By cleaning, tidying and organising your office space, you can create a comfortable and welcoming environment for the year ahead.

At JMS Cleaning, we are professional commercial cleaners, with over 20 years of experience and renowned for achieving the highest standards of cleaning.

So, to help you make the most out of your spring cleaning sprint, our experts have created a spring cleaning office checklist. Keep reading to find best practices and recommended methods for effective office cleaning.

Office Spring Cleaning Checklist

1. Declutter desks

• Encourage everyone to dispose of any unnecessary papers, stationery and general clutter from the tops of their desks.
• Then, ask everyone to go through their desk drawers, and do the same.
• Offer large recycling / general waste bins, to make sure that everyone can conveniently get rid of their waste.
• Wipe the desk surfaces with disinfectant.
• Clean the computer monitors, keyboards, mice and cables with disinfectant.

2. Clean carpets

• Thoroughly vacuum all carpets, giving particular attention to high-traffic areas (such as hallways and entry points).
• Arrange for a commercial cleaner to conduct a deep carpet wash and clean.
• Take any door mats outside and beat them, to remove dust and debris.

3. Tidy storage areas

• Go through storage areas, and dispose of any unnecessary papers or items.
• Check whether there are any confidential papers or reports that no longer need to be stored (in accordance with legal reporting requirements). If so, ensure they are disposed of in the correct manner.
• Organise and label the remaining items in these areas.
• Dust the shelving units and any larger items.
• Hoover / mop the floors.

4. Clean chairs and soft furnishings

• Vacuum chairs and other large furnishings (such as sofas).
• Clean and disinfect all chairs and soft furniture, using a fabric cleaner. For most cleaners, this can be done by spraying the cleaner on the furniture, gently rubbing it with a cleaning brush, allowing it to sit for around 15 minutes, then blotting the fabric with a clean, dry cloth.
• Pay particular attention to any stains that you spot (and reapply the cleaning solution if needed).

5. Clean the kitchen / break room

• Empty the fridge (discarding any old or expired items). Replenish long-life items (e.g. sauces).
• Disinfect appliances (including any fridges, microwaves, kettles, toasters and coffee machines).
• Depending on whether you live in a hard water area, you may want to descale your kettle.
• Thoroughly wipe down any countertops and tables with antibacterial cleaner.
• Empty and sanitise all bins (including recycling bins).
• Vacuum, mop and disinfect the floor.

6. Clean window interiors

• Note – don’t attempt to clean the exterior pane of your windows yourself. Enlist a professional cleaner to do this for you.
• Use a glass cleaner and a microfibre cloth to clean the interior glass panes of your windows.
• Dust the window sills and blinds.
• Look out for any signs of mould or excessive condensation. If present, you may want to install a dehumidifier, or enlist a professional cleaner to remove the mould.

7. Hire a commercial cleaning specialist

While there’s a lot that you can do yourself, the best way to ensure a thorough deep clean is hiring a commercial cleaning specialist.

At JMS Cleaning, we offer a wide range of flexible cleaning services, including everything from one-off office cleans, to contracted cleaning services, and daily cleaning. That way, you can find a solution that best suits the needs of you and your team.

A clean, organised office is a fantastic way to create a safe, happy, productive and welcoming work environment.

Contact our team for a quote today.

The post Spring Cleaning Tips for your Office appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

So, particularly if you are cleaning a large area with multiple cleaning requirements, these products need to be used carefully. 

In some cases, mixing two types of cleaning products can create a serious hazard. The risks range to include everything from creating corrosive substances, to producing toxic gas. 

Below, we’ve listed the most common hazardous cleaning product combinations, and explained the risk that they create if mixed.

Bleach and Ammonia 

This combination produces chloramine gas, which can cause serious respiratory problems and eye irritation. 

Both bleach and ammonia are found in many household cleaners, with ammonia being widely used in glass cleaners, in particular. 

Bleach and Vinegar 

White vinegar is often used as a natural cleaning solution, and bleach is widely used as a disinfectant. 

