As professional cleaners we have seen many examples of poor office hygiene and what it can do to staff sickness levels so we have decided to post this blog to make our blog readers more aware of what's in store for them if they don't take steps to look after and protect their staff in the office.
Viruses
No, we are not talking about viruses on your desktop computer or network server, instead we are talking about colds, flu, stomach bugs and general other ailments spread around the office. Both types of virus can cost you time and money, but we'll only focus on viruses (and germs) in humans in this blog.
Many people eat at their work desks and perhaps unknowingly drop small bits of food around their workspace. Left unnoticed this can begin to fester, attract vermin (in the worst cases) and generally add unwanted bugs and bacteria to desks, bins, keyboards and phones.
In today's modern working offices many workers share space, computers and phones and this can quickly spread bugs around like wildfire, so it is important to ensure you inform staff the importance of office hygiene - without it your staff could be out sick on regular occasions resulting in lost profits and a reduction in overall team morale.
Check Your Office Hygiene Inventory
Each week we suggest you look at your inventory and see if supplies of paper towels, bleach, bathroom cleaners, anti bacterial sprays and soap are running low. A quick inventory will make sure you never run out - something that shouldn't happen. You wouldn't let it happen at home and you should treat the office with equal respect. If you do run out you are leaving the "door open" to a decrease in office hygiene.
Inform and Educate Your Staff
Leave notices in the office washrooms that provide simple to follow instructions to enable your staff to make it a habit to wash their hands thoroughly in hot soapy water for at least 30 seconds before they return to their desks (or office kitchen!)
Some people recommend you use a paper towel to open the door to protect yourself from those who have not washed their hands - increasingly many companies are choosing electrical hand driers over paper towels so this is something you can do out of choice (and if paper towels are available).
If you do not have dedicated office cleaners (and really you should!) you'll also have to make sure that desk area's, chairs, keyboards, phones etc get wiped down with antibacterial wipes or soap on a daily basis. Remind staff to keep the office kitchen clean, wiping down any spills on surfaces or down cupboards, removing left-over food from the office fridge every Friday and ensuring bins are properly used (especially important if you have a rubbish recycling scheme in operation).
In Conclusion
With the hectic pace of todays lifestyle its all too easy to forget about the importance of hygiene but we all have to be on our guard to make sure we're not allowing employees to get sick through the spread of germs - a small amount of time and thought will work wonders for everyones health.
We found the following video which offers more info on office hygiene.
http://video.about.com/infectiousdiseases/Germy-Offices.htm
Monday, 20 September 2010
Monday, 30 August 2010
The Christmas Silly Season is coming!
The summer holidays are not even over and yet thoughts are already turning to Christmas with cards & decorations on sale in some shops and many others due to follow as we move into September.
It’s certainly on the minds of bars, restaurants, hotels and other potential party venues as the run up to Christmas triggers the all important festive party season. Many are already promoting their Christmas party offerings, lunch menus for the big day and celebrations planned for New Year, and, a large number will already have healthy bookings lined up.
The standards required for cleaning in the food and entertainment industry are always high, however, this time of year with worsening weather & increased footfall, together with the potential for additional spillages & breakages caused by large amounts of alcohol, add an additional pressure on the businesses to keep their reception areas and functions rooms looking good.
During the next few months whilst the planning for the party season gets well underway and they plan their menus, book the entertainment and work out additional staffing requirements it is advisable that they also carefully review their cleaning arrangements for the period.
Do they need additional cleaning staff or rotas to cater for the increased use of their function rooms? Should they increase the frequency of some of the less regular cleaning services such as carpet cleaning? Will their cleaning company be able to provide adequate staff over the holiday season to ensure that they can continue to provide a great environment for their guests?
As with all elements of their planning they need to consider these questions sooner rather than later, discuss them with their cleaning company and make the necessary arrangements. If they don’t feel their current cleaning arrangements can meet their increased requirements then now is the time to find an alternate supplier.
