Guides

Opening Safely – General Guidance on Reopening Your Business

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This year, we’re in a position that none of us has ever been in before. Earlier in the year, nation-wide shutdowns and mandatory quarantines sent many businesses screeching to a halt. Over the months following the initial outbreak in the United States, we found ways to get our businesses back on track – either through remote work, staggered shifts, or other cautious scheduling and location measures.

Now, as the summer comes to an end and fall quickly approaches, most parts of the country are working to get back to normal and relax many of the strict measures we’ve had to put in place. Navigating the complexities of reopening your business in a post-COVID world can be tricky. Getting used to the new normal may also be a little tricky. But with an open mind, a caring heart, and a strategic approach, you can reopen your business safely and effectively. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

It’s important to adapt

Businesses both small and large have struggled to meet their clients’ and customers’ needs with all of the restrictions of the last few months. The businesses that will make it through – and even find ways to thrive – in this new world are the ones that understand how important flexibility and adaptability are. Pay attention to the evolving needs of both your customers and your employees.

If your employees have young children, understand that their childcare options may be limited for the foreseeable future. If they can get their work done from home, let them as often as you can. With fewer people interacting in your office space, this is a win for you, too. For your customers, make sure that you’re still meeting their needs. You may need to adapt to offer new services, products, or add-ons to stay as relevant as you were before the virus struck.

Follow the latest COVID guidelines from the most reliable resources

Relying on less-than-trustworthy third parties or social media feeds for your COVID updates won’t do if you’re looking to open your business safely and responsibly. Check for updates regularly with reliable sources like the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). They have several pages dedicated to safely reopening businesses, schools, and restaurants across the country. Here are just a few health and safety measures they suggest adopting:

• Conducting daily health checks

• Encouraging employees to wear cloth face coverings in the workplace (this is particularly important if the six-foot social distancing rule can’t be enforced or isn’t being adhered to)

• Creating best practices and policies for social distancing at work

• Providing employees with applicable and disposable disinfectants (sanitizers, cleaners, wipes, etc.)

• Improving your cleaning and disinfecting processes

If social distancing can’t be enforced the way things are currently, this is another area that may require you to be adaptable. Consider putting in plexiglass or other physical barriers, changing your office’s layout to separate cubicles or workspaces, closing shared spaces like the break room or conference room, and staggering work shifts.

You can use a COVID handbook to keep everyone on the same page

Clearly and descriptively letting your employees know (in writing) what’s expected of them is a good way to ensure that everyone is on the same page and understands the new rules. The proper procedures for handwashing, taking a sick day, keeping your distance, or wearing personal protective equipment can be left up to interpretation if they’re not clearly outlined.

Unfortunately, not everyone is taking this virus as seriously as they should be. Creating a COVID handbook makes it explicitly clear what is expected of your employees, as well as when they should stay home, and what the consequences will be if they don’t adhere to the new rules. Outlining and enforcing these new expectations will help you with reopening your business and can help keep yourself, your loved ones, your employees, and their loved ones safe.

Your cleaning and disinfecting needs will be greater than they were before

Whether social distancing and limited numbers of employees are possible or not, most decision-makers will need to ramp up their cleaning and disinfecting before reopening for business. That’s where Corvus comes in. A healthy workspace is a productive workspace. No one wants to go through all of the work involved in reopening their business just to have to shut down again because someone got sick. Our high-level cleaning and disinfecting services ensure a vibrant and healthy workplace that you and your employees can feel safe and confident spending time in.

Our focus is on cleaning corners instead of cutting them. We offer a variety of advanced cleaning and disinfecting services that have evolved even further to meet the challenge of this fast-moving virus. Among others, these services include:

• Electrostatic spraying

• Ultra-low volume fogging

• Refocused cleaning and chemical application

• Exposure cleaning and disinfecting to give additional attention to high-touch surfaces that are known germ spreaders

• Mindful office organization

• Increased frequency and strategic timing

Each of our services combines EPA-certified cleaning chemicals with state-of-the-art technologies and techniques to bring our clients true peace of mind. Electrostatic spraying and ULV fogging have been employed by major airlines, some of the most frequently visited locations in the world, to ensure the safety of those who pass through.

We bring only the best to your business and we are eager to help you reopen your business both safely and effectively. Contact us today to learn more about how Corvus can help you.

Cleaning and Disinfecting Tips: 10 Best Practices

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Whether you’re getting ready to clean and disinfect your home or your office, using the proper tools and techniques is more important than ever. The following 10 cleaning and disinfecting tips will help you ensure that your efforts are safe and effective:

Clean then disinfect

Cleaning and disinfecting are two different processes. Cleaning removes dirt, germs, and impurities from the surface. This may sound like enough, but it’s important to note that cleaning only removes surface germs, it doesn’t kill them. Decreasing the number of germs on a surface helps decrease the spread of infection, but for effective risk containment, it’s important to kill the germs, too. That’s where disinfecting comes in. Disinfecting doesn’t necessarily clean dirty surfaces, but it does kill the germs left on the surface after you’re done cleaning. Both are important in reducing the spread of infection.

Use the right tools

For routine cleaning and disinfecting, the CDC recommends wearing reusable or disposable gloves, cleaning with soap and water first, and disinfecting next. Many people will skip the gloves or skip over cleaning to go straight to disinfecting. Each of these steps is an important piece of the puzzle. Using the right tools in the right order is critical.

Choose the right chemicals

The same way choosing the right tools and using them in the right order is important, choosing the right chemicals is important, too. In the past, it was easy to pick up whatever cleaning product was closest. This was generally acceptable when we weren’t cleaning and disinfecting with the coronavirus in mind. But now, it’s important to choose chemicals that effectively kill the virus that is driving the current pandemic. The label on your cleaning product will tell you whether or not it is effective for use against SARS-CoV-2 – the COVID-19 virus. You can also find a list of EPA-approved disinfectants here.

Check the expiration dates

If you’ve had household disinfectants sitting under your sink for years, be sure to check the expiration dates before you use them. Some products last for a while after their recommended “use by” date. But when it comes to reducing the risk of infection in your home or office, it’s better not to take any chances. Expired cleaning products and disinfectants should be replaced before use.

DIY disinfectant

If you can’t get to the store, you can create your own diluted household bleach solutions with non-expired ingredients. First, confirm that your bleach has a sodium hypochlorite concentration of 5 or 6%. Then, mix five tablespoons (or one-third of a cup) of bleach per every gallon of room temperature water in your bucket. You can then use this diluted bleach solution for up to 24 hours. After that, you’ll want to start the process over. If you don’t have unexpired household bleach, you can also use alcohol solutions – just confirm that they’re at least 70% alcohol first.

Follow the instructions on your cleaning products

Too often, it’s easy to get distracted while disinfecting. When you’re cleaning with soap and water, the dwell time is less important. But when you’re disinfecting, it’s important not to spray a disinfectant and wipe it off too quickly or leave it on for too long. Your cleaning product will tell you how long you should leave it on the surface before rinsing or wiping it away. Following the instructions on the label will ensure that you’re disinfecting safely and effectively. But before you move into your disinfecting phase, be sure to break out those gloves, wear other skin protectors if necessary, and ensure adequate ventilation.

Focus on high-touch surfaces

It’s easy to forget certain high-touch surfaces when we’re cleaning at home. After all, how often do you think about your computer keyboard or light switches? Viruses can live on these surfaces for several days, so it’s important to give them some attention. Other high-touch surfaces to give extra attention to:

• Tables
• Doorknobs
• Countertops
• Handles
• Phones
• Toilets
• Desks
• Faucets
• Sinks
• Showers

Wash your hands often

After you finish cleaning and remove your gloves, wash your hands. After you finish disinfecting, wash your hands. After using the bathroom, touching doorknobs, and before eating, wash your hands. Cleaning our homes and offices is important but it can’t distract us from keeping ourselves clean, too. Wash with soap and water often to reduce the spread of germs. Anytime you won’t have access to soap and water, carry hand sanitizer that is 60% alcohol or more.

Launder rags

If you’re using wipes to clean or disinfect, be sure to toss the old one and move onto a new one when you switch surfaces. If you’re looking to reduce waste, you can use rags instead, you just have to be a little more cautious. Use separate rags for separate rooms to avoid cross-contamination, watch for color changes that suggest it’s time to switch to a new one and wash them with hot water and detergent between uses.

Let Corvus Janitorial help

For highly effective commercial cleaning and disinfecting that follows CDC and EPA guidelines, call the experts at Corvus Janitorial. We offer a wide range of cleaning and disinfecting surfaces to help keep you, your clients, and your employees or coworkers safe and healthy. We offer after-hours services, increased frequencies, and high-level techniques. Contact us today for more information.

