This page is for the purpose of providing our clients with tips and information on the care and maintenance of their building.

Items may be added and deleted periodically.  

Table of contents:

• Carpet Care
• How Often Should Carpets be cleaned?
• The Importance of Frequent Vacuuming.
• Vinyl Floor Maintenance.
• Odor Control in Restrooms
• Good References

CARPET CARE

Tips:

1. Choose the appropriate carpet type, style and color for your office or building.
2. Evaluate the type of cleaning method that should be used with your particular carpet. Get advice from the manufacturer which should be supplied by the dealer.
3. Vacuum carpets daily or according to the amount and kind of foot traffic there is in the building or office.
4. Keep walkways, entry areas and parking lots swept. Soil here will end up in the building.
5. Use exterior mats. They dislodge and scrape off dirt.
6. Use interior entry mats. They will wipe off soil and absorb moisture and grease.
7. Place mats in other areas where coffee or grease spills may occur or dirt may accumulate. Place plastic floor covers under desk chairs to protect the carpet.
8. Determine what areas may need an intensive cleaning once or twice a year, or an interim cleaning that may need to be done once a month, or more often, depending on the types of dirt or grease that gets tracked in. 
9. Don't put off having your carpet cleaned if you want to prolong its life and appearance. It is more cost effective to regularly clean your carpet, than to let it become irreparably soiled and worn down so that it will have to be replaced.

Benefits of proper carpet maintenance and a clean workplace:

• A clean carpet and work environment enhances a company's image (more business). 
• Maintaining a clean environment means less sickness (absenteeism).
• A clean workplace improves employee moral (productivity).

HOW OFTEN SHOULD CARPETS BE CLEANED?

How often a carpet should be cleaned depends on a variety of factors. Once a year is the general routine for low traffic offices and homes, and two to three times a year might be more prudent for offices that are adjacent to industrial and manufacturing plants where a great deal of grime is tracked in on a daily basis. Traffic areas should be cleaned more frequently, and spills should be properly spot cleaned as soon as they occur. Many people postpone cleaning their carpets until they feel they absolutely cannot tolerate the dirty look any longer. Others have their carpets cleaned on a regular basis regardless of the condition of the carpet. Situations vary, but following here are some general points to consider when determining how often a carpet should be cleaned:

• What does the carpet manufacturer recommend for your particular carpet?
• How much and what kind of foot traffic is coming in and out of your building or home?
• Do you have pets? Is there a flea problem?
• How often and how thoroughly do your carpets get vacuumed?
• Does the carpet look dingy and/or do you detect an odor that never goes away? Compare the edges and unused parts of the carpet with the traffic areas.
• How important is it to you to maintain a fresh and high quality appearance in your business? Do you believe that the clean appearance of your carpet reflects the quality and standards of your company?
• How often can you afford to clean your carpet? Proper cleaning actually preserves the longer life and attractive appearance of your carpet, postponing the need for expensive replacement.
• How old is your carpet? Older carpets may need replaced, especially if there have been humidity problems in the building or water damage. If mold is a problem, you should be concerned about how allergens might be affecting the health of your family or employees. According to the Carpet & Rug Institute, research shows that modern day carpets actually capture microbes and allergens, keeping them out of the breathing zone. Older carpets, however, that haven't been cleaned or dried properly over time, may contain mold and bacterial microbes that could effect air quality.
• Whatever course of action you take on the care and maintenance of your carpets, it is always wise to have adequate and updated information to help in your decision making. Advice from a carpet dealer, a carpet cleaning company, or your janitorial service can be helpful as well.

THE IMPORTANCE OF FREQUENT VACUUMING

Vacuuming is the most important thing you can do to keep your carpet looking great. Carpets should be vacuumed frequently and thoroughly, especially in high traffic areas. Vacuuming helps remove dirt particles which dull the carpet's appearance and damage the fibers. It is essential that you use a vacuum cleaner that really deep cleans a carpet. It should have a strong motor, powerful airflow, efficient filtration, an internal vacuum bag, and a brush roll for agitation. Brushing action loosens dirt. The brush roll should be adjusted for proper height, and never let the bag become more than a quarter full. Vacuum high traffic areas several times a week and low traffic areas at least once a week. Thorough vacuuming will help you maintain the appearance of your carpet and postpone the need for professional cleaning.