At Clockwork Cleaning Services we offer a specialised cleaning service to bars, restaurants and hotels as we understand the importance of maintaining that first impression to guests. We tailor our cleaning services to meet the needs of the business and can offer flexible timings to fit around the opening hours of the business or so as not to inconvenience guests.
Whether you are looking for a company to provide regular cleaning services, additional cleaning cover for the holiday season or even to complete a one off clean before or after the festive season we can tailor a service to meet your needs.
Call Clockwork Cleaning Services today on 0800 0407 366 for more info required.
It’s certainly on the minds of bars, restaurants, hotels and other potential party venues as the run up to Christmas triggers the all important festive party season. Many are already promoting their Christmas party offerings, lunch menus for the big day and celebrations planned for New Year, and, a large number will already have healthy bookings lined up.
The standards required for cleaning in the food and entertainment industry are always high, however, this time of year with worsening weather & increased footfall, together with the potential for additional spillages & breakages caused by large amounts of alcohol, add an additional pressure on the businesses to keep their reception areas and functions rooms looking good.
During the next few months whilst the planning for the party season gets well underway and they plan their menus, book the entertainment and work out additional staffing requirements it is advisable that they also carefully review their cleaning arrangements for the period.
Do they need additional cleaning staff or rotas to cater for the increased use of their function rooms? Should they increase the frequency of some of the less regular cleaning services such as carpet cleaning? Will their cleaning company be able to provide adequate staff over the holiday season to ensure that they can continue to provide a great environment for their guests?
As with all elements of their planning they need to consider these questions sooner rather than later, discuss them with their cleaning company and make the necessary arrangements. If they don’t feel their current cleaning arrangements can meet their increased requirements then now is the time to find an alternate supplier.
At Clockwork Cleaning Services we offer a specialised cleaning service to bars, restaurants and hotels as we understand the importance of maintaining that first impression to guests. We tailor our cleaning services to meet the needs of the business and can offer flexible timings to fit around the opening hours of the business or so as not to inconvenience guests.
Whether you are looking for a company to provide regular cleaning services, additional cleaning cover for the holiday season or even to complete a one off clean before or after the festive season we can tailor a service to meet your needs.
Call Clockwork Cleaning Services today on 0800 0407 366 for more info required.
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Cleaners sent to Coventry!
Its true! Our cleaners are regularly sent to Coventry! But not in a bad way - we're now available to provide commercial cleaners in Coventry (the actual city!).
Some interesting facts about Coventry:
The first ever English bicycle was built in Coventry - way back in 1870 - about the time cleaning really took off (maybe it was easier for cleaners to set up in business without having to buy a horse and cart?!)
On the 14th June 1940 Coventry's Cathedral (also known as St Michaels Cathedral) was destroyed by enemy bombing. It was the only English city to lose a cathedral during the Second World War. It was never rebuilt, just cleaned up and a new Cathedral was added to the bombed shell.
You might not realise but Coventry is the ninth largest city in England, and eleventh largest in Britain.
The city lies further from the coast than any other British city.
Coventry is twinned with 28 cities around the world. The first city it twinned with was Stalingrad during World War 2.
Coventry is older than Birmingham and Leicester. Locals started moving in to likely clean up the area during the Bronze Age.
The city was one of the first in the world to have a pedestranised shopping area back in the sixties
The term being "sent to Coventry" means "to be ostracised" and likely comes from the English Civil War when Royalist prisoners were held in the city and were not spoken to for the whole duration of their captivity.
The Cathedral's spire is said to be the 3rd highest in the UK, due to its design it managed to survive the bombing during 1940.
As you can see Coventry has much to offer visitors especially from an historic viewpoint! If you know anyone that needs cleaning services in Coventry or across Warwickshire then feel free to point them here.
Some interesting facts about Coventry:
The first ever English bicycle was built in Coventry - way back in 1870 - about the time cleaning really took off (maybe it was easier for cleaners to set up in business without having to buy a horse and cart?!)
