Janitorial & Office Cleaning
Tucson, Arizona

Office cleaning services

Office cleaning services are many things. There are the basic services: trash, restrooms, dusting and floors. Then, there are the services unique to each office. Also, there are frequencies, day or night service, windows. It starts with our online quote form and a tour of your offices.

Let’s take a look at dusting, one of the basic services. In Tucson it gets dusty because we live in the desert. Dusting has to be consistent. We see on bid tours how many companies skip dusting, especially in the restrooms. Ledges, tops of partitions, vents all need attention.

Are you tired of cleaning up after your janitor? If you answered yes you aren’t alone. Recently we have been on several bid tours and it was amazing the cleaning items that were not getting done. It was a trash and dash situation. The dust build up looked like it hadn’t been done in a long time. At another office the rings on the kitchen counter had been there for months.

Day or night janitorial services is a choice we offer. Most janitorial work is done at night and the weekends. The nights and weekends are easier to find people and it is more time efficient than the day time service. The day time service takes longer because you have people that require working around and coming back to service their area.

The lobby needs to be clean and organized. This means the magazines should be straight, chairs back in place, front door glass cleaned, a good vacuuming, clean reception counter and glass window. When people are sitting and waiting they have time to look around and the cleaning and organization of the lobby is a reflection on the business.

Restrooms are just as important as the lobby. Again, people will judge a person’s business by how clean the restrooms are kept. Even in a D building if the restrooms are clean and have quality consumables people will have a good feeling about your business.

Well I could keep going but I’ve run out of time. This is a topic that is endless. So, with that said I’ll say goodbye and see you next week.

Looking for a Day Porter Service in Tucson, part 5

What is a day porter service? A day porter augments the janitor in a building or the parking lot sweeper at a shopping center. They keep things running smoothly. so the property is always up to speed. Duties vary from property to property but here are a few of them: common area trash removal, cleaning around dumpsters, dusting window sills, empty trash containers....

The trash containers on the outside need to be emptied and a new can liner put in the container. Some may require a double can liner because of the heavy usage. Also, cleaning the container lid is important. The day porter will puff the can liner out so it doesn't suck the can liner in when trash is thrown in.

Scheduling for the day porter at shopping centers can be once a week to seven days a week. The once a week could be covering the weekend and the week day service is done by the maintenance crew. Our company can service seven days a week or once a week. Usually the day porter at shopping center does their job between 9:00 pm and 9:00 am and at an office building it is done during the day.

In Tucson it gets dusty and the outside windows need a regular cleaning, even the vacant suites. I mention the vacant suites because it will keep all the windows in the center uniform.. Also, it is important to dust the window sills at every service, it does have an effect. The vacant suite will need to be cleaned: swepted, dusted, clean restrooms....

Cleaning around the dumpsters allows the trash truck easy access to the dumpsters. Our company has a pound limit and if we can’t put it in the dumpster we’ll let the property manage know. Some examples: a refrigerator, washer and dryers, and extra large wood pallets.... These items ar e found around the dumpsters.

There is more to day portering then I covered in this article and I plan on covering more in a future article. If you have questions or any input email me at desertcleaningt​ucson@gmail.com

The Best Janitorial Service in Tucson

What does it take to be the best janitorial service in Tucson? Number one helps and solid references for starters. The first quarter of the year has been great in all departments. It takes excellent employees who do a great job. Also, all the behind the scenes effort to have the office cleaner at the account ready to go each service.

Having great employees that do the job right and do the job consistently Over the years we are improving our systems and when the employees follow them the account receives a great janitorial experience. To be number one you have to have great employees.

The employees that do all the work to make sure the on site janitor has all the supplies to do the job have to follow the system as well. I have written in previous articles about the behind the scenes effort to have everything the onsite janitor needs. This includes the office staff and all the vendors that the company uses.

References for the best janitorial service in Tucson are high on the list and puts Desert Cleaning janitorial Services, inc, at the number one best janitor service in the city. Have you seen references with just a paragraph and name? Let know what you think of those. Desert Cleaning has real references on their company letterhead.

If you are tired of cleaning up after your current janitor then call Desert Cleaning Janitorial Services, Inc, or fill out our online quote form and experience the best janitorial service in Tucson.

J​anitor Service Hidden Valley

We want a janitorial service in Hidden Valley, Tucson. We are looking for the basic service: trashing, dusting, restrooms, and floors. We are tired of cleaning up after our janitor and want a local company that is easy to work with. We want the best and need day and night service. If this sounds like you then give us a call or fill out our online quote form.