Commercial Cleaning Contracts: What You Need to Know

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Now more than ever, cleaning matters. As more and more businesses open their doors to employees and the public, ensuring that workplaces are clean and sanitary has never been a bigger priority. Business owners across the country are working diligently to keep customers and employees alike healthy. For many businesses, this means enhanced protocols for cleaning and disinfecting.

Demand for commercial cleaning services is at an all-time high and is still growing. With so many new cleaning contracts up for grabs, you may be wondering how you can get your cleaning business in front of potential customers. Read on for insights on how to acquire office cleaning contracts, bid customer contracts, collect money from clients, and more.

Choosing the Right Facilities to Clean

Determining what type of facility you wish to target is critical, and when selecting facility types it’s important to think about how facilities and industries differ. For instance, light industrial or manufacturing facilities likely require a less detailed level of service than a medical office or daycare facility. The facility cleaning needs change with the organization’s varying purposes. An organization tasked with the welfare of infants will have far different needs than an organization tasked with distributing cardboard boxes. In thinking about what types of customers you want to pursue, think about your skills, strengths, and weaknesses…determining what suits your skill set best will help you identify your ideal customers. Some companies may not need or want recurring janitorial services, but they may require special event cleaning after an office party. As with recurring commercial cleaning contracts, special event clean up contracts will have a wide variety of needs, and the entrepreneur must decide which of these opportunities to go after.

Keep Your Cleaning Customers Close – Travel, Expenses, Logistics

Travel and logistics should play a role when you are selecting clients to target. Travel time represents a real cost in terms of money and your time and should not be overlooked in deciding which types of contracts your office cleaning business wants to target. It is highly advisable to calculate the cost associated with traveling to client accounts. Moreover, researching areas where your target accounts can be found and selling to areas of closer proximity is very important. Clustering your cleaning accounts in geographic locations that are close to one another will reduce your commute time and the associated costs, as well as limit the chance of a missed clean due to traffic or other unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances.

Types of Commercial Janitorial Services

Creating a menu of the services your professional cleaning company intends to provide is important in terms of selling and pricing your cleaning contracts. Variables such as how often per week or per month you intend to offer service will impact not only your time commitment but also the cost the customer will pay for your services. Another variable to consider is the level of cleaning you intend to provide on a nightly, weekly, or monthly basis. For instance, you may elect to provide weekly high dusting in your cleaning contracts, or you might decide to provide high dusting every night. In the second case, your cleaning company will be spending more time in the client facility to perform high dusting, thereby driving your personal cost higher – which in turn should be passed on to the client.

How to Get Office Cleaning Customers…Tools to Use

Traditional Sales Channels

After you have identified your ideal customer, decided which geographic area(s) to target, and defined your service offerings, it is time to begin selling contracts. Traditionally, the most effective and cost-efficient way to get commercial cleaning contracts is by picking up the phone and dialing, aka cold calling. If you already have a network with local business owners or office managers, tapping this network is a great place to start selling. Once you establish a base of satisfied customers, you can ask them to refer you to other businesses in their building, network, or industry. Word-of-mouth referrals are a strong vote of confidence for your brand and will make selling contracts to new clients much easier. Cold calling, networking, and customer referrals can help jumpstart your business, however, they cannot ensure consistent, stable growth in the long run.

Marketing Your Cleaning Business

Additional marketing efforts are necessary if you aim to acquire a large customer base. Fliers and pamphlets are a time-tested and relatively low-cost method to spread the word about your cleaning company. Contacting and building relationships with real estate agents and property managers is another great way to obtain customer contracts. Classified ads in newspapers are also an effective source to sell cleaning contracts, and classified ads are much cheaper than larger newspaper ads. In the age of the internet, a digital marketing strategy is critical to be a true competitor in the commercial cleaning industry. Increasingly, businesses are turning to the web to find and hire professional cleaners. An established online presence is important to winning customer contracts, and the foundation of this presence is creating a website for your cleaning company. An effective website will showcase your service offerings, provide information about your business, and tell your brand’s story. Make sure to include contact information on your website – inbound web traffic are likely high potential contract prospects.

Pricing Commercial Cleaning Contracts

Frequency and scope of service (or level of service) ultimately will determine how to price a cleaning contract. If you intend to service a restaurant or bar, for example, there is a big difference between cleaning the dining area and cleaning the kitchen. In the latter case, a much more intensive clean will be required, as the customer will expect an absolutely spotless kitchen. These elevated expectations should be reflected in the contract. Ultimately, you should take a consultative approach to understanding client expectations, customizing cleaning schedules, determining the frequency and scope of work to suit the facility needs and client desires, generating a cleaning contract with terms, and outlining conditions and pricing to match the client’s desires.

Collecting Money from Customer Contracts

Finally, creating a billing schedule and agreement represents an often-overlooked aspect of starting an office cleaning business. On the one hand, launching a cleaning company and getting clients can be fun and exhilarating, but the end goal is to create financial security and additional income. Therefore, no process is more important than building policies for billing and collecting money owed from customers.

Generally speaking, office cleaning companies offer “terms” to clients in the cleaning contract. What this means is a cleaning company may ask to be paid at a specified date following the receipt of the invoice that corresponds to the delivery of service. For instance, net 30 indicates the customer must pay the office cleaning company 30 days after receipt of the invoice, net 10 indicates payment is to be expected 10 days following receipt of invoice, and so on and so forth. Depending on your savings and capital reserves, you should select a payment term that ensures a steady flow of incoming funds which you’ll need to replenish supplies, continue marketing your service, and, best of all, set aside to increase your savings. Cash flow is king and establishing terms to meet your company’s cash flow needs is a key to success.

Wrapping Up

At the end of the day, the success of any business is determined by how much and how often they are able to sell. Above all else, consistency is crucial to building, growing, and maintaining a profitable commercial cleaning business. Therefore, having systems in place for sales, marketing, and collections is highly recommended to any business owner who aims to make a profit. Determining your service offerings and identifying your target customer and market are only the first steps to operating a successful commercial cleaning company. The development of a marketing strategy is ultimately how you will acquire customer cleaning contracts, and you must also build out a system to price contracts, distribute bids, and collect money from clients. Getting cleaning contracts – and retaining them – is by no means an easy task, but with the right systems in place, a commercial cleaning business can provide consistent and reliable income to a hungry entrepreneur.

Franchise with Corvus: We Get Cleaning Contracts for You

If you are a professional cleaner looking for contracts or are simply interested in learning more about owning your own business, the Corvus Team is here to help. Our dedicated sales and marketing teams do the hard work for you – all you have to do is clean! Contact us today to learn about franchising with Corvus.

UV Light Cleaning and Disinfecting

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Before, during, and after the coronavirus outbreak, the main priority of Corvus Janitorial Systems is the health and safety of our customers and the community at large. Now that we all know how important advanced cleaning and disinfecting strategies are, we’re shedding light on some of the ways that our services help combat this virus, other viruses, and everyday germs and bacteria. One method that has been gaining a lot of attention recently is ultraviolet (UV) light cleaning and disinfecting.

There are several different options for UV cleaning and disinfecting, but some are riskier than others. Professional-level UV cleaning and disinfecting are ideal, while certain at-home devices and products (UV lamps as hand sanitizers, in particular) should be avoided. UV phone cases and self-cleaning water bottles, when used properly, are safer consumer devices to use at home. But what about UV cleaning and disinfecting at the office? Can UV light really work as a disinfectant? Is it safe? Read on to find out.

UV Light Cleaning and Disinfecting

What is UV disinfecting?

UV light has been used for decades to kill bacteria and viruses. Since mid-March, germicidal ultraviolet technology has been getting a lot of attention. It is so effective that it’s often used in hospitals, where high-level cleaning and disinfecting has always been a necessity. Cleaning professionals in medical settings use UV devices to reduce the spread of bacteria and bugs that are resistant to medication, as well as effective disinfection in surgical rooms. Now, many professionals are using (or considering) UV light cleaning and disinfecting in schools, offices, and restaurants. This can help reduce the spread of the coronavirus as these settings reopen and adjust to the new normal.

How does UV disinfection work?

This process involves using UV-C light to clean and disinfect. This man-made light is one of three classes of UV light. Like UV-A and UV-B, UV-C comes primarily from the sun. But UV-C is the one that doesn’t reach us because our atmosphere absorbs it first. UV-C lights are used in sanitizing devices to disinfect surfaces. The light in these devices is strong enough to demolish the genetic material in bacteria and viruses. Because this particular class of light doesn’t reach the Earth, we can’t achieve the same effects by simply increasing sun exposure.

One important thing to keep in mind is that this particular coronavirus strain has been around for such a short amount of time that researchers haven’t been able to perform sufficient studies on the efficacy of all of the applicable cleaning and disinfecting methods yet. But we know that it has worked on previous coronavirus strains, so the relevant scientific evidence suggests it would have the same effects here. Another thing to keep in mind is that this is an incredibly strong and potent cleaning and disinfecting method. UV light can damage your skin and eyes. As such, it should only be used on a surface or object that needs cleaning. Do not use UVC light on your skin, and handle with care (preferably by a professional).

