Contract Cleaning Services

Your Office Hygiene IS Important!

2010-09-20T11:59:00.001+01:00

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

The Christmas Silly Season is coming!

2010-08-30T10:41:00.000+01:00

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.

Cleaners sent to Coventry!

2010-08-24T19:32:00.000+01:00

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.

NEW Look Blog! NEW Look Cleaning Website!

2010-08-07T16:44:00.000+01:00

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!

Office Flash Floods - What to Do

2010-05-31T16:47:00.000+01:00

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.

Why Professional Cleaning Costs YOU Less than you think

2010-05-31T15:02:00.000+01:00

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....

10 Things you didn't know about Dustmites

2010-04-25T16:35:00.001+01:00

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

2010-04-25T15:50:00.001+01:00

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!):

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.
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!
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).
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.
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!
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...

2010-04-25T15:04:00.001+01:00

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.

Vetted, Trained & Insured?

2010-03-25T20:31:00.000Z

Are your office cleaners all of the above?

Its something we find isn't considered by a lot of companies especially when they are trying to cut costs in todays difficult business environment.

But any office cleaning company can claim to be professional and reliable and lets face it for most cleaners that really is an absolute minimum standard.

Are your office cleaners properly vetted?

Many businesses probably don't take the time to find out that the cleaner they have in their office is not actually posing a threat by having access to your sensitive company documents. We think that it pays dividends to ensure your third party cleaning company can confirm and prove that they have vetted their employees to make sure they do not have a dubious or shady past.

It is also imperative that if you employ your cleaner directly you understand what legal right they have to work in this country. The British government's frontline UK Border Agency is increasingly getting round to checking employee's legal status and its only a matter of time of getting caught! If you are taking that risk then its very likely a hefty fine of £10,000 that you'll face for every employees that has no right to work in the United Kingdom.

Trained Cleaners take Pride in their work

Clockwork carefully scrutinises our cleaners performance to make sure they come up to our clients standards. All cleaners should be shown how to clean properly with Health and Safety in mind. With a cleaning company that takes an active interest in its employees development you should be safe in the knowledge your cleaner knows how to use cleaning material and chemicals correctly so as to prevent harm to themselves or any of your own employees in your office.

It is also generally understood that trained cleaners take a higher level of personal pride in their work which always goes a long way to ensuring a good job is carried out.

An Un-Insured Cleaner could be a potential Financial Timebomb for your Business

You leave your office safe in the knowledge that your cleaners will take care whilst out of your supervision - alas this idea does not always go to plan! Things may get broken or damaged and it may well be you having to claim on your own insurance which will likely lead to higher premiums for your business.

A professional cleaning company should be able to demonstrate they take care of their cleaning liability and be able to prove they are commercially insured to operate on your premises.

Any cleaner that is reluctant to show evidence of being insured should be discounted, yes you may save money in the short term but what happens if that cleaner was to cause thousands of pounds worth of damage on an accidental basis - we can promise you it will cost you more in the long run!

If you are looking for professional office cleaners then why not talk to us? Clockwork Cleaning Services employees are all vetted, trained and properly insured for complete peace of mind. Call us on 0800 0407 366.

Its Just "Cleaning" - or is it?

2010-02-10T17:13:00.001Z

For some cleaning is just that - cleaning, nothing more, nothing less. We at Clockwork Cleaning in Birmingham and Redditch know better. The benefits of GOOD cleaning are immense, better health, hygenic environment and better image.

We regularly get told by our clients about how good a job we do but it is lovely to have received this detailed client testimonial about our cleaning services:

"I can confirm that Clockwork Services cleaned two of the large Halls of Residence blocks at Oscott Gardens (Birmingham University - Ed) in Summer 2009. This would have consisted of a total of 16 communal lounge/kitchens and 114 individual bedrooms, all of which are ensuite.

We (Accommodation Services) were very pleased with Clockwork Services’ work; the cleaning required was more than just a domestic clean, as in some cases the kitchens are left in a bad state of cleanliness by the departing students. The kitchen cleans would have involved deep-cleaning to the cookers, fridges & freezers, worktops, cupboards and floors; each ensuite contains a WC, washbasin and shower cubicle and, like the kitchens, some of these are in quite a bad state by the time the students leave.

The cleaning of the Halls of Residence was a challenging remit which Clockwork Services fulfilled well, especially as we required them to work to a very tight time schedule due to the arrival of conferences and summer schools within a few days of the students leaving.

I would not hesitate to recommend Clockwork Services to anyone seeking an efficient, friendly and co-operative service.

