The Green Cleaning Company

Current cleaning jobs

2011-12-22T08:16:00.001-08:00

We have the following cleaning vacancies available, if you are interested in applying for any of the vacancies please complete this form and state which job you are interested in applying for.

Afternoon cleaners North Wembley middlesex - times MOnday to Friday 15.00 - 18.00 - please state wembley job if interested

Morning Cleaner Woodside Park North London - please state London Residential job

Hours are

4 hours Wednesday 06.45am - 10.45am

15 mins Friday 06.45 plus another 15 mins Friday anytime after rubbish collection has been carried out after midday

Morning Cleaner - Westway - Chelmsford Essex Monday to Friday 6am - 8am - please state DHL job

Mobile Cleaning Supervisor required - London

2011-11-02T05:35:00.000-07:00

You must be presentable, trustworthy, and hardworking, have cleaning experience, have a good command of English, be able to get around London, and work to very high standards.

You will be working evening shifts and need to be flexible.

If you believe you can do this job to the highest standards please email back stating you are interested in the Mobile Cleaning Supervisor Job. Please state your name, age, address, telephone number, cleaning experience and why you think you can do the job.

Office Cleaning job Dartford DA1 cleaner required

2011-10-26T10:40:00.000-07:00

We currently have a part time key job cleaning vacancy / job in Priory Hill
DA1 Kent

You must have an excellent attention to detail, be extremely fastidious and be able to work to high standards everyday.

Please tell us of any qualifications and if you have been CRB checked.

Apply now by phoning Ann on 01277 566600 between 9 - 5pm or completing this form - please state which job you are applying for.

Essex Cleaning jobs and vacancies

2011-10-26T01:21:00.001-07:00

Office Cleaning jobs and vacancies in Essex

ICS provide expert advice and offer a comprehensive range of Chelmsford and Brentwood cleaning services for companies in Essex and the Cm1 and Cm postcodes. We are currently recruiting cleaners in and around Essex.

We are always on the lookout for exceptional cleaners to deliver our outstanding cleaning services in Essex -

We currently have cleaning vacancies in Widford Industrial Estate Chelmsford Cm1 - Monday to Friday early morning

We are looking for cleaners in Billericay - key job Monday to Friday

Mobile Cleaning Staff for various cleaning contracts in and around Essex and London.

You must have an excellent attention to detail, be extremely fastidious and be able to work to high standards everyday. Previous experience required.

Please tell us of any qualifications and if you have been CRB checked.

Apply now by filling in our cleaners job and vacancies form

You must be presentable, trustworthy, and hardworking, have cleaning experience, have a good command of English, live or be able to get the sites be able to clean high standards.

Apply now by filling in our cleaning job form

Office Cleaning Kent - Kent Cleaning Services

2011-10-12T08:30:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for office cleaning in Kent or for any type of Cleaning Services in Kent please visit our site to get an instant online quote or to book in a site surveyor online.

Office Cleaning in Essex

2011-10-12T08:27:00.001-07:00

If you are looking for Office Cleaning in Essex or any type of Essex Cleaning Services please visit our site to get an online quote or to book a site surveyor.

Cleaners and their well being?

2011-10-12T00:32:00.000-07:00

The below excerpt is from sage, a dinosaur UK based accounting software company, who made their money on the back of ms access and then by charging extortionate prices in annual support fees because the program is so awful to use.  

Happiness and wellbeing amongst employees should be considered a key factor for businesses keen to sustain a positive and productive workforce. The virtues of a happy, stimulated and content workforce cannot be undervalued, even at this time of economic uncertainty. As businesses are being forced to downsize, employees are being asked to produce more with less resources, often adding pressure onto the employee.  You are ultimately responsible for creating an environment where employees feel cared for and considered, not overworked and overlooked. Flexible working should be implemented where possible, reducing long hours in the office and giving a sense of autonomy, ultimately creating a climate of trust.  Formal and informal communication is critical and you must nurture a working environment where people are encouraged to speak freely and share their concerns, ideas and opinions.

Most office cleaning companies and cleaning companies are already experts at motivating staff, who really wants to clean someone else's toilet right? Let alone a commercial one. So apparently happiness and wellbeing is to be considered an important factor whilst working, who doesn't feel a sense of wellbeing and inordinate happiness whilst cleaning someone else's bog?

Asides from the fact that people who write this type of garbage are living in cuckoo land, it does make me ponder why it is ok to treat cleaners so awfully.

Example? Hundreds, everyday seems to bring lower standards in acceptable treatment of cleaners and cleaning companies.

Ask any cleaning company and they will tell you that they are long used to being treated as a kicking ball, we are resolutely at the bottom of the rung, the boss lays out some schtick, this works its way down eventually until we poor sods get an hollering at some trivial oversight.