Hidden Valley is in the north-northeast area of Tucson. Like the rest of Tucson it gets dusty and dusting is an important part of the janitorial service. Dusting every visit and dusting smart show. It’s all about consistency. When dusting is skipped it can be a real mess to clean.

I just wrote about trashing an office and Hidden Valley is the same as in town. We use a larger size can liner for the barrel on wheels and the desk size can liners. The purpose of the barrel on wheels is so when a can liner leaks it will do it inside the barrel. Also, the barrel holds more trash so ti is more efficient.

The Hidden Valley is a nice clean area and businesses are the same. Like everywhere else the restrooms need to be cleaned. People judge how a business is run by how clean the restrooms are and our job is to clean the restrooms to make you look good..We usually clean the restrooms first in Hidden Valley.

If you have a business in the Hidden Valley area please shoot us an email or fill out our fast free quote form . We’ll come out and tour your offices and give you a quote.

Trash Can Liners...

Trash can liners come in different colors, sizes, and thicknesses. Can liners are used to keep the trash can clean and to organize the trash ready for disposal. As simple as it seems to do the trashing at an office you better have a system to save time and to do an efficient job. Can you imagine life without can liners?

Let’s take a look at the different colors and their uses. Red liners are mostly used in medical offices for hazardous waste. Usually a service will pick up the red liners and incinerate them. We like the white semi clear can liners for the clean appearance. Food facilities have their own system and others can designate the colors as needed.

The can liners come in different sizes and size makes a difference. We prefer a larger can liner for several reasons: the can kiner won’t get sucked in as easy, it is easier to twist and tuck, the larger size is usually thicker, Also, we lower the number of sizes we use and inventory. In some situations it is wise to double the can liners, especially when the barrel on wheels isn’t used.

Imagine not using can liners and the mess it would create. Can liners are used to keep your trash can clean and to organize the trash for removal. What if you had to wash the trash can every time it was emptied? It would cost extra time and money. Many times we will double bag the can liner in case of a rip in the can liner.

Flu Season at the Office

Since we are in flu season I thought I’d briefly discuss hygiene in the office environment. Normally we don’t clean the keyboards, computer, phones....However, we will upon request clean these items. Either way let's take a look around the office and see some of the hot spots.

First, let's stop in at the conference room and see where the fingerprints collect. The big conference room table has plenty of fingerprints to spray and wipe clean. Then all the conference room chairs have armrests that should be cleaned too. Lights and any where people touch should be on the list to clean.

Have you ever heard the phrase " wash your hands with soap and water.” The same holds true today and now with the addition of sanitizers it really helps. A doctor told me that they are using sanitizers more between patients than soap and water, because the soap is harder on the hands and by the end of the day their hands are in rough shape.

Did you know that over half of men don’t wash their hands after using the restroom and that a quarter of the women don’t wash their hands. What is the world coming too. And we want to go to Mars. Just think of all the things people touch that don’t wash their hands. More folks are using hand sanitizers that they carry with them.

On most people's desks they have a keyboard, mouse, phone, and calculator. All of these items should be cleaned daily with disinfection wipes. Also, the computer screen needs to be wiped clean with a good lens wipe. Once a person gets into a routine of wiping these items everyday it helps in keeping a clean office.

Tucson Janitorial Service ASAP

Once in a while we have a request for starting janitorial service immediately and usually we can accomodate the request. The business maybe opening a new office and need service quick or may be a one time cleaning. The current janitor service quit and can’t miss a service. Health issues can play a part in needing a service ASAP.

We went on several bids recently and a couple want service ASAP. Also we got an ear full about the national janitorial companies. Because of the poor service and phone calls not returned was the reason for the switch. One of the bids found out they can’t switch because the contract from the national company had 1.5 years left on the contract. We don’t work this way.

One time cleaning of a commercial office suite or the business could take the whole building. The price to a one time clean can vary depending on the services needed. Are strup and waxing of the floors considered a one time clean? They could, but this article covers mainly the general cleaning.

Starting an account ASAP is usually not to difficult because the office manager knows that we are starting on a short notice. The details and shoddy work from the previous service usually takes a few services to bring it up to speed. I won’t get into any war stories here maybe in a future article. However, we have before and after photos on our website of some accounts we took over.

More Janitorial Talk​...

When we inspect an office building it is wise to take as many cleaning supplies as possible. This way if the inspection team see’s something missed they can clean it quickly. The inspection team maybe responsible for delivering supplies to the account. We have a schedule for each account and usually inspect them monthly.

