Although many germs will have little effect on your workforce, there are some nasty strains which can cause sickness and infections, resulting in preventable employee absenteeism. Read on to find out more about common germs that can be found in offices and the dangers they pose.

Most common office germs:

MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus)

MRSA is a type of bacteria which is resistant to many types of antibiotic. The bacteria can live on your skin harmlessly, only developing into infections if it gets deeper into your body, often through wounds. It can be transmitted through touching infected skin or contaminated items and surfaces. Symptoms include: skin bumps, abscesses or boils, redness, swelling, pus, aches and pains, high temperature.

C. diff (clostridium difficile)

C. diff is a kind of bacteria which infects the bowel. Often, C. diff can follow a course of antibiotics but can easily be spread from contact with contaminated surfaces. Symptoms include: diarrhoea, stomach cramps, nausea and dehydration.

Norovirus (stomach flu)

Norovirus is a very common stomach bug. There isn’t a cure for norovirus but symptoms should clear up in 2-3 days. It is highly infectious so you should stay home from work or school if contracted. Drink plenty of fluids, get plenty rest and take paracetamol to manage any pain. The main symptoms of norovirus are vomiting and diarrhoea, with some people also experiencing aching limbs, stomach cramps and a slight fever.

E. coli (escherichia coli)

E. coli is a contagious bacteria strain which can cause infection. It can be caught from products contaminated with faecal matter, as well as contaminated undercooked meat, raw dairy products and poorly treated water. The main symptom is severe diarrhoea, but vomiting and stomach cramps may also occur. Symptoms can last up to 2 weeks and can have more serious consequences for children and the elderly.

Salmonella

Salmonella bacteria is a cause of food poisoning. The bacteria can be found in farm animals therefore raw meat, poultry, eggs and milk can all be contaminated. Unwashed vegetables and fruit can sometimes become contaminated too. Pets, particularly reptiles, can also carry salmonella. Symptoms include diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach cramps and sometimes a fever.

Flu (influenza)

Flu is a contagious virus which causes a variety of symptoms, primarily those involving the respiratory system. Flu is spread by contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces but can be prevented by the flu vaccine. Flu symptoms include: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, headaches, and more.

H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori)

H. pylori is a common form of bacteria which can be transmitted through contact with unsanitary surfaces and water. Symptoms can take a long time to develop but can include indigestion, gastritis and stomach ulcers.

Number of deaths mentioning the above germs:

• MRSA: 292
• C.diff: 1487
• Staphylococcus aureus (non-MRSA): 265

How to prevent germs from spreading

The spread of most germs can be prevented by these simple hygiene practices:

• Washing your hands thoroughly and regularly
• Practicing good food hygiene
• Sanitise surfaces regularly

Ensure your office is clean – get in touch with JMS Cleaning Services today to get a quote for cleaning your office.

The post 7 Germs Commonly Found In Your Office And Why They’re Dangerous [Infographic] appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

If you manage a commercial property or are part of a business who needs regular cleaning services, here are the answers to our most frequently asked questions about the cleaning of communal areas.

We offer daily cleaning visits and a range of services (including construction site cleaning), and have put together some of the most common questions we get asked by customers.

Especially during Covid-19, you need to make sure your communal areas are kept clean, and in most cases this is down to the landlord of the property to manage.

How much does a communal area clean cost?

We work hard to deliver a fantastic service at the lowest prices possible without affecting the level of service, and these vary depending on the size of the area to be cleaned and how often you require our services.

Contact one of our friendly advisors who will be able to help and supply a quote. Alternatively, you can use our quick quote form at the top of this page to receive your quote.

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What is included in communal area cleaning?

You can tailor cleaning tasks to your exact needs. Here is a typical list of jobs for the average communal area clean:

– Thorough dusting and antibacterial wet-wiping of fixtures, surfaces and woodwork

– Vacuuming of carpeted, wood and vinyl floors

– Mopping and rinsing of hard floors

– Buffing of vinyl and wooden floors (if applicable)

– Cleaning of coffee machines, kettles and appliances

– Cleaning of communal toilets and replenishment of toilet rolls, paper towels and soaps

– Removal of litter

– Spot cleaning of glass stairwells and entrance areas

Can I alter my cleaning schedule and tasks at anytime?

