Everyone knows that a career in retail is hard work. Shop assistants work long hours, most public holidays, and aren't exactly top of the list for bonuses when Christmas time comes around. Managers have it just as hard. On top of ensuring that a shop stays on top of its targets, they have to keep an eye on new products coming in. And that's without taking into account the high turnover of staff, which is often an entirely different job on its own...

One job that often gets missed-out is keeping the shop clean and safe for the visiting public. It may feel like enough to run the broom over the floor once a day, but in reality, there are lots more things to keep track of – kitchens, back rooms and store-rooms all need to be maintained and kept under control. The problem is making more time for your assistants so that they can do these crucial things. For many businesses, it simply is impossible.

Daisyclean know all about retail cleaning. Over the years we've cleaned everywhere from shops and warehouses to surgeries and workshops, and if there's one thing we understand, it's that the general public love a clean environment to shop in. Because the fact of the matter is that you really can smell and feel the difference! Good retail cleaning may be invisible to most, but that's the way it should be. The last thing you want is for people to notice a bad smell and associate that with buying things from your business.

With the new year now here, everyone's thinking about things they'd like to change or do in a revised and better way. By showing your staff that you take hygiene seriously, you're more likely to get the best out of them and encourage them to keep the premises looking nicer. And when shop assistants are happy, they do things better. Which is good news, because with the competition between shops now as intense as ever, nobody can afford to keep doing things in a way which has a negative impact!

Washroom hygiene matters. We all know it does. Yet across the world, countless millions of WCs stay embarrassingly dirty day after day. The reason is simple, of course. For many people, the washroom has always been the place that gets looked after last. With the men's toilets being something of a joke for as long as anyone can remember, washroom hygiene is often looked at as something less than of paramount importance.

The big problem, of course, is that many businesses have a Unisex toilet rather than two separate WCs. Is this the case in your office? If so, the chances are that you need a company who can deliver professional washroom hygiene. Now let's explore why.

Washroom hygiene is now a firm expectation

In our modern world, TV shows play every single day, telling us the importance of living healthily. It's no surprise, then, that our interest in keeping things clean – not to mention health & safety – has exploded. The result is that the modern worker now expects hygiene everywhere in an office environment. Fail to show your employees that you care about their work-space and they'll probably not thank you for it in the long-run!

Increase staff satisfaction with washroom hygiene

2014 is a time of infinite choice. Fed-up with your job? All you need to do is Google a recruitment company to sort that out. It's no secret that companies who experience high staff turn-over are often the firms who are very busy and successful but also unable to make some crucial changes. One change is ensuring that the work environment is what you would expect to find at home. If it isn't, it may be time to consider getting the professionals in, so that your washroom hygiene accurately reflects what your firm is all about.

Good washroom hygiene means less accidents

Having a problem with people slipping over in the washroom? Is that marble floor stunning on the eyes of your clients, but a potential hazard if they fall over? Washroom hygiene isn't only about ensuring that surfaces are free of bacteria which might create an epidemic of off-days. It's also about preventing accidents so that your business doesn't suffer in the long-term.

Daily office cleaning is one of the biggest parts of our business, and something that goes hand-in-hand with that is offering our advice. Over the years we've offered our professional cleaning words of wisdom to everyone from small businesses to large firms with lots of manpower but very little time. And one of the things we get asked a lot is How much work should be put into cleaning surfaces, floors and curtains? The answer depends, of course, on a few different things...

Keep things easy with daily office cleaning

One of the reasons why dirt and grime gets so ingrained is very simple: it builds up over time. You may think you can spot it as it collects, but the truth is that we all spend a lot of time in our work-zones focussing on important tasks. That means we don't always notice the small things, like what needs to be kept clean and hygienic.

A good rule of thumb our professional cleaners like to follow is know your material. While you can use a lot of aggressive cleaning products on marble and granite, those curtains might not be as grateful. One of the most difficult things to know is which spray or cleaning liquid to buy. This is made even more tricky when so many bottles say General Use on them. How do you know what's general and what's not?

