Cleaning Trivia with Stratus Building Solutions

What do YOU think?

Answer: They're ALL correct!

The amount of time a disinfectant should sit on a surface before being wiped up is dependent upon how strong the solution is.

How Do You Measure Clean? With an ATP Meter

Image from CMM Online

It's obvious when there's a pile of trash one day and it's gone the next. It's obvious when a dirty, scuffed floor is buffed and polished. But a lot of the cleaning we do is unseen. "Cleaning for Health" takes cleaning up the biological contamination in addition to the more visible debris.

Facility Manager and Facility Service Providers in past had to trust they had a clean building, but Facility Managers and Providers today can physically measure the level of cleanliness with scientific evaluation.

Introducing the ATP Measurement System.

Tip: Make sure to store your wands in the refrigerator.
They must be kept at 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit.

Regardless of the facility type or surface tested, the ATP meter detects the level of microbial contamination in just seconds. The meter measures Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the universal energy molecule found in all animal, plant, bacterial, yeast and mold cells. When a facility is cleaned with Stratus Green Clean products, the ATP is significantly reduced.

With a simple swab and a snap to release the sample into a unique liquid stable luciferase/luciferin reagent, the stick is inserted into the ATP meter device. It is here where light is used to determine the amount of ATP present. A high reading demonstrates high contamination.

ATP samples can be a great way to document the level of cleanliness your Facility Service Provider is offering your facility. Go ahead and ask for a demonstration today!

Your Messy Desk Affects Your Professional Reputation

 

Adecco performed a recent survey that had some interesting findings.... some things to pay attention to if you work in an office with other people.

Bottom line: How you keep your desk influences what other people think of you.

Adecco found out:

-- 57 percent of Americans have judged coworkers on how clean or dirty they keep their work spaces
-- 42 percent of Americans have judged a coworker more negatively if his workspace is dirty
-- 45 percent have judged coworkers more positively if their work spaces are clean
-- 42 percent of Americans think a dirty work space is a result of employees simply being too busy, but
-- 33 percent think messy employees are lazy employees
-- 73 percent of Americans think people are most productive when their work spaces are clean

Despite what your coworkers think, your boss can have these misinterpretations, as well. Don't be judged by your stuff, keep a tidy workspace and be judged on your abilities instead.

How to Spring Clean Your Desk the Stratus Way

Well, it's about that time again.  The weather is warming, flowers are starting to bloom and the breeze is blowing up all the loose dust around your office (fingers crossed you have a window like mine)!  Work should be a productive place to be; you need a motivating environment, and mess, clutter, unorganization and dust are not that.

At least once a year, it's time to take down all the posted comics and piles of paper collecting dust (and hiding secrets) and give yourself the satisfaction of a deep Stratus Spring Clean.

1. Start by organizing your files - have you considered a cloud-based or electronic filing system?  Then, you can access work anywhere!
2. Damp wipe down everything with an All Purpose Cleaner.  Spray on and let it sit for a minute to really let the chemicals do their job.
3. Get a bulletin board for all your little pieces of paper and notes.  If you can't give up your Post-It habit (guilty here), at least organize the little guys.
4. Get a notebook.  This can hold all your ideas, favorite websites, random lists, anything you need it to.  Give the Post-It pad a break and home to your work epiphanies.
5. Clean out your keyboard with some sprayable air.  If needed, you can always pop off the keys for a good cleaning.
6. File your business cards.  Or consider connecting on LinkedIn... no business cards necessary.
7. Back up your files.  This isn't exactly a cleaning tast... but you'll thank me later.

Now it's your turn - post a picture of your new, super-clean office on our Facebook page.  Happy cleaning!

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.

What Makes a Good Customer?

When you are looking for a cleaning company, you search for who is going to give you the best service for your value. Quality and Value. Well, did you know there are things that make a good customer, too?

What it boils down to is if you have a good cleaner, you’ll be a good customer. No reason to complain, right? There are things that you and your office can do to make that cleaner’s job a little easier, too. Here are some tips to being a great CUSTOMER:

Have Good Communication with Your Cleaner

This means having a relationship with your cleaner or cleaning crew that you can talk to them about potential issues. With the hours cleaners tend to come in (at nights and on weekends), that is sometimes difficult. The use of a log book fixes this dilemma. The customer leaves a note for the cleaner to take extra care in the conference room for an upcoming meeting, for example. The cleaner comes in, immediately goes to the log book and sees the special instructions. Bam! They know what to focus on.

Be Informed of Your Cleaning Schedule

Knowing what is to be done can minimize uncertainty when it comes to your cleaning schedule. As long as everyone knows what processes are to be done at what times, there should be no room for inconsistencies. So know your schedule; it will help you know what to expect and what to look for if things aren’t going as planned.

Have Legitimate Complaints

Again, the log book is a terrific way track complaints and knowing your schedule will legitimize your complaints. If the trash is to be taken out everyday and it’s not, then that is a legitimate complaint. If a customer calls because a specific item has been overlooked that is not on the work schedule or in the log book for the cleaner to know, that might not be as easy to reconcile.

Make it Easier on Your Cleaner by Cleaning Throughout the Day

The cleaning company is there to maintain a clean office. Of course there are specialty cleans for post construction or initial cleans to bring the facility up to standard, but those are just that: specialty. Cleaning up basic messes yourself throughout the day will maintain a cleaner facility so when your cleaners come in, they can concentrate on the details to truly make a healthier facility.

Payment

People who pay their bills and on time are always appreciated in any service field.

Fun to Work With

People who treat their cleaners with respect. Common courtesy is greatly appreciated and builds a valuable relationship with your cleaner. A cleaner who has a good relationship with your company will go that extra mile to make sure everything is in tip top shape. Does that saying go “you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar”? Being a fun person who is helpful will really build a great respect for you and your company.

There are lots of ways to be a good customer for your cleaning company. Starting with a smile is step number one.

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.