Month: March 2024

Residents notice everything in a shared building. They see the lobby floor on the way to work, the elevator on the way home and the trash room every few days. For residential property managers, those common areas shape how people feel about where they live.

So here is what professional cleaning can do for a multifamily building, what to expect from a good provider, and how to know if your current program is working.

What Residential Property Managers Are Up Against

Multifamily buildings are busy all day and every day of the week. As a result, common areas get dirty faster than in most office buildings. Package rooms fill up, trash areas need constant attention, and amenity spaces see heavy use on weekends.

Meanwhile, residential property managers juggle maintenance requests, leasing and resident concerns. When cleaning slips, it adds to an already long list. Above all, it shows up in resident complaints and online reviews.

What Professional Cleaning Covers in Multifamily Buildings

A professional program focuses on the spaces residents share:

  • Lobbies and entrances. Glass, floors and mail areas that set the first impression.
  • Hallways, stairwells and elevators. High use spaces that need routine cleaning and periodic floor care.
  • Amenity spaces. Fitness rooms, lounges, rooftops and party rooms that residents pay for.
  • Trash and recycling areas. Spaces that cause odors and complaints quickly if they are missed.
  • Daytime support. A day porter can handle spills, check common areas and keep the building presentable while residents come and go.

Benefits for Residential Property Managers

The right partner takes cleaning off your plate rather than adding to it.

  1. Fewer complaints. A consistent program means fewer emails about the same problems.
  2. A better resident experience. Clean common areas support how residents feel about the building.
  3. Protected finishes. Regular floor care and proper products help surfaces last longer.
  4. One point of contact. Instead of several vendors, one partner can cover janitorial, day porter, floor care and more.
  5. Proof of the work. Inspections and documented corrections show what was done without you checking every floor.

Warning Signs for Residential Property Managers

Residential property managers often know something is off before they can name it. For example, watch for these signs:

  • Residents report the same issues more than once.
  • You find the problems before your vendor does.
  • Nobody can tell you when the floors were last refinished.
  • You spend time each week chasing the cleaning crew.

If that sounds familiar, it may be time to look at vendor consolidation for property managers or a new provider.

How WOW! Supports Multifamily Buildings

WOW! Facility Services helps apartment communities, condominium buildings and mixed use residential properties keep common areas clean, safe and welcoming. Our multifamily services include janitorial, day porter, concierge, security, floor care, disinfection and maintenance support.

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

Does WOW! clean individual homes?
No. WOW! works with multifamily residential complexes, not individual homes, and focuses on common areas and shared spaces.

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.

Start With a Facility Assessment

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.

Every school has a few spaces that take a beating every single day. Hallways, entrances, cafeterias, restrooms and gyms see hundreds of students, staff and visitors between the first bell and the last bus. As a result, these high traffic areas get dirty faster, wear out sooner, and spread germs more easily than any other part of the building.

They are also the spaces parents notice first. So here is a practical plan for keeping high traffic areas clean all year, and what to expect from the team that cleans them.

Why High Traffic Areas Matter in Schools

School conditions are not just about appearance. In fact, research summarized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency links better school building conditions with higher attendance and better test scores. The same summary notes that schools with fewer custodial workers per square foot tend to have higher absentee rates.

Those studies show a connection, not proof that cleaning alone changes results. Still, the message is clear. A well kept building supports the people who learn and work in it. For a closer look, see our article on facility cleanliness and student performance.

Map Your High Traffic Areas First

You cannot clean every space the same way. Instead, start by listing where traffic is heaviest and when it peaks.

  • Entrances and lobbies. These take in dirt, water and salt from outside, especially at arrival and dismissal.
  • Hallways and stairwells. Class changes put the whole school in motion several times a day.
  • Restrooms. Usage spikes between periods and after lunch, so supplies run out fast.
  • Cafeterias. Spills, food waste and crowded tables need attention between lunch waves.
  • Gyms and locker rooms. Heavy use, moisture and shared equipment make these a priority for disinfection.

Plan Cleaning for High Traffic Areas Around the School Day

Once you know where the pressure points are, match your cleaning plan to them.

  1. Daily cleaning. Every high traffic area needs a set routine, from sweeping and mopping to emptying trash and restocking supplies.
  2. Daytime support. Nightly cleaning alone is often not enough. A day porter can check restrooms, handle spills and reset the cafeteria while classes are in session.
  3. High touch surfaces. Door handles, railings, light switches, desks and water fountains need regular cleaning and disinfection.
  4. Periodic floor care. Hallway floors need scrubbing and refinishing on a schedule. For many schools, summer is the main window for floor stripping and waxing.
  5. The right tools. Microfiber, color coded supplies and well maintained equipment help crews clean faster and reduce cross contamination.

Train the Team, Then Check the Work

A plan only works if the people doing it know it well. For this reason, your cleaning team needs to know your building, your schedule and your special areas, such as nurse’s offices and science labs.

Equally important, someone should check the work. Regular inspections of high traffic areas catch problems before parents, teachers or students point them out. In addition, a simple way for staff to report issues helps the cleaning team fix them quickly.

Make Cleanliness Part of the School Culture

Your cleaning team cannot do it alone. Teachers and students also shape how clean the building stays. Simple habits help a lot, such as handwashing, throwing away trash and reporting spills. Above all, when everyone treats the building with care, high traffic areas stay cleaner between visits.

How WOW! Supports Schools

WOW! Facility Services works with educational institutions across our service area. Every program starts with a facility assessment of your building, your schedule and your high traffic areas. Then we turn the findings into a scope of work that fits how your school actually runs.

Once service begins, account managers complete quality control inspections against that scope. Meanwhile, our integrated operational platform technology documents inspections, deficiencies and corrections. If you are comparing providers, our guide on how to evaluate a facility services vendor for your school can help.

Start With a Facility Assessment

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.