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The article below talks about the realities that businesses are facing as employees return to the workplace. As a facilities manager, you have had to rethink everything from how your space is setup up to enhancing your cleaning protocols to the quality of the air in your facilities. The pandemic

As more people are getting the vaccine and we are heading into the warmer months, businesses are starting to bring their employees back into the office. The article below identifies a number of decisions that need to be considered by business leaders as they work through the process helping to

With the Cold and Flu season kicking in and the COVID-19 pandemic in full swing, it is more important than ever to make sure you have a proper cleaning and disinfecting procedure in operation. The article below has good information on some of the proper procedures to follow ensuring you

The perception that a potential or current client has of your business is something you should pay attention to. If they perceive your business as clean and healthy, they are more likely to do or continue to do business with you than if their perception is different. The article below

Construction projects range in size and scope. There are large projects that take several months or over a year to complete. These might be brand new buildings with retails spaces, parking garages, athletic centers, housing units or apartments, shopping units, performance halls, indoor/outdoor space combination units and other major building

How often should my office be cleaned? The frequency of an office cleaning depends on several factors but mainly how often the office is open, how many people use it each day, and what type of business is conducted at the building. Most often, offices need to be cleaned more

Window washing commercial buildings has to be done and windows do help facilities make a good first impression. It is, however, unfortunately common for this task to be forgotten, go to long between services, or simply never done or managed. Window washing is important for facility managers to stay on

If you work in an office setting then you are likely familiar with partitions. These barriers separate offices, reception desks, conference rooms, executive suites, and more. Many offices have partitions made of glass and it’s a particularly common choice in newer office space construction. Some office doors are even made

Dumpsters are for trash. Every facility has a trash area. Sometimes the bins are divided by type of trash (e.g. recycle, cardboard only, liquids/chemicals/grease, waste) but the space outside the building designated for trash is mostly the same from building to building. Often at manufacturing facilities, the dumpster areas are

Did you know? …Restaurants need regularly scheduled pressure washing. It is inevitable that nasty, greasy gunk, grime, and buildup will get caked onto entryways and sidewalks over time… and it doesn’t take long. How do sidewalks get so dirty? Most restaurant kitchen staff, cooks, chefs, servers, and hosts are required to

When it comes to general office cleaning, janitorial service providers have a heavy task at hand. And, unfortunately, office staff can tend to be quite critical of cleaners sometimes even when they are doing an excellent job. A common, key area of contention are personal office desks and cubicle desks

Most office spaces need special services throughout the year. How different building staff and facility managers handle these special services varies significantly and depends on the use of the building by staff and customers. Pressure Washing: Many restaurants, for example, need regular weekly or monthly pressure washing to remove residue

No matter what type of material you’re dealing with, proper maintenance is key to keeping it looking clean and prolonging the life of the flooring. As soon as they are noticed, cleaning up spills or messes is important to prevent stains that can soak in. Using the correct chemical cleaners

All facilities need to have a deep clean performed in addition to their regular cleanings. Whether an office, school, theater, clinic or hospital, church, library, restaurant, salon, or factory environment, deep cleans are necessary and should be part of the building’s routine maintenance plan. A deep cleaning will keep a

Facilities large and small need professional outdoor window washing at regular intervals. Depending on budget and need, quarterly or at biyearly cleanings are recommended. But for businesses that have a higher dependence on windows being clean for visibility and appearance, more frequent washings may be required. How does your facility

 Facility managers know that the cold winter months can be tough on the exterior of their building(s). Snow and ice can affect many outdoor aspects that should be evaluated, cared for, and properly maintained. It’s the only way to be proactive about preventing potential further damage and unplanned expenses when

It’s important to maintain your building and all of its resources. That means taking proper care of equipment throughout all seasons. Proper maintenance and storage for your winter tools and landscaping equipment will make sure it’s ready when you need to use it and that you don’t run into any

Though it might not feel like Spring with the fluctuating weather patterns of late, according to the vernal equinox, it is here! Facility managers know that a thorough cleaning at their building makes a huge difference in the Spring months. In fact, Spring cleaning crucial to keep a facility looking

After what has been a long winter for all of us, most are more than ready for spring – And it is finally here! While the first thing that comes to mind regarding building maintenance is probably spring cleaning remember that it’s also time to check all of the safety

