Information on Commercial Office Cleaning

To office dwellers, an office is more than desks and cubicles. It is where they spend a major chunk of their lives. There is more to commercial office cleaning than just emptying waste baskets and vacuuming the floor. Cleaning services offering a full line of services will add value to their customers while increasing their own bottom line.
Beyond basic vacuuming and dusting, carpets and upholstery will need periodic deep cleaning. Vinyl floors must be waxed and buffed and bathroom tile and fixtures must be sanitized regularly.

Office Area: Basic Cleaning

The square footage of the office and how many employees work in the area will determine the frequency of cleaning. Typically, a large office will require daily service while an office of fewer than 10 people might get by with service two or three days a week.
Regardless, the basic cleaning is the same per visit. Start each area with a pole duster to reach cob webs in corners and high ledges. Next, dust desks (be careful to leave papers, folders and other materials in the place that the day worker had them). Empty trash pails, then clean floors, vacuum carpets and mop hard floors.
Bathroom and kitchen areas are treated in the same manner as office areas. Start by dusting down the high areas. Next, clean mirrors and wall tiles. Finally, sinks, counter tops, toilettes, urinals and floors should be cleaned with a disinfectant cleaner.

Carpet Cleaning

The amount of foot traffic in a particular office will dictate the frequency of carpet cleaning. Expect at least once a year for even the calmest office.
While there are many methods of carpet cleaning, steam cleaning lends itself well to an office setting because the cleaning wand can get under desks easier than other carpet cleaning machinery.
Set up a steam cleaning machine as per the manufacturer's specifications. Start the cleaning job at the farthest end of the office. Work around desks and filing cabinets.
Since office furnishings are rarely moved, and given the amount of wires that connect computers and other office machines, it is best to only move chairs and small tables.
Keep an all-purpose carpet spotter on hand for regular cleanings. Office managers will want spills cleaned up right away.

Upholstery and Cubicle Cleaning

Upholstery and fiber cubicle dividers should be cleaned about once a year. Hand shampooing is a perfect choice because special equipment is not needed.
Purchase a shampoo concentrate from a janitorial supplier or home improvement store. Make sure the bottle says it is approved for hand upholstery cleaning. Mix according to the manufacturer's specifications. Test the upholstery and cubicle in an inconspicuous area. Using a sponge, agitate the solution to create a lot of bubbles. Scoop up a liberal amount of foam with the sponge. Work the suds into the fabric using an overlapping circular motion.
Blot with a clean, with terry cloth or microfiber towel to remove excess moisture.

Floor Polishing and Waxing

Vinyl tile floors require a maintenance schedule all their own. Once a year, strip off the old wax using a standard floor machine equipped with a black stripping pad, liberal amounts of floor stripping chemical and a wet vac. As old wax is removed from each area, rinse with clear water and allow to dry before applying floor sealer and two coats of floor finish (wax).
The waxed floors will need to be dusted and mopped with a neutral pH cleaner daily (every other day is fine in small offices).
To restore the shine without stripping and waxing, buff with a white or red pad followed by a coat of fresh floor finish.

Window Cleaning

One- or two-story office buildings can be serviced by the average cleaning company with a few ladders and squeegees. However, even tall buildings that require a crew with harnesses to clean the exterior windows will still have glass that needs to be cleaned on a weekly or monthly basis. Any glass door is a candidate for cleaning. Plus, first floor lobby glass is often handled by the regular cleaning crew.
To clean glass, an assortment of squeegees ranging in size from about 6 inches to 24 inches is advised. Also, have the following on hand: a bucket, extender pole, step ladder and clean, lint free cloths.
Start by mixing a batch of glass cleaner concentrate. If none is available, pour a few ounces of ammonia into a bucket of water with one or two drops of dish detergent. Apply the cleaning solution to the glass from top to bottom using a cloth. Next, drag a squeegee across the glass from left to right. Horizontal cleaning tends to leave fewer streaks than vertical cleaning. Continue, using overlapping strokes until the entire window has been cleaned by the squeegee.
Dry any water drips with a clean, dry towel.

References

• Tom Ferraioli, Sr; Owner; Elegant Cleaning Services, Nutley, NJ