Testing a small area first is always good

Even if you've done your research and discovered that you need to clean those expensive curtains with a special liquid you can only buy from certain companies, it may still be a wise idea to test a small area first. Why? Because some chemicals may appear to leave materials untouched, but then show their true colours moments later! Another good idea is to always know what to do if something goes wrong. Having a soapy sponge on hand is much better than having to Google it. By the time you get back from the computer, those chemicals may have done more damage than you could ever have predicted...

So, the general rule is that hard-wearing surfaces like lino, stone and brick should be able to take a good cleaning. Materials with tight fibres usually need special treatment, and materials with loose fibres – spongy ones – often need a very careful approach indeed.

If you'd prefer to trust us with your residence or office environment, get in touch and see how we can help. Because we're nice, we'll also give you some advice along the way!

Back when daily office cleaning involved just a decent hoover and a willing employee who could run it over the carpet, it was easy enough to get your floor clean. Nowadays, however, carpet is just one type of floor material, and in an effort to make offices look more swish and stylish than ever, a new contender has risen to the top... That's right: that classy number, laminate flooring. Only thing is, with laminate flooring you need to know what you're doing – which happens to be why people use Daisyclean.

The daily office cleaning basics

The first thing you need to know is that laminate flooring is comprised of four different layers: a moisture-resistant layer on the base, followed by the thick core layer then the image layer. On top of this is what's known as the wear layer.

Wondering why this is essential knowledge? Because when cleaning laminate flooring, you need to be careful not to cause unexpected problems. For example, using a wet mop on laminate flooring is a big no-no, and leaving water hanging about is a terrible idea also! Wax or polish? Forget that fast. Alongside this, you definitely don't want to use any soap-based cleaning products either. Anything abrasive should also be avoided.

How to clean laminate flooring

If you're looking to maximise the life of your laminate flooring, you can either employ Daisyclean, or do it yourself using safe techniques. Sweeping is a great start, and if you need to, liquid-based cleaners can be used – providing you're careful. The point with laminate is that it's easy to over-clean, just as it is under-clean!

Here's how we'd do it:

Sweep it first, then get the vacuum out, followed by a sponge mop (or dry mop). If you can use an electrostatic-free head then you can't go too far wrong.If you need a bit of muscle, adding up to 4 oz. of ammonia to warm water is a good idea.

And if you're asking yourself if you need a special cleaner from the manufacturer of the laminate, our answer would be this: most are the same, so don't worry too much. It's often more about the elbow grease that you put in – eventually, that's what helps you get a nice clean floor. We'd avoid steam mops on laminate too, as these can have a negative effect.

Please see Part 1 before you read this, if you haven't already!

Part 2

Spillage and watery concerns

Spillage is a funny thing. Many offices get used to Terry, from the office outside, who splashes tea on the floor every single time he comes into the office. But spillages do have a dark-side, remember! Spillages can mean disaster if someone slips and luck isn't on their side. And this happens commonly in many kinds of businesses. Not great when someone is transporting boxes or moving the slide projector into the conference room...

So a reporting system ideally needs to be put into place. It can be as simple as calling all the employees into a short meeting on a Tuesday, when they're focussed and alert. Tell them that from now on, all spillages need to be reported, no matter how small. If possible, have a book which spillages get written down in. Even if this happens anonymously, it's a good idea. As long as someone is assigned the task of checking and acting on anything reported.

Speaking of which...what happens once the spillage is reported? It's all good and well checking, but what if the person checking forgets to clear it up or simply gets too busy to do so? It's always good to have a couple of people keep an eye on this. Daisyclean can help you out, of course. Because we handle office cleaning and evening cleaning for lots of firms, we also handle washing the floor. And with us doing so, we keep things tidy and clean and dry. Which means that your employees aren't tasked with this extra job and can get on better with what they are doing.

Non-slip or full-slip?

It may sound obvious, but if an area is wet much of the time, it may be worth covering the area with non-slip – grippy – materials. This may mean spending money, but the rewards are obvious. A clear period of injury and safe employees is enough to prove that spending the money was certainly worth it.

You'll also want to consider giving your employees non-slip safety shoes – especially if an area of your work-place is renowned for being the home of many accidents. Equally, a clean floor makes a big difference and makes less work in the long run.