When it comes time to do a much-needed spring cleaning at your business, there are some basics facility managers will need to cover to be prepared. Review the basics and collaborate with your maintenance teams to ensure you’re business is prepared for the spring and summer months. Getting everything in

In the Midwest it can be hard to tell that the season has changed when it snows on the first day of spring (and then melts away before the day’s end!). But, spring is here and the ice melt that was so important to put out at your facility during

We’re nearing the end of winter and many of us are looking forward to the spring weather. There are likely, however, several more wintry days ahead of us.   How is your facility looking? How are the floors, carpets, rugs, and matting? Perhaps a bit dingy from the elements? Inevitably,

When and where should flu fighting chemicals be applied? Especially when it comes to fighting the flu, there is no such thing as too clean! A public facility can only truly be clean when the entire space is well maintained, vacuumed, dusted, disinfected, and sanitized daily. Appropriate floor care and

One of the worst things that can happen for any business is sick employees, missed work, and lost business. During flu season, proactive facility managers ensure that their business is protected against an outbreak. Because the flu can spread quickly if a facility is not cleaned well regularly or if

Public facilities, especially public bathrooms, are full of bacteria and germs. It is always important that these spaces are disinfected and sanitized the right way. When it comes to the public’s role in being clean, handwashing is very important. The Global Handwashing Partnership recommends that hands are washed for 20

Do clean hands even prevent the flu? No, however, it can prevent the spread of the flu virus and other germs that can make you sick. When those using public spaces wash their hands at the right times and they wash the right way, everyone is less likely to come

From all of us at System4 of Indianapolis, we hope you, your friends and family had a wonderful holiday. And, we wish you a happy New Year! Part of making the holiday season great is staying warm and cozy. Here in the Midwest, temperatures have dropped well below zero degrees

Cleaning is a skill that keeps facilities and those using them healthy. Skilled cleaners know how to clean surfaces the right way. Cleaners should always be treated well and respected for what they bring to the table. They are essential to the upkeep and successfulness of a facility. Just like

Even healthy people can get the flu. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, “People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away… Most healthy adults may be able to infect other people beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7

Maybe you’ve already heard it… “The flu is really bad this season.” or “There’s going to be a flu epidemic this year.” The fact is that no one ever wants to be sick and no matter the season, being ill is always bad. Also, there is a flu epidemic in

Many men and women make a career out of cleaning various private and public facilities. It is a decent and honorable way to earn a living. They keep public spaces clean, healthy, and well maintained for others who use them. Because it is a background role, cleaning can sometimes be

Indoor air quality in any space, though often overlooked, is a very important aspect to maintaining a healthy facility. Air quality is directly related to the health of those using a space. The air we breathe is not always at the top of our minds when thinking about the cleanliness

Live plants always look nice but there are many benefits of placing them throughout a building. Facilities that lack indoor plants may want to consider adding them. Here’s why… Air Quality is key to a healthy indoor space! As many facility managers already know, poor indoor air quality is a

It may seem obvious that any public facility or business should remove waste regularly. It’s part of ongoing maintenance. But if it’s not done daily it can cause issues for a space and frustrations for those using it. Have you ever gone to throw something away and the trash bin

We can all agree that it is important for schools and day cares to be clean and disinfect their facilities. It is, in fact, critical that it is done every day. Disinfecting the right areas and surfaces will keep teachers, administrators, and students healthy. In an extreme case, failure to

Those who work in offices or businesses with many computers and electronics know that those spaces can get very dusty, very quickly. Dust can get thick if not cleaned the right way daily. Heavy dust has harmful toxins that are unhealthy for those who use a facility. Without regular maintenance,

Cleaning removes surface dirt and can make a space look cleaner. Sanitizing is important for maintaining a healthy space by reducing bacteria. But, all facilities need to have a daily process for disinfecting common spaces with well used surfaces. What does it mean to disinfect? Disinfecting is a chemical process

“Sanitize – to make sanitary” “Sanitary – of or relating to health“ When it comes to maintaining a healthy facility, regular sanitization is important for reducing pathogenic bacteria that cause infection. Sanitizing is more than just cleaning a surface. It makes the surface sanitary by reducing pathogens to a safe

Source: cleanlink.com | Re-Post System4 1/26/2016 –  The U.S. Department of Education has recently released new data from the 2013–2014 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). The Department releases the CRDC every two years in an effort to create transparency around the educational opportunities and experiences of millions of public school students.