Archive for September, 2009

Buying The Best Appliances For Your Office Kitchen Or Breakroom

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Many offices come with major appliances already included, but if you are purchasing a brand new office space, or need to replace your outdated appliances, you will want to make sure that you choose the right one.  You will want to purchase appliances that are reliable and easy to clean, whether you decide to buy a used appliance or a brand new one.

When in doubt, go with a reliable brand, whether new or used. Read reviews of brands that you are interested in online, making sure to note the safety and other features. If you are thinking of buying a used appliance, be sure to check to make sure that the specific brand has not been recalled.  You should also ask to see the repair and maintenance history of any used appliance that you are considering.

Remember that if you are buying a new appliance, the sales person will likely try to convince you to purchase an extended warranty.  Most extended warranties on new appliances only cover repairs for three years, which is the time frame that new appliances are less likely to break or need major repair.  Think carefully before deciding to purchase one.

Keeping your new appliances in good condition requires proper maintenance and cleaning, and your San Diego janitorial service can provide the right cleaning methods and tips  help to ensure that you and your employees get the most out of  your office appliances for years to come.

San Diego Office Cleaning Tips: Garbage Disposal Care And Maintenance

Monday, September 28th, 2009

When it comes to office cleaning, there are many small things that you can do to keep things looking great.  However, most people don’t have time to clean and maintain their offices on a regular basis, which is why hiring the right San Diego cleaning company can make such a difference.  In between cleanings, however, it is still important to do some routine maintenance cleaning on your own.

Do you know what one of the most neglected parts of the kitchen is?  The garbage disposal is something that is completely taken for granted until it breaks or starts to smell.  Think about all of the things that you and your coworkers routinely pour down the disposal, from leftovers to coffee and more, and it is easy to see how  garbage disposals make food disposal and clean up quick and easy.

The mechanics of a garbage disposal are fairly simple.  The shredder helps to break food down in the grinding chamber, while a plate and an impeller arm forces the small particles and liquid into the drain. Most have motors that are electric, although some newer models operate on water from the sink.  When a garbage disposal breaks, it is often easier and less expensive to replace it then to try to fix it, which is why it is important to keep the following care and maintenance tips in mind:

  • Use cold water when grinding food instead of hot water, which can cause food particles to melt and clog the pipes.
  • Never poor bleach and drain cleaners into the disposal. It can be deodorized cheaply and naturally by grinding an orange or a lemon into it while running warm water.
  • Check your owner’s manual before grinding materials like bones or coffee grounds, and never grind rubber, metal, or glass in the disposal

With proper care and maintenance, your office kitchen  garbage disposal should last for years.

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Tips For Buying Office Furniture

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

We all know that a clean office is a happy and productive office, which is why it is so important to find the right San Diego cleaning company to keep things looking their best.  Choosing the best office furniture is also important to company productivity, but if you have never given much thought to the purchase of office furniture, it may seem like an overwhelming task. Here are a few tips to help you.

1.Take measurements of the room before you visit the office furniture store.  Knowing exactly how much space you have to work with will keep you from making the mistake of purchasing desks and chairs and other pieces that look great, but don’t fit.

2.Think about comfort.  Ergonomic office chairs are important for the health and well-being of your employees who must sit in them for at least eight hours. Strains, cramps, and other discomfort can be avoided simply by spending a little extra money and purchasing a high quality chair.

3.Don’t forget the essentials.  Stylish couches, art objects, and other eye-catching pieces are great, but don’t spend your furniture budget, and your space allowance on so many extras that you forget the new office essentials like book cases and filing cabinets.

4.Choose carefully. The furniture that you choose will have a big impact on the clients, investors, and employees that enter your office space.  If you are a creative agency, vibrant, fun colors and designs may be best, but in a law office, for example, these designs may give out the wrong impression.

5.Plan for the future. Plan on a furniture layout that can be easily added on, expanded upon, and rearranged if necessary.  As your business grows, your office furniture should be able to grow along with it.

Laminate Floor Cleaning Tips From Your San Diego Cleaning Company

Monday, September 21st, 2009

If you have laminate flooring in your restaurant, office, home, or all three, you know how durable this flooring type is.  Laminate comes in many styles and colors, and is designed to resist spills and scuffs,which is why it is one of the most popular flooring types available.  Even the most durable flooring, however, requires a little TLC from time to time. Here are some quick and easy laminate floor cleaning tips from your friendly San Diego cleaning company.

