Janitor Service

Janitor Service for Home or Office Cleaning?

There are many options when it comes to finding someone to clean your property whether it be for the home or the office. No matter what the size of the space to be cleaned or the scale of the operation needed to perform the cleaning, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Company or Independent

One of the first decisions you will need to make is whether to use an independent or a known company for your service. The corporate service will tend to cost you more but there are certain advantages to using a known entity. We will discuss this later in the article. Individuals can be much less costly but a certain amount of risk comes along with that savings. That is not to say that perfectly wonderful independents can’t be found. It usually takes a lot of filtering to get the good ones though. It is probably a good bet that the better independents are already as busy as they can be. You will usually need to wait for an opening in their schedule. It is best to find someone by word of mouth rather than starting from scratch searching the classified market place. A good recommendation is worth gold and it can save you a lot of heart ache. Company or independent, you should always ask for references and actually check on the references. Ask them if they would hire them again if they are still not using them. Why did they stop using them if that’s the case. There are many local and national companies who provide janitorial service in most areas. Keep in mind that the company’s reputation does not guarantee you will get a quality individual. It does give you some recourse though as the company is ultimately liable and they don’t tend to keep people working for them who are a risk to their livelihood.

Bonding and Insurance

One of the advantages of using a company is they may be bonded and insured. This comes in very handy if something happens to someone while on your property. Ask to see written proof that they have insurance and that it is current. Some independents may also be insured which would be a big plus. If you decide to use someone who is not, the check with your own insurance to see what kind of coverage you have relative to people working on your property.

Reputation and Trustworthiness

A company can usually be researched. Try to find reviews on line if you are thinking about using a corporate service. Check their reputation with the Better Business Bureau or the equivalent in your area. As mentioned before, ask for references both written and those who you can contact and ask questions. A reputable company or individual will not have a problem with this. If they do, you may want to steer away from them.

Interview and Get Specific about the Task

 Finally, you need to be comfortable with the individual(s) who will be working in your home or business. It is essential that you conduct a personal interview in order to be comfortable with the hire. Ask about what specific tasks will be done for the quoted charges. Make sure you are going to get what you expect. The old adage “Do you do windows?” is actually a very appropriate question. Would you be comfortable giving this individual access to your property? When you aren’t there? Most services get keys and operate during hours when no-one else is around. If it is your home the question becomes even more important.

Be thorough in your research and make sure you check all of the bases. When you do find the right situation it will be worth all of the diligence. If you wish, you can start by visiting some of the advertisers on this site. Good luck in your search.

Filed Under General Considerations | 21 Comments

Carpet Cleaning Methods

When it comes to house cleaning or office cleaning, there are a few different ways to have carpets cleaned. The pros and cons of each method really don’t differ between commercial or residential. The concerns and needs are much the same. Carpet is basically carpet….

We will discuss 3 different methods for cleaning carpets. One of these methods is recommended more often than the others by carpet manufacturers. The other 2 are basically options for surface cleaning vs thorough or deep cleaning.

Shampoo Method

Shampooing carpets can give a great looking result immediately after the job is completed. The process uses chemicals which will foam when agitated. The foam is distributed throughout the carpet fibers and allowed to dry. When the foam is dry it is vacuumed up and the intention is that the dirt will come up with the foam. There is usually an additive to help brighten the look of the carpet thus resulting in the immediate look of improved cleanliness. So the upside is a great looking result. One of the problems is that these foams don’t always collect all of the dirt and they also are more susceptible to re-soiling. You might get rid of a heavily soiled area temporarily but that area will tend to soil quicker due to damage to the fibers and also due to the fact that there is still dirt below the surface.

Dry Cleaning

There are two types of “dry cleaning” for carpets. Neither of these methods is actually “dry” since some amount of water is used in the process. The first is the dry powder method various agents are applied to the carpet and then agitated by some method such as a brush to get the agent into all of the fibers. The agents are designed to attract the dirt and are then vacuumed up much like the shampoo method. Drying time is less due to the limited amount of liquid used in the process. The carpets must be thoroughly vacuumed before and after the agent is applied. There may be resulting residue in the form of dust if not cleaned properly. This can affect the quality of the air. The second method is called “dry cleaning”. It is carbonated cleaning. This method is done by applying a chemical agent to the carpet by spraying it on and working it into the carpet by brushs and pads that force the agent into the fibers. The advantage of theses methods is quick drying time and a decent looking result. The disadvantage is that they leave a lot of residual dirt in the carpet and they can cause damage to the carpet fibers. Most carpet manufacturers don’t recommend these methods.

Steam or Extraction Method

This method uses warm water to penetrate all layers of the carpet and to pull the dirt out with suction. It is also the only method of the 3 that achieves “deep cleaning” of the entire carpet. The process is gentle on carpet fibers as long as you aren’t using a distructive agitation method. Some steam cleaners use brushes, others only use suction. Some sort of detergent is usually added to the water to improve the result. Tough spots can be pre-treated with spot cleaners prior to performing the extraction. One advantage of this method is it achieves the most thorough cleaning of the carpet of the 3 methods. (gets more of the dirt out) Another is that it does the least amount of damage to the carpet. The only real disadvantage is the time is takes to dry. Usually over night. Professional steam cleaning will result in less damage to your carpet and a more thorough cleaning. The equipment used by a professional janitor service is far superior to the equipment you can rent or buy for a reasonable price.

Extraction only need be done once every 12 or 18 months in normal conditions. The frequency will vary depending on the type and frequency of the traffic. Foaming and Dry Cleaning will probably need to be done more often since they do not remove all of the dirt and re-soiling will usually occur. If you are ready to get started, you might want to visit some of the quality companies advertising on our site. Good luck :)

Filed Under Carpet Cleaning | 66 Comments

Welcome to our site!

Welcome to our site. The Janitor Service Guide is dedicated to helping people make informed decisions on the type of cleaning services to use for their particular situation. Come back often to find new, informative posts.

Filed Under Welcome | 34 Comments