By mixing these two substances, chlorine gas is created. This gas is highly toxic. It can irritate the lungs, eyes and skin, and it is dangerous even in small amounts.

Bleach and Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol and bleach are both common disinfectants. However, if they are mixed together these two substances create chloroform.  

Chloroform was historically used as a medical anaesthetic (but it is no longer used today, as it has been replaced by safer alternatives). As a result, if inhaled, it can cause nausea, dizziness and even unconsciousness.

Hydrogen Peroxide and Vinegar

Both of these materials are commonly used in homemade cleaning solutions. 

However, when they are combined, these two substances create peracetic acid. This is a corrosive substance, which can damage surfaces and irritate skin, eyes and respiratory systems.

Acidic Cleaners and Bleach

Acid-based cleaners (such as oven cleaners, drain cleaners, toilet bowl cleaners and rust removers) release toxic chlorine gas when combined with bleach. 

This is a highly toxic gas, which can irritate the lungs, eyes and skin, even when inhaled in small amounts. 

Different types of Drain Cleaners 

If an acid-based and an alkaline-based drain cleaner are combined, this can create a number of toxic gases, and even create an explosive reaction. 

Best practices for avoiding mixing cleaning products 

You should always avoid mixing different types of cleaning products, unless you are absolutely certain that it is safe. 

Cleaning products (even products that are available to the public) contain a number of different chemicals, which can have a violent reaction if used in certain combinations. 

To avoid the dangers and hazards that we’ve listed above, follow these best practice guidelines: 

• Carefully read the labels of your cleaning solutions, and check for any warning labels. 
• Wherever possible, use just one cleaning product per task. 
• Use specific, dedicated cleaning tools for each product. 
• If you need to use multiple products, but are unsure about how they would react, rinse the surfaces that are being cleaned between uses. 
• Keep your cleaning products in separate storage areas. 
• Clearly label all of your cleaning products. 
• Avoid using homemade cleaning solutions, as their potential reactions are less predictable. 
• Maintain data sheets about the products that are in use, and make them readily available. 

With over 20 years of cleaning experience, JMS Cleaning Services are highly skilled, fully trained professional cleaners. Using professional cleaners is the best way to guarantee the safe, best practice use of cleaning products, and the highest standards of commercial cleaning.

So, to ensure your site is being cleaned safely and effectively, speak to JMS Cleaning Services today. 

The post Which cleaning products should you never mix together? appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

If you’re looking to develop a cleaning schedule for your site, the first step of the process is determining how long it will take to clean your office.

However, if you’re not experienced in this field, this can definitely feel like a, ‘How long is a piece of string’ type of question.

So, to create a more accurate prediction for your office cleaning requirements – and understand what your schedule should include – check out our handy office cleaning guide below.

How long does it take to clean a commercial office?

The length of time required to clean a commercial office varies considerably, based on the tasks that are being tackled during that clean, and the size of the office.

But generally, cleaning an office of a standard size, and only undertaking the basic cleaning tasks (vacuuming, wiping surfaces, and surface-cleaning the kitchen and toilets) will take between 1-3 hours.

However, if your office is considerably larger than average, or a deeper clean is required, then this could take anywhere from 5 hours to a full day.

Following industry standards, a general office clean should occur once every 3-5 days a week (depending on how often your office is used, and what it is used for).

By adhering to this recommendation, you can minimise the time that each clean takes, as the cleaning requirements won’t be as extensive (as they would be if you only cleaned the office once a fortnight, for example).

Then, you should arrange a deep clean of the office on a routine basis, either monthly or quarterly.

What tasks should be included in your office cleaning schedule?

Multiple times a week:

• Disinfecting common touch points (such as door handles)
• Vacuuming and mopping
• Dusting
• Wiping surfaces
• A light kitchen clean
• Cleaning the toilets
• Removing rubbish

On a monthly or quarterly basis:

• Carpet cleaning
• Cleaning chairs or soft furnishings
• Cleaning walls
• Sweeping cobwebs
• Cleaning fridges, microwaves and kitchen appliances
• Deep cleaning computers, keyboards and other office equipment
• Cleaning the windows

What factors will influence how long it takes to clean your office?

