All of us have a fridge, with an ever increasing number of them being stainless steel. They look absolutely stunning when new and when they are cleaned, but can quickly lose their wow factor when subject to greasy fingers leaving marks on them, and other smears and dirt.
A firm fixture in both the home and work environment, it is one item that we really should know how to keep clean, as it is actually not as hard to do as you may think.
The purpose of this short article is to teach you best best way to clean your stainless steel fridge, with minimal effort and no need for chemicals.
Believe it not not, the best option when it comes to cleaning stainless steel is simply washing up liquid and warm water! Washing up liquid is a degreaser which will really help when cleaning stainless steel.
If it comes to wanting to do a deeper clean to really bring the shine back, then you will need to use a specialist stainless steel cleaning products. We would recommend something such as Weiman stainless steel wipes, which come highly regarded and provide a long lasting shine after buffing.
The process of cleaning your stainless steel fridge is surprisingly straightforward you will be pleased to know.
Using a clean microfibre cloth, soak the cloth in the water and washing up liquid mixture and then wring out so it is damp, not wet.
Rub the cloth onto the marks in small sections, going with the grain of the appliance. Rinse afterwards with clean hot water only, and dry immediately with a clean cloth.
Regardless of what kind of stainless steel cleaner you're using, make sure to wipe the cleaner in the direction of the metal's grain - streaks are caused by wiping against the grain!
We hope you have found this short guide on how to clean a stainless steel refrigerator useful, and it has made you realise that strong chemicals aren't needed in many cleaning tasks including this one.
Green Fox Cleaning are a commercial cleaning company that provide cleaning services to businesses of all sizes, and in all sectors. Click here to learn how we can help not only improve the appearance of your fridge, but of your whole workplace.
When it comes to the first impression a visitor gets of your premises, it may well be that is when they first step on your welcome mat.
A dirty welcome mat that has clearly not been looked after can easily send out the wrong impression to visitors, who may assume your your standards of cleanliness around the rest of your premises are to a similar standard.
The build-up of tough dirt, grit and debris trapped in your office mats pile will need to be removed.
Regular vacuuming is essential for the removal of dry soil from carpet entrance mats both internal and external office mats, to retain a smart appearance. If ignored, dirt particles can be trodden deeper into the mat’s fibres crushing the pile, while becoming sharp, gritty and potentially damaging. This makes cleaning more difficult and matting itself dull in appearance and less effective.
As part of your daily cleaning routine, entrance mats should be thoroughly vacuumed at the end of each day. Vacuum both horizontally and vertically on the mat to ensure that all debris is removed on office mats in high footfall areas. In lower footfall areas, vacuuming office mats in one direction should be sufficient.
Ensure that your vacuum strokes are in a systematic, overlapping system to ensure that all areas of the mat are vacuumed fully.
If your mat is looking grubby and needs a bit more care to make it look great again, the following tips should help:
Available in a variety of styles, office chair mats are normally there to protect the carpet in your office. The wheeling of the office chair around them all day, along with spillages such as coffee can make them look grubby, very quickly.
The easiest way to clean plastic and similar material office chair mats is to simply mix some washing up liquid with warm water and use a damp cloth to wash both sides of the mats.
You can use a small brush to clean off stubborn dirt and stains or to clean the spikes on the underside of the carpet chair mats. Be careful not to rub too hard with the brush or you might damage the cleats, and be sure to dry the mat off afterwards to prevent smells, especially with the underside when replaced.
DID YOU KNOW?
The ideal temperature for office chair mats is between 60 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit so don’t use them in areas that are colder or hotter for the best results. If your office is near a window where direct sunlight shines in, use blinds or curtains to keep the sun from damaging the mats and the risk of them fading. It is also highly recommended that you don’t use office chair mats in areas where moisture is present to reduce the risk of mold and mildew from forming that can cause serious health problems over a prolonged period of us.
