Evergreen Building Maintenance provides daily and weekly office cleaning, and janitorial services in Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon, Penticton, Cranbrook, West Kelowna and Lake Country regions.

VOC Gasses can cause cancer and other illnesses

Is Your Commercial Cleaning Company Poisoning The Air With VOC Gasses?

/in , , , , , ,

Are you aware if VOC gasses are a problem in your office?

Here’s the scenario:

You hire a commercial cleaning company to keep your office building clean. The floors are shiny, the door handles have been sanitized, toilets are cleaned, dust on desks and equipment has been removed, cubicle walls are cleaned and the garbage is thrown out regularly.

That’s a pretty solid cleaning routine in an office environment. It would be fair for you to believe you have provided a clean and healthy environment for staff and clients… right?

Not quite…

In a first-of-its-kind study, Environmental Defence tested the impact of cleaning products on indoor air quality. In all 14 studied households, levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) went up during cleaning.

Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are gases that are emitted into the air from products or processes. Some are harmful by themselves, including some that cause cancer. In addition, they can react with other gases and form other air pollutants after they are in the air.

Watch Out For Products Containing Prohibited Ingredients

Prohibited ingredients in cleaning products include:

  • Toxic Air Contaminants
  • Great Waters Pollutants of Concern
  • Hazardous Air Pollutants
  • Global Warming Compounds
  • Ozone Depleting Compounds
  • Alkylphenol ethoxylates
  • Dibutyl phthalates
  • Heavy Metals (including arsenic, lead, cadmium, cobalt, copper, chromium, mercury, nickel and zinc)
  • Carcinogens as listed by: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), National Toxicology Program, USA EPA, Occupational Health and Safety Administration
  • Carcinogens and Reproductive Toxins as listed in Proposition 65

Health Effects Of VOC’s In Products Commonly Used By Commercial Cleaning Companies

As with other pollutants, the extent and nature of the health effect will depend on many factors including level of exposure and length of time exposed. Scientifically proven health effects of exposure to VOC’s include:

  • Eye, nose and throat irritation
  • Headaches, loss of coordination and nausea
  • Damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system
  • Some organics can cause cancer in animals, some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.

Key Signs Or Symptoms Associated With Exposure To VOC Gasses:

  • conjunctival irritation
  • nose and throat discomfort
  • headache
  • allergic skin reaction
  • dyspnea
  • declines in serum cholinesterase levels
  • nausea
  • emesis
  • epistaxis
  • fatigue
  • dizziness

Common Sources of VOCs In An Office / Home Environment:

  • paints, paint strippers and other solvents
  • wood preservatives
  • aerosol sprays
  • cleansers and disinfectants
  • moth repellents and air fresheners
  • stored fuels and automotive products
  • hobby supplies
  • dry-cleaned clothing
  • pesticides
  • building materials and furnishings
  • office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper
  • graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers and photographic solutions.

Indoor air quality has always been a key component of effective green cleaning. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC gasses) are a major control point from cleaning and sanitation products.

Studies are now showing that VOCs from cleaning products are also a large contributor to outdoor air pollution.

Make sure your commercial cleaning uses Green Cleaning products and processes.

Evergreen Building Maintenance Is Committed To Green Cleaning.

Call Evergreen Building Maintenance for a free quote for daily or weekly office cleaning services: 1-888-559-6870 or 250-999-2796

Kelowna Commercial Cleaning Services – Evergreen Building Maintenance uses “Green” cleaning solutions and equipment so you can breathe easy!

Commercial Cleaning CompanyEvergreen Building Maintenance

How Your Commercial Cleaning Company Helps You Stop Losing Clients To Competitors

/in , , , , , ,

Many businesses have the idea that office cleaning services are just an expense.

In reality, this is far from the truth.  The right commercial cleaning company enhances brand reputation.

If an office cleaning company is doing its job properly it can add real value to your company’s offering.

When a potential client looks around the marketplace they want to find the best fit for their needs.  They look at your product or service and they consider the overall “feeling” they have about your business.  This is a very real, but intangible “perceived” value that can make or break a deal.

Perceived value is more of a gut reaction… “how do I feel about this business?”

Feelings take into account more than just your product or service.  Things like “did the receptionist smile at me”, “was that a firm handshake”, or “this place is really clean… it looks like these people are really professional” can make or break a client’s confidence in your business.

Avoid The Pain Of Losing A Client Because Of A Dirty Or Smelly Work Space

If your office, building, or even the parking lot is not perfectly clean, clients and potential clients are likely to see you as a lesser quality company.  That subconscious feeling can make it easier for a competitor to step in.