On the 14th June 1940 Coventry's Cathedral (also known as St Michaels Cathedral) was destroyed by enemy bombing. It was the only English city to lose a cathedral during the Second World War. It was never rebuilt, just cleaned up and a new Cathedral was added to the bombed shell.
You might not realise but Coventry is the ninth largest city in England, and eleventh largest in Britain.
The city lies further from the coast than any other British city.
Coventry is twinned with 28 cities around the world. The first city it twinned with was Stalingrad during World War 2.
Coventry is older than Birmingham and Leicester. Locals started moving in to likely clean up the area during the Bronze Age.
The city was one of the first in the world to have a pedestranised shopping area back in the sixties
The term being "sent to Coventry" means "to be ostracised" and likely comes from the English Civil War when Royalist prisoners were held in the city and were not spoken to for the whole duration of their captivity.
The Cathedral's spire is said to be the 3rd highest in the UK, due to its design it managed to survive the bombing during 1940.
As you can see Coventry has much to offer visitors especially from an historic viewpoint! If you know anyone that needs cleaning services in Coventry or across Warwickshire then feel free to point them here.
Saturday, 7 August 2010
NEW Look Blog! NEW Look Cleaning Website!
Well, well, well! What a year we've had - not only have we been taken on new clients in Birmingham and Bristol we've also created a new look to our blog AND designed, built and coded by hand our new look cleaning company website!
We've got tonnes of new content and we're now offering commercial cleaning services that really show off the specialist cleaning skills we can offer customers!
The new website also has a new Local Cleaners near you section and we've added lots more areas that we cover for cleaning - but have never made a big deal of before!
Try out just some of our NEW web pages:
Cleaners in Hereford, Malvern and Ledbury
Solihull Cleaning Company
Cleaning Services Coventry
We are really pleased with the new design, its more clearly laid out and offers far more information in a stylish and contemporary manner. Your comments would be most welcome!
We've got tonnes of new content and we're now offering commercial cleaning services that really show off the specialist cleaning skills we can offer customers!
The new website also has a new Local Cleaners near you section and we've added lots more areas that we cover for cleaning - but have never made a big deal of before!
Try out just some of our NEW web pages:
Cleaners in Hereford, Malvern and Ledbury
Solihull Cleaning Company
Cleaning Services Coventry
We are really pleased with the new design, its more clearly laid out and offers far more information in a stylish and contemporary manner. Your comments would be most welcome!
Monday, 31 May 2010
Office Flash Floods - What to Do
After theft and fire, office floods are probably the one thing you really don't want to happen to your business but unfortunately with global warming and rising sea levels this is something every business owner faces, whether they like it or not.
Us mere humans can't stop the awesome power of Mother Nature so thinking we can truly hold a flood back is rather like Canute attempting to turn back the sea, however there a few common sense precautions we can take to help protect staff, vital equipment and documents in the event of the office flooding, especially flash flooding - one of the most dangerous deluges.
Here are some suggestions:
Check the Environment Agency's Flood map and determine what risk of flooding your office or business property sits in. Keep a regular eye on weather reports, more so if there is torrential rain happening (or you know its coming). Don't forget flash floods can travel many miles so be aware it does not have to be raining outside to suddenly floor your office.
Off site data back up - it is all very well having all your pc's, laptops and servers backed up but if its under 6 foot of water there probably isn't much you can do so MAKE CERTAIN you have an offsite capability - so either back up remotely OR back up locally and remove the back up yourself to a secure location. Don't wait till the day your office starts to flood to do this - the power will likely go out and without a generator you will not be able to do anything. Yes you can move your computers and servers to a higher floor but Flash Floods can happen in literally minutes not hours so don't count on this tactic as one to save your business data.
Ensure your business insurance covers flood damage, if your office is in an area, that has in the past, been subject to flash floods might find you with a lack of cover proving costly.
Water can travel very quickly across large expanses of concrete or tarmac areas - don't forget to move your cars out of the office car park to higher ground if possible. However if the flood is rising dramatically then don't endanger yourself or your staffs lives by rushing out to move cars, a sudden wall of water can forcefully shunt cars causing more destruction, injury or even death so take to higher ground or a higher floor out of the way.