The best way to keep your office mats clean along with the rest of your office premises is to engage the services of a good commercial cleaning company. Click here to find out more about Green Fox Cleaning and our work in the office cleaning sector.
You can learn about the history of mats on wikipedia by clicking here.
As an employer, manager or employee, it is essential that you are aware of office areas where germs grow. This will allow you to keep your staff and visitors as safe as possible.
Have you noticed how easy it is to pick up germs in your office and how often colds and other viruses spread round the entire office? Whether they’re brought in from home or public transport, work is a great place for sharing bacteria and viruses.
Germs spread quickly from one person to the next, from stomach-churning food poisoning bacteria such as Salmonella and E coli, to viruses including coronavirus, colds and flu.
The micro-organisms that carry and cause these illnesses don’t normally multiply on your desk or chair without help. They don’t move around unless we do. So, we’re all responsible for transferring germs from one person to the next and need to be aware of this, now more than ever.
To fight back, beat the germs and take control of your health in the workplace, you need to tackle the most touched areas in the office and the areas where germs grow the fastest.
Everyone touches door handles to get around your workplace. It should therefore come as no surprise that this is one of the key office areas where germs grow.
The more people that touch the handles, the larger the variety of germs that can pass from person to person among you all. Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds to help stop the spread, and use hand gel where available. If you have a good commercial cleaning company, their cleaning staff should be sanitising door handles as part of the daily cleaning routine.
Protective film door covers can also be installed to help protect your staff and visitors. Click here to learn more about these door handle protectors.
The average desk has around 400 times more germs than a toilet seat! That's about 21,000 bacteria, viruses, and fungi per square inch. As you've probably noticed, these little guys travel most often on your hands, moving to and from things as you touch them. That's why washing your hands often is key to stopping the spread of infections.
Regular sanitising of your office desk will help keep these numbers low.
Your office phone and computers may be even worse than your office desk, with an average of 25,000 germs per square inch. Wipe the phone down throughout the day with a sanitiser, especially if other people also use it, and the computer at the end of each day. In terms of office areas where germs grow, these two take some beating!
They may seem safe to share and not one of the obvious office areas where germs grow, especially when they have been washed and put away, but one study found that 90% of office mugs had significant germs, some with "fecal matter".
The problem probably isn't the cups themselves, or the people who use them. Odd as it sounds, a more likely explanation is that the germs transfer to the mugs from when you try to clean them with less-than-pristine supplies in a common kitchen area.
As a solution, consider bringing your own mug to work, or invest in personalised mugs for your employees that they take personal responsibility for.
Kitchen sponges are normally wet, and highly absorbent when wet. In terms of office areas where germs grow, the office sponge is a perfect place if you want to collect and nurture germs.
A quick effective fix? Blast the sponge in your microwave on high for two minutes will kill most things. Also try and make a habit of replacing your sponge at the end of every week at least.
If you were asked to name office areas where germs grow fast, the ashroom would probably be one of your first thoughts - and you would be right!
Even getting your hands clean once finished can be hard because the faucet handles and toilet door handles may be especially dirty. You could hold a paper towel in your hand when you turn the water on and off, as well as when you push the handle to flush the toilet and exit the washroom.
Perhaps not one of the office areas where germs grow that will come immediately to thought, but the risk is obvious when you think about it. If you use a lift for work each day, so will many others, with hundreds of presses of each button every day.
Be sure to wash or sanitise your hands after use, or try and press buttons using your elbow if you have sufficient skill and don't mind some odd looks!
Hopefully you are now more conscious of key office areas where germs grow fast. The best way to prevent this is to engage the services of a professional cleaning company to keep your office safe.
To learn more about Green Fox Cleaning and our skill in office cleaning, click here to learn more.
To decide how to stop office chairs ruining carpet, we need to understand if they do actually damage carpet. Whether office chairs ruin carpet or not depends largely on the chair's wheels. Office chairs equipped with cheap and low-quality wheels may ruin carpet, especially if they're broken down and get jagged and sharp edges. However, office chairs with roller-blade style caster wheels will not ruin the carpet.