As we try to explain, cleaners along with everyone else are not perfect, but most are trying to do an awful job with bad pay in the best way that they can, but clients are not interested in hearing this.
In an instant, as soon as a single bin has been missed, they are ranting on the phone, emailing with double and triple explanation marks, they use language like, wholly unacceptable and we are extremely unhappy with the service. If a fingermark is missed on the receptionist desk, how about wiping it off and getting on with a days work, hell no, lets get on the blower and berate the cleaner - not good enough, I am extremely dissatisfied, blah, blah.

If given the option many would judging by their language, tone and anger quite happily line us and the cleaners against the wall.

Clients need to remember they chose the lowest bid (always) pay next to nothing for a job they are not willing to do themselves and maybe try counting to 10. We are all just trying to do the best we can.

Low pay, low standards? Why is cleaning so price driven?

2011-10-08T01:25:00.000-07:00

As the usual debate goes on about the increase to minimum wage and how that affects the economy and jobs, I thought I would look at a broader issue for cleaners and the cleaning industry.

Low pay, low standards? Why is cleaning so price driven? Why is cleaning never seen as a professional job in its own right with the usual associated pay and conditions? Lots of whys right?

Cleaning is just a dead end job that people who cant find other work or are in between other jobs or due to some set of circumstances do? Right? Well some would agree...

The following is from a business forum -

Small business owners getting rich from paying staff peanuts?? yeah right

Floor Sweeper £8.50 per hour Has it not occured to you that if you pay the floor sweeper £8.50 per hour then the warehouse staff for instance would want £10-12 per hour, the forklift truckdriver on £10 would then want £15 per hour, the manager would then want upwards of £35k!

To employe your floor sweeper a small shop for instance would be shelling out around £21k a year if you include employers NI

There is a valid argument here and ties in with skilled workers vs non skilled workers and their corresponding pay. However one could argue that cleaners would indeed be more skilled and the industry more professional if they were paid higher wages.

The argument of comparing non skilled workers vs skilled workers may have some validity with comparing a surgeon with a truck driver but does the same hold true when comparing a cleaner with a forklift driver?

Why is cleaning seen as purely a non skilled sector and a dead end job. For many people it suits them ideally, particularly if its part time job which they can fit round other parts of their life, such as childcare, education other work commitments etc.

If clients were willing to pay higher rates (and in my opinion this is the crucial factor) then cleaners could be sent on more courses - yes professional cleaning is more than just pushing a vacuum cleaner around, standards and keeping and recruiting good professional cleaning staff would be much easier.

Clients demand a professional service but wish to pay extremely low prices which makes it impossible to pay professional pay which means cleaning will never be a profession, and so it goes, and so it goes.

This is an interesting area that we as cleaning companies cannot delve too deeply into, do you want the work or not will be the client’s response, then do it at the lowest price.

Clients want their premises cleaned to the highest standards, a job they are not usually prepared to do themselves, they also want someone reliable, trustworthy, professional, conscientious but then are only prepared to pay way less than what they would ever consider working for, herein lies the contradiction.

Professional rates means you can have professionals.

Paying cleaners higher wages

2011-10-07T00:06:00.000-07:00

As a cleaning company both affect us, but my question is would you be willing to pay substantially more - somewhere in the region of 25% if the cleaner was to receive the London Living Wage?(the money to go to the cleaners not the contractor)

As a bit of background, I do feel cleaners should be paid more but also realise times are extremely tough. However when times weren't so tough I tried some years back to push the fact that we were going to pay the cleaners more but this would entail slightly higher rates and pointed out all the benefits, after 6 months I had to stop this as we weren't winning any business at all, nada, niente, rien, zip.

The pluses are clear I would have thought to most people; cleaners are not so transient on higher wages, its easier to recruit and keep better cleaners, cleaners feel more valued, you could actually get professional people for professional pay etc.

It has in fact gone the other way in London, there is very little possibility of winning any work unless its at the lowest possible rate hence we all have to pay min wage to survive, and many jobs are simply not worth taking on at the rates clients are willing to pay and of course even then they expect the best possible service. The rates are far lower than 20/25 years ago for both cleaning companies and cleaners alike.

So would you be willing to put your hand in your pocket if the cleaner was to get higher wages and if not why not?

What cleaning

2011-10-05T03:31:00.000-07:00

What cleaning is about?

Some say cleaning is about order. Others may exaggeratewhat cleaning is and the importance of cleanness.

Others believe what cleaning is is hygiene but should one should get obsessed with cleaning?

It has been sugested vacuuming daily and wiping the bathroom clean for less than 30 minutes is the right amount of time one should spent in order to maintain a good hygiene level in a house and believe everyday cleaning is a way to save time and money.

What cleaning is depends on which way you percieve it be.