Deciding if you need it

For months, we’ve all been practicing safe social distancing. We’ve kept six feet away from others, worn masks in public, washed our hands and sanitized more frequently. We have increased our cleaning and disinfecting procedures. Now that businesses, offices, and schools are reopening, we must continue to increase the measures that are keeping us and our loved ones safe and healthy. We weren’t all prepared for the outbreak when it began, but we can be prepared for how we address it now. By increasing the level, frequency, and efficacy of our cleaning and disinfecting processes, we can work toward a post-coronavirus world together.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that UV cleaning and disinfecting is a requirement. Ultimately, the choice is yours. There are human-safe UV light fixtures with low enough doses of UV-C lights to help reduce the spread of germs and viruses without damaging the skin, eyes, or causing other health problems. These are common in medical settings and are just starting to make their way into other business and commercial settings. But more research may be needed to confirm that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Corvus Janitorial

With a wide variety of cleaning and disinfecting service options available, Corvus Janitorial can help you keep your office clean and safe. We offer high-impact disinfecting services for workplaces, including increased frequencies and convenient timing. In addition to UV light disinfecting, our high-level disinfecting services include electrostatic spraying and ultra-low volume fogging. Major airlines are using these techniques to disinfect passenger planes. We also offer re-focused cleaning and chemical applications, exposure cleaning and disinfecting, and can help you with mindful office organization. No job is too big or small at your local Corvus Janitorial office. Call us today to get started with a free consultation.

Understanding the pH Scale of Cleaning Chemicals and Why It Matters

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Most of us remember from middle school science and high school Chemistry the very basics of the pH scale. We remember beakers and test strips, lining up the colors to see which side of the scale our test liquid would land on. We remember that dissolving chemicals in water alters the pH scale, either in the direction of being acidic or basic, and that pure water was our neutral base. We tested lemon juice and found it acidic, while common detergents were basic. But we rarely thought about these things again until we realized the impact it had on our cleaning chemicals and how much of a difference it could make in our cleaning processes.

Basic vs. Acidic on Different Types of Material

As a quick refresher, the pH scale ranges from zero to 14. Zero to six is acidic, seven is neutral, and eight through 14 is alkaline. Choosing the right cleaning supplies based on their standing on the pH scale, the type of material, amount of time you have, and the level of soiling is crucial. Most cleaning chemicals are alkaline (basic) because these are the types of solutions that are good for cleaning dirt stains, greases, oils, and other organics. On the other side of the pH scale, acids are more effective when working on minerals like rust spots and calcium buildup. Right in the middle, dish soap is the closest to neutral, as far as cleaning supplies go.

The Scale of Common Household Cleaning Supplies

Bleach: pH 11-13

Bleach is one of the most common cleaning supplies in households and commercial settings. This particular product has a pH between 11 and 13. Its high level of alkalinity is what makes it corrosive. As a result, ventilation is important when using bleach. It should be used cautiously and strictly according to instructions, both for the safety of the cleaner and the benefit of the surface it’s being used on. Because bleach is so strong, it’s not safe on a lot of surfaces or fabrics, but it’s great for eliminating stains and whitening the affected area.

Ammonia: pH 11-13

Ammonia is another common cleaning product and it lands around the same number on the pH scale. It is also corrosive, requires care and ventilation, and shouldn’t be mixed with other cleaning supplies or ingredients. Ammonia is great when you’re working with stubborn dirt and grime spots. The same is true for tub and tile cleaners. At home or in the office, these can be used on stubborn dirt and grime spots throughout the bathroom, not just in showers. Their alkalinity makes them ideal for toilets, countertops, and sinks, too.

Borax & Baking Soda: pH 8-10

As we inch closer to neutral on the scale, we find products like Borax and baking soda. Borax leans toward the alkaline side of the scale, making it ideal for breaking down organics like dirt and oil. But with a pH of 10, it isn’t as corrosive as heavier products like ammonia and bleach. And just before we reach our friendly, neutral cleaner of traditional dish soap, we have baking soda with a pH of eight or nine. It’s alkaline enough to eliminate dirt and grease, but close enough to neutral to be even less corrosive than Borax. For a good, neutral, everyday cleaner, mild dish soap won’t hurt your skin and it’s safe on most surfaces.

Acidic Cleaning Products: pH < 7

The cleaning products on the alkaline side of the pH scale are, by far, the more common ones. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t have any use for the products on the basic side of the scale. Things like stone cleaners, vinegar, lemon juice, and toilet cleaners serve their own purposes at home and in the office. These are generally better for cleaning things like mineral or hard water deposits, milder rust stains, soap film buildup, and polishing brass or copper products in the kitchen, bathroom, or other areas. Choosing the right cleaning supplies can save you time, money, and frustration. Using the wrong product can be ineffective or even damaging, depending on the surface you’re cleaning.

Corvus Janitorial

When you choose Corvus Janitorial’s cleaning services, we take all of the guesswork out of your commercial cleaning. We bring the right chemicals, tools, supplies, and procedures to give your space the deep cleaning it deserves. You don’t have to worry about relearning Chemistry, choosing the right products for the right surfaces, or any of the other little details that add up to make big differences. Our commercial cleaning services take the pressure off you and your employees. They provide you with a true, deep clean, and clear peace of mind. And with a deeply cleaned and sanitized office space to walk into, everyone will feel more comfortable and productive. Let us handle the complicated cleaning procedures, so you can focus your time and attention on more important things. Contact us today to discover how Corvus can help keep your workplace clean and vibrant.

HEPA Filters in Vacuums: Why We Use Them and What You Need to Know

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Before the pandemic began, vacuum filters weren’t something that many of us thought about. But in the post-outbreak world, we’re all digging a bit deeper. We’re considering our options, diving into the details, and making better choices. We can do the hard work that’s necessary to keep ourselves, our loved ones, our employees or coworkers, and our communities safe. Choosing HEPA filters and cleaning services that use HEPA filters are two easy ways that we can make a big difference in the air quality at the office and at home. But what are HEPA filters?

HEPA Filters vs. Regular Filters

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. These filters are often also called high-efficiency particulate absorbing and high-efficiency particulate arrestance (the measure of a filter’s ability to remove synthetic dust from the air). Whichever name you know them by, their purpose is the same: to serve as an efficiency standard of air filter. HEPA filters remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 micrometers in diameter. This percentage meets the United States Department of Energy (DOE) standard adopted by most American industries.

How HEPA Filters Work

HEPA filters remove contaminants from surfaces and the air by forcing the air through fibers that trap them. The fibers are typically made out of fiberglass. There is very little airspace left between the filters, so they can catch even the smallest particles. These particles are trapped in three different ways: diffusion, interception, and impaction. Each of the three methods differs slightly for maximum efficiency. Together, they provide unbeatable air filtering.

Diffusion is the result of the collision of gas molecules and the smallest particles in the area. The particles are impeded and delayed as they pass through the filter. Interception occurs when particles following the natural air stream come in contact with one of the HEPA filter’s fibers and then stick to it. And with impaction, larger particles can’t avoid the fibers and end up embedded in one of them instead. The three methods of trapping particles come together to give us that minimum of 99.97% removal.

Benefits of Using HEPA Filters

HEPA filters offer high-quality purification. They are highly effective in removing particles like pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and smoke. A normal vacuum would recirculate these particles back into the air. HEPA-filtered vacuums trap the particles instead. In order to achieve maximum efficiency, a true HEPA filter is needed, not just a filter that mimics its style. There are many benefits to removing these air particles, especially for individuals with asthma, allergies, or breathing problems.

These conditions, and others, can be triggered or worsened by small particles in the air that would be left behind by normal vacuums. With these tiny particles removed from your office or living space, your indoor air quality is drastically improved. HEPA filters can also remove dust, mold, and bacteria. They’re useful in every setting where the air quality can be improved, not just the ones where you worry about allergies and asthma. You’ll notice the difference immediately. HEPA filters are a simple way to provide cleaner air and peace of mind.

HEPA Vacuum Maintenance

If you’re using vacuums or air purifiers with HEPA filters at home or the office, it’s important to keep them maintained. Check the HEPA filters every two weeks. On average, HEPA filters have to be replaced every six months. It may be more or less depending on how often you use it and how contaminated the area gets. The best method is to replace the filter as soon as it starts to look discolored. These filters can be part of a bigger plan to keep pesky particles out of your office or home. For the best results, vacuum often, and reduce the number of harmful particles by keeping other areas cleaned and disinfected, too.

