Tag Archive for: office cleaning

Three Qualities of Top Commercial Cleaning Professionals

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Being a professional cleaner isn’t always what it seems. When you think of their work, especially when it comes to how the movies depict them, the job can come off as a lonely, boring or even repetitive. The truth is, the cleaning industry is a viable sector of the labour force in Canada and the Janitorial Services industry is expected to grow continually and widen potential customer bases.

The Worldwide Cleaning Industry association states that green cleaning is a current marketplace phenomenon and this need is being driven by customer demands for environmentally friendly products and services. Companies involved in this trend along with their workers are offered an abundance of work!

So sure, the job can have its challenges ups and downs, but doesn’t every job? Here are some of the top three qualities of cleaning professionals that you probably don’t associate with the janitorial industry.

Humility

Janitors and cleaning professionals are well-versed in what many people consider unskilled labour. But the truth is, highly trained professionals that follow specific cleaning protocols are some of the most humble people out there. Humility is a virtue — it’s being honest with oneself about ability, talents, gifts, struggles and weaknesses. It’s the ability to set one’s pride aside to work together as a cohesive team. It’s not basing your self-worth on others but a true connection with one’s self first and foremost.

Strong work ethic

The truth is, whether you’re running the company or the one scrubbing toilets, if you’re working in the cleaning industry you likely have a strong work ethic. It takes time to complete a series of tasks quickly and efficiently in order to move on to the next job that could be one of five contracts within a day. A strong work ethic is not only important in the short term day-to-day aspect of the work, but it leads to future recommendations, relationships, recognition and reputation within your team and within the company.

They are team players

Working as a cleaning professional isn’t about being the centre of attention but it doesn’t make their work isolating. In fact, many cleaning professionals operate in tightknit teams.

Showing that you can work well with all kinds of people is a highly important characteristic when it comes to being a cleaning professional. Plus, if you let your guard down a little, you might even make some lifetime friendships out of your colleagues! Friends can also help you avoid sweating the small stuff when you have to deal with the challenges of the job.

So there you have it — the world of janitorial work is much more than what one would think. It involves well trained, humble and highly professional teams of people to get the job done. Are you in need of professional cleaning services for your commercial or industrial property? Get in touch with us today to get the process started.

Happy holidays from Evergreen Building Maintenance!

 

Healthcare, flu, people, rhinitis and medicine concept - ill man blowing his nose with paper napkin and drinking tea at home

Conquering Flu Season With The Right Janitorial Services

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Flu season in Canada is typically in late fall into early winter. Unlike the common cold, the flu is far worse because it can lead to other illnesses like pneumonia and an onset of other worsened symptoms. The best way to avoid the flu altogether is to have strong preventative measures put into place, especially if you run a business. This not only benefits the health of your workers but it also benefits you as a business owner. Hiring a professional cleaning service is a cost-effective measure that ensures that you, the business owner, can minimize sick days due to the flu. It’s a strong tactic to keep your business running smoothly and to minimize illness. Here is a comprehensive review on how to minimize the flu in your office.

Secure areas with sanitization

The truth is, most people get sick from touching an infected surface. While illnesses like the flu can be caught from transmission in the air, repeated exposure to the virus in shared areas like break rooms, kitchens and conference rooms are often the main culprit.

Increase cleaning frequency

Hiring a professional cleaning service to routinely sanitize these areas and items within the areas on a frequent basis will reduce the spread of the flu virus. If you normally have a bi-weekly cleaning, consider having one once a week and set the priorities to be focused toward flu management.

General tips

Your professional cleaning service can work with you to determine the best ways to do this by cleaning door handles, hard surfaces and computer keyboards.

  • Tell your sick workers to stay home –if someone falls ill at your workplace, encourage them to work-from-home or to rest up and get better. This will minimize the spread of the virus in your office.
  • Encourage workers to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer during the flu season and to avoid touching their face
  • Encourage people who are pregnant or who have underlying health conditions to take precautions during flu season to avoid hospitalizations

The truth is, the flu can affect each person differently. You do not want to run the risk of having your workers get ill – as some people may be ill a longer than the average and could suffer worse repercussions. Take precautions by hiring a professional cleaning service that will work to reduce the spread of viruses.

