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cleaning

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Cleaning Ops

Notes on cleaning various things, surfaces etc.

Toolkit List / Examples

The cleaning kit should contain a fair amount of tools to get jobs done on a location. Here's a list of things to bring, so that if you happen to need to do cleaning, you have gear.

Cleaning Checklist and Kit Inventory

Example Kits

Supply Houses

Need some websites here or local stores that I would supply from .

Cleaning Carts and Caddys

Local Suppliers

Vacuuming

Since this is a commercial product, it's important to look at total cost of ownership. For example the battery backpack vacuums are appealing being cordless. A couple companies are making them. It's important to look at total cost including battery pack replacement and warranty. If one company costs $300 more but the warranty is for longer, that's a plus, but if batteries don't last and cost more, you've got some math to do. Same goes for filters, maintenance. Right now the Mosquito cordless is an attractive option. But it remains to be seen what is best choice for long term use. Also look at creating content for these companies in order to get deals on products.

Most interesting backpack choices: Mosquito, Makita (LXT or XGT), Karcher, ProTeam, Milwaukee, Hoover

Factors for choosing: Cordless or corded, bag costs, loudness, weight, battery cost, moisture pickup, warranty, filter replacement.

Traditional Vacuums

Warehouse Vacuum Sweepers

Other Vacuuming Notes

I'm watching a car interior detailing video where a lady is using a special blower nozzle that rotates, comes from an air compressor. The blower nozzle releases a lot of debris from the carpet. But some debris of course can remain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DbbPu22O3s

On the video, a commenter wrote:

“I always use a hand sander with the velcro pad for my initial vacuum….you put that velcro on the carpet and turn it on and you will not believe the stuff that literally jumps out of the carpet fibers. I run the vac while i run the sander and it gets about 90% of EVERYTHING in the carpet…then i blow it with the nozzle and final vacuum…..but the sander trick takes most of the work out of the job”

I there may be a case for improving some lobby carpet cleaning by affixing some velcro to a surface at the end of a stick and trying to pickup stray hairs, fuzzies etc from the carpet, and potentially loosening more dirt at the same time. Normally a vacuum brush would do this but not all attachments have this and I could see a vacuum brush impeding suction when I don't want it. A separate velcro tool may be stronger too. But would have to be careful not to pull away fibers accidentally.

Chewing Gum Removal on Sidewalk

There's a steamer device called Gumbusters and it's a system. It includes an Osprey steamer with a brass brush attachment tip and utlizing gumbuster solution which will mixed with steam essentially dissolve gum into a powder. The black blots of old gum on the concrete are an eyesore. The machine is very expesive. The solution may be able to be recreated

Reacher Grabber Tool

Finally an industrial grade one. Also look at the bucket attachment:

Systems and Thinking

The only way this works, the only way to improve is to have a systems thinking approach. Efficient movement and properly ordered task list. Think of how to go across a room so you know you've completed things behind you and keep moving forward. Start at one light switch and go one direction top to bottom. Pay attention to areas that get touched. For example, where dust collects. Bottom rear of seat cushion, bottom of chair. Fingerprints or cup prints on surfaces. Door frames and thresholds that bring dust in. Window sills, tops of surfaces.

A system of cleaning an office room is illustrated in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t2U-TKDmUg Note that in the video, the cleaner is using a feather duster, microfiber cloth, single cleaning solution in quadrants and a battery backpack vacuum.

  1. Trash cans first, then put can out of your way
  2. Dusting & Wiping down the line from starting point
  3. Surfaces, screens, windows, thresholds
  4. Vacuuming
  5. Clean Bathroom like Pro - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s03XgZi3VBo
  6. Shower Hardwater Mineral deposits on glass - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QSGL1IDLVxM
  7. Laundering microfiber mop pads or towels onsite - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MLWJZH7
    1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jswjDbyfh6U

By vacuuming last, you are more likely to grab up the disturbed dust you were sending off surfaces, frames etc. If you vacuumed first, then that dust is basically going to settle again wherever it may.