• How often the office is cleaned
• The size of the office (more on this below)
• The number of employees
• The foot traffic of the office
• The scope of the work being conducted
• Whether you are cleaning the office yourself, or enlisting a professional cleaning company
• The cleaning equipment that is used (more on this below)

The size of the office

Generally speaking, professional cleaners estimate the time required to clean a standard office as around 1 hour per 3000 sqft. (However, more time is required for more challenging areas, or for tasks beyond those in a standard routine clean).

So, as you can imagine, the smaller the office, the less time required to clean it.

It’s also important to note that commercial cleaners can clean offices at a significantly faster rate than non-professional cleaners. So, if you have a larger office, then hiring a commercial cleaner will ensure that you are able to maintain this pace of cleaning, without compromising the quality of the end result.

The equipment that you use

One of the most effective ways to decrease the amount of time required to clean an office is to invest in high performance equipment, which is specially designed for office and commercial cleaning.

With more advanced equipment, you can dramatically reduce the time requirements for an office clean, while also improving the quality of the end result.

Maximising efficiency with commercial cleaning services

As you can see, when it comes to office cleaning, there are a lot of factors to manage!

By enlisting a professional commercial cleaning company for your daily office cleaning and routine cleaning schedules, you can ensure your office is cleaned as thoroughly and efficiently as possible.

With the skills and experience of a trained cleaning team, you can maintain high cleanliness and hygiene standards for your organisation. What’s more, you can also gain access to (and ensure the effective use of) the most advanced commercial cleaning equipment.

As a result, if time is an important consideration for you, the single best way to maximise the efficiency of your office cleaning schedule is to arrange commercial cleaning services from an accredited, fully qualified specialist.

At JMS Cleaning Services, our professional team have over 20 years of cleaning experience, and are trusted by offices throughout the country to offer comprehensive and dependable cleaning services.

To find out more about our office cleaning services, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The post How long does it take to clean an office? appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

Although you could save a few pennies by asking your staff to clean up communal areas after themselves, in reality, the drawbacks far outweigh the cost savings.

By not arranging trained cleaning staff to clean your premises, you can quickly incur complaints from clients and staff alike. What’s more, it can actually end up resulting in a lot of additional management and monitoring efforts.

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not it would be worth having trained cleaning staff for your premises, keep reading. Below, we have outlined the top 6 advantages of trained cleaners for businesses.

1. Hygiene

Firstly, hiring trained cleaning staff is the best way to keep your site safe, clean and hygienic.

Beyond simply a case of ensuring a thorough clean, professional cleaners know precisely how to tackle different areas. This means using the most effective cleaning solutions and thoroughly addressing the problem areas of each part of your property.

Plus, the training of professional cleaners can prove critical in preventing cross-contamination between different areas and other such common mistakes.

2. Keeping staff safe and minimising illness

Most importantly, the training, skills, equipment and cleaning solutions used by professionals will ensure your staff are protected as much as possible.

It is the duty of site managers and business owners to keep premises attaining high standards of hygiene and cleanliness. One critical reason for this is ensuring staff safety, and protecting them as much as possible against the risk of bacteria or illness.

Not only is this a core part of your managerial duties, but another key benefit of this is that it will minimise the number of sick days that your team needs to take. As you can imagine, this can quickly give you a great return on your investment for professional cleaning services.

3. High productivity and an organised site 

After all, with uncleanliness and untidiness comes disorder.

If your site is messy, chaotic or unclean, this kind of working environment is completely opposed to productivity.

By having trained cleaning staff, not only will you make it easier for your teams to navigate through their day’s tasks, but a clean and pleasant site will help to keep morale – and so productivity – high.

4. Happy teams

Building on the point above, every good manager wants to ensure that their teams feel happy working on their premises.

Creating good employee morale is an ongoing challenge for managers, and it is something that company owners across the country invest heavily in. But, often, it all boils down to simple factors like keeping the workplace a clean and enjoyable place to be in.

