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Environmentally Conscious Cleaning Practices

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Earth Day and every day, Corvus Janitorial cares about the environment. Eco-friendly products and practices have been growing in popularity over the years as we learn more about the true impact of traditional ones.

Ranging from eco-friendly cosmetics to cleaning practices, it’s safe to say that this is no longer a trend. And who wouldn’t want to make choices that are better for the environment? But that’s not their only selling point. Did you know that environmentally conscious cleaning practices aren’t just better for the planet, they’re better for you, too?

By implementing eco-conscious cleaning practices in your office, school, or other workspaces, you can ensure a safe and healthy environment for anyone who spends time there. Here are our suggestions:

Evaluating Your Cleaning Products

Not all cleaning products are created equally. Some are significantly better, healthier, more effective, or some combination of these improvements. As part of your new eco-conscious cleaning routine, replacing your chemical-heavy lineup with more targeted and less harsh products is a great first step.

And beyond that, many traditional cleaning products do have expiration dates that many of us tend to forget about. Cleaning products degrade over time, often without providing us with scent changes, texture differences, or visual cues that they may no longer be effective. This means that we could end up using a cleaning product for years after it has expired.

While this last point isn’t exactly an environmental concern, degraded cleaning products may leave you thinking that your space is safe, clean, and healthy when it isn’t, so it’s still worth a mention. Every six months or so, rummage through your supply closet to ensure that nothing needs replacing.

Adopting Greener Cleaning Practices

One of the best and easiest green cleaning practices is swapping out single-use paper towels with microfiber cloths, rags, towels, and other reusables. Single-use paper items like paper towels and fast-food napkins contribute to deforestation, global warming, and pollution. Sturdier rags and cloths can be washed and reused over and over again.

Some other suggestions for green cleaning practices:

• Bring in oxygen-producing plants and dust regularly to improve air quality
• Spot clean with more natural ingredients like white vinegar, lemon, and baking soda
• Buy recycled paper products for the office
• Buy your cleaning supplies in bulk; less packaging means less waste
• Clean any given room from top to bottom, starting from the far wall and moving toward the doorway; this way, you don’t end up cleaning the same area twice
• Employ a daily cleaning task list so that fewer deep cleans are necessary

Get creative with your green cleaning practices. For example, if you don’t have microfiber cloths or old rags to use, what else do you have that you can bring in from home? You can clean with worn-out sheets, ripped or stained shirts, or an old pair of socks. Old toothbrushes are great for digging into and scrubbing small spaces.

If you know that several of your employees live close to one another, suggest having a carpool day once per week. While this isn’t exactly a cleaning practice, it is something you can do to bring the eco-friendly movement into your workspace. You could also switch to motion-sensor lighting to consume less energy after hours when no one is around or when someone forgets to flick the switch off on their way home.

Conserving Water

If you’re looking for bigger ways to implement eco-friendly practices into your workspace, installing water-efficient fixtures is one way to do so. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), water-efficient faucets and accessories reduce a sink’s water flow by 30% or more from the standard flow.

Retrofitting bathroom sink faucets with WaterSense-labeled models could save billions of gallons of water nationwide each year. Installing low-flow toilets, touch-free faucets, and regularly checking for and fixing leaks can also help. But even without springing for fancier fixtures, we can simply be mindful of how much water we’re using and try to reduce it.

Rather than leaving the water running while we’re cleaning, turn it off when it’s time to scrub and turn it back on when you need it again. Informing employees or coworkers about water conservation can make it a team effort and increase its impact.

Water is a limited resource. We can all play our part to use it more efficiently and reduce unnecessary water usage. Conserving water keeps it pure and clean for us and future generations and protects the environment.

Hiring A Team to Take the Guess Work Out of Your Commercial Cleaning

No matter how small it may seem, any step toward environmentally conscious cleaning practices is something positive. And when you’re not sure how to keep your commercial space clean, healthy, safe, and sparkling on your own, we’ve got a team for that.