So...are your floors and workplace getting the attention they deserve?

Slips and trips are the joke that every office is made of. Remember that time when Andy from HR tripped over that vacuum cleaner lead the cleaner had left out (not our cleaner!) and ended up blushing and embarrassed on the floor? That's all good and well when the accident is innocent, but it may not be so hilarious when Jill from accounts goes flying down the stairs and has to have 6 months off work due to a slipped disc...

For ease of use, this check-list has been split into 2 parts. Expect the second part this Thursday.

PART 1

Walkways and areas of work

Let's take a look at your walk-ways and gang-ways. Offices are naturally busy places, but casting an eye over these may help keep things risk free and save on petty accidents that cause serious long-term problems. So, are there any loose floor-boards? What about that carpet that badly needs replacing? Masking tape might cut it until the carpet guy turns up, but stories abound of office environments where sticky-up carpet causes a routine hazard, so best get it sorted.

Now look beyond how the office appears. If possible, imagine the office without its desks and without the water filter. Now mentally fill the office back up with its various items. Does that box in the corner really need to be there after all? Objects which settle into place and literally become part of the furniture are a big problem which often get overlooked. Just because nobody has had an accident yet, well...that doesn't mean that it still isn't possible!

Now onto safety signs. For example, if Graham from Health & Safety is forgetting to follow his own advice and not putting up hazard signs after he's mopped the kitchen floor, Audrey from Finance may just go flying. Not so funny when twenty-five angry employees need to be paid!

Extra equipment and using it safely

One common problem for many offices is extra equipment. For example, aisles between work-stations may have been wide enough three years ago, but what about when mechanical equipment has been brought in? Are they wide enough now? If the equipment or machine is hitting every work station as it passes through, this needs to be looked at. Likewise, if a cleaner cannot fit through the gaps, how can they be expected to do their job properly? Not seeing to this crucial issue costs you time and ultimately makes you much less efficient.

What's daily office cleaning got to do with improving stress? In this article, we'll explain all.

According to statistics, the main work activities blamed for creating stress are work pressure, lack of managerial support and work-related bullying and violence. And anyone who has ever worked in an office will say the same thing: because people are very busy, things can get heated. Unsurprisingly, cleaning and maintaining the office is way down on the list of priorities – mainly because a lot of workers don't see cleaning as their job (which, to be fair, it generally isn't). They want to go home at the end of the day, not discuss with the boss why the cleaning isn't getting done and the place is a mess.

Getting a cleaner – or several cleaners – in to help can be a challenge for some workplaces, but it's ultimately a good solution that eases pressure on workers. Daily office cleaning might sound like a basic thing, but in fact it's connected with the welfare of workers both psychologically and physically. In the first case, a clean and hygienic environment ensures peace-of-mind, and in the second, a lack of germs and bacteria means that contagious illnesses aren't spread as easily (which is good, because bugs spread in closed environments at a rapid rate, particularly in winter). The result? Employees are happier in themselves, less stressed with arguing about who's turn it is to clean the WC, and they aren't off sick as much.

Daily office cleaning also means less clutter: rubbish doesn't accumulate as much, the place smells better, and people want to spend time in the kitchen. Which is the way it should be, right? If you can keep the kitchen tidy and clean, your employees will benefit from the breaks they deserve, then be more ready and willing to give back to your organisation as you expect.

Another benefit of daily office cleaning is that it puts everyone in a good mood, first thing in the morning, setting the scene for the rest of the day. Instead of walking in and being met by a stale smell of odour from the day previous, employees smile, think positively and are more likely to offer the kind of customer service that is critical to maintaining your reputation.

Anyone who has ever explored the idea of daily office cleaning will be aware that there are dozens of companies who would appear to be suitable. The question is, is appearing to be suitable enough? In this blog post, we'll explore the positive attributes we've always tried to offer clients, and look at the things which help clients pair up with the right cleaning contractor for them.