Yes. We are very flexible and cleaning schedules can be altered or upgraded at any time. Tasks can be added or removed as needed and the number of cleans can be increased or decreased.

Just contact one of our friendly staff to organise any alterations.

What times of the day do you clean?

It is important that cleaning does not affect your working day, so our cleaners are available to work around your business hours either before or after the working day. Whatever your preferences, you are guaranteed a perfectly clean communal working environment each morning.

Provide details of your requirements over the phone or on the quick quote form at the top of this page so we can tailor our services to you.

What areas do you cover?

We proudly serve businesses, residential properties, schools and more across Manchester, Cheshire and the surrounding areas.

What other cleaning services do you provide?

We provide a range of services including;

– Contract Cleaning

– Office Cleaning

– Daily Cleaning

– One-Off Deep Cleaning

– School Cleaning

– Nursery Cleaning

– End of Tenancy Cleaning

– Builders Cleaning

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What are your industry qualifications?

Aside from our experience cleaning for a range of clients, JMS Cleaning Services have acquired several accreditations for our industry leading practices.

We are members of The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), the Contractors Health and Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS), the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) and Constructionline. To read more about our accreditations, read about them in our post.

JMS Cleaning Services provide the finest cleaning services in the North West of England. From daily cleaning of offices, schools and residential buildings, to jet-washing and floor-stripping after building projects, we can provide a clean, tidy and hygienic environment.

Our team are experienced and accredited so you can be assured of the finest products and services. Contact one of our advisors today to receive a quote, or alternatively use our quick quote form at the top of this page.

The post Cleaning Communal Areas in Commercial Properties FAQs appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

With offices only growing in size, it’s becoming more and more important to maintain a high level of cleanliness. The more people moving in, out and around the office, the higher the chances of dirt, grime, clutter and general unpleasantness, and this can quickly add up to pose a serious health risk if left unchecked.

In this article, we’re looking at five of the main dangers that present themselves in an unclean workspace, highlighting the importance of a regular, meticulous cleaning schedule.

Looking for Office Cleaning services? We cover across Manchester, Cheshire and the surrounding areas.

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1. Germs and bacteria

Lazy or sloppy cleaning practices can lead to the fast growth, and propagation, of germs and harmful bacteria in the office. Germs can potentially thrive anywhere throughout the working environment.

From stained desktops, carpets, tiled floors and door handles, to kitchen tops, cups and cutlery, failing to keep the entirety of your office clean means encouraging germs and bacteria to thrive, and this can cause widespread and prolonged illness for a large portion of your workforce.

Use antibacterial cleaning products to kill germs, and make sure to encourage healthy cleaning habits for all of your workers, in public kitchen and eating spaces and personal desk spaces, alike.

2. Mould

The growth of mould occurs when excessive moisture is left to accumulate, whether it’s from water vapour or from spillages that haven’t been cleaned up properly. Just like at home, mould in the office is more likely to develop in areas where water and moisture is common.

The kitchen and toilets are the main culprits, and these are two areas which office workers often fail to keep sufficiently clean. Mould poses many health hazards, from itchiness and skin/throat irritation, to  the formation of rashes, allergic reactions and respiratory problems.

Prevent mould throughout your office by making sure that the kitchen and toilets are cleaned thoroughly, with any spillages or puddles wiped up immediately, and floors and walls wiped dry.

3. Clutter

It’s not just viruses and illnesses you have to watch out for in a dirty office, the presence of clutter can be just as harmful to employees.

Firstly, a cluttered office transmits an unprofessional and lazy atmosphere, which will be a detriment to your overall business reputation.

Secondly, strewn clutter along corridors, behind doors, next to desks, in meeting rooms and elsewhere creates serious trip hazards for employees. Clumsily-placed boxes, coats and bags can obscure fire exits and will make the entire office more difficult and more dangerous to navigate.

Clearing up clutter is a vital part of keeping your office clean and safe, and should never be overlooked.

4. Morale

Simply put, a dirty office is an unpleasant place to work. A clean working environment will go a long way towards keeping your employees happy, productive and motivated day to day.

