Disinfection Archives

Looking for business cleaning services in Janesville, WI? Look no further than KleenMark!

October 25, 2023 BY Sortis_Marketing

4 Essential Building Cleaning Services for Janesville, WI Businesses

Get these must-have services and more when you work with KleenMark.

Looking for business cleaning services in Janesville, WI? Look no further than KleenMark! You know what it takes to keep a business running smoothly — making sure clients are happy, employees are meeting their metrics and payroll is processed, among many other day-to-day tasks. One area you may be overlooking, though, is the maintenance and upkeep of your actual office space.

A clean and organized office goes a long way to keeping employees productive and happy, visitors and customers impressed, and operations running as they should. If your current cleaning program isn’t cutting it, it may be time to upgrade to a cleaning partner that can help get your office or facility space back into shape.

Not sure where to start? Here are four essential building cleaning services for Janesville, WI, businesses:

Floor care
Restroom cleaning
Overall sanitization & disinfection
Specialty services

If you’re in need of building cleaning services in Janesville, WI, read on to learn more about these must-have services and how KleenMark can help fit them into your cleaning routine.

Floor care

The weather is about to turn chillier and, sooner than we might like, snowier — especially here in Wisconsin. At KleenMark, we are used to the harsh Midwest winters and what they can do to the interiors of office buildings. The accumulating snow, salt, slush and muck can really do a number on even the toughest flooring. Whether you have flooring that’s vinyl, tile, carpeting or a mix of everything, we have tried and true methods for removing even the most stubborn stains and marks.

Restroom cleaning

Even if the rest of your office is sparkling clean, if the restroom is unkempt, it won’t go unnoticed by both employees and visitors. Bathrooms can be an afterthought when it comes to cleaning since they’re typically not the first thing people see when they arrive, but we know that a well-maintained bathroom with clean floors, dry countertops and ample bathroom supplies (toilet paper, hand towels, air freshener, etc.) leaves an excellent impression.

Overall sanitization & disinfection

The last few years have made us all more cognizant of the importance of proper cleaning and sanitization. At KleenMark, we’ve been keeping dirt, germs and viruses at bay for nearly six decades and, along the way, have picked up some best practices for sanitizing office spaces that keep everyone as healthy as possible. While life has, fortunately, largely returned to normal, we remain ever-vigilant against any number of viruses that can spread at the workplace.

Specialty services

No two businesses are exactly alike, and we’re proud of our ability to customize our cleaning protocols to fit any workplace. In addition to our standard cleaning services, we also offer specialty services such as window cleaning, lighting replacement, exterior ground policing, and more.

If you’re in search of building cleaning services in Janesville, WI, check out our “Are We a Good Fit?” page to see if KleenMark is the right cleaning partner for your facility’s needs.

If you’re ready to take the next step and discover the difference the Kleen Team can make for your business, contact us for a quote today!

December 22, 2022 BY KleenMark

IN Disinfection, Education, Facility Management

5 Ways to Defend Your Facility from Cold & Flu this Winter

If there’s anything we’ve all learned the past couple years, it’s that taking smart, pragmatic and scientifically backed cleaning can help reduce the spread of viruses in your facility.

While we can’t prevent people from coming inside when they’re not feeling well, we do have some essential tips that can keep your facility as safe as possible.

Sanitize and Disinfect on the Daily

Viruses live everywhere, and they’re especially prevalent on highly touched surfaces such as door handles, counters and desks. Ensure these areas are disinfected at least daily using an approved chemical from the Environmental Protection Agency’s N List.

Also, make sure you understand how to apply the sanitizer and disinfectant you use. This includes having a clear idea of how long the disinfectant needs to stay on the surface before being wiped off. We refer to that as “dwell time” and it ranges based on what chemical you use.

“This is one of the simplest ways to keep germs at bay in a facility,” said Mike Staver, KleenMark’s Chief Operating Officer, who oversees all of KleenMark’s cleaning teams. “Having a plan and schedule for disinfecting in place will pay dividends when it comes to wellness.”