Are you ready to conquer the flu? Get in touch with us today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Janitorial Cleaning Services At The Okanagan Correctional Centre

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Evergreen Building Maintenance was recently awarded the honour of working with the Okanagan Correctional Centre (OCC), the largest correctional facility in British Columbia, located north of Oliver on the Osoyoos Indian Band Reserve. This is an expansive contract, as the facility spans 300,000 square feet across 14.5 hectares (36 acres).

The 378-cell facility is a $200 million project that is part of BC Corrections’ second-phase of their capital expansion plan. When it’s completed, it will hold double its original capacity in B.C.’s interior. It also requires a deep trust of Evergreen’s trained and educated employees, as it’s a high-risk, high-security area that requires enhanced security clearance for all staff on the grounds.

Project Goals

The goal of the project is to enhance public safety for communities, correctional staff and inmates within the province and to stimulate the economy in the area. It will create up to 1000 new permanent and contractual construction jobs along with 240 full-time correctional job positions for both experienced workers and new recruits. Other contracted staff will include on-site nurses, doctors, dentists, counsellors, food service workers and trades personnel.

Environmental accreditation

The OCC developmental project has been applauded for its environmental efforts and has obtained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold certification. The project is also using wood in accordance with the B.C. Building Code, to adhere to the First Wood Act set out by the Government and to maximize energy efficiency.

Evergreen’s Milestone

As a company, we feel we’ve hit a milestone since we’re working on not only a large project, but also one that directly reflects our environmental values. At Evergreen, we continually strive to use eco-friendly measures in our cleaning from using fragrance and scent-free products that are free of toxic chemicals like VOCs, to implementing products that are GREEN SEAL or ECOLOGO certified.

Other green practices we use include:

  • Zinc-free floor finishing procedures
  • Conducting interior building air quality reports
  • Using paperless billing systems
  • Using non-fuel powered equipment
  • Creating customized disposal and recycling programs
  • Hiring employees trained in green cleaning practices
  • Low impact solutions to remove graffiti
  • Lotus Pro High Capacity Wall Units

Evergreen began in the Okanagan Area over 30 years ago and has expanded to several regions across Canada. Interested in learning more about our work? Get in touch with us if you company or facility is in need of quality commercial cleaning services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Fall Janitorial Cleaning Is As Important As Spring Cleaning

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Spring cleaning is the best way to prepare your business for the summer season and get rid of all the dirt and environmental debris that can build up during the winter. However, the cleanup that is required at the end of the summer season is as crucial as spring cleaning but often neglected. Here are just a few of the reasons why fall cleaning is as important as spring cleaning.

Get Rid of Summertime Dirt and Pollutants

Many commercial spaces such as recreation centres, restaurants, bars and shopping centres have outdoor facilities that are only open during the summer. Dirt, dust, pollen and other environmental debris can be tracked indoors from these outdoor spaces. If left uncleaned, this summertime debris can collect and accumulate inside your business during the colder months. Once you’ve closed down any patios, outdoor vendors or sports facilities for the season, it’s important to give your indoor spaces a thorough cleaning for the winter. This includes washing all windows, walls, carpeting and furniture.

Prepare Your Business for Winter

It’s important to make your indoor space as clean and comfortable as possible before winter begins, since you’ll be spending more time inside once the snow start to fall. Not only will a fall cleaning make your business a more pleasant space to work, it will also help to attract more customers. If your business uses summer accessories such as patio furniture or sports equipment, you’ll need to find practical storage solutions to house those items during winter. A fall cleanup can help prepare your business for a productive and successful winter.

