Cleaning

For now, schools are closed, but they’ll reopen again. And once they do, how things are done will have to change, cleaning included. The COVID-19 pandemic will inevitably have lasting effects on human behaviour. In regards to sanitation, we are all now well aware of just how long viruses can live in a variety of environments. This highly infectious virus has made us aware of how second-degree contact can spread infections. Going forward, methods and frequencies of cleaning commercial spaces will need to be more thorough. When schools are open again, these are some key areas and changes to focus on to prevent future spread of infections:

Regular cleaning of high-touch point areas
To prevent secondary contact infections, there are some key areas in schools where cross-contamination is likely. These high-touch point areas allow for germs and infections to easily spread from one person to another. Doorknobs, toilet flush levers, water fountain buttons, the inside lock on stalls or push plates on exit doors are high-touch point areas that tend to get ignored. According to studies, these surfaces contain a build-up of germs that cause influenza, Norovirus, MRSA and other infections that can be passed from one person to another. One measure to curb the spread of germs for high-touch point areas is regular cleaning and installing hand-sanitizing stations in these areas. Signage that encourages participation from all students should be placed near sinks, as well.

Special cleaning for hot spots of contamination
Cleaning the school restrooms should be a top priority. In all commercial spaces, schools included, restrooms often get extremely dirty and can be the source of spreading infections. To keep germs at bay, restrooms need regular cleaning using powerful detergents and disinfectants. All the mirrors, sinks, walls, stall doors and floors need regular cleaning. To avoid secondary contact infections, schools should also consider installing automated sensors that turn on sinks and flush the toilets. Instead of providing paper towels for drying hands, air dryers will reduce the number of paper towels that find their way on the floor after use.
Hygiene education

According to the CDC, the spread of many diseases can be prevented by the frequent washing of hands. Although hiring professional cleaners is one right step towards reducing infections in schools, students need an education on how to maintain hygiene to reduce the spread of diseases. They need to know that cleaning is not just about appearance but specifically about health. Both your custodial staff and the students need to understand the important role they play in keeping the school community healthy. As a school therefore, you can come up with a hygiene module that focuses on infectious diseases that are spread through poor hygiene. Then, once you implement a hygiene routine, students will understand the essence of adhering to the set rules. Your staff will also understand why it’s necessary to enforce the set routines.

At Anago Cleaning Systems, we offer both residential and commercial cleaning in Winnipeg. Our professionals come well-equipped with effective cleaning and disinfecting agents needed to kill germs. To prepare your school for reopening and to continue to maintain cleanliness once the schools are open, contact us at (204) 594-4666 and we’ll send our team to your site.

When vacating your rented premises, you’re required to return the property in “broom-clean” condition. At the beginning of your lease, the landlord charged you a fixed amount of bond money. To get 100% of it back, you need to clean the house as per the real estate standards, or as per the landlord’s checklist. This is called end of lease cleaning or vacate cleaning.

What is the difference between lease cleaning and regular cleaning?

Regular cleaning is what most people do on a daily or weekly basis to maintain a good level of hygiene around the house. End of lease cleaning, on the other hand, covers areas that aren’t traditionally cleaned regularly. You’ll finally have to face the monstrous dust clouds and any cobwebs, thoroughly clean each room, wash all the blinds, remove scale from the bathroom and kitchen tiles, make sure all the windows and doors sparkle, etc. The list is long and specific. The bottom line is that you’re expected to restore the premises to the condition it was when you moved in. This is often a tall order for most tenants but if you intend to get your deposit money back, the cleaning has to get done.

Planning is critical. Waiting until the last minute to clean the premises is a recipe for disaster. A month before you vacate, you should go through the lease agreement to establish exactly what’s expected of you regarding end of lease cleaning. Different landlords have different expectations and this is normally stated in the lease agreement. Once you know what’s expected, you can begin by thoroughly cleaning the house room by room so that when you’re almost ready to move out, you’re left with very little to clean. Planning ahead also gives you ample time to consult with cleaning professionals.