Promote Personal Hygiene

After a pandemic, you may assume everyone is staying on top of handwashing. But, that’s not always the case.

Add signage throughout your building, especially in restrooms. Stickers on mirrors are particularly effective.

We offer all our clients a toolkit that has basic signage they can use to remind people to take these basic steps. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also is a great resource for free posters.

Keep the Air Clean

While surfaces are a priority, airborne germs are a top culprit during cold/flu season.

Consider adding portable air cleaners and purifiers to rooms, especially common areas where larger groups of people come together. This ensures air is circulating regularly and being filtered to remove airborne pathogens.

Even if your building regularly exchanges inside air through ventilation, having portable purifiers expedites air cleaning and provides peace of mind for staff and visitors. Many cleaners also have air monitors that let you know when particle levels are too high and need attention.

Add a Day Porter to Your Cleaning Program

Day porters are on hand to handle everything from disinfection of frequently touched surfaces to mid-day messes that inevitably occur. Having a day porter, or two, is particularly effective in large facilities where constant sanitizing and disinfection is needed.

Check out “What’s a day porter and do I need one?” to learn more and see if a day porter would help keep your facility consistently clean when workers and visitors are in the building. During cold/flu season, this is a particularly effective way to reduce the spread of germs.

Go Touchless

It’s wild, but we still see a lot of facilities that use manual towel dispensers.

Touchless dispensers prevent the spread of germs and are one of the simplest ways to increase the cleanliness of your facility while protecting your employees. At the most basic level, we recommend always using touchless towel and soap dispensers in all your restrooms.

To learn more about what we recommend, check out “4 touch-free options to prevent the spread of germs.”

“The technology in touchless dispensers is so much better than it used to be,” Staver said. “This is a cost-effective way to control germs and also helps reduce towel and soap waste.”

December 9, 2021 BY KleenMark

IN Coronavirus, COVID-19, Disinfection, Facility Management, Health Care, Manufacturing, Office Cleaning, Services

Force of Infection: What is it, does it matter for disinfection?

Since the pandemic hit, you’ve probably learned a lot of new germ-related terms. But one you may not be that familiar with is force of infection, an important thing to consider as you determine the future of your facility’s disinfection program.

Force of infection, or FOI, is the rate at which individuals in a population acquire an infectious disease over a period of time. In layman’s terms, FOI shows how many people are getting sick and how quickly it’s happening.

So, why does this matter to you? Because as you consider what your long-term disinfection protocol will look like, you need to know that FOI has the potential to be impacted by germ-covered sources, making it important to continue disinfecting surfaces.

Why You Need to Understand Force of Infection

This year, the journal NPJ Vaccines published the article “Force of infection: a determinant of vaccine efficacy?” The journal, which is part of Nature Magazine is a scientific publication dedicated to highlighting the most important advances in vaccine research and development.

The focus of the article was to examine whether a lower FOI impacts the effectiveness of vaccines. In the study, they looked at two groups of people: One that had received a rotavirus (diarrhea) vaccine and another that was given a malaria vaccine. In both instances, a lower FOI led to higher vaccine efficacy (VE).

The question then becomes: Do non-pharmaceutical interventions (this is a fancy term for bucketing things like disinfectants and proper PPE usage into one group) help lower force of infection?

In the NPJ Vaccines article, the author argues that, yes, proper disinfection efforts could reduce FOI and “therefore enhance or sustain VE”. Therefore, in the context of a pandemic, continuing to use non-pharmaceutical interventions to manage disease spread “seems prudent and … quite urgent.”

As the number of new COVID-19 cases ebbs and flows, and as new variants continue to pop up, we felt that it’s important to highlight the ongoing role proper disinfection can play in reducing the presence of germs that could impact force of infection, and subsequently the health of your employees and visitors.

Develop a Disinfection Program That Works

To ensure your facility is on top of its disinfection game, you need to incorporate several elements into your cleaning program.