Here’s another secret about inspecting; it has to be consistent. Even if the account has had no complaints. This may in part be why the account hasn’t had complaints. It is all about keeping you happy and keeping your office clean.

How can janitorial prices vary? One answer is that low bidders skip the inspecting and that saves them money. Then, they wait for the complaint phone to ring in the morning. At Desert Cleaning the inspection is built in the price. Our system has worked for 38 years and can work for you too.

Some of the outside cleaning duties are: vacuuming mats, cleaning drinking fountains, cleaning elevators, blowing sidewalks and stairwells, cleaning windows.... The frequencies will vary from office to office and so will the duties. Other duties may include removing trash from outside containers and wiping down any tables.

There are two types of supplies that need to be discussed before bidding. The first group of supplies are the cleaning supplies used to do the actual cleaning. These supplies are usually paid for by the cleaning company. The second group of supplies are the consumables: toilet paper, hand rowes, soap..... These supplies can be handled a number of way’s.

Inspection Checklist Talk

We use a commercial inspection checklist when checking your building. The list helps in having a successful inspection. The inspection liat and gives us something to refer to later with the on site janitor. The inspection list helps even the seasoned inspector. Also, the inspection team will take the file for the account that they are going to inspect.

I took some of the list we use and made the following list:

Men and women restrooms for build-up: under urinals, full mirror, dispensers full, vents dusted and tops of partitions, hard water build-up in bowls and sink, behind bowls, wipe tops of baseboards, wipe walls under dispensers, floors swept and mopped ( edges and corners ), under seat, change can liners if needed.

The inspection list is a guide for the inspection team to use. We work for you and the inspection of your office is part of our system. The job of the inspection team is not to find fault with the onsite janitor, but to keep the complaint phone from ringing. The findings of the team will be reviewed with the onsite janitor.

What is a key Fob?

A fob, usually called a key fob, is a security device with built-in authentication used to control and secure access to a building. The r​emote car starters, garage door openers, and keyless entry devices on hotel room doors are also called fobs. Also, the remote key fob you use to open your car is called a fob.

Security is the number one concern at any building. From alarms to keys it makes a difference in securing the building. The fob is a great way to secure a building and keep track who comes and goes and their times. Also, you can program a fob off and it will no longer work.

For the janitor using one door to go in and out of is best. Sometimes the janitor may have to use two doors. At some of our account we have a lock box in the janitors closet to keep the keys and fobs on the premises. The bottom line is security is number one for the janitor.

Having the keys organized is a must in the janitorial business. We have a system that has work for years. Our insurance policy has a lost key coverage clause and hopefully we’ll never have to use it. Usually, we have a key for the onsite janitor and an office copy as well. The office copy is used for inspections and for the floater.

Go Local! Go with the Pro’s

Go with the local janitorial service and get the service you want. The national companies have a bad reputation here in Tucson. They give low bids, require a long term contract, and the work is subpar. We hear it all the time from property managers and office managers about the national janitorial companies and the stories are horrifying.

I have heard that the national janitorial companies operate with a salesperson quoting low prices for office cleaning. When they get the account they hand it off to a franchisee that bought into the business. They don’t make any money and they start to cut corners. What a system to buy into. I have heard negative stories from the franchisees as well.

Getting the service you want is easier with a local janitorial service. The local service is more hands on and involved. I want to mention that with a local company the money stays in Tucson. The local janitorial service will respond quickly to your needs. No smoke and mirrors with the local company.

Are you tired of cleaning up after your janitor? Then go with the pros at Desert Cleaning here in Tucson. They have been in business for 38 years and there is a reason, they treat you right and it shows. See their reference letters and other information on their website. Also, fill out their fast online form and let them go to work for you.

Janitorial Details 101

Most janitorial work is rote. Then there are the details when cleaning an office. Also there are special requests at each account. We put the cleaning list into four main areas: trash, dust, restrooms, and floors. Within each are the details, so let’s get started!

What is trashing? Trashing involves emptying all the trash containers in an office. The desk can liner should be clean and look uniform. We developed the twist and tuck system for quick release. The janitor that does these items will keep the complaint phone from ringing.

Restroom details are abundant so let’s review a few. The mirrors can be overlooked unless the janitor really looks at the mirror, especially the bottom 5 inches. The restroom floors need to be swept before mopping. Believe it or not but the restrooms need to be dusted starting with the vents down.

Dusting is one of my favorite topics. We leave our competition in the dust. Dusting is easy and and easy to skip for some companies. If the dusting is skipped too many times it turns into a real big cleaning project. If the dust is sticky and moist it has been there for a while. Consistency is the answer to keeping an office dusted.

