Tag Archives: Cleaning

Four Critical Tips for Cleaning Up after a Flood Strikes

September 11, 2022   Matt

Four Critical Tips for Cleaning Up after a Flood Strikes

The value of knowing how to respond to an emergency has never been so clear, with one of the worst hurricane seasons ever behind us. Educating yourself on what to do in a flood, therefore, is one of the key disaster preparedness issues. Here are some valuable tips homeowners should be aware of when cleaning up damage left behind by a flood.

Don’t Go Near the Water: Floodwaters can be some of the most contaminated water you will ever come in contact with. Seek medical attention right away if you or a family member has been exposed to flood waters for any length of time. Topical floodwater contact could lead to serious infections. If you believe you or anyone else has drunk floodwater, seek medical care at your local hospital or clinic as soon as possible, as the dangers of infection are even worse.

Tread Lightly: Stay out of any buildings or structures that still have floodwaters encircling them. Don’t underestimate structural damage floodwaters can cause. A structure’s foundation can be significantly weakened by floodwaters in relatively short periods of time, especially in older structures. Foundations can sink and become unstable, causing cracks and gaps in the flooring, even a house’ total collapse without warning. An apparently sound structure may also have suffered gas leaks, electrical damage, or water line damage, so you should steer clear of such buildings until local officials have declared them safe .

Wait Until the All-Clear: Just because the rain has stopped and the floodwater seems to be withdrawing, doesn’t mean its safe to go home and start cleaning up. Of course you’ll be anxious to find out what damage if any has been done to your property, but sometimes, floodwater damage creates many a hazard that requires professional clean up before the area is cleared as safe to local area residents. Keep watching for information on the weather if you have access to local radio or television stations, which will inform you of any threat from incoming storms, or other floodwater-related dangers in your area.

Handle with Care: You should inspect flood-damaged buildings cautiously once local officials have judged the area safe. Start with examining your house carefully. Tread carefully; flood damage can weaken structures. Do not smoke inside the building. (gas leak hazard) Bring battery-operated flashlights or lanterns as electricity may be cut off. Study the floors, walls, doors, staircases, and windows closely to make sure the house is not in danger of collapsing, using the flashlight to look at the foundation for cracks or other signs of damage.

After you’ve examined the structural integrity of the building, check for damage to the utility systems. Find and note down damage to the building’s gas, electrical, and sewage system. Check for gas leaks by listening for a small hissing noise and smelling the gas in the air. If you suspect a gas leak, shut off the main valve immediately and contact the gas company.

Scrutinize the building’s electrical system. Any broken, frayed, or loose wires are spots for worry. If you see any sparks or smell any burning, immediately turn off the electricity at the circuit breaker or fuse box.

You will also need to check out your home’s sewage system. Avoid using the toilet and call a plumber if you believe the sewage lines have been damaged. If fresh water pipes have also been damaged, call your water company and don’t drink water from the tap.

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How To Make Money By Starting A Carpet Cleaning Business

August 17, 2022   Matt

How To Make Money By Starting A Carpet Cleaning Business

If you want to make money working for yourself and be your own boss carpet cleaning is an easy business to get into. When you start up a business there are two key components that you need, a product to sell and someone who’s willing to buy it. Carpet cleaning is not rocket science but does require knowledge on general carpet cleaning, stain removal and knowing the limitations of what your equipment can handle.

There are three main types of carpet cleaning; dry foam carpet cleaning, liquid extraction carpet cleaning, and hybrid liquid extraction using a bonnet to thoroughly scrub the floors. Most carpet cleaners use the liquid extraction method because it most cost effective. When starting your business you need to lay out a business plan. To develop a carpet cleaning business you must have money for start up because your business is equipment based.

When you first go to purchase carpet cleaning equipment you’ll be amazed at how many different types of extraction equipment is available. To find carpet cleaning equipment it is advisable to shop at a local cleaning supplies and janitorial equipment distributor or look on line at vacuum cleaner and carpet extractor websites. There are many types of carpet cleaning units available, some of these types include carpet spotters, portable carpet extractors and truck mount carpet extractors.

Carpet spotters are made for cleaning smaller spaces and areas that are not flat like cars, boats and furniture. Carpet spotters are also great at removing small spills and stains and are light and easy to transport. A great way to expand what you offer in your carpet cleaning business is to offer mobile auto detailing. Mobile auto detailing is quickly catching on and people will pay good money for this extra service.

Portable carpet extractors are what you are probably going to be looking at if you’re just starting out in the carpet cleaning market. There are two types of portable carpet extractors, tank and wand units and portable walk behind. Tank units are the best if you are going to be cleaning a lot of carpets frequently. Tank units allow you to attach carpet wand tools for a variety of jobs and are the most versatile. Tank extractors also come with heaters that super heat your extraction solution which in turn yields a cleaner carpet. Tank portable carpet extractors usually range from 00 to 00 dollars new and are available with many options.

