Did you know Red Door Cleaning makes our own cleaning products?
Many cleaning supplies can irritate the
eyes or throat, or cause headaches and other health problems. They often contain toxic chemicals and that
is certainly something we don’t want our clients or employees breathing in
every day. With the use of our colored
microfiber cloths (no cross contamination here!) and some pure organic
essential oils, we disinfect your office naturally. Although we can’t make every product we use,
some jobs are tough and need more than elbow grease to get the job done, we
certainly try! We also re-use the bottles and containers that our products are
stored in, so we aren’t throwing away hundreds of bottles each year. Red Door Cleaning tries to cut back on as
much waste as we can, and this is just one of the many ways we do. One of our favorite blends is pure
peppermint, lemon, and rosemary mixed together along with our secret organic
ingredient to create the best natural cleaner and disinfectant. We are obsessed
with the smell and makes us want to never stop cleaning!
The kitchen in the office is usually a place of socialization. People go there to get freshly made coffee from the coffee pot, or water from the water cooler. They might even grab an afternoon snack from the fridge. So let’s talk about ways to keep your office kitchen cleaner so you will want to spend more time there.
#1 Countertops – It is a good idea to keep your countertops bare, or almost bare. Cluttered countertops make a kitchen seem messy and dirty, even if it’s not! Keep items in cupboards and drawers out of the way. You can even get cute small baskets to hold items on the countertops such as tea, coffee, and sugars.
#2 Smelly Garbage – No one wants to take out the garbage! After you remove the bag there is usually a smelly odor that lingers even after the garbage is gone. You can take a solution of pure vinegar, or disinfectant to spray on the inside of the can after each use. Throw the paper towel away in the smelly garbage so there is no lingering smell. Ask us at Red Door Cleaning to even do this for you!
#3 Smelly Sink – Does your office sink smell like old food? We have a simple solution! Put ¼ cup of baking soda down the drain – be sure not to run any water. Then pour 1 cup of vinegar down there as well. It will fizz and bubble. Let it do its work for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes you can wash it down the drain. You’ll be left with a nice smelling sink drain.
#4 Rinsing Dishes – Most offices have a dishwasher. This is something our staff and even empty for you! But, sometimes dishes don’t get rinsed off well before they’re put in the dishwasher. This clogs up the dishwasher, which may cause it to break, leaves the dishwasher smelling foul, and it doesn’t clean your dishes well. So be sure to give all of your dishes a good rinse to ensure there is no food stuck on them before you put them into the dishwasher.
#5 Fridge Cleaning – Absolutely no one likes to clean out the fridge. So have Red Door Cleaning do it for you! Once a month we dedicate a day to clean out the office fridge. Someone from the office sends out an email to all the staff asking them to remove their items by a certain day. We then go in and remove all items, wipe and disinfect the fridge and replace items that are not expired. This is a great help to our clients!
If you’re looking to hire a cleaning company, you may want to do some research. Get multiple bids, and see what each company has to offer. Quite often the prices may vary. But why? Isn’t cleaning just that? Cleaning? But no, in fact, cleaning between one bid can be very different from another as to what is included. Here is some information to help you figure out what is best for your building.
General Office Cleaning:
The industry standard on general office cleaning (usually 3 – 5 days a week, including vacuuming, moping, bathrooms, kitchens, mostly carpet in the building etc.) usually takes ONE person ONE hour to clean 3000 – 4000 square feet. So if your office is 6500 square feet, you can bet that it will take about 2 hours and 15 minutes with one person EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. Now, there will be one night that will take longer as general high and low dusting is done once a week, so you can add an additional hour to one evening a week (depending on the building size). This would total 12.25 hours each week for a 5 day a week cleaning.
Typically if someone can clean 5000+ square feet an hour, they are missing items, cutting corners and clients will be unhappy. Be wary if someone says they can clean 5000+ square feet an hour alone!
The smaller the office, the less square feet can be cleaned per hour. For example, an office that is 1500 square feet won’t usually take 30 minutes. This can be up to 1.5 hours depending on what exactly needs to be done in the small office.
Medical Facility Cleaning:
Because medical facilities usually have a much more detailed sanitation level than a general office, the square footage that can be cleaned per hour is much less. On average it takes ONE person ONE hour to clean 2000 – 2500 square feet. If the medical facility has a high scope of work and a lot of sanitation is required, the square footage can drop even below 2000 square feet per hour to do the job properly. On a building that is cleaned 5 nights a week at 6500 square feet, it should take one person 3 hours and 15 minutes to clean EVERY NIGHT. Again, you would also want to add on additional time once a week for general high and low dusting. This rate can vary depending on how much carpet vs hard flooring there is, number of patients that come through the clinic, etc. Typically if someone can clean a medical facility above 2500 square feet an hour, they are missing items, cutting corners and clients will be unhappy.