By having professional cleaners conducting routine cleans of your premises, you can foster a positive morale, and team-wide pride in their workplace.

5. Good impressions for visitors

Critically, the benefits of having trained cleaning staff also extends to site visitors.

If you are inviting clients or customers to visit your site, it is absolutely pivotal that your site is clean and well-presented. This is because their impression of your site can directly impact the perception that they have of your brand.

After all, a dirty site readily translates into perceptions of a sloppy, lazy or uncaring organisation. So, by not implementing a routine, professional cleaning schedule, the risks you run include short of ruining your reputation amongst your customers.

6. The quality of clean that you receive will be far higher

Although it might sound like a simple point, it’s one of the biggest benefits of choosing trained cleaning staff.

When you work with trained cleaners, the standard of clean that you receive is far higher.

What’s more, this degree of professionalism extends to all aspects of their work, not just the clean itself.

For example, at JMS Cleaning Services, we are a local company and – unlike similar businesses that might use agency staff – we hire in-house. This means that we don’t simply send our new recruits to their first job, mop in hand!

Instead, we invest in our staff, with a thorough training programme. This extensive training – coupled with regular audits by a manager and a potential bonus incentive – results in the highest quality of service. It’s why we are already trusted by numerous clients across Manchester, Cheshire and the surrounding areas.

Alongside this, all of the JMS Cleaning staff hold Credit Card ID Badges and are fully uniformed and DBS Checked where required.

In short, our cleaning services are designed to offer a comprehensive, dependable and efficient solution for commercial clients. You can be certain that, by investing in our highly trained cleaning team, you will unlock all of these benefits for your site, in full.

So, to find out more about JMS Cleaning Services, or to enlist our trained cleaning staff for your site, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

The post Top 6 Advantages of Having Trained Cleaning Staff appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

They are put in place to ensure that your business complies in full with the requirements of your workforce. Plus, when they are kept in good condition, they bolster the team’s motivation, by keeping them comfortable, happy and aware of your willingness to support them. 

However, regular site welfare cleans are a task which far too companies neglect. All too often, we see construction site managers let this job fall to the bottom of their to do list. As a result, their site welfare facilities can quickly fall into an unpleasant condition. 

If you’re still not entirely sold on the importance of site welfare cleans, then keep reading – we’ve dedicated this blog to helping construction site managers to see the value of a thorough deep clean. 

It is a legal requirement

By law, under the current health and safety executive guidelines, it is essential that all welfare facilities are kept clean. 

It is fundamental for employee morale

How can you expect your workforce to do a good job if their working conditions are sub-par? 

Keep motivation and morale high, by ensuring that your team feels happy. 

It is a vital part of health and safety

Unclean welfare facilities present a significant health and safety risk. Keep your team healthy by ensuring that these areas are regularly cleaned and disinfected. 

Depending on the particular site, you may have a wide range of different welfare facilities. Unsurprisingly, this can be difficult to keep on top of on your own. 

At JMS Cleaning Services, we offer our clients a comprehensive cleaning service, which covers the entirety of their welfare facilities. We can ensure that the entirety of your facilities (including toilets, kitchens, changing rooms and everything in between) are kept absolutely spotless. 

Don’t hesitate to get in touch to find out more about our services. 

The post The importance of Site Welfare Cleans appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

This year has seen COVID-19 grip the country and there are more local restrictions on the horizon to help stem the number of positive cases. However, people need to work and there are some key industries which have bravely continued throughout the pandemic to ensure vital services continue.

At JMS Cleaning, we want to share our tips on daily cleaning and hygiene for those returning to work. We’ll break this into two categories to cater for different requirements: those going to work inside at an office, factory or in retail, and those going to other people’s homes and businesses.

Our cleaning experts can help prevent the spread of COVID-19 with thorough office cleaning and school cleaning – call us on [ld_default] for a quote today!

Cleaning & Hygiene in the Workplace

When in the workplace it’s important to make staff feel safe. It’s better to limit the number of people in any given space at one time to help follow the government’s guidelines on social distancing, but there are a number of cleaning and hygiene routines you can introduce.

