Stratus Carpet Care featured in Cleaning & Maintenance Management

Cleaning & Maintenance Management magazine released the July 2011 edition that is a spotlight edition on Carpet Care – and features our very own David Farrell and Marvin Ashton! They lend their expertise in an article instructing how to “Become a Trusted Carpet Care Expert.”  

  

This is a huge opportunity for Stratus personnel to share their expertise on the importance of carpet maintenance.  With property owners already trusting a commercial cleaner to care for their facility, they can add value by caring for the carpet, too.

Using the current economic situation as a lead in, that thought emphasizes the importance of controlled spending. 

David Farrell,  Executive Vice President

David and Marvin did an excellent job going through the carpet care program and its importance in the upkeep of a facility.  Starting with the tools necessary, they walk through the process starting with a plan for landscaping.  Entering the facility, they recommend walk off mats and a spot removal program.  Next, they move into describing the interim phase and different machines and techniques that have become available through advances in the industry. 

 

Marvin Ashton, Master Development Director

The bio under David and Marvin’s pictures references Stratus as the “industry leader in facility services, using their own line of Green Seal-certified chemicals, StratusPrivate Label HEPA vacuums and other proprietary products that fall in line with the company’s strong emphasis on environmental stewardship.”

We have various categories covered in our press room.  The major goal is to diversify the audience scope. When we write articles like these, our intention is to share our Stratus knowledge with industry professionals.

Stratus Military Discount Program

See what real Stratus Unit Franchise Owners say about their experience with Stratus after the military. Stratus Building Solutions is committed to showing our veterans how much we care for them by being the only Facilities Maintenance Franchise to offer a Military Discount. Just our little way of saying "Thank you!"

If there are any questions, please feel free to call the 877-731-2020 number listed in the video.

VCT Flooring No Match for Stratus Green Miracle Pad

To see Connor describe Stratus in his own words, visit his testimonial on StratusTube at http://bit.ly/YouTubeVCT.

Connor Crimmen is somewhat a veteran to the distribution business. Corr Distributers Inc. has been around since 1925, with him working in the shop since the young age of 13 or 14. Throughout that time, Connor had the opportunity to learn the processes, the chemicals and the equipment to the commercial cleaning industry. He learned this by working various jobs around the company like working in the warehouse, driving the trucks and working the counter helping customer and providing customer service.

Needless to say, he’s very familiar with the processes, procedures and equipment of a professional cleaner. With a man of that experience to call the Stratus Green Miracle Pad a “game-changer” was pretty dynamic.
Connor discusses his first experience with the Stratus Green Miracle Pad on a warehouse floor, where grease and dirt is constantly being tracked in. He reported when they used the Stratus Green Miracle Pad on the floor, he could literally see the dirt and grime in the traffic lanes coming up.

One thing that amazed him was the process was green from start to finish. The chemicals are green and the Pad is green, which means there was no health risk for anyone involved. That includes the person doing to work or the employees in the facility after the work is complete. Everyone is safe from toxic fumes and chemicals. Overall he said the process “uses less equipment, is easy and not a dangerous process.”

We know how great our products are and it’s nice that an expert in the industry recognizes that, as well. For more information on how to purchase your own Stratus Green Miracle Pad for floor machines or the handheld version called the Doodle Bug, just call 877-731-2020.

Indoor Air Quality - What is it?

What is Indoor Air Quality?  How does it affect my daily environment?  Can I control Indoor Air Quality?  These are questions you DO need to ask yourself. 

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of air within and around buildings and structures and how it relates to the wellness and comfort of the facility’s occupant.  All sorts of things affect the IAQ: biological contaminants, environmental agents, gases, particles, indoor air pollution, the list goes on. 

The first installment of this two part series will identify what exactly IAQ is and what affects it and the second part will explain what you can do about it.  Knowledge is key.  First, here are some definitions from the EPA.gov website that will break down exactly what we’re dealing with here:

AIR EXCHANGE RATE: The rate at which outside air replaces indoor air in a space.

BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS: Agents derived from, or that are, living organisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mammal and bird antigens) that can be inhaled and can cause many types of health effects including allergic reactions, respiratory disorders, hypersensitivity diseases, and infectious diseases.

BUILDING-RELATED ILLNESS (BRI): Diagnosable illness whose symptoms can be identified and whose cause can be directly attributed to airborne building pollutants (e.g., Legionnaire's disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis).

ENVIRONMENTAL AGENTS: Conditions other than indoor air contaminants that cause stress, comfort, and/or health problems (e.g., humidity extremes, drafts, lack of air circulation, noise, and over-crowding).

INDOOR AIR POLLUTANT: Particles and dust, fibers, mists, bioaerosols, and gases or vapors.

OUTDOOR AIR SUPPLY: Air brought into a building from the outdoors (often through the ventilation system) that has not been previously circulated through the system.  

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE: Regular and systematic inspection, cleaning and replacement of worn parts, material and systems to prevent failure by ensure everything is in good working order.

SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS): Term that refers to a set of symptoms that affect some number of building occupants during the time they spend in the building and diminish or go away during periods when they leave the building.

All of these things affect the quality of the air you are breathing every day.  While sitting in an enclosed space (like a professional office or classroom), that space becomes a major part of your environment.  Just  like all the pollen and dust blowing around outside, even more deceptive things are going on inside.  That's because most of the things floating through the air of your facility are not visible to the eye – or even the nose! 

Biological contaminants are the things we normally associate with poor indoor air quality, but environmental agents play a large factor, as well.  Hot areas and cold areas, stale air and even external stimulation from overcrowding negatively affect the comfort and health of one’s internal environment. 

Visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Area’s website by clicking here for more information on IAQ. Up next, what YOU can do to improve your Indoor Air Quality.