Corvus Janitorial

If you’re looking for a commercial cleaning company that uses only the highest-quality products and proven techniques, Corvus Janitorial is it. We use high-quality HEPA-filtered vacuums to improve the air quality in the offices and buildings we service. These filters remove particles and impurities from the air instead of circulating them right back in like normal vacuums do. What you’re left with is cleaner air and a higher quality of life. For all of your cleaning, purifying, and disinfecting needs, trust Corvus Janitorial. Contact us today to learn more about how Corvus can help you.

Corvus Disinfecting Programs: Electrostatic Spraying

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Corvus Janitorial System and its Franchisees have been honored to participate in the fight against COVID. We are working to make workspaces clean, healthy, and safe. In an ongoing effort to support that mission, Corvus is pleased to announce its HIGH IMPACT DISINFECTING program. This disinfection process is centered around the use of ELECTROSTATIC SPRAYING systems, a highly effective technique employed to attack germs, bacteria, and viruses. Already in use by major airlines to disinfect planes between flights and also employed by medical and hospital type environments, Corvus is thrilled to bring this service offering to our valued customers.

What is Electrostatic Spraying?

Electrostatic spraying is a method of applying a coating, cleaner, disinfectant, or other liquid to a surface by applying an electric charge to the liquid solution. Electrostatic spray technology was invented in the 1930s to improve spray disposition. It was popularized in the 1940s by the auto industry, where it was used to more efficiently paint cars and trucks. In the 1980s, the technology emerged in the agriculture industry as a method to apply pesticides to crops. Over the last few years, electrostatic spray technology has found its way into the cleaning industry as an efficient new way for cleaning professionals to apply cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectants across facility types and surfaces.

How Does Electrostatic Spraying Work?

At the most basic level, electrostatic spraying works by applying a positive electric charge to a liquid as it passes through a nozzle. The liquid is then sprayed onto a surface that is grounded or has a negative electric charge. Excess protons in the positively charged atoms of the spray are attracted to the electron fields of other atoms, causing those atoms to become polarized.

As Coulomb’s Law states, opposite charges are attracted to one another and similar charges repel each other. In essence, this means that a positively charged liquid is attracted to a neutral or negatively charged target surface. At the same time, as each particle of the liquid carries a positive charge, the particles naturally repel each other, creating a wider dispersion. As the liquid passes through the nozzle, it becomes atomized into a fine spray. The droplets disperse from each other, becoming finer and finer, and seek out a negatively charged surface to bind with.

Electrostatic spraying provides a full, even coat of liquid across a surface. The droplets will cover the entire visible area, including the underside and backside of surfaces. Surfaces that have already been covered by the disinfectant will repel additional spray, maximizing the efficiency of delivery. Conventional sprayers use air pressure to break down the particles in a liquid solution. This leads to a high spraying velocity that can cause overspray. Electrostatic sprayers do not use air pressure in the atomization process. This leads to a vastly improved transfer efficiency, which limits chemical consumption as well as the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) into the environment.

Electrostatic Spraying vs Traditional Disinfecting Techniques

Electrostatic spray technology provides many advantages during the disinfection process. In order to properly disinfect a surface, it must be fully coated with the disinfectant and needs to remain wet for the proper dwell time, usually around 10 minutes. Traditional methods of disinfecting, such as spray and wipe, mopping, and cloth applications are not only time consuming – they also lend themselves to human error. To truly disinfect an area, all surfaces must be disinfected. Traditional disinfection methods require the cleaner to manually apply and remove the chemicals, which can take a lot of time and requires acute attention to detail. Additionally, hard to reach areas are often overlooked, though they could still be soiled and carry dangerous germs and pathogens.

Electrostatic sprayers eliminate these barriers to effective disinfection. Because they are able to cover a large surface area relatively quickly, they are both time and monetarily efficient. Surfaces that are hard to reach by the human hand are easily reached by an electrostatic sprayer. This enables cleaning professionals to disinfect every surface in a room rather than just “high-touch” areas. Traditional disinfection methods, particularly spray and wipe, are rendered ineffective if the disinfectant is not allowed to dwell on a surface long enough.

Oftentimes, a surface will get sprayed with a disinfectant and wiped down almost immediately. This is a problem, as disinfectants need time to work properly. The proper dwell time varies by chemical, but 10 minutes is a good rule of thumb to reference. Disinfectants applied with an electrostatic sprayer solve the problem of inadequate dwell times. After applying disinfectant with an electrostatic sprayer, the surface does not need to be wiped down. In facilities such as childcare facilities, schools, and healthcare facilities where germs can spread like wildfire. Disinfection is of utmost importance to them, and electrostatic disinfection techniques are a game-changer.

Electrostatic Spraying in the Cleaning Industry

As mentioned above, traditional disinfecting spray equipment and methods come with a suite of issues. In addition to allowing for a proper dwell time, making hard to reach areas easily accessible, and shortening the time it takes to disinfect an area, electrostatic spray technology also addresses transfer efficiency problems. Transfer efficiency is a measure of how much chemical reaches a surface versus the percentage lost to the floor and surrounding environment. Just as the agricultural industry adapted electrostatic spray technology from the auto and painting industries, the commercial cleaning industry has adapted it to suit its needs. Because almost any liquid can be electrically charged, electrostatic sprayers are highly versatile in their applications.

With improvements in the past decade in the portability and simplicity of use of electrostatic sprayers, they have become a reasonable, cost-effective, and practical tool for professional cleaners to add to their arsenals. Cleaners, sanitizers, deodorizers, and disinfectants can all be used with electrostatic sprayers. In the current pandemic climate, there has been a massive surge in interest and demand for electrostatic disinfection services. Many companies are utilizing the technology to keep their businesses running and their stakeholders safe. For example, United Airlines has implemented electrostatic spray disinfection on their aircrafts after each flight.

Disinfectants Used in Electrostatic Sprayers

Since most liquids can be used in electrostatic sprayers, many common disinfectants can be applied using the technology. For use against COVID-19 specifically, the EPA has released “List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2”. All of the products on List N meet the EPA’s criteria for use against COVID-19. At Corvus, we use the hospital-grade disinfectant Q.T. Plus, which has demonstrated effectiveness on hard, porous surfaces against viruses similar to the 2019 novel coronavirus.

Conclusion

At Corvus Janitorial Systems, we understand that a clean and sanitary workplace not only protects people’s health. It also gives them peace of mind. With these needs in mind, Corvus has implemented the use of electrostatic sprayers into our service offerings. Call or email today to learn more about this exciting and effective service offering.

About Corvus Janitorial Systems

Founded in 2004 to make people’s lives better, Corvus is a full-service commercial cleaning franchisor that offers cleaning services through reputable local Franchisees. Corvus has been guided by its mission to transform people and transform places by consistently delivering independence, security, and freedom to Franchisees who deliver high-quality cleaning to offices, educational buildings, medical buildings/offices, recreational centers, industrial parks, and other spaces. The company has 17 regional support offices across the United States with nearly 900 Franchisees. For more information regarding Corvus, visit corvusjanitorial.com or corvusjanitorial.com/franchise for franchise information.

Corvus Guide to Reopening: Cleaning & Disinfecting Your Medical Office

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With more and more states lifting, or planning to lift, stay-at-home orders, business owners and office managers across the country are exploring the safest – and most practical – measures to reopen their facilities to employees and customers alike. Medical offices, such as doctor’s offices, dental facilities, and specialty clinics, should begin to see an uptick in foot traffic as in-person visits start to increase and elective procedures resume. It is critical that these facilities implement cleaning and disinfecting regimens that go above and beyond the pre-coronavirus standard.

As medical offices begin the process of reopening their operations, decision makers must determine how they can create the safest environment for their staff and for their patients. At Corvus Janitorial, we understand the vital role medical professionals play – both during this pandemic and outside of it – to ensuring that our communities are healthy, happy, and safe. With that in mind, we are here to provide advice on procedures that should be implemented in medical offices and facilities in order to successfully reopen in the safest, most sanitary way.

Perform a Deep Clean and Disinfection Before Opening the Office

According to Tommy Petagna of Corvus of New Orleans, “Before opening the office to staff and patients, both a thorough, deep clean and facility-wide disinfection should be performed. We’re seeing more and more of our medical office clients ask for this type of deep clean even before we recommend it”. Though they are often thought of as the same, cleaning and disinfecting are two distinct processes. During a general clean, the intent is to remove dirt and dust. This step must be completed before disinfection because germs can lurk in grime and soiled areas. Once an area is clean, it must then be disinfected.

Disinfection can be done in numerous ways. With COVID-19, the disinfection of all areas using commercial grade chemicals is critical. Typical disinfecting is done using EPA approved medical grade chemicals that are applied to a surface using a spray bottle (or as a mop solution for floors). The disinfectant is then given “dwell time”, which is time to sit on the surface and kill microorganisms. Though this method is effective at killing germs, it can be a time-consuming task to disinfect every surface in a facility, and hard to reach areas are often missed.