A Professional Commercial Cleaning Company Enhances Brand Reputation And Increases Your Perceived Value

People will make a judgment about your professionalism in one quick glance.  Shiny floors, a fresh smell, all the lights working, and clean doors and windows are all part of the first overall “assessment” of you and your company.

The right commercial cleaning company can strengthen your reputation and perceived value in tangible terms…deals can be lost or gained by how clean your office looks.

1. Gain Credibility In The Eyes Of Your Client

When your office is spotless and fresh smelling, visitors are left feeling good about their experience.  They trust you more because they see that everything is in its place and organized.

When your commercial janitorial service makes sure they dust around the window frames and the top of cubical walls…they are actually increasing the perceived value of your offer.

2. Make A Good Impression On Clients

Every businessperson knows they should look presentable when meeting a client…at least the first time.  The same thing applies to your office or building.  If your office cleaning is at a high standard, you have created the context for a great first impression.

Your office cleaning company can make sure the areas where you meet clients are spic and span when you have a meeting scheduled.

3. Close More Deals With An Impeccably Clean And Comfortable Work Environment

A clean and comfortable work environment sure makes it easy to concentrate on building rapport and closing deals.

An unclean office building can create stress in the mind of your prospect, while a clean environment can make the client feel at ease.

A good office building cleaning service will make sure the plants are watered, the windows are perfectly clean and there are no stains or spots on the waiting room furniture.

4. Escape From The Stress Of Wondering If Your Facility Will Be Up To Par When Your Client Comes To Your Office

Good office cleaning companies are your partner in presenting your value as a company.  When you see a client, you want a distraction-free place where you can communicate your value.

A carelessly placed garbage can in the wrong place can throw off the “balance” of your office space.

When you have an office cleaning company that understands they are your partner in business, you will be able to trust that everything will be spotlessly clean and organized when you meet clients.

That’s one less stress-causing factor you have to deal with and you can stop worrying about how your facility looks and focus on presenting your value.

Discover an easy way to communicate your credibility and distinguish yourself in your market.

Give Evergreen Maintenance a call today!  We know the REAL secret for maintaining a positive, healthy environment for your business.

We are a Kelowna commercial cleaning company that can help you stop losing customers to competitors!

Kelowna Janitorial Services – Get Better Results With The Same Budget!

Call now for a quote! 1-855-824-8450 or 250-869-5165.

World Class Airport Janitorial Services

/in , , , , , , , ,

It’s what makes an airport an enjoyable experience!

Airport Janitorial Services

The clean and polished look of an airport raises traveler confidence and presents an unforgettable impression to visitors from home and abroad.

People are traveling in ever increasing numbers. The customer satisfaction experience for today’s travelers begins in your parking lot, moves to the shuttle transportation and spotless bathrooms, and makes a real impression in the terminal with its well-kept waiting areas.

Evergreen’s Airport Maintenance Program takes care of all these things so your customers feel comfortable and at ease in your airport.

Rapid Response And Flexible Staffing

Airport cleaning is a very specialized line of business. The ever-changing timetables in the airline industry provide a unique challenge for airport janitorial services companies.

Evergreen Building Maintenance has the commercial cleaning crews and management staff to respond to airport cleaning needs 24/7…Nights, weekends and holidays, whenever you need janitorial services we’ll be there for you!

Delight Passengers And Elevate The Traveler Experience

Evergreen’s airport cleaning service helps you:

  • Elevate your brand image & build passenger loyalty
  • Meet the dynamic needs of travelers & enhance the passenger experience
  • Reduce operating inefficiencies & costs
  • Drive new business & boost revenue
  • Leverage technology to attract & maintain passengers

Trained, Passionate, and Committed Workforce

Partnering with Evergreen Building Maintenance gives you access to as many skilled and trained employees as your situation demands. We employ only the best and brightest and train them to provide competent, courteous, friendly… consistent high quality cleaning services.

Our employees are thoroughly screened and vetted to ensure the safest and most reliable service.

While janitorial and maintenance work can often be routine and non-eventful, Evergreen’s staff is recognized for going the extra mile and providing an added level of customer service under many difficult and unusual circumstances. This is what often makes the difference for tired travellers waiting at an airport.

Advanced Safety Training And Strict CCOHS Compliance

We are proud of our safety record over the past 30+ years in the business of commercial cleaing. All our full time and part time staff are thoroughly trained in injury reduction and the implementation of our occupational health and safety program.

Full Spectrum Of Airport Janitorial Cleaning And Maintenance Services

We provide the full spectrum of cleaning and maintenance services needed to help keep an airport running smoothly and create a safe, healthy environment for travellers, staff and visitors.