Floors are beneath us all. Carpet, tile, wood laminate. .... The list of flooring is long..The main difference between carpet and tile is carpet takes one pass and tile is a two step process to maintain in most situations. Wood and laminate flooring we use a different system to clean them. If you would like more information please call or email.

Special requests are noted and can be unique to each account. For example: special dusting requirements on what not to dust, offices not to clean, cleaning of the microwaves, and the warehouse restroom. The special request could be a one time event or a scheduled event.

Looking for a Day Porter in Tucson, Part 4

The day porter services in Tucson can be for a shopping center, office building, or medical facility. Here is a short list of services: cleaning up around dumpsters, emptying outside trash containers, removing trash from bushes and parking lot, midday cleaning of the restrooms and looby. Also the day porter augments the janitorial service and parking lot sweeper.

When we started the day portering for shopping centers I couldn't believe all the trash in the shopping center s parking lots.... It was everywhere in bushes, around dumpsters, and it was daily which is good for business.

Maintaining a vacant suite can be included in the services. The leasing agents have told me that it helps to have a clean suite when showing . Some of the services for the vacant suite are: dusting, sweeping, mopping, running the water in the restrooms, cleaning the toilets.... Also, cleaning the windows from time to time.

Depending on how busy an office is it may need a day porter to come in and clean and restock the restrooms. Most offices do not need a day porter and they will know if they need one when the toilet paper runs out at 10:00 am every day.

A pound limit on items we’ll remove is an important beause the day porter can’t remove a refrigerator, engine block, or washing machine. What do we do when this happens? We generally will let the property manager know.

A big part of the day porters job at a shopping center is the trash containers in front of the shopping center. Some trash containers require double bagging and others are rarely used. The system used depends on the center.

Do you need a day porter in Tucson? If you have questions or need a quote let me know.

Tucson Janitorial Inspection Part 4

Our amazing systems for janitorial services includes office inspections. Consistent inspections are the real secret to keeping an account. The checklist is used for quality control and is used even by the seasoned inspector. The inspection process is to make sure the customer is receiving the best possible service.

Our inspection team is not trying to find fault with the onsite janitor, instead they are making sure you receive a high level of service.. We will review with the onsite janitor any items missed or need attention. They understand this and the smart janitor will bring the cleaning up to speed.

To be on the inspection team, the inspector will have experience cleaning offices. They know what to look for and what the customer wants. It always helps to have a second set of eyes go through a building to inspect. Even a seasoned pro gets inspected in our company. Again it’s not to find fault.

We have created a system that the inspector and on site janitor use. It covers all the items unique to your office. Our signature system is sought after and for good reason it’s the best. We are constantly improving the system. Oh, by the way this is our 38th year in the janitorial business in Tucson.

The inspectors job is an important part of the process. Why? Because they are suppose to catch mistakes before the office manager does.It may cost more to have an inspection team but we see it as an insurance policy in the big picture.

If you are getting bids a good question would be do they have an inspection team? If they don’t have an inspection team I wonder what the service would look like.

Desert Cleaning Reviews and Reference Letters

Reviews and reference letters can be a great way to tell if you want to do business with a janitorial service. Please see our reference letters and reviews on the Desert Cleaning link. The reference letters and reviews will show a pattern of how you and your company operate and deal with people. The review may show how many years you have been cleaning their offices.

Reviews and reference letters can be a great way for people to get to know more about how the business operate. Reviews on their company stationery are best. Have you seen reviews on some websites with just peoples names and no company name? Makes you wonder if they are real.

A nice part about a review or reference letter is the proven track record it shows. It is good for advertising and let’s people get to know more about the cleaning company. Doing a great job is the first step in getting a good review and reference letter. Then the office staff must be easy to work with and understand the account and be willing to listen.

Well, I really enjoyed writing this article because we have built a solid janitorial company with a great list of references. Thanks in advance for any of your thoughts on this article or in the future.

Tucson Janitorial Restrooms

Reviewed By Reid Sossong, RPA Sponsored by Desert Cleaning Janitorial Services, Inc.

In restroom cleaning there are systems to follow. From paper products to bowl rings there are plenty of details to cover when cleaning and stocking a restroom. Most buildings are set up with the janitor’s closet between the mens and womens restrooms for easy access to supplies needed.

In a previous article I mentioned top to bottom cleaning and its importance. I have been shocked on bid tours at the missed cleaning areas in the restrooms. Mainly the high areas, but the lower areas are missed as well. Top to bottom cleaning is straight forward if you know what to clean and in the right order.