The third type of carpet extraction unit is the truck mount. Having a truck mount unit for commercial carpet cleaning is the ultimate way to go. Truck mount carpet extractors are usually mounted in a truck, van or trailer and contain very large suction motors which are run off the vehicles own power. Truck mount carpet extractors come with super heating heaters that heat the carpet extraction solution up to high temperatures. Truck mount units are usually self contained so the both the solution tank and the waste liquid tank is contained in the vehicle. Truck mount setups can range any where from ,000 to ,000 dollars depending on the options you choose. If you are starting out your own carpet cleaning business a used truck mount systems is a great way to go.

The basic equipment needed to start your carpet cleaning business is a vehicle to get to your carpet cleaning location, a carpet extraction unit and carpet cleaning chemicals and cleaning supplies. After you have acquired all your cleaning equipment it’s time to get insured. It is not recommended that you clean someone else’s carpets without insurance and most people who hire you will require proof that you are insured and bonded for their own protection. Knowledge of carpet cleaning is required for cleaning carpets. There are many books and internet sites that are devoted to commercial carpet cleaning from which you can gain knowledge about the carpet cleaning industry.

After you have learned and practiced with your own equipment its time to get some clients. A great way to learn and get experience is to offer to clean your friends and relatives carpet for free or at a discounted price. This is a great way to gain experience and knowledge about carpet cleaning and sometimes learning by making mistakes is the best way to perfect your carpet cleaning skills. The most cost effective way to get clients is networking. Tell people about your carpet cleaning endeavors and ask them to spread the word. Advertising in smaller local newspapers is also a great option because ads are usually cheap and they are targeted to specific communities. When you first start out you should run some good deals even if you are breaking even on the actual carpet cleaning costs at your jobs. You will want to get the word out there as much as you can, and if you do a great job word will spread fast.

When you are cleaning your clients’ carpets it is important that you look and act professional. Remember that you are in someone else’s house and that you are being paid as a service to clean their carpets. Before you start cleaning your clients’ carpets, have them show you all the trouble spots and let them know if it is possible to get stains out. Many people believe that professional carpet cleaners can remove every stain from carpeting but this is not true because some stains can be ground in and permanent. It’s ok to let the client know if you are unable to remove a stain. After you are done cleaning the carpets take the client around and show them any trouble spots before you leave. Explain to them why you can’t get the stain out and what other treatments such as dying can be done to the carpet. Make sure before you leave that the client is happy, just as good carpet cleaning spreads by word of mouth news of bad carpet cleaning will spread even faster and could give you a bad reputation in the carpet cleaning world. Make sure to keep a list of all your clients and follow up with them over the year to see if your carpet cleaning skills are needed again. Over time you will build up repeat clients to add to your new clients which will in time expand your carpet cleaning business.

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How To Start A Cleaning Business With No Money

June 03, 2022   Matt

How To Start A Cleaning Business With No Money

One of the biggest mistakes that many people make when they decide to go into business is they spend way too much money up front, and then when the bills arrive and the business isn’t making enough money yet, their ventures ultimately fail. One way to get around this problem is by starting a business that you can start with little or no up-front capital.

There are a number of businesses that this can be done with, and many books and magazines dedicate space to talking about them. Headlines like “100 Low Cost Startups” are common in business how-to magazines. In this article we are going to discuss one of these low-cost startups: the cleaning business.

There are several keys to starting a cleaning business with no money. The first and most important point is that you should NOT, under any circumstances spend money until you absolutely have to. It may sound strange, but it’s an obvious point that people miss. They think (wrongly), “I’m going into business, so I need a new computer, a new desk, some office supplies, files, cleaning supplies, a dedicated phone line…”, and the list goes on. This is not just wrong thinking, its bad thinking. It’s thinking that will cause your business to go broke before it even gets off the ground. Do some businesses require a big upfront investment? Sure they do. But a cleaning business is NOT one of them!

The second key to starting a cleaning business with nothing is being sure to start the right type of business to fit your goals, and your budget (or lack thereof). For example, you wouldn’t want to start a business that requires a lot of expensive equipment like a floor-care service. It would be difficult if not impossible to start a floor-care service with no budget. However, it is possible to start an office cleaning business or a home cleaning service with no money. The supplies you need are much less, and it’s possible that you already have many of them.

The third key is to utilize free methods and resources to get your first customer(s). For example, if you are starting a home-based cleaning business you might go door to door in a neighborhood you’d like to clean in. This costs you nothing but your time, and will allow you to not only get your name out there, but to make contact with your prospects and better gauge their needs.