Working with airport managers, Evergreen will create an integrated, year-round janitorial strategy that includes:

  • General cleaning – offices, lobbies, public areas, restrooms, walkways and passageways
  • Detailed elevator, escalator and moving walkway cleaning
  • Maintenance for resilient and non-resilient flooring including marble, tile, terrazzo, ceramic, granite and concrete.
  • Stripping, waxing and buffing floors
  • Hardwood floor maintenance
  • Shampooing carpets using various techniques
  • Interior and exterior window cleaning
  • Commercial cleaning and disinfecting of lavatories
  • Provisioning of all general lavatory supplies
  • Upholstery cleaning
  • Recycling services
  • Green cleaning according to LEED standards
  • Parking lot sweeping and power washing
  • Snow removal

Full Security Clearance

Evergreen’s staff has the necessary security clearance and regulatory standards training to work in any airport environment including:

  • Terminals
  • Arrival and departure areas
  • Private clubs
  • Public restrooms
  • Cargo areas
  • Gates
  • Food courts and retail areas
  • Hangars
  • Ramps
  • Operations and customs areas
  • Flight towers
  • And other areas specific to the size and function of the airport.

Custom Airport Cleaning Plans

An Evergreen Building Maintenance manager will walk through the entire facility with you. He or she will make notes of specific requirements and areas that may need particular attention.

Every member of our cleaning team will be made aware of your needs and the quality standards they must maintain.

Through the use of log books, site visits and monthly reviews with your administration, we will make sure you get consistent performance and continued satisfaction.

Consistently Exceeding Industry Standards

Evergreen Building Maintenance consistently exceeds industry standards. We’ll work with your administration team to offer your clients peace of mind and confidence that the airport environment is being cleaned and maintained at the highest and best level.

Pandemic Control

Evergreen’s “Green Cleaning” is the First Line of Defense Against the Spread of Disease

But hygienic cleaning is more than just being visually clean. Cleaning for health is an important step in maintaining a safe airport environment.

We can provide you with a complete strategy for prevention and pandemic control that, depending on the case, could include:

  • Early recognition and reporting of illnesses that may be epidemic or pandemic prone
  • Mitigating risks of massive spread
  • Environmental and sources controls assessment
  • Disinfection and sanitizing plan
  • Routine infection control plan
  • Additional specific airport janitorial services control precautions

Contact us to learn how our airport janitorial services can help reduce your costs, boost your revenues, and enhance your traveler’s experience.

Call now for a quote on daily or weekly airport janitorial services for your airport: 1-855-824-8450 or 250-869-5165.

Weekly office cleaning makes attracts good employees and customers

Why A Commercial Cleaning Company For Weekly Office Cleaning?

/in , , , , , ,

Professional Daily Or Weekly Office Cleaning Attracts Good Employees And Clients

Why is it a good idea to hire a commercial cleaning company for weekly office cleaning or daily office cleaning?  Which is best?

A great solution to keeping your company’s overhead costs low while still achieving a presentable, work-conducive, and impressive office environment is to hire a regular office cleaning service.

Physical And Mental Health Benefits Of Weekly Office Cleaning

  • Bacteria, allergens, and germs are everywhere in the office. Both employees and customers can bring in illnesses and help to spread them among your staff and their families. Basic professional office cleaning services like dusting, vacuuming, and mopping can make a huge difference in making the office look and smell clean.
  • Fewer sick days – Most businesses struggle when a virus spreads from employee to employee. When many of your most valued team members are not able to report to work, their work piles up.  This creates problems with customers and staff. A deep, professional office cleaning is an important factor in keeping your workforce healthier and can help reduce the spread of the latest virus.
  • Boosts Morale – Employees respond to a cleaner environment. Morale is higher.  Happy employees attract more business.  They do their jobs with more pride in accomplishment.  A happy and productive office environment attracts more happy and productive employees.
    Promoting good morale is a powerful business-building strategy.
  • A clean and organized office environment gives employees the freedom to concentrate on their work. Mess, clutter, and dirt can be very distracting. A London Office Worker’s Survey discovered an overwhelming 90% of office workers feel more productive in a clean environment.

An office where no cares or attention is taken to ensure things are kept in order can be difficult to work in. It is also more likely that important documents get misplaced or thrown away.

How A Professional Cleaning Service Makes A Difference

  • The largest difference between self-cleaning and a professional cleaning service is the industrial strength, “Green” cleaning products that are used to clean.
  • A professional cleaning service brings better tools and products to fight bacteria.
  • A weekly office cleaning company will clean every corner and blind whereas internal employees may not be motivated to complete a deep clean.

Hiring professional office cleaning staff can ensure that your office runs like a well-oiled machine, and the cleaner your office is the more likely that employees will take care to keep their own personal space organized, desks clear, and documents neatly filed away.