Talking of staff - have a staff evacuation and/or disaster plan so you know what to do and where to head in the event of a flash flood or just about any emergency. This plan will be useful to reference in the event you need to make some fast decisions in extreme circumstances. If staff cannot be evacuated due to rising water then ensure EVERYONE moves to higher ground or floor - flash floods are not the time to be a hero - it is difficult for most humans to swim in currents of more than 3 knots, flash floods will be moving way beyond this speed.
Note in the video above the time it takes from 1:14 for the internal area to flood - also note the floor buckling beneath as the flood from underneath pushes up against it.
It might be prudent to store away blankets, torches and a wind up or battery powered radio as a minimum - just in case you are trapped overnight. If you hear of outside activity - possibly coastguards or rescue workers in boats or helicopters it may be worthwhile attempting to attract attention and await rescue.
If you do find yourself outside be very wary of water above your knees - you can stumble into drains effectively trapping you so be aware.
Remember if you are in a position of authority (either as a manager or business owner) your staff will look to you for leadership so remaining composed and keeping a cool head will keep everyone calm. Hysteria quickly spreads and can lead to bad decisions so authoritively advise staff of your plans BEFORE and during a flash flood - if you are unsure about any situation then a good leader will ask for team input and weigh up the potential consequences before making a decision.
Do not turn on any electrical items until the flood water recedes and the authorities give the all clear - if you have had no all clear then leave the area when safe to do so.
Once the flood has receded it would be wise to contact your insurance company and also start to look for quotes from Flood Clean-up companies who can help clean and salvage your property, getting you back to business as quickly as possible.
Us mere humans can't stop the awesome power of Mother Nature so thinking we can truly hold a flood back is rather like Canute attempting to turn back the sea, however there a few common sense precautions we can take to help protect staff, vital equipment and documents in the event of the office flooding, especially flash flooding - one of the most dangerous deluges.
Here are some suggestions:
Check the Environment Agency's Flood map and determine what risk of flooding your office or business property sits in. Keep a regular eye on weather reports, more so if there is torrential rain happening (or you know its coming). Don't forget flash floods can travel many miles so be aware it does not have to be raining outside to suddenly floor your office.
Off site data back up - it is all very well having all your pc's, laptops and servers backed up but if its under 6 foot of water there probably isn't much you can do so MAKE CERTAIN you have an offsite capability - so either back up remotely OR back up locally and remove the back up yourself to a secure location. Don't wait till the day your office starts to flood to do this - the power will likely go out and without a generator you will not be able to do anything. Yes you can move your computers and servers to a higher floor but Flash Floods can happen in literally minutes not hours so don't count on this tactic as one to save your business data.
Ensure your business insurance covers flood damage, if your office is in an area, that has in the past, been subject to flash floods might find you with a lack of cover proving costly.
Water can travel very quickly across large expanses of concrete or tarmac areas - don't forget to move your cars out of the office car park to higher ground if possible. However if the flood is rising dramatically then don't endanger yourself or your staffs lives by rushing out to move cars, a sudden wall of water can forcefully shunt cars causing more destruction, injury or even death so take to higher ground or a higher floor out of the way.
Talking of staff - have a staff evacuation and/or disaster plan so you know what to do and where to head in the event of a flash flood or just about any emergency. This plan will be useful to reference in the event you need to make some fast decisions in extreme circumstances. If staff cannot be evacuated due to rising water then ensure EVERYONE moves to higher ground or floor - flash floods are not the time to be a hero - it is difficult for most humans to swim in currents of more than 3 knots, flash floods will be moving way beyond this speed.
Note in the video above the time it takes from 1:14 for the internal area to flood - also note the floor buckling beneath as the flood from underneath pushes up against it.
