It is a question every company must ask themselves before hiring a Kalamazoo janitorial company or any other contractor for that matter. While every company is different in terms of budget, we can all agree no one wants to sacrifice the level of cleaning or service they receive.

Which begs the question…
​
Are you getting what you paid for?
If you are constantly having cleaning issues, high employee turnover, poor communication, no follow-up and you are scratching tooth and nail with them to get things done, there is an imbalance in the relationship and you more than likely (not always) hired based on price.

Let me explain…

With the excepted proposal, the cleaning company has budgeted for a certain amount of time that it will take to clean your building. After a month or so, they realize they aren’t profiting, so they may tell their employees to cut corners, and as a result the cleanliness of your building will suffer. Sad, but unfortunately true and all too common.

Why waste your energy?...
You only have so much time in your day, it becomes old real quick having to pick up the phone yet again to call your cleaning company.

Not all janitorial companies are created equally…
Some will appeal to you based on price and some will appeal to you based on value. Those that give you a low price are either new to the business or they don’t know how to bring you any value. The important thing is to not to commoditize the cleaning industry and cross it off your calendar for the day, but really take the time to look at each company separately for what they really are.

How can you identify a value-driven cleaning company?
Outside of carrying oneself professionally, ask the right questions…and call, call, and call their references.

What are the right questions to ask to ask before hiring a cleaning company?..

The “right questions” to ask <---- Click here

Some traits of a value-driven organization...

• Always professional.
• Pay their employees well and treat them well.
• They are detailed and organized in everything they do.
• Communication is flawless.
• They have systems in place.
• They listen and uncover what you want and show you they heard you.
• They can anticipate your needs, so you don’t have to call them.
• They make your life easier and less stressful.
• They go the extra mile.
• They follow up.

No system is full-proof, including this one. However, at the very least it will give you a guide to help you make a wiser decision, saving time, labor, and even out your stress-level. At the end of the day, it’s all about relationships and people doing business with people. It’s like a marriage—choose wisely!

We all can agree that stainless steel is common in most facilities and therefore it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. In fact, at one point or another we've likely all had our fair share of “run-ins” with cleaning and more importantly “keeping” stainless steel clean. It can appear to be a stubborn and elusive surface, when in fact, it really isn't with proper maintenance. It simply needs a combination of the right cleaning products, techniques, a little patience, and it will begin to shine again and stay that way with a minimal amount of touch-ups (depending on your building’s foot-traffic).

Let's get started!...

Step 1 - Get Supplies Together:

• 1 Bucket 
• Dawn Soap
• Noxon 7 Metal Finish
• White Mineral Oil 
• Terry Cloth Towels (Cotton)
• Microfiber Towels

 
Step 2 – Soapy Water:

• Fill the bucket with hot water and add a couple drops of Dawn soap.
  

Step 3 – Application:

• Using a Terry Cloth, dip it into the soapy water, completely wring it out, and apply to the surface you are cleaning, always with the grain of the metal.
• Immediately follow it up with a dry Terry Cloth or two until it is completely dried (with the grain). At this point you should have quite a bit of residue accumulating on your towel(s). The finger prints should be gone, but if streaks or a film remain, then you may need to repeat the process until they are gone.

Step 4- Apply Noxon 7 Metal Finish:

• With the Noxon 7 Metal Finish (has a thick consistency and will dry fast) dab a little bit at a time to Terry Cloth and apply with the grain (careful not to spill on the floor/carpeting or on other nearby surfaces).

Step 5 - Remove Metal Finish Residue:

• By the time you have finished applying the Noxon 7, the point where you started will most likely be semi-dry. This is okay. Follow it up with a dry Terry Cloth, removing all the leftover chalky white residue (with the grain)--it may take a couple of passes.

Step 6 – Apply White Mineral Oil:

• With the White Mineral Oil dab/spray to a clean dry Terry Cloth and apply to the stainless steel surface (careful not to spill on the floor/carpeting or on other nearby surfaces). Be sure to coat the entire surface, overlapping each stroke with the grain to make sure nothing is missed.

Step 7 – Polish:

• Follow up with a dry Microfiber Towel or two (with the grain), until the stainless steel is shining. Again, use overlapping strokes to cover the entire surface. As you begin to soak up the mineral oil the glow of the surface 
  

Step 8 – Post Care Stainless Steel Maintenance:

• For periodic touch-ups, use a dry Microfiber Towel with the grain to remove light finger and hand prints. If the surface becomes dull overtime, you may have to repeat Step 4.
  