Daily office cleaning prices

Price is something which can be difficult. If a contractor costs more than many other companies, they may be deemed overly expensive. If they're cheaper than most companies, that doesn't look fantastic either. What we would say is this: you might think you're getting a great deal if you're paying less than the market rate, but that's not necessarily the case. For example, the lower price could signify a lack of training on the cleaners' part, a hurried approach to the job which means less than satisfactory cleaning, or these two things and more. There is also something to be said for additional advice. Here at Daisyclean, we've always tried to be both a resource and a provider to our clients. That way, when they need help with health and safety as well as cleaning, we can step in. The result is saved money in the long-run, because other service providers don't need to be called out.

Talk about daily office cleaning objectives

One way to ensure that you get a contractor who can handle the scope of your work is to write down a list of objectives and ask them if they can meet them. For instance, can they provide a cleaner at the times you need them? Are they able to handle sudden changes in your office's working life? Do they do deep cleaning and understand the nuances of handling different types of laminate floor?

Good daily office cleaning demands research

One thing which many people don't do before hiring a cleaning company is check the crucial details. Do they have full insurance? Have they been reviewed favourably online? A decent cleaning company should jump at the chance to put you in touch with happy past and present customers, so if this isn't forthcoming, it's time to have a serious re-think about how you're going to get the daily office cleaning services that you really need.

Daily office cleaning is one of those things that many companies promise they will do, but when it comes down to it, other things get in the way. We get that, but at the same time, we know what we've been told by those who have used our services. And one of those things may surprise you: daily office cleaning can have a genuine impact on the quality of individuals that your business attracts as employees.

Picture the scene: you've just arrived at a company's HQ for your interview. On the job description, it promised a job working for a company who know exactly what they are doing. Yet when you walk into the boss's office, the bin is over-flowing and the carpet is heavily stained from years' worth of abuse. You don't want to form a bad first impression so you ignore it, putting it down to the firm simply being very busy. That's until you get a tour of the office, where it soon becomes clear that the mess stretches far and wide. Being someone that likes things nice and tidy, this isn't quite what you were hoping for...

Daily office cleaning benefits everyone

Then consider the opposite. A firm which benefits from Daisyclean's fresh and proper daily office cleaning service...a firm whose carpet is clean and whose bins are emptied on a regular basis. On top of all this, the office smells fantastic, giving you a great feeling about who you'll be working for. Better still, you're not troubled by the sound of vacuum cleaners on your very first week, because while you're all having lunch, the cleaners are getting things sorted out efficiently, leaving you to come back to an office environment that is reliably clean, each and every week of every single month. Putting it like that, which employer are you most likely to choose?

A safe, clean and fresh environment attracts employees who are conscientious, particular and capable of keeping things nicely organised. With daily office cleaning, employees are likely to be in a better frame of mind more often, too. The fact that nobody has to argue about who is taking out the bins means that everyone can spend more time doing what they're supposed to be doing!

Admin staff are the unsung heroes of the working world. While it's a running joke that all office staff do is sit at their desks and drink coffee – and we admit that it has to be a big part of it to get through the day! – it's also a fact that admin staff are the essential ingredient to every business's success.

Sadly, office staff often end up doing a lot more than their job description. And we understand why businesses ask their admin staff to go the extra mile. Because they're great all-rounders and capable of adapting to any task you can throw at them, office staff are the obvious solution when a little extra cleaning needs to be done.

Only there are problems with asking your admin workers to take care of the cleaning. The first is that it's probably not in their job description – not great for their working self-esteem – and the second is that office cleaning can cause invisible problems when it's done wrong. Sure, the conference room may look clean and tidy, but how do you know that Dave from accounting hasn't spread germs and bacteria everywhere, setting-up a potential death-trap? Professional office cleaning is about so much more than simply making things look the part. It's about ensuring that hygiene is protecting your staff as much as possible, and in turn, it's about keeping your business from suffering the common problems that can put even more pressure on other workers.

Another great reason to consider office cleaning is more simple: you want your employees to have a full 1 hour lunch break, and you want your staff to use their skills to the max. New employees often need training to be brought up-to-speed, but many admin staff complain that they're too bogged-down by other tasks to give up any more of their time. Employing a professional cleaning firm like us can help with all that. We'll buy your staff time, make sure that nobody is having to undergo any steep cleaning learning curves and do all this in a way which doesn't interfere with the thriving business that you are running.