OSA Janitorial Offers Tips on How to Choose Commercial Ceiling Cleaner

Are you the owner or manager of a facility that serves or prepares food? Do you own or operate a facility that that is under a continuous onslaught of airborne aerosols or smoke particles? Have you looked at your ceiling recently? Believe me, your customers have. What impressions are those ceilings making with your customers?

Suspended ceilings attract and trap smoke, odors, grease, dust and other pollutants. Not only does the ceiling look bad but they can also quickly become a sanitary problem, affecting both your staff and customers.

Dirty ceilings may lead to higher incidences of allergic reactions and illness in your employees, which can result in lower productivity and higher medical costs due to insurance premium increases.

Hiring a Professional

Make the decision to clean your ceilings before your customers complain or you are cited by the local health department. They can look new again without painting or replacement, and cleaning is much less expensive. Additionally, painting acoustic tiles destroys their fire rating.

When seeking the services of a professional ceiling cleaning company, use the following criteria to help you evaluate their capabilities:

- Proper training
Damage to your ceilings by improperly trained staff is the last thing you want to experience. Ask if all company staff members who are working on your ceilings are properly trained to use the equipment and cleaning products.
- Proper equipment and bio-degradable products
There are many cleaning products and systems on the market and each type of ceiling construction needs the proper combination. Make sure the company you hire is using products that are safe for your employees and customers as well as the integrity of your ceiling. Products used should not leave a lasting odor either.
- Experience and customer testimonials
Ask about the number of companies for which they have they performed this type of work. Obtain company references so you can talk to them about how satisfied they were with the work done.
- Length of time in business
Cleaning ceilings requires expertise and experience. Does the company have a long track record in business? You don’t want a brand new company to practice on your ceilings.
- Thorough estimate
Make sure you receive a cost estimate that includes all of the time and materials to complete your job. The estimate should also include the estimated time to perform the service so you can avoid a long disruption in business.
- Accredited with BBS
As another way to gauge the reputation of the business, make sure the company is accredited with your local Better Business Bureau and check their rating. Accredited businesses follow the BBB Code of Business Practices.

Cleaning your ceilings brightens your facilities and extends the useful life of your ceiling system all while disinfecting and deodorizing them. It is a great and economical investment you can make in your business that you, your employees and, most importantly, your customers are sure to notice.

Croatian laundry service gains RAL certification

The Croatian laundry service Salesianer Miettex Lotos in Zagreb has been awarded the RAL Quality Certification Mark for Professional Textile Services (RAL-GZ 992).
Ludger Schoenebeck, managing director of the German Certification Association for Professional Textile Services (pictured), presented the RAL certificate to Christine Kralj, the Croatian laundry's managing director in the presence of Professor Tanja Pušic and Ivo Soljacic of the University of Zagreb.
The Quality Certification Mark is awarded exclusively by the association to companies that comply with its strict hygiene and technology requirements.
A subsidiary of the Salesianer Miettex Group, Salesianer Miettex Lotos has been active on the Croatian market since 2000. The laundry in Zagreb has around 75 employees and on a daily basis it processes 12 tonnes linen, from the hotel, health service and industrial sectors
Salesianer Miettex oversees a total of 23 laundries in Austria and Central and Eastern/South Eastern Europe, providing efficient service solutions for the hotel and health service sector, industry, washroom hygiene, cleanroom wear and floor mats.

Twinkle Clean Signs Contract with ISG PLC, Providing High Quality Cleaning to International Construction Company

Twinkle Clean, London's fastest growing cleaning company, has added ISG PLC to their list of commercial cleaning clients. This marks an incredible milestone for a business that was only started less than two years ago from Roberto Garritano's spare room.
"We already have a list of preferred cleaning companies but Twinkle Clean were highly recommended to us. They delivered a high quality and cost-effective after builders cleaning solution which enabled us to save over £1000 on the project," says Matthew Lowe, Senior Commercial Manager at ISG. "The cleaning teams worked to tight turnaround times and the Twinkle Clean supervisors were there to ensure that our strict quality control guidelines were met."
When asked how he thinks his company achieved this remarkable win, Roberto Garritano, Managing Director and Founder of Twinkle Clean, said, "It's down to three key things really; 1) The consistently high quality of cleaning we provide, 2) The fully trained and supervised cleaning operatives that we use for these types of projects and 3) The money we are able to save companies like ISG as we get the job done right the first time round."
Twinkle Clean's after builders cleaning service uses dedicated cleaning supervisors and project managers to ensure that important project deadlines are met and that the cleaning element of the construction project runs smoothly. Their after builders cleaning service includes:
CSCS Approved cleaning staff where required
Robust Health and Safety management and Risk Assessment
Use of specialist commercial equipment and chemicals
Roberto started his business, which is set to double its turnover this year, with his then girlfriend and a very small start-up loan less than two years ago. In the early days they had to do virtually all the work themselves. The company now offers a wide range of professional cleaning services and they pride themselves on their excellent customer service and independent customer reviews. They've experienced rapid growth due to the consistently high quality of cleaning they provide to an ever expanding customer base throughout London.