It might be prudent to store away blankets, torches and a wind up or battery powered radio as a minimum - just in case you are trapped overnight. If you hear of outside activity - possibly coastguards or rescue workers in boats or helicopters it may be worthwhile attempting to attract attention and await rescue.
If you do find yourself outside be very wary of water above your knees - you can stumble into drains effectively trapping you so be aware.
Remember if you are in a position of authority (either as a manager or business owner) your staff will look to you for leadership so remaining composed and keeping a cool head will keep everyone calm. Hysteria quickly spreads and can lead to bad decisions so authoritively advise staff of your plans BEFORE and during a flash flood - if you are unsure about any situation then a good leader will ask for team input and weigh up the potential consequences before making a decision.
Do not turn on any electrical items until the flood water recedes and the authorities give the all clear - if you have had no all clear then leave the area when safe to do so.
Once the flood has receded it would be wise to contact your insurance company and also start to look for quotes from Flood Clean-up companies who can help clean and salvage your property, getting you back to business as quickly as possible.
Why Professional Cleaning Costs YOU Less than you think
Most people would beg to differ with the above statement but with the years of experience we totally believe it.
We know that employers who try to clean their offices using a freelance single cleaner in our opinion is a recipe for disaster!
Using just one cleaner has the benefit of costing you less and having less admin so may be rather appealing but time and time again we get approached to take over the office cleaning because when the cleaner goes on holiday, is off sick or decides they no longer want to clean (which is quite common in our opinion) - who is left to hoover, clean, wash and polish the office?
Ultimately without anyone properly cleaning a downward spiral sets in, staff think someone else will clean up after them, the toilets end up in quite frankly an awful state (even worse if it is a hot summer!), the sight of grime and grubby dirty carpets lowers staff morale, the office ends up looking REALLY cluttered, you can never find a clean cup in the kitchen and the waste baskets are overflowing.
All in all not a pretty sight and one that believe it or not is costing you money in lost productivity.
So lets review this situation properly.
Check out some local office cleaners - ensure they are members of BICS.
Call the cleaning company for a quote - in fact call them to come visit you at your offices to discuss what will be done (and what won't).
Make sure you meet either the owner of the cleaning company or a manager - yes they will visit to promote their cleaning services to you but most will be there to help and advise you rather than hard sell their way in.
Make sure you ask for references - it pays to find out what their customers think of the cleaning they receive
Ask if any discounts - sometimes there is the possibility - though it depends on the size and type of cleaning you need!
Find out what happens in the event you are not happy - there should a be a 100% Cleaning Satisfaction Guarantee in place (with no quibbling either)
In the event the cleaner provided is suddenly off sick or disppears on holiday what steps are taken to ensure consistent cleaning is provided?
Ask, in fact DEMAND that all cleaners are vetted, insured and trained. Nothing worse than having office property broken to find out the cleaner you took on is not insured and is not in a financial position to pay for the repair or replacement due to damages.
What specialist cleaning skills, if any, are the company able to provide? You might not need them for now but its useful to know just in case you suffered from a flood or fire.
Does the company maintains best practise at all times when cleaning - what evidence is there to support this?
What training do the contract cleaners receive? How up to date are they with Health and Safety and other regulations?
How long is the contract for? What clauses and exemptions are there - check carefully to make sure you are getting a quality cleaning service.
Is the cleaning company driven by maintaining business relationships or is it only after a quick profit? (Note Clockwork Cleaning are highly driven by building and maintaining excellent business relationships on a long term basis)
You'll have to figure this one out but asking questions and listening for positive responses will help. Ultimately you'll want to hear that someone is always available to get in touch with, that cleaners and the level of cleaning is regularly audited, that they listen carefully to customers requirments and remain in touch to ensure a positive cleaning service is provided.
The benefits of professional cleaning remain clear: Better cleaning and higher standards long after the price has been forgotten....
We know that employers who try to clean their offices using a freelance single cleaner in our opinion is a recipe for disaster!
