What to Look for in a Professional Commercial Cleaning Service

5/15/2023 (Permalink)

A man professionally cleaning the inside of a large building

What to Look for in a Professional Commercial Cleaning Service  

Brick-and-mortar stores, small commercial spaces, and large-scale office buildings can make a lasting poor impression on customers and potential clients if not cleaned regularly and thoroughly. Business owners want every aspect of their companies to shine, so finding the right cleaning service for the job is essential. Look no further than SERVPRO of Wilson County. 

Commercial cleaning services go beyond basic janitorial tasks to offer a range of support services to maintain a clean and healthy working environment. And should more extensive cleaning issues surface, it helps to have an established relationship with a cleaning company that also offers commercial restoration services. Hopefully, you will never need commercial fire damage restoration or commercial construction services, but should the need arise, you will already have a solid business relationship with a cleaning service with many years of experience and a stellar reputation. Let’s consider what you can expect from commercial cleaners.  

What Commercial Cleaning Services Do  

In short, these services are different from janitorial services, though some tasks will obviously overlap. Commercial cleaning services are generally for regular cleaning in all commercial and public spaces like schools, large and small office buildings, and retail establishments. In contrast, more specific industrial cleaning is localized at large factories and with their massive equipment as well as focusing on heavy soiling as with grease or chemicals. An industrial cleaning company uses pressure washers and powerful chemicals like acetone and hydrochloric acid solutions to help scrub and foam away tough residues. General cleaning services offer more familiar tasks every business needs to make their spaces clean and inviting. 

Let’s look at some standard cleaning services you should expect to receive:  

• Carpeting, rugs, and other floor coverings 
• Upholstery on chairs, sofas, and other furniture  
• Ceilings, walls, and flooring, including hardwood, tile, concrete, and stone  

• Curtains, drapes, blinds, and ceiling fans  
• Light fixtures and chandeliers 
• Air ducts and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems   
• Odor removal and deodorizing  

Other services may not be standard, but they can be valuable to include, like pressure washing sidewalks, patios, and courtyards. Consider the services your business might regularly use to maintain an impeccable appearance and professional standards. Additionally, comprehensive commercial cleaning services offer various disaster recovery and restoration services to get your business up and running after a major damage event. And something to consider that directly affects the health of staff, workers, and visitors is enlisting commercial mold remediation services as well to ensure that all occupants live or work in a safe, hygienic environment.  

Some firms offer commercial specialty cleaning services for unusual issues such as graffiti, vandalism, crime scenes, and biohazards.   

Those services may be rarely needed, but often the same companies that restore businesses after a fire or a flood will do these niche services as well. 

How to Choose the Right Cleaning Service  

Look for a commercial cleaning service that goes beyond the usual janitorial needs by providing specialized services. Selecting a commercial cleaner is like choosing any potential vendor. You want a trustworthy, experienced company with the proper training to handle your business needs. A few questions to consider asking may include the following: 

• Do they have references? A top-rated commercial cleaning service should be able to provide numerous excellent references.   

• Do they have good reviews? Check multiple review sites and inquire with the Better Business Bureau about their reputation.   
• Do they have experience doing jobs in industries or with companies like mine?  
• Do they have 24/7 availability and a rapid response time? 
• Do they have liability insurance? How much?  
• Are they trained in applicable standards like OSHA, RIA, and IIRC?   

• What is their cleaning process?  
• What products do they use?   
• What emergency services, if any, do they offer?   

When Disaster Strikes Your Business   

Some business owners may consider commercial cleaning and disaster recovery two distinct functions. Fortunately, some companies provide exceptional and comprehensive services running the gamut for all scenarios, including general cleaning, water and fire damage, and commercial mold remediation. Enlisting the services of this type of commercial cleaning and restoration services can eliminate the stresses associated with such needs.  

Look for commercial cleaning services that specifically offer disaster recovery and 24/7 emergency services. Those services ensure your business won't be needlessly disrupted after an unexpected disaster. The same screening questions above apply here as well to screen your options. You want a company that has experience with handling disasters and providing renovation and reconstruction services.  

Choose a Cleaning Service and a Disaster Recovery Service  

Evaluate commercial cleaners in the same way you evaluate other service providers. This process has to be customized to consider commercial cleaning and disaster recovery, emergency restoration services, and 24/7 response. If you need professional and experienced commercial cleaning services for your business, call the pros at SERVPRO at 615-449-5000.  

