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Flu Season Cleaning Tips: How to Keep Your Workplace Safe

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Ah yes. It’s flu season again. That wonderful time of year where the influenza virus can stop us in our tracks at a moment’s notice and decimate otherwise clean and healthy workplaces. In fact, according to the CDC, 38 million people suffered from the flu during the 2019 – 2020 season. Flu activity was unusually low throughout the 2020-2021 flu season. Preliminary reports by the CDC estimate that between 8 and 13 million people suffered from the flu illness in 2021-2022 season. That’s a whole lot of sick days being used. So how can businesses protect their employees while also protecting workplace productivity? By following these helpful flu season cleaning tips.

Tip 1: Identify Common Contact Points

While influenza can certainly be passed through airborne transmission, it can also be transmitted from person to person through commonly accessed contact points throughout your office. In fact, the virus can last on surfaces for up to 48 hours. Because of this, you’ll want to identify the areas in your office that people touch the most so you can focus your cleaning time more efficiently. Some common contact points include:

• Door handles and knobs
• Light switches
• Hand railings
• Countertops
• Desks
• Phones
• Touch screens
• Keyboards
• Toilets
• Faucets and sinks

Tip 2: Use Hospital-Grade Disinfectants

Not all disinfectants are created equal. And while it’s possible to have your workspace cleaned with traditional home-grade disinfectant products, the extra protection and peace of mind that you get by using commercial-grade cleaning products and techniques can’t be overstated. At Corvus, our EPA-approved medical grade chemicals are applied to surfaces using an electrostatic sprayer or ultra-low volume (ULV) fogger to ensure maximum coverage and effectiveness.

Tip 3: Prevent Cross Contamination

One of the biggest risks in trying to clean multiple surfaces with the same cleaning materials is that you risk cross contamination of already sanitized areas. To prevent this, take a tip from Corvus and use different colored clothes and wipes for different areas in your workplace. For instance, use only green cleaning items for bathrooms, or only blue cleaning items for desks and chairs. That way you won’t accidentally spread contaminants from one area to another.

Tip 4: Keep Employees Informed and Prepared

When it comes to fighting the flu, you can’t do it alone. Make sure that your employees know that they can stay home from work if they’re feeling sick. Better to lose one day of someone’s time than have that person come in and infect the whole office, right? Another thing you can do is make sure that your employees have personal cleaning supplies that they can use to keep their own workspaces clean, such as sanitizing wipes and disposable cleaning clothes.

Tip 5: Make a Plan

The most important thing you’ll want to figure out is who is going to be doing the cleaning. If your business has a full-time cleaning person on staff, that’s great. If not, you might want to consider hiring a professional cleaning service, such as Corvus, to help you with all your deep cleaning needs. Drop us a line and we can help you create a custom cleaning plan for your facility.

Conclusion

While the flu season is just a fact of life, you don’t have to just sit around and accept it. The more prepared and informed you and your employees are, the better the chance you have of avoiding a major outbreak in your office.

5 Signs You’re Ready to Purchase a Commercial Cleaning Franchise

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You’ve been dreaming about purchasing a commercial cleaning franchise, and you think it might be time. What could be better than setting your own hours, being your own boss, and (most importantly) doing what you’re passionate about? These thoughts compel you. But just before you make the move, doubt creeps in, and you pause.

Are you really ready?

Taking the plunge into entrepreneurship is a big one, so it’s understandable to be nervous and even second-guess yourself.
If you’ve been thinking about owning your own commercial cleaning franchise, but you aren’t quite sure you’re ready to take the big first step, check out these 5 indicators. Cast the doubt aside and take a look. You may already be there!

1. You’re Excited

Yes, you have your doubts and healthy quotient of worry. Purchasing a franchise isn’t something anyone should spontaneously jump into. Doubts can be crippling, but if your excitement shines through the fog of fear and anxiety, it’s a sign you may be ready.

The doubt that comes creeping into your brain proves you’re thinking clearly and weighing the pros and cons. You aren’t about to jump into something feet first, which is a good sign. That means you’re excited, but you’re also thinking about the situation logically.

On the flip side, your excitement reveals your passion for the venture. This passion is what will fuel your future success. You’re likely ready when you have a healthy balance of both.

2. You’ve Done Your Homework

There’s a lot to owning a commercial cleaning franchise. Not only do you need to understand the cleaning industry, but you also need to research various franchising companies in your area. Once you’ve explored your options, reviewed the Franchise Disclosure Agreement, and feel good about it, don’t overthink it! You’re ready.