The incredible and conscious crews at Corvus Janitorial will work with you to determine what your goals are for your workspace and how they can meet them. With convenient and flexible hours, unique cleaning and disinfecting plans, and customized services, you’ll find exactly what you need right here.

What is a Commercial Disinfectant?

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Commercial vs. Home Disinfectants

Home disinfectants are regular name-brand products that you can find in grocery stores. They’re used to eliminate bacteria and viruses at home, especially on high-touch surfaces, which the CDC is recommending we pay extra attention to right now. Cleaning and disinfecting with home disinfectants is what most people do to keep diseases, like COVID, from spreading through contact with contaminated surfaces.
Regular cleaning and disinfecting are always a good idea. And many common household products, like the disinfecting wipes put out by Clorox or the disinfectant mist produced by Lysol, are registered with the EPA. But even when a home disinfectant is registered with the EPA as an effective product against hard-to-kill viruses, it might not be enough. Commercial disinfectants take the cleaning and sanitizing process one step further.

Commercial Disinfectant Benefits

While many household disinfectants will kill deadly viruses, they still have their limitations. Commercial disinfectants are stronger than home-grade ones, killing a wider range of transferable infections and diseases. And on top of being stronger and more effective, the techniques that trained commercial cleaners use are more effective and efficient, too.
Techniques like cold fogging and electrostatic spraying are significantly more effective ways to disinfect. These commercial-grade products and methods create a 360-degree mist to target every surface and hard-to-reach corner, ensuring that nothing is missed. This type of high-level cleaning and disinfecting is particularly helpful in sensitive and high-traffic settings where keeping things sanitized and safe is a necessity rather than a luxury.

Where Commercial Disinfectants are Used

Among other places, commercial disinfectants are extremely common in:

– Airports
– Hospitals and other medical facilities
– Senior centers
– Schools and daycares
– Office buildings
– Restaurants and food facilities
– Factories and manufacturing facilities

Because these facilities see a lot of traffic, have many high-touch surfaces, and many house vulnerable individuals, a higher level of cleaning and disinfecting is required. Since the first COVID shutdown, we have all learned the importance of maintaining our health and safety. Commercial cleaning and disinfecting services make it easier to do so. By using highly effective, commercial-grade products, equipment, and techniques, we help our clients ensure that their facility, office, or workspace is safe.

When to Use Home Disinfectants

EPA-approved home disinfects are great to use during routine home and office cleaning. Between professional cleaning and disinfecting services and in a pinch, they are an effective way to slow the spread of germs and infections. If you’re cleaning a high-traffic home, an office, or another workplace setting, you should regularly use sprays or wipes to sanitize high-touch surfaces like doorknobs, handles, desks and chairs, light switches, phones and keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, and countertops. Remember to follow the proper protocols to ensure that you’re getting the most out of your cleaning and disinfecting efforts.
And remember that there is a big difference between EPA-approved home disinfectants and homemade natural cleaning products and disinfectants. Natural products are growing in time with the movement for more eco-friendly solutions, but natural cleaning products that rely on ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda are far less effective than household and commercial cleaning products. Health and safety should be the top priority for cleaning and disinfecting procedures, especially during times like these.

Proper Cleaning and Disinfecting Protocols

Following the proper cleaning and disinfecting procedures will both help ensure that they are as effective as possible and that you remain safe while cleaning. Some disinfecting products might be harmful if they’re left on exposed skin for too long; others might only be safe for use in well-ventilated areas. Wear disposable gloves, clean surfaces with soap and water first, then disinfect. Wear clothes that you aren’t concerned about damaging if you’re using products that contain bleach.
Check your home disinfectant bottles for instructions on dwell time, the amount of time a solution has to stay on a surface in order for it to be effective, as well as other important instructions. With some products, simply wiping them with a rag and walking away won’t be enough. Regular cleaning is a good way to help slow the spread of preventable illnesses. But when it comes to getting a deeper cleaning, disinfecting those hard-to-reach surfaces, and finding some peace of mind, commercial disinfectants applied by trained professionals will carry you farther.