Other Considerations:

• Do not use any kind of acid based products to clean stainless steel, including window/glass cleaner, as overtime it will breakdown the invisible layer of chromium-oxide that gives its unique quality to repel rust.
  
• All the steps are important, however, Step 3 is the most important as it gets rid of the previous chemical damage, not cleaning with the grain, etc. and preps the surface to allow the polish to set in the metal grooves and the shine come forward.
• Any deep scratches where grooves can be felt to the touch, most likely will need to be repaired by a professional fabrication/repair shop.
• Be sure whom you hire to clean your tile and grout surfaces doesn't use any form of acid, specifically muratic acid. The fumes alone have the potential to cause discoloration to the best grades of stainless steel.

This should remedy your stainless steel issues once and for all...good luck!

With summer clearly behind us, and inclement weather on its way, if you haven’t already, it is time to start putting in place proper floor safety precautions for your building and reminding your employees so they are aware of any changes.

According to OSHA (U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration) slips, trips and falls account for 15% of all accidental deaths, and are second only to motor vehicles as a cause of fatalities.

Many of these accidents are avoidable if the following safety procedures are in place:

• Using/increasing the number/length of entrance mats at all entrances or other high traffic areas that are vulnerable to slip and fall accidents. 

• Any mat that curls up or under in the corners should be immediately replaced, as it is a matter of time before you, your employees, or your customers trip on it.

• Using a professional mat cleaning service even just for the winter months (worth the low weekly cost and peace of mind) is heavily recommended as mats that are soaking wet and soiled are completely useless. Over time, they could even become partially frozen causing an unforeseen and unnecessary accident.

• Ensure your janitorial company is mopping lower traffic areas first and then working their way back to the high traffic areas towards the end of their shift to reduce the possibility of accidents

• If your staff often works late and this is unavoidable, then make sure your janitorial company is taking the proper safety precautions, such as setting up “WET FLOOR” signs, and not leaving behind garbage, vacuum cords, or any other potential hazards in the main hall/walkway entrances. 
  

 
Since it’s getting dark earlier and remaining dark later, here are some additional precautionary reminders to think about:

• The lighting in your parking lot. Are all the lights working properly? Do you have ample lighting and safety lights for you, your staff, customers, and vendors?

• Don’t leave in a rush; take your time leaving the building, looking for black ice or unsalted areas.

• Consider the shoes you are wearing in and out of work. They should be non-skid soles. You can change into your other shoes when you get into the office.

• Be aware of your surroundings: If you leave late or lock up, be sure to scan the parking lot looking for any suspicious activity before setting the alarm and leaving. Do not leave talking on the phone or listening to music on your headphones, as this will make you an easy target and distract your judgment; especially when you’re dusting, scraping, and warming your car up.

• Since parking lots (even though plowed/salted) will be slick, your balance will be compromised, so be sure to be careful when carrying heavy loads, or break up the amount of trips to prevent injury.
  

Simply following the guidelines above and reminding your employees and vendors (starting with hiring a competent janitorial company in Kalamazoo) of your safety precautions, policies, and making them aware of any changes at your facility will help minimize any unnecessary slip and fall accidents this winter.

Our chain of command is simple: my employees to me, me to my clients, me to my employees, and me back to my clients for follow up. 

Do you see the pattern?...

That’s right…I am and will always be your single point-of-contact!

We operate our business without middle management. Our company not only runs leaner that way, it also runs more effectively, giving us greater flexibility without any red tape. If my employees have a question, they call me. If my clients have a question, they can always call or email me directly.

So, how does a single-point-of-contact this benefit you?...

• There will be no interruption of service. You will never get a new “rep” or have to wonder who will be “assigned” to you this time.
  

• Flexibility. If something comes up and you need us to make a change, we can accommodate your need and implement it immediately.

• Minimized Miscommunication. There’s no frustrating layers of communication to reach us to get an answer in a timely fashion. You tell me, I tell my employees, and we follow up. That’s it!
  

• Strong Employee/Owner relationship. With the absence of middle management, I really get to know my employees from day one, beginning with personal one-on-one training. This allows us the opportunity to immediately develop a strong rapport with each other, and over time establish a great working relationship to ultimately give you a consistent clean.
  

• Strong Client/Owner relationship. If you decide to select us for your commercial cleaning needs in Kalamazoo, know that you will be working with the same person that originally walked through your facility with you, me! Our goal is for you not to have to call us, but if you do, it is comforting knowing that you will get a quick response from the owner and everything will be resolved going forward. Our clients love this! 
  