3. You’re Financially Equipped

Your financial status is one of the biggest (and most obvious) factors in your overall readiness to purchase a commercial cleaning franchise.

Purchasing a commercial cleaning franchise is a big investment. It involves putting a lump sum of money down initially and getting it back over time, and then some.

If your finances and credit are in good shape and you can make the initial investment comfortably, then it may be time to move forward.

4. You Understand the Risks Involved

Any business, franchise or not, comes with an element of risk. It’s the potential rewards that make it all worth it. A 2019 study by the Journal of Economics & Management Strategy shows that franchises boast an 8% higher two-year success rate than independent businesses, making them a safer alternative, though still not risk-free.

If you’ve done your research, fully understand the risks, and feel prepared to take them on, that’s another sign you may be ready to purchase your own commercial cleaning franchise.

5. You Have Support

Even if you’re the only one who signs the dotted line, your family and friends become a part of this journey as they offer their advice, love, and support. Even if they aren’t part of the financial decision-making process, they’re the ones who will be your sounding board and the ones who will celebrate your success with you.

If your loved ones support you, you’re more ready than you knew. With the support of those who love you most, there’s not much you can’t do.

Make the Dream Come True with Corvus Janitorial Systems

If you’re ready to take that life-changing step to own a commercial cleaning franchise, Corvus Janitorial Systems is prepared to help make it happen. We’ve helped thousands of other aspiring business owners achieve the same goal.

Corvus makes the process easy with financial and technical support to assist you along the way. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help bring your dream to life.

The Benefits of Cleaning with a Microfiber Cloth

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You don’t need to be a cleaning fanatic in the cleaning business, but it helps.
You may start each job by grabbing chemicals, a towel, and something to hold water, then attacking the dirty areas with vigor. All you can do is hope you killed the hidden bacteria and filth our eyes can’t see. The air around you smells clean, and the area you scrubbed looks clean. Task accomplished.

Enter the microfiber cloth.

Why Is Microfiber so Special?

Microfiber is a polyester-nylon blend consisting of more than 200,000 fibers per square inch. The nylon carries a positive electrical charge, which attracts dust, dirt, and microorganisms. Each fiber can clean and pull up particles, so almost everything seen and unseen gets removed from the cleaning surface.

They are Better for the Environment

Microfiber towels and mops reduce the amount of water and chemicals used per cleaning. In most cases, water will suffice for standard cleaning routines, and if water is needed, it is much less than that used by cotton products.

The University of California Davis Medical Center (UCDMC) found that a microfiber mop only needed five gallons of water per one hundred rooms. In comparison, a cotton mop required 105 gallons of water. The same study found that microfiber mops only used .5 ounces of chemicals, compared to the cotton mop’s 10.5 ounces.

Microfiber cloths save water, reduce the number of chemicals we release into the environment, and provide healthier conditions for your clients.

Cleaning Versus Disinfecting

Cleaning is very different from disinfecting. You wash your dishes by hand to remove the leftover particles before placing them into the dishwasher to be disinfected. It’s the same for all other surfaces.

Cleaning removes the grit and bacteria from the surface, but some viruses will remain. The only way to eliminate them totally is through the use of chemicals.

Chemicals applied to surfaces help kill viruses and bacteria, but they also help with tough-to-remove stains, such as hard water. Using the chemical is just the first step. You must then wait for the dwell time to elapse before wiping away the product.

Microfiber cloths require a smaller quantity of chemical products to do the same job as cotton cloths. Still, it is best to stick to the manufacturer’s recommendations for dilution ratios. Microfiber not only kills the microbes but the food they require to thrive.

Microfiber Is a Complete Cleaning Package

Microfiber uses its static charge to trap small particles, bacteria, and dust. That helps in more ways than just cleaning counters and mopping floors. It also absorbs water and chemicals better, dispersing them on surfaces as needed. Here are a few cleaning tasks microfiber excels at:

• Disinfecting
• Dry-dusting
• Polishing
• Dry and wet scrubbing

Microfiber replaces cotton, knit, and polishing cloths, as well as lint-free and disposable rags. Microfiber should be your go-to cloth for all your cleaning needs.

Cleaning your Microfiber Cloths

Cleaning your microfiber cloths is simple, here are a few steps to ensure you wash correctly.
• Shake them out before washing them
• Use detergent without any additives, such as softeners or fragrance
• Consider hand-washing, if only lightly soiled
• Line dry if possible
• Dry on a low heat setting, without other items

Corvus Janitorial Systems

Corvus Janitorial Systems believes in making lives better (and easier), not just for our clients but also for those creating a cleaner, healthier environment every day. We offer a full range of cleaning services to our clients, including disinfecting and sanitizing services.

