Zone, Team or Gang Cleaning

This article was originally published in Clean Link.

Zone, Team or Gang Cleaning? What's the difference?

Zone Cleaning is the traditional way of one worker performing all (or most) of the tasks in an area. This is especially relevant in a small account that can be serviced in a relatively short period of time. Even in Zone Cleaning, how the tasks are performed, as to having an organized Job Card, can help in productivity. A fully loaded building will result in 2,500 SF/Hour utilizing this style based on the type facility and equipment.

Team Cleaning is a concept that has grown in popularity due to the effectiveness of having dedicated Specialists. Usually a team of four (Trash, Vacuum, Rest Room and Utility) will go through a building performing choreographed tasks so that each finishes at near the same time on the shift. There are many benefits to Team Cleaning including lower training times, built in quality controls and need for less equipment since each Zone Cleaner requires their own barrel, buckets, vacuum cleaners and other tools. A fully loaded building can result in 5,000 – 6,000 SF/Hour utilizing this style based on the type facility and equipment utilized.

Gang Cleaning is when a group of workers descend on an area and wander around before moving on to the next section. A well-organized Gang Cleaning team will have assigned tasks each day although I have witnessed crews arguing (and wasting time) over which tasks they have to do. A fully loaded building can result in a wide range of productivity since it is up to the Lead Worker to get the maximum out of the crew. Equipment also plays a key part.

Advance Adgility™ Backpack Vacuum

Lightweight Adgility™ XP backpack vacuums deliver comfort, quiet, performance and affordability for multi-surface cleaning in offices, classrooms and other facilities with hard and soft flooring and tight spaces.

The ergonomic Adgility XP's premium cushioned harness distributes weight more evenly and higher on the back, resulting in reduced fatigue and better productivity. Due to superb balance, the Adgility XP moves with the operator when bending or twisting and feels significantly lighter and more nimble.

Both the Adgility 6XP and 10XP are packed with power, are quiet enough to use any time of day without fear of disturbing building occupants. The quiet 1,300-watt motor moves 144 cubic feet of air per minute, to out-clean its noisier competitors.

Advance VU500™ Upright Vacuum

The Advance VU500™ delivers exceptional cleaning performance in an easy to use, easy to maintain upright vacuum that is designed to withstand stringent environmental requirements.

• Automatic, self-adjusting brush height ensures proper cleaning performance and maximum productivity when cleaning different floor surfaces.
• With the Advance Radius Turning System, the VU500 delivers exceptional maneuverability to optimize operator efficiency.
• The VU500 provides excellent indoor air quality with three-stages of filtration, including true certified H.E.P.A., that will contain less than 99.97% of all dust, pollen, bacteria, allergens, and other particles.
• Meets LEED requirements with CRI Seal of Approval (Silver) and low sound levels.

Hard Floor Care Tips and Trends

This article was originally published in Cleaning & Maintenance Management.

Hard floor care is one of the most pressing JanSan challenges facing facility managers and building service contractors (BSCs) today. Proper floorcare covers a lot of ground — both figuratively and literally — and it is an increasingly important process for a number of reasons.

First, facility appearance is an obvious but serious consideration. Every building occupant will notice when a floor is dull, sticky or slippery, and building managers today expect the attractive shine of an impeccably maintained floor, no questions asked.

Sanitation is another growing area of floorcare concern. Dirty, unkempt floors in restrooms, kitchens and classrooms can contribute to “sick building syndrome” and encourage dangerous cases of facility cross contamination.

Finally, floor safety is absolutely paramount. As legal liability concerns have increased, floor technicians in commercial facilities must call upon their entire skill set to help reduce the occurrence of slip-and-fall accidents.

The demand for attractive, sanitary and safe floors is almost as old as the cleaning industry, and matting, equipment, chemicals and employee training are all integral parts of a modern floorcare program.

Check back next week to learn about floorcare tips, which were gathered from respected industry sources who have working knowledge of today’s most effective hard floor care process and procedures.