BLOG

Countless offices in the UK are currently empty or almost empty, while personnel follow Covid-19 restrictions and work from home. One of the things companies can do in the interim is to arrange thorough deep cleans of premises. Or, make arrangements for the great day when life (and work) returns to normal.

Let’s explore what’s involved in deep cleans and tackling pollutant build-up in unused offices

The deep cleaning processes

The Coronavirus protection protocols have in many ways already been covered by firms offering health and safety orientated clean-ups. They already have both the necessary equipment and fluids, and the skills, to create hygienic finishes on any surface; from the deepest lobby carpets to expensive and complex equipment.

What does ‘deep clean’ actually mean, though? It goes beyond the standard office cleaning tasks and looks at places where dirt, grit, grease and other substances can settle and build over time. Possibly the places even the most scrupulous in-house cleaners forget to look!

This can include, for instance, the blades of ceiling fans, mouldings between walls and ceilings, around baseboards and under office furniture that is rarely moved.

Some of the worst places ‘nasties’ can lurk are not necessarily your office toilets. Think for a minute about door handles, bannister rails and light switches! How many times do they get touched, compared to how many times they get a professional clean-up?

Getting offices back up and running

This virus has confirmed that keeping workplaces hygienically clean should be standard practice to guard against unexpected enemies.

Please don’t imagine that having an office that’s unused means a quick tidy and dust will get it back operational once the restrictions end. It is vital to book a deep clean of empty office space, just before staff return.

One of the perils of empty buildings is the lack of ventilation which can cause unhealthy moulds to build up, especially in pockets of condensation. These – like other office pollutants – are not always visible to the untrained eye.

How to arrange deep cleans and post-virus cleans

The team at Associated Cleaning Contractors completely understands the impact Covid-19 has had all sectors of the economy and society. If we can help to keep your business running with a deep clean – or get it ready when restrictions are lifted – we are happy to discuss fees that are affordable to your organisation. Contact us to arrange a free quote.

When did you last hire a commercial cleaning service? Did they do a decent enough job for you to want to use their services again? While you can do most of the cleaning yourself and make your workplace clean and tidy, there are those jobs that you must admit, are beyond your cleaning skills.

Having a clean and tidy business environment directly relates to the health and safety of yourself and your employees.

There are, however, a few common misconceptions that could deter you from using a commercial cleaning service. We’re here today to clear a few things up.

Here’s a rundown of four common myths surrounding commercial cleaning.

1. Commercial cleaning services are expensive

Most people think that commercial cleaning services are too expensive and not worth the investment. In truth, most of these cleaning services are quite affordable and offer great value for money.

In addition, you can tailor the cleaning service to suit your budget, so you don’t overspend.

2. They all give substandard service

You may have heard a friend or associate complain about the poor service they got from using a commercial cleaning service. This is likely due to the rise of unprofessional cleaning services out there.

Many professional commercial cleaning services provide quality services and hire only experienced and qualified cleaners for their work. The upside is that you can find these professional cleaners through client reviews, the services they offer, transparent pricing, etc.

Don’t fall victim to unprofessional commercial cleaners who’re only after your money and do substandard work.

3. Commercial cleaning interferes with your premises

Most business owners suspect that the clean-up crew that they hire could interfere with their premises. This isn’t true. Professional cleaning service providers are trained and prepared to ensure that they handle your equipment professionally. This includes avoiding any interruptions of your arrangements in any way.

Your property will look sparkling clean without a single item being out of place.

4. Communication is poor

You may be afraid to outsource a cleaning service because you think that communication can break down in the process. This may be an instance when dealing with unprofessional cleaning service providers.

In contrast, professional cleaners encourage communication and use your instructions to meet all your desires.

Communication increases the effectiveness of your cleaning service to ensure that all work is completed at the highest degree.

The truth about corporate cleaning companies

In truth, there are a lot of myths on the internet about commercial cleaning services that tarnish their name. But once you have found a professional commercial cleaning service that you trust you will know that you made the right choice. Contact us today for a free quote.

With all of the essential tasks needed to keep a business running smoothly, it can be easy to neglect those that do not appear so vital – such as having clean windows at your business premises. However, there are actually a number of reasons why keeping your office windows clean is something you should consider very important.

Employee health

While it can be tempting to roll your eyes at the demands of health and safety, no business can thrive if its employees are not in good health – and clean windows contribute directly to this. For one thing, if the windows are clear, warmth and light can get into the building and that has a positive effect on the mental health of those working inside. By contrast, working in dingy rooms will lead to low morale and equally low productivity.

Keeping clean windows also reduces the risk of your employees picking up colds and other illnesses through germs spread by dirt and dust.