Changes to minimum wage and agency worker rules to affect cleaning companies

2011-10-03T23:38:00.000-07:00

Many office cleaning companies and cleaning companies are already struggling, clients are expecting more and more for less, cleaners want and demand higher pay, times are uncertain, one thing that is certain is the increase to national minimum wage from this month - details below;

In October, some changes to employment law will come into force, effecting businesses of all sizes across the county. These changes could have a big impact on your employees, your responsibilities are minimal.But what do the changes mean for your business and what action do you need to take?• Firstly, the national minimum wage rates will increase on October 1 2011.

This means you’ll have to pay at least:o £6.08 per hour for workers aged 21 or more.o £4.98 per hour for workers aged 18-20.o £3.68 per hour for workers aged 16-17.You’ll also need to pay any apprentices who are under the age of 19 at least £2.60 per hour, as well as those aged 19 and over who are in the first year of their apprenticeship.If you provide any workers with accommodation, the accommodation offset will be increased to a maximum of £4.73 per day.

We would recommend to update all of your employees' contracts with the new rate of pay to ensure clarity of information, in case of dispute. This could be done through an amendment letter stating the new rate and highlighting that ‘all other terms and conditions of employment remain the same.’Failure to pay the minimum rate is a criminal offence. •

The second change to come into effect is the Agency Workers Regulations 2010.These regulations give agency temps a right to the same basic working and employment conditions as they would have had if they had been directly employed by the hirer to do the same job.

An agency temp will have to work for a qualifying period of 12 weeks, in the same role, with the same hirer, before they are entitled to equal treatment.Occupational social security schemes, such as company pension schemes and occupational sick pay, are not included in basic working and employment conditions.

All agency temps will be entitled to certain rights from the first day of an assignment, including access to canteens, childcare facilities, car parking and the right to be notified of permanent vacancies. .

Cleaning jobs - cleaners jobs - cleaning jobs application form

2011-10-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

Please complete our online cleaning job aplication form below to apply for our current cleaning vacancies for cleaners

You can visit our website to complete your form as well

Online cleaning quote - get an online cleaning price quote now

2011-10-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

Clean

2011-10-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

clean |klēn|
adjective
1 free from dirt, marks, or stains : the room was spotlessly clean | keep the wound clean.
• having been washed since last worn or used : a clean blouse.
• [ attrib. ] (of paper) not yet marked by writing or drawing : he copied the directions onto a clean sheet of paper.
• (of a person) attentive to personal hygiene : by nature he was clean and neat.
• free from pollutants or unpleasant substances : we will create a cleaner, safer environment.
• free from or producing relatively little radioactive contamination.
2 morally uncontaminated; pure; innocent : clean living.
• not sexually offensive or obscene : it's all good clean fun | even when clean, his verses are very funny.
• showing or having no record of offenses or crimes : a clean driving license is essential for the job.
• played or done according to the rules : it was a good clean fight.
• [ predic. ] informal not possessing or containing anything illegal, esp. drugs or stolen goods : I searched him and his luggage, and he was clean.
• [ predic. ] informal (of a person) not taking or having taken drugs or alcohol.
• free from ceremonial defilement, according to Mosaic Law and similar religious codes.
• (of an animal) not prohibited under such codes and fit to be used for food.
3 free from irregularities; having a smooth edge or surface : a clean fracture of the leg.
• having a simple, well-defined, and pleasing shape : the clean lines and pared-down planes of modernism.
• (of an action) smoothly and skillfully done : I still hadn't made a clean takeoff.
• (of a taste, sound, or smell) giving a clear and distinctive impression to the senses; sharp and fresh : clean, fresh, natural flavors.
• (of timber) free from knots.
adverb
1 so as to be free from dirt, marks, or unwanted matter : the room had been washed clean.
2 informal used to emphasize the completeness of a reported action, condition, or experience : he was knocked clean off his feet | I clean forgot her birthday.
verb [ trans. ]
make (something or someone) free of dirt, marks, or mess, esp. by washing, wiping, or brushing : clean your teeth properly after meals | chair covers should be easy to clean | we cleaned Uncle Jim up and made him presentable | [ intrans. ] he always expected other people to clean up after him | [as n. ] ( cleaning) Anne will help with the cleaning.
• remove the innards of (fish or poultry) prior to cooking.
PHRASES
( as) clean as a whistle see whistle .
clean bill of health see bill of health .
clean someone's clock informal give someone a beating : he went wild and cleaned everybody's clock down there in the dugout. • defeat or surpass someone decisively.
clean house do housework. • eliminate corruption or inefficiency : unless our organization cleans house, it will be difficult to raise funds.
clean one's plate eat up all the food put on one's plate.
a clean sweep 1 the removal of all unwanted people or things in order to start afresh : the new leaders wanted to make a clean sweep of the discredited old order. 2 the winning of all of a group of similar or related competitions, events, or matches : he was in reach of the nomination after a clean sweep of Tuesday's primaries.
clean up one's act informal begin to behave in a better way, esp. by giving up alcohol, drugs, or illegal activities : the casino industry is bent on cleaning up its act.
come clean informal be completely honest; keep nothing hidden : the company has refused to come clean about its pollution record.
have clean hands be uninvolved and blameless with regard to an immoral act : no one involved in the conflict has clean hands.
keep one's hands clean not involve oneself in an immoral act.
keep one's nose clean see nose .
make a clean breast of something (or make a clean breast of it) confess fully one's mistakes or wrongdoings.
make a clean job of something informal do something thoroughly.
wipe the slate clean see wipe .
PHRASAL VERBS
clean someone out informal use up or take all someone's money : they were cleaned out by the Englishman at the baccarat table.
clean up • make things or an area clean or neat : he was in the kitchen, cleaning up. • informal make a substantial gain or profit. • win all the prizes available in a sporting competition or series of events : the Germans cleaned up at Wimbledon.
clean something up restore order or morality to : the police chief was given the job of cleaning up a notorious district.
DERIVATIVES
cleanable adjective
cleanish adjective
cleanness noun
ORIGIN Old English clǣne; related to Dutch and German klein ‘small.’

