We enjoy working in a clean setting, but we frequently take for granted the work involved to keep it that way. All too often the job of the custodian is a thankless one, despite the pivotal role that position plays in the organization. Stop and think for a moment about the advantages of working in a clean facility. Aesthetics A good first impression is critical; and after all, we only have one chance to make it. Presenting a clean appearance to [...]
Whether the minimum wage increases will have a good or bad impact on the professional cleaning industry is uncertain at this time. But here are steps contractors can take to help address this situation now. Ontario’s New Minimum Wage Increases and You It’s no doubt the new minimum wage increases in Ontario are going to make life a bit more difficult for many cleaning contractors. The hourly rate jumped to $14.00 this year and will go to $15.00 next year. According to [...]
ONTARIO, Canada – Dealing with the FOG of kitchens has long been a challenge for cleaning workers in the food service industry grappling with fats, oils, and grease collecting in drains. FOG is considered the most common cause of slow and blocked drains in a commercial kitchen. Fat, oil, and grease flow down drains initially, but as they cool, they harden, slowing drainage and causing drain backups. “Of the three, grease is the big problem,” said Mike Watt with Avmor, a [...]
CMM Bin Cleaning One More Thing to Clean As we know, there is a lot of discontent today among American travelers regarding many of the U.S. airline carriers. And there is another problem that has been brewing for some time, but now coming to the surface: more and more people are concerned about getting sick, not when they travel, but when they get on the plane. As a result, two reporters from the Today Show decided to test for contaminants on just about [...]
The new SDS is here as most of our dealers, sales representatives, and end-customers know. As of 2016, Avmor is officially transferring from the old MSDS, used for decades, to the new SDS, or safety data sheet. While this change has created some confusion, overall the new SDS is a step forward, especially for users of professional cleaning solutions and a wide range of other products. This is because one of the key benefits of the new safety data sheets is that [...]
Understanding SDS is one of the foremost important things to increase workplace safety and prevent custodial injuries. A Hispanic cleaning worker in North America had her own special way of identifying cleaning solutions. Because English was a second language for her—making it difficult for her to read labels and virtually impossible to read material safety data sheets (MSDS)—she would open a cleaning solution, take a whiff, and determine if it was the product she needed for the cleaning task at [...]
Shaking Things Up for Spring If you look up the origins of the term “spring cleaning,” you’ll find that it actually dates back thousands of years and is shared by major religions that all honored the tradition at about the same time each year. In what is now March and April, these faiths instructed their followers that this was the time of year for “shaking the house,” as one religion called it, and getting everything thoroughly cleaned. The underlying message of [...]
As temperatures rise, certain areas become breeding grounds for bacteria and germs. To keep your facility clean and germ-free, beat the heat by paying special attention to odour control. Odour can hinder your business because of the negative impression it creates. The most important facilities are those that are meant for human activity such as healthcare facilities, camp grounds, schools, community centers, day cares, recreational and sports facilities, and outdoor public recreational areas. Odour Control Odours might develop in surprising [...]
Anyone who has lived through a move knows that sometimes, the details we neglect to consider are the ones that throw us over the edge on what is one of the most stressful days of the year! July first, in Quebec, is known as Moving Day. Across the province, people, couples, families’ box-up and move out. When the U-Haul arrives and everything is seemingly good to go- walls painted and all, we might want to take a bit of [...]
It will not be long before schools will be out for the summer and children will inundate the camps all around the city, trying to squeeze every last drop of summer before the dreaded back to school date. With all the healthy vitamin D kids are exposed to on sun-filled days, it may seem like the only ailment we have to worry about are sun burns. Unfortunately, because children spend so much time in close contact with one another, [...]
With warmer weather approaching, soggy boots and dirt get tracked into the entrance ways of facilities. Now is the ideal time to take advantage of the pleasant season and start it off with a spring cleaning. Here are some helpful tips to get you back into the swing of things for a clean and healthy season! In order to ensure your facility is cleaned to its full potential, use sustainable cleaning solutions that are both safer to use and safer [...]
2015 Industry Trends 2014 had its share of disconcerting health and wellness headlines, need I mention Ebola? With predictions of what lies ahead in 2015, how can we best prepare ourselves for the upcoming year in order to be able to forge some 2015 memories without getting bogged down in concerns for our wellbeing? Using preventative versus reactive measures is at the heart of taking your health and wellness, and that of those around you, into your own hands! Personal Hygiene [...]