Business image

You may not realise it, but the condition of your office or premises tells potential clients a great deal about the mindset of your business, and the idea they will get from dirty windows is that you do not care enough about the public image of your company to look after the basics. This may not actually be the case, but it won’t matter if that is what people you are hoping to work with think, as it is unlikely you will be given the chance to prove their first impressions wrong.

Money-saving

Beyond improving the look of the building, keeping its windows clean will also save your business money in the longer term. That is because glass is a material that can degrade quite rapidly if it is not looked after, as microorganisms are able to grow in the edges of dirty windows that will cause the glass to deteriorate.

It makes more sense to pay smaller amounts to professional clean-up specialists rather than the larger sums that will be needed to replace degraded windows.

The best solution will be to look to a firm such as Associated Cleaning Contractors that offer a commercial window cleaning service customised to the needs of your business.

There’s never a bad time to invest in professional cleaning services to keep your premises as safe, comfortable, and inviting as possible. Naturally, outsourcing to a professional in is an investment for your business, but how do you know you’re investing your money with the right contractor for you and your business?

Look for these three things to ensure you’re dealing with the right commercial clean-up service.

1. Experience

Experience is essential. Ensure you choose a professional cleaning company that has the appropriate qualifications and some years of experience. Commercial cleaning requires knowledge and understanding of proper time management, such as the right health and safety procedures to follow during the clean-up process. In many cases, these are skills that can only be honed through experience and practice.

2. Reliability

Another key skill is reliability. You want to keep your business downtime to a minimum, so naturally, you want to be positive your commercial team will arrive when they say they will. Any delay is going to cost you precious time and money, so make sure you do a little digging and seek out the testimonials of previous customers. You need to see previous customers that are pleased with the value for money they have, as well as the final quality of the work.

3. Versatility

Your commercial contractor needs to be versatile, as no professional cleaning jobs are the same. They need to be equally comfortable simply providing scheduled office cleaning and cleaning up the site when a new-build has been completed. Find a team who will be able to take your requirements into consideration and work with you towards a finished result that you can rely on. Whatever your cleaning needs may be, they must be able to cater to them.

Where do you find a good cleaning company?

It’s not enough for a cleaning professional to display just one of these qualities – they need to display all three. To make the search quicker and easier, contact Associated Cleaning Contractors today to get the perfect clean every time.

It’s easy to imagine that the only companies who need to keep their premises spotless are those linked to cleanroom processes and who carry a heavy Health & Safety burden.

While juggling all your other weekly tasks and obligations, keeping on top of commercial ‘housework’ can seem a low priority. Especially if visitors to your premises are now rare, thanks to the digital age. A bit of dirt around your site, office and factory is not going to hurt, right?

This suggests you’re not giving enough attention to passive marketing, and the importance of first impressions.

What’s passive marketing?

To survive – and thrive – you’re presumably investing in aggressive sales and marketing activities. ‘Passive’ marketing is the impression you are giving without actually trying! It’s the more low key, everyday things that can either build or undermine your reputation.

The way you answer the phone, staff uniforms and the signage to your premises are all examples. So is the state of your business environment.

Put it this way, a building site or head office that looks neglected, cluttered or dirty is not doing you any favours. It’s sending out the message that you don’t really care, or you have poor control and attention to detail.

A clean-up could send the opposite ‘brand message’. It could show you’re an ambitious, careful and well-organised company.

First impressions and target audiences

Passive marketing is not just important when it comes to customers either. What your premises ‘says about you’ as a company is also significant for prospective staff and suppliers.

To be taken seriously, and earn respect and interest, regular basic clean-ups and having clear windows can matter. People gain first impressions within a few seconds, and a mucky façade can put you on a back foot before first-time visitors step over your threshold.

Think of your existing staff too. Neglecting the appearance of your building – such as fogged and grimy windows – flies in the face of modern HR demands. Ambitious companies show employees that they are caring, empathetic and forward-looking. A rather seedy outlook from your office window is not giving that message!

Going the extra mile to give staff a clean, fresh and pleasant working environment can boost morale, and possibly even reducing work absences.

This is not just due to dust, dirt and other allergens being breathed in by your team. Providing a smart and well-looked after workplace makes staff feel more valued, and they take more pride in their contribution.

What message is your workplace currently sending out, and how can Associated Cleaning Contractors help you to clean-up your passive marketing?