Fall cleaning is important for any commercial space but it can often be difficult to find the time for such a detailed project. That’s why Evergreen Building Maintenance offers the most comprehensive commercial cleaning services in Western Canada. Our friendly and professional staff has the experience and tools necessary to give your business the kind of deep clean that it needs before winter. Contact us at Evergreen Building Maintenance for more information about our commercial cleaning services and green clean initiatives.

The Importance of Upholstery Cleaning in the Modern Office

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Many modern offices have put away traditional ideas of desks and work stations as a creative solution to foster collaborative work between colleagues within a workplace community. Since many people now work off their mobile devices and laptops, modern companies want to create a more comfortable environment for their workers as an alternative to working-from-home or free-lance.

Because of this trend, modern offices can now include more couches, banquettes, chairs, rugs, window covers and lounge areas and sometimes even decorations that really need to be cleaned and sanitized regularly. That’s where we come in!

Upholstery cleaning is absolutely essential to remove dust, debris and keep allergens in check. With the modern office being such a dynamic environment with people visiting frequently, in order to keep the office clean and sanitized, it’s best to hire a professional cleaning service that can focus on delivering reliable upholstery cleaning services.

Here are some additional reasons for upholstery cleaning:

  • Dust particles can slowly break down upholstery fibers over time that can wear at your furniture. In some cases, food and debris can be harder to see on furniture like couches (think of someone eating food while lounging on the couch!) With a regular cleaning, it’s possible to extend the life of the fabric of your couch by reducing the build-up of dust and debris in advance.
  • Revitalize the look of your furniture – is your furniture getting a little old, or are you saving money by using pre-owned office furniture? Save on the cost of a new couch and hire a professional cleaning service to give your furniture the boost it needs.
  • Make a good impression to your clients and employees – make a good impression by keeping your office clean so your clients can focus on your good work.
  • Fabric is a breeding ground for allergens. Hiring a professional cleaning service will ensure that allergens do not make a home in your office furniture!

For more information on our services, check out testimonials given by some Canadian businesses that have used Evergreen Building Maintenance’s dedicated commercial cleaning services and fill out the form to request our services today!

 

 

Minimizing Allergens in the Workplace

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At Evergreen Building and Maintenance is concerned with the health of our clients and customers. The Spring and Summer season is the time for allergies that can be triggered by pollen and ragweed outdoors. Allergic rhinitis, the condition describing a variety of uncomfortable symptoms affecting the nose, is common among allergy sufferers, but allergens can also affect the lungs, throat, sinuses, ears and eyes.

A survey commissioned by Johnson & Johnson also suggested that as many as 10 million Canadians suffer from allergy symptoms and that 55 percent of Canadians claim that their allergies cut into their work productivity.

The immune system identifies and reacts to different allergens. When an allergen enters the body of someone who is predisposed to allergies, it triggers an immune reaction which results in the familiar symptoms allergy sufferers know all too well. Improving the upkeep of your office is crucial in reducing and maintaining indoor allergens and ensuring the wellbeing of everyone in the workplace environment.

The Evergreen Building Maintenance team can help you with…

  • Eliminating dust mites and other indoor allergens
  • Cleaning mold or mildew on concrete flooring or walls
  • Cleaning carpeting to prevent moisture seepage
  • Improving the air quality by assessing ventilation (we conduct air quality reports)
  • Window cleaning –to remove dust and debris build up

While a deep clean is integral to reducing allergens in the workplace, certain cleaning products actually emit chemicals such as VOCs that contain allergens that many people react to severely. With this in mind, we do not use VOCs to ensure that we’re doing our best to meet your health and safety needs.

According to The Lung Association, a study found that 72 percent of people in Canada with asthma had adverse reactions to chemicals found in fragrances (Canada Safety Council). Our products are specifically fragrance and scent free to avoid any kind of contact allergy situation.

At Evergreen, we make every effort to reduce airborne concentrations of allergens. With proper training in healthy and safety, we implement strong training programs to keep our employees up-to-date with the latest protocol.

Fill out our service request form today!

