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Photo of a building at the University of Chicago by Alisa Anton on Unsplash

APPA Survey Reveals How Educational Facilities Teams are Preparing for Fall 2021

As summer winds on, higher education is preparing for a fall like none other: the first time most colleges and universities plan to resume full in-person learning. According to a recent APPA survey, 100% of respondents plan on returning to either a fully reopened campus or hybrid, partially-open model for the fall. This means that after a year and a half of constantly changing plans and emerging (and sometimes conflicting) guidance, many facilities teams are Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago
Zoom presentation screen showing slideshow and four speakers, including Matt Gornick

What We Shared About Industry Trends at SourceAmerica 2021

The SourceAmerica Virtual National Conference was an amazing meeting of the minds for leadership within non-profit agencies. Our CEO, Matt Gornick, was honored to be invited as a panel speaker for a session on industry trends and challenges. Moderator Paul Koepfinger introduced Matt as “a tech geek who got custodial smart” — and he got to live up to that description by sharing how technology helps custodial teams navigate the industry’s changing waters. During his Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago

How to Define Deficiencies on Your Janitorial Inspections

To put it simply, a deficiency on a janitorial inspection is when a line item falls below an acceptable level. The question is, how can you determine what that level should be?     Your business or organization’s definition of a “deficiency” level will depend on a variety of factors, including: Industry standards, such as APPA’s five custodial service levels within the educational facilities industry Your client’s expectations, which may be outlined in your contract or service-level Read more…

By Thomas Cochran, ago

Creating a High-Touch Surface Audit (and Sample Form)

Healthcare facilities have long practiced the art of the high-touch surface audit because any lapse in their cleaning regimen can have devastating consequences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, that thinking has expanded to all industries. Schools, office buildings, retail buildings, and more are all using these audits to ensure that frequently touched items and areas are sanitized regularly. What is a high-touch surface audit? A high-touch surface audit is a janitorial management tool for facilities that need Read more…

By Thomas Cochran, ago

What is a Process Compliance Audit?

A process compliance inspection helps you ensure that the things you can’t see are being properly cleaned and disinfected. It helps get your entire team on the same page. Additionally, it’s a step you can take to assure your clients that you’re cleaning effectively. Why now is the time to inspect your process With the current COVID-19 situation, it’s more important than ever to ensure your cleaning team is using the right process. Additionally, you Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago

Janitorial Bid Walk-Through Guide and Sample Checklist

A bid walk-through checklist helps the bid walk-through process go more smoothly and helps increase your chances of winning the contract. That’s because having a walk-through checklist gives you an advantage over your competitors. It’s your opportunity to introduce yourself and to exhibit your professionalism to potential clients. Companies looking to hire service contractors for their building often spend a lot of time and money making sure the hire is a good fit for their Read more…

By Thomas Cochran, ago

5 Top Tips for Janitorial Teams from 2020

This past year certainly threw a learning curve at professionals within the janitorial and facilities industries. We saw our teams work so hard to keep up with an ever-changing situation (rising to its Dixie Cup moment, if you will). Even as we move into 2021, with some of the same challenges alongside new realities, we’re finding time to reflect on five key lessons we’ve learned. 1. If you collect the data, then make sure you’re Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago
Screenshot of OrangeQC inspection app with the end-of-day report pulled up.

End-of-Shift Inspections for Janitorial Teams

End-of-shift inspections are one of the most important forms janitorial, facilities, and custodial teams use. We’re going to explore what end-of-shift report is, who should perform them and why, what makes them so vital, and how to create your own form with sample questions you can use. Regular inspections are the only way to get a real idea of the efficiency of your janitorial team and how they are performing at your facilities. For more Read more…

By Thomas Cochran, ago

How the Cleaning Industry Is Making the Most of Its Dixie Cup Moment

Kevin Leland, the CEO of Halo, recently wrote an article on How Dixie Cups became the breakout star of the 1918 pandemic for FastCompany. It’s a fascinating read that chronicles the invention of Dixie Cups, which failed to catch on much during the first 10 years of business . . . until the Spanish flu of 1918 came along. Then, everyone scrambled to move away from communal drinking cups, and business exploded. It didn’t just Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago

Writing a Return-to-Work Plan for Your Organization and Cleaning Team

Return-to-work plans lay out the procedures and policies you’ve put in place to make sure your employees can return to work during the COVID-19 pandemic with as much safety as possible. Cleaning teams need two kinds of return-to-work plans in place: one for their client or organization, the other for themselves. Of course, depending on where you live and the industry you work in, you may be opening back up . . . or closing Read more…

By Rachel Matuch, ago