Using just one cleaner has the benefit of costing you less and having less admin so may be rather appealing but time and time again we get approached to take over the office cleaning because when the cleaner goes on holiday, is off sick or decides they no longer want to clean (which is quite common in our opinion) - who is left to hoover, clean, wash and polish the office?
Ultimately without anyone properly cleaning a downward spiral sets in, staff think someone else will clean up after them, the toilets end up in quite frankly an awful state (even worse if it is a hot summer!), the sight of grime and grubby dirty carpets lowers staff morale, the office ends up looking REALLY cluttered, you can never find a clean cup in the kitchen and the waste baskets are overflowing.
All in all not a pretty sight and one that believe it or not is costing you money in lost productivity.
So lets review this situation properly.
Check out some local office cleaners - ensure they are members of BICS.
Call the cleaning company for a quote - in fact call them to come visit you at your offices to discuss what will be done (and what won't).
Make sure you meet either the owner of the cleaning company or a manager - yes they will visit to promote their cleaning services to you but most will be there to help and advise you rather than hard sell their way in.
Make sure you ask for references - it pays to find out what their customers think of the cleaning they receive
Ask if any discounts - sometimes there is the possibility - though it depends on the size and type of cleaning you need!
Find out what happens in the event you are not happy - there should a be a 100% Cleaning Satisfaction Guarantee in place (with no quibbling either)
In the event the cleaner provided is suddenly off sick or disppears on holiday what steps are taken to ensure consistent cleaning is provided?
Ask, in fact DEMAND that all cleaners are vetted, insured and trained. Nothing worse than having office property broken to find out the cleaner you took on is not insured and is not in a financial position to pay for the repair or replacement due to damages.
What specialist cleaning skills, if any, are the company able to provide? You might not need them for now but its useful to know just in case you suffered from a flood or fire.
Does the company maintains best practise at all times when cleaning - what evidence is there to support this?
What training do the contract cleaners receive? How up to date are they with Health and Safety and other regulations?
How long is the contract for? What clauses and exemptions are there - check carefully to make sure you are getting a quality cleaning service.
Is the cleaning company driven by maintaining business relationships or is it only after a quick profit? (Note Clockwork Cleaning are highly driven by building and maintaining excellent business relationships on a long term basis)
You'll have to figure this one out but asking questions and listening for positive responses will help. Ultimately you'll want to hear that someone is always available to get in touch with, that cleaners and the level of cleaning is regularly audited, that they listen carefully to customers requirments and remain in touch to ensure a positive cleaning service is provided.
The benefits of professional cleaning remain clear: Better cleaning and higher standards long after the price has been forgotten....
Sunday, 25 April 2010
10 Things you didn't know about Dustmites
Dustmites - barely visible to the naked eye but these tiny little creatures can cause some people to have a real allergic reaction to them - not good especially if it is your workplace that might be causing the problem.
To stay on the safe side check out the points below and talk to us about our dustmite eradication service on 0800 0407 366 - we can help minimise the impact of dustmites fast!
If you want to speak to us about the cleaning services we offer call 0800 0407 366 - we can help keep the number of housemites infesting your workplace to an absolute minimum.
To stay on the safe side check out the points below and talk to us about our dustmite eradication service on 0800 0407 366 - we can help minimise the impact of dustmites fast!
- Each mite lives for three to four months
- One dustmite will produce 20 droppings a day
- It is the droppings that can cause allergic reactions
- Each female lays upto 50 eggs every three weeks
- There is an European species and an American species
- Just reading about dustmites will make you itch! (well, its making us itch as we write this)
- Female housemites last over 3 times longer than male housemites (it's a hard life chaps!)
- Dustmites in bedding can be killed in 15 minutes (though ensure its dry bedding) if placed in a household dryer that can operate at high temperatures
- People generally believe dustmites thrive only in bedrooms but they can do just as well in kitchens (including office kitchens)
- It appears that house dust mites prefer feather pillows to foam pillows though there has been some confusion in the past
If you want to speak to us about the cleaning services we offer call 0800 0407 366 - we can help keep the number of housemites infesting your workplace to an absolute minimum.
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