Cleaning tips - How to clean sandblasted glass

2011-10-03T09:08:00.000-07:00

Many cleaning companies and office cleaners may be asked to clean sandblasted glass or privacy glass

Sandblasted glass can be difficult to clean without bringing in a specialist cleaning company who sometimes have to remove the glass and take it away to b e polished. But can light marks and general cleaning be carried out without bringing in professional cleaners ?

Yes is the answer. A good cleaning tip, to get into the groves, firstly try cleaning with warm water and some light degreaser (a washing up liquid should suffice) as you you would when cleaning normal glass.

If this is not working try using vinegar or methelated spirits which should reach deeper into the grooves and dips that are problem areas to clean in sandblasted windows. After this wash in warm clean water to ensure a smear free finish.

TUPE Regulations and cleaning companies

2011-10-03T00:13:00.000-07:00

TUPE and contract cleaning companies
If you are a European or UK contract cleaning company looking to expand or even sell your business you will sooner or later, more likely sooner, come across the TUPE regulations.
But what are the TUPE regulations and how do they affect cleaning companies? These two seemingly simple question should have simple straightforward answers but unfortunately TUPE is enormously complicated and if a cleaning contractor gets it wrong the financial costs can be significant.
TUPE is short for Transfer of Undertakings of Protection of Employment Regulations 2006 and are the UK's implementation of the European Community's new Acquired rights Directive (2001/23/EC). It is now a significant part of UK employment law, protecting employees whose business is being transferred to another business. The 2006 regulations replace the old 1981 regulations.
The aim of TUPE is to protect the rights of employees, ensuring that workers are not dismissed before or after a transfer unless there is an "economic, technical, or organisational" reason. Employees' terms and conditions of contract should not be compromised before or after the transfer (again unless there is an economic, technical or organisational reason). Employees must be consulted through any transfers. The protected contract terms for Employees inc hours of work, pay, length of service, any other entitlements.

The regulations mean for cleaning contractors that when a a cleaning contract passes from client to cleaning contractor or between cleaning contractors, cleaners have a legal right to transfer to the new employer on their same terms and conditions of employment - and with continuous service.
Cleaning companies face a minefield of regulation with no clear guidelines, for example there are no specific guidelines as to when an employee spends sufficient time on a contract to be guaranteed TUPE protection in the event of a transfer But if the contractor gets this wrong and mistakenly judges an employee does not qualify for the transfer, an employee can go to an employment tribunal at no cost to themselves get a significant amount for unfair dismissal.
If you are involved in any aspect of TUPE you will need specialist employment advice as it is extremely complicated and open to misinterpretation, but get it wrong and the outcomes can extremely costly. Here at ICS Cleaning we employ specialist employment law consultants and have considerable experience in dealing with TUPE and can guide our clients through the whole process.

Increases to national minimum wage - how will this affect cleaning companies?

2011-10-03T00:02:00.001-07:00

Cleaning jobs

2011-10-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

We are currently looking for cleaners in Essex Middlesex Kent and around the M25 areas including Reading, Slough and we are always on the lookout for exceptional cleaners to deliver our outstanding cleaning services in London.

You must have an excellent attention to detail and be able to work to high standards everyday. Previous experience required.

Please tell us of any qualifications or experience you have and if you have been CRB checked.

Apply now by filling in our cleaning job form

Cleaners Required Central London - various shifts

We are looking for a cleaners for a possible immediate start to clean in central London.

You must be presentable, trustworthy, and hardworking, have cleaning experience, have a good command of English, be able to get to Central London, be able to clean high standards.

If you believe you can do this job to the highest standards please email back stating you are interested in the Cleaning jobs in London complete our form with your name, age, address, telephone number, cleaning experience and why you think you can do the job.