Trash Cans

Running into an issue with cans that everyone seems to have but not enough people solve it. Bag liners fall into the can and trash gets dumped all around the liner. It's haphazard and annoying. Needs to be fixed. But how? Well a few options. One is a band people put around some can liners. The band stretches and holds the liner in place. Another I haven't found but would be some sort of clip that fits the profile of the lip of the can, snaps in place and holds the liner from the sides or corners. And third, linked below is a sort of pull and cinch of the bag. Ideally it keeps taught, stays in place but can also release. Cinching it requires the bag be able to hold onto the lip using tension. Not all cans can do that.

Bodily Fluid (Vomit) Cleanup

I need to zero in on this process BEFORE it happens so I'm totally equipped for the situation. The right tactics will make the experience quick, simple and mostly pain free. A disposal solution is also part of the process. What container will it go in after it happens. Dumpster outside in a secondary bag?

Think of it like this: Receive report, collect materials, put on any ppe early. Prepare to cleanup (bucket with disinfectant for tools, mopheads anything kept.) Prepare to disinfect areas approaching the affected area too. (What was the path of the sick person before and after?). Door handles, elevator, walls etc. Figure out where containing the mess. Wet floor signs, cones or even tape? Utilize some sort of absorbent material. Ensure any recepticle has a good bag lining, possibly with some medium already at the bottom. Double bagged preferred. Close up anything where the mess was used. Disinfect all surfaces that were cleaned up. Disinfect a second time to get the broader area, including walls or where particulates may have landed. Take the cart / mess down to the lobby and dispose out the back, probably in the dumpster consider what receptacle is good for carrying out and dumping into dumpster. The entire situation must be handled in a relaxed tactical manner so nothing is made worse of the situation, such as mixing chemicals improperly or creating a worse situation on any surface.

Powerwashing

Reuse of Microfiber Towels

Commercial Cleaner Tips Livestream

Uniforms

Identify yourself as far as security. Also your appearance may affect perception of your worth. Tucked in shirts earn you more money and you respect your job more.

Definition of Sanitize

“To reduce the number of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, to a safe level on a surface or object. Sanitizing is often used in place of sterilizing, which is a more rigorous process that eliminates all microorganisms.”

When sanitizing, the goal is to remove or inactivate 99.9% of microorganisms, making the surface or object safe for use. This can be achieved through various methods, including:

  • Using disinfectants or sanitizers
  • Washing with soap and water
  • Using UV light or other forms of radiation
  • Heat treatment
  • Sanitizing is an important step in maintaining cleanliness and preventing the spread of illness.

Scrubbing

Scrubbing Accessories and Tips

  • Tennis Ball on broom handle to get floor marks out

Dusting & Brushing

I've thought about dusting cobwebs in a high location. A problem is you put a nice duster up there and you get the worst caught in the duster, then you have to truck around a gross old pole. Because you're not about to toss the duster after a single use. And removing the cobwebs takes a lot of time. So what's the solution?

The solution is to save the rags you were going to throw away, perhaps cut them but then use them to grab cobwebs in places and then that will be the final usage of that rag or strip. You then discard the rag and you dont' need to bring it around with you on your cleaning cart. And nobody in the area will be grossed out by it. And you don't have to clean it. So the way it will work is you need to be able to pinch onto an old towel or some strips. Some sort of pincher or gripper. A classic mop will often have jaws. So depending on how fast and easy you can put in an old rag into the jaws and how effective it is, it could work…

Windows

Cleaning windows requires wiping very fine thin markings off a hard surface. Windows also often get neglected and so accumulated dust and oil. Also windows can be places that are hard to reach or require power and agitation to properly clean and it's a problem of leverage so the pressure is applied well while not breaking the glass.