If you are a professional in the cleaning world and want to grow your business into something special, contact us to learn about our franchise opportunity.

Franchisee Spotlight – Domonique Spears, Corvus of Nashville

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This month’s Franchisee Spotlight goes to Corvus of Nashville Franchise Owner, Mr. Domonique Spears. The Corvus brand entered the state of Tennessee less than one year ago, and Mr. Spears’ influence on the up-and-coming market has not gone unnoticed.

To keep up with the Franchisee Spotlight Series and all things Corvus, follow us on Instagram! @corvus_janitorial_franchising

Mr. Spears’ cleaning experience goes back to helping his older brother clean the school where he worked. Then, just shortly after graduating high school, Mr. Spears got a job at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he went on to work for five years. In a recent interview with Corvus of Nashville’s Regional Director, Mr. Jonathan Frias, they discuss how this experience primed him to clean at a high level and provide top-notch customer service.

Since the start of his Corvus Franchise, Mr. Spears’ strategy has been to clean Nashville’s smaller accounts. And according to Mr. Frias, this approach has worked out very well. “He listens to the advice we have given him. Dominique is always willing to learn and get better,” he says.

Mr. Spears works another job in addition to his Corvus Franchise, making it challenging to meet up for last-minute changes that arise. But even though his work schedule is demanding, he still manages to make it work. For example, Mr. Spears was more than willing to meet up with Mr. Frias on a Sunday for an initial walkthrough of a new customer account. Talk about an impressive work ethic!

Thank you, Mr. Spears, for all that you do for Corvus! We look forward to watching your continued growth and success.

Cleaning and Disinfecting for the Delta Variant: What You Need to Know

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At Corvus Janitorial, we know how important it is to keep your facility clean and disinfected – especially during the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic. Since the pandemic began, we’ve been on the front lines helping organizations protect their employees and customers with professional-grade cleaning and disinfecting services.

That’s why we’ve been keeping tabs on the emergence and spread of the new Delta variant. Unfortunately, just as businesses are starting to open up again and relaxing restrictions around masks, the new Delta variant has been quickly spreading – causing organizations to rethink their cleaning and disinfecting procedures.

The most worrisome aspect of the Delta variant is its increased level of transmissibility. According to the CDC, the Delta variant is nearly twice as contagious as previous variants.

In addition, initial data suggests that Delta can cause more serious illness than previous strains. And while vaccines and masks are two of the most effective methods for preventing the spread of the virus, professional janitorial services that offer cleaning and disinfecting can also help reduce the risks associated with the spread of the virus.

Whether you manage a large commercial facility or a small business, you’ve probably been wondering whether you need to adjust your cleaning protocols to combat the Delta variant. The good news? The same enhanced cleaning and disinfecting protocols that help protect against the spread of the alpha variant (the original novel coronavirus) will also work against the Delta variant. But that means you need to have a plan.

That’s where Corvus comes in. Our trained specialists can help you develop a custom enhanced cleaning program for your facility to protect against COVID-19 variants such as Delta.

Our professional disinfection services include:

• Electrostatic spraying, pump or battery sprayer, or manual spray process
• Use of hospital grade, EPA registered disinfectants
• Adherence to CDC guidelines including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

As a professional cleaning company, we’re acutely aware of the risks involved in the new Delta variant. So, you can be sure that we’ll be keeping up to date on all new information about the variant and how we can do our best to stop the spread of the virus.

In the meantime, don’t wait to develop an enhanced cleaning plan for your facility. Not only does a clean workplace help you present a professional appearance, but it can also help keep your employees safe and productive.

 

Restroom Cleaning 101

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If you want to earn positive reviews from customers and create a comfortable workspace for your employees, there’s a straightforward action to focus on一janitorial services. Keep your restrooms clean and smelling fresh at all times. People do judge businesses by the condition of their restrooms.

Why Is Proper Cleaning So Important?

Customers will spend more money in businesses with clean restrooms. And if they aren’t impressed by your bathrooms, it’s likely they won’t tell you, but judge your business instead.

Of course, it’s not just a matter of popularity…it’s also a matter of health and safety. Unfortunately, too many businesses go through the motions of office cleaning without emphasizing the importance of their restrooms.

The problem is that they don’t use the proper techniques. It takes effort to get that professional level of cleanliness you usually see from commercial cleaning companies. Read on to learn a few tricks of the trade.

Know the Signs of Poor Cleaning

All commercial restrooms get dirty. Sometimes, they get filthy. It can help to think of messes as being in one or two categories.