Day Porter Disinfection

Yes, most deep cleaning happens when your facility is empty. But with people coming and going, it’s important you maintain a high level of cleanliness. This not only improves the health of your facility but it also gives people the peace of mind that you’re taking intentional steps to reduce the amount of germs in your building. Adding an extra day porter – or reassigning your existing day-cleaning staff – will allow you to focus on keeping high-traffic areas clean and disinfected. With more people using more soap, hand sanitizer and towels, they’ll also focus on keeping those products stocked. This day-cleaning checklist is a good place to start.

High-touchpoint Disinfection

You’ve probably heard us talk about this before, but that’s only because of its importance. You need to disinfect frequently touched surfaces multiple times each day using approved chemicals from the Environmental Protection Agency’s List N. Each chemical on this list is proven to kill COVID-19. To learn how to properly disinfect, watch this quick video.

Confirmed case? Time to spray.

While proactive electrostatic spraying still has benefits, we always recommend using it after a confirmed COVID-19 exposure in your facility. Electrostatic sprayers have technology that ensures disinfectant “sticks” to every surface and kills germs. Because it is sprayed as a mist, it’s easy to blanket all hard surfaces.

To learn more about the benefits of electrostatic spraying and how it works, read Do I Need an Electrostatic Sprayer for Disinfection?

November 23, 2021 BY Tenzin Kunga

IN Coronavirus, COVID-19, Disinfection, Health Care

Infection Control: Is your cleaning company qualified?

When it comes to infection control in your hospitals, clinics and labs, there isn’t room for error. That we can agree on. But what should you look for to ensure the cleaning company you’ve hired is truly up to handling the stringent requirements you have?

To start, look for two things: Experience and TRUSTED certification.

Experience Handling Infection Control

Let’s face it, nothing beats decades of experience. Understanding the ins and outs of a healthcare facility’s nuanced needs is complex, especially when it comes to infection control.

We like to think of our healthcare teams as our special forces of cleaning. Not only does the team undergo extensive training, but they’re led by in-the-field veterans, including our director and manager who together have over 40 years of experience working in complex and large healthcare systems.

With that experience comes dialed-in processes, meaning you don’t have to wait for your cleaning crew to get up to speed. They know what they need to do when they walk through the door.

For instance, consider terminal cleaning procedures required in operating rooms. Along with what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other organizations require, our Kleeners have a 25-point cleaning process that guides them through EACH terminal cleaning. But we don’t only rely on process when it comes to operating rooms, we verify our work with ATP testing.

Whenever considering a new cleaning partner, or when auditing your existing partner, dig deep into their processes and in-the-field experience. Always require they “show” their work.

Achieving GBAC Standards

A lot of organizations claim they’re trained to handle infection control needs. We saw it all too frequently during the pandemic, and I doubt the claims will cease overnight.

For that reason, look for credible third-party validation. The most trusted certification comes from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), which is a division of ISSA. GBAC accreditation and training ensures your cleaners meet stringent, evidence-based standards for cleaning, infection control and disinfection. Subsequently, it elevates the reputation of your facility.

It’s important, too, that more than the organization’s leadership team is trained. At KleenMark, which has specialized in healthcare cleaning for years, we have more than 100 operators trained as GBAC technicians, ranging from supervisors to frontline cleaners.

As GBAC-trained technicians, they study cleaning theory, infectious disease prevention and control techniques, and medical grade disinfection. That means they’ll always have the most up-to-date information available to keep facilities clean and safe.

I share all this because it’s important to know what to look for no matter who you partner with. If you want to learn more about our experience and certifications, don’t hesitate to send us a note any time.

October 11, 2021 BY Mike Staver

IN Disinfection, Facility Management, Green Cleaning, Services

What’s CIMS-GB and why should you care?

We’re not those people who like to shout about our accolades, but in this instance it’s important. As the world prioritizes cleaning and disinfection, you need to understand what CIMS-GB is and why it matters that your cleaning company has the certification.

The reason? Because the world’s full of misleading messages, plenty of snake oil and tons of hype – particularly when it comes to cleaning, thanks to the pandemic stirring up opportunists. So, for that reason we’re going to break down the value of a CIMS-GB certification and what it means when your janitorial partner has it on their resumé.