Jan Allen

Accommodation Manager

Oscott Gardens Halls of Residence

Birmingham City University"

A Thank You to all our Cleaners

2010-01-31T23:35:00.000Z

We at Clockwork Cleaning Services would like to recognise the dedication our cleaners in the South West and across the West Midlands showed during the recent bad winter weather we have all suffered from. It certainly goes to show that our clients really do appreciate the professionalism and dedication our cleaners have showed particularly in adverse weather conditions

So to let you know we would like to say a simple thank you for all our cleaners efforts to make sure clients have not been let down.

School Cleaning - are you prepared?

2010-01-31T23:11:00.000Z

It might sound too early to consider but its around this time of year that we start to receive calls and enquiries from secretaries and administrators of schools, colleges and universities booking us in for the summer breaks to ensure their classroms, lecture halls and other areas are thoroughly cleaned for when students return in September.

Your regular school cleaners very likely do a good important job ensuring students, teachers and visitors health is protected from germs and dirt BUT they may NOT be specialists in DEEP cleaning that really destroys and cleans those bugs. That's where as specialist commercial cleaners we come in.

By deep cleaning your education establishment you can ensure students are learning in a positively health establishment. Air quality is also something you need to remember, so make sure all carpets and surfaces are cleaned to make sure no nasty odours linger and build whilst your school is closed in the heat of the summer.

If you are looking for a cleaning company that has deep cleaned such prestigious academic institutions as the University of Birmingham then look no further - call us on 0800 0407 366 today.

Carpet Cleaning Tips for the New Year

2009-12-06T10:52:00.002Z

Its not long now till the start of 2010 and it may well be time to give your home or office carpets the deep clean they so deserve (did you know that professionally cleaning carpets on a regular basis can extend the life of your carpet?)

Here are a few carpet cleaning tips you may like to consider though we recommend you consult experts in carpet cleaning to ensure you get the best results:

Prevention is KEY when looking after your carpet, it is as we know too easy to think oh well its just the carpet but making sure you take steps to prevent damage will maximise your investment (in paying out for the carpet in the first place).

Dirty carpets give your home or office a poor, neglected feel thats immediately apparent to visitors, we always advise your carpets are vaccuumed AT LEAST once a week. If you have pets or children (or both as a lot of us do) it may be wise to vaccuum far more often to keep dirt down.

Allowing dirt to remain in your carpet and be repeatedly walked on will wear away your carpet far more quickly - the dirt can act as an abrasive and significantly reduce the number of fibres in the carpet, in less than no time yours will look threadbare.

A lot of people use doormats to reduce the amount of dirt coming through the front and back doors. Our tip is, if you have space, use one large doormat followed by a smaller doormat. Personally we are not fans of external doormats, especially ones that soak up water as these in our opinion tend to attract more dirt and hold on to it, allowing it to be brought indoors more easily.

Deep clean your carpets at least once a year either by hiring in carpet cleaning specialists or renting and using equipment that can do the job for you. We recommend ensuring the system you use allows the carpet to dry quickly so as to prevent unecessary inconvenience to you and your family.

If you stain your carpet leave it to the experts! So many of us reach for commercial carpet stain removers but most just bleach out the stain leaving behind a paler area for all to see your handiwork. If you do stain your carpet we suggest you only use water to lift the stain out from the fibres. Most experts actually suggest you leave the stain in and summon immediate professional assistance if that is at all possible. Rubbing the stain furiously however tempting it is will likely cause it to be pushed into the fibres of the carpet and NEVER come out.

Not every competitor is your enemy

2009-11-19T18:57:00.001Z

We're big believers in "what goes around, comes around" at Clockwork Cleaning Services and regularly refer our clients to our suppliers to help them out (seeing as we've used the suppliers on a regular basis and implicitly trust them to do a great job).

Sometimes though it happens the other way round - like yesterday when we were asked to help out with a half million square foot clean up operation for a distribution centre on an urgent basis - as you can tell a very, very large job with an almost immediate turn-around is not always possible to respond to (though we try very, very hard in all cases!)

As part of our company values the customer comes first ALWAYS so to ensure our client was not let down we put the word out and up stepped The MSS Group, a facilities management company in Cardiff to offer their specialist clean-up help.

After a brief introduction yesterday and some time spent discussing the clients requirements we were pleased to see that the MSS Group shares the same important values of customer focused service and total dedication as we do so we felt more than comfortable to refer them to our client.

Thanks guys, your help really will be appreciated!

Plus is this something to learn from? Quite possibly, consider this: Not every competitor is your "enemy" - in the 21st century it will become more important and crucial for companies to (at times) pool their resources and ensure the client gets the end benefit - as well they should seeing as they're the ones that are paying.