Corvus Janitorial Services

Regular cleaning, washing your hands, wearing your masks, and keeping your distance can help slow the spread of illnesses. But when you need something more, commercial disinfecting services will keep high-touch surfaces and hard-to-clean areas clean and disinfected to reduce the transmission on a higher level. Our service providers are trained to get the job done right and done safely. And you can move forward with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that you’ve done your part to keep your facility, employees, patients, loved ones, and community safe and healthy.

Franchise Disclosure Document: What it is and Why it’s Important

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What is an FDD?

Franchise disclosure documents were created by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help potential franchise owners gather the information they need to conclude whether they’re making a good investment or not. These documents are meant to protect American consumers and guide them as they search for the right investments to meet their needs. At first glance, a franchise may seem like a good investment, but it’s never a good idea to make such a big financial decision without digging a bit deeper first. Your franchise disclosure document will provide you with details on everything from affiliated companies to dispute resolution requirements.

Why is it Required?

This legal document is an important part of doing your pre-purchase due diligence. The information contained in a franchise disclosure document is essential to potential franchisees who are preparing to make one of the most significant investments possible. In your disclosure document, you’ll read about the roles of each party involved, among many other things. Knowing what falls on the franchisor and the franchisee will help you make a diligent and informed decision. Providing this information is also beneficial to the franchisor, as they now have their legal obligations and promises in writing should a conflict appear later on in the business relationship.

The Federal Trade Commission requires that franchisors provide the document to the franchisee a minimum of 14 days prior to it being signed, or before any money changes hands. This means that the start-up costs and annual licensing fee will be handled after the document is signed. This may seem like a lengthy period of time, but this document contains a lot of information, and you should take your time reviewing it section by section. Once you’ve reviewed and signed, keeping a copy of important documents like these for your records is always a good practice. It may be helpful to refer back to them later.

Why is it Important to Potential Franchise Owners?

When we were young, inexperienced students, we all learned how to make pro-con lists when we were making important decisions. Franchise disclosure documents are essentially the adult version of this useful organizational tool, except they’re put together by someone who already has all of the information we need. Potential franchise owners can use a federal disclosure document to weigh the risks and benefits of the investment they’re considering so they’re not walking blindly into a situation that may not work out for them.

When you’re teaming up with a franchise to access their business knowledge, established processes, trademarks, and more, it’s important to know exactly what you’re getting. You’ll need to know which obligations fall to which party, and whether they’ll help you with things like finding the right location, training your team, management guidance, and marketing strategies. Franchises are unique investments in many different ways. For this reason, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons, or risks and rewards, before you enter into this important business decision.

What is Included in an FDD?

Franchise disclosure documents contain 23 specific pieces of information about the franchise you’re looking into, the franchise’s officers, and other existing franchisees. This is an incredibly thorough and important document involved in any franchise purchase. It’s also long, and if this is your first franchise purchase, maybe a bit confusing. It may be a good idea to go through your franchise disclosure document under the guidance and watchful eye of an experienced franchise attorney before you sign.

Below is a breakdown of the items that will be included in your franchise disclosure document, what they are, and why they’re important:

1. The franchisor and any parents, predecessors, and affiliates
All corporate, affiliation and parent company information related to the franchisor should be included here

2. Business experience
Information regarding the franchisor’s management team

3. Litigation
If the franchisor, affiliates, predecessors, or management team members are involved in certain kinds of litigation, that information should be disclosed here

4. Bankruptcy
If any of the parties listed above previously filed for bankruptcy, that would be contained in this section

5. Initial fees
Having a clear outline of both initial and other fees will help both parties avoid disputes over undisclosed costs down the road

6. Other fees
Same as above

7. Estimated initial investment
This section of your franchise disclosure document should give you a range for the expected initial investment needed to get your franchise up and running