The mirrors in the restrooms can be a problem unless the janitor looks at the entire mirror. It is easy to miss the bottom part of the mirror when standing you may not see the water splashes, but when you lean and look the dirty mirror shows.

Restroom sinks need to be cleaned at every service. Otherwise, the sinks will look like the before photo on our homepage of a neglected sink at an account we took over. Thanks to our detail team for the excellent job on the restroom sink in the photo.

Part of the restroom tasks are the filling of the dispensers. There are many types of dispensers and each has their own tricks to filling them.. The soap dispensers are usually filled or a cartridge you insert. Hand towels can be multifold, c-fold, or roll. Toilet paper can be one or two ply. Also, the dispensers should be cleaned and the walls around each.

We are seeing a few more water less urinals at our accounts. There is a different cleaning procedure and a cartridge that needs to be replaced on a regular basis. I don’t have any statistics at this time but when I do I’ll share it with you.

Restroom Graffiti and Details

Graffiti in restrooms should be removed immediately, otherwise it will get worse. The office buildings I’ve seen in Tucson don’t have a huge problem with graffiti. However, I thought I’d write a little about the problem. The stall walls are the target that get graffiti and the spot most janitors miss is the inside of the stall door.

One thought to stay ahead of the graffiti is to have a graffiti remover in the cleaning cart at all times. Then it becomes part of the daily routine. You want to “nip it in the bud.” Before using a graffiti remover read and the directions to eliminate problems.

It is amazing how many companies don’t dust in the restrooms. How do I know? I've been on hundreds of building bid tours and have seen it first hand. Remember top to bottom cleaning and it applies to the restroom dusting. Start with the vents and work your way down to the baseboards.

Another hot spot that is often missed are cleaning under the towel boxes on the wall. I guess after a while the janitor thinks that the wall is suppose to look dirty and have streaks. In a way I’m glad that other janitorial services clean this way, but feel bad for the business that is getting the poor cleaning service.

Bowl rings and hard water build-up is a cleaning task the novice cleaning company may not know how to clean. There are several ways to get rid of the bowl ring and if you would like to know how we remove them send me an email.

This gives a little of the trials and tribulations the janitor goes through in the commercial restroom. Everyone in the business has war stories concerning restrooms. I hope you got some information from this article and as usual if you have a question or want a bid for janitorial services let me know at ​desertcleaningtucson@gmail.com

Which Soap Dispenser?

Back in the day there was the bar of soap in the restrooms to wash your hands. Then, the refillable soap dispenser came along and was less messy. Now we know that the refillable dispenser can be contaminated. At this time it seems soap cartridges are the best.

The refillable dispenser is not sealed with the soap prime for contamination. Also, when the refillable dispenser is filled or topped off it before they are empty the existing soap may be contaminated and will contaminate the new soap.

Here are a few reasons sealed soap dispensers make for a better choice compared to the refillable soap dispenser. First, the sealed dispensers aren’t exposed to the environment. Then, the sealed cartridges are quick to change and less messy. Last, the sealed cartridge requires less maintenance.

The sealed cartridge dispenser system is easy to use and promotes hand hygiene. In your office building or business people are going to use soap from a dispenser more than use a bar of soap just from the appearance of the nice looking dispenser.

Thanks for reading and I hoped you learned something from this article.

I want to mention about the floor drain in the restrooms, be sure to pour water down the drain so the smell won’t come back up. Also, it helps to keep it clear incase the something over flows in the restrooms.

Germs in Offices

I just read an interesting article on germs that quotes a professor from the University of Arizona Charles Gerba. In this article I want to cover some of the highlights of that article. So, let’s get started and if you have any thoughts please let me know.

Where do most indoor germs exist? The couch, not the restroom floor. It is interesting that our advances in fighting germs has been offset by modern living and the spread of germs. In offices and in homes things are different than 100 years ago.

“Most people do a good job of cleaning and disinfecting,” said Gerber. “ It’s usually safer to make a sandwich on a toilet seat than on a cutting board in the average American home.”

Other areas and things that have germs are kitchen sponges, kitchen sinks, and kitchen floors.... In offices, the phone is the main attraction for germs Other hot spots in an office for germs are computer keyboards, door handles, and anywhere people touch. That’s why some office restrooms have the touchless soap dispenser and water faucets. In some facilities they have no restroom door so people don’t have touch a handle. In a hotel room the germiest item to look out for is the tv remote.

I hope you liked this article and as always if you have any input please email me at desertcleaningtucson@gmail.com​.