Businesses across the UK have had to think on their feet to comply with the changing regulations by the Government. Something that has been a consistent feature is social distancing. Business owners might overlook how their employees can remain socially distanced from staff that are cleaning in their workspace. By implementing effective job allocation and task scheduling you can ensure that there are no issues. Your cleaning company should be able to provide a task list and schedule which direct their cleaners to safely clean and disinfect areas without coming into contact with employees. Of course, if there is no way to safely social distance then you could make changes to the times that cleaning takes place to reduce risk. Most cleaning companies can offer early and late shifts.

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The next area that is commonly misconstrued is sanitisation. Lots of hand sanitising stations have been installed in businesses around the UK but hand sanitisers and cleaning products must be effective to reduce contamination. Hand sanitiser needs at least 60% alcohol content to work properly. Most alcohol-based hand sanitiser gels contain either ethanol or isopropanol, or a combination of both. It is quick and easy to check the labels of the sanitiser you are providing for staff and customers, or your cleaning company could provide you with a trusted product saving you time on research and ordering and possibly even cutting costs.


Another consideration is the product used for cleaning jobs. General-purpose cleaning solutions are unlikely to break down a virus and kill it. Ten Three Cleaning recommend the use of a viricidal product and ideally one that has been tested against COVID19. The frequency and pattern of cleaning should also be considered, and much focus should be placed on regular and thorough cleaning of contact points such as door handles, bannisters, taps and toilet flush handles. High traffic areas such as receptions, toilets and offices will also need to be focussed on.


Your cleaning company should have products that are more effective than off-the-shelf products. Viricidal cleaning agents are different, but they are not a great deal more expensive so be sure to check what you are being charged if you request a change of product.


PPE (personal protective equipment)


Lots of businesses are using PPE which is great, but for it to be effective it must be used properly. When used during cleaning they should be used in one area then disposed of and replaced. Disposable gloves are used to protect the user from contact with bacteria, however, bacteria can be transferred on the gloves which is why they need to be constantly changed and disposed of properly. Cross-contamination can be managed with the correct use of PPE and your cleaning company should not only provide their cleaning staff with the correct PPE but also train them on the proper use of it.

The level of PPE required will also change depending on the risk. For example, less PPE will be needed in an empty office than in a busy nursing home. Your cleaning company will assess the risk and proceed with the necessary precautions.


For information on Commercial Cleaning from Ten Three Cleaning, please get in touch on 01935 255103  or email info@tenthreecleaning.co.uk.

Decontamination procedures clean an area or object to remove contaminants including chemicals or infectious diseases.

The main three procedures required for decontamination are cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation.


Cleaning

Cleaning the physical removal of contaminants. Cleaning is the first stage of decontamination and removes any dirt, bacteria or organic material from the services that are being contaminated. Any items or areas that need to be disinfected and sterilised must be properly and thoroughly deep-cleaned first. Many contaminated areas can be safely used after having been thoroughly cleaned depending on what the contaminating agent was.


Disinfection

Disinfection is the process of using chemicals to reduce the microbes that are present in an area to a reduced level that can not cause any infection or contamination. Disinfection does not entirely remove them but will reduce them to a level that is not dangerous. Any item or area that needs to be disinfected should be cleaned first.


Sterilisation

Sterilisation is the act of removing ALL microbes or spores from any area or object. Medical devices are an example of items that must be completely sterile before use.


Decontamination cleaning is used in any area where there has been exposure to infectious diseases or contaminants and in the current climate decontamination can be used to reduce risk where it may not even be clear that exposure has occurred.


Decontamination cleaning will reduce the risk of infection and illness in the workplace where spores can be spread quickly causing illness. To fight the spread of infectious diseases deep cleaning and disinfection should be carried out regularly to keep employees and customers safe.


The recent coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of implementing good working practices with cleaning. Contact points within workplaces should be cleaned and disinfected regularly as a matter of great importance. Desks, computers, and telephones should be cleaned and disinfected to control the spread of bacteria or contaminants and reduce the risk to employers or customers. Regular cleaning will maintain a clean and healthy working environment.

​For information on Commercial Cleaning from Ten Three Cleaning, please get in touch on 01935 255103  or email info@tenthreecleaning.co.uk

Whether you have a small office with a few desks, or a large workforce operating from multiple premises in a range of locations, the winter season highlights just how quickly germs can spread. Viruses, bugs and bacteria spread from person to person, often before those infected show any signs of illness and before you know it your staff have called in sick.

