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Preventing Lingering Odor Following Water Restoration

If your facility has the misfortune of requiring a water restoration, your bad luck may not stop there. One of the most common issues following a water related emergency is lingering, musty odor in or around the affected area. Many people associate smell with lack of cleanliness, and in the case of water restoration, they are usually correct.

According to Jeff Cross of Cleanfax, if there is a lingering musty or moldy odor, there is moisture left behind, indicating a water restoration job not fully completed. “If it smells wet, it is wet. It can be a challenge to find all moisture on some jobs, but that has to be accomplished.” Says Cross. He indicates that if moisture is left behind, the consequence is mold. For example, if water is extracted from a floor, but there is still moisture that has seeped behind a baseboard, the dark and damp conditions provide ideal conditions for mold to grow. These conditions are also ideal when moisture has affected places such as a crawl space or attic. The key to a successful water restoration is follow up. The technician cannot simply wipe their hands clean of a restoration after extraction has been performed. This is where the professionals at C.M. Cleaning Company have your back.Carpet cleaning services near Boston

In utilizing moisture meters, air movers, industrial grade dehumidifiers, and the most effective mold prevention chemicals, our highly trained technicians aim to reduce any chance of a lingering odor or residual mold growth. Moisture meters help to locate any moisture that has penetrated a surface, so even if you can’t see it, we can find it! When pairing good training with proper equipment and chemicals, there is no restoration job we cannot handle. With health and safety at the forefront of every workplace, you cannot trust just anyone to get the job done, and get the job done right.

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How Dirty is your Child’s School?

The spreading of illness in the workplace is a widespread concern for many companies and employees. High volume of people in a confined space can certainly increase your odds of getting sick. However, with proper cleaning methods and tactics, you can improve your odds. But what about your kids? The same principle of getting sick in an office workplace can certainly apply in your child’s school, and just like in business, school absences are costly to both your child and to the school system in which they are enrolled.How to clean a water fountain

According to ISSA.com, approximately 38 million school days are missed in the United States each year. Students are absent an average of 4.5 days per school year due to illness, and teachers an average of 5.4 days. Studies show that there is a correlation between student absences and dropout rates, with students who are absent more often having a higher chance of dropping out. For teachers and school staff, the loss is more budgetary than socially harmful. Absent teachers can pose a much higher cost to a school than a typical business. Not only is the staff member not present and able to help their students grow, but the monetary cost of hiring a substitute can be substantial.

With costs like these effecting schools yearly, a vicious cycle is formed. With higher costs, a school is forced to make budget cuts. Budgeting issues can often lead to cutbacks in the areas of facilities maintenance and cleaning. However, with cleanliness and maintenance lacking, more people, children and staff, may become sick, thus increasing costs even more. This is why it is always important to have a highly skilled and trained team such as C.M. Cleaning Company to keep your schools clean. Our hands-on approach will ensure your child and school staff’s risk of getting sick is minimized.

C.M. Cleaning utilizes the best practices to ensure cleanliness, specializing in schools. With frequent quality visits and inspections, we take pride in providing the highest quality cleaning available. We know what school “hot spots” to look out for when inspecting, for example, water fountain spigots, door handles, and detail areas most other cleaning companies overlook, can retain more bacteria than most other surfaces in a school, including toilet seats. With a wealth of knowledge to provide the best conditions possible for your school system, the C.M. Cleaning team takes pride in exceeding cleaning expectations while simultaneously improving health.

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Is your Baby Changing Station Truly Clean?

In many public restroom spaces you will find baby changing stations. Since 2016, it is now required that all publically accessible federal buildings must have baby changing stations in both women’s and men’s restrooms. When these types of mandates are put into place, typically private commercial buildings follow suit. So if your facility has or may soon have baby changing stations, then it is of vital importance that they are also cleaned properly.