For starters, what is CIMS-GB?

CIMS-GB stands for Cleaning Industry Management Standard-Green Building. It’s a certification issued by ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association that’s responsible for setting and upholding professional standards among its members.

To become CIMS-GB certified with honors, an organization has to demonstrate that it meets or exceeds the industry standard in the core areas of business, all while showcasing professionalism and a customer-focused approach that can provide sophisticated, proven green-cleaning programs for its clients.

Those areas of focus are:

Quality systems
Service delivery
Human resources
Health, safety and environmental stewardship
Management commitment

Only a handful of organizations have earned CIMS-GB with honors, but you may still ask: So what? Fair question, so let’s dig in.

A Commitment to Quality + Service

These are easy words to throw around, but to earn CIMS-GB you have to prove it. And that’s what we’ve done at KleenMark for years.

For starters, our teams undergo some of the most extensive training in the industry. Along with proven processes that ensure facilities are adequately cleaned and disinfected to meet your needs, we invest in our people.

To give you an example, we recently sent a large team to Diversey’s headquarters for a multi-day training program. Working with the leading chemical company, our team underwent a masterclass in chemical handling, application and the latest processes needed to handle increasingly demanding disinfection needs.

Additionally, we were one of the first organizations to use third-party trainers to teach our team how to safely and thoroughly disinfect against COVID-19. And we’re not talking about corporate reps. We worked with infectious control experts who provided medical-grade processes and approaches.

Of course, those are only two examples. But to earn CIMS-GB, it requires rigorous, ongoing training. And it’s something our leadership team committed to long before certifications existed.

“KleenMark is in the top one-quarter of one percent of all cleaning services providers,” said Bruce Stark, a certified CIMS assessor. It’s also important to point out that CIMS started in 2007 and KleenMark became certified in 2008, one of the first 40 companies to do so.”

Health and safety. Turned up to 10.

We clean a lot of medical facilities – and we did so prior to COVID-19. Health and safety processes have been engrained in our model for years. But it goes beyond how to disinfect properly.

Our teams understand what chemicals to use and when. They know what’s safe to use around your employees, how to handle biohazards – and everything in between.

On top of that, we’re one of very few commercial janitorial companies that employees a full-time health and safety manager. This allows us to ensure our teams are always up-to-date on best practices, ranging from OSHA standards to disinfection dwell times.

“The pandemic has caused clients to seek CIMS-certified cleaning services providers because they all have pandemic plans, processes, chemicals, and trained staff to help reduce the risk of COVID to their clients and the clients customers,” Stark said.

Going Green Matters

While the pandemic led many organizations to focus heavily on “disinfection at all costs”, having a thoughtful cleaning program that’s good for the environment, your employees and your customers is critical.

Being CIMS-GB certified means many things, but ultimately it means we’re trained to help you achieve your environmental goals. By working with an organization like KleenMark, the facilities we clean are, by default, also CIMS-GB certified.

We meet a number of other standards as well, ranging from having established processes that minimalize our impact on the environment to prioritizing chemicals and energy-efficient equipment that’s better for the world.

To learn more about our green-cleaning practices, click here.

Want to talk more about what CIMS-GB means to you? Get in touch any time.

August 20, 2021 BY KleenMark

IN Chemicals, Disinfection, Facility Management

Quaternary or Peroxide Disinfectants: What’s best for you?

A lot of disinfectants are on the market, but at the end of the day, commercial cleaners often choose between two chemicals: Quaternary Ammonium and Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide.

Those are big words but more importantly there are some big differences between the two disinfectants. One is ideal for noncritical surfaces while the other is good for frequently touched items.

Below, we’ve summarized the two chemicals, both of which our teams use regularly. Ideally, this will help you decide which best fits your needs as disinfection continues to be a top priority for janitorial teams.

Quaternary Ammonium

Well known and widely used, quaternary ammonium disinfectants are EPA approved. They’re regarded as effective disinfectants and are OK to use on hard surfaces.