Hand Soaps & Sanitisers

Keep your toilets well stocked with hand soaps and have hand sanitiser by entrances and exits so that staff can keep their hands clean regularly. You should encourage guests and visitors to do the same in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

Clean Your Workplace

Contract cleaning is a must under any circumstances, but now more than ever you should be investing in regular cleaning. Whether you employ extra staff to help with these duties internally or you use an external company for a contract clean service, this move will send a clear signal to your staff and customers.

Identify Additional Cleaning

There are some areas of your office or business premises which will see more cross-usage and should be targeted for additional cleaning. Up the frequency with which you clean things like door handles, sink taps, kettles, phones and any other items you think will be touched or handled regularly.

On top of cleaning, you will also want to consider limiting the number of people in certain areas of your building where possible. It may be better to spread your operations over a larger area to help people maintain safe distances from each other, but this is not always possible, which is why regular premises cleaning, protective masks and hand washing are a must.

Cleaning & Hygiene Visiting Places for Work

If your work involves visiting other premises or you make house calls by appointment – electricians and plumbers for example – there are still ways you can make it safe to carry out work for customers. Here are a few tips to help you keep your business going and reassure your customers that they will be safe when you visit their home.

Vehicle Cleaning

Keeping your van or car clean will help to reduce the transmission of any virus as you move from place to place. Keep a packet of cleaning wipes handy so that you can wipe down key areas such as handles, your steering wheel, dials, buttons and tools regularly between jobs.

Hand Sanitiser

Some clients may not wish you to use their facilities during your visit, but regardless of whether they do or not, you can regularly use hand sanitiser to limit the need and keep your hands clean throughout your visit.

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment, which includes items such as gloves, masks, face visors and full boiler suits, can help keep you and your customers safe during your visit. If you can wear PPE throughout your work, this will give your clients peace of mind that you’re doing everything to avoid transmitting the virus.

Even if most of your work is done through visiting other people’s homes and places of business, you will likely have your own office, showroom or workspace, so it’s worth considering one-off deep cleaning or regular contract cleaning to keep everyone safe.

Do you want to keep your premises open and COVID-safe? Look no further than JMS Cleaning for contract cleaning and office cleaning in Manchester, Cheshire and the surrounding areas. Our expert team can help to keep your workplace safe and hygienic for everyone.

Send us a message with our contact form, or call us on [ld_default] today!

The post Daily Cleaning and Hygiene Tips when Returning to Work appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

While the experts work to contain and eventually eliminate the virus, there are a few things that we can do ourselves to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

^{The above image has been taken from Jangro’s latest news post.}

What is Coronavirus?

There are actually several Coronaviruses that are common around the world – one such Coronavirus causes the common cold. This particular type of the virus is the ‘Wuhan novel Coronavirus’- named as such because it was first discovered in China’s Wuhan City. It is also known as COVID-19.

It hasn’t been seen before in humans, but it can lead to acute respiratory problems which can be fatal for older people and those with long-standing conditions like lung disease and cancer.

What are the symptoms?

If you have recently returned from any of the following areas:

• Wuhan
• Hebei Province
• Thailand
• Japan
• Macao
• Hong Kong
• Republic of Korea
• Taiwan
• Singapore
• Malaysia

There are several symptoms that you need to look out for. They are:

• Sore throat
• Coughing
• Runny nose
• Breathing difficulties
• High temperature

If you notice these symptoms in yourself, you should self-isolate; stay indoors away from others. Call 111 to let them know and also inform them if you have been to Wuhan in the last 14 days.

While the specifics aren’t known for this particular strain, similar viruses are spread through cough droplets. There’s a very minimal risk of you catching the illness if you haven’t been in contact with someone with Coronavirus or someone who has been at risk of it.