Something to Think About:
You have every right to ask each cleaning company how much they pay their employees and how many hours they think the job will take each night. You want a company that treats their employees well, and are paid well. Happy employees equal happy clients. Not many cleaners will stick around if they are paid minimum wage. It is hard, sweaty work. A reputable company will have nothing to hide and will gladly offer the amount of hours on average they think it should take to clean your office. Use this information to your advantage. If you receive two estimates for the same price, which one will offer more value (hours, etc.)?
Having a clean house or office is important. It helps to keep the home looking great, of course, and it also has plenty of other benefits. Because it will reduce dust and other allergens in the home, it can help to reduce allergies. You are killing bacteria and reducing the risk of mold, which makes the home healthier, as well. Cleaning the house and keeping it clean can also help to reduce the amount of stress a person feels, and it can even improve a person’s mental state.
However, many never stop to think about the items they are using to keep the house clean. In some cases, when cleaners are laden down with chemicals, they could end up being more problematic than having a dirty home. Therefore, you will want to make sure that you start to find ways that you can keep the home nice and clean without all of the harsh cleansers that tend to be on the store shelves.
Let’s look at some helpful natural cleaning tips that will allow you to keep your home nice and clean, all without bringing more dangerous chemicals into your home or work environment.
Easy to Make Cleaner
First, you will want to start making your own all purpose cleaners, and this is easier than you might imagine, and you can make it as you need it. All you need is to have a spray bottle and a few simple, natural ingredients.
In the spray bottle, you will want to put about half a cup of white vinegar, which is a fantastic cleaner and that will help to remove stains, mineral deposits, and even reduce bad odors. The odor of the vinegar itself will dissipate when the cleaner dries. In addition to the vinegar, you will want to add several drops of eucalyptus essential oil, as this has antimicrobial properties and will reduce the scent of the vinegar. You could also use tea tree oil if you prefer.
Next, you will want to add two tablespoons of baking soda to the mixture. Baking soda is a fantastic cleaning item, as it can help to deodorize and remove stains. Finally, fill up the rest of the spray bottle with water. Shake it and it will be ready to use and help with your cleaning needs in the kitchen, bathroom, and just about anywhere else that you might need it.
Variations of Cleaning Products
Of course, you can also try out variations of this recipe for cleaning different cleaners for different needs. When you are cleaning your windows, for example, you might want to go with a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar for some great results. When mopping laminate floors, you can add about a quarter cup of vinegar to a bucket of warm water, followed by a few drops of essential oils.
Vinegar is also a great item to use if you want to clean out the microwave and get rid of nasty odors. Put a cup of vinegar into the microwave in a microwave safe bowl, preferably made from glass. Then, you will heat if on high for between six and eight minutes. The goal is to have the vinegar reach the boiling point, which creates condensation on the inside of the microwave. Let it sit for several minutes, and then you can easily wipe the surface of the microwave clean.
These are some of the best and simplest ways that you can keep your home or office clean without resorting to using chemicals. As you can see from the limited ingredients, it is easy to get started. At Red Door Cleaning we like to use safe and eco-friendly cleaning products. If you are looking for a service that can help tackle more difficult stubborn areas, contact us!
Do you have a home that is overcrowded with clutter? Having too much clutter around the house can make it less comfortable to live in, less appealing to look at, and when there is a mess, it can even cause feelings of anxiousness in some people. Fortunately, it is easy to fix this problem when you take steps to declutter the home and do a better job of keeping things clean. The following are 5 tips to keep in mind when you are cleaning:
1. Have a Plan First
Before you get started and try to tackle the job of removing the clutter and cleaning your home from top to bottom, you are going to want to write down your plan of attack. You should make sure that you write out what needs to be done with each of the rooms, and what items you have in those rooms that will need to be removed. Having a detailed plan really can help you to keep on track when you are cleaning. Just make sure that you don’t spend all of your time coming up with the “perfect plan”. At some point, you are going to have to dive in and start removing all of that clutter.
2. You Can Start Small
When you have a house that is truly cluttered, it can often be overwhelming to try to get the entire thing clean and free of clutter in a single go. Instead, you will find that it is going to be a much better solution if you start out small. You do not have to do everything all at once. After all, Rome was not built in a day. Take your time and just do about half an hour to an hour of cleaning at a time.
3. Do One Room at a Time
Along the same lines, plan to do just a single room at a time. This will allow you to put your focus on that room, which is less daunting than thinking about the entire house and the garage, basement, attic, and other areas of the home. Focus on one room and get rid of the items that are no longer worth keeping.
4. Have a Garage Sale
When it comes to the items that you no longer need to keep, you should consider having a garage sale to get rid of some of them. A garage sale takes a bit of work, but it will help you to declutter, and you can also make some money from it.
