Defining Cleaning Times

This article was originally published in Clean Link.

Most of us will admit that cleaning times standards are part science and part magic or art due to the many variables that cannot all be captured in a simple statement of “10 minutes per 1,000 Square Feet.” Time standards are based on as much science as possible in that a person using a stop watch times a worker performing a task utilizing prescribed equipment and chemicals on an “average” type surface.

For example, stripping a floor takes into account several time standards that when added up can be daunting at best. Does one include dust mopping, floor prep, gum removal, blocking doors, moving/replacing furniture, drying time, travel time from closet to area and myriad other tasks that may or may not be appropriate? What type machine (swing or autoscrubber) is used? How does one pick up the slurry (mop or wet vac)? What type/strength stripper is used (or even allowed due to environmental concerns)? Is the floor relatively new and well maintained? What type and how many coats of finish/seal are on the floor to be stripped? What is the humidity and temperature in the area? Is there adequate ventilation? Are you using a rotary or orbital unit to strip? What type pads are being used? How experienced are the workers in this type floor? What are the expectations of the customer as to outcomes? How much time is allowed due to traffic and safety to perform the tasks? 

Although we do not want to make stripping a floor look overly complicated, there are several questions to answer before proceeding. Please understand that there is no such thing as an “average” type floor since that is only one of the many variables that can affect the outcome. 

Advance ReliaVac™ Vacuum Line

Advance ReliaVac™single motor upright vacuums are easy to maneuver, strong on power, and designed for fast, low cost serviceability. Available in 12- and 16-inch cleaning paths, the ReliaVac gives you the power and pickup needed for all applications.

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The ReliaVac 12 and 12DC are budget-priced upright vacuums that are great for general cleaning on most any carpet pile. A steel brush roller and 50-foot power cord are featured on both models. A top-filling shakeout collector bag comes standard on the ReliaVac 12. The ReliaVac 12DC has a convenient, clear-plastic dirt cup that allows you to see when it is full. Simply remove the dirt cup and dump.

All models feature large rear wheels for easy maneuverability and a clear fan cover for ease of visibility to any blockage. The brush height is adjustable to six settings to work effectively on a variety of carpets.

The Benefits of Day Cleaning

This article was originally published in Sanitary Maintenance.

Day cleaning, or cleaning during first shift, is touted as a sensible way to save on energy costs. These savings are often too lucrative to pass up, causing many facilities to consider the switch to cleaning during daytime hours.

Day cleaning is quite popular in Europe, where more buildings are cleaned during the day than at night. For various reasons, however, the practice has not seen similar prevalence here in the United States. While day cleaning isn’t exactly non-existent, cleaning organizations are expected to embrace the practice more eagerly in the future.

In fact, industry consultants predict that within 10 years, day cleaning will be more common than traditional nighttime cleaning.

The biggest reason to clean during daylight hours, rather than in the evenings, is the energy savings from no longer needing to illuminate and heat or cool the space being cleaned. Consultants report that day cleaning can save buildings between 4 and 8 percent on energy costs, a year.

There are also a number of staffing benefits resulting from day cleaning, including:

• Better employee retention and higher amounts of job satisfaction;
• Increased awareness and respect of cleaning staff, who are likely doing their jobs in the presence of building occupants; and
• Improved communication between customers and cleaning staff.

Casinos and hotels have been day cleaning for decades, but the method can be implemented in virtually any facility. The recent push for day cleaning has been largely associated with commercial offices.

Day cleaning is also popular in healthcare, especially in inpatient facilities where patients need to sleep at night without distractions, as well as in schools where janitors often work the day shift.

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Advance Spectrum™ upright vacuums deliver superior pickup and filtration, with the power to pull dirt and dust from carpets in a single cleaning pass, resulting in greater productivity. The 12P and 15P feature a two-stage, 1000-watt motor. Dual motors equal 20% greater productivity than single-motor uprights. The 15D and 18D add a brush motor to deliver 1,350 watts of power.

The innovative design of the Spectrum power head creates a seal with the carpet surface to agitate and capture dirt and dust that other vacuums miss. This design has earned the Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) Seal of Approval, meeting the industry's latest pickup and filtration standards for vacuum performance.