Apply now by filling in our cleaning recruitment form

Office cleaning checklists

2011-10-02T05:21:00.000-07:00

Here are some further examples of office cleaning checklists cleaning companies may use or may form part of the basis of the daily cleaning shedules, many areas will be generic but adjustments will have to be made to accomodate different requirements.

We here at ICS visit the client's premises, find out what their requirements are and then draw up their cleaning schedule based on those, but the below cover many common areas and cleaning requirments.

Example 1

CLEANING SCHEDULE

1. Entrance

Clean glass doors – daily

Spot clean walls high contact areas - weekly

2. Washrooms

Refill dispensers, empty trash and remove to designated area - daily

Clean and sanitize washroom fixtures – daily

Spot clean walls, partitions, doors and light switches – daily

Clean mirrors – daily

3. Floors / Carpet

Sweep hard surface floors – daily

Clean and sanitize washroom fixtures – daily

Using neutral cleaner damp mop hard surface floors – daily

Vacuum carpeted area – daily

4. Kitchen Area

Sweep hard surface floors – daily

Using a degreaser, damp mop hard surface floors – daily

5. Dusting and Detail Cleaning

Dust high and low to reach areas – weekly

Spot clean walls and high contact areas – weekly

Dust window ledges – weekly

Clean all glass inside & outside with squeegee. Once a Week

Example 2

Reception / Entry
Clean door inside and out
Organise magazines
Vacuum and organise chairs
Dust and clean coffee table
Wipe down reception desk
Wipe down filing cabinet
Wipe down phone
Dust computer / keyboard
Vacuum Floor
Wash baseboard
Dust pictures
Empty rubbish

Offices / Conference Room
Dust and wipe down desks
Dust and wipe down tables
Dust and wipe down chairs
Dust computer / keyboards
Dust cabinets and bookcases
Wipe down phone
Dust pictures
Clean glass
Vacuum or mop floor
Empty rubbish

Kitchen / Break room
Wash dishes
Clean sink
Wipe down benchtops
Clean appliances
Wipe out microwave
Clean out fridge
Wipe down sills
Wash walls
Wipe down
Vacuum / mop / sweep floor
Empty rubbish
Clean and disinfect rubbish can
Wash baseboard
Clean outlets

Bathroom
Wash sink
Wash vanity top
Clean mirror
Clean toilets
Clean doors
Clean taps
Clean tiles
Wash baseboards
Mop /sweep floor
Empty rubbish

Miscellaneous
Change water in vases
Water plants
Clean windows
Clean sills
Vacuum blinds
Dust pictures
Remove cobwebs
Dust light fixtures
Sweep porch

Example 3
DAILY CLEANING
Your reception area represents your customer’s first impression. You want it to always be bright, clean and inviting. Every individual needs a clean work environment. A well organized and clean workplace helps to make everyone more productive. Cleaning tasks for the reception area and office spaces include:
1. Empty waste receptacles and replace liners. Wash as needed. 2. Vacuum all carpets and mats 3. Vacuum all hard floors 4. Dust all horizontal surfaces of desks, chairs, tables and other furniture 5. Damp wipe all horizontal surfaces with disinfectant 6. Mop all hard floors with disinfectant 7. Remove cobwebs from front entry and immediate surrounding areas 8. Remove fingerprints and marks from around light switches and door frames 9. Clean automatic glass doors inside and out 10. Wipe all internal glass 11. Polish all brass and bright work on doors and cabinets 12. Spot clean walls and painted surface 13. Collect all garbage, papers, bottles etc. from front entrance 14. Ensure all areas are clean & arranged neatly
Kitchen/Break Room & Washroom A clean and sanitized washroom is a must in any working environment to ensure safety and reduce the risk of spreading germs. Same thing goes for a kitchen or break room where employees eat. It is imperative that this space be clean and sanitary even if no food preparation is done there.
15. Stock toilet tissue, hand towels, facial tissues and hand soap 16. Empty waste receptacles and wipe if needed and replace bin liners as required 17. Clean and polish mirrors 18. Wipe hand towel dispensers/hand dryers 19. Wipe down doors and sills – remove all dust and prints 20. Clean and sanitize all basins. Polish all bright work 21. Dust partitions, tops of mirrors and frames 22. Remove splash marks from walls and partitions around basins 23. Mop clean restroom and kitchen floors with disinfectant 24. Elevator and Stairs 25. Remove garbage from all areas 26. Polish all brass and bright work 27. Vacuum and mop all hard floors 28. Spot clean internal glass in doors 29. Toilets and urinals to be cleaned and disinfected on both sides and disinfected/sanitized and wiped dry
WEEKLY CLEANING
30. Spray buff all hard floors. 31. Clean all glass inside & outside with squeegee.
MONTHLY CLEANING 32. Vacuum vents and chairs