The fourth and final key is to use what you have in terms of supplies and business resources. This means that you should look around you, and see what can be used in your own house to help you start your business. Do you have a fax machine? Great. You have a tool at your disposal. Do you have a phone? Perfect. Hopefully you get the point here. Just utilize what resources you have, and if need be, get creative. Find ways to save money.

Many people over-complicate and under-plan for their businesses and as a result they completely miss the four key points mentioned here that are necessary to start a cleaning business on little or no budget. It might seem over-simplified, but it’s really not. If you apply the four ideas mentioned here to their fullest, you will be able to get started cleaning with very little… and if you’re smart, probably nothing. Think through each ahead of time, and plan how you will tackle each key point. By doing so you’ll have set yourself up to start a business for next to nothing.

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Detailing Car Tips on Glass Cleaning

January 19, 2022   Matt

Detailing Car Tips on Glass Cleaning

If cleaning glass is some sort of art, then you are lucky to have your self work that is also a form of creation. This puts things into perspective. Glasses that are dirty should be cleaned at once especially if it’s your car. It will be so obvious on your car’s window that you are experiencing problems. Car glass is considered as your friend especially when you’re on the road. It acts as your eyes through the long, winding road.

There are varieties of glass cleaners that are available in the market which contains ammonia. Ammonia is a car cleaner ingredient that serves to be good in cleaning glasses. There are also glass cleaners that can be found inside your house that can be effective in cleaning. The ingredients for the recipe consist of: vinegar and water with a sprinkle of your car’s detergent. There is a more complex concoction which is composed of sudsy ammonia, dish washing detergent, a gallon of water, and 70% alcohol.

Some detailers would insist that plain water is the best ingredient in cleaning your glass. Even collected rain can become the perfect solution for your glass cleaning.

Thorough cleaning of glass can come in different processes. But before that, you have to make sure that you have every material needed are all laid out so that work can proceed smoothly. Now, down with the work…You can do this while you’re washing your car holistically.

Wash the glass with water and soap. Then, use the cleaner that you have chosen to clean both the exterior and interior of your glass. You have to be very particular in cleaning the inside of your car especially when it’s new. This supports the idea that interiors made of plastic releases materials which are gaseous which leaves a film in the inside of your car.

You can choose to use towels which are made of microfibers and see how it can make wonders for your technique in cleaning the glass. This material will also disable the thought of harming the surface of your windows and glass, leaving no scratch marks.

Lastly, like what people do after bathing, you have to dry the glass. Pass a clean piece of cloth inside and outside the car. Use a cloth either made of paper towel or cotton or a lint free rag without applying any kind of cleaner. If you opted to use towels made of paper, don’t choose the ones that have designs or prints on them because this may contribute to slight scratches on your car’s glass. While you are doing the dry passing, inspect your car’s glass carefully in different angles for missed imperfections and residues that you might have left out. If you have done a good job, you can eliminate the streaking.

Cleaning glass should never be done under direct heat or sunlight or if you have a “hot” car surface. Make sure that you have several towels in order to have a cleaner slate for every glass portion. Other detailers use newspapers to clean the glass because of the belief that it contains polishing properties.

Your attention is always a must especially when attending to a do-it-yourself car detailing. You have to be sure that you are prepared to get “messed up” when cleaning your car. In this way, you can learn and maybe in the future, earn for what you know.

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Passover: Laugh While Cleaning

November 20, 2021   Matt

Passover: Laugh While Cleaning

Passover, or Pesach as it is called in Hebrew, is the 8 day festival where the Jews celebrate their liberation from Egypt more than a thousand years ago. One of the most important features of this freedom festival is that the Jews cannot eat anything that is leavened. They eat unleavened bread.

They must also make sure that no bread crumbs exist in or around the house: the cupboards, the drawers, the kitchen, behind the bed, under the refrigerator and anywhere else where crumbs might have fallen through. To ensure that the house is clean of leavened food materials, the Jews have to clean the entire house from top to bottom as thoroughly as possible. And they do. During the week before Passover, house cleaning is what goes on in most Jewish houses. To answer this demand and to ease the tension, here is a joke on this subject called Impossible Timing, which highlights this cleaning tension.

Impossible Timing:
Samuel, an observant Jew, who was also a financial wizard, left Brooklyn to accept the position of Vice President in a famous broker firm in Utah, which is well known for being a Mormon state.

When they learned this, the company’s directorate applied tremendous pressure on the company’s president. “We are religious people here,” they said. “It can’t be that a Jew will handle all our money.”