It’s Important For Your Customers To Have A Clean Environment

A weekly, or preferably daily, office cleaning and maintenance by a professional cleaning company not only benefits you and your employees, but it also creates a great first impression when clients visit.

Making sure you have a presentable, spotless, and clutter-free office goes a long way to inspire confidence in your company.

People equate cleanliness with efficiency and a higher quality product or service.

A professional cleaning service helps achieve a clean office that will best represent you and your business.

Hiring a professional, weekly office cleaning company gives you and your staff peace of mind.

Commercial cleaning companies with good management systems will provide a high level of office cleaning.  They can be a real asset in attracting quality clients and desirable employees by supporting your brand as one that stands for quality and care.

Evergreen Building Maintenance has been in the commercial cleaning business for over 30 years.  We understand how important weekly office cleaning is for your business success.

Call now for a quote on daily or weekly office cleaning services for your company:  1-855-824-8450 or 250-869-5165.

We are a Kelowna commercial cleaning company that specializes in daily and weekly cleaning!

Kelowna Janitorial Services – Get Better Results With The Same Budget!

Office Cleaning Company - Evergreen's Kelowna Janitorial Services Are IICRC CertifiedEvergreen Building Maintenance

Why It Matters To You If Your Office Cleaning Company Has High Staff Turnover

/in , , , , , ,

What are you actually buying when you hire an office cleaning company?

First, you are getting the people who will do the cleaning.  You are also getting the cleaning equipment they will be using.  Directly or indirectly, you are also buying the cleaning materials, products and use of cleaning equipment.

In addition, you are buying the training, reputation and reliability of the company and its employees.

Hiring The Right People

You’ll notice the common thread through all of it is ‘people’.  You are buying the services of people who bring their expertise to your facility to wisely or unwisely use the supplies and equipment.

If your office cleaning company has a high turnover of staff, the people are not as well trained on how to effectively and efficiently use the supplies and equipment as more experienced people.

This can cause many problems for you.

Potential Problems

Initially, you may notice that your office building is just not as clean as it used to be or could be.  Little details like dust in the extreme corners might show up.  Maybe the keyboards and computer mice won’t be disinfected and cleaned as often.  The bag in the garbage cans may not be quite as tidy as it used to be.

Other effects of high employee turnover can be a reduced relationship of the new employees with you and your staff.  This may lead to mistakes that cause injury or damage.  It could also raise security concerns.

It is natural for any company to have employee turnover.  But if the number of experienced people in any cleaning crew goes down, the quality will likely go down.  There will likely be more mistakes as the new people learn their trade.

This is where good management plays an important role.

Good Management Makes All The Difference

If the commercial janitorial services company is well managed, new employees will be trained and mentored closely.  Any deficiencies in performance will be reviewed and corrected before it becomes your problem.

In a well-managed office cleaning company new employees will see benefits of staying with the company and growing into higher paying and more responsible positions.  There will be continued training and development that results in excellent performance, consistently.

Janitorial crew managers will have several years of hands-on experience.  They will have the patience and compassion to train and manage employees so they remain motivated and committed to excellence every day.

An Experienced Office Cleaning Company

Evergreen Building Maintenance has several experienced local crews in the Kelowna, Kamloops, Vernon and Penticton area.  We also have a solid presence in Victoria, Abbotsford and Prince George BC.  In Alberta we are established in Edmonton and Calgary.

For the last thirty plus years we have provided consistent, high standards of office cleaning, office building cleaning and retail cleaning services.

Let us show you the benefits of having a commercial cleaning company that has many long-term employees, a solid management team and a streamlined employee on-boarding and training program.

Give us a call today.  We would be happy to demonstrate the care and attention our experienced janitorial cleaning personnel can provide for you.

Call now for a quote on daily or weekly office cleaning services for your company:  1-855-824-8450 or 250-869-5165.

Why Choose Evergreen Office Cleaning Services

Why Choose Evergreen Office Cleaning Services

/in , , , , , ,

Many companies resent the money they have to spend on office cleaning services.  Their idea is, if it doesn’t contribute to the bottom line, they would rather not have to spend money on it.

On the other hand, no one wants to work in a dirty environment.

It’s not the job of an office employee to dust and mop the office.  Who is going to clean the door knobs and keyboards?  Cubicle walls are some of the most bacteria laden parts of an office.

You can’t take office cleaning for granted.  Either you hire staff to do the cleaning in your office or you hire an outside office cleaning services company.

Evergreen Building Maintenance has been cleaning offices and office buildings for over thirty years.