How to prevent the spread of Coronavirus

Take a look at 8 standard methods for preventing the spread of illnesses also apply to Coronavirus:

1 – Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly. Use an alcohol-based hand soap

2 – Cover your mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, and then throw the tissue away

3 – Avoid close contact with those who are unwell

4 – If visiting areas that are currently affected by the Wuhan novel Coronavirus, avoid contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals

5 – Avoid the consumption of raw animal products

6 – Avoid using public transport for 14 days after arriving home from Wuhan if you are experiencing any of the aforementioned symptoms

7 – Stay at home for 14 days after returning from Wuhan, and avoid public places

8 – Call 111 and inform them of your recent travel

Above are the precautions to follow to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus. While the risk to the UK is lower than other countries, it has been upgraded to ‘moderate’ recently, so it is absolutely worth exercising caution.

How to wash your hands properly

Jangro have produced a good guide on how to wash your hand properly, see an image of it below, or visit their website to get a poster for your office or workplace.

If you have concerns about the effect of coronavirus on your workplace, consider a deep clean from the professionals at JMS Cleaning to eliminate the risks of cross contamination. We’re experts in commercial cleaning with over 20 years of experience in school cleans, deep cleans and contract cleaning in Manchester, Cheshire, Crewe, Bolton, Bury and the surrounding areas.

The post Preventing the Spread of Coronavirus appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

An end-of-tenancy cleaning usually falls under the responsibility of the tenant, but it can be tricky to ascertain what is actually involved in such a cleaning, and failing to correctly clean a property can result in negative consequences for tenants and landlords alike.

In this article, JMS Cleaning are going to detail what is involved in an end-of-tenancy cleaning and explain how students and landlords can benefit from a thorough, effective property cleaning.

Why do tenants need to clean the property?

There are a number of reasons why tenants need to take some time to thoroughly clean their property when they’re moving out. Firstly, it can be a matter of common courtesy; you’d expect a property to be clean when you move in, so it should be left clean when you move out. Secondly, if you want to get your deposit back in full, you’ll need to clean the property. If your landlord has to pay for a cleaning company to sort everything out, that fee will likely come out of your deposit.

Do landlords need to do anything?

The landlord doesn’t have an obligation to perform the end-of-tenancy cleaning , and it is likely that the responsibility to clean the property as a tenant is written into the tenancy agreement. A landlord cannot force a tenant to hire a cleaning company – nor do they have to hire one themselves – but if a property requires the attention of professionals, the tenant may opt for their services.

What can happen if the tenant doesn’t do an end-of-tenancy clean?

If a tenant signed a tenancy agreement which requires them to perform the clean, but then fails to carry out said clean, they may well lose a part or even all of your deposit. Cleaning-related issues are the cause of around 56% of deposit disputes, which tells you how important a matter it is.

Failure to organise a clean at the end of a tenancy can also result in health and safety issues developing in the property, from mould in bathrooms and kitchens to infestations and other problems where cleaning responsibilities have been neglected. For landlords, this means that you may well have to pay for a more comprehensive clean than you otherwise would have, and it will be difficult to re-let your property until any problems have been resolved.

End of tenancy cleaning checklist

Being organised works wonders when it comes to an end-of-tenancy clean. Whether you’re cleaning a one-bed flat by yourself or a house share with your friends, there are several things you need to do.

The first tip, before we get into the minutiae of the list, is to go room-by-room. If there’s a lot of you, it can help to split into teams and tackle a room each, or you may want to go room by room as a unit. Whichever method you choose, ensure that the previous room is completely clean before moving on to another.

Bedrooms and living areas

☐ Walls, shelves, cabinets and doors should be spot-cleaned

☐ Don’t neglect the window sills

☐ Be sure to check for cobwebs and insects in corners and light fixtures

☐ Vacuum thoroughly, and sweep up afterwards to catch any surviving debris

☐ Empty bins, and clean them if necessary

☐ Check under beds and furniture, if you’re not taking them with you

Bathrooms

☐ Use antibacterial cleaning products on the bath and shower

☐ Clean the toilet and sinks – use bleach on the toilet

☐ Use glass cleaning spray on the shower screen, if you have one

☐ Mop floors and wash bath mats if you have them and you’re not taking them with you