With that said, they’re best for routine cleaning and disinfecting “noncritical” surfaces such as floors and hospital bed rails. They’re not ideal for frequently touched surfaces, because they need to sit undisturbed much longer than other options.

In terms of germ killing, they work best against bacteria, enveloped viruses (this includes COVID-19) and fungus. They’re not designed to kill spore-based contaminants and generally don’t work against nonenveloped viruses (common colds, norovirus).

Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide

These chemicals were recently introduced as EPA-registered surface disinfectants, making them wonderful for high-touchpoint surfaces such as doorknobs and counters.

The reason they’re an ideal choice is that most have low dwell times, meaning you can spray them on a surface and wipe them off shortly thereafter – and still kill all the germs. Some AHP products such as Oxivir (One our teams commonly use), have dwell times as low as 30 seconds to 1 minute for killing viruses such as COVID-19.

The compounds used to make AHPs are considered safe for staff, falling into the lowest toxicity category. They’re noncorrosive and aren’t affected by organic materials. Additionally, they’re benign, meaning they don’t harm the environment.

Of course, while those are all clear perks the downside is that AHP is more expensive than other disinfectants, including quats.

Need more information on what chemicals are best for your cleaning needs? Send our product team a note any time.

August 20, 2021 BY KleenMark

IN Chemicals, Cleaner’s Corner, Disinfection, Facility Management, Services

Cleaner’s Corner: Applying Disinfectant – Good, Better, Best

Question: What’s the best way for applying disinfectant?

This may seem surprising, but we get this question a lot. And it’s still common to see people applying disinfectant incorrectly. The thing is. it doesn’t need to be complicated. I’ve laid out three different approaches to application, ranging from good to best.

Of course, I’d always recommend you use the best method when applying disinfectant, but for proper disinfecting, any of these options will do the trick. So, take a look below and let us know if you have questions.

Good: Immersion

Immerse your cloth in the disinfectant for the amount of time per label instructions. This is what we rarely want to see because the longer the cloth is in the disinfectant, the less effective that disinfectant becomes if it’s quaternary ammonium.

See our KleenMark Distribution site for quaternary and accelerated hydrogen peroxide disinfectants.

Better: Quick Soak

Dip the material in the disinfectant for a few seconds and then use it immediately. This will lessen the quat action, but not as much as leaving a cloth soaking in a bucket of disinfectant. Another great tip is to frequently change the surface of the cloth per surface being cleaned.

Best: Direct

When the disinfectant is applied directly, it begins to immediately interact with the contaminated surface. The key is to ensure you cover all surfaces with disinfectant, use the appropriate micron level on your sprayer and manage over-spray. This reduces quat binding almost entirely. That means the positively charged “quats” can’t get stuck in a negatively charged cloth. If they get stuck in the cloth they’re never released and therefore don’t do their job.

August 3, 2021 BY KleenMark

IN COVID-19, Disinfection, Equipment, Office Cleaning

Air Disinfection: A Safe Method, Proven to Work

If you’ve searched online to learn more about air disinfection in your building, it’s likely you’ve been subjected to a lot of good ol’ fashioned witchcraft, with seemingly everyone out to make a buck and little regulation in place.

Well, that’s not how we go about things. Everything we do, from the disinfectants we use on hard surfaces to our sanitizing methods, are anchored in science and data. It’s why we have a health & safety officer on staff. It’s why we use EPA-approved chemicals. And it’s why if we’re going to make a recommendation on air disinfection, we insisted on finding an option backed by fact.

With all that said (sorry for the soapbox moment), we regularly speak with clients and customers about a technology and approach that uses dry hydrogen peroxide (DHP) to kill germs in the air. Wait, what? Yes, it kills microbes floating in the air and does so without hurting humans.

Below, we’ve laid out some of the essentials.

How Dry Hydrogen Peroxide Works

DHP is a form of gas. The molecule, hydrogen peroxide, is a natural component in human lungs and is harmless at levels emitted by the technology we recommend.

It works by “attaching” to microbes in the air, and effectively neutralizing them. A specific piece of technology generates the DHP and manages the level of the gas in the air, which falls well below Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommendations.