The Power of Mother Nature in the Spring: Who to Call for Storm and Tornado Clean Up

5/8/2023 (Permalink)

A tree fell on a car caused by a storm

The Power of Mother Nature in the Spring: Who to Call for Storm and Tornado Clean Up  

When the seasons change, the weather can turn on a dime, and this unpredictable weather can spawn violent spring storms. Spring tends to bring powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flash floods. If a storm hits, whether it creates a tornado or produces lots of wind and rain, we all know that homes and commercial buildings can flood, roofs can be torn off shingle by shingle, and HVAC systems can be ruined. When storm damage happens, you want to respond quickly by calling storm damage restoration specialists. Structures with damage and standing water can be immediately affected; therefore, it makes sense to act quickly when Mother Nature directs her wrath on any building in her path. Call SERVPRO of Wilson County for your cleanup needs. 

How Storm Damage Restoration Specialists Make Things Right  

When a powerful storm or tornado damages your home or business, you must call storm damage restoration contractors immediately. The longer water stands inside a structure, the more problematic it becomes. Specialized technicians will go right to work evaluating your situation and preparing the restoration process. Details may vary, but repairs generally follow these steps:  

1. Expert assessment – The best approach to repairing storm or tornado damage, especially water damage, is evaluating the extent of the contamination.   

1. Efficient water removal – The removal process can be tricky because water easily finds its way into hidden spaces.    

1. Effective decontamination – Depending on the circumstances, you may need to address a couple of things. Mold and mildew can grow quickly when the conditions are right. Persistent dampness after a storm creates a conducive situation for this unhealthy growth.  

1. Safe debris removal – Shingles, glass, wood, and damaged vinyl siding are some of the materials that might need to be hauled away. Of course, if water permeates well into the structure, there will be waterlogged furniture and flooring to remove and wet drywall panels to tear out.  

1. Handle interior and exterior repair work – A storm damage restoration contractor can replace drywall, flooring, cabinets, roof, and any other areas requiring patching or replacing.  

Understanding the complexity of dealing with extensive storm and flood damage makes it easy to see why storm damage restoration services are so necessary. That said, you can take steps to reduce the disruption that storms and floods cause at home or your business.  

Preparing for Storms 

Fortunately, there are many pieces of information and advice to access when trying to learn how to deal with tornado or storm damage. Preparation is key. If your area is vulnerable to flooding or tornadoes, have an emergency plan in place. Know where your insurance information is, along with other legal documents. You may need that information in the wake of a strong storm. After the storm hits, be prepared to clean up by having the phone number of a storm damage cleanup service on hand. 

Severe Flooding Requires Professional Services 

Tornado damage invariably introduces water into your home or business, leading to many problems. Wood warps and begins to rot. Fabrics, upholstery, carpets, and rugs disintegrate and can be a growth medium for mold, mildew, and bacteria. Water can quickly damage wood flooring and framing materials. Waterlogged drywall must be removed because it will fall apart and support mold growth. Additionally, there can be further contamination by hazardous chemicals in surging or stagnant water.  

Those issues become more serious if a wide storm system causes serious flooding and knocks out the area’s electrical grid. While local authorities work to restore power, your waterlogged property waits. The longer waterlogged interiors sit, the more chance for permanent damage. 

As water stays in the home, it seeps into places out of sight and is effectively unreachable without tearing up the interior. Storm damage restoration specialists will know how to reach those inaccessible spaces and dry them out, knock down mold growth, or remove material that cannot be saved.  

Lastly, even if an excellent job of removing the water and drying the building’s interior is achieved, there is still the issue of possible contamination. This is a more significant risk after flood water enters your home or business because raw sewage can carry microbes and chemicals into your home or business. These issues are best handled by storm damage restoration contractors who know the challenges of dealing with water damage and how to keep things from worsening.  

When Storm Damage Happens, Call in the Experts  

When spring weather causes flooding and other storm damage, the cleanup must begin immediately. That is the only way to prevent further damage. If you have suffered storm damage at your home or business, call the storm damage restoration specialists at SERVPRO of Wilson County at 615-449-5000. We can respond to storm damage in Wilson County 24/7 and call on a disaster recovery team.

Cleaning the Unthinkable: Services for Biohazard, Trauma, and Crime Scene Events

5/2/2023 (Permalink)

Two crime scene cleanup crew members cleaning

Cleaning the Unthinkable: Services for Biohazard, Trauma, and Crime Scene Events  

Unfortunately, violent crimes, fatal accidents, and deaths are unavoidable facts of life. Because most of these occurrences can materialize quickly, the traumatic event will leave behind numerous traces of hazardous contaminants that call for specialty cleaning services that know how to handle trauma and crime scene clean-up. Accidents that include injuries and death, whether at home or in a commercial building, require extensive cleaning and specialized expertise. If an illness stemming from a dangerous pathogen is involved, enlisting a company that specializes in biohazard clean-up is necessary. SERVPRO of Wilson County is here to help with just that.