Hiring Your Own Cleaning Staff Is Too Expensive And Impractical

Hiring internal staff to keep the office clean, buying the equipment and training them on an ongoing basis is far too expensive for most companies.  For most small businesses a thorough cleaning once a week or once every two weeks is about right.

To go to the trouble of hiring part time staff and all the expenses that go with it is just too much trouble.  This is where it makes sense to outsource your cleaning.

Evergreen hires, trains and keeps employees for the long term.  Our cleaning staff are experts at what they do.

Not Having Your Office Cleaned Regularly Would Be A Disaster

Just imagine what a typical office building would look like without professional cleaning services.  There would be trash piling up, dirty, stinky bathrooms, and rugs that keep collecting bacteria and debris so you wouldn’t even want to walk on them.

It would be hard to get quality employees because no one would want to work there.  Clients would avoid coming to your office and would probably avoid dealing with your company.  Who wants to deal with unclean people?

With Evergreen Building Maintenance on your side, you’ll never have to deal with cleanliness as a problem.

A Clean Office Building Attracts Success

Clean bathrooms really make an impression on female clients… men too, but women are especially upset by unclean bathrooms.

If you have sparkling floors, immaculate lunchrooms and conference rooms meetings will go better since people are not distracted by dust, debris, and odours.  A clean, fresh-smelling conference room makes everyone feel positive… a great thing to have when making presentations.

Evergreen’s cleaning staff is specifically trained to be proactive in noticing things that need cleaning before your clients do.

Health And Cleanliness Go Hand In Hand

Even if something appears to be clean, like door handles, they can be coated with bacteria and viruses.  In fact, door handles are the primary way viruses travel through the office.

Other bacteria hot-spots are computer keyboards and the mouse that everyone touches after coughing, sneezing, and just before and after they grab a quick snack at their desk.

Don’t forget the door frame people touch as they lean into the office and the padded cubicle walls that are designed to absorb the sound and provide a quiet workspace.  These are some of the best places for bacteria to grow and prosper and make your employees sick.

For the health of your employees and the success of your business, a healthy and clean work environment really pays off.

Evergreen Building Maintenance uses the latest “Green Cleaning” products and equipment to prevent the collection and spread of germs in the office.

Evergreen Building Maintenance Office Cleaning Service Impacts

Employee health. A clean environment helps prevent the spread of disease, helps improve health while reducing absenteeism.

First impressions. Clients and visitors will have a positive impression and opinion of your facility.

Infection control through environmental janitorial services like surface cleaning, sanitation, and disinfecting strategies.

Improves your bottom line due to better employee morale and increased output due to a positive mindset created by a clean environment.

“Smart Cleaning” program maximizes value in your cleaning Budget.

Call now for a quote for professional daily or weekly office cleaning services: 1-855-824-8450 or 250-869-5165

Edmonton Commercial Cleaning CompanyEvergreen Building Maintenance

New Edmonton Commercial Cleaning Company Comes With 30 Years Of Experience

/in , , , ,

Both small and large businesses can now look forward to an Edmonton commercial cleaning company with a higher standard of commercial janitorial services than they may have experienced in the past.

Consistent Cleaning And Monitoring System

To be sure, there are many commercial cleaning companies in Edmonton, but they rarely have the experience and organization to be able to provide high-quality janitorial services consistently.

When you hire a commercial janitorial services company what you really want is to have your office or building cleaned properly, the first time.  You don’t want to get complaints or to have to monitor the cleaning company all the time.

That’s the benefit of experience.  Evergreen Building Maintenance has developed managers and cleaning staff that know what to do.  They are trained to spot problem areas or spots that need a little extra attention.  If the cleaning person misses something by chance, the manager will certainly pick up on it.

Well Trained And Using The Latest Cleaning Equipment

Having a team of well-trained cleaning professionals is a big deal when you hire an Edmonton commercial cleaning company, but it is also important to have the right equipment.  Evergreen Building Maintenance is constantly in tune with the latest developments in cleaning equipment and techniques.  Their trained personnel will have the best cleaning equipment and they will know how to use it properly.

Green Cleaning Chemicals And Equipment

Harsh cleaning chemicals can cause some people to have an allergic or toxic reaction.  Evergreen Building Maintenance uses environmentally friendly, “green” cleaning products that are far safer than chemical cleaners.

Safe, Antibacterial Cleaning Systems

Some companies believe the only way to kill bacteria is to “nuke” the area with toxic substances.  We believe there is a much better way.

The “green” cleaning products we use are very effective in neutralizing bacteria and making sure they stay away.  In addition, we have equipment that is designed to clean deep into crevices and cracks to prevent the conditions that cause the buildup of bacteria.

But that’s still not enough to make sure diseases don’t spread throughout the office.  In addition to the right products and tools, you need to know where to clean and how to totally get rid of bacteria and viruses.