Dumpster & Compactor

Compactors are common in buildings. The garbage comes down the chute, into the hopper and can be pressed into the dumpster with the compactor. When it's time to switch out the dumpster, it's removed from the compactor latch, put into the point of deposit for the waste management (in the street or alley) and then the empty dumpster returned and latched into place for the continued loop usage. Considerations:

  • Weight - it can be heavy to manhandle and in tight spots
  • the compactor tends to burst open bags as it compacts.
  • Under the compactor where the piston pushes the garbage can be droppings, liquids, broken glass, nasty putrefying stuff.
  • If the compactor isn't working properly it can malfunction causing issues
  • Dumpster must be latched properly so it doesn't dislodge
  • Dumpster should be secured at top lid to prevent compactor from squeezing trash in and upward
  • Find a way to decontaminate the area underneath the compactor piston
    • Some sort of soaking disinfectant medium
    • Kitty litter type crystals
    • Zep product?
    • Disinfect door knobs, switches and anything else
    • Steam might help get some grease off nasty areas
  • Keep the area clean overall and the job will be easier
  • Find tools to help maneuver trash, droppings etc so when there is spillage you have what you need to clean up.
    • Scraper
    • Flat shovel
    • dustpan
    • Hoe or similar for pull scraping from underneath
    • Hard broom
  • Wear mask and eye protection
  • Bags come down the chute from many floors up, be careful for crashing objects
  • Try to leave the situation better than when you found it
  • Don't track the dumpster contamination on your shoes and into your house (or your car even)
  • Wash up afterwards and launder the clothing well

Dumpster Information

  • Tools, hoe, flat shovel to pick up fallen dumpster waste
  • Granules to put down to catch spills (zep brand?)
  • Insect management
  • Disinfectant of shoes afterwards (small wire brush and hydrogen peroxide?)
  • What if a palette jack could easily go multiple directions or be motorized and handle some lateral dumpster moves
  • What if the dumpster could be moved from tight spots using cables

Cleaning Chemistry

Lime stains on toilets

  • CLR
  • Barkeepers Friend?
  • Germicidal Bowl Cleanse
  • Pool Cleaner?
  • Zep Acidic Cleanser

Commercial Cleaning Products or Brands

Carpet Cleaning, Extractor and Chemical

Wood Floors

  • One drop of Sal's Suds (dr bronners product)

LVP? - Most like this is Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

  • Zyme-X
  • LinPol Gloss Cleaneasier.com

Terazzo Floor

Terrazzo floor is is a composite material, poured in place or precast, which is used for floor and wall treatments. It consists of chips of marble, quartz, granite, glass, or other suitable material, poured with a cementitious binder (for chemical binding), polymeric (for physical binding), or a combination of both.

Some information about this from a testimonial on Royalab site:

“Terrazzo floors were installed throughout except for the residents rooms. We immediately began having problems with the floors because we were not told how to properly care for the floors…

We happened to calla nursing home that we visited recently and their floors were beautiful! We asked them what company they used and they said “RoyaLab” and highly recommended them! We never heard of the company, but we gave them a call. The next day, Jason arrived from RoyaLab. He discussed our concerns, asked· many questions, and determined we were using the wrong PH and wrong products. We began using the products recommended and immediately saw improvement!”

Enzyme Cleaner

Enzyme cleaners can handle urine

  • Zep -
  • Activate (can't find yet)
  • Od0-Ban for pet cleanups

Towels and Wiping Down

You can color-segregate your towels so you know what you're dealing with. Microfiber towels can last longest. Wash in cold water. No bleach.