If you have roller-blade wheels on your office chairs you are in a good place. If not, then keep reading to learn more about how to stop office chairs ruining carpet.
We have all been there. Working in an office with a nice carpet, only to find the wheels on the office chair over time damage the carpet, leaving the carpet looking tidy and having a negative impact on the overall appearance of the office.
So, how can we stop office chairs ruining carpet? The answer isn't as difficult as you might fear.
As shown in the above picture, a transparent protective mat has been placed on the carpet. It is important to ensure the mat is far enough back to cover the area that the user may wheel across when getting up from their desk and sitting back down.
Like virtually any product you can buy, you are able to buy really poor quality mats, and sturdy mats that will offer your carpet full protection.
There are a number of factors to consider when selecting a protective mat for your office carpet. The following are key considerations:
If you aren't keen on the option of mats under your chair, you are left with two considerations.
We hope this article has given you a better understanding of the options available to you when it comes to protecting your office carpets from office chairs.
If you want to keep your carpets and the rest of your office in tip-top condition, you should consider hiring a professional office cleaning company. Click here to learn more about our office cleaning services and get in touch for a no obligation quote.
There are many reasons to use an external cleaning company to take care of your ongoing cleaning arrangements - the purpose of this article is to give you an insight into the main reasons you should consider this.
There are a number of reasons that some companies keep their cleaning arrangements in-house. The most common two reasons tend to be as follows:
Once bitten, twice shy. A common phrase, and key to why a number of companies choose not to outsource their cleaning needs. Some companies have engaged the services of a commercial cleaning company, and have experienced poor clean standards, missed cleans and a lack of management.
The whole point of outsourcing your cleaning arrangements, or any service for that matter, is to allow you to focus on other keys areas of your business or educational premises. A good commercial cleaning company should offer a fully managed, efficient service.
At Green Fox Cleaning, just a few of the benefits of engaging our services for your premises include the following:
There are many more benefits, but hopefully the above give you an idea of the level of service and professionalism that you should expect when outsourcing your cleaning. This service level obviously comes at a cost, and consideration must be given to the value of service being offered, and not just the cost.
The second common reason for companies keeping their cleaning arrangements in house is the perceived cost saving. It can appear more appealing to pay a cleaner an hourly rate, or pay an existing member of staff a few hours extra money to complete the cleaning. On the face of it this may appear a great saving, but this is far from clear cut. More on this in one of the seven reasons reasons to use an external cleaning company.
On the face of it, it may be more appealing to employ a cleaner directly to save money, however this could not be further from the truth. One of the main reasons to use an external cleaning company is that you have a fixed monthly cost allocated to the cleaning of your workplace. This makes it easy to budget, and avoids unexpected additional costs, including training, sick pay, pension, price variants to cleaning products and PPE. It also means you don't need to worry about the risk of missed cleans, all assuming you engage the services of a good commercial cleaning company.
Much like you are expert in your sector, cleaning companies are the same in their sector. It's obvious if you think about it, but a good commercial cleaning company will have the skill and knowledge to deliver a top quality service. This is one of the main reasons to use an external cleaning company for your cleaning requirements.
If you are cleaning in-house, chances are you pop to the local supermarket, or have one supplier who will normally be affiliated to one line, and they will sell these products with higher margins, even though they may not be the best choice for your product. The selection of the best cleaning products is key to keeping your premises looking as good as possible. At Green Fox Cleaning, we have access to the best environmentally friendly products that will keep your premises looking great. We have tested hundreds of products, and continually review the best options for each client.
Another of our top reasons to use an external cleaning company is that the health and safety considerations around the service should be taken care of by a good commercial cleaning company.
COSHH data, method statements and risk assessments should be fully completed and kept on site. Regular PAT testing on electrical items on site to keep them safe also ensures you are complying with health and safety legislation.
This peace of mind is another of the good reasons to use an external cleaning company for your cleaning requirements.