Disinfecting Techniques to Combat COVID-19

To address the issues with common disinfection methods, it is advisable to use a machine, such as an electrostatic sprayer or an ultra-low volume (ULV) fogger. This will ensure maximum coverage and effectiveness.

Electrostatic sprayers work by giving the disinfectant solution a positive electric charge. Because surfaces typically carry a negative or neutral charge, once the disinfectant is sprayed, the positively charged chemicals are attracted to the negatively charged surfaces and will bind to them. The droplets will cover the entire visible area, including the underside and backside of surfaces. Surfaces that have already been covered by the disinfectant will repel additional spray, maximizing the efficiency of delivery.

ULV fog machines work in a similar manner to electrostatic sprayers. ULV fogging works by compressing disinfectants through a nozzle that produces a fine mist or aerosol. The droplets that are produced are incredibly small and concentrated, therefore fewer chemicals need to be used. These droplets will linger in the air for approximately ten minutes, allowing them to bind to any visible surface area.

At Corvus, we have begun utilizing both electrostatic sprayers and ULV foggers in our service offering to customers. We believe these methods are both effective at eradicating viral pathogens as well as safe for use in our customer’s facilities and for our franchise owners. We are happy to provide a free quote for these services as either a one-time work or as a part of a routine, recurring service offering.

Routine Cleaning is Not So Routine Anymore

Though businesses are beginning to open back up, we are still nowhere close to “business as usual”. With stay-at-home orders being replaced with safer-at-home guidance, there is still the looming threat of COVID-19 community spread. Additionally, a high rate of asymptomatic carriers means that an individual who shows no signs of infection could visit your office during a routine checkup. Thus, inadvertently exposing your facility to risks. Because of the virus’s high infection rate and the number of potentially asymptomatic carriers, decision makers must account for this risk and take preventative, precautionary steps in their facilities.

Was your medical office being cleaned twice a week before the coronavirus pandemic? If so, it may be a good idea to increase that frequency to three, four, maybe even five times per week. In medical facilities, it is never a bad idea to be overly cautious. As these facilities are more likely to interface with individuals at a greater risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms, they must be even more proactive in their cleaning procedures than any other businesses. As society adjusts to a “new normal”, cleaning and disinfecting are more important now than ever before.

Reopening Reminders and Checklist

Your cleaning regimen is not the only facet of your office that is likely to change once you reopen. For example, some states and localities are requiring reduced on-premise staff, alternating work schedules for at-risk workers, or other social distancing procedures in the workplace. Below, we highlight some important items that all facility managers and decision makers should account for as they get back to business:

1. Prepare a list of obvious and overlooked high touch objects such as appliances in break rooms, telephone handles, sinks and basins, trash cans, and communal printers.

2. Thoroughly clean AND disinfect those high touch points with an EPA certified disinfectant allowing for a proper dwell time of the chemical (click here for additional resources)

3. Engage with your team to comply with an appropriate headcount for your office space as well as discussing protocol for potential distancing in office. Some states are mandating reduced concentration of personnel or alternating schedules, and it’s important to stay up-to-date on these regulations.

4. Engage an outside cleaning company or delegate your own personnel to provide a thorough top to bottom clean and disinfection regime prior to re-opening.

5. Prepare to have appropriate cleaning tools, supplies, and equipment such as clean rags or wipes, proper chemicals and clean, and well-working vacuum cleaners.

During these unprecedented times, it is crucial that we take unprecedented precautions to maintain the health and safety of everyone. When it comes to reopening medical offices, we, at Corvus Janitorial, strongly urge you to take the right measures in cleaning and disinfecting your office. Doing so will ensure the safety of your staff, your patients, and their families. If you are interested in a free quote or would like more information about the appropriate cleaning and disinfection of your medical office in preparation for reopening, please feel free to contact us today!

This piece is meant simply to inform, not to provide any legal or medical advice.

About Corvus Janitorial Systems

Founded in 2004 to make people’s lives better, Corvus is a full-service commercial cleaning franchisor that offers cleaning services through reputable local Franchisees. Corvus has been guided by its mission to transform people and transform places by consistently delivering independence, security, and freedom to Franchisees who deliver high-quality cleaning to offices, educational buildings, medical buildings/offices, recreational centers, industrial parks, and other spaces. The company has 17 regional support offices across the United States with nearly 900 Franchisees. For more information regarding Corvus, visit www.corvusjanitorial.com or www.corvusjanitorial.com/franchise for franchise information.

Disinfecting and Cleaning to Open Your Daycare Facility

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As we inch toward the end of shelter-in-place orders, it’s important to be ready when our businesses open back up. We don’t want to be left scrambling when the time comes. For businesses that focus on the young and old, such as daycare and childcare centers, keeping things clean is particularly important. And that’s true now more than ever before. Following compliant, safe, and healthy cleaning practices will help us avoid preventable illnesses while we work on getting back to normal.

These practices will keep you, your staff, and the kids you care for healthy. If you’re not sure where to get started with disinfecting and cleaning to open your daycare, here are some tips from the friendly experts at Corvus Janitorial:

Give Everything an Initial Deep Clean

Before you open back up, it’s important to give everything a thorough, deep clean. This helps remove dirt, germs, and debris before you sanitize. This can be done with regular soap and water. Just scrub all of the surfaces, wash, and rinse. Make sure you hit all of the high-touch surfaces like bathroom fixtures, light switches, desks, and cubbies. Any toys or teaching tools that are shared should be cleaned, too. This will make sanitizing and disinfecting much more effective when you get there.

Give High-Touch Surfaces Some Extra Attention Moving Forward

The words cleaning and sanitizing are often used interchangeably, but they mean two different things. When you clean, you remove surface dirt, debris, and some germs. When you sanitize, you use a product that will kill 99.9% or more of the germs on these surfaces. Both cleaning and sanitizing are important when you want to keep your daycare truly clean, healthy, and safe. You’ll want to give those high-touch surfaces we mentioned earlier more attention than you used to. Any other areas that are handled a lot or shared should get extra attention.

When you’re dealing with kids, things can get messy. You’ll want to clean and sanitize throughout the day if you can. Durable, plastic toys that have been chewed on can be run through the dishwasher when you can sneak them away. Other toys can be disinfected and left to air dry. Instead of chasing children around to sanitize their toys during the day, it may be easier to sanitize these after pickup and focus on surfaces, counters, and cubbies during the day instead.

Look at the number of children you care for, the number of staff members you employ, and the number of high-touch surfaces you have, then use your best judgment to determine the right cleaning schedule for you. You can also build off of your old cleaning schedule – use it as a baseline and add additional steps from there. Once open, daycare facilities should be cleaned and sanitized at least once per day moving forward.

Use the Right Cleaning Supplies, In the Right Ways

Whether you’re gearing up for your initial clean before you open or you’re looking for ongoing cleaning practices to follow, it’s important to use the right products. Using them the right way is important, too. Before all of this happened, casual home cleaners might wipe a counter with a watery paper towel and call it a day. This won’t be enough anymore. Using an EPA approved disinfectant and following the proper dwell time is key to keeping things truly clean.

Read the label of your preferred cleaning products or check the EPA’s website to see if they’re approved. You can also find the answer to how long you should let the product dwell on a surface before you wipe it away. Many cleaning supplies have a 10-minute dwell time for maximum efficiency. For others, it might be two minutes or five. Follow the instructions on the label for the best results.

Create an Efficient and Safe Cleaning System

Many daycares are dealing with baby colds and shared toys, so you may already have a cleaning system you prefer. But with everything going on right now, it’s a good time to revisit it; there are ways to make it safer that you may not have thought of before it was a necessity. First, try to limit cross-contamination. This means keeping the mop you use for the bathroom in the bathroom and using a separate one in the hallway or playroom. If you use cleaning rags or dish towels, keep these separate, too. Limit exposure wherever you can.

With some extra effort, the right supplies, and an effective routine, we can keep our daycares and other businesses safe. We’re all in this together. And when it starts to feel overwhelming, give the experts at Corvus Janitorial a call. We’re always available to help. For ongoing cleaning once centers reopen, we’ve got our own updated practices in place. Just keep in mind that the process may have changed a bit since we last visited your facility. We’ll need a bit more time to sufficiently clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces to keep everyone safe. We’re also focusing more on power-scrubbing bathrooms and ceramic floors, and carpet cleaning. These areas harbor germs and could benefit from a slightly more aggressive scope of service.

How Corvus Can Help Your Childcare Facility Reopen

At Corvus, we understand the pressure and uncertainty that has arisen from the coronavirus pandemic. Thorough cleaning and disinfecting procedures matter now more than ever. To that end, our dedicated franchise owners and teammates have added new tools to our cleaning arsenal. These tools include electrostatic disinfectant sprayers and disinfectant fogger machines. Both tools enable Corvus professionals to sanitize and disinfect large spaces and areas that are often missed with standard disinfection practices, such as the underside of tables and chairs.