We believe operating this way is in the best interest of our clients, employees, and the future growth of our company.

As any HR department or business owner knows, hiring the right candidate for the available position(s) has many variables and as such, it is important to develop a hiring criteria to help make the right hiring decision(s).

The following characteristics are what we look for in our candidates:

Communication. Receiving a resume from a potential candidate in our inbox is most often the first communication with us. Did they follow directions? Did they customize their “objective”? Did they bring what was requested to the interview? Were they on time? Did they dress-up? If so, we’ll continue.

Positive attitude. It is everything! This lays the groundwork for the foundation from which our company is built. If the employee is upbeat, awake, and ready for the tasks at hand, through training we can build them up from there and give them the tools they need to be successful.

Likability. It is imperative that the candidate we hire has a likable personality and we believe we can develop a good rapport. This will show through in their cleaning.

Hard Workers. Good candidates may have worked since they legally could and are often self-sacrificing busy- bodies who prefer to work instead of being idol. They like the satisfaction they get at the end of a day’s work transforming a dirty area into a clean one.

“Work With Employees.” This trait is closely related to attitude. Basically, it is an employee who works “with you”, similar to a teammate would to a common goal. If we meet a potential employee who seems to exhibit the following characteristics early on, we almost always move forward with this candidate:

   -  Listens and follows directions well = Willingness and desire to learn.

   -  Asks a lot of questions relevant to the position = Prepared, interested, and is detail oriented.

   -  Is prepared at the interview/research = Takes initiative and self-starter.

   -  Is helpful and caring = Willingness to serve our clients.

   -  Accepts responsibility for their actions = Takes pride and ownership in their work.

Drama-Free. Outside of the “extenuating circumstances” we all experience in our daily lives at one point or another, we believe living “drama-free” is a choice. We look for positive, down-to-earth, and friendly individuals who like-wise believe the same.

Background Check/Reference Check. Both are thoroughly examined prior to hiring.

It shouldn’t surprise you that there are many employees who don’t know the owner of the company that employs them. Or should I say, the owner doesn’t know them. Perhaps you’ve worked for one of those companies or are currently employed by them and may have been there for years.

This is a sad, but very true statement...I should know; I’ve been there, too! (It’s what drives me today!)

Too often in this hierarchy, you aren’t recognized as an individual person who plays an important role in the bigger picture of the company’s vision; instead you are cast away as another “cog-in-the-wheel”…You have no voice and over time, your years of hard work, dedication, and loyalty virtually go unrecognized snowballing into greater frustration, dissatisfaction, indifference, and ultimately poor job performance until you are fired or quit.

Why does this happen?...In two words…Poor leadership!

Lack of leadership or the way employees are treated (by leadership) is a main reason why employees leave a company.

You can try to work backwards exhausting all the possible issues you may be having that are out of your control…such as receiving a bad shipment, a machine in manufacturing constantly breaking down and delaying production, absent employees, etc.,…

However, if you haven’t communicated directly either to your employees or your leadership team how appreciated and valued they are on a somewhat regular basis, then you have treated them as a number.

Numbers don’t produce…happy people do!

Hiring a local commercial janitorial cleaning company that personally hires, trains, regularly communicates with, and appreciates its employees will go a long way in consistently making sure your building is taken care of and looking the best it can.

If you wanted to hire anyone to clean your office off the street, you would; however, you know there are other far better options.

Show You Care
One of those defining differences is selecting a commercial cleaning company that insists on its employees wearing professional company provided uniforms---you know if they take pride in their business, they will take pride in yours!

A company uniform not only communicates a “professional appearance,” it represents everything the company stands for and visually says, “We have our stuff together!”

They care about their image…they care about our image… and about our client’s image.

Meeting Customer Expectations
Obviously, there’s more to it than just having your employees put on a company uniform…

It is where company leadership meets customer expectations…

More specifically: Where leadership gives their staff the tools, training, and support necessary to consistently carry out the company’s mission by successfully aligning themselves with the customer’s expectations.

Then only does a uniformed employee really become “meaningful!”

Company Unification
A company uniform almost automatically makes your employees part of the team and overall bigger picture that is bigger than themselves.

A sense of camaraderie between themselves and each other is formed, as they feel more welcome, important, cared for, respected, and appreciated.

A happy employee is a caring employee…a caring employee does significantly better work.