Why hire a professional cleaning company?

With hectic lifestyles and busy schedules, end of lease cleaning can be stressful. Moving out involves packing all your belongings, and this in itself is usually all-consuming. Coupled with the stress and the time it will take to clean properly, it makes more sense to hire cleaning professionals who will automatically lift a huge chunk of weight off your shoulders. For an end of tenancy cleaning, you need more than just cleaning supplies – you may need modern machinery like polishers and burnishes, floor sanders, carpet cleaners, scrubbers and so on. Professional cleaners use high-quality products and have advanced equipment that you probably don’t have access to.

With their experience, latest methods and modern cleaning tools and machines, professional cleaning contractors have the technical knowledge about how to clean different items and areas properly. With flawless cleaning, you’re more likely to get your full deposit back than you would if you did the cleaning yourself.

If your lease has come to an end, you don’t have to be caught up by the daunting work and added stress of end of lease cleaning. Leave the task to a professional Winnipeg cleaning company. This will leave you ample time to take care of the other urgent matters that demand your attention. 

Workplace cleanliness is important for more reasons than just sanitary purposes. A study found that clutter and overstimulation have a detrimental effect on one’s attention and efficiency. Because cleanliness reduces clutter, the brain can concentrate on the task at hand. Still on productivity, hiring a professional cleaning service keeps bacteria at bay, meaning that diseases caused by unsanitary conditions are minimized which cuts down on sick days among your employees. While most office managers understand the essence of maintaining cleanliness, several places easily get overlooked:

1.     Computer Screen, Keyboard, & Mouse

When is the last time you cleaned these computer parts? In truth, most offices barely remember to clean computer parts. Yet, a research conducted by the University of Arizona found that computer parts, particularly the ones mentioned here, contain three to four times more germs than the average office toilet seat. Contributory reasons include poor personal hygiene practices like failure to wash hands and also people eating lunch at their desks.

2.     Door Knobs

Doorknobs are one of the most highly contacted surfaces at the workplace yet also one of the most neglected when it comes to regular cleaning.  In reality, doorknobs hold lots of bacteria and viruses that can survive for weeks. As every single person at the office touches the knobs when entering and exiting the office, bacteria will spread from one person to the other pretty quickly. Bacteria aside, doorknob surfaces will also hold onto oils from people’s hands. Over time, the oils will attract more germs and foreign particles.

3.     Coffee Machine

A nice cup of coffee for your employees is a perfect way to increase bonding in the office or better still, fight off sluggishness. While the coffee machine is a great investment to have at workplaces, if it doesn’t get a regular, thorough cleaning, it’s likely going to cause sickness among workers. The coffee maker’s water reservoir and piping system make a great environment for bacteria and moulds. If there’s obvious slimy stuff in the coffee maker, something is growing in there and you need to stop it!

4.     Plants

Studies show that flowers and plants increase employees’ productivity by 50 percent. Going back to science, flowers, and plants through the process of photosynthesis, absorb the carbon dioxide in the air and release oxygen thereby purifying the air. Breathing in purified air results in increased happiness, mood boosts, and concentration. Plants, though, can accumulate a lot of dust and require regular cleaning, otherwise, you’ll end up dealing with allergies and respiratory problems instead of enjoying all the perks of having some nature in the office.

5.     Fans

Fans play a crucial role in improving circulation at the workplace. But when in operation, it’s hard to see the amount of dust accumulation on each blade so it’s no wonder they get forgotten in normal office cleaning. The problem with a dirty fan is that instead of circulating clean air, the fan will be circulating dirty and dust mite filled air. The impact of polluted air is increased allergies and respiratory illnesses among the employees.

Germs are present in every corner of our lives. At Anago Cleaning Systems, we try to keep them at bay by tackling sneaky spots where they like to hide. For more information on how to make your office sparkle through and through, give us a call at (204) 594-4666.