The Corvus Janitorial Systems team is here to help as America begins the process of reopening businesses and facilities. Cleaning and disinfecting are critical to open up daycare centers. If your daycare or childcare facility is in need of a professional cleaning partner, or if you simply require a deep clean and disinfection before opening up, inquire here for a free quote or give us a call at (855) 919-1346. We are happy to help!

This piece is meant simply to inform, not to provide any legal or medical advice.

About Corvus Janitorial Systems

Founded in 2004 to make people’s lives better, Corvus is a full-service commercial cleaning franchisor that offers cleaning services through reputable local Franchisees. Corvus has been guided by its mission to transform people and transform places by consistently delivering independence, security, and freedom to Franchisees who deliver high-quality cleaning to offices, educational buildings, medical buildings/offices, recreational centers, industrial parks, and other spaces. The company has 17 regional support offices across the United States with nearly 900 Franchisees. For more information regarding Corvus, visit www.corvusjanitorial.com or www.corvusjanitorial.com/franchise for franchise information.

How to Safely Disinfect Your Phone and Electronics

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In recent weeks, the Coronavirus Pandemic has brought a lot of attention to the importance of cleanliness and the prevention of spreading germs. From wearing masks in public to sanitizing our groceries, we are doing more and more to eliminate our chances of potentially spreading or contracting this disease. You may be surprised to learn that one of the biggest germ distributors is, actually, our phones. Did you know that studies show that your phone is approximately seven times dirtier than a toilet on any given day?

When you think about it, it does make sense. We are constantly checking it and taking it everywhere we go. The germs on every surface we touch are ultimately shared on our devices when we check the time, a notification, or make a phone call.

During this pandemic, the CDC suggests that we disinfect our daily used items, such as our phones and electronics, regularly. Corvus Janitorial Systems would like to share some of our tips to safely disinfect your high-touch, everyday devices.

Follow Manufacturer’s Guidelines

First and foremost, make sure that you are following your specific devices’ manufacturer’s recommendation. For example, Apple specifically says for its users to not use any type of cleaning products on its devices’ surfaces.

Utilize a Wipeable Cover

If the specific phone or electronic that you have does not allow any types of soaps or cleaners to be used, the next best option is to get a cover that does.

If you cannot afford a phone cover that will allow you to disinfect your phone properly, we’d suggest placing your device in a sandwich bag if you are going out of the house. Let’s say you are going to the grocery store. Before leaving your home, you can put your phone in a resealable sandwich bag. While you are at the store, you can still use your phone, but the germs from your hands will not be transferred to it. Then, when you arrive back home, wash your hands thoroughly, then retrieve the phone from the bag. It’ll be like you never left!

Wipes and Sprays

If your device’s manufacturer’s guideline allows you to utilize disinfectant or a cleaner (or if you have a wipeable cover), then the CDC suggests that the safest way to keep your phone and electronics disinfected is to use wipes or sprays that have a minimum of 70% alcohol.

Fears of spreading COVID-19 have led to a shortage of disinfectant wipes. If you can’t get your hand on any of those, here are some other suggestions:

● Use a damp paper towel with gentle soap
● Try a damp paper towel with rubbing alcohol and water
● Dampen a paper towel with any disinfectant spray cleaner

Use the paper towel or wipe to disinfect all surfaces of your device or phone. Make sure you are careful not to get any on the open surfaces (headphone jack, etc.). Once you have finished, dry devices thoroughly.

In Conclusion…

The thought of potentially spreading or contracting COVID-19 can be really scary. These are unprecedented times that have us taking unprecedented measures. Keeping your phone and devices clean can truly make a huge impact on the spreading of germs. Ultimately, this will bring us one step closer to flattening the curve and getting us through this difficult time. While this isn’t a comprehensive list of all the ways to disinfect your phone and electronics, we hope we’ve provided you with a great starting point for keeping germs at bay.

This piece is meant simply to inform, not to provide any legal or medical advice.

About Corvus Janitorial Systems

Founded in 2004 to make people’s lives better, Corvus is a full-service commercial cleaning franchisor that offers cleaning services through reputable local Franchisees. Corvus has been guided by its mission to transform people and transform places by consistently delivering independence, security, and freedom to Franchisees who deliver high-quality cleaning to offices, educational buildings, medical buildings/offices, recreational centers, industrial parks, and other spaces. The company has 17 regional support offices across the United States with nearly 900 Franchisees. For more information regarding Corvus, visit www.corvusjanitorial.com or www.corvusjanitorial.com/franchise for franchise information.

How to Keep Your Home Clean During the Coronavirus Outbreak

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By now, we’re all well aware of the CDC’s COVID-19 guidelines. We’re all washing our hands more frequently, avoiding gatherings of more than 10 people, and not touching our faces, especially when we’re out in public. Many of us are taking a step further by avoiding anyone other than the people we live with, having groceries delivered, and working from home. When we’re facing something this treacherous, you can’t be too careful.

But with updates and articles flying at us left and right at all hours of the day and night, information overload is nearly impossible to avoid. So, how do we know that we’re doing everything we need to, without having to scour the internet’s thousands of available resources? Let the experts at Corvus Janitorial clear things up for you right here.

Here are some important tips on how to keep your home clean during the coronavirus outbreak:

Sanitize shared surfaces each day

While the most common types of transmission are airborne (sneeze or cough) and through person-to-person contact (handshake, hug, or kiss), health experts have found evidence that the virus can also be transmitted through contact with a contaminated surface. This is where the avoid touching your face rule comes in.

On top of refraining from touching your face, you can also decrease the risk of contaminated surface transmission by sanitizing shared surfaces. Use a Clorox wipe or another disinfectant to wipe down doorknobs, sink handles and faucets, countertops, refrigerator handles, and desks. Any other shared surfaces, like toilet and shower handles and light switches, should be sanitized, too. If anyone in your home is sick, sanitizing becomes even more essential.

Clean your reusable bags and grocery boxes

Whether you’re still cautiously making grocery store runs, or you’re having food delivered, the virus may live on cardboard boxes and reusable bags for up to 24 hours, so it’s important to clean these, too. When you’re home from the grocery store, or you’ve carried in your purchases from your driveway drop-off, use a sanitizing solution or wipe to clean the inside of your grocery bag or the outside of the delivery box.

Once you’re done with the packaging, it couldn’t hurt to wipe down your purchases the same way. Many foods like cereal, granola bars, and coffee pods come in cardboard packaging that can hold on to the coronavirus germs. Depending on your preference, you can wipe the boxes down or open them up and transfer the foods to clean containers in your home and get rid of the packaging altogether. When you’re done, wash your hands and wipe down the surfaces they touched.

Analyze your cleaning style

If you can see that a surface is dirty, don’t just jump right to the disinfecting wipes or solutions. Clean these surfaces with soap and water first so your disinfecting efforts will be more effective. If you have them, wear disposable gloves while you clean and sanitize surfaces and objects that may be infected. If you don’t, continue to wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds at a time. And don’t forget about your clothes. If you’re cleaning shared surfaces, making grocery trips, caring for a sick individual, or going to work each day, it would be good to change and wash your clothes a bit more frequently than you normally would.

The best cleaning products for this particular outbreak are diluted household bleach solutions or ones that are alcohol-based and contain a minimum of 70% alcohol. If you’re wondering if your cleaning products are effective enough, the EPA has released a list of common disinfectants that meet their criteria for use against the novel coronavirus.

Your disinfectant may not be on their list yet, but the packaging may provide more information about its uses that will help you determine its effectiveness. While you’re checking labels, make sure your cleaning supplies aren’t expired so you know you’re getting the most out of your efforts.

About Corvus Janitorial Systems

Founded in 2004 to make people’s lives better, Corvus is a full-service commercial cleaning franchisor that offers cleaning services through reputable local Franchisees. Corvus has been guided by its mission to transform people and transform places by consistently delivering independence, security, and freedom to Franchisees who deliver high-quality cleaning to offices, educational buildings, medical buildings/offices, recreational centers, industrial parks, and other spaces. The company has 17 regional support offices across the United States with nearly 900 Franchisees. For more information regarding Corvus, visit www.corvusjanitorial.com or www.corvusjanitorial.com/franchise for franchise information.

What is Coronavirus and What Can You Do to Stay Healthy?

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What is Coronavirus?

The sudden appearance of this new health threat has already triggered a significant level of panic across the globe. It has also been the cause of a lot of confusion. As cleaning professionals, the Corvus Janitorial Systems team would like to inform you about coronavirus and provide some tips to help you stay healthy. So, before we get to the symptoms, what health professionals are doing about the virus, and what you can do to avoid it, let’s talk a bit about the official definition, where it started, and where it’s going; what is Coronavirus?