Open plan office designs are incredibly popular nowadays, but they do come with the consequence of showcasing any unclean habits your employees might have.

Tidy workers will be dismayed if they are surrounded by dirt, clutter, spillages or stains, and a negative atmosphere can quickly circulate throughout the office if it isn’t kept regularly clean.

Sooner rather than later, you’ll see this affecting your business as a whole.

5. Sick leave

As we’ve said in previous points, there are a number of health hazards associated with an unclean office. From niggling irritations to more severe respiratory problems and outbreaks of flu, a dirty office environment can force large numbers of staff to take more sick days than they usually would.

Employee absence can bring any business grinding to a halt, particularly when it becomes a regular occurrence because you haven’t taken the proper steps to keep your workplace hygienic.

Professional, periodic cleaning of your office space will dramatically improve the base level of cleanliness in the workplace, keeping employees healthier for longer, so they can carry on working hard without risking their own personal health day after day.

Read more about our office cleaning services →

JMS Cleaning offer daily office cleaning and deep cleans throughout the North West. Our expert team of cleaners are fully equipped and experienced to carry out thorough and effective cleaning treatments to any office, covering every nook and cranny using high grade equipment and techniques.

To find out more about our office cleaning services don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly team today.

Call us on [ld_default] for a quote.

The post The Top 5 Dangers of an Unclean Workplace appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

It’s vital for any business or public building to prevent against the threat of pest infestation, so this month we’re looking at the how regularly cleaning your office, school, restaurant or shop can stop any pests from taking over your premises and causing harm to any workers, patrons or visitors.

Removing food residue

Different pests are attracted to different things. Food will be a common attraction for a number of different pests, such as rats and mice as well as specific beetles. If you let your commercial space build up with food residue and crumbs, an infestation will be waiting to happen. For this reason, regular floor cleaning is incredibly important. Carpets, rugs and tiled floors in kitchens and eating areas will be a magnet for all sorts of foodstuff, and a thorough vacuum, scrubbing or deep clean will purge surfaces of any nasty spills or grime which would otherwise be a feeding ground for pests.

Bin cleaning

Bins are a common cause of infestation, being particularly alluring for rats, so keeping them clean and emptying them regularly won’t offer pests a chance to mark their territory.

This goes for inside and outside – particularly in restaurants, cafes and kitchens in general. Your outdoor bin area should be kept as clean as possible. Clean up any spills from torn refuse bags – leaving spilled food out in the open is an open invitation for rodents – and keep lids closed to avoid an influx of flies, wasps and insects.

Disinfectant

Regularly disinfecting the various surfaces around the building will stop the spread of germs, and will also clear areas of all the sweet smelling leftovers that pests find so attractive. Kitchens should be kept in pristine condition, with daily scrubbing and spraying making sure worktops, sinks, ovens, walls and floors are spick and span and free from the aftermath of morning, lunchtime and afternoon snacking.

Bathrooms and toilets will also be a primary focus, as these rooms can attract a variety of nasty pests. Cockroaches are a particular risk, so cleaning up water and fluid spillages is vital.

In an office environment, desks will be a prime location for pests. Crumbs, spillages, leftover food and more can all be harbored on or around the desks, creating a feeding ground for unwanted insects, flies and more. Obviously, this causes a huge health hazard to employees, with many pests carrying and spreading disease or illness, and these can spread even faster around desks. Disinfecting workstations and generally keeping them free from built up food residue – particularly old fruit – will make for a happier and healthier workspace for all.

Deep cleans

The most thorough cleaning process available, a deep clean will utilise all of the most effective cleaning materials available to clean every nook and cranny throughout the premises. A deep clean can help bring your business from the brink of infestation to a clean, spotless and hygienic space.

A deep clean is the perfect preparation for a more regular cleaning regime. Deep cleans deal with the worst of the grime, producing a much cleaner standard for your premises which can be maintained by regular cleans either weekly, daily or monthly as necessary.

Deep cleans will clear much of the unhygienic mess caked into your premises, from carpets and rugs to clutter-filled storage rooms, kitchens, cafeterias and more.