There’s one thing kids share unbiasedly, and that’s germs. Children are more prone to spreading germs and catching diseases because, at a young age, they are exposed to unhygienic behaviors like poor hand-to-mouth habits, mouthing objects, and undeveloped personal hygiene habits like failing to wash their hands properly after visiting the toilet. This is what makes cleaning a childcare centre different from any other cleaning. To reduce susceptibility to illness, childcare centres must maintain top-notch cleanliness.

A Three-Pronged Approach

Cleaning a childcare centre goes beyond merely clearing dust off surfaces. Remember, as aforementioned, kids, unlike adults haven’t developed their hygienic habits, so one aim of cleaning is to ensure that everything in their surroundings is germ-free. Professional cleaning will, therefore, involve basic cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing. Let me explain:

Cleaning is the mechanical/physical removal of accumulated grease, dirt and debris from surfaces. But this is just basic cleaning which means that some germs (these are invisible to the eyes) are still left on the surface. Cleaning may be suitable for many low-risk areas in the childcare centre like the walls, but high-risk surfaces like the toys, toilets and nappy change areas need to be sanitized or disinfected soon after cleaning and rinsing the area.

Sanitizing is using a chemical to inactivate or reduce germs to a level unlikely to cause the spread of disease. Disinfecting, on the other hand, requires stronger chemicals that virtually kill all the germs. In essence, sanitizing reduces and minimizes germs but does not kill the growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi – it’s disinfecting that does that. Food contact surfaces, dishes, and toys that children put into their mouth should be sanitized after cleaning. Surfaces such as toilets and diaper areas that don’t come into contact with the mouth should be disinfected. It’s also worth noting that the only sanitizers and disinfectants used in childcare settings should be only those permitted by law.

Specific Areas of Cleaning

To maintain high standards of cleanliness, childcare centres should follow a thorough cleaning routine every day. Tiles and vinyl floors should be vacuumed and swept daily. At least once every week, they should be wet-mopped using detergent and warm water. Toddler dining areas should be mopped daily and carpeted areas vacuumed daily. In infant and toddler areas, the carpeted areas should be steam-cleaned at least quarterly. The rest of the carpeted areas can be wet or steam cleaned twice annually.

The bathroom surface is one of the most sensitive areas in a childcare centre. All bathroom surfaces like wash basins, tap handles, toilet flush handles/buttons, toilet seats, etc. should be washed at least once daily or more often if visibly soiled. Toilets should be cleaned and disinfected after each use and the floors should be cleaned and disinfected at the end of each day.

Any fabrics like towels, linens and pillows need to be washed and sanitized before being allocated to a specific child. Children centres should adopt a procedure for cleaning fabrics to prevent the spread of germs and staph infections.

This article is just a peek into the intense cleaning that goes on in a childcare centre –  there’s even more that goes on! That’s why Anago will work with you to create a cleaning plan custom-tailored to meet your centre’s needs. Keep in mind, detailed processes must be followed when cleaning childcare centres.

Carpet and upholstery are an integral part of any home; they bring a sense of warmth and improve the ambiance in a space. To extend their years of service, high-quality janitorial services are requisite for their cleanliness and maintenance. To keep your carpets and upholstery fabrics in great shape, you need to know when a thorough cleaning is due.  How can you tell?

Bad odor

You know that your carpet and upholstery need attention if they are smelly. Owing to their superior ability to absorb almost anything, carpets and upholstery tend to absorb spills that end up causing a bad odor over time. Dust particles will also make their way past the top layer of the carpet to hide underneath. Damp carpets and upholstery, if left untreated, will likely encourage the growth of harmful mold and fungus. This can prove detrimental to your health especially if you’re asthmatic or have other respiratory issues. Having a cleaning company come in once every few months can save you and your family a whole myriad of health problems.