The Importance of Tile and Grout Cleaning

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Grout is the cement that fills the gaps between your ceramic tiles. It is quite often found in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways of commercial properties. Grout is an important part of flooring as not only does it keep tiles in place, it also seals the flooring to avoid leakage. It is also notoriously difficulty to clean, yet having clean grout and tiles is crucial in maintaining a welcoming and healthy environment in all commercial spaces.

With that being said, here are some reasons why it is important to hire a professional commercial cleaning service to take care of your grout and tiles.

Grout is Porous and Very Difficult to Clean

Grout readily accumulates dirt, is easily stained, and can hold moisture. This means when grout gets dirty, it stays dirty no matter how many times you mop and clean your tiles. In fact, often enough, if the grout is not cleaned specifically, the residue that builds up will just redistribute itself all over your flooring.

Professional cleaning tools and solutions are used to break through these sticky and stubborn residues. If you use regular cleaning products on grout, you’ll just be adding to the cycle of residue build up and attract even more grime.

It Takes Time

Remember, grout fills all the individual cracks between each tile. Manually cleaning them would be a tedious and time consuming endeavor that could also be pretty hard on your back.

It is definitely worth investing into a service that uses industrial grade steamers and cleaners. For many businesses that take the cleanliness of their facilities seriously, that is the only way to go when it comes to professionally clean tiles and grout.

You’ll Pick Up Tips

When it comes to your grout and tile, aftercare is just as important as having a professional service come in to take care of cleaning in the first place. The commercial cleaning experts at Evergreen Building Maintenance can give you advice and let you in on the best measures to keep your floors looking pristine for your clientele between cleanings.

Professional tile and grout cleaning on a regular basis not only makes your business look great, it could save the need to retile the premises in the future. In the long run, it can prove to be a cost-effective measure that will keep your property looking its best at all times.

Have any questions? Visit our website to learn more about our services.

 

 

 

How to Keep Your Facility Germ and Bacteria Free During Flu Season

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Clean and hygienic workplaces are healthy workplaces. Thorough, regular cleaning is vital to ensuring this, because even when an office or building that looks clean, bacteria can still be lying in wait, ready to infect the next person who wanders through. Healthcare facilities, including hospitals and retirement residences, require particular cleaning methods and treatment to avoid the spread of germs that cause infection or illness. The same thing goes for schools and universities, as these are the places where germs spread fastest. Regular cleaning, especially the continuous sterilization of germ ‘hot spots’, is essential to maintaining productive study environments. Follow these important suggestions to keep your building healthy and safe during flu season:

GERM HOT SPOTS

Cleaning isn’t just for some people or some places; it’s for everyone and every workplace. Reducing the incidence and spread of workplace illness has a real bottom line impact on productivity, and limits the number of sick days employees need to take. Regular cleaning is important, especially for contact surfaces, which are areas in your building most often touched or handled by people passing through. Examples include: stair railings, door handles, light switches, elevator buttons, phones, and virtually any item or surface in the bathroom. These hot spots are prime mingling locations for bacteria and germs, and it is essential that they are cleaned thoroughly and regularly to stop the spread of infection and illness, especially during the fall and winter months when cold and flu infections are more prevalent and most likely to affect workplace productivity. As of 2015, Evergreen Building Maintenance maintains six municipal halls, three libraries, a 347 student educational facility, and fifty-eight public restrooms. This kind of experience has taught us how to handle high traffic areas while upholding immaculate levels of cleanliness.

HYGIENIC HABITS

Good hygienic habits contribute to cleanliness, and hand washing is perhaps the most essential habit to stop the spread of germs. In schools, teachers and parents teach children proper hygienic habits to keep them from getting sick at school. Regular hand washing – especially after a cough or sneeze, can significantly cut back on the spread of germs. It’s a simple but essential practice to stay healthy and productive. Employers and facility managers may also consider installing hands-free appliances that make it easier to keep hands clean, such as automatic toilet flushers and sensor-activated hand dryers and soap dispensers. By eliminating these high traffic touch points, you immediately reduce the chances of cross-contamination. Another good idea is to provide regulated hand sanitizer dispensers for when employees, patients or students are unable to get to a sink to wash up with soap and water. Making sure the restrooms in your building are maintained and stocked with the necessary sanitary products (such as soap, hand sanitizer, hand towels, etc.) enables people to maintain proper hygienic habits.