VINYL FLOOR MAINTENANCE 

Tips on Maintaining Beautiful Floors

Choosing the correct kind of vinyl flooring for your particular workplace is important. A floor specialist should be able to advise you on which kind of floor material is best suited for your particular working environment. If you work in an office that is cleaned daily, and traffic is minimal, there will be less dirt and wear and tear on all floor surfaces. If the flooring is tread upon by industrial workers who carry in grease and abrasive elements on their boots, or metal shavings are daily being scraped into the flooring, then this calls for a much harder industrially suited floor material. The vinyl in an industrial environment will need much more frequent polishing and periodic refinishing work to protect the surface and maintain shine and an attractive appearance. Grocery stores, hospitals and laboratories are examples of environments with walking surfaces that are almost entirely made up of vinyl flooring. Such floors often need daily cleaning and polishing and more frequent refinishing jobs to maintain a glossy and impressive appearance. It is very important to choose the right kind of flooring for the environment it serves.

Cleaning Tips to keep vinyl floors looking their best:

• Sweep & mop floors daily with an appropriate neutral cleaner that will not dull the shine and wear down the top coat. Do not use hot water to mop floors.
• Place appropriate mats in entrances to reduce the amount of abrasive debris and dirt entering the building.
• Place indoor mats and rugs in areas where there is a high volume of foot traffic.
• Place plastic desk mats under desk chairs where the constant rolling of the wheels wears down the floor.
• Maintain a regular buffing schedule to maintain gloss and hardness of surface.
• If you are concerned about the cost of stripping and refinishing, try a less expensive interim solution of a top scrub and wax.
• Whatever type of flooring a business has, it is important to follow a maintenance schedule in order to keep the floor looking its best and maintain its life span Scrimping on daily or weekly polishing may save a few dollars initially, but it will cost more in the long run when the flooring becomes dull and damaged and will be in need of more costly stripping and refinishing work. 
• Benefits of Regular and Frequent Polishing
• Regular buffing is cost effective. It will delay the expensive cost of more frequent refinishing work. 
• Frequent polishing keeps vinyl floors looking spectacular on a daily basis. A beautiful shining floor "reflects" the standards of the company and enhances its image (more business).
• A glossy floor makes the work environment look cleaner which also improves employee moral (productivity).

ODOR CONTROL IN RESTROOMS

The most effective method for killing odor causing bacteria or mold & mildew in restrooms is to regularly clean with a disinfectant over all surfaces. This is especially important in and around toilets, stalls, sinks & counters, waste baskets, showers and floors. Urine is the primary source of unpleasant odors in restrooms, so toilet areas and urinals should be given extra attention.

If bleach is used to disinfect, dilute 1 cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Spray surfaces and allow several minutes of contact time before wiping dry. Do not use bleach on painted walls. Hydrogen peroxide based cleaners are also very effective odor eaters and are considered environmentally preferable to bleach and other harsher disinfectants. The most illusive odors often come from floor drains. Bleach is highly effective here as well. Pour a half cup bleach to half cup of water fown the drain each month or more frequently if needed. Waste baskets can be the origin of foul odors when food or liquids are not removed completely. The entire container should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. If cleaning tools and supplies are stored in the restroom, they may be the source of the odor problem. Keep all tools and products neat and sanitized, especially the mop and bucket. Soaking the mop in a bleach solution of a half cup cleach to one gallon of water every now and then should keep the mop fresh and clean and help prevent the spread of bacteria into other rooms. Make sure that the air handling system is in good working order and cleaned regularly so that the air is circulating adequately through the restroom. Keep bathrooms dry. Leaky plumbing around toilets and under sinks cause moisture problems that encourage bacteria, mold & mildew to grow. For transient odors, air fresheners work well and good celing fans do wonders to remove unpleasant smells from restrooms.