With infestations, prevention is all about making sure there isn’t a source for rodents, insects or flies to latch on to. Regular and deep cleaning your business will remove most of the sources of infestation, and much of the sustenance that keeps pests thriving and allows them to live long enough to multiply. The cleaner your building is, the less likely you’ll suffer an infestation, so if you haven’t yet figured out a regular cleaning program, or are in need of help from professional, meticulous cleaners, why not give JMS Cleaning Services a call?

JMS Cleaning Services are the North West’s leading commercial cleaning company, providing regular and one–off cleaning for a range of commercial, retail and industrial premises. With a team of experienced cleaners who use the highest quality products and techniques, we can help make your commercial premises as clean and hygienic as possible, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.

The post How Cleaning Can Prevent Pest Infestations in Your Property appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

This makes the question of how often to have your office professionally cleaned slightly more complex than it might seem. That said, there are daily cleaning tasks that should be completed as standard, and ensuring that you have the right office cleaning company to carry them out is vital to the ongoing hygiene, appearance and general well-being of your working environment.

Regular Cleaning Needs
Appearance and first impressions are important not only for visitors to your business, but also for the motivation of your staff – there is nothing more demoralising than a dirty floor or dust all over desks and computers. Therefore, daily cleaning is the key to high standards of upkeep.

Your cleaning company should be instructed to dust all surfaces, vacuum carpets and mop hard floors, disinfect all bathrooms and clear up in kitchen areas, and any professional outfit worth its salt will be able to do this out of office hours to ensure that it doesn’t impact on the working day.

Daily cleaning is particularly important when computers or other electronic equipment are a central focus of the business’s operations, as dust build up can block ventilation components and cause malfunction, having a negative impact on productivity.

Stopping the spread of disease, especially in busy offices with high employee numbers, is also crucial for maintaining high productivity levels, as losing workers to coughs and colds for a couple of days at a time will soon start to add up.

Less Regular Cleaning Needs
While daily cleaning tasks focus on issues of hygiene and appearance, a less regular approach can be taken to some areas of the office.

For example, while sills and frames should be regularly dusted, windows themselves will require a deep clean inside and out, only once a month or so (unless they become particularly dirtied by bad weather in the meantime).

Carpets, too, require less regular attention – a deep cleaning and shampooing every six months or so should suffice, so long as they are vacuumed each day.

Nature of the Business
Some offices, however, will require specialist cleaning requirements due to the nature of the environment in which they operate.

Any offices on a medical premises, such as a GPs surgery or dental practice, will be subject to the stricter hygiene needs of these places, while factories and warehouses with heavy machinery or the propensity for oil and material waste will require a more detailed daily cleaning plan.

JMS Cleaning Services
Regardless of the cleaning requirements of your office, the experts here at JMS Cleaning Services are on hand to tailor a regular schedule that suits the exact needs of your environment.

Working throughout Middlewich, Chester, Manchester and the wider North West, JMS call on over 10 years of experience at the forefront of the office cleaning industry to provide a high quality, flexible and reliable service to all of our customers.

For more information, get in touch today.

The post How often should my office be cleaned? appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

Stress-Free
Taking the worry out of office cleanliness is one of the major positive benefits of hiring a contract cleaner to take care of things for you. Instead of having to deal with the stress of who will clean the office next or why the person on the rota for this week has not done their share of the work, hiring a company to perform the task for you will prevent the aggravation building, and will allow you to focus more directly on the job at hand.

Office cleaning by a third party will more than pay for itself in terms of the renewed vigour felt by your employees after this laborious task is taken away from them. The heightened output of your staff will surely result in a boost in productivity, and the increase in profits that results will surely more than compensate for the cost of a cleaning service.

Hygiene
In today’s world of hyper-cleanliness and antibacterial everything, the majority of the population have some kind of allergy due to an overactive immune system. Even the slightest amount of dust or dirt can set of an unpleasant hay-fever-like reaction in some employees. For this reason, hiring a company to keep your office looking clean and fresh will also allow your staff to work in a much more pleasant environment, free from allergens such as excessive dust and hair. As well as the benefits of a clean office to the health of your employees, working in a clean environment is a great motivational tool, and will allow your staff to work much more diligently at the task at hand without being distracted by endless mess and grime.