Complete Your Cleaners Need At Low Price Range

Carpet cleaning Leeds by hiring only the most qualified professional carpet cleaner can bring the best results and can provide value for one's hard earned money. This will help to form a protective cover over the carpet fibres and prevent them getting stained or getting contaminated immediately after the cleaning. This company offer a range of complementary services as well. However, you need to make sure to know certain things before you pick one to cater to your needs. Carpet cleaning Leeds can be a daunting task for home or business owners. Because the carpet can be huge especially if it's wall to wall carpeting, it is best to hire a professional carpet cleaner rather than attempt to clean the carpet by oneself.

To come up with the best choice, one can ask for quotations from at least three carpet cleaning services in order to make a very good comparison. Once a choice has been made, one must make sure that everything is clear in the contract in order to protect the interest of both parties. Carpet cleaning in Leeds is best done by a professional carpet cleaner. The carpet cleaning service can make use of dry or steam cleaning methods. For the dry cleaning method, carpet cleaning makes use of special machines which uses better chemical technologies which permit very low moisture or no moisture cleaning.

Fall cleaning tips to help rid your home of Autumn allergens

Many people think of allergies as a spring problem, but most sniffle sufferers know that fall can pose its own issues. Mold and ragweed are common fall allergy triggers, as well as dust mites, which are naturally more prevalent in the home during the drier months. 

“You can turn your home into a safe haven from fall allergens with regular, strategic cleaning and a few preventive measures,” says Robin Wilson, an interior design expert and an ambassador with the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. 

To help make your home more comfortable this season, Wilson is offering some fall cleaning tips to eliminate allergens and maintain a clean and healthy space: 

• Wash your bedding.  Mattress and pillow protectors will help control dust mites. As an added precaution, wash your bedding in warm or hot water every month and replace pillows every three years. 

• Check for mold. Moisture breeds mold, so make sure to scan the inside of dishwashers, under the fridge in the water pan and in sink and bath drains. Change water dispensers and icemaker filters on a regular basis. 

• Vacuum frequently. Whether you have wall-to-wall carpeting, tile or hardwood floors, it’s important to eliminate dust and dirt. Vacuum, mop or steam clean flooring regularly. 

“Use a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which captures small particles such as allergens, irritants and pollutants,” says Wilson. 

• Wash or freeze stuffed toys. If your child sleeps with their favorite stuffed animals, you should frequently wash or freeze them in a plastic bag for 48 hours. This will lower the level of dust mites which can trigger asthma and allergies.

• Use Slipcovers. Slipcovers have come a long way in the last 10 years. Since they can be cleaned regularly and more easily than upholstery, consider using them on sofas and other furniture. 

• Keep ragweed outside. After spending time outside, have your child leave any clothing or sports equipment close to the entrance of the home to avoid tracking irritants throughout rooms.  

“Just because the pollen count isn’t through the roof doesn’t mean you can’t fall prey to allergies,” says Wilson. “With regular cleaning, you can manage the irritants in your home and make it a more breathable place.”

Elaf's Central Laundries Limited to re-open in early 2015 after major renovation

Refurbished facility with latest laundry and dry cleaning equipments to increase annual laundry capacity to 6,000 tonsJeddah /-September 29, 2014: Elaf Group of Companies for Travel, Tourism and Hotels, the sole owner of Makkah-based Central Laundries Limited Company - one of the largest and most modern laundry facilities in the Middle East - has announced its plans to renovate its laundry facility to increase its daily capacity to 22 tons of clothes and linen. The refurbished facility will reopen in early 2015.

According to senior executives from Elaf Group, the rising demand for laundry and dry cleaning services from the hospitality sector of Makkah has been the prime motivation to upgrade its central laundry. The renovation will help the company to address growing customer demand by increasing daily capacity and enhancing the quality of service provided. The revamped central laundry will feature a complete range of the latest modern equipment, including machines for washing, dry cleaning, tumble drying, and ironing.

Ziyad Bin Mahfouz, President, Elaf Group of Companies, said: "In line with our continuing commitment to provide excellent service to our clients, we have decided to upgrade our Central Laundries facility and equip it with state-of-the-art laundry machinery and equipments. Once completed, all the laundry services will be catered to from this modern plant which is spread over 6,150 square meters and will have the capacity to wash more than 6,000 tons of laundry annually."