Staff sickness is an inevitable part of owning and running a business but there are ways to control and limit the spread of germs by maintaining a clean and hygienic work environment. Commercial cleaning companies know and address the highest risk areas of your facilities, as well as the aesthetic cleaning tasks, to reduce the spread of bugs and bacteria and to keep your staff happy and healthy and working productively.

Having a clean workplace is a big factor in the success of your business, but what are the areas that need specific attention from a commercial cleaning company, and why?

Bathrooms
Bathrooms are particularly high-risk areas, the toilet, handles and taps can all harbour bacteria such as Norovirus and Shigella. These bacteria can cause horrible symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach cramps. Thorough and regular cleaning can minimise the risk of bacteria being spread.

Reception or front of house
The reception area of your facilities has high footfall, with all different types of people coming through the door such as clients, staff, postal workers, delivery drivers and workman. The door handles, desks and any other equipment in a central communal area like the reception area should be kept clean to reduce the risk of contamination.

Kitchen
The staff kitchen area is another area that can harbour bacteria such as salmonella or E.Coli due to the preparation of foods and reheating of food. E. Coli is responsible for around 3000 hospital admissions every year and can cause fatigue, diarrhoea and nausea. A communal kitchen needs to be cleaned efficiently to stop germs from being spread. A commercial cleaning company have the knowledge and expertise to effectively clean your workplace to give you, your clients and your staff peace of mind of a job well done and to provide a hygienic environment for everyone.

​For information on Commercial Cleaning from Ten Three Cleaning, please get in touch on 01935 255103  or email info@tenthreecleaning.co.uk

When a tenant vacates a property, it will almost always require an end of tenancy clean. Most tenants will clean throughout the tenancy but the end of tenancy clean is different to the daily cleaning tasks that keep a property presentable.

An end of tenancy clean addresses issues that build up over time in a living space. They remove the deeper-rooted grime and dirt that is not visible whilst living in the property. It usually requires the use of more heavy-duty or specialist cleaning products, especially for grease or rust and most definitely for inside an oven. These products should be used with caution and normally whilst wearing protective gloves.

A move out clean covers things that domestic cleaning won’t reach such as grease and dirt underneath large kitchen appliances, inside the oven including the glass door, window frames internal and external, window glass internal and external, internal doors, front and back door, blinds, removal of limescale from bathroom sanitary ware, full dusting and cobweb removal from corners, skirting boards and behind furniture.

These jobs are likely to need to be done around every six months, depending on how many people live in the home but tenants tend to leave them for the move out clean which means they require more attention.

Why do we need to carry out an end of tenancy clean?

A high portion of deposit deductions are for cleaning related issues at the end of the tenancy. When the tenant vacates the property it can reveal dirt and dilapidation that would otherwise remain unseen. A move out clean tackles the issues that can build up and cause hard to remove stains or dirt and could even cause appliances to not function. Many people simply do not have the time to move kitchen appliances and furniture to clean behind them or to carry out a frequent and full deep oven clean, so it gets left for the move out clean.

The end of tenancy clean is an important factor in the tenancy for the new tenants. When a tenant moves into a property that has had a deep clean before they moved in, it sets the standard of expectation for when they come to leave themselves as-well as how the property should be kept whilst they occupy it.

Having the end of tenancy clean carried out by a commercial cleaning company takes the pressure away from both tenant and landlord. Cleanliness can be a matter of opinion which varies greatly from person to person, coupled with the fact that a move out clean will probably address areas that many people might not even think of, for example cleaning inside kitchen cupboards or removing limescale from a shower screen, the end of tenancy clean can be a sticking point over deposit deductions. Handing over the end of tenancy clean to a professional commercial cleaning company means that nothing gets overlooked.

​For information on Commercial Cleaning from Ten Three Cleaning, please get in touch on 01935 255103 or email info@tenthreecleaning.co.uk

We often think of cleaning as a chore carried out at home, but in fact, it plays a massive role within our working environment too. Think of how you feel when your house is freshly cleaned and clear of clutter, it invokes feelings of clarity and calm. This extends to the workplace. A cluttered and dirty environment can lead to feelings of anxiety and low mood. Those emotions have a detrimental effect on a persons' ability to work productively and that is the last thing an employer will want to encounter from the staff. How does cleanliness affect productivity in the workplace?

