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!
  • 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.

6 Top Spring Cleaning Tips for the Office

Every Spring with the increase in temperature and daylight hours we all seem to be more active and many people decide to spring clean their homes; after being cooped up in the house over winter they want to remove all traces of buildup of dirt and dust - which even with modern housing with fuel efficient heating systems still can be a problem.

Thing is, do we do the same for our workplace? Probably not, it would be too expensive to drag office furniture out of each room and spend time spring cleaning. However it is probably a good idea to make sure your office cleaners do take time to get into those hard to reach corners just to be on the safe side.

Listed below are our 6 top tips for a good spring clean (for office or home!):

  1. Open all the windows - nothing freshens like a good blast of fresh air. Be careful on really windy days, windows flying around could break causing injury to others.
  2. Give exterior doors a good clean to prevent any permanent staining. We all know the grime of winter will give a dull sheen to any external door's surface whether PVC, aluminium or timber. Don't forget to clean any door knockers, numbers, letterbox plates or door bells!
  3. Decluttering is also important! If you've left things lying around all Winter maybe its time to get stuck in one weekend and really go to town on getting rid of anything that's been lying around for far too long. Sometimes you'll have to be really hard on yourself and honestly admit that hoarding really isn't good for you or your workspace so don't be afraid to get rid of things you are not using (though do dispose of responsibly).
  4. Empty the office kitchen fridge - make sure all your staff know you plan to clean out the office fridge so giving them time to remove any food or drink they've forgotten about and then give it a good, deep clean ready for heavier staff use in the coming summer months.
  5. If you're working as a group you might get the office spring cleaning finished in record time if you work to music, preferably an energetic beat to keep up the cleaning tempo however make sure the music you play is to everyone's taste!
  6. Don't be afraid to use quality air fresheners to keep the office smelling clean and fresh - we recommend choosing a summer scent of fresh flowers to bring the seasons inside

It isn't "just" office cleaning...

Lots of people may see office cleaning as just a small factor in their company's success, when in fact working in a clean environment is a huge influence (and motivation) to staff and your customers as well as being a legal requirement. You do know it's law to ensure your staff work in a healthy, clean and safe workplace?

Fortunately most employers in the UK use professional cleaning companies to keep the office clean but some still try to cut corners and use inhouse staff to carry out the role. This is NOT advised.

Using untrained staff especially around powerful cleaning chemicals is a recipe for disaster - the wrong cleaner on the wrong surface can damage floors, walls or objects costing a business potential thousands!

In the fast paced business world we all work in busy offices quickly get dirty and messy from general office clutter, employee’s food and drink spills  together with dirt brought onto floors and carpets from outside. Don't forget the general dust that always seems to build up when and where you least expect it.

Dirt, dust, bacteria and germs are not safe, nor are they a pretty sight for employees and your customers so by using professional office cleaners everyday ensures that your office is kept as clean and hygienic as possible.


If you are finding that your office is continually ending up looking unsightly and dirty then talk to us for free on 0800 0407 366 - we'll take you through the different kinds of cleaning services we provide on a daily basis to our customers.