8. Restrictions on sources of products and services
This section includes a list of products or supplies that the franchisee needs to buy from the franchisor (or suppliers that they designate). It also included information on revenue and rebates that they earn from this

9. Franchisee’s obligations
As a franchisee, your obligations (legal, termination, etc.) will be listed in a table here

10. Financing
If your franchisor offers their franchisees financing for initial or other fees, you’ll find that information here

11. Franchisor’s assistance, advertising, computer systems, and training
This section will list the types of assistance or training you’ll have access to, advertising requirements, and the systems you’ll need to buy and use within the franchise

12. Territory
Your franchisor will disclose whether you have access to a protected territory, how that’s determined, and situations that will allow them to operate within your territory

13. Trademarks
If your franchisor has trademarks, they’ll include registration (with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) information, status, and related details here

14. Patents, copyrights, and proprietary information
Similar to the section above, here your franchisor will include information on any applicable patents, copyrights, or other proprietary information you may need

15. Obligation to participate in the actual operation of the franchise business
If you are obligated to have any involvement in the daily operations of your franchise, your franchisor will provide the details of that obligation here. Some may require that you work in the franchise full-time, while others have no requirements listed in this section

16. Restrictions on what the franchisee may sell
Your franchisor may limit what you can or can’t sell here

17. Renewal, termination, transfer, and dispute resolution
Your legal rights, renewal obligations, termination process, and transfer details, along with a summary of dispute resolution requirements between you and your franchisor will be listed in this section

18. Public figures
Lists celebrities and public figures (if any) that were hired to promote the franchise

19. Financial performance representations
Outlines information about sales or other financial data. This is not always provided

20. Outlets and franchisee information
A table will be used here to summarize things like the number of opened franchises, the number of franchises that were terminated, closed, or transferred, and contact information for each franchisee in the franchisor’s system

21. Financial statements
Financial statements are one of the most important inclusions in any federal disclosure document. Your franchisor will need to provide three years’ worth of audited financial statements. This will give you insight into costs and cash flow, among other things

22. Contracts
Buying a franchise includes signing several contracts, like your franchise agreement. Others may include financial contracts, agreements made regarding products supplied, licensing agreements, and more

23. Receipts
The last section of your franchise disclosure document is a receipt page that you’ll sign to let the appropriate parties know (and keep a record of) when you received your FDD

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. Visit our website for more information regarding Corvus and the franchise opportunities we offer nationwide.

Disclaimer: This blog is for general information only. It is not intended to advise an individual on their purchase of a franchise and should not be used in place of legal counsel. There are many factors that affect the purchase of a franchise. Any person considering the purchase of a franchise should become familiar with their state laws related to franchising.

Franchisee Spotlight – Bryan Williams, Corvus of Jacksonville

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This month’s Franchisee Spotlight Series features Corvus of Jacksonville Franchise Owner, Mr. Bryan Williams. Read on to learn more about the standout Franchisee who goes above and beyond to Make Lives Better!

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

Corvus of Jacksonville had the good fortune of welcoming Franchise Owner Bryan Williams to the team in April of 2018. For nearly three years now, Mr. Williams has continuously proven himself to be a valuable partner to the Jacksonville market and the Corvus Community at large.

While Mr. Williams possesses several excellent qualities, it is his positive attitude that elevates him. “Bryan can make any customer happy…he is absolutely dependable,” says Corvus of Jacksonville Regional Director, Mr. Spencer Sandell. Customers can count on Mr. Williams to show up optimistic and enthusiastic about the job, and this consistency empowers him to foster meaningful, professional relationships.

This standout Franchisee treats his customer accounts with the utmost respect and professionalism. Mr. Williams makes an effort to learn what customers expect from their cleaning provider and works hard to exceed their expectations. He holds his cleaning business to a very high standard, and providing the highest level of customer service is the top priority.