Frequent Allergy Attacks

As aforementioned, dust mites, bacteria, mold, and other allergens find it conducive to multiply in carpets and upholstery. While vacuuming is great for eliminating any dirt and loose particles, it is not enough to clean and reach deeply into the carpet and upholstery fibers. With time these germs and impurities accumulate and end up triggering allergies and respiratory issues. You may notice that you cough and sneeze a lot when anywhere near your carpets. Your eyes may turn red and get teary owing to irritation from the microscopic mold particles in the air. Professional carpet cleaning services help you access relief by eliminating such allergens.

Your Carpet and Upholstery Appear Dull and Dirty

It may not be visible to the naked eye but dust particles, pet dander, and human hair that accumulate onto the surfaces of your carpets, rugs, sofas and other fabrics all have the power to degrade and thus reduce the appearance of your home. Have you ever noticed how clean and vibrant your carpets and upholstery look when you just had them professionally cleaned? This is because cleaning professionals have special machinery, experience, and skills to remove stains and dirt, turning your dull fabrics into dirt-free bright ones.

How often you should ask for professional janitorial services in Winnipeg? There are a few factors that may demand you get cleaning services frequently. For example, if you own a pet, you have toddlers or have a relatively high number of people in your household, you will require cleaning services more frequently, say once every month. Although it might seem much cheaper to clean your carpets and upholstery yourself, there are many downsides to consider. Different fabrics require specialized care and if you lack the skills and knowledge, you may end up damaging your costly fabrics. Instead of going through the hassle, inviting a professional cleaning company to do it for you saves you both time and money in the long run. 

The world is on a rollercoaster on cleanliness; we can see how organized, charming and perfectly presented our office spaces are becoming today. This has transitioned our culture to the need for a more appealing environment in our homes too. As such, janitorial services are becoming more of a necessity as opposed to ‘leisure budget’ cost.

Being organized and clean goes beyond outward appearance and in essence, has a profound impact on mental health. Cluttered spaces make easy distractions which impair the brain’s ability to process information. That’s why most people report feeling unsettled when in a dirty room full of clutter. Yet processing information quickly is one of the factors that boost productivity.

It’s important for professionals to have a positive attitude at work, and if mental well-being is critical for this to happen, then bringing on board professional cleaning services to make your office more appealing is a priority. However, being well organized is challenging and it’s only made easier by creating an organizational culture that centers on cleanliness as part of your work habits. Besides, good organization warrants every file is in its place and you can easily track every unfinished business without feeling too anxious about what you left undone. In a nutshell, you can give a good progress report at the end of any business day without spending too much on that process.

Now, keeping things clean is not just relevant for your home or workplace but is also instrumental for your mental wellness. A study done on the psychology of the home showed that people who thought their homes to be teemed with ‘unfinished business’ or ‘cluttered’ felt more fatigued and depressed when they got home. In comparison to individuals who thought their homes were ‘restorative’ and ‘restful’, this cohort showed higher levels of mental well-being and happiness. These findings bring clarity to the discussion of why mental well-being is critical in productivity for any professional. Also, it was noted that if individuals engaged in habitual cleaning, they felt more optimistic – even after a series of failures; tidying up was also observed as a sign of confidence and self-esteem for these individuals.

Why does it seem so hard to get or stay organized if being clean is as important as it seems? When you get to the office, your focus is solely on the task ahead and not necessarily how clean the office is. As such, most professionals sort of ‘lack’ the time to clean, and the truth is, making your office well organized could take quite some time. That on its own is determined by how much size of clutter you’ve accumulated, which echoes discouragement even before you get started.

So, when we grow into a space that isn’t ritually cleaned or organized, the human routine of changing that environment to become clean and organized requires prioritizing those two as a task in the office. In return, people who work in the same office not only fix their bad habits but also generally improve their mental well-being. Therefore, it is critical to have a reestablishment of what you’ll consider a clean and productive environment if you are to make strides towards improving your organizational culture in that sense. For all your office cleaning needs, contact us at (204) 594-4666 and let us bring back that sparkle at your work environment.