It should be assumed that parents do not clean the baby changing station after each use. Although some parents may attempt to clean the changing station, it is likely with a disposable sanitary or baby wipe. While this helps over doing nothing at all, it is not the proper method for effectively cleaning and disinfecting a baby changing station. Additionally, it is also mandated that all baby changing stations must include disposable table liners. Nonetheless, the most common germs and bacteria often found on baby stations are coliforms, salmonella, and shigella, all of which arise from fecal matter.

A 2010 study conducted by the University of Colorado Hospital tested baby changing stations for both bacteria and fecal matter. The stations tested included a local mall, a library, different big-box stores, a coffee shop, an airport, a rest stop, three city-owned buildings, a fast-food restaurant, and even a hospital. Among the locations tested, the changing tables in a big-box store and a library tested positive for fecal matter, while changing tables from all of the facilities in the study tested positive for bacteria. This shows that while some facilities do take better care than others, without a proper cleaning regiment in place, your facility’s changing tables may still contain germs and bacteria.

So how exactly should a changing station be cleaned? This where professional knowledge comes into play and is crucial. A changing station should first be cleaned using a pH-neutral cleaner. This will take care of any heavy soils affecting the surface. Next, a proper disinfectant should be applied paying particular attention to dilution and dwell time, both of which are vital to the effectiveness of the chemicals to kill germs and bacteria. If the dilution is incorrect or the chemical does not dwell on the surface for the proper amount of time, it’s effectiveness could be weakened. With C.M. Cleaning Co. taking point in proper education and training, our team will ensure the necessary steps are taken to properly clean and disinfect your facility’s changing stations and help to keep your child healthy.

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Winter Cleaning

It is predicted that we’re in for another long, snowy winter in New England. While not typically approached with the same sense of optimism as in spring, cleaning is important to keep up with regularly throughout the winter months for a variety of reasons- especially in regions which experience snow and cold.

One major difference between cleaning in the winter and other seasons is the use of deicing salts and sand on road and walkways. These salts make it easier and safer to get around outdoors but can be easily tracked Dirty classroom floorinside despite our best efforts to wipe our feet at the door.  Accumulation of deicing salts indoors can lead to problems for hard floors and carpets alike.  On carpets, salts leave residue causing unsightly discoloration and if not removed can actually be corrosive to the carpet fibers adversely affecting the longevity of the carpet.  On hard floors, the corrosive properties of the salts also cause stains and can erode finishes such as wax on most tile floors and polyurethane making the combination of foot traffic and other debris tracked in like rough sandpaper on unprotected flooring.

In addition to the erosion caused to your flooring by the harsh salt and sand, winter brings peak flu season to your workplace and/or school making it imperative to regularly and diligently have “germ hot spots” disinfected. These include bathroom fixtures, work spaces (including keyboards), and kitchen/cafeteria areas where influenza is spread through droplets associated with the respiratory tract.

Carpet cleaning is one way to eliminate two winter problems with one solution! Our hot extraction methods will clean out the salt and sand laying deep within the fibers of your carpet while also preventing the spread of illness during the winter. In fact, noroviruses are able to survive 4-6 weeks and can easily go airborne when disrupted by foot traffic. Norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu) in humans at 19-21 million cases per year according to the CDC.

When it comes to your commercial needs, the multiple services provided by C.M. Cleaning is a strong defense for both your floors against deicing salts, and you and your staff against winter germs, helping you to get the most out of the season!

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Vacuuming Isn’t Enough

Carpets are a preferred choice in many work settings for their versatility in style, color, comfort, ability to retain heat, noise insulation, and cost efficiency. Despite these benefits, there are many drawbacks of carpeted flooring which can be avoided if properly maintained.

Carpets naturally hold remnants of dirt, animal dander, human skin and food making it a breeding ground for bacteria. These bacteria can in turn potentially cause illness, and dust mites which are harmful to breathe and cause many to suffer allergy symptoms. Vacuuming removes most, but not all of these substances and while you innocently continue to walk across the dandered carpet you are spreading particles into the air and mashing them deeper into the carpet fibers.Dorm room trash pickup services

An obvious (but not often thought about) fact is that carpets also hold moisture allowing the growth of mold and mildew which raises health concerns. This is something to be wary of, especially in New England where summers are humid and snowy winters can bring about constant wet foot traffic for months at a time. Cleaning the carpet can help improve the health of your employees and keep the carpet from smelling.

