Five Tips to Keep Your Office Tip-Top

Want to keep your office or business in good shape year-round? Roll up yourself and get ready to clean. Here are five tips to keep your space looking great. Or, you could call Strategic Janitorial to do the work for you!

Tip Number One: The Microfiber Wonder

One way to save you time and money is by using split microfiber towels or cloths to clean or wipe down surface areas. , and although they may cost more than a box of rags, they are more economical because they last longer and are much easier for you to use.

When utilized properly, the microfiber towels pick up miniscule dirt, oil and other contaminates much like a magnet picks up metal. Just by adding water, these towels are extremely efficient dusters and dirt removers.

To do this, first, submerge the towel in water and then wring it out by folding it into smaller squares. If the towel leaves streaks, it is too wet, and you must wring it out some more. If it leaves dirt behind, it is too dirty, so dump it in water until the dirt is gone and repeat the process. Unlike rags that push the dirt and grime, the microfiber towel will actually pick up the dirt and oil and hold it until you wash it off.

These microfiber towels are designed to clean on a microscopic scale. According to recent tests, using microfiber towels reduces bacteria by 99%, whereas a conventional cleaning rag reduces this number by 33% equaling less work for you.

Tip Number Two: Backpacks Rule!

No, not the kind your children use to go to school, we are talking about low-noise, energy efficient, easy to use, dirt and pollutant sucking, four-level filter, HEPA backpacks.

These powerful vacuum backpacks are easy to carry so you can quickly get to the dirt which saves you time and money. These backpacks pick up at least 99.9% of indoor pollutants and are earth friendly. This means fewer employees calling in sick due to indoor air pollutants and allergens.

Compared to the old conventional upright vacuum, these new, lightweight and efficient vacuum backpacks produce less body stress as they minimize the "hunching over" and fatigue often associated with upright vacuum cleaners. Due to the natural walking motion associated with the backpack vacuum, more carpet is cleaned in a shorter amount of time; in fact, most workers can vacuum more than twice the area with the help of backpack vacuums.

Tip Number Three: The Tale of Two Mops

Another tip that can save you time and money is to change from using old conventional loop mops, that have long been the standard for wet mopping, and replacing them with the new color-coated, economic, ergonomic and environmentally friendly, microfiber flat mops.

These micro-fiber flat mops are proving to be much more effective in cleaning floors than the old loop mops. The positively charged microfibers are like mini-magnets that attract dust and pollutants.

Using the microfiber flat mops also alleviates the bending and wringing action that has claimed many a janitor’s back and shoulders. Studies indicate that using microfiber flat mops cuts water usage associated with mopping by 95%. They have also reported a 20% savings in labor costs when using the microfiber flat mops due to their lightweight nature, effective usage and general dry time.

Tip Number Four: Powerful “Green Agents”

For many years, janitors have used harsh, cleaning chemicals containing carcinogens that cause cancer, teratogens that are known to cause congenital disabilities, and mutagens that have been found to alter DNA.

Towards the end of the last century, the commercial cleaning industry began to search for alternative cleaning products and methods that were less harmful to humans, or the earth for that matter. These “Earth Friendly” products or “Green Agents” improve air quality, reduce waste and reduce phosphates and phosphonates that can be harmful to humans.

The EPA rates indoor air quality as a top five health risk and estimates that two-thirds of our buildings are rated “SICK” with over 100 million dollars of lost work days due to poor indoor air quality. With 80 percent of our time is spent indoors, there are many good reasons why you should keep your facility clean with powerful “Green Agents”.

You may be concerned with the higher costs associated with “Green Agents,” but when you look at the cost-per-use as opposed to the cost-per-gallon, you may be pleasantly surprised. Proper dilution coupled with the use of a metered dispensing system will help your “Green Agents” go a long way in keeping your office clean and healthy.

Tip Number Five: Stay on top of it!

Another tip that will keep your office looking clean while reducing costs is having a regular maintenance program in place. Waiting too long to maintain, steam, wax, buff or deep clean may end up hurting your pocketbook in the long run.

A maintenance program extends the life of your carpet by removing the dirt and debris that rub against the fine carpet fibers causing irreparable damage. Light carpet sweepers easily remove surface dirt, but regular vacuuming helps decrease the abrasion that can seriously damage the carpet fibers. The same can be said for mopping surface areas with microfiber flat mops and give your floor a scheduled wax or yearly buffing.

Regularly scheduled cleaning protects some of your most valuable assets like your employees, your clients, and your building. With regular cleaning, dusting, and mopping, your clients and employees will enjoy a clean, fresh smelling office with better air quality thus maximizing the customer experience and improving employee productivity.