One system a cleaner mentioned for coloring:

  • Blue=Glass (mirrors, glass doors, windows)
  • Yellow=Dusting
  • Green=General Areas (tables, counters, microwaves)
  • Red=High Traffic Areas (restrooms, blood borne areas)
  • Gray=Stainless Steel & Stoves
  • White=Common Touch Points (walls, doors, cabinets)

Mopping and Floors

People still use the traditional string mop and bucket and this can work if you have a janitor's closet. however other people are using flat mops, with microfiber pads. They tend to pickup more fine dirt and debris and require less water. However they also don't really get rinsed on the go, unlike a string mop which you would use in the rinse and squeezer mechanism. That said, the mop water is being resaturated with dirt so you're likely putting things back on the floor even though the cleanser is pulling some of the dirt into the water.

A few videos on microfiber mopping systems:

Dust Mopping

Microfiber has changed the game with dustmopping. But there's also additional tech you can add. 3M makes a material you can add to the bottom of your dust mop, a sort of mesh material that is non-absorbent but is very attracted to dust, hair, all the things you want to dustmop up to prep the floor for real mopping.

Floor Stripping

Floor stripping is all about having the right equipment, preparing the area, controlling traffic and patience and adhering to the manufacturer's recommendation. Here is a useful video demonstrating stripping a floor and reapplying wax. It's not a pleasant process. But it's important to know about. If something like this were to be attempted, controlling traffic in a commercial area would be critical.

Power Mop

Pressure Washing

Electrostatic Spray

Uses an electrostatic charge to improve the deposition of disinfectant droplets onto surfaces, promoting efficient efficient use of disinfectant, through adhesion to the surface.

Sweeping

Sweeping Compound

This is a sand or organic mulch type material that you can spread onto a floor that has a few properties depending on the product. It can suppress dust while sweeping. It has a bit of moisture and absorbs or attracts dust. It can create more friction while sweeping to pick up more debris, as the debris gets caught in it instead of falling between bristles. It can clean while sweeping.

Brooms made in Illinois https://newtonbroomshop.com/

Spill Absorber

Air Filtration

Steam Cleaning

Several steaming type machines. People seem to have some success with McCullough steam cleaners, but for vehicles, people seem to like the Chief Steamers, which are commercial grade. The 125 version of the Chief can handle extraction via separate vacuum, but also has a water injector

Trauma, Accident, Crime Scene Cleanup

Load Out

  • O-Cedar Mop
  • Pet Hair Broom
  • drill gun + attachments
  • Broom and dustbin
  • scraper
  • Makita Blower
  • gloves
  • Mask
  • Ear Protection
  • Glass cleaner
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Microfiber Towels
  • Buy Bottles - Home Depot
  • Squeegee
  • Bucket for used rags
  • Rubber gloves
  • Mini Tool kit
  • Kneepads
  • collared shirt, 511 slacks
  • Rolling cart or boxes? Ridgid?
  • Headlamp Light
  • eye protection ppe
  • Buy Caddy or Wait for card?

Client Software

A.I. Suggestions for page.

To compile a comprehensive guide for your cleaning startup business, you may want to consider the following topics:

  • Pricing and Costing: Develop a pricing strategy and calculate costs for labor, equipment, and supplies.
  • Marketing and Sales: Create a marketing plan to attract clients, and develop a sales strategy to secure contracts.
  • Insurance and Liability: Research and obtain necessary insurance coverage to protect your business and clients.
  • Employee Management: Develop policies and procedures for hiring, training, and managing staff.
  • Client Communication: Establish protocols for communicating with clients, including scheduling, billing, and feedback.
  • Quality Control: Develop a system for ensuring high-quality cleaning services, including regular inspections and client feedback.
  • Equipment and Supply Management: Research and source reliable suppliers for cleaning equipment and materials.
  • Environmental and Health Considerations: Develop policies for handling hazardous materials, reducing waste, and promoting eco-friendly practices.

You may also want to consider creating a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) manual that outlines the specific tasks, protocols, and procedures for your cleaning services. This can help ensure consistency and quality across all operations.

It's also a good idea to review local laws and regulations regarding cleaning services, such as licensing requirements and health codes.

cleaning.1774848463.txt.gz · Last modified: by smickster
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