The reason microbes attach to DHP is that all of them need water from the environment to live. Therefore, they seek out the DHP, which is packed with moisture created from naturally occurring humidity in the air. Then, the DHP breaks down the microbe’s cell membrane (think of this as the cell’s shield that protects it) and then destroys the germ.

Is DHP safe?

DHP is incredibly safe at the minimal levels produced to kill airborne microbes. It’s harmless to humans and can hurt nothing bigger than an insect.

DHP was designed to allow people to safely remain in the room where the technology is working. This means no disruption to your staff and visitors. The gas is emitted into the air at less than 20 parts per billion. That means the technology would have to run nonstop for 2.5 years to even produce the concentration found in a single droplet of hydrogen peroxide you’d find in your medicine cabinet.

Currently, we’re seeing this technology used safely and effectively across multiple industries, including healthcare, food service and education.

What it Isn’t

As important as what it does, is what DHP isn’t. It’s important to note this technology does not use bipolar ionization or needle point. Those two approaches to air disinfection were proved to be ineffective.

Recently, one California school district pulled bipolar ionization units from its schools and is now suing the manufacturer. They did so after alleging these units made air quality worse.

On top of that, ASHRAE, the HVAC industry’s leading professional organization, said ionizers have shown “results ranging from no benefit to some benefit for acute health symptoms.”

The technology we recommend is backed by data, science and in-market testing that proves it works and is safe.

To learn more about this specific technology and how it may fit into your facility’s air purification efforts, contact us anytime.

July 6, 2021 BY KleenMark

IN Disinfection, Office Cleaning

Quick Kleen: 4 Steps to Disinfect Like a Pro

Editor’s note: Quick Kleen is a regularly occurring video series produced by our cleaning and disinfection experts. The series is designed to provide you with practical information your team can use, while giving you insight into our approach and services offered.

Disinfection remains a big deal. Yes, the pandemic has receded, but hard-surface disinfection continues to be a priority for facilities managers.

In our first Quick Kleen video, we’re showcasing a simple, 4-step process anyone can follow to make sure they disinfect surfaces correctly. This is a great video for everyone from your cleaning team to employees returning to the office.

May 13, 2021 BY KleenMark

IN Contract Cleaning, Coronavirus, Disinfection, Facility Management, Office Cleaning, Services

Back to the Office: Target High-traffic Areas

Employees, clients and visitors are headed back to the office. We’re seeing it nationally and with the trend comes the need to ensure your buildings meet a new level of expectations. One great place to start is shoring up your cleaning program for high-traffic areas.

Focusing on where people interact the most is important. Folks want to know that the crowded, most visited parts of the building are frequently cleaned and given extra attention. It prevents the spread of germs and reduces worry.

Here’s where we recommend you start:

Entryways

Make sure door handles are cleaned and disinfected throughout the day. You don’t have to overdo it, but people are used to seeing this level of cleanliness. Put their needs first.

Also, give mats and hard floors a little extra love. If you vacuum the rest of the building less frequently, get to these at least once a day – outside of your normal cleaning schedule.

A day porter will police the entryways and also handle other things, such as emptying garbage, that give people confidence your building is clean.

Main Corridors

Hallways are high-traffic, and they need daily cleaning. If your carpets look dirty, consider extraction before bringing employees back. Then, a daily vacuum will keep things looking good.

For hard floors, a deep cleaning with polish is a good place to start. An auto scrubber can handle the daily work.

Break Rooms + Waiting Rooms

Your cleaning team should prioritize any area where people have to be around other people for an extended amount of time. Wipe down counters throughout the day and police for garbage and spills. Do those things cause COVID-19? Nope. But if things look dirty, people will assume you aren’t taking their health and safety seriously.

Restrooms

We’ve touched on this before, and you can read more in Restroom Rescue: What a Deep Clean Looks Like. But, remember to spot clean your restrooms throughout the day and ensure each has soap and paper towels. People are going to go through more items than in the past.

Need more help with adjusting your cleaning program? Send us an email.

Category: Disinfection