Security
For the safety of you and your staff, it is very important to know who is in your building at all times. A recognizable uniform worn by the cleaning staff will provide you peace of mind, allowing you to discern between hired staff and possible intruders.

I usually follow my own advice by not posting items that have no relevancy to commercial cleaning, more specifically residential cleaning, and exterior cleaning at that, however, this method that we've been using for years is so effective; I feel compelled to share. (Lucky you!)

So here it goes...

If you have a garden or plants you need to protect (or you have gone completely green), I am yet to find a safe non-toxic household cleaner that removes water stains (even rust) from vinyl siding better than this DIY solution, are you ready?...

Lime juice and baking soda!...What?...That's right!

DIY List Prep (what you'll need):

• 1 - Pale or bucket (wider than taller the better-so you can easily scoop out)
• 1 - Spoon
• 1 - Spackling knife
• 1 - Nylon scrub brush (scouring pads aren't effective)
• 1 - Nylon grout brush
• 1 - Toothbrush (cleans the underside of the siding)
• 1 - Large bag/box of baking powder (depends on the affected area)
• 1 - Large bottle of lime juice (depends on the affected area)
• 1 - Garden hose

Instructions:

1. Bring all the supplies outside.
2. To prep the area you want to clean, turn on the garden hose and wash the vinyl siding area to remove any dirt.
3. In the bucket/pale, add a decent amount of lime juice (you will use less lime juice than baking powder) and then add the baking powder in small batches.
4. Using the spoon mix the lime juice and baking powder until you have a putty-like consistency.
5. Using the speckling knife (be sure the siding hasn't dried) dip into the bucket/pale and apply directly to affected area (if you have a large area, you will want to break-it-down into manageable sections).
6. Using the scrub brush, scrub the vinyl siding vigorously (careful not to damage the siding).
7. Wash the siding you just cleaned to see if you got everything...if not, repeat!

I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the results...good luck!!

Just like Carl the janitor proclaims in “The Breakfast Club”: “I’m the eyes and ears of this institution,” we believe his statement, although intended to be tongue-in-cheek for comic relief, we connect with his passion to be aware of his surroundings.

Beyond consistently carrying out general cleaning tasks, as a professional commercial cleaning company in Kalamazoo, we understand the importance of maintaining the safety and security of your building at all times and we train our staff to do so.

For example, on more than one occasion, our cleaners have discovered furnace leaks with standing water, personal heat lamps left on, running water, and a variety of other potential building safety hazards. These instances are reported immediately to the owner of Atlas Cleaning Systems and if we can remedy the situation, we will, and/or we will contact the facility/office manager for further direction.

The majority of the time, we clean after hours, so if anything suspicious is happening in or around your building(s) we’re most likely going to be the first to know about it and report it to you right away.

And yes, we have cleaned up after many breakfasts!

Carpeting an entire facility, (large or small) is a huge investment for any business. It only makes sense to treat it accordingly with a regular cleaning program. Many facility managers know the importance of this; however, unfortunately with all good intentions, sometimes it is overlooked and falls between the cracks. When this happens, we are more often than not asked to renew carpets that are visibly soiled. We, of course, are more than willing to help; however, by this time, the dirt and grime has had an opportunity to work itself into the carpet of high-traffic areas and cause significant damage. The best time to schedule a cleaning is before it looks like it really needs it.

To protect your carpet and remove both the visible and hidden dirt from rapidly eroding your carpet, it is recommended to establish preventive maintenance practices by having your carpets cleaned at a minimum of every 6 months to extend the life of your carpeting (possibly more frequently depending on your buildings foot traffic patterns and other variables) and maintain a healthy workplace environment for both your staff and clients.

Cleaning carpets every 6 months not only freshens up the appearance of your carpet, but it also protects the fibers from being crushed and matted. This is an unavoidable consequence of foot traffic, but a professional Kalamazoo carpet cleaning service will restore the fibers back to place, and remove all the dirt and grime that’s been matted down with it.  

The other variables that contribute to dulling the appearance of giving it a stale odor, and eroding the fibers of your carpeting are: salt, sand, car exhaust oils, fine dirt and grit from parking lots, and chemicals that are sprayed to treat grass.

In addition, to lengthen the life of your carpeting, be sure to use floor mats/runners near all high-traffic areas, such as, entryways, lobbies, kitchen/break rooms, and bathrooms.

To make sure you are taking the proper precautions, please feel free to reach out to use with any questions you may have, or for a free estimate. We'd be honored to help!