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.

Green Cleaning is Always in Style

Some types of cleaning come and go, but sustainable cleaning is the wave of the future. Every product and process used to clean your home or facility has the potential to be greenified. Follow us our green cleaning tips that everyone can use at @StratusCleaning on Twitter.

Five Second Rule: Friend or Foe?

Whether you live your life by it or don't believe it at all, there is now an answer regarding what has become widely accepted as the "5 Second Rule," a notion that supports that food is still clean as long as it has not exceeded five seconds on the ground.

Not true. And now we (or a Loyola expert, rather) can.

This is a "No!"

Infection Today released a report stating:

“A dropped item is immediately contaminated and can’t really be sanitized,” says Jorge Parada, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, medical director of the infection prevention and control program at Loyola University Health System. “When it comes to folklore, the ‘five-second rule’ should be replaced with ‘when in doubt, throw it out’.”

All items that come into contact with a surface pick up bacteria (and dirt!). How much bacteria and what kind of microbes depends on the object dropped and the surface it is dropped upon, he says.

“In the same time period, a rock candy is less likely to pick up contamination than a slice of cheese. As an extreme example, whether it’s a rock candy or a slice of cheese, I dion’t think anyone would invoke the five-second rule if it fell in the toilet,” said the professor at Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine. “At the end of the day, this is a polite social fiction we employee to allow us to eat lightly contaminated foods,” Parada says.

Click to read the whole article and find out how they address the claim you can improve your immune system through exposure.

Best Time to Clean

A little bit of humor shared by Stratus Building Solutions.

What is Sick Building Syndrome?

Yes, this is real, folks. The National Safety Council reports on the the definition of Sick Building Syndrome on their website.

To learn more about Sick Building Syndrome from the National Safety Council, please visit this link.
To learn how Stratus Building Solutions can help prevent Sick Building Syndrome, visit this link.

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!

Stratus Building Solutions Suggests Recycling Craft Projects

Here at Stratus Building Solutions, we have a huge focus on living a "green" lifestyle. With that comes recycling, but not just the "paper goes here, glass goes here" kind of recycling. We'll show you how to have some fun with recycling, too.

Check out our Recycling Projects & Crafting board on Pinterest for ideas on how to reuse common materials. We're always adding new ideas, too.

Let us know when you make something - and share any recycling crafts you might know of!

Happy Crafting,
Stratus

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.

Stratus Building Solutions in USA TODAY for 50 Top Franchises for Minorities

Stratus Building Solutions celebrates diversity within the organization once again with inclusion in the Top Ten list of this year’s 50 Top Franchises for Minorities reported by USA Today on November 4, 2011.  The survey is in its fourth annual list and this is Stratus’ second recognition.

The National Minority Franchise Initiative recognizes Stratus to be leader in the franchising field with proven successes for minorities.  Stratus Building Solutions exceed the expectations with over 5,000 franchisees and with 93% minority participation.

“We hope this award reminds people about the strong work ethic and mental perseverance that come with a large minority base,” says CEO Dennis Jarrett.  Stratus Building Solutions also includes a Veteran Program as well as a Referral Program to franchise owners.  “Without dedicated franchise owners, the Stratus name is nothing.  We owe our successes to our team of franchise owners all over the country."
Stratus placed in the Top Ten recommended franchises being called “an optimal franchise that meets your needs” and that “there is no question that these companies are clearly doing something right and that they actively support your inclusion within their systems.”  Click here for the article and list of Top 50 companies.

 The National Minority Franchising Initiative uses a number of different resources such as company’s books, FDDs, etc. that one would reference when considering a franchise.  Access to these materials and for more detailed information on franchises actively seeking minority franchisees, please visit www.MinorityFranchising.com.

Stratus Building Solutions Ranks in Inc. 500

INC. MAGAZINE UNVEILS 30TH ANNUAL LIST OF AMERICA’S FASTEST-GROWING PRIVATE COMPANIES – THE INC. 500

Stratus Building Solutions Ranks #494 on the 2011 Inc. 500 with Three-Year Sales Growth of 688.9%

Stratus Building Solutions jumps over 400 spots to rank #494 in the 2011 edition of Inc. Magazine’s Annual List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies.

Inc. magazine today ranked Stratus Building Solutions #494 on its 30th annual Inc. 500, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. Stratus increased 688.9% in three years. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy–America’s independent entrepreneurs. Companies such as Microsoft, Zappos, Intuit, Jamba Juice, Zipcar, Clif Bar, Vizio, Oracle, and many other well-known names gained early exposure as members of the Inc. 500.

Stratus Building Solutions’ CEO, Dennis Jarrett, was featured in an interview in the Franchising section regarding how Stratus has “doubled its size three years in a row” due to wide range of franchise options available, low market share and the necessity of having work done locally. Stratus also was ranked #1 as Most Revenue per Employee at $9.1 million dollars each.

“Having Stratus ranked so highly in this year’s Inc. 500|5000 is an honor and we share it with the whole Stratus system. The growth from ranking 916 to 494 in the matter of a year has been tremendous in our current economic times, but we are actually creating jobs with this model,” shared Jarrett. President Pete Frese added, “And we are not done growing by any means, as there are tremendous interests and opportunity internationally. This, along with our ranking from  Entrepreneur as the #1 Fastest Growing Franchise continues to drive our growth.”