Your Office Cleaners ARE Important in the Fight Against Swine Flu

2009-11-16T22:53:00.002Z

The re-emergence of swine flu this winter is on one hand surprising and concerning to possibly all companies but lets face it after all the initial news this year it has not been in the press or media as much second time round. Due to the media not taking as much notice it is likely swine flu (and its prevention) will not be at the forefront of people's minds - allowing it to quietly spread around offices and workplaces.

Before its too late you should take some basic precautions and you'll be surprised at how effective your office cleaners will be in the prevention of swine flu and the protection of your staff and workers.

Make sure the soap dispensers in the staff's washrooms are full and not running on empty. If you run electric hand driers then make sure they are operating correctly alternatively if you use paper towels for hand drying then keep them stocked up. Swine flu can be drastically stopped from spreading with regular hand washing so make sure all staff are kept informed of what is expected of them.

Ask your contract office cleaners to make sure surfaces such as workdesks, phones and door knobs get special attention, it may require them to spend slightly more time cleaning but if this helps keep your staff in work rather than off sick it will be worth the investment for your business.

Request that your contract cleaners provide an abundant supply of tissues and place them in easy to reach places for your staff, again if they are using the tissues correctly your cleaners should make sure all bins are emptied on a high frequency.

Remember the advert, Catch It, Kill, It, Bin It!

Just some of the strangest clean ups we've ever had!

2009-11-16T13:03:00.000Z

Apart from the industrial cleaning services we provide the day to day side of our business usually involves office and general cleaning - however we do occasionally facing up to some strange cleaning operations - here's a few that stand out:

The MD and a team of specialist cleaners had to battle the floods in Tewkesbury and across Gloucestershire and could only get to the site in 4x4's (like heroes) to clear up flood damage at a clients place of business.

Then we had to clean an artists' workspace after building dust had sifted through a connecting wall so our cleaners had to intricately clean away the dust debris from all surfaces including the precious artwork.

We had to remove external debris that had been dumped behind a learning facility to make way for the land to be worked upon. We had to arrange the safe removal of several hyperdermic needles..... this took some planning with regards to the safe handling of sharp objects.

On several occasions we've had to ensure small and hard to get to places have been cleaned thoroughly, the operatives have tirelessly cleaned with toothbrushes to ensure that all nooks and crannies have been reached... our clients have turned up on site extremely surprised (but thrilled) to see us going the extra mile!

What to Expect from your Office Cleaner

2009-11-16T12:45:00.000Z

When you get your office cleaner there are a few things you should expect of them - if you are unsure what then read on below:

Ensure your cleaner turns up regularly and on time, punctuality is key to a good clean
Make sure your office cleaner knows where the high traffic areas are in your commercial premises so they can make sure that these areas are kept thoroughly clean
If you have a rubbish recycling program in place then check the cleaner understands what rubbish goes where when throwing contents of bins out
If you any areas in your building that carry a greater risk of injury due to your operations then make this very aware to your cleaner so that they can help themselves stay protected
Check the cleaning products used by your office cleaner. Make sure they are suitable for the cleaning tasks your cleaner will carry out. A real bonus would be that they use organic green office cleaning supplies
To make sure your cleaner stays focused and concentrates it would be wise to politely request that they operate without speakers, ipods, walkmans or other personal entertainment players - it could distract them or at worse they might not hear what is going on behind them - something that could put them at risk.
LISTEN to any ideas or pointers your cleaner gives you. If they are professional they will know what can and cannot be done to better help you and further improve the quality of cleanliness in your office.

Cleaning News items that attracted our attention

2009-11-16T11:57:00.000Z

Scouting around this morning and we found the following in the Daily Mail:

Unpaid £835 Cleaning Bill Almost Results in Jail
Sad to see cases like this but glad its all been resolved for everyone concerned, unpaid cleaning bills are never a good thing.

A Right Officer's Mess
A shame to see our brave fighting lads families aren't able to move into a clean home, according to the Mirror.
Hopefully by now the MOD has sorted it all out (but if not guys then you know who to turn to!)

How Clean is your House TV Series Axed!
We have to admit some of the episodes we watched really left us speechless at the dirt some people are prepared to live in. We'll miss the 2 ladies involved in the show, their dedication to clean homes was (and still is) an inspiration.

Extra Cleaners would Save Lives
Something we've known for years but now according to The Press Association a group of scientists from Unison state that just one extra cleaner per hospital wardwould have a "measurable effect" cutting the number of patients who contract MRSA.

Welcome to our Company Blog!

2009-11-16T11:07:00.000Z

This blog has been designed to communicate to new and existing clients of Clockwork Cleaning Services - specialists in office cleaning Birmingham to Bristol!

We plan to regularly blog any new products, cleaning legislation you will need to know about and other informing and possibly entertaining blog posts relevant to business cleaning.

If there is something you would like to see on this blog then let us know at di@clockworkservices.co.uk we would be delighted to hear from you.