Example 4

Entry Desk, Lobby and Reception
These areas are the first things that anyone walking into the office will see. And that's why it is necessary to keep these areas clean. A clean lobby, reception and desk will evoke a pleasant feeling for anyone who walks in. Here is an office cleaning checklist that one can refer to when cleaning these areas:
    •    Clean the main glass door of the office with a good cleaning product, till it sparkles.
    •    Dust all the furniture.
    •    Clear the reception desk of any clutter and dust it.
    •    If a glass counter is fitted over the reception desk, wipe it clean of any fingerprint marks.
    •    Wipe the phones and computers at the desk.
    •    Dust and wipe any other artwork present, like statues or frames.
    •    Dust all the curtains and couches. Read more on upholstery cleaning.
    •    Arrange all the magazines in a neat pile.
    •    Dust and polish all the glass frames of tables in the area.
    •    Vacuum the reception area and lobby floors. Read more on floor cleaning.
    •    Clear out the garbage bins.
    •    Clean and water the potted plants in the lobby (if any).
    •    Spray an air freshener for an added effect.
Cubicles, Offices and Conference Rooms
Maintaining a clean office area and cubicles is important for the employees. Here's an office cleaning checklist for the same.
    •    Dust and wipe all the desks.
    •    Wipe all the cabinets and shelves.
    •    Vacuum the floors and carpets. Read more on carpet cleaning.
    •    Dust the phones and computers on the desk.
    •    Wipe al the window sills.
    •    Cleaning and wiping all the light fixtures.
    •    Cleaning glass doors of the cabins.
    •    Emptying the garbage cans.
Kitchen
Maintaining a clean and hygienic kitchen is imperative not on;y for a good impression, but more importantly for the health of the employees. This office cleaning checklist will help you with the cleaning.
    •    Clean the sink, counters and floors by wiping and sanitizing them.
    •    Wipe the refrigerator and burner/stove.
    •    Clean the microwave thoroughly from the inside and out.
    •    Wipe the walls (especially behind the stove) for any oil marks or food spills.
    •    Wipe the windows.
    •    Vacuum the furniture - Chairs, benches, tables. Read more on vacuum cleaners.
    •    Empty the trash cans and sanitize them.
    •    Clean the shelves and cabinets.

Washrooms
A clean and sanitized bathroom is essential in any organization. The following office cleaning checklist will come in handy when cleaning the washrooms and bathrooms.
    •    Clean the toilets and sanitize them.
    •    Wipe and wash the sink and fixtures.
    •    Polish all the mirrors.
    •    Clean the counters and keep them dry.
    •    Clean all the doors and tiles.
    •    sweep and mop the floors.
    •    Wipe the towel and soap dispensers.

Example 5
    •    Clean all windows. Read more on window cleaning.
    •    Dust the plants and change the water in vases.
    •    Remove cobwebs from all nooks and cranes.
    •    Dust all the frames.
    •    Dust light fixtures, blinds and sills.
    •    Use a room freshener for a complete clean feeling.
Entry or Reception
Your reception area represents your customer's first impression. You want it to always be bright, clean and inviting. Top cleaning tasks for the reception area;
o Door glass crystal clear and wood dust free  o Carpet clean and vacuumed  o Reception counter dust and fingerprint free  o Artwork dusted and glass cleaned  o Phones and computers wiped down  o Tabletops dusted and polished  o Magazines organized  o Garbage bins emptied
Offices/Cubicles
Every individual needs a clean work environment. A well organized and clean workplace helps to make everyone more productive.
o Desks dusted  o Carpets Cleaned and vacuumed  o Filing cabinets wiped down  o Window sills wiped down  o Phones and Computers wiped down  o Door glass cleaned  o Bookcases/book spines dusted  o Light fixtures dusted or wiped down  o Rubbish emptied
Washrooms
A clean and sanitized washroom is a must in any working environment. Make sure yours is in top shape with all of these things done!
o Sink, fixtures and toilets cleaned and sanitized  o Mirrors polished  o Counter tops cleaned and sanitized  o Soap and towel dispensers wiped down  o Floors mopped  o Trash emptied
Kitchen/Break room
If your office has a kitchen or break room where employees eat, it is imperative that this space be clean and sanitary even if no food preparation is done there.
o Sink, fixtures and countertops wiped down and sanitized  o Stove top and refrigerator wiped down  o Microwave wiped down  o Cabinets dusted or wiped  o Wall outlets wiped and sanitized  o Tables, benches and chairs wiped down  o Trash can emptied and disinfected  o All garbage removed
Reception Areas
Daily Cleaning Tasks Checklist
Start with Reception area, Stairs and corridors (if your office has these)
Ensure glass (if applicable) in front door is spotlessly cleaned – make your visitors first impressions count!
Sweep or vacuum the office entrance, doormats and carpets in corridors and on stairs
Vacuum high traffic carpeted areas Daily
Vacuum low traffic carpeted areas on alternate days (you’ll need to map these out first though!)
Polishing of desks and any other furniture where situated in these areas
Dust and polish window sills and ledges
Empty all waste bins and replace liners