The worse case with cleaning is to miss a clean. Imagine coming in to your school, medical practice or office in the morning to find the cleaners haven't turned up! Worst case, that could prevent you being able to open your business. At Green Fox Cleaning, our employee GPS tracking system is monitored round the clock by an on-call manager. In the event a cleaner didn't clock in as scheduled, the manager would be alerted and investigate.
If there had been an emergency and cleaner could not make your clean, one of our managers would deploy a supervisor or even respond themselves, to ensure you never walk into a dirty premises.
Ongoing training is required in all industries, and cleaning is no different. Safe handling of chemicals, manual handling and other key training needs to be refreshed on an ongoing basis. You need to keep training records and evidence you are keeping your cleaning staff safe, the same as all other employees.
A good commercial cleaning company will have processes and training methods in place. This is another of the key reasons to use an external cleaning company.
Hopefully the previous six reasons to use an external cleaning company have shown the benefit of outsourcing your cleaning services, however the final reason is possibly the best of the reasons to use an external cleaning company - you can focus solely on your business, and let the cleaning be an invisible magic occuring in the background.
To find out more about the sectors that Green Fox Cleaning operate in and how we can help improve the appearance of your business , click here to learn more.
With many commercial cleaning companies around, it can be difficult to know which company to pick, when you are simply looking at various websites.
Most of us have worked in an office or other environment where we have found the cleaning to be of a very poor standard. Our first instinct is to blame the cleaner and say they can't clean, but we need to ask the question, why is their cleaning so poor?
This leads on to the subject of commercial cleaning certification. Do you know what commercial cleaning certification is? The title would suggest that it is a qualification needed to clean professionally, however the sad reality is that anyone can start a commercial cleaning company, pull anyone off the street and out them to clean your premises, with little or no training.
Sure they will probably offer a cheap service compared to some companies that invest in staff training, but the results will reflect this, almost guaranteeing no customer satisfaction.
Think about it, why should commercial cleaning be any different to any other service we use at our business? Would you use an unqualified electrician to rewire the office, or let your office staff run with business without training them on your policies, procedures and how to maximise the efficiency of your business?
The sad reality is, many cleaning companies aren't willing to have this outlay, to squeeze every penny of profit they can in this competitive market place. It's an old saying, but if you buy cheap, you buy twice. This is no different in the cleaning world.
At Green Fox Cleaning, we invest in our commercial cleaning certification to professionalise ourselves, and stand out from the crowd. We are members of the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc), and have our own qualified BICSc accredited training team that deliver training to our cleaning operatives.
The amount of sites we quote at where a previous cleaning contractor has been in place and there is absolutely no standard of cleaning at all is worrying.
It is a real misconception that everyone can clean well if they want to. Knowing how to clean efficiently and effectively takes skill. Vacuuming using correct processes can be up to 50% more efficient that not using a systematic process, and avoids areas being missed.
Did you know there is a correct way to vacuum, to mop and even how to fold and use a cloth? Following correct process will benefit your company, as the cleaners will be trained in preventing cross contamination and leaving other health & safety breaches.
When selecting a commercial cleaning company for you premises, it can be easy to simply focus on the price. The reality is that a company that do not invest in commercial cleaning certification may well cost you a lot more in the long run.
Companies that invest in their staff will have better retention, meaning a more consistent service for you, and better standards. Invariably, companies that have staff nightmares end up becoming your nightmare also with poor cleans and even missed cleans.
Click here to learn more about Green Fox Cleaning and how we can improve the appearance of your business with ours. Our investment in commercial cleaning certification for our staff results in great staff retention rates, and happy, valued employees.
Whether your medical practice is a doctors surgery, dental practice, hospital or any other healthcare setting, correct cleaning processes are essential.
With various bodies including the Care Quality Commission regulating general practices and the General Dental Council for health and dentistry practices, full compliance is essential. Cleaning pays a big part in the smooth and safe running of any medical practice, and medical practice cleaning requires stringent processes and procedures.