Mr. Williams exemplifies what it means to be a team player. The Regional Director recounts fondly on the time Mr. Williams was the helper of a former Franchise Owner. This Franchisee eventually walked away from his business, and when he did, Mr. Williams took over his accounts without hesitation. With determination like this, it is no surprise that he has never lost a customer account!

Thank you, Mr. Williams, for all that you do! Corvus would not and could not exist without hardworking and determined Franchisees like yourself. We are all so grateful for your partnership and look forward to watching your continued success.

How and Why to Strip and Refinish Hardwood Floors

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As far as home and office improvement projects go, stripping and refinishing hardwood floors is definitely high up on the list. It’s something that’s relatively easy to take on – you can do it yourself or find several local hardwood floor specialists to do it for you. Whichever you choose, there are many benefits to stripping and refinishing your hardwood floors. And if you’re feeling handy or you’re willing to learn, one of those benefits is that you can do it on your own, save money, and learn a new and valuable skill.

Why Strip and Refinish Hardwood Floors

Stripping and refinishing hardwood floors gives you the chance to restore old, worn, or otherwise damaged flooring in your home or office. It is also the perfect time to change the color with a quick and easy stain. Refinished hardwood floors increase the property’s value, makes the room more visually appealing, and makes them easier to keep clean. Dirt and dust can settle in as hardwood floors age. Stripping and refinishing will help you remove allergens, eliminate pesky splintering wood pieces, and give you a smooth finish that is easy to clean and maintain.

How to Strip and Refinish Hardwood Floors

Stripping and refinishing your hardwood floors will take some patience and a fair amount of elbow grease, but the results make it worth it. Using the floors as the jumping-off point to redecorate and breathe new life into your space can make it feel brand new. There are different levels and stages of refinishing hardwood floors, so we’ll start with the easier ones. If you only have a handful of minor scratches, dings, or a worn, dull finish, you might be able to get away with quickly buffing and adding a new coat of varnish or polyurethane to your hardwood floors.

But if your hardwood floors are in dire need of a full makeover, the process is still manageable and rewarding. Plus, doing it yourself can save you thousands over paying an expert to do it for you. On average, professionals charge between $3 to $4 per square foot to refinish floors. This means that a 2,000-square foot space could cost as much as $8,000. If you’re willing to do the work yourself instead, it would cost closer to $700 instead.

Steps Involved in Stripping and Refinishing Damaged Hardwood Floors

If you don’t fall into the category of a quick repair, here are the steps you’ll want to follow to breathe life back into your hardwood floors:

1) Prep the room by taking out furniture and rugs, covering vents and electrical boxes with painter’s tape, and gently removing the base molding with a pry bar

2) Number the molding pieces as you go so it’s easier to put them back in the right place when you’re done

3) Use wood filler to patch and repair larger holes or cracks or wood patch filler on individual spots if the damage is minimal

4) Let the filler dry completely

5) Use a damp rage to wipe down the floor and get rid of any remaining dust or debris; let the floor dry again before sanding

6) Slowly and cautiously use a drum sander to sand the floor (remember your mask and eye protection, too)

7) Buff the floor to remove any small sanding marks that were left behind and give the floor a smooth finish

8) Prep the room for stain or sealer by wiping away any dirt, dust, or hair on the floor or walls so they don’t affect your finish

9) Apply stain if you want to change the color (make sure the room is well ventilated first and wear your respirator mask)

10) Once the stain is dry (or you decided to skip the stain), the last step is sealing the floor (usually with polyurethane) to protect it from further scratches and water damage

Tools and Materials You’ll Need

Depending on the level of damage, size of the room, your goals, and other individual factors, the process may look slightly different. But for the most part, the tools and materials you’ll need will likely stay the same. Let’s start with the rented items first. Unless you already own them or you have a handy family member or neighbor, you can rent a drum or belt floor sander and an edger sander from your local home improvement store. These are the biggest items you’ll need. From there, you’ll want to gather or go buy:

–A small pry bar for the base molding
–Needle-nosed pliers to remove any nails or staples in the floor
–A hammer to nail down any loose boards
–Painter’s tape and plastic sheets
–Wood filler
–Spackle knife (you may want to buy a few different sizes, but if you already have one and don’t want to buy more, the one you have on hand should work fine)
–Protective goggles or other eyewear and respirator masks
–Sandpaper (40, 60, 80, and 120-grit to fit the different sanders)
–A sanding pole
–A 120-grit sanding screen
–An industrial-level vacuum or shop vac
–Tack cloth
–Denatured alcohol
–A smooth foam roller
–Polyurethane or a similar hardwood floor sealant
–Steel wool pads and rags
–An oil-based stain and stain applicator pads are optional depending on whether or not you are happy with the current color of your hardwood floors.

Corvus Janitorial Services

At Corvus, we are dedicated to health and safety improvements. If you are preparing to strip and refinish your hardwood floors yourself, make sure you have all of the safety equipment you need. If you are renting sanders, buffers, or other equipment, ask the hardware store for guidance on how to use them. You can also find instructional videos on YouTube to watch before you begin. Doing your research before you get started could help you avoid costly mistakes like having to start over or having to hire a professional to fix any damage. For more information on improvements that you can make, the services that we offer, and the proper protocols for cleaning and disinfecting, visit the Corvus blog page.

5 Qualities of a Successful Cleaning Franchise Owner

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Like every industry or profession, there are specific skills and knowledge required to perform a job competently. All Corvus Franchise Owners possess skill sets that are essential to keeping businesses running and our communities safe, but what is it that separates the good from the great? What contributes to their success? While there is no singular trait that makes a commercial cleaning professional successful, there are certainly commonalities shared amongst the top performers. Fortunately, the five qualities listed below can be learned and implemented by anyone who is committed to their cleaning franchise:

1. Consistency

Consistently showing up on time and doing the best possible job demonstrates reliability. Staying committed to providing the highest quality cleaning service day in and day out proves to customers that their business is in your best interest. When your accounts know exactly the kind of service they will be getting, you are fostering a customer relationship based on trust and loyalty.

2. Attention to Detail

Even if you have done more cleans than you could possibly count, mistakes do happen. Forgetting to take out one trashbag or neglecting to dust one area could affect the overall appearance of an office. Double-checking, or even triple-checking, your work for any errors is always a good idea. This not only shows that you are thorough, but it also prevents bigger problems that could result arise down the road.

3. Preparation

Successful cleaning franchise owners are always thinking ahead. Purchasing supplies well before they run out, having an approved backup crew, and allowing yourself plenty of time to get to an account in case unforeseen circumstances arise are great ways to stay prepared. Think of any possible scenarios that may happen and create a plan to solve the unexpected challenge.

4. Desire to Learn

As a business owner, it is almost guaranteed that you will face new and unprecedented challenges. Rather than trying to solve them all on your own, try reaching out to a Corvus Teammate instead. Asking for help is a strength, not a weakness. It shows that you are willing to learn and take any steps necessary to improve yourself and your business.

5. Solution-Oriented

Successful cleaning franchise owners actively seek solutions when challenges arise. When they can’t solve the problems on their own, they are resourceful by asking questions or reaching out to others for help. If something is not going according to plan, they investigate the situation further. Rather than just shrugging off a streaky floor, ask yourself questions like: am I using too much product? the wrong product? does the mop water need to be changed more often?

If this list seems overwhelming at first, that’s okay! Real, lasting change takes time. Focus on one area for however long you need to, and then move on to another. Eventually, these “learned skills” will become habits that you incorporate into your everyday work routine.

About Corvus Janitorial Systems

Founded in 2004 to make people’s lives better, Corvus Janitorial Systems 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. Visit our website for more information regarding Corvus and the franchise opportunities we offer nationwide.