Toilets, Washrooms or Lavatories
Daily Cleaning Checklist
Empty all waste bins and replace liners
Clean & disinfect toilet pans, seats and urinals
Clean & de-scale hand basins and taps
Replenish Soap, hand towels and toilet rolls.
Clean & disinfect all surfaces and radiator fronts
Clean doors and handles plus tops of doors
Spot clean mirrors
Vacuum / clean floor with anti bacterial solution
Weekly Checklist
Clean skirting boards, sills and ledges
Descale Toilets to prevent limescale build up
Dust high fixtures and fittings

Offices, Meeting rooms and Boardrooms
Daily Cleaning Checklist
Empty all waste bins and replace liners as necessary.
Damp wipe / polish desks and all other items of furniture
Dust office equipment to a high standard
Vacuum the High Traffic carpeted areas daily (easy to spot look for increased wear)
Vacuum Low Traffic carpeted areas on alternate days
Collect any cups left around the office and wash in relevant kitchen
Clean internal glass and doors (tip clean the dirty spots rather than the whole glass)

Example 6
Daily / General
    •    Empty waste bins as required.
    •    Dust / damp wipe furniture, window ledges, fire extinguishers and radiators to normal hand height as accessible including tops of pictures.
    •    Dust telephones in rotation.
    •    Damp wipe paintwork of doors, skirting and light switches as required.
    •    Damp wipe finger marks / spillage from walls as necessary / possible.
    •    Spot clean finger marks from doorways.
    •    Vacuum clean all carpet areas including under desks / chairs.
    •    Vacuum all soft furnishings in rotation.
    •    Clean / polish of any brass / chrome.
    •    Damp wipe of windowsills.
Quarterly / General
    •    Hygienic treatment and valeting of computer screens, base units and telephone equipment.
    •    Wash and wipe dry all skirting boards, Flick dust windowsills and ledges above normal hand height.

TOILET / BATHROOM AREAS
Daily / General
    •    Damp wipe all hard surfaces where possible.
    •    Sanitise urinals / basins.
    •    Replenish toilet rolls, hand soap, and hand towels when necessary.
    •    Damp wipe partition in rotation.
    •    Damp wipe tiles in rotation.
    •    Sweep / mop floor.
    •    Empty waste bins and remove to disposal point.
Quarterly / General
    •    Deep clean of all hard surface areas, to include: tiles and partitions.
    •    Acid clean of sanitary ware.

KITCHEN AREAS
    •    Clean Hob
    •    Wipe Outside Cupboards
    •    Clean Inside Microwave
    •    Clean Out Fridge
    •    Wipe Outside of Oven
    •    Clean Sink
    •    Wash Up
    •    Wipe Washing Machine
    •    Wipe Tumble Dryer

Example 7

Office cleaners holidays

2011-09-29T23:29:00.001-07:00

For many office cleaning companies and cleaning companies the worst part of the job is dealing with the HR side, what happens if a cleaner wants an extended holiday?

You have to decide whether or not you want this employee to return and if you want to agree to this request. The choice is to either agree this which will keep the contract in force or to bring the contract to an end. This ultimately comes down to whether or not you want to hold this position open for them.

If you want the employee to return and you think that you’re able to cope without them for this period of time, possibly by arranging a temporary replacement, then you can agree this between you. Your employee is entitled to be paid for their time away for any portion of this time that is covered by their annual leave entitlement. Any additional time off is unpaid leave unless you come to some agreement to pay extra on a discretionary basis.

If you agree a temporary cessation of work then the contract continues as normal and they return to work on the agreed date. If you are not able to agree this break then you need to tell your employee that and be clear about what you’re saying. Explain to the employee that you can’t hold their job open so they will have to resign if they no longer wish to be bound by the contract. Tell them that they can contact you on their return and you will see if you have any suitable vacancies for them but you cannot guarantee that you will be able to rehire them so there should be no expectation of the contract continuing.

Office cleaning checklist

2011-09-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

Office cleaners and office cleaning companies usually have to supply a cleaning specification or checklist which make up the service level agreements.