That’s where experience comes into the picture again.

“Smart” Cleaning Systems

You might think it would be more expensive to hire an Edmonton commercial cleaning company that can really deliver a higher standard of service.  Normally, it would be true, but Evergreen Building Maintenance practices “Smart Cleaning” techniques.

“Smart Cleaning” involves developing a close relationship with the client and deeply understanding the cleaning needs of the business.  The reality is not all parts of a building need a thorough cleaning all the time.  Some parts of the office are used more often so they need extra cleaning.  Other parts of the building are used in a way that they get dirtier so maybe, they need a special kind of cleaning.  That leaves many areas of the building that can be put on a schedule of light cleaning and periodic thoroughness.

These kinds of situations are discussed with the client so the cleaning budget is used more efficiently.  We are able to provide a better level of commercial cleaning for the same or lower budget than you would expect.

Call now for a quote for daily or weekly professional office cleaning company services: 1-855-824-8450 or 250-869-5165

Office Cleaning for increased productivity

How Worker Productivity Improves When Office Cleaning Is A Priority For Your Company

/in , , , , , , ,

The right office cleaning company can increase productivity.  When you realize the advantages of keeping a clean, well maintained office environment, it’s likely to become a passion.

According to Entrepreneur.com “when the office environment is actually clean, your efficiency will increase because then everything works just the way it should, contributing to better results.”

The standard of cleaning in your office impacts the general satisfaction of employees.  And work satisfaction is, after all, a necessary part of optimizing and improving productivity.

Hygiene and cleanliness are not the same thing.  Your office could appear to be clean yet still be a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses.

When the office environment is actually clean, efficiency will increase because only then is everything working the way it should.  Your efficiency and productivity will improve because fewer employees will be calling in sick or working at a lower capacity.

When an office cleaning company uses “smart office cleaning strategies” there will be minimal disturbance or downtime to your work flow and you will have a cleaner office at a lower cost.  Minimal disturbance means less downtime and better efficiency for every department in the company.

How Office Cleaning Provides Bottom Line Results!

According to information from the Cleaning Services Group, a clean workplace can encourage:

  • Increased focus
  • Less wasted time
  • Less stress
  • Greater profitability
  • Less absenteeism
  • Improved morale

If you want to keep your company at maximum productivity to stay ahead of your competition, having a high standard for office cleaning should definitely be a priority.

What Are The Top Germ Hot Spots In Office Settings?

Coffee pots

Yes, believe it or not, that morning cup of coffee so many of us depend on is one of the dirtiest things in the office.

A recent article on Hloom.com gathered bacteria samples from common surfaces within different offices – from small workplaces to large corporate headquarters and had them tested.

The coffee pot handles came back with 34 times more germs on it than on a school toilet seat.

An article in Womens Health magazine said “we put viruses on doorknobs to see how they travel — and the first place you find them is on coffeepot handles.”

Telephones

Our phones contain a plethora of germs and bacteria.  It makes since, as we talk, spit from our mouths is being transferred onto the mouthpiece. Not only that, but our hands may not be that clean either. And who cleans a phone?

Bathrooms

Flushing a toilet with the lid up can spray water a metre in the air. That means that everything you touch in the stall has likely been sprayed.

The other thing is, you may wash your hands thoroughly but does everyone? What happens when the people with unwashed hands turn the door handle to get out of the bathroom?  Yuk.

Keyboard And Computer Mouse

One study found more than 3,000 micro-organisms per square inch on keyboards and over 1,600 bacteria per square inch on a computer mouse.

Too afraid to go to work?

Don’t worry – if you hire the right office cleaning company, they will use the latest “green cleaning” products and technology to keep germs and bacteria to a minimum.  You can safely work and enjoy your time at work.

Call Evergreen Building Maintenance for a free quote for daily or weekly office cleaning services: 1-888-559-6870 or 250-999-2796

Choosing The Best - Commercial Cleaning Services In BC

10 Questions To Ask Before Hiring Commercial Cleaning Services In BC

/in , , , , , ,

It can be quite a challenge finding the right commercial cleaning services in BC, for your needs.

There are so many small, less than credible cleaning companies that are here one day and gone the next.  Unless you ask the right questions you never know if you made a mistake until it’s too late.

You want a commercial cleaning service that will perform to a standard that you will be happy with…consistently.  You don’t want to worry about security and problems from employees that were injured on the job.  That shouldn’t be your problem, but it can be if the commercial janitorial service you hire isn’t set up professionally.

Most importantly, you want the commercial cleaning company in BC that is properly set up to be proactive in handling cleaning problems rather than reacting to problems that have grown because they weren’t handled in time.  The last thing you need is to get complaints from customers or unhappy staff members.