CoV is more than just one virus. It’s a cluster (or family) of viruses that lead to illnesses ranging from mild, like an everyday cold, to more serious diseases, like SARS and MERS. Coronavirus strains like MERS and SARS have been around for years, but the newest coronavirus, called COVID-19, started in China in 2019. It is believed that the new outbreak started in an animal reservoir. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak was declared a public health emergency on January 31, 2020.

The virus is most commonly transmitted from person to person. Certain strains can also be transferred from animals to humans, although this is far less common. In the initial outbreak in Wuhan, China, some patients had connections to animal markets that suggested they may have contracted the virus from animals, but the growing numbers of patients without animal connections tells us that it’s spreading through human-to-human transmission. Coronavirus is said to spread in a similar way to the flu; contact with an infected individual’s sneeze or cough, and less frequently, touching a surface that an infected person had recently touched may cause infection.

What are the Symptoms of Coronavirus?

Now that we’ve answered the question, “What is the novel coronavirus,” let’s talk about the symptoms of it. Symptoms typically range from mild to severe, with the most common ones being fever, cough, and shortness of breath. In individuals with compromised immune systems, the infection can cause pneumonia, respiratory issues, kidney failure, and death. More research needs to be done to determine the exact timeframe, but it is believed that symptoms appear between 2 and 14 days after an individual is exposed to the virus. This timeframe was determined based on information from previous strains.

What Has Been the Global Response?

Across the globe, over 3,000 people have died from the recent coronavirus outbreak, with nearly 90,000 (and counting) confirmed cases in dozens of countries. Outside of Antarctica, each continent has been affected. In response to the potential severity and growth of the disease, many countries are preparing action plans.

Quarantines in Italian cities are on the rise, as they’ve suffered 52 deaths due to the coronavirus so far. Outside of China, only one country has a higher death count; Iran has lost 66 residents to the virus. But China, by far, has been hit the hardest. Over 2,900 of the 3,000+ cases have occurred there. Factories have been closed, quarantines put in place, experimental drug trials scheduled, and numerous lockdowns have gone into effect.

In the U.K., where there have been forty confirmed cases, the British government is working on a virus backup plan that includes calling retired medical professionals back to work, delaying tax bill due dates, closing schools, and encouraging adults to work from home. The French government is similarly allowing delays in tax payments for companies that are struggling due to the global outbreak. There have been 191 confirmed cases in France, including three deaths. In Germany, an international craft fair that was expecting 100,000 visitors has been canceled. Meanwhile, many international testing sites for college admissions have been shut down to help slow the spread of the virus, and Iranian officials sent drones out to disinfect the streets and teams to conduct virus checks.

In the United States, there are have been six fatalities to date, with just over 100 confirmed cases. Washington state is on high alert, as it is currently the state with the largest number of infections and deaths in the US. The virus has also been detected in California, Oregon, New York, Rhode Island, Georgia, and Florida. Conferences and other large group gatherings are being canceled, schools are being closed, workers in certain states and industries are being urged to work from home or avoid coming in if they feel any symptoms, and travel is vehemently being discouraged. The governor of New York has waived fees for coronavirus testing so that lower-income families and individuals can get the care they need.

The business conglomerate, Amazon, has recently switched to video conferencing to replace many of their in-person interviews. Amazon’s headquarters is located in Washington, where several schools have also been shut down temporarily. Twitter Inc. is also doing what it can to protect its employees by placing mandatory restrictions on global travel, as many other international companies have done.

As a byproduct of the growing fear of coming into contact with an infected individual, online grocery sales, antibacterial or disinfectant purchases, water bottles, and children’s books about germs and personal hygiene have all significantly risen. There is currently no vaccine, but healthcare officials and agencies are working on producing one. In the meantime, it seems that each state, country, and health organization is doing what they can to slow the spread of the virus. Now, let’s talk about what you can do, too.

How You Can Prepare for Coronavirus in the United States

Currently, the best way to stay healthy is to avoid infected individuals, wash your hands frequently, stay home if you’re not feeling well, cover your sneeze or cough with your sleeve, and avoid touching your face after touching public surfaces. Wearing a face mask isn’t recommended for people who are healthy, but they can effectively help infected individuals keep from spreading the virus through their sneeze and cough particles. Disinfecting shared surfaces and carrying hand sanitizers that include alcohol to be used when you don’t have immediate access to soap and water can also help.
You may recognize these suggestions as similar to the ones that health professionals suggest for flu prevention. COVID-19 spreads in a similar way, so many of the same methods of prevention can be used. However, if you have any concerns, feel any symptoms, or need more information, we recommend checking in with your health care provider. This article is meant simply to inform, not to provide any legal or medical advice.

About Corvus Janitorial Systems

Founded in 2004 to make people’s lives better, Corvus is a full-service commercial cleaning franchisor that offers cleaning services through reputable local Franchisees. Corvus has been guided by its mission to transform people and transform places by consistently delivering independence, security, and freedom to Franchisees who deliver high-quality cleaning to offices, educational buildings, medical buildings/offices, recreational centers, industrial parks, and other spaces. The company has 17 regional support offices across the United States with nearly 900 Franchisees. For more information regarding Corvus, visit www.corvusjanitorial.com or www.corvusjanitorial.com/franchise for franchise information.

What to Look for In Your Commercial Cleaning Company

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When choosing your next commercial cleaning company, it is imperative to find the company that best suits your company’s unique needs. You may have cubicles that need dusting, classroom floors that need sterilizing, or a warehouse that needs to be deep cleaned twice a week, and finding the company equipped to satisfy those needs can take a significant burden off of your employees. This blog post aims to help find the right cleaning company for you, and provides you with some criteria you to consider while making the decision. Each cleaning company is different, and we want to help you sift through the noise and find the right partner to keep your facility clean and your mind at ease.

Consistent Communication

When partnering with an outside contractor – a commercial cleaning company – good communication is necessary for an effective partnership and sustained success. The contractor is most likely unfamiliar with your business practices and company culture, and you are most likely unfamiliar with theirs. In order for the your new cleaners to fulfill their requirements, they must first be introduced to the intricacies of your needs. As the on-boarding process begins, make sure you spend time explaining these needs to both the representatives from the company and the cleaners. Understanding the needs of your new cleaners is also an important part of a successful new partnership. If you are familiar with your contractors, and comfortable communicating with them, then you will be much better equipped to solve problems and pass along new instructions.

Therefore, taking the time to learn about the function of your new cleaning contractor’s business will improve the quality of your cleans and increase your preparedness in the event of a problem. Additionally, cultivating rapport with your cleaners creates a more positive and healthy work environment. Because achieving success in a commercial cleaning partnership is so reliant on consistent and good communication, a company’s availability and commitment to client relations should be a major factor in your cleaning decisions.

Relationships Matter

Corvus Janitorial prioritizes the customer experience in our day to day operations. We understand the necessity of a strong relationship between the client and the service provider, and we have worked tirelessly to create a culture of superb customer communication. Our sales representatives are available 24 hours a day, and you will never be referred to a representative who is outside of your direct service area. Additionally, we believe that consistent face-to-face interaction strengthens the business relationship. Our team members will be on your doorstep once a month ensuring quality cleans, remedying any complaints, and searching for ways to make your experience ever better for the entirety of your time working with Corvus. In fact, it is not uncommon for our CEO to spend the day on the phone calling customers himself. We are a cleaning company, but we are also a people company – and that comes from our commitment to communication.

Commercial Cleaning Corporate Culture

Company culture is another important factor to consider while choosing a cleaning company to partner with. Cleaning companies come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from massive, publicly traded franchising operations to small, single-owner local business. Because of this variety, it can be hard to sift through the many different options, but the diversity of choice opens the door for your company to find a partner that not only meets your business’s needs but also your ethical standards. Both business structures will provide benefits to your company, but they will be quite different. Many large franchised commercial cleaning companies will give you access to professionalized cleaning, well-trained crews, and up-to-date equipment, but it is possible that you will not receive the personal attention and face-to-face contact that you would from a small local business. Each company needs to find the right mixture of size and attention for their company. The size of the company, as well as if it issues franchises, are two major determinants for company culture. Especially with larger companies, it is important to look at their mission to ensure it aligns with your own.

Corvus is a unique franchised cleaning company because we straddle the divide between the benefits of the massive companies and the small ones. Corvus is a national, franchise issuing company serving markets across the continental United States that aims to be a platform for local entrepreneurial success. The founders of the Corvus continue to own and operate the business, and are directly involved in management. Being a franchise based company allows us to provide support and guidance for local entrepreneurs. Corvus’s franchise platform is designed to uplift local small business owners and provide them with a path to financial self-determination. Corvus has a commitment to helping local economies flourish and proudly supports American small businesses. At the same time, however, Corvus’s national profile allows us to provide customers with a brand of quality training and cleaning that a smaller company may not be able to offer.