BREATHING IN THE CLEAN AIR

As we spend the vast majority of our day inside, it is essential that any building or office maintains good air quality. Air pollutants that linger indoors include bacteria, dust, and even mold. Clean air is essential in the maintenance of good health, and this goes even further for indoor air where it is usually warmer and where there is less ventilation. Therefore, keep all of your vents clear of any blockages, encourage a more scent-free environment, vacuum regularly with approved HEPA filters and maintain your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

HIRE THE PROFESSIONALS

When something is worth doing, it’s worth doing right, so hire a professional and reputable cleaning company that is specially trained to understand and follow all procedures and requirements for the work that you assign them. Ensure that all cleaning techniques, equipment and products used by the company serve to provide the cleanest environment possible. Look for detailed safety standards and the continuous training of employees in best practices.

A healthy workplace will help your staff be at their best all year round by reducing the spread of infection and decreasing the impact of flu season on their health and productivity. Evergreen Building Maintenance is qualified to undertake any type of cleaning contract, regardless of the size or unique requirements. Our goal is to create a janitorial program that is seamless for our clients. Contact us today to learn more.

Top 3 Reasons to Choose Evergreen’s Commercial Cleaning Services

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Everyone prefers to live in a well kept city and there is a reason that Evergreen Building Maintenance Inc. has been one of British Columbia’s most trusted janitorial service providers for over 27 years. Thanks to our commitment to excellence, we’ve grown to become a recognized industry leader that provides dynamic and high standard services to more than 120 commercial facilities. We are proud of the fact that we have a first-class team of cleaners, including outstanding supervisors who help us transform new employees and into leaders. Above all that, we present three important reasons that set us apart from the competition:

1) OUR GREEN CLEANING POLICY

It is no surprise that most organizations are jumping on board the eco-friendly bandwagon, however, Evergreen took the initiative to start using green products years ago. Putting your personal health and the sustainability of our environment first, we choose cleaning methods that will reduce harmful effects on the environment. Only products that are GREEN SEAL or ECOLOGO certified are utilized by our company. Evergreen Building Maintenance guarantees that any chemicals used in your building will be volatile organic compound (VOC) free. We also make sure that our staff has substantial training and a wealthy knowledge of the latest green cleaning practices.

2) OUR CREDENTIALS

Wouldn’t you feel more confident hiring a company that has WHMIS certified employees and meets WorkSafeBC’s requirements over one that does not? Evergreen has developed and implemented a comprehensive training program that all of our staff and supervisors go through in order to obtain employment with our company. We are proud to say that our staff members are instructed well enough so that you won’t have to worry about micromanaging them on the job. Together, we will make sure your building stays presentable at all times.

3) OUR TEAM & SERVICE AREA

It only makes sense that if we claim to have an exemplary team, we provide you with the evidence to back it up. Being that our managers have over 50 years of combined experience in the janitorial industry, we have ensured that those years of professionalism have been passed down to all of our other employees. Our staff is provided with company identification such as uniforms and photo identification, rigorous safety training and a PROactive mindset (because avoiding workplace problems before they occur is key). You will find our service members are providing quality results that span throughout cities, districts and towns in and around the Okanagan Valley. As you can see, we like to cover our bases.

Whether you represent a retail spot, health care establishment, educational institute or more – at the end of the day, Evergreen Building Maintenance is here to meet and exceed your expectations. If you’re interested in hearing more about our services and would like a free quote, you can contact us on our website.

Remember, we are committed to getting the job done right – the first time.