Of course, you want the commercial cleaning cost to be within your budget.

If you ask the right questions you are more likely to have a satisfactory experience with your commercial cleaning services company.

Top 10 Questions To Ask Your Commercial Cleaning Services In BC Before You Hire Them

  1. Do they offer all the services you need, or will they subcontract out some of their duties?

An underlying question here is:  Does the commercial cleaning company have their own employees? Or, do they hire day-workers that can be hired cheaply, but they will probably not be hired again.

This is important because with day workers you never know who will be working in your building.  Is that secure?  Will these temporary workers be able to provide the quality you want?… There could be lots of potential issues.

  1. Does the cleaning company provide a detailed list of what work they will actually do? Is that list in the cleaning service agreement?  If it’s not, make sure it is.
  2. Can they clean in the nights and weekends? Maybe it’s not convenient to have cleaning staff on the premises during work hours where they may get in the way of your staff or customers.
  3. Related to that, is: What is their security clearance procedure?  Will your building and your staff be safe when the cleaning company employees are around?  You want to work with a company that does thorough criminal checks, regular drug testing and gets several references before they hire.
  4. Is the commercial cleaning company in BC insured and bonded? If they are not insured and bonded, potentially, if one of their employees gets hurt on the job your company could be held responsible for compensation.

Professional commercial cleaning services in BC are always well insured to cover any liabilities.

  1. How long has the commercial janitorial services company been in the business?

Experience counts.  Experienced employees will do a better job, with less wastage and fewer accidents than inexperienced ones.

Experienced cleaning staff can be trusted to identify potential problems before they become an issue with staff or customers.

With the right training and experience, cleaning staff will take care of problems automatically without having to be told to do things.

There will be fewer accidents and experienced cleaning personnel will be great to be around because they are relaxed and happy in their job.

  1. Can the company provide references? Can they provide references in your industry?

A commercial cleaning company with a good reputation will be able to provide several references.  They will inevitably have clients that will be happy to talk to potential new clients for the cleaning company.

Make sure you get several references and you phone them or visit them to get a first-hand review of what their experience has been.

  1. Will you have one particular person to contact if there are any issues or special cleaning requests?

Find out what their management structure is like.  If the company is so big that you are going to become “just a number” after you sign the contract, you may not be very happy in the long run.  Things come up.  Issues are identified from time to time.  If it’s going to be a hassle to get the service you want you will end up being frustrated.  Not worth it.

If you know you will have one particular person to contact it will make your life much easier.  Ideally, your contact person would be the cleaning team’s supervisor who has first-hand knowledge of your office or building.  He or she would know the cleaning staff and be able to address any issues quickly and thoroughly.

Over time, you will get to know the person in charge of cleaning your office or building so you can get a high level of cleaning seamlessly.

  1. Is the potential commercial cleaning company willing to show you how they came up with their price?

You’ll find, in many cases, especially if it is a competitive situation, the quote you get may not include all the costs you will end up paying.

It’s important to understand what exactly is included in the cleaning company quotation.  Be sure to ask:  what’s included?  What’s not included?  What is optional?  Do they have packages where you can save money?

Make sure you get all the details in the form of lists from each company that provides a quotation so you are comparing apples to apples.

  1. Does the janitorial company use commercial grade “green cleaning” practices and supplies?

Green cleaning is certainly better for the environment, but it is also very good for your staff and customers.  Many people are sensitive to cleaning agents and chemicals and could have allergic reactions.  In some cases the reaction could be so strong it could have legal implications.

It’s better to be safe and provide a higher standard of cleaning and safety for your customers and staff by using “green cleaning” practices.

In addition to cleaning chemicals, several technologies are now available to provide cleaning and disposal so everyone is safe.

Ask the question and have them specify what exactly they do to provide “green cleaning”.

All of these questions are designed to help you as a facilities manager to distinguish fact from fiction as you search for the best commercial cleaning services company.  You want to keep your facilities shining and smelling fresh. Don’t be afraid to dig deep and ask for details.

Professional, reputable cleaning services companies are proud of the things that set them apart from slipshod operations.

Call now for a free quote for daily or weekly commercial cleaning services in BC:  1-855-824-8450 or 250-869-5165.

We’ve been around for over 30 years as a top commercial cleaning company in BC with a reputation for consistent performance over the long term.  We are passionate about keeping our clients happy over many years.

Evergreen Building Maintenance satisfies all 10 questions for hiring a commercial cleaning company in Kelowna!

Kelowna Janitorial Services – Get Better Results With The Same Budget!