☐ Clean bathroom cabinets

☐ Clean the sink and taps

Kitchen

☐ Clean the inside and outside of all cabinets

☐ Dust the appliances and cabinets

☐ Walls and doors need to be spot cleaned

☐ Counters and surfaces need thorough cleaning

Don’t forget:

☐ Clean the inside of your oven and your fridge

☐ Be sure to defrost the freezer to easily remove items

☐ Empty all bins

☐ Take all food out of cabinets, fridges and freezers

Cleaning Services from JMS

Be as thorough as possible when it comes to cleaning a rented property and you should have no trouble getting your deposit back. Should you struggle with the cleaning for whatever reason, consider using the services of tried and tested experts like JMS Cleaning Services.

Give us a call on 0800 998 1316

We offer comprehensive and effective end-of-tenancy cleans for commercial and residential properties alike throughout Cheshire, Manchester and the surrounding areas. For more information, please get in touch with us today.

The post What Does an End of Tenancy Cleaning Involve? appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the germiest and dirtiest places in the office.

Computer keyboards

Keyboards can be one of the dirtiest places in the office, not only because we’re constantly touching them, but because food and dust can fall beneath the keys and fester. Regularly cleaning the keyboard with a special brush and cleaning fluid designed for electronics can help to tackle this problem.

Water cooler

The water cooler can be a popular spot to grab some water and have a chat with colleagues but, with a considerable number of hands touching the cooler on a daily basis, it can be easy for germs to accumulate here. If the water cooler isn’t disinfected regularly and glasses cleaned in warm soapy water, germs can easily be spread.

The kitchen sink (and sponge)

The kitchen area can easily harbour dirt and germs, especially when food remnants aren’t quickly cleared. These crumbs and splatters are a breeding ground for bacteria, some of which can be pretty harmful. What’s more, kitchen dish sponges can also be very dirty – often they are left damp and can be prone to mould as well as housing bacteria. One study found that 20% of ‘cleaned’ mugs had traces of coliform bacteria and, after wiping with a communal dish sponge, another 20% tested positive for E.coli.

Desk phones

Office telephones receive a lot of use and can quickly become dirty, particularly if they are shared. Have you ever seen someone cough or sneeze whilst on the phone and then simply replace the receiver? This is a sure way for viruses to spread. Make sure you disinfect the handset and buttons regularly to keep phones clean.

Refrigerator

Practically everyone in the office will open the refrigerator at some point during the day, but few will think about cleaning it. Germs can be quickly transferred to the fridge handle and passed on to the next few people to get out the milk for their coffee. With germs and bacteria able to linger on surfaces, the handle should be cleaned daily. What’s more, in communal kitchens food can easily be forgotten about and left to breed bacteria. It’s a good idea to have a system where unclaimed food is regularly thrown away and the fridge interior is cleaned.

Photocopier/printer

An office photocopier or printer is another prime example of a spot which accumulates germs due to regular use from a multitude of people. The equipment would benefit from daily disinfecting and, during cold and flu season, you may want to consider using hand sanitiser after operation.  

Toilet door handle

This seems like an obvious germ zone but you’d be surprised how many people overlook the door handle. Although you may wash your hands after using the toilet, other people may not and you can pick up germs from the handle as soon as you go to exit the room. All bathroom handles should be on your contract cleaner’s daily schedule for disinfecting to help curb germs.

Coffee pot/machine

With coffee fueling many an office, it’s likely the coffee pot or machine will be heavily used throughout the day by most people in your office. As well as the germs transferred from many different hands, due to the warm environment, coffee machines can also be susceptible to mould. With one study finding that the average coffee pot handle had 34 times more bacteria present than a school toilet seat, you’ll want to make sure this spot benefits from a regular cleaning schedule.

Microwave

The microwave experiences the same problems that other kitchen appliances suffer from when it comes to germs. With many different people using the microwave, germs can easily be transferred from hands to handle, then on to the next user. The potential for contamination doesn’t just stop there though. If you’ve ever given the inside of your office microwave a good look, you’ll likely notice all manner of splashes and food remnants. Particles of old, festering food could easily dislodge and get into uncovered food being heated, contaminating it. Ensure the microwave isn’t passed by during cleaning.