To read more, go here.

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 Building Solutions Coming to Lafayette, LA

The nation’s greenest facility services franchise, Stratus Building Solutions, is opening a new Master Franchise location in Lafayette, LA. Entrepreneur’s #1 Fastest Growing Franchise has continued its growth and success with the newest addition to the Stratus Team, Shaun Steckler.  The new office will be open at 315 S College Road, Suite 220 in Lafayette, LA, and available at (337) 376-0674.

Mr. Steckler is ready to offer green commercial cleaning services to the professional buildings in the Lafayette area. He is an experienced entrepreneur with 15 years of business experience in the advertising, medical sales and real estate investing industries. Taking cumulative knowledge from these industries lends to Mr. Steckler’s capabilities in dealing with the dual business to business and franchising world of Stratus. 

“Shaun has extensive knowledge and experience in many industries that make him a favorable person to lead the latest Stratus development,” shared Dennis Jarrett, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions. “Lafayette is a market with a lot of opportunity in regards to facility maintenance and the low cost, home-based franchise.”

Stratus President Pete Frese adds, “With the 16 different franchise plans available, combined with the training and support of the Stratus office, there is the possibility to impact the community in a large and positive way.  We are excited for the successes of Mr. Steckler.” 

 Jarrett and Frese founded Stratus Building Solutions after each worked as top corporate executives for more than ten years in commercial cleaning franchise industries.  With that experience, Stratus Building Solutions currently offers franchises in Arizona, Connecticut, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, New Jersey, North and South Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Utah, in addition to Louisiana. In May 2009, Stratus Building Solutions of Canada was established to serve all ten provinces in that nation.  The company’s near-term plans include expansion into Europe, South America and the Middle East.

Steckler says, “I have seen the rapid growth of the Stratus model and with the professional support and encouragement from the corporate team, I know there is a game-changing system I have brought to Lafayette.  Besides the company, my wife Marianne and my twin boys are excited to support me in this new chapter.”

Stratus Building Solutions franchise benefits include orientation and training,; customer referrals,; administrative and accounting support; pre-arranged credit lines; access to insurance and surety bonds, financing options, promotional support; and other turn-key advantages. The firm’s headquarters are located at 1976 Innerbelt Business Center Drive in St. Louis, Missouri.

For more information, please visit the website www.stratusclean.com or call Stratus Building Solutions at 314.731.2000 or toll-free at 877.731.2020. Media contact: Dennis Jarrett.

Stratus Building Solutions of Cleveland Established in Summer 2011

Cleveland, Ohio is the next city in line to experience the greener kind of clean from Stratus Building Solutions. The nation’s fastest-growing international brand in the facility maintenance franchise industry has entered the Cleveland market by awarding the new Master Franchise to business partners Tom Grassi and Tim Tilton. This marks the second Stratus location in Ohio after Cincinnati.

Dennis Jarrett, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions, said, “Tom and Tim are strong leaders and fine additions to the Stratus Master Team. Tim’s industry experience combined with Tom’s extensive professional history combine to form an unstoppable combination and we are excited to watch them succeed.”

Pete Frese, President of Stratus Building Solutions, added, “Both gentleman are native to the area and excited to offer the Stratus opportunity to the community. The opening of Stratus of Cleveland is right in line with our projected growth for 2011, marking the fourth newly serviced territory this year.”

With the extreme growth Stratus has experienced since its franchising debut in 2006, it is no wonder that Stratus has been named the #1 Fastest Growing Franchise in 2011 by Entrepreneur Magazine, as well as the #1 Fastest Growing Private Company in 2011 by the St. Louis Business Journal for the second year in a row.

Tim Tilton, who has been the managing partner of Mighty Maids since 1981, shared “With the overall increasing demands in the Facility Services industry, I’m eager to share my 30 plus years experience in the industry in partnership with Stratus Building Solutions.” Tom Grassi added, “After doing extensive research, I partnered up with Tom to offer this tremendous opportunity to the Cleveland area and am ready to offer the Stratus Difference to my hometown.”

Tim Tilton & Tom Grassi

Stratus Building Solutions offers 16 different building service franchise plans providing state of the art environmentally-friendly cleaning systems, products and services along with complete office and marketing support. These include the unique Stratus Green Clean program which uses Green Seal Certified cleaning chemicals and Stratus Private Label products to service facilities with environmental stewardship at the forefront.

Jarrett and Frese founded Stratus Building Solutions after each worked as top corporate executives for more than ten years in commercial cleaning franchise industries. With that experience, Stratus Building Solutions currently offers franchises in Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, New Jersey, North and South Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Utah, in addition to Ohio. International territories include Canada, Panama and the Baltic States. The firm’s headquarters are at 1976 Innerbelt Business Center Drive in St. Louis, Missouri.

For more information, please see the website www.stratusbuildingsolutions.com or call Stratus Building Solutions at 877.731.2020. Media contact: Dennis Jarrett.

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!