So, what is the solution? The deep clean of a carpet shampooing and steam cleaning eliminates virtually all harmful and undesirable matter in your carpets making frequent vacuuming (at least once a week) an effective regular maintenance strategy. However, neglecting to perform periodic specialty cleanings will likely leave your carpet crawling with undesirable particles and organisms even if you can’t see them.  The recommended frequency of deep clean shampooing depends on your carpet’s quality and circumstances but should always be done at least annually.

When it comes to planning your carpet maintenance regimen it is best to consult a professional. When it comes to getting the job done, make sure to hire the best professionals.  C.M. Cleaning is dedicated to your satisfaction and the cleanliness of your facilities.  Our expert technicians work with state-of-the-art truck mounted Hydromaster equipment which powerfully extracts dirt and mildew from your carpet leaving your carpets clean and smelling great.

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Advantages To Maintaining A Clean Workplace

It’s a BIG mistake when building owners or facilities managers view commercial cleaning as only a cost. Commercial cleaning is really an investment. Maintaining a clean environment can pay for itself many times over,  often in unexpected ways!

  • A clean building creates a welcoming atmosphere, often subconsciously encouraging hard work and collective effort. 
Scientific studies have demonstrated the correlation between cleanliness and performance. Approximately 88% of workers feel they were distracted by unkempt learning environments enough that it affected their ability to learn and focus on tasks.

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  • There’s a direct correlation between a clean work environment and improved employee health. In the United States workforce illness costs about $576 billion a year, when accounting for both workers’ compensation and sick days.
  • A less than spotless office becomes a distraction in that eyesores such as clutter, dust, and stains are essentially like visual noise which pulls attention away from the task at hand. unpleasant odors caused by damp and/or dirty carpeting or neglected trash receptacles would cause distraction adversely affecting both engagement and morale. uncleanliness is a major cause of workplace stress and in some cases employees take the issue into their own hands taking time and energy away from the work they were hired to do, to fix a cleaning problem.
  • A sparkling workplace can be an excellent marketing tool, especially when you’re trying to impress prospective clients.
 Keeping a clean office makes a good impression and conveys an organizational attitude of order, efficiency, attention to detail, and accountability.
  • A regular cleaning program preserves and protects building assets such as carpets, floors, tile surfaces, equipment. It prevents excessive wear and extends lifespans.
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How to Help Alleviate Seasonal Allergies in the Workplace

With the warmer weather allergies are caused by more outdoor triggers like pollen instead of indoor ones like dust. You may find your employees becoming victims to allergy cases including stuffy noses, sneezing and irritated eyes. According to the American Academy of Asthma and Immunology, 10 to 30 percent of the population has an allergy.

Fight Pollen: Pollen usually enters buildings through ventilation systems or can also be tracked inside on your clothes and shoes. Carpets and upholstery are magnets for trapping pollen inside of buildings so vacuuming at least once a week is highly recommended to make sure all the pollen is removed not only from carpets but also upholstery. Making sure air filters are regularly cleaned and changed can also stop the pollen from circulating through the air. Air duct cleaning may be necessary to remediate spring allergy problems. Carpet cleaning tips

Fight Dust: Dust mites are the most common allergy and can work together with mold in triggering allergies. Mites feed on mold and can spread spores throughout buildings. Dust mites, like pollen, can be found in carpets, curtains and upholstered furniture. Unlike pollen and mold, dust mites can cause rashes and itching in addition to respiratory allergies.

Get rid of these mites by using HEPA filters to ensure cleaner air in the building. Consistent and thorough vacuuming and carpet/upholstery shampooing is another key to cleaner air and healthier employees.

Fight Mold: Mold tries to grow in dark, damp areas that are not treated right away. To avoid the growth of mold always clean up water damaged areas right away. Leaving a humidifier in the area can help get rid of the moisture and stop the mold from growing.