1. Don’t Let Dirt Pile Up: This may sound obvious, but the truth is that even a little bit of dirt and debris, if allowed to accumulate, can cause scratches when it is spread by shoes. Sweeping your floor more often not only makes it look better, but it can actually make your floor last longer.

2. Don’t Go Barefoot: Okay, so not many people actually go barefoot in the office, and never in a restaurant kitchen, but at home it probably happens quite frequently.  This can actually cause staining over time, due to the natural oils found in the skin of our feet and can also cause more dirt to be spread around.

3. Mop Frequently: Use a mild floor cleanser, preferably the one recommended by the manufacturer of your flooring, and mop at least once a week.  Your cleaning service comes in handy here, since most actually mop on a daily, or at the very least a bi-weekly basis.

4. Lift, Don’t Drag: When moving any type of furniture, from office chairs to file cabinets to stoves, make sure to lift and carry it, not drag it across the floor. Doing so can cause gouging
and scratching

Follow these tips to help keep your laminate flooring looking as good as the day when it was first put down.

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Getting Ready For Your Restaurant Health Inspection

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

Restaurant health inspections may sound like something to be worried about, but the good news is that by following a few simple tips, you can help your inspection to go smoothly.

Get Professional Help: Hiring a professional San Diego cleaning company is one way to make sure that your restaurant and your kitchen are clean and inspection ready. If you don’t already have one, now is the time to start researching your options.

Know The Code: Obtain a copy of your local health code and study it carefully, making sure to not any special requirements. You can also look into joining the health code revision meeting in your state if you are interested in changing or improving the existing code.

Be Your Own Critic: Use a form similar to the form that your health inspector will use and evaluate your own restaurant with it. If you find any violations or problems, hold a meeting with your staff to discuss how these problems can be corrected and prevented.

Be Ready: Get yourself, your managers, and your staff into the mindset that an inspection could happen at any day, at any time. Always be prepared and you will be ready when inspection time comes.

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What You Should Know About Hypo-Allergenic And Non-Toxic Cleaning Methods And Practices

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Most people with a tendency to allergic reactions understand that the term “hypoallergenic” does not mean something that is completely allergy free, but rather that something has a decreased tendency to provoke an allergic reaction.  Carpets are a great place for allergens to hide so having your carpets undergo a hypoallergenic cleaning is a good way of lessening your allergic discomfort when in your business or home.
Molds, dust mites, and other allergens can hide within the thick hairs of your carpet and contribute to upper and lower respiratory problems some even leading to death.  The average worker spends approximately 90% of their workday in the office, and families spend roughly 70% of their time at home so reducing the risk of allergic reaction is crucial to promoting a healthy lifestyle.

Hiring a San Diego professional cleaning company is the first step to reducing the overall risk of allergens in your home or workplace.  Make sure that whatever carpet cleaning supplies are being used, however, are hypoallergenic and non toxic.  Chemically contaminated carpets can cause major health risks to infants, children, and pets.  Children put their hands in their mouths after having played on the floor so chemical contamination can quickly spread to their bodies.

Research your professional cleaning company as well as the products you use on a regular basis to ensure that non-toxic chemicals are being used.  If you are simply concerned about the types of cleaning solutions you are using on your carpets or around your home than contact a San Diego Cleaning company you can trust and ask them for their advice and knowledge on the subject.

Office Decorating Ideas

Friday, September 11th, 2009

Your San Diego cleaning and janitorial company can help keep your office clean and sanitary, impressing your clientele and creating a healthy and safe work environment. Decorating your office is another sure-fire way to impress your clientele and create a stimulating work atmosphere for yourself and your employees.  There are also ways in which you can decorate your office that will contribute to the overall clean feel, and will help you keep your office clean as well.

Color is important; you first need to pick the right color tone for your business.  Conservative color tones are good for conservative businesses such as banks but brighter tones can be stimulating choices for daycare facilities or publishing companies.  Whatever color you choose be sure to use long-lasting durable paints that will keep their color for many years, and resist molds, dirt and other discolorations.
Plants are an excellent addition to an office as well.  There are some pros and cons to choosing both fake and real plants.  When using fake plants you have the advantage of never needing to water your plant, but dusting it to maintain the illusion of being real is a necessity.  Choosing real plants can be good for keeping the air within the office feeling fresh, but you will need to worry about possible allergies your employees or clients may have as well as the obvious watering and pruning of the plants themselves.  Dying plants look bad, smell bad, and can attract insects, but living plants, smell great, keep the air fresh, and resist dust.