Door handles

Door handles across your office are a key spot which should be given cleaning attention on a daily basis. From entryway doors to meeting room doors, these are spots handled by multiple people every day. One study found that, after placing a virus on one of an office’s entrance door handles, approximately 60% of staff had traces of the virus on their hands within 4 hours. This plainly demonstrates how quick and easily viruses can be spread without sufficient cleaning care.

The problem with germs is that they can easily go unnoticed, due to being an invisible kind of dirt. It is, therefore, important to hire a thorough cleaning company, such as JMS Cleaning, who can keep your premises spick and span. Using professional equipment, an experienced team and tried and tested methods, we carry out consistently high quality contract cleans. If you have enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us today – we offer cleaning contracts across the North West, including Cheshire, Stockport and Manchester.

The post The Dirtiest Places in Your Office – Infographic appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

School facilities managers have unique premises to look after, with quality learning environments needing to be balanced with prudent cost management. Good facilities management in a school can improve the classroom setting for staff and pupils, increase running efficiency and enhance the public impression of the institution. Read on for some top tips for managing educational facilities.

Energy saving

Energy usage in a school is a large cost and so it’s always worth regularly reviewing your consumption to see if savings can be made. Small adaptations can make a large difference over time and can be the easiest updates to implement. Consider updating your HVAC system settings and zoning, installing energy efficient lighting and appliances.

Simple changes such as encouraging the turning off of electronics after usage can be worthwhile, especially when scaled up to whole IT suites or school-wide. Appointing ‘energy saving champions’ in school staff or pupils who help monitor such initiatives can be handy and a way to get the premises’ inhabitants involved.

Out of hours

With school facilities often providing valuable space for out of hours clubs and societies – for pupils and the wider public – it is easy for excessive energy to be used during this time. Monitor the use of energy from such groups, potentially drawing up some guidelines for how they use the premises and how to use energy judiciously. You could also try to contain such groups’ access to the wider school to prevent extra, unnecessary energy use outside of their required space.

Lighting

Lighting is an area where large savings can be made and where updating your technology can really make a difference. For example, updating traditional lights to LEDs can save up to 60% of lighting costs. Installing a motion detection system for your lighting is another way savings can be made as lights will automatically switch off when not being used. Furthermore, you can save money by switching off lighting on sunny days or when screens are being used – this will also reduce screen glare, thus helping to reduce eye strain.

Thorough cleaning

Thorough cleaning and upkeep is particularly important in the school environment. Not only will cleanliness cultivate an attractive, undistracting and well-maintained place of learning, it can also impact health. Illnesses and allergies can greatly impact learning and absenteeism and an unclean school will worsen both.

Professional cleaners should be employed to clean the school on a daily basis, ensuring that surfaces are disinfected – thus reducing germ spread – and spaces are completely dusted and vacuumed – reducing the presence of irritating allergens. A professional cleaner will also be able to utilise child-safe cleaning chemicals and offer comprehensive, cost effective janitorial supplies to further promote hygiene.

Proactive maintenance

Keeping equipment well-maintained – from your heating system to computers – can help extend their usable life. This is useful both in terms of saving you money on untimely replacements and repairs, and in keeping your equipment from pesky downtime which, in a school, could have an impact on the ability to teach. Have equipment cleaned and serviced regularly to keep it in good condition – at peak efficiency, your equipment will be running in the most cost effective manner, too.

From local nurseries and schools to large colleges and university buildings, JMS Cleaning Services can provide your premises with a meticulous, tailored cleaning service. With an experienced and well-trained team, knowledge of tried-and-tested cleaning techniques, and a range of professional cleaning equipment, we can keep your premises fresh, hygienic and inviting. Get in touch our friendly team today to discuss your needs – we’re happy to help clients throughout the North West, including Manchester, Crewe & Liverpool.

The post Top tips for school facilities managers: energy saving, cleaning & more appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.