Research Janitorial Service Providers

Another way to effectively gauge whether a cleaning company is right for you is to look at other customer’s reviews of the service. Reviews are, for the most part, trustworthy insights into a company’s customer satisfaction. Customer reviews can also give you insight into a company’s strengths and weaknesses, insights that are often not available simply by browsing their website and additional material. Reviews are helpful in highlighting possible inconsistencies between your company’s needs and a cleaner’s servicer, but they are also useful in identifying the companies that fit your specific needs. Testimonials are one metric where larger companies have a distinct advantage because their size creates a general standard of service across the board, and the wide reach of this service means reviews are plentiful.

Corvus has received wonderful reviews across the board in all of our locations. This sustained customer support can be attested to a number of factors, chiefly our high-quality, trust-worthy cleaners and commitment to customer relations. Tana Vanderhooft, a Corvus of New Orleans customer, can speak directly to those benefits. She says, “We have used Corvus for almost 2 years now and have considered their service and customer support to be exceptional! Services were always provided when expected and service was always top notch. Our account manager, Reed was always very responsive and acted immediately to any questions or requests for additional work. I would recommend Corvus to anyone looking for a reliable cleaning service. Thank you Corvus!” Testimonials like this underscore the Corvus Difference.

What Will Cleaning Services Cost You?

One final factor to consider while choosing a janitorial service: is a commercial cleaning partnership an efficient use of my company’s money? If the answer to that is yes, then it is imperative that you find a cleaning company that employs efficient cleaning systems and strategies in order to maximize your benefits per dollar spent. Once again, this is where a larger cleaning company can often outperform a smaller, single owner operation. Corvus utilizes expert designed cleans, specifically tailored for your facility, that aim to maximize efficiency while also completing a high-quality clean. Our franchising system allows all of our cleaners to access training courses and receive instruction on how to most effectively clean your facility. These scientific methods are often not prevalent in smaller cleaning operations that lack the necessary resources to create them. Corvus aims to provide our customers with a high-quality, personalized experience for a reasonable price: every single time.

Corvus Has Your Back

No doubt, choosing a new cleaning company is a daunting task, but at Corvus we are here to help. Feel free to reach out to one of our representatives because we are more than happy to talk you through the process. Whether you want to start tomorrow or just have a few introductory questions, our representatives have seen it all and look forward to passing on their experience to you. Remember, your local Corvus office is just a click away.

How to Acquire Commercial Cleaning Contracts and Customers

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In our last post, “How and Why to Start an Office Cleaning Business”, the Corvus Janitorial team outlined steps entrepreneurs should take to open a cleaning business and provided an analysis of the industry. In the second entry of our two-part series presenting the facts of operating a business in the commercial cleaning industry, we provide a how-to for acquiring office cleaning contracts along with the considerations that ought to go into the process.

Once an individual has created the foundations of their office cleaning business by organizing the entity, purchasing necessary tools and determining a marketing strategy, it is time to start selling janitorial services. Regardless of which industries a company chooses to service and the cleaning programs they offer, the basic methods and time frames around winning customer accounts is relatively similar. That being said, certain standard considerations exist that all office cleaning owners should think about.

 

Getting Cleaning Contracts: Which Facilities to Clean?

First, determining what type of facility you wish to target is critical, and when selecting facility types it’s important to think about how facilities and industries differ. For instance, light industrial or manufacturing facilities likely require a less detailed level of service than a medical office or day care facility. The facility cleaning needs change with the organization’s varying purposes. An organization tasked with the welfare of infants will have far different needs than an organization tasked with distributing cardboard boxes.

In thinking about what types of customers you want to pursue, think about your skills, strengths and weaknesses…determining what suits your skillset best will help you identify your ideal customers. Some companies may not need or want recurring janitorial services, but they may require special event cleaning after an office party. As with recurring commercial cleaning contracts, special event clean up contracts will have a wide variety of needs, and the entrepreneur must decide which of these opportunities to go after.

 

Clean Close – Travel, Expenses, Logistics

Second, travel and logistics should play a role in selecting clients to target. Travel time represents a real cost in terms of money and your time and should not be overlooked in deciding which types of contracts your office cleaning business wants to target. It is highly advisable to calculate the cost associated with traveling to client accounts. Moreover, researching areas where your target accounts can be found and selling to areas of closer proximity is very important. Clustering your cleaning accounts in geographic locations that are close to one another will reduce your commute time and the associated costs, as well as limit the chance of a missed clean due to traffic or other unforeseen and uncontrollable circumstances.

 

Types of Office Cleaning Services

Third, creating a menu of the services your office cleaning company intends to provide is important in terms of selling and pricing your cleaning contracts. Variables such as how often per week or per month you intend to offer service will impact not only your time commitment but also the cost the customer will pay for your services.

Another variable to consider is the level of cleaning you intend to provide on a nightly, weekly or monthly basis. For instance, you may elect to provide weekly high dusting in your cleaning contracts, or you might decide to provide high dusting every night. In the second case, your cleaning company will be spending more time in the client facility to perform high dusting, thereby driving your personal cost higher – which in turn should be passed on to the client.

 

How to Get Cleaning Contracts: Tools to Use

Traditional Sales Channels

After you have identified your ideal customer, decided which geographic area(s) to target, and defined your service offerings, it is time to begin selling contracts. Traditionally, the most effective and cost-efficient way to get commercial cleaning contracts is by picking up the phone and dialing, aka cold calling. If you already have a network with local business owners or office managers, tapping this network is a great place to start selling.

Once you establish a base of satisfied customers, you can ask them to refer you to other businesses in their building, network, or industry. Word-of-mouth referrals are a strong vote of confidence for your brand and will make selling contracts to new clients much easier. Cold calling, networking and customer referrals can help jumpstart your business, however they cannot ensure consistent, stable growth in the long run.

Marketing a Cleaning Business

Additional marketing efforts are necessary if you aim to acquire a large customer base. Fliers and pamphlets are a time-tested and relatively low-cost method to spread the word about your cleaning company. Contacting and building relationships with real estate agents and property managers is another great way to obtain customer contracts. Classified ads in newspapers are also an effective source to sell cleaning contracts, and classified ads are much cheaper than larger newspaper ads. In the age of the internet, a digital marketing strategy is critical to be a true competitor in the commercial cleaning industry.

Increasingly, businesses are turning to the web and social media to find and hire professional cleaners. An established online presence is important to winning customer contracts, and the foundation of this presence is creating a website for your cleaning company. An effective website will showcase your service offerings, provide information about your business, and tell your brand’s story. Make sure to include contact information on your website – inbound web traffic are likely high potential cleaning contract prospects.

 

How to Price Commercial Cleaning Contracts

Frequency and scope of service (or level of service) ultimately will determine how to price a cleaning contract. If you intend to service a restaurant or bar, for example, there is a big difference between cleaning the dining area and cleaning the kitchen. In the latter case, a much more intensive clean will be required, as the customer will expect an absolutely spotless kitchen. These elevated expectations should be reflected in the contract.

Ultimately, you should take a consultative approach to understanding client expectations, customizing cleaning schedules, determining the frequency and scope of work to suit the facility needs and client desires, generating a cleaning contract with terms, and outlining conditions and pricing to match the client’s desires.

 

Collecting Money from Office Cleaning Customers

Finally, creating a billing schedule and agreement represents an often-overlooked aspect of starting an office cleaning business. On the one hand, launching a cleaning company and getting clients can be fun and exhilarating, but the end goal is to create financial security and additional income. Therefore, no process is more important than building policies for billing and collecting money owed from customers.

Generally speaking, office cleaning companies offer “terms” to clients in the cleaning contract. What this means is a cleaning company may ask to be paid at a specified date following the receipt of the invoice that corresponds to delivery of service. For instance, net 30 indicates the customer must pay the office cleaning company 30 days after receipt of the invoice, net 10 indicates payment is to be expected 10 days following receipt of invoice and so on and so forth. Depending on your savings and capital reserves, you should select a payment term that ensures a steady flow of incoming funds which you’ll need to replenish supplies, continue marketing your service and, best of all, set aside to increase your savings. Cash flow is king and establishing terms to meet your company’s cash flow needs is a key to success.

 

Conclusion

At the end of the day, the success of any business is determined by how much and how often they are able to sell. Above all else, consistency is crucial to building, growing, and maintaining a profitable commercial cleaning business. Therefore, having systems in place for sales, marketing, and collections is highly recommended to any business owner who aims to make a profit. Determining your service offerings and identifying your target customer and market are only the first steps to operating a successful commercial cleaning company.

The development of a marketing strategy is ultimately how you will acquire customer cleaning contracts, and you must also build out a system to price contracts, distribute bids, and collect money from clients. Getting cleaning contracts – and retaining them – is by no means an easy task, but with the right systems in place, a commercial cleaning business can provide consistent and reliable income to a hungry entrepreneur.