Office flow is important as well.  Having a decorative theme that compliments your colors and services will put both your employees and visitors at ease.  Pictures that are hung should relate to the services being offered, contain encouraging imagery, or simply adhere to a defined theme.  Decorating does not mean, “Making busy”, more is not always better, and there is a lot to be said for just keeping it basic.  The more you have to maintain in your office, the more likely it will be that employing a professional San Diego office cleaning company will be necessary.

Instead of focusing on how much you have to decorate with, think about the whole package.  Spaces have a directional flow that is created by the layout as well as the curve of the lines.  Not every space is designed around straight lines or boxes.  Doing some research into the intended architectural flow of your office space is crucial to starting out upon the appropriate decorative path.

San Diego Restaurant Health Code Grading Facts To Know

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

In San Diego County alone,  over 12,000 retail food chains are inspected on a regular basis to make sure  that they are in compliance with the State of California’s health codes.   Unannounced inspections are performed by environmental health specialists.  By law, all eating establishments must keep a copy of their most recent report and make it available upon request.  Letter grades are assigned to restaurants based on their performance and A being the highest and anything lower than a C is a failing grade.

An eating establishment can be guilty of a major violation if they obtain their food from an unregistered source or fail to properly clean and sanitize themselves, the area they work in, or the food.  A food establishment may be closed if it is found to have a sewage backup, no electricity thereby subjecting the food to unsafe temperatures, no hot or cold water, or is known to have transmitted diseases to customers.

San Diego professional cleaning companies are well educated on state health codes and can provide an eating establishment with the high level of cleaning that is required to achieve their A grading.  These professional cleaning companies are a good resource for restaurants and customers a like to find out information on whether or not a food chain or restaurant is practicing the proper cleaning methods.

San Diego Restaurant Cleaning: Granite Countertops

Tuesday, September 8th, 2009

Granite, like marble, is a beautiful addition to any kitchen and comes in a variety of colors for the homeowner or business owner to choose from.  Granite is resistant to heat and is a very solid stone surface that is perfect for kneading or rolling out dough, and performing other cooking tasks.
Granite does, however, require regular maintenance.  Dust your granite countertop once a week using a microfiber cloth, and clean daily. Using pH neutral cleaners is important since acidic substances can do considerable damage to stone surfaces and their shine.  Beyond regular cleaning the granite surfaces will need to be sealed from time to time to avoid easily staining the stone.  When water no longer beads up on the surface of your granite it is time to re-seal.  Granite can also be easily cracked so be gentle.
Clean, polish and resealing your countertop on a regular basis will help avoid staining or etching of the stone, and keep the shine of your granite looking brilliant and beautiful.  San Diego cleaning companies can assist you in deciding what type of cleaner, polish and re-sealant is best and they can advise you on what type of cleaning schedule to keep.

Commercial Stove Cleaning Tips

Thursday, September 3rd, 2009

Keeping your commercial stove top clean at all times is important not just because it looks good and means you’re taking good care of your appliance, but it also ensures that your food is being heated efficiently and you are saving energy.  The nice clean reflective surfaces of your commercial stove are designed to help heat your food more efficiently, therefore the more nasty buildup that accumulates on your stove surface the longer it takes to cook.
Commercial stoves can either be gas or electric.  If you are dealing with a gas stove make sure to take off all removable parts of your stove when the top burner grid has completely cooled.  Scrape off everything you can and soak the encrusted parts in warm water.  Never pour water directly onto the top of your stove, and if necessary use a wire hanger, toothpick, or wire brush to clean out the burner ports.  If electric, place the reflector bowls in a sink full of soapy water.

Spray cleaning solutions such as vinegar onto a towel first and wipe down oven surfaces.  Steel wool is also good for gently scrubbing away black buildup, and for really tough debris a half hour soak in ammonia should do the trick.  Many ovens have self cleaning settings as well so be sure to take full advantage of these time saving functions.
Don’t miss those crucial but often overlooked spots, like under the burner rings, and be sure any flammable chemicals are completely wiped away before restarting your oven.  Call your local San Diego cleaning company to see if they have any time saving tips for oven cleaning.