Whether you’re running a corporate office or are a project manager on a building site, it’s imperative that you’re aware of your firm’s responsibilities when it comes to health and safety. Over the years, the government has passed a number of legislation to ensure that businesses of all types meet the stringent requirements set out to protect workers and customers. One of the best ways to help make sure that your working environment is meeting the relevant health codes is to opt for a specialist cleaning company to visit your premises. Here are the top issues to consider when selecting such a firm:

Opt for a company that offers a managerial service

With so many aspects to consider when running a company, it helps to be able to delegate your cleaning requirements to a company that provides you with a dedicated manager. This way, you can check in with one specific individual who can keep track of all of your needs and requirements. With this kind of service you can also opt for organisational tools such as a telephone timekeeping system, as well as ongoing preventative measures that include risk assessments and an audit monitoring program. At ACC, we offer a convenient and responsive managerial service that meets all of your needs.

Ensure that the firm presents itself professionally

These days, it’s important to know and recognise the people that are visiting your office space, which is why it’s crucial that your specialist cleaning firm provides professional workers who wear uniforms with designated forms of ID. When you’re selecting a cleaning company, ensure that their workers are also required to have enhanced DBS checks. This measure can give you peace of mind as it provides reassurance that the workers visiting your workplace are all thoroughly checked and vetted beforehand. As many companies have valuable commercial property and provide services in sensitive fields, such as the medical sector, it’s important to select a specialist cleaning firm that values security highly.

Check the level of company training

One of the most crucial elements to consider when selecting a specialist cleaning company is that their staff are all highly trained. In particular, you want to make sure that their employees have completed their GNVQ education so that they are thoroughly prepared for the tasks at hand. Take a moment to also verify that the company has been accredited by the appropriate bodies. At ACC, we are registered with the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICS), as well as a number of other organisations.

If you would like more information about how specialist cleaning services can benefit your workspace, contact ACC today and speak to a member of the team.

Having a good health and safety record is a major consideration for most businesses here in the UK. Protecting your workforce from being injured or developing conditions and illnesses detrimental to a worker’s well-being has several advantages.

It means fewer days lost by members of staff having to take time off; less risk of being taken to court and incurring financial penalties, while it also helps to breed employer loyalty. But shortcomings in companies’ health and safety records are not confined to matters affecting staff. It can also cause problems when employing contractors to work on a business’s premises.

The importance of the C.O.S.H.H. regulations

Improving a company’s health and safety ethic is something that the C.O.S.H.H. (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) rules and regulations are very good at promoting. When it comes down to employing contractors to do something in the workplace, (even something as simple as cleaning), the H.S.E. (Health and Safety Executive) have specific recommendations.

The value of risk assessments

Under the C.O.S.H.H. regime, the most basic consideration when anybody undertakes a task at work is that the employer or contractor should work together to ensure that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out prior to work taking place. Any risks highlighted during the assessment phase must be rated and mitigated.

Risks that have been identified have to be clearly communicated to those it could affect, and it is always recommended that only people that have been adequately trained in the task to be performed should be allowed to carry out the work.

Awareness of your health and safety responsibilities

To make sure that there are no grey areas in terms of responsibility, companies must communicate effectively with any contractors they employ. One area that is common to many businesses in all sorts of industries is office, factory and window cleaning. But the same things apply to other industry sectors, such as building sites in the construction industry, which is where project managers need to be fully aware of their responsibilities.

The first thing that businesses should do is to select a suitable contractor with care. Check out their safety record and see whether or not they belong to any safety bodies or institutions.

ACC’s health and safety credentials

Here at Associated Cleaning Contractors, we take our own health and safety responsibilities very seriously indeed. But we don’t stop there. We also take our clients H&S duties seriously too. That is why we are happy to share any relevant risk assessments with our clients.

We operate a policy of transparency and we are pleased to advise our customers that we are members of the British Institute of Cleaning Science and the Federation of Window Cleaners; and we are S.M.A.S. work-safe approved, as well as being gold members of Constructionline.

So, whether you need a cleaning contractor for office, window, building site or specialist cleaning, call Associated Cleaning Contractors today on 01204 495 22 or message us using the form on our “contact us” page here on our website.

Health and safety is vital for project managers to prioritise within any business, factory or office. Ensuring that you conduct a safe environment by utilising a specialist cleaning team is an imperative factor to avoid any injuries or illnesses that could lead to claims, complaints or, in the worst-case scenario, even death.

Here are three reasons why you should use a professional building cleaning company within your business

1. Specialist cleaning keeps the environment safe

Ensuring that you have a safe environment for workers and staff will minimize any health and safety risks. Your business will be continually managed and audited by a specialist team to ensure you receive the best possible service. An unclean work environment is an excellent breeding ground for numerous germs, allergens and hazards.

2. Reduces time and finances

As a business, it’s better monetarily responsible to hire professionals who can clean quickly and comprehensively. No matter how effective staff daily cleaning routines may be, specialist clean-ups are personalised to suit your individual needs. By keeping your work environment clean you can ensure that your employees are healthy, productive and dynamic.