Don’t take on these battles alone! C.M. Cleaning can help keep your workplace allergy free.

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Benefits of Tile and Grout Cleaning by Professionals

Tiles and Grout are among the most used type of flooring for a multitude of reasons including the different kinds and color options that there are. Just like carpet or concrete floors, tile floors still need to be cared for because of their porous nature.

Having tile and grout cleaned eliminates the mold and bacteria that can start to grow. Since the most common type of grout is cement which is a porous material it sometimes is hard to tell when it is dirty and needs to be cleaned unless it is a light color. The different kinds of tile that there are require different kinds of cleaners so trying to clean them yourself may be difficult or could ruin the life of your tile. With a professional, the life of the tile is extended and the bacteria and odors are extracted from the pores of the tile and grout.Cleaning tiles

When you hire a professional to clean your tile and grout they should have special cleaners and machines that are used to remove dirt and grime. Here at C.M. Cleaning, we use a Hydramaster truck mounted system which provides more power to clean with instead of portable machines.  To prep the floors, we use viper venom acid wash which loosens soils and stains. The water is heated to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and can pressure wash the floor at 900 Psi (pounds per square inch). The Hydramaster truck mounted system lifts dirt out of the porous grout and tile, turning black grout lines back to their original color.

Grout Sealant can also act as a barrier between the grout and debris. The sealant can help prevent stains from settling, mold growing on grout, and mold and mildew from getting under the tiles. It can also help stop erosion of grout from moisture that meets it. If it is requested, this is also a service we can provide.

Professional tile and grout cleaning can help to keep your employees healthy and happy. People that work in messy or dirty spaces are more likely to feel moody or depressed at work. Plus, working in a dirty space increases the likelihood of your employees getting sick, especially where this this type of flooring is most used, which is bathrooms and cafeterias/kitchens.

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Leaving Dehumidifiers in Recent Water Damaged Areas

People who experience water loss in their facility or home should be concerned for mold. All mold/mildew needs is a little bit of moisture and a dark space to start growing. The sooner that you notice the water and start to clean it after the water damage the sooner you can stop the mold from growing. Any exposure to mold can cause health problems by irritating the nose, eyes, throat, and lungs. Mold may also trigger symptoms in people with asthma and allergies.Cleaning dehumidifier rental

Dehumidifiers are designed to manipulate the humidity in an area to suck out any moisture that might remain. This is where the mold will want to try and grow. This can help prevent additional water damage to a house or building, such as warping of walls, swelling of floors and mold growth.

A good dehumidifier can remove gallons of water a day, drying out the water damaged area as fast and effectively as possible.

We know that this can be hard and stressful so C.M. Cleaning dedicates themselves to helping you after experiencing water damage.

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Cubicle Wall Cleaning

Today, you can walk into almost any office space and see cubicle walls that divide co-workers. People eat, drink and are sometimes even sick at work, so did you ever think how dirty that cubicle wall is? Since they are usually an upholstery material routine cleaning can help reduce the dust. The walls are like standing dust traps which can lead to health risks.Cleaning improvement tips

Steam cleaning or vacuuming these walls can reduce these allergens. Allergens are a top three reasons on why employees miss work. Not cleaning these regularly can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms such as sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, runny nose, headaches and difficulty breathing. A regularly cleaning can help improve the air quality as well since not as much dust will be circulating the facility.

Another benefit to cleaning cubicle walls is appearance. When employees eat or drink at their desk accidents are bound to happen. This can cause stains to appear on cubicle walls. These are ugly and unhealthy and provide a breeding ground for bacteria to form on. These types of distractions can lower productivity and employee morale.

When you have a clean workplace it leads to happier, more productive employees. A survey conducted by OfficeMax found that 90% of people said that an unorganized clutter at work has a negative impact on them. 77% of them also said that productivity is effected the most.

C.M. Cleaning knows that you don’t always have the time to clean yourself so consider us to do the dirty work for you. Contact us to find out how steam cleaning or vacuuming your facility’s cubicle partition walls can benefit you and your staff!