Company Image
If your work premises are not clean and well-presented it could have a negative effect on how people view your company in general. Consider how a person feels walking into your premises. Is should be organised and fresh, which is how you would like them to think about your business.

Morale
The workplace should be somewhere that your staff are proud to be. They are more likely to perform better if they are comfortable and able to carry out their duties in a pleasant environment. On average we spend a third of our life at work and if our place of work is clean and tidy it will promote those positive emotions and encourage staff to work well. Staff retention is likely to be higher if the place that they work is offered as clean, hygienic and somewhere they are happy to be. The staff are likely to take responsibility for keeping their own work-space clean if there is a general standard of cleanliness expected and maintained throughout the company. A chaotic and messy environment can cause the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, to rise and stressed staff are not productive staff.

Hygiene
A workplace often has a large footfall, and even if it doesn't, the issue of hygiene is a big contributory factor in productivity. Making sure your premises are properly cleaned helps to eliminate the risk of germs and illness being spread throughout the company. Regular cleaning will stop germs spreading and reduce the likelihood of staff becoming unwell. If the staff don’t believe that the company takes cleanliness and hygiene seriously, they may mirror that attitude in their own work for that company.

​For information on Commercial Cleaning from Ten Three Cleaning, please get in touch on 01935 255103  or email info@tenthreecleaning.co.uk

Whether you work in an office, kitchen, shop or factory no one wants to work in a dirty or messy environment. A clean workspace gives a good impression to customers and employees so read our top 10 tips for keeping the workplace clean alongside doing what you are being paid to do.

Allocate
A workplace is made up of all different kinds of people, each of them with their own standard of cleanliness and sense of responsibility to maintain them within the work environment. If one person takes on the sole role of keeping the workplace clean, they may become bitter and their productivity may suffer. Make sure jobs are fairly allocated to each staff member and create a rota system which means everyone has a specific day during which they should perform each cleaning task.

Tidy as you go
In a busy place of work, it is easy for things too quickly become messy whilst serving customers as a priority. If you practice tidying up clutter and mess as you work, it will soon become second nature and you will not have to spend long periods clearing an overloaded desk or shop floor. A kitchen or production line can quickly become hazardous work environments things aren’t kept tidy.

Keep cleaning products in stock
A stationary order or stock control sheet is common in an office, shop or kitchen but to keep the area clean and tidy it is advisable to also keep a stock of basic cleaning products and equipment such as air freshener, toilet cleaner, cloths and sprays.

Checklist
A simple checklist of the areas that need attention to make sure nothing gets missed. For example, how often are staff toilets bleached, have the bins been emptied, or window sills dusted? A checklist to accompany the rota means nothing gets missed.

All hands-on deck
Just because a job might be allocated to another person, or it isn’t your day for cleaning doesn’t mean that things should be left ignored. If you see something needs doing, do it.

Organise space
Make sure there is appropriate provision for all stock, stationary etc. If there is a place for everything to go it will make it far easier to keep clean and clutter-free. It will also mean you can quickly find things when they are needed and easily recognise when things need to be replaced.

Prioritise time
When you arrive at work make sure you give yourself a few minutes to get everything in order, at the end of the day do the same. Before leaving check that you have washed up your coffee cup, and chucked away any litter.

Opening and closing flow chart
Where there are multiple members of staff it might be useful to create a flow chart for the opening and closing of the business. This could include tasks like wiping down desks or tables, cleaning equipment and washing up, as-well-as turning off lights, closing down computers and setting the alarm.

Practical solutions to arising issues
Encourage co-workers to report ongoing issues so management can implement practical solutions. If the bins getting filled too quickly, perhaps the office needs a shredder and recycling provision. If the stock is running out too quickly then a larger order should be approved. When staff report issues they find there is likely to be a simple solution to make sure the workplace is kept a pleasant and functional place to be.

Call in the professionals
In many working environments there just simply isn’t the time or trained knowledge to clean and tidy alongside performing in the job role. If your workplace is too busy to keep it clean in-house you should know when to call in outside help. In some workplaces there are specific requirements for cleaning of equipment and Ten 3 Cleaning can assist with those for your peace of mind.
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Being at work might be the last place you want to think about cleaning, but neither your staff members or customers want to be in a dirty or messy environment. A presentable premises for
customers to visit ensures you are giving a good first impression and staff are more likely to perform well in pleasant conditions.

For information on Commercial Cleaning from Ten Three Cleaning, please get in touch on 01935 255103 or email info@tenthreecleaning.co.uk