Company Image
Finally, although cleanliness often goes unnoticed, untidiness certainly does not. Although maintaining a spotless office sometimes seems like a thankless task, keeping the mess under control prevents both clients and staff from getting the wrong impression about your work ethic and business model. A messy office often indicates an unprofessional attitude, so make sure to keep the work areas in your company spick and span so that people get the right idea about your company when paying a visit.

JMS Cleaning Services
With the tips outlined above, you can’t help but see the benefits of hiring a contract cleaning service to give your office the once-over each week. Here at JMS, we have over a decade’s worth of experience in providing the highest level of contract office cleaning to customers throughout the North West.

Our expert team will work closely with you to draw up a cleaning schedule that’s tailored to the needs of your business, providing the flexibility to work around your operating hours and offering highly competitive rates.

For more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with JMS Cleaning Services today.

The post Benefits of your Office Hiring a Cleaning Service appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.

Risk assessments are a common feature of most workplace settings, and cleaning companies employ this method of health and safety as a standard part of all commercial cleaning work.

Office cleaning is a common example of where a thorough risk assessment should be carried out.

There are a number of steps the project manager in charge of the clean can take in order to comply with legal requirements demanded of employers in every working environment (as stipulated in Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999).

It’s important to have a clean and hygienic workplace, especially to stop the spread of covid-19.

For Office and Workplace Cleaning, call our team on [ld_default] for a quote!

Identify Hazards

The designated health and safety manager for the cleaning project should seek out advice and guidance as to the types of hazards that may occur during office cleaning. Industry governing websites are a great place to start, as it outlines in detail what to look out for.

Doing a walkthrough of the area and making notes of any obvious risks, such as overloaded plug sockets, electrical equipment that may react to liquid cleaning products or cabling that may form a tripping hazard is a good place to start, and recording which members of the cleaning team may be affected by each health risk is an effective way to combat them.

– The specific needs of individual members of the cleaning staff should be considered, such as those that have a disability or are pregnant.

Effective Communication

Keeping the lines of communication between managers, staff and clients open is essential to ensuring safe working practices. Not only will this help to assess the client’s own office cleaning standards (removal of tripping hazards, cleaning up spills etc), it will also ensure that access to cleaning equipment, such as vacuum cleaners and mops, is simple and unhindered.

Effective training is another crucial aspect, ensuring that your team members are aware of how to act in the event of an emergency, such as a fire, as well as being able to notify the relevant person upon discovering a high risk working hazard.

– Equipment training should also be carried out for all persons using potentially dangerous tools, and a standard method for reporting accidents should be imposed.

Addressing Hazards

For every hazard noted, the manager should then determine what combative procedures are in place to deal with them, using guidelines laid out in relevant health and safety regulations to assess the correct course of action.

– Any areas that were found to be lacking in risk correction facilities (ineffective/lacking fire extinguishers, non-PAT tested electrical equipment) should be highlighted and rectified immediately.

Outlining Team Requirements

A detailed discussion between manager and staff as to the potential risks in the environment to be cleaned should then take place.

Ensuring that each member of the team is aware of the hazards and their responsibility in dealing with them is essential to maintaining a high level of workplace safety.

– Special consideration should be taken to make sure that all those whose first language may not be English fully understand all details of the risk assessment, and a (legible) copy should be posted in an easily visible place for later reference.

Regular Reassessment

Annual revision of the risk assessment should be carried out without fail, as the layout and working environment of an office changes regularly.

– More immediate revisions are necessary if changes concerning the hazardous use of chemicals or electrical equipment occur.

JMS Cleaning Services

The expert cleaners at JMS Cleaning Services have over a decade’s worth of experience, allowing us to develop a bespoke office cleaning schedule tailor-made to your needs.

Whether your place of work contains sensitive documentation or equipment, or demands the use of heavy duty chemical cleans, we offer the flexibility to carry out cleaning work in any environment.

For more information, or to discuss your office cleaning needs, get in touch with the team at JMS today.

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The post Office Cleaning Risk Assessments: What you Need to Know appeared first on JMS Cleaning Services.