The president tried to ward them off, but when he couldn’t manage it anymore, he called Samuel to his office and explained the situation to him. Samuel was offered the choice of either converting or leaving the attractive job which also had a six figure salary quote attached to it.

Samuel had no choice but to convert, and he went home and told his wife that from Sunday, they will start attending the Church services.

A few months went by and his wife kept troubling Samuel about the conversion. “This is too difficult for me. I miss the Sabbath: lighting candles and blessing the wine. I miss the holidays. Money is not everything, Samuel dear.”

And with each time that his wife complained, Samuel’s conscience increased until he could not take it anymore and he went to meet the company’s President.
“Look, I can’t go on like this,” Samuel said. “I am full of regret. Money is not everything. I can’t sleep and neither can my wife. This is too heavy a burden for me to carry. I was born a Jew and I want to die a Jew. And if you want me to quit, I will without making any trouble.”

The President looked at him in wonder, “Listen, Samuel, I had no idea that this was so difficult for you. I thought it was a trivial matter. But you don’t have to leave. Everything will be the same as before: you can stay here with us without converting.

Samuel returned home happy and grinning from ear to ear. He ran to his wife, who was watching Ricky Lake, “You won’t believe it! It’s a miracle. We are going back to being Jews, and I still retain my job.”

His wife looked at him with eyes that spat fire, and said,” Are you mad?”

Samuel was shocked. “But I thought that this is what you wanted!” He cut in. “All this while you have been crying and complaining. Don’t you wish to go back to becoming a Jew””

His wife looked at him with ever more fury, “Of course I want to. Of course I want to,” she said. “But now? Only a week before Passover?”

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How To Save Your Business Money On Cleaning Supplies And Cleaning Services

October 31, 2021   Matt

How To Save Your Business Money On Cleaning Supplies And Cleaning Services

With today’s rising fuel costs everything just seems to get a little more expensive every day. When you own a business you know that every penny saved can help. Cleaning supplies and cleaning services can eat a big chunk out of your bottom line but there are things you can do to save up to 50% on these types of expenses. Having your facilities cleaned and having to stock your bathrooms with toilet paper and soap are a necessity but there are ways to save hundreds if not thousands of dollars each year on commercial cleaning and cleaning supplies.

If you use a cleaning company and your facility is under the size of a football field then you are wasting money. By paying a cleaning company to come in every night and do simple tasks like vacuuming and emptying trash you are essentially paying a company to make a profit off of something you could be easily doing yourself in house. By developing a simple plan for your existing employees and having them do some of these tasks can have a huge impact on your cleaning budget. Simple tasks like taking out the trash at the end of the day can be handed out to your current employees. By creating a central location as a main trash refugee can make it easy on employees by having them walk a minimal distance to dump there own trash containers at the end of the day. Many companies are looking to their current staff and advertising cleaning positions for after business hours. In these financially challenging times many employees would jump at the opportunity to work a few extra hours at night to make a little more income. By being smart and taking the time to look at what a cleaning company is actually providing you can save a lot of money.

Another big area you can save money in is your restroom supplies. Every facility has to have restrooms and those restrooms are filled with products that you can save money on. Some examples of products you can save money on are toilet paper, hand towels and soap. Toilet paper can get expensive depending on what kind you use. The price of toilet paper can range from as little as dollars a case to 0 dollars a case. By purchasing commercial toilet paper which is wound with more length to a roll than regular toilet paper can save you hundreds of dollars over just one year. Another great way to save money is on soap. If you purchase soap that can comes in cartridges you may as well have a free money dispenser in your restroom. Cartridge soaps can cost up to 4 times what bulk gallon soaps cost and take the same amount of time to fill as cartridge dispensers. Hand towels can easily be replaced by hand dryers. With hand dryers there is no trash to take out and you can eliminate the cost of replacing paper towel dispensers when they break down.

A great way to save money on cleaning expenses is to question your cleaning bills. If you are currently having your cleaning company provide your cleaning and sanitary maintenance supplies find out if they are selling you the products at their cost or up charging you. Many business owners have no clue about how much a case of toilet paper or a case of trash can liners cost. Some cleaning companies mark up the cleaning products they are selling you by as much as 300% and work it into the bill. There is nothing wrong with asking your cleaning company for a breakdown of there charges and comparing the prices your being charged with the actual costs of what you can purchase the items at.

As an expert in the cleaning field I talk to a lot of cleaning company owners and see where they live and what they drive. Some owners live in million dollar houses and drive very expensive cars all from profits they are making from commercial cleaning. With this being true that means they’re making a lot of money from up charging you for simple services and products that any business owner can buy online or at a local cleaning supply distributor. So if you’re a business owner and want to save some of your hard earned dollars, take a good look at your cleaning situation and start asking questions right away.

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