Month: June 2023

In most office buildings, a handful of shared spaces get the heaviest use. Lobbies, restrooms, break rooms and elevators see people all day long. As a result, they shape how tenants and visitors judge the whole building. Good office cleaning strategies start by giving these spaces the attention they need.

Here is how to plan for each one.

Office Cleaning Strategies Start With a Map

First, map how people move through your building. Where do they enter? Which restrooms and break rooms do they use most? When are the peak hours? This simple exercise shows where to focus your effort. In addition, it helps you decide what needs attention during the day and what can wait for the night crew.

Lobbies and Entrances

The lobby is your first impression. Therefore, keep glass, floors and seating clean throughout the day. Entrance matting also stops dirt and moisture before they spread across the building. During bad weather, increase attention to floors near the doors.

Restrooms

Restrooms are often where complaints start. So check them during the day, keep supplies stocked and focus on high touch surfaces such as handles, faucets and dispensers. For more, read about restroom cleanliness and tenant satisfaction.

Break Rooms and Kitchens

Break rooms collect spills, crumbs and fingerprints quickly. For example, appliance handles, counters and tables need regular wiping. Meanwhile, trash and recycling should be emptied before they overflow.

Elevators and Common Corridors

Elevator buttons, handrails and door hardware are touched constantly. Likewise, corridors carry dirt from one area to the next. As a result, regular cleaning here keeps the whole building looking cared for.

Office Cleaning Strategies for Busy Hours

Nightly cleaning alone cannot keep up with a busy day. Instead, a day porter can handle restroom checks, spills and lobby touch ups while tenants are in the building. Learn more about our porter services.

Review and Adjust Your Office Cleaning Strategies

Finally, office cleaning strategies should change as your building changes. Review inspection results and tenant feedback regularly, and then adjust frequencies where needed. For example, a floor that adds new tenants may need more restroom checks, while a floor with fewer people in the office may need less. In short, the plan should follow how the building is actually used.

How WOW! Keeps Busy Offices Clean

WOW! Facility Services provides janitorial, day porter and floor care services for corporate offices and other facilities. Every program starts with a facility assessment. Then we build a customized scope of work around your building. Once service begins, account managers complete quality control inspections against that scope. Meanwhile, our integrated operational platform technology documents inspections, deficiencies and corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which areas of an office need the most cleaning?
Usually lobbies, restrooms, break rooms and elevators, because they get the most use and shape first impressions.

Do I need a day porter if I already have nightly cleaning?
In a busy building, often yes. A day porter keeps restrooms, lobbies and break rooms in shape while people are using them.

Do I have to switch vendors after a facility assessment?
No. WOW! offers facility assessments at no cost and with no obligation. In fact, you can use one simply to benchmark your current program.

Which areas does WOW! serve?
WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, including Westchester County, Fairfield County, Rockland County and New York City.

Keep Your Busiest Spaces Clean

WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Book a facility assessment at no cost and with no obligation, or call 1-866-780-9966. Want a quick benchmark first? Then grade your current service with the Facility Assessment Scorecard.

Schools are busy places. Hundreds of students and staff share classrooms, hallways, cafeterias and restrooms every day. As a result, keeping a healthy school environment takes a plan, not just a nightly cleaning route.

Here are seven practical strategies that help.

1. Focus on High Touch Surfaces

First, identify the surfaces everyone touches: door handles, desks, railings, light switches and shared equipment. Then clean them on a regular schedule, and disinfect them as needed. For more on this, read about cleaning busy areas in schools.

2. Keep Restrooms Clean and Stocked

Next, restrooms need attention during the school day, not just at night. In addition, keeping soap and paper towels stocked supports handwashing, which the CDC describes as one of the best ways to avoid getting sick and spreading germs.

3. Give Cafeterias Their Own Plan

Cafeterias combine food, spills and heavy traffic. Therefore, tables and floors need cleaning between lunch periods, while kitchens follow their own food safety routines.

4. Support Healthy Air for a Healthy School Environment

Dust and debris affect the air students breathe. So use microfiber, maintain vacuums and use entrance matting. Equally important, report odors, leaks and dusty vents to the maintenance team quickly.

5. Use Safe, Certified Products

Choose certified green products where possible and use them at the right dilution. In addition, store chemicals securely and away from students.

6. Plan Deep Cleaning Around the Calendar

School breaks are the best time for floor refinishing, carpet cleaning and other deep work. For example, see our guide to summer floor stripping and waxing.

7. Train Staff to Keep a Healthy School Environment

Finally, a healthy school environment depends on trained people and regular inspections. Clear routines help crews work consistently, while inspections catch problems early. In addition, good communication between custodial staff, teachers and administrators helps issues such as spills, leaks or broken dispensers get reported and fixed quickly.

Why a Healthy School Environment Matters

Clean, well maintained schools support students, teachers and staff. In fact, many parents notice the condition of a building as soon as they walk in. Read more about the impact of facility cleanliness on students.

How WOW! Supports a Healthy School Environment

WOW! Facility Services serves educational institutions with janitorial, day porter, floor care and disinfection services. Every program starts with a facility assessment, and then we build a customized scope of work around your school. Once service begins, account managers complete quality control inspections against that scope. Meanwhile, our integrated operational platform technology documents inspections, deficiencies and corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should schools clean high touch surfaces?
It depends on use. In general, the busiest surfaces need attention during the school day as well as during nightly cleaning.

When should schools schedule deep cleaning?
Plan floor refinishing, carpet cleaning and other deep work for school breaks, when buildings are empty.

Should schools use green cleaning products?
Where they work for the task, yes. Certified green products used at the right dilution help reduce harsh odors and chemical exposure for students and staff.

Do I have to switch vendors after a facility assessment?
No. WOW! offers facility assessments at no cost and with no obligation. In fact, you can use one simply to benchmark your current program.

Which areas does WOW! serve?
WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, including Westchester County, Fairfield County, Rockland County and New York City.

Build a Healthier School

WOW! Facility Services has its headquarters in White Plains and serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Book a facility assessment at no cost and with no obligation, or call 1-866-780-9966. Want a quick benchmark first? Then grade your current service with the Facility Assessment Scorecard.