More Information about Trauma and Crime Scene Clean-up  

Depending on the nature of the event, technicians may have to clean up bodily fluids, dried blood, or tissue fragments. These scenarios may be unpleasant, but rapid cleaning is critical. Below are a few steps in the clean-up process if a violent crime or another event created biohazard materials. 

1. The police will investigate and collect evidence if a crime is suspected.  

1. The biohazard cleaning company will assess the situation to determine what type of cleaning the site needs and how extensive the job will be.   

1. The cleaning company will clean and sanitize. They also remove some building materials or floor coverings, depending on the availability and accessibility of the crime scene.  

Professional clean-up services are valuable in the aftermath of a violent crime as they are places people associated with the event do not want to be. The unpleasantness of traumatic situations is compounded by the health risk many of these scenes pose. Those risks to the public also pose a more immediate danger to anyone who tries to clean up the area without proper equipment and training. The same rule holds for crime scenes that do not involve human evidence such as drug labs.  

Cleaning up in the aftermath of other traumatic events has similar risks. After any catastrophic or fatal situation, cleaning up can be similarly unsettling. When someone dies at home of an infectious disease, whether COVID-19, HIV, hepatitis, or MRSA bacteria, clean-up poses a biohazard to both clean-up workers and anyone in the house. Bodily fluids and blood left behind after a pathogen-associated death may expose residents, workers, and clean-up technicians; therefore, specialty services are crucial to safety.  

To be safe and avoid exposure, as well as address any psychological fallout of the traumatic event in question, hiring a biohazard cleaning company can alleviate many burdens. A cleaning company that specializes in cleaning up after violent crimes and disease-related events will have to be able to comply with relevant EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and OHSA (Occupational Health and Safety Administration) regulations.  

About these Specialty Services  

The common thread in all trauma and crime scene clean-ups is an effort to protect people in the home or business from exposure to hazardous chemicals or pathogens. Both tasks call for specialized equipment and training. The details of trauma and crime scene clean-up will naturally depend on the nature of the incident and the setting where it happened. But here are some general notes on how specialty cleaning services handle several types of events.  

Fatal Fires and Accidents  

If there was a fire, you will need smoke damage repair. The area will need deodorizing. Firefighting chemicals may need to be cleaned up as well. Of course, if the accident resulted in serious or fatal injuries, someone with the proper training and equipment might need to clean up blood and other fluids. Crimes that result in death or serious injury are another case where specialty cleaning services are valuable to spare victims from further trauma.  

Crime Scenes 

Clean-up professionals remove blood, bodily fluids, and any remaining tissue fragments. Depending on the situation, pepper spray or tear gas residue may require removal. Other vectors for pathogens may be left behind, like tissue papers, used bandages, and contaminated clothing fragments.  

Violent crimes against human beings are not the only case where you would need expert trauma and crime scene clean-up. For example, meth labs contain toxic chemicals either in containers or not. Chemical residue in or on the equipment must be appropriately handled. Fentanyl and other drug residues can be hazardous to the untrained clean-up worker.  

A criminal investigation may also leave behind chemical residues that need expert cleaning. Chemicals used to gather evidence or illuminate bodily fluids and fingerprints are prime examples. You do not want those residues left behind; they are not necessarily something the average person could clean up.  

Biohazard 

Many trauma and crime scene scenarios leave behind evidence that can cause serious diseases. After someone dies at home, regardless of the cause, extensive cleaning and disinfecting are necessary. A serious bacterial infection or a COVID-19 infection calls for expert disinfecting and cleaning to make that location safe again. Some professional cleaning firms now offer COVID cleaning services for that reason.  

Leave the Clean-up to Local Experts  

Trauma and crime scene clean-ups are jobs for highly-trained professionals. Cleaning up can be hazardous mentally and physically. Specialized biohazard cleaning to make homes and businesses safe again is a service that we do not want to encounter. Still, reality dictates that any of us may face dangerous scenarios. Call on a biohazard cleaning company to make things right again. When death, major injury, or contagious disease strike, call on trauma and crime scene restoration specialists at SERVPRO of Wilson County at 615-449-5000.