5. Create a Cleaning Schedule
Finally, once you have everything else decluttered and organized in your home, you will want to keep it that way. If you are not careful, it becomes quite easy to fall back into your old habits. Before long, you will once again have a home that is full of clutter and has an overall unkempt appearance.
Therefore, you will want to set up a schedule that you can use to ensure that you are keeping the house clean. Whether you have certain chores that you do each day, or you take care of it all on a Saturday does not matter. What matters is that you are consistent and that you keep up with your cleaning schedule. Once you have followed the schedule for a few weeks, it will become second nature to you and it will be ingrained in you as a good habit.
Keep these tips in mind when you are getting ready to declutter your home, and you will find that even the biggest and most daunting tasks become doable. Your space will be clean, organized, and decluttered before you know it. If you are needing help to clean your Commercial space, contact Red Door Cleaning for more information!
The Borden park swimming pool is a natural pool which is the first of its kind in Canada. A very special thing for the city of Edmonton. Unlike most pools which are treated with harsher chemicals, filtration, and chlorine this naturally treated pool relies on sand and granite filters, plants and algae to maintain the water and keep it safe for the public.
Here we can see a before and after shot of one of the doors at the Borden Park Facility.
Red Door Cleaning had the opportunity to do the post renovation cleaning for this amazing Natural Pool located right here in Edmonton! Here are some before and after photos for your viewing pleasure. We were given this renovation cleaning task as we use safe, non-toxic eco-friendly anti-bacterial cleaning products. This is an example of what can be accomplished with our cleaning methods.
And as a truly Canadian company we like to use 100% Canadian made environmentally friendly products for all our jobs. As you can see in these photos there are layers and layers of dust which was thoroughly cleaned. We take pride in what we do and wish to share that with you!
We were very excited to prepare this location to be ready for public use. The pool requires additional guidelines that are needed to maintain the ecosystem of this natural pool. As this is a natural swimming pool in Edmonton we wanted to ensure that all debris and dust have been cleaned as contamination can pose a risk to the public and to the pool itself.
As community members, admission to all City of Edmonton outdoor pools are free during this summer. This pool opens to the public Wednesday July 11, 2018, so this would be an amazing chance to check out this stunning pool.
Are you responsible for managing a house of worship? We know that there are quite a few things that you will need to take care of to make sure everything is running smoothly, including the cleaning. Places of worship need janitorial services whether they are a small church or temple in a rural town that seats 50 people or it is a megachurch that can hold thousands.
Cleanliness is important, and there is simply not always room in the budget to have a staff at the house of worship that is dedicated just to cleaning, or that can split their time and focus from their other duties to help with the cleaning. Therefore, it simply makes sense to hire an outside janitorial service that can help.
Of course, if you have never hired a company in the Edmonton area to help with your cleaning before, it can be difficult to know just what you should be looking for. The following should help to demystify the process of finding a great janitorial company for the place of worship.
Consider What Type of Cleaning You Need
It is typically going to take more to clean the place of worship than just sweeping and dusting. The types of services that you are going to need will vary based on a range of factors, including the items that you have in the building, the size of the building, the number of rooms and the type of rooms, and more. Take note of all of the areas in the building that are going to need to be cleaned. This will include not only the main worship areas, but also bathrooms, kitchens, offices, pews, and more. You will need to have trash removed, you will need to have the windows cleaned, and you might also need to have the porch or steps swept.
Think about what your particular building is going to need, and then make a list. If your property is like most, you will find that it is more than you have time to take care of on your own. Just make sure that the professionals you choose are capable of providing all of the services you need. That’s why you need to take the time to write down all of the areas that will need cleaning – so you can find an Edmonton company that can accommodate all of those needs.
Vet the Companies You Are Considering
When you are choosing a company, you also need to research that company before you hire them and bring their workers into your place of worship. You need to know that the company has a great reputation and that they hire only the best employees. Learn more about the company, how long they have been in business, and if they have any experience or specialization in the area of cleaning places of worship. While the cost is something to consider, choosing the best company is often a better option than just trying to find the cheapest company.
Consider the Length of the Contract
Janitorial companies will often contract with places of worship. You want to make sure that you read the contract carefully, and that you understand how long the contract is going to be. In addition, make sure that you have a way to terminate the service easily if the company is not capable of providing you with the quality service that you agreed to.
When you have a great janitorial company such as Red Door Cleaning for your place of worship, they will keep the place nice and clean. This will keep those who attend the place of worship nice and happy.
If you are the owner of a salon or a spa, or you are the manager, you might be wondering whether you need to hire a cleaning service company in Edmonton to keep the business looking great and in tiptop condition. If you do not take cleanliness seriously with this type of business, it is going to come back to haunt you. Sure, the employees at the company will take care of keeping things clean between the clients that come into the treatment rooms, but that’s not enough. You will need to hire professionals who can make sure the building is properly cleaned daily.