Selection of the best cleaning company for your premises requires careful consideration, to ensure the best match. These are the top five things that you should consider when selecting a cleaning company.
Click here to learn 10 great questions to ask when looking to engage a new cleaning company for your medical practice cleaning requirements.
At Green Fox Cleaning, we pride ourselves on delivered an unrivalled and local medical practice cleaning service. Our staff are trained by our in-house British Institute of Cleaning Science accredited training team. We have a 24-hour client support line, and an advanced GPS staff attendance system monitored live-time 24/7 by an on-call manager, ensuring that you will never miss a clean. We also always pay our cleaners above the minimum wage, as we value our staff.
The Health and Social Care Act 2008: Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance requires that registered providers of health and social care “Provide and maintain a clean and appropriate environment in managed premises that facilitates the prevention and control of infections”.
This means that every medical practice should have clear cleaning processes in place to keep staff and visitors safe,
Four key areas around this compliance are as follows:
Whilst it is of course true that cleaning is ongoing throughout the day, engaging the services of Green Fox Cleaning will ensure that you have a clear cleaning schedule, and dedicated cleaning staff for the deeper daily cleaning of your medical practice.
Doctors surgery cleaning and general practice cleaning require skill and knowledge to be completed correctly. Understanding of full colour coding processes to prevent cross contamination (click here to learn more), the best cleaning products to use in the healthcare setting, and the high levels of cleaning as disinfection required every single day.
To find out more about how Green Fox Cleaning can improve the appearance of your general practice surgery, dental practice or any other medical practice, click here to learn more about our work in this sector and get in touch.
Veterinary practices like other healthcare sector premises require the highest levels of cleaning and disinfection. A single cleaning mistake could become a huge problem, with poorly animals and surgery taking place, only the highest clinical cleaning standards are acceptable.
Most veterinary practices outsource their cleaning requirements, allowing them to focus on running their business. You can learn more about the benefits of outsourcing your cleaning by clicking here.
"Don't forget to ensure you keep your veterinary practice car park clean, and litter pick on a regular basis. A car park full of rubbish will give a negative appearance of your premises before your customers even enter, often at a distressing time in their life. It can be easy to focus on getting everything looking great inside, and forgetting the grounds of your practice."
Paul Barrett - Company Director
Good cleaning processes from highly trained cleaning staff is essential, but without the knowledge of the correct and most suitable cleaning products to use in the veterinary practice cleaning sector, you can never be certain that your premises is as clean and safe as it should be.
There are many suppliers of veterinary practice cleaning products, with one established supplier being Anigene.
As well as ensuring the services of a good commercial cleaning company are in place at your veterinary practice to keep everything safe for your staff and visitors (both human and animals), correct product selection and knowledge is essential.
At Green Fox Cleaning, we are highly experienced in the veterinary practice cleaning sector. We provide daily cleaning services for independent groups of veterinary practices, as well as various practices for national giants Vet Partners and IVC Evidensia.
A firm favourite of our products within the veterinary practice cleaning sector is the Anigene range. Specifically designed for veterinary practice cleaning, it is highly efficient and proven to be effective.
There are a wide range of products available in the anigene veterinary practice cleaning range, which are specially designed for the veterinary cleaning sector and offer a number of benefits, including the following:
The above make it a firm favourite for us at Green Fox Cleaning, as an environmentally conscious cleaning company.
Anigene can be used in numerous areas for veterinary practice cleaning, to include hard floors in reception and consult rooms, walls and animal habitats when unoccupied, to include surfaces and sinks. It really is a versatile veterinary practice cleaning product.
We hope you have found this article useful, and that it has given you some food for thought. Careful product selection and the placement of a good commercial cleaning company will make your veterinary practice a safer place for each and every visitor, and give the best possible impression all round.
To find out more about our work in the veterinary practice cleaning sector and how we can help improve the appearance of your practice with a reliable and local cleaning service, click here to learn more.