Commercial Janitorial Companies - Evergreen Building Maintenance

What Makes Evergreen Different From Other Commercial Cleaning And Janitorial Companies

/in , , , , , ,

Clients are looking for commercial janitorial companies that can deliver consistently reliable cleaning.  But they also want to keep their costs down.

Commercial janitorial companies also have to manage their expenses.  If you want top-of-the-line services but pay bottom-of-the-barrel pricing, something is likely to go wrong.

How Much Do You Need To Compromise?

Having a clean facility does not seem to be directly related to a company’s profitability.  Indirectly, however, the cleanliness of your office or building determines how comfortable your staff is working there. It also determines how willing your clients are to do business with you.  Both of these factors are directly related to profitability.

Even though you may not want to spend money on commercial office cleaning, you know you have to do it.  You have to bite the bullet and hire the best company you can find for as little cost as possible…but not so low that you end up getting a low-quality cleaning company.

Low-Ball Pricing

Unfortunately, there are commercial janitorial companies that are more than happy to give you low-ball pricing.  You get excited when they promise to deliver almost everything you want, but when you try them out, quite often you realize that maybe you cut corners in the wrong place.

How Evergreen Building Maintenance Does Things Differently

Some Things To Look Out For When Hiring A Commercial Janitorial Service:

  1. When you were getting quotes, you may have indicated that you want to see the lowest price possible. Based on this, the janitorial services company may decide to cut their costs by not using the best cleaning materials or they may use low-quality equipment.

You won’t realize this until you see that your facility is just not as nice looking or smelling as you would like it to be.  The cleaning staff may be doing all the right things but the results are not there.

Evergreen Building Maintenance has been in the business for over 30 years.  They know short-term thinking is not good for business.  We will never compromise the cleaning quality in order to provide bottom-of-the-barrel pricing…but you’ll find our pricing to be very attractive!

We know that regardless of what you “appear” to be saying if the janitorial services company is not able to clean your office satisfactorily, you are not going to keep them around.  From experience, we know that, so we are not even going to try to give you unrealistic expectations.

Evergreen Building Maintenance spends a lot of time training cleaning staff so we can get your building cleaner at a lower cost.

We will never use inferior products or low-quality cleaning equipment. 

  1. Another way to cut costs is to skip on using “green”, “eco-friendly” cleaning practices. “Green” or “eco-friendly” cleaning practices will prevent your staff and clients from having allergic reactions or getting sick from cleaning chemicals.  They will often also do a better job of eliminating viruses and bacteria from spreading.

However, for some commercial cleaning and janitorial companies, this is an “optional” service.   Eco-friendly “chemicals” and equipment can be more expensive.  If they know your main criteria for hiring a commercial janitorial company is to keep costs down, they just won’t offer you the “option”.

Evergreen Building Maintenance includes “green cleaning” as a standard part of their service.  We realize it is better for the health of your employees and clients, so unless you specify otherwise, “eco-friendly” cleaning is the service we will provide while still keeping your costs low.

  1. Sometimes a janitorial company can cut costs by hiring low-cost, temporary workers. This is a bad strategy if you want consistently high cleaning standards.

Commercial cleaning is not as easy as it looks.  We have found that properly trained personnel get better and better at cleaning the longer they are with us.

In order to keep employees so they stick around long enough to provide superior results, we provide a respectable wage, benefits, good quality equipment suitable for the job, and opportunities to move up in the company.

When you see the same people coming to clean your building day after day or week after week you get to know them, and they get to know you and the “special” needs of your office.  They learn the “secret” spots where germs hang out and when you need extra cleaning from time to time.

Long-term, consistent employees are a big reason why we are able to provide a high standard of cleaning without fail.

  1. What happens if you get new equipment, new circumstances, or have a big promotion coming up? Will your commercial cleaning company be able to respond to the changed situation?  On-time?  Effectively?

Evergreen Building Maintenance has lots of people with a variety of skills and experience so we can respond quickly to any situation.

  1. Is The Management Of The Company Easily Accessible?

If you have a special situation coming up, just give the cleaning team manager a call or even just call up the president of the company.  The management of the company is always happy to hear from clients.  In fact, we look forward to it.  Our management does an “official” review of the cleaning team’s performance every three months.

While every company wants to keep its costs down, the lowest-priced commercial cleaning and janitorial companies are often not the way to go.

Take time to review the reputation of the company you are going to hire…get several references and call those references to see what their experience has been.

Make sure the cleaning company you hire uses “green”, “eco-friendly” cleaning materials and cleaning equipment.  There is no sense in having your employees or clients getting sick from harsh chemicals.

Evergreen Building Maintenance provides a high standard of cleaning without you having to compromise on price.

Give us a call today!  Call 1-888-559-6870 or 250-999-2796.