crucial, but a professional cleaning service will take care of your overall office cleanliness.

4. It Saves Time & Money

Professional cleaning services know what they are doing. They can handle the cleaning of the office space much more efficiently than your employees. They have got the knowledge of using scrubs, brushes, vacuum cleaners and other chemicals and which area requires what equipment. They are quick with their work and can handle a large amount of space in much lesser time. This will save you time and also any damage to your property. They take utmost care of handling your couch and work desks and know how to clean the insides of your desk and boxes without damaging the space. So, by hiring a professional service, you will save time and money which are both crucial for you to run the business.

8 Ways to Transform your Kitchen

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Did you know that a kitchen is the most used room in your house? But, is your kitchen an ideal room with the latest appliances and designs? If you haven’t upgraded your kitchen for a decade, it’s time to give it a go! You could use a lot of ideas to convert your space into your dream kitchen. Since a kitchen is the heart of the house, it has to have exclusive elements. From the spacing to the design to the appliances, everything needs to compliment the house. There are many ways to upgrade an old looking kitchen. You need to let go of the broken machines that are nothing but antiques in your kitchen. You need to be precise and perfect in making decisions and enjoy your transformed kitchen. So, how exactly will you work this out?

Upgrade your Kitchen Sink

If you haven’t changed your kitchen sink in forever, it’s time to upgrade. You can find granite composite sinks in the market that will last you very long. These sinks are known for their anti-bacterial properties and are technologically advanced to create a 100% pore-free hygienic surface. There’s nothing like adding a modern touch to your kitchen with these modern granite sinks. Sometimes the sink is often ignored while making changes to a kitchen, but it is one of the most important aspects. It is not only functionally beneficial but also adds beauty to the kitchen.

Change your Countertop Appliances

Even though a fridge, stove and a dishwasher are the major components of a kitchen, you don’t have to change them all. If they are in good condition, you can keep them and maybe give it a nice cleaning. Also, if you are on a tight budget, you can replace your toaster, blender and microwave and see the change. These small appliances could bring a lot of difference in the way your kitchen looks. House owners usually ignore these smaller details and want to directly jump the bandwagon with bigger purchases. But, you could buy special smaller appliances with modern technology and maybe add a little pop of color.

Add a Nice Runner

Having a wall to wall carpet could be a nightmare when it comes to cleaning and maintaining your kitchen. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t make use of your space. You can add a runner rug to spruce up your floor. This will help bring focus on the space and leverage your small-space kitchens. Also, rugs will help take your attention off the outdated flooring. This may seem like a very small idea but does wonders to your kitchen space. Also, it saves your full carpet budget.

Wallpaper your Ceiling

A ceiling is the most ignored space of your kitchen. But, if you look clearly, you will see that it needs a transformation as well. Adding another layer of paint could temporarily fix the ceiling but not entirely transform it. Therefore, the best way to give your ceiling a makeover is to stick a wallpaper. A cool wallpaper adds color, texture and pattern without actually replacing the ceiling. It is the most effective way to give a new look to your kitchen.

Paint your Cabinet Doors

If you have white cabinet doors, the chances are that they have dirt patches or are worn out. You can paint them all over and see the immediate difference. It is less expensive than actually replacing your cabinet doors. The paint will give a new look to your kitchen without actually spending a lot.

Replace your Chairs

If you have a sitting area in your kitchen, you might want to change those chairs. Also, if your kitchen has a breakfast bar, your chair is the most focused element of your kitchen. You can easily replace them and add a touch of beauty to the kitchen. You can also rearrange your seating area by arranging it in the center or the corner. Just these quick changes could make a whole lot of difference to your kitchen. If you have a kitchen window, maybe you can arrange the table and chairs around it.

Add some Under-Cabinet Lighting

Lighting could completely transform your kitchen. The area under the cabinets could look like it’s not a big deal, but it could make a huge difference to your kitchen. Add some white or warm lighting under the cabinet area and see how the cabinets brighten up. It is also a great idea to avoid accidents when you walk into the kitchen in the middle of the night.

Add some Creativity to your Refrigerator

A refrigerator should not just be a space to stick your bills and receipts. You can get creative and some cool drawings or some magnetic souvenirs from your last trip. You will be surprised at how much it helps upgrade your kitchen.

Category: Home Improvement