"The renovated laundry will feature large washer extractors, along with dry cleaning and ironing machines. In addition, the plant will use the best international cleaning detergent to guarantee perfect wash results while ensuring the safety of textiles during and after the washing process. The laundry will continue to maintain its signature well-lit and clean look and will be attended to by professional and courteous staff," concluded Mahfouz.

Antique rescue makes chest better than old

one stomach-sinking morning last week, I went into my garage to find my 200-year-old, hand-painted, Hungarian chest blooming with green mold. I was ill. This lovely antique was now doomed for the funeral pyre because I'd stuck it in my hot, damp garage.

When I moved into my current home-staging project in July, for reasons of style or space, the rustic chest along with several other pieces of furniture didn't make the cut.

For those who've never been, Florida in the summer is hot as wax melting and muggier than an opera singer's armpits. Things grow here that wouldn't grow anywhere else. I am all for plant life. I just don't want it growing on my antiques.

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Blessedly, that very afternoon, as if delivered on angel wings, a review copy of "The Furniture Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Identify, Restore and Care for Furniture" arrived on my doorstep.

I picked it up. Kissed it. Flipped through enough to see that the encyclopedic book indeed lived up to its name, and took no time lining up an interview with the book's author Christophe Pourny, who I hoped would save my chest.

Pourny lives in New York City where he has a furniture restoration business. He learned his trade working alongside his antique-dealer parents in southern France.

After I congratulated him on his book, I got straight to what was on my chest, literally. I sent him photos of the green-covered box and braced myself for a big-ole scolding about never storing antiques in damp garages. (Yes, I know better).

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Instead, I got reassurance. "People here get so afraid of mold, but in France, we see it as a sign of a very good cheese." Pourny is telling me this in a French accent, which does me in every time.

"Do not be afraid," he said. "This is not a bad mold."

The reason the chest -- which he said dates back to the early 1800s, possibly the late 1700s -- and not the surrounding furniture had, uhh, ripened, was because in the early 1800s and before, furniture artisans used milk-based paint, which has proteins in it that mold like.

More things I never knew.

Pourny then gave me step-by-step instructions to restore my chest: "First, put it out in a dry place and get a little sun on it."


"Uhh, Christophe," I said, "This is Florida. It hasn't been dry here in six months." I opted instead to bring chest from the garage into the air-conditioned house, and set it in a sunny window.

"Second, brush it with a soft brush. You will be surprised how much mold you get rid of."

I put on a dust mask, and took old Hungary outside and brushed. He was right.

"Third, get a tack cloth, and wipe up the loose dust." A tack cloth is a gauze-like fabric coated with a sticky stuff that dust and particles cling to. This was brilliant.

"Fourth, rub some Marseille soap (which I happened to have because I love it) on a damp, not wet, rag and wipe all the surfaces. No need to rinse. Pourny also loves this olive-oil-based cleanser, which he uses to wash everything from himself to his clothes to his car.

Finally, Pourny suggested I use a soft cloth and wipe the chest with a coat of linseed oil or beeswax, and buff.

Et viola! She was good as old again. Even better!

From there, Pourny and I launched into a long, love-fest chat about furniture, during which I asked him what he wished more people know about caring for theirs. Here's what he said:

•People need to be less afraid of old furniture. If you have an heirloom, it is OK to use it and take care of it. Don't put it on a pedestal under glass and never touch it. Think of your furniture like a pet. Have a relationship with it, take care of it and enjoy it.

•Old furniture is OK to fix. Although it makes for dramatic television, it is not true that if you touch an antique it's ruined. Rather, it is important for the life of the piece that you keep it in good condition and working order. If the hinge is broken, or the drawer won't slide, fix it. If the finish has dulled, restore it.

•Antiques are not just for old ladies and people with a lot of money. Many are accessible, affordable and very chic.

•Furniture built before World War II requires different treatment. Pre-war furniture was likely finished with oil, water or alcohol-based products, which are a little more fragile than post-war furniture made after the invention of varnish and lacquer. To dust post-war pieces, use a feather duster or a dry cloth, and no product. For older pieces, dust the same way, but use a little light wax once or twice a year, no more.

•Use a lot less product. Almost everything can be cleaned or repaired with a little Marseille soap, some beeswax or shoe polish the color of the wood, a drop of oil in hinges (never in locks) and a soft toothbrush.

•Dirt is not patina. It's one thing to have a bronze statue outside that has turned black and green with age, which is intentional. But you would never put your good silver on the table covered in tarnish. Polishing your silver or brass is not a crime. However, people are afraid someone is going to say, "Yikes! That looks like it just came from the store!" Don't worry.