Depending on what type of building and what type of work needs to be carried out the checklist can vary -Here is a basic example

General Daily Cleaning Duties
Daily	NOTES	DONE
Bathrooms	Clean and disinfect all bathrooms
	inside and outside toilet
	mirror, counter top and edges
	paper towel dispenser, wipe door handle's inside and outside
	Mop floors
	polish all stainless steel
	sweep floors
	replace toliet paper
	disinfect all sinks
Hallway Area(s)	Clean, sweep and mop all general locations with tile throughout office
	Counter tops and edges should be dusted/wiped down
	Clean glass doors, all windows and window seals
	Dust, disinfect and wipe down hall walls
	Sweep and mop stairways entrance

Office Area(s)
	Sweep and Vacuum all offices
	Wipe and disinfect work desk and phones (Data room, Fax and Copier Room
	Wipe and disinfect all cabinets, computers, keyboards, etc
	Wipe and disinfect tables
	Empty garbage cans (If garbage cans need cleaning please clean)
	Wipe/dust all windows and window seals
	polish all stainless steel and wood
	clean all picture frames door jams etc
Laboratory Area	throw out trash
	Sweep floor
	Mop floor
	Clean and disinfect table and counter top
	Clean and disinfect the outside of refrigerator

Waiting Area	Clean and disinfect all counter tops and chairs
	dust all shelfs
	clean in and out windows
	vacuum carpet
	throw out trash
Exam Rooms	Sweep and Vacuum all floors
	Wipe and disinfect all countertops and cabinets etc.
	clean and disinfect all sinks, mirrors, exam tables and chairs
clean doors	clean in and out side of all doors
	wipe door handle's inside and outside

Here at ICS we offer a cleaning specification and then adjust to suit the clients requirements. In our time we have seen checklists that are not far off war and peace in length which may cover everything but probably will not be practical on a day to day commercial contract. In our experience a balance between what is possible, what is required and some room for additional works as and when required forms the ideal checklist specification.

Increasing your office cleaning business

2011-09-28T23:47:00.001-07:00

There are many office cleaning companies and cleaning companies but successful cleaning companies are always thinking about how to attract new customers. So draw up a list of what you’re currently doing and what you could try in future, and make sure you are always actively marketing your business and its products and services. For example, you could:

Offer free estimates and advice on services
Let potential new customers know who you are and what you offer
Aim to provide the best possible experience on the first sale
Offer options and solutions to increase convenience
Position yourself as a leader next to your competition – give prospects reasons to buy from you
Aim to price your products or services according to their quality – avoid under-pricing them.
Getting more from existing customers

Of course, once you’ve won new customers you need to keep them. Your regular customer base is critical to your business' survival and growth. It generally costs more to attract new customers than to look after the ones you have.

To retain your regular customers you need to seize chances to build and maintain your relationship with them on each interaction or sale. Whether by email, newsletter, word of mouth or your product or service, you should try to cement your customers' relationships with your business.

Typically, this is done by:

Regularly communicating with customers, by phone or online, possibly with regular newsletters or online updates
Focusing on their needs and wants
Being specific, honest and clear about what you can offer
Getting to know your competitors, understanding what they are offering that is attracting customers, and adapting your business accordingly.

You can also gain new business from existing customers through your selling techniques. For example, you could:

Encourage people to buy now, by offering lower prices for immediate/bulk purchases or bookings
Use coupons that are easy and cheap to design and can be easily distributed
Offer a prize in a competition to encourage people to get to know your business, at the same time gaining media coverage
Consider offering advice or another service that is useful to your customers
Offer gifts, free trials and estimates – these can be great ways to advertise and have customers remember you
Offer your regular customers incentives for referrals
Reward your customers with loyalty schemes
Ensure your staff are fully aware of your customer base, products and services and are inspired about your business
Day-to-day interactions can improve your understanding of, and help you respond to, your customers' needs and wants. This information can strengthen your products or services, your customer relationships and your return on investment as a result.

Office cleaning and closing the deal

2011-09-27T23:03:00.000-07:00

There are many office cleaning companies and cleaning companies out there so how can you distinguish yourself and then close the deal with a potential client?

Even if you manage to gain the client's commitment to signing an order, there may be a period of negotiation required to agree on the details.

Remember not to get carried away by the fact that you have potentially secured a new contract - you may still have to walk away if the deal doesn't suit your profit margins or your ability to deliver.

Negotiating on price
It is tempting to end up in a negotiation on the final cost of the deal, as it is almost certainly one of the elements that the client will try to negotiate on. However, it is rarely advantageous to give ground on price.

Provided you have set your price realistically, taking into account the cost of creating and delivering your product or service, lowering your price may:

result in a low profit margin that affects your ability to deliver to the required standard
create an expectancy that you will lower it further
suggest that it was too high in the first place
For more information, see our guide on how to price your product or service.

If the client insists on a price reduction, offer to give them a discount based on more cleaning services. You could also offer to agree on a particular price if you can alter some elements of the proposed package, eg lessen hours.

Take your time
Whatever happens in the negotiation, remain assertive but polite at all times. Don't be put off by comments designed to destabilise your position, eg 'that's far too expensive'. Outline the benefits and why it is worth the cost.

Consider all sensible offers but don't agree to a condition too quickly - this can make the buyer think you are desperate and that there could be more room for manoeuvre.

See what out clients have to say about us in out office cleaning testimonial page