You can learn more about the history of the veterinarian sector from wikipedia by clicking here.
Most laminate floors have a degree of waterproof protection, but all. Do you know the best way to clean laminate floors that are not waterproof?
Incorrect cleaning processes to laminate floors can cause irreversible damage. Learn more here by taking two minutes to read this blog - it may save you quite a bit of money in the long run!
The method to clean laminate floors should remain consistent, whether the flooring has a layer of waterproof protection or not. Always remember the one key point.
"A wet mop or too much water being used on laminate flooring is highly likely to cause the floor to lift, resulting in permanent damage."
Green Fox Cleaning accredited training team
It is important to remember that laminate floors are not fully waterproof, so any spillages should be cleaned up straight away to minimise the risk of any lasting damage or warping of your floors. All that is needed to do this is a damp (not wet!) cloth to remove the spillage, and wipe to dry.
Whilst laminate flooring is tough and robust, every precaution should be taken to minimise the risk of scratching the floor. You should never use scouring pads, wire wool pads or any other abrasive cleaning tools - a soft bristled brush is best.
The best mop for laminate floors is one that will pick up dirt, won't leave behind excess water and won't scratch the floor during the cleaning process In our opinion, the best mop option when it comes to cleaning laminate flooring is a microfibre mop.
If you choose not to buy a cleaning solution from the store, it’s pretty easy to make your own product and save some money, and reduce chemical usage during your process to clean laminate floors that are not waterproof.
White distilled vinegar is a miracle worker when you mop laminate flooring. To make your solution, simply combine 1 part vinegar and 3 parts warm water together. Add 1 teaspoon of washing up liquid and mix together before putting it in a spray bottle.
The first thing to do it to vacuum your flooring to remove any dust, but more importantly any debris that could cause scratching if pushed around by a mop.
Lightly dampen your microfibre mop by spraying some solution onto it, then begin the process of mopping your floor. Ensure that you overlap your mopping pattern, to cover all areas of the floor and make sure nothing is missed during your cleaning process.
Remember to drain your mop if it absorbs too much water, as you don’t want your flooring to get too wet. After cleaning, allow your flooring to dry naturally. This completes the correct process to clean laminate floors that are not waterproof.
"Do you have a dog at work? Make sure you keep on top of clipping their claws, as if they get too long they are one of the quickest ways to scratch your laminate flooring!"
Green Fox Cleaning accredited trainer
The easiest way to clean laminate floors that are not waterproof and keep all your floors and the rest of your workplace looking great is to engage the services of a professional commercial cleaning company.
Green Fox Cleaning are a commercial cleaning company that deliver unrivalled local cleaning services to businesses in all sectors. Click here to learn more.
Whether it is our home or our workplace, we move premises from time to time and have to hand the premises over in a good, cleaning condition. The way this is achieved is through the completion of an end of tenancy clean.
In both a domestic and commercial setting if the premises is rented, charges can be made if the property is not returned in an acceptable condition. An agent will inspect the premises after you return it and have completed your end of tenancy clean. Any missed areas may result in a deduction to your deposit, so understanding exactly what is required from this check out clean is really important.
The purpose of this blog is to give you a better understanding of what an end of tenancy clean is, and what you should expect.
End of tenancy cleaning is the term given to completing deeper cleaning at a domestic or commercial premises before giving it back to a landlord, or selling it.
The level of detail and depth of the clean should be much deeper than a regular clean, with attention to areas that the average person may not even consider.
An end of tenancy clean will include, but not be limited to the following:
You can either carry out the end of tenancy clean yourself if you prefer, as long as you are confident you can meet the high standards that are expected, as a poor clean may cost you a lot in deductions!
The easiest way to ensure an end of tenancy at your home is completed well is to employ the services of a domestic cleaning company.
To ensure the best quality end of tenancy clean at your business as well as regular cleaning services, click here to learn more about Green Fox Cleaning and how we can help improve the appearance of your business with ours.