You Need a Healthy and Sanitary Location
A spa or salon is not the same as an office. These locations are going to get dirtier faster, and they are going to require a company that knows and understands how to keep them clean and sanitary. While your employees are making sure that the equipment and surfaces are sanitary between guests, the janitorial service that you are hiring needs to do the same thing when they are cleaning.
Anything that a customer touches has the potential to cause infection and disease if it is not cleaned and sterilized properly. You need to do this between treatments, but you need to make sure that the janitorial company can provide you with sanitary cleanings overnight, as well.
Hiring a Great Company – What Should They Bring to the Table?
When you hire a company from Edmonton for salon and spa cleaning services, you need to make sure that they are capable of handling all of the cleanings that you need. This often goes beyond just the spa rooms. For example, you will also want to have a company that can take care of the offices, as well as the waiting area of the spa or salon. You will want to work with a company that can clean the bathrooms and that can clean the windows. Essentially, you are looking for a company that can do it all.
Check to see what services they offer, as well as their experience and how long they have been in business. A company that has been around for a long time does not always necessarily mean that they are the best company, but their ability to stay in business tends to say something about their quality. You will also want to be sure that the company can provide you with a quote for their services, so you can compare this with what other companies are charging. Just keep in mind that having the lowest quote does not always mean that they are the best company.
Can You Do All the Cleaning on Your Own?
There are certainly many salons and spa owners out there that believe they can simply take care of all of the cleanings on their own. While it might be possible to take care of the cleaning, it can cause some problems. Consider just how much time it is going to take if you were to attempt to clean the spa and salon on your own, even with the help of your employees. It would mean spending more time at work, just to clean, after the customers have gone. In fact, it might mean spending several more hours at work each day, which means you would have to pay your employees extra or hire more people on the staff. It would generally be much cheaper for you to find a quality janitorial company like Red Door Cleaning and contract with them for the cleaning work at your salon or spa.
Banks and financial institutions in Edmonton, like all other commercial properties, need to be cleaned regularly. However, it’s vital that you choose the right cleaning service for your needs due to the sensitive nature of your business. Thankfully, there are a few simple ways to help narrow your range of options and ensure that you are able to find a trusted partner that will keep your institution sparkling clean, without creating any additional threats.
Licensed, Insured and Bonded
Perhaps the most important consideration is this – make sure that the company you hire to clean your bank or financial institution is actually licensed to operate in the state, and is insured and bonded. If a cleaning company cannot or will not provide proof of licensure, insurance or bonding, look elsewhere.
Background Checks
The greatest risk to your financial institution comes from the cleaning company’s employees – they will be free to move about within your bank, often after hours, and while there is minimal security. In today’s world, banking and financial information are as valuable as cash, and access to paperwork or unattended workstations could be as dangerous as leaving your vault door wide open. Make sure that the cleaning company in Edmonton you choose utilizes rigorous background checks and hiring procedures to guarantee only the most trustworthy employees are hired.
Intensive Cleaning Where It Counts
Financial institutions in Edmonton, banks in particular, can see a very high level of traffic on a daily basis. That means a great deal of dirt and other particulates being tracked into the building by your customers. Throughout the day, dirt, dust, pollen and other debris is ground into carpeted areas, and coats vertical and horizontal surfaces. Make sure that the company you hire can provide periodic intensive cleaning services in addition to standard cleaning methods to remove deep-down dirt and grime.
Complies with Your Security and Communication Procedures
As a financial institution, you have specific security and communication procedures that must be followed at all times. This is done for security and safety purposes, and the cleaning company you hire must be willing to comply with those protocols. A single breach could have devastating consequences, so make sure that any cleaning company you consider is willing and able to adhere to your procedures and policies at all times, with no deviations.
Constant Communication
Your management and security team need to know where every individual is within the facility at all times. This applies to the cleaning company you hire as much as it does to customers and your own employees. Make sure that the cleaning company you hire is able and willing to remain in constant communication with your management and/or security team so their location is always known. It’s also important that all cleaning company employees wear company uniforms and ID badges so that they can be easily identified.
Prepared for Your Flooring and Other Materials
Banks and financial institutions often have marble floors, and wall cladding made of natural stone. These materials must be cleaned properly, or you risk damaging them. Make sure that the cleaning company you choose has the experience to handle your unique flooring type, as well as other surfaces within your facility that must be cleaned.
Ultimately, finding the right cleaning company in Edmonton for a bank or other financial institution doesn’t have to be difficult, but it does mean that you need to vet your potential cleaning partners thoroughly. Compare your options with an eye toward not only cleaning performance and quality, but trust, security, and a willingness to comply with your policies and procedures.
2. You Can Start Small
Licensed, Insured and Bonded
Complies with Your Security and Communication Procedures