3. Ensure a high standard of service

You should project a confident and positive company image before your potential clients even step through the door. By employing a specialist cleaning business, you can instil confidence and create trust, leaving employees and clients with the impression that you are an organised, smart company. Investing in a dedicated clean-up signifies a level of professionalism within your business.

Here at Associated Cleaning Contractors (ACC), we have earned an excellent reputation for providing a consistently high standard of service for not only our after build clean-ups, but for window cleaning, and commercial cleaning. All of the materials we use are also controlled by our rigorous C.O.S.H.H (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) protocols.

If you would like to know any other information, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01204 495 222 or send us a message using the form on the “contact us page” of our website.

It’s just as important for project management within construction to focus on regular clean-up services from professional builders’ cleaning companies

One of the primary reasons for this is to minimise health and safety risks, both for site workers and visitors. If you’re managing a construction site just some of the potential site risks include:

– Trip hazards which can cause dangerous accidents
– Unsanitary areas, where grime and worse build-up and could potentially ruin or damage finishes of new buildings
– Build-up of waste

Why use a professional builders’ cleaning company?

When you opt for a pro cleaning service for your construction site, you’re signing up with a provider that only supplies cleaning operatives in possession of valid CSCS cards and with all appropriate training. Supervisory teams hold SSTS certificates and understand risk management and the requirement to provide constant audits of construction site cleaning services.

How Associated Cleaning Contractors can minimise the health and safety hazards on your construction site

When you partner with ACC for your pre-build cleaning, after construction cleaning, or for ongoing cleaning throughout the building process you are teaming up with a reliable provider, with the ability to mobilise a professional cleaning team anywhere in the UK at short notice. Your cleaning service will be continually managed and audited to ensure you receive the pro building clean-up needed.

Construction cleaning does not just entail the removal of dirt and debris from sites, our cleaning teams:

– Remove tape from windows and frames, to ensure your building windows are sparkly clean and create an attractive appearance in the neighbourhood
– Precise cleaning reaches all those difficult areas, to ensure all your new build elements are cleaned after installation
– On-site supervisors ensure any trip hazards and debris are removed throughout construction cleaning to improve safety for construction site workers and site visitors
– ACC construction cleaning is fully customised to client needs and we work with you throughout the construction process to ensure your requirements are met in full
– Regular health and safety checks are conducted at all our sites
– Full deep cleans take place when construction is complete to ensure all properties are immaculate and attractive to potential buyers and leaseholders

Get in touch today to discuss your construction site cleaning needs in detail and find out more about our affordable and professional cleaning services for the building industry.

As with many things in life, it is often necessary to make compromises. But there is one thing that you should never compromise on, and that is the health and safety of yourself, your employees, and other users of your site. Nobody should ever be injured, become ill, or die because someone, somewhere, was willing to compromise on their well-being.

This is where commercial and industrial cleaning companies can help, ensuring your site is in tip-top condition. But of course, even cleaning can pose risks. Below we explore how a professional cleaning company can help manage that risk to keep your premises clean and safe at the same time.

Best practice with everyday cleaning operations

Slippery floors are a well-recognised danger when cleaning is underway or has just been completed. This type of danger is not only present for the cleaners themselves, but for anyone, including members of the general public, who walk across these areas.

Sections of flooring undergoing cleaning must be clearly identified and carefully cordoned off, while surfaces should be completely dry before safety cones and warning signs are removed. It’s not just about slips or trips either. Any cleaning products used should be safe for the immediate environment and its users and should be kept out of the way. This is standard best practice and will be followed by any professional cleaning company worth their salt.

At-height cleaning operations

Floor cleaning is a relatively low-risk operation, but what about cleaning windows at height? For anyone who is inexperienced, falls from height are one of the most common causes of death or serious injury in the workplace, as is the risk of objects being dropped onto passers-by from on high. That’s why we would never recommend that you attempt to clean windows or other parts of your property that are difficult to reach; not only could you be left with poor results, but it could also result in an injury. Always enlist the services of the professionals who have the best equipment for the job.

Fulfilling your health and safety obligations

If you hire cleaning contractors, it is important to check that they have the proper health and safety regimes in place. Here at Associated Cleaning Contractors (ACC), we give health and safety top billing. All of the operations we carry out are meticulously pre-checked by going through professional risk assessments. All of the materials we use are also controlled by our rigorous C.O.S.H.H (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) protocols.

We are members of the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICS) and are accredited members of the Federation of Window Cleaners. The health and safety of not only our own employees but yours and that of the general public is our prime concern.

When you choose ACC as your cleaning contractor, you are fulfilling your health and safety obligations in all circumstances. Contact us today for peace of mind.