Daily Cleaning Issues
This first category involves the daily cleaning and sanitation concerns affecting your restroom facilities. If your sanitation team ignore a day or two’s work, the following may result:

● Trash cans left to overflow
● Toilets too long without being scrubbed
● Paper towels strewn on the floor
● Countertops left damp
● Paper products not replaced as they should be
● Lingering odors

What’s the issue here? Maintenance staff often underestimates the amount of attention that commercial restrooms need throughout the day. That is especially true if you have facilities that are open to the public.

Long-Term Neglect
If your sanitation workers ignore their daily cleaning and disinfecting duties, the following may result:

● Hard water stains in sinks
● Built-up grime on bathroom mirrors
● Thick layers of dust on light fixtures and stall partitions
● Soap buildup on dispensers
● Stained countertops
● Floors that never look clean even after mopping
● Stained commodes and urinals

Skipping important tasks a few days in a row or completely ignoring them is not only unpleasant and unsafe for you, your customers, and your workers. It’s also against OSHA laws.

Best Daily Commercial Cleaning Practices for Restrooms

There are several things to consider here. First, determine how often each restroom needs cleaning. If only a handful of people use the bathroom, once a day or every few days is adequate. On the other hand, commercial buildings open to the public certainly require daily, or even hourly, cleaning.

Choose the Right Supplies
The truth is that household products don’t do an adequate job to keep a commercial restroom clean. Professional cleaning companies use commercial-grade surface cleaners, disinfecting sprays, toilet bowl cleaners, and floor solutions for a reason. Likewise, they purchase mops, brooms, wipes, and other equipment from commercial suppliers.

Learn to Use the Supplies
Many commercial cleaning products come in concentrated form. To use them safely, you must learn to dilute them, label bottles correctly, and know which surfaces they can be applied to. Proper disposal is also key.

Use Proper Techniques
It’s not pleasant to think about, but restrooms are full of the kinds of pathogens that make people very sick. Unfortunately, poor cleaning practices can make things even worse. For example, washing the floors before cleaning surfaces can cause issues. So can cleaning highly soiled areas before less dirty areas.

Additionally, it’s important to have different cleaners and supplies for toilets and urinals, sinks, countertops, and floors. Fail to adhere to this, and you are basically just moving dirt and bacteria around.

Create a Cleaning Checklist

Every time someone enters a restroom to clean it, they should be working from a checklist. That guarantees your sanitation workers miss no steps in the process. Here’s a sample list to get you started and cover all the main bases:

● Empty trash can in the sink area and in stalls
● Restock paper and sanitary supplies
● Dust light fixtures and stall partitions
● Scrub inside of toilets and urinals with bathroom cleaning solutions
● Wipe under seats and outside of bowls and urinals with disinfecting cleaner
● Clean sinks, faucets, and counters
● Sweep and mop floors
● Spray or wipe door handles and faucets with disinfectant
● Note maintenance issues to be reported to facilities

It’s helpful to create a cleaning log that all staff members must sign each time they clean a restroom. It will hold employees accountable, as well as ensure tasks are completed.

How Janitorial Services Go Above and Beyond for Clean Restrooms

It’s the deep cleaning tasks that make the real difference. Keep up with these tasks to ensure cleanliness and impress customers and staff:

● Thoroughly wipe down toilets and urinals inside and out.
● Replace air fresheners and bowl cleaning tablets.
● Scrub floors around toilets and urinals.
● Treat faucets for hard water buildup and stains.
● Use a commercial floor scrubbing machine to clean floors and remove stains.
● Dust vents.
● Fix leaks, replace bulbs, and deal with other maintenance issues.
● Strip old layers of wax from floors and recoat.

The frequency at which you complete these tasks can vary. It’s entirely dependent on how often the facilities are used and how dirty they get. You must also decide if it’s worthwhile for you to purchase floor scrubbers and strippers or if you can rent these machines from cleaning supply companies.

Other Things to Consider When Cleaning and Disinfecting Restrooms

Think of these as tips for keeping standard commercial restrooms clean and sanitary. Depending on the nature of your business, you may need to take other steps. For example, there are particular protocols for healthcare facilities and companies that serve food.

Your local health department may be able to give you some guidance. Additionally, the CDC publishes guidelines for cleaning to prevent the spread of Covid and other illnesses.

Interested in Learning More?

Corvus Janitorial Systems offers a full range of commercial cleaning services. We’re happy to discuss the best methods for cleaning your facilities. If you are a professional cleaner, we’d love to hear from you as well. Contact us so we can discuss your needs.