Once you have landed your first contract you will want to organize yourself so that you will not waste time and money in servicing the contract. This should be done with every account you obtain. The only way to keep and maintain income from an office cleaning account is to fulfill your contractual promises to your clients satisfaction. If you treat every account as though your entire business depended on it you will not fail.

First find out who is the responsible person that handles overseeing all building maintenance. This will be your contact person at that particular account location. Make sure that you obtain both his or her office and home phone number. In the event of an emergency you will want to know exactly how to contact that person. Make sure the person in charge of overseeing building maintenance at each account explains fully and in detail the alarm system and the location of all exterior trash dumpsters, circuit breakers and fuse locations. Also make sure the keys given to you open the doors and that you know the location of each light switch. Remember that most of your work will be done in the evening and stumbling around in the dark looking for a light switch is not only a waste of  time, but also quite dangerous. Remember to make a duplicate of each key and keep all of your duplicate keys in a safe place. In the event that you lose the original key you will not have to request another one from your client. Always inquire as to whether there is a janitorial closet available. This will save you time and energy in transporting equipment and supplies in the building and free up space in your vehicle.

As we have stated several times the best way to keep an account is to fulfill all of your contractual obligations in a professional manner. And this can best be accomplished by establishing an orderly work routine and schedule. The whole idea behind establishing an orderly work routine is to accomplish your entire cleaning assignment within a certain time period.

When you first walk into an office for your pre-bid inspection make mental notes as to how you would complete the task of cleaning the office in the most efficient manner. Look closely at the layout of the floor plan and the location of desks, work cubicles and other low barriers. Make a note as to how many trash cans there are situated throughout the office. Also, try to visualize the route you will take from start to finish and whether or not you will need to carry all or some of your cleaning supplies and tools with you in order to minimize backtracking.

Once you have landed the contract try to develop an even flow with your work. When it comes down to it, there are only a few basic steps to general office cleaning. As we stated before the only difference between a small office and a big office is the time it takes to clean it. Below are a few basic steps that, if followed in their proper sequence, will help you to develop an extremely efficient work routine:

A. Trash Collection and Removal:

This is a pretty straightforward procedure that involves absolutely no skill whatsoever. In small offices all you have to do is carry a forty-five gallon trash bag with you. Empty each individual waste basket in the plastic trash bag. Do not overfill the trash bag. No matter how sturdy some of the plastic bags sold today seem to be, they still have a tendency to puncture and split easily. Also we do not recommend using a trash bag larger than forty-five  gallons. Any bag larger will become bulky and unmanageable as it is filled.

For larger offices you will want to invest in a large trash receptacle that is mounted on wheels. Most of the rolling receptacles on the market today are constructed of a durable plastic and are extremely light weight and versatile. If there is not enough money in your budget for the purchase of one of these receptacles simply go down to your local hardware store and purchase three dolly wheels and a forty-five gallon plastic trash can. Mount the wheels on the bottom of the trash can and you will have an inexpensive trash receptacle that will last you for years. As you move from one waste basket to another inspect the condition of the trash can liners. If they are worn or dirty replace them with the appropriate size liner. Also never throw out anything that is not actually inside the waste basket. That includes newspapers and empty boxes. Someone might be saving them. Writing a note and leaving it attached to an empty box after a few days will clarify whether it is trash or not.

At the same time that you empty the waste baskets also empty and wipe all the ash trays that you find. Ash trays can be cleaned with an old damp rag. Also develop a system for removing trash from the building. Stacking each filled forty-five gallon bag by an exit door is usually the best system although there is some degree of backtracking. One last tip on trash removal. As you make your way around, pick up any small pieces of paper, paper clips or any other foreign objects on the floor. This will make vacuuming later a less tedious job.

B. Cleaning Bathrooms:

The number one rule in cleaning bathrooms is wear rubber gloves as you will be constantly coming in contact with bacteria, germs and harsh chemicals. Always take safety precautions at all times when handling cleaning chemicals. Never mix chloride bleach with ammonia or any type of toilet bowl cleaner. The toxic gas that will result can cause illness and even death if inhaled. Cleaning bathrooms does not have to be an arduous ritual. The easiest way to clean all metals, porcelain, and other sanitary surfaces is to use a spray bottle filled with one of the leading multi-purpose cleaners. Spray the entire surface to be cleaned, let it sit a few seconds. and then wipe it clean with a paper towel.

If surfaces such as porcelain sinks are extremely dirty spray the surface with your spray cleaner and then scrub them lightly with a non-abrasive scrub sponge. Under no circumstances should you use a powdered cleanser. It is harmful to most surfaces, messy to clean up and in time will damage the surface. Once you have completed cleaning all the sanitary surfaces in the bathroom use a dry paper towel to shine both the faucets and the mirrors.

Using the same spray cleaner spray and wipe the outside surfaces of all toilets and urinals. Also spray and wipe both sides of the toilet seat. After this had been accomplished, use a brand name toilet bowl cleaner to clean inside the bowls. Be extremely careful not to splash any type of bowl cleaner outside the area to be cleaned. These cleaners all contain acids that can cause injury to hands and eyes.

One of the most overlooked  areas in most bathrooms is the toilet tissues, paper towels and soup dispensers. Keep them stocked and filled at all times.

C. Dusting:

As we stated earlier the best dust cloths are old diapers treated with a dust control spray commonly found in any grocery or hardware store. As you dust move and then replace in the exact spot all items that can be moved. This includes paperwork, files, ash trays, etc. Also as you dust remove all coffee stains, fingerprints and smudges from desk tops, furniture and glass pieces. You can generally clean these surfaces with your general spray cleaner. Just make sure that you dry the surface completely.

You will also be required to dust areas that are close to the floor such as chair legs and baseboards. Also you will need to dust objects on a higher level such as picture frames, window blinds, and moldings. The best way to dust all of these high and low areas is to dust with a good quality feather duster or a lambs wool dusting wand with a long handle. Do a few of these areas every time you can and the dust will never get out of control.

D. Vacuuming: 

The last task of any cleaning job is vacuuming. The best type of vacuum cleaner to use is an upright type with a beater bar. Adjust the height of the vacuum so that it is gently snug against the rug. If the setting is too low it will be hard to push. If the setting is too high it will not be snug against the carpet.

Vacuum the same way you would cut a lawn, overlapping as you go. Again pick up any debris that is in the way. Always vacuum from the back of the office and work your way forward. Make sure not to miss any areas such as a side aisle or under tables and desks. As in dusting, any item you move must be replaced in it’s original location.

One final note on vacuuming. Make sure that you empty the bag often and check the beater bar belt on a regular basis. Even a half full bag will decrease the mount of suction from the vacuum. and increase the time it takes to vacuum.

Once you have completed cleaning the office, take a second look around. Does the office appear clean and orderly? Has special attention been paid to areas that may have been the downfall of the previous cleaning service? Those areas can range from the bathrooms to the front entrance. If the management has complained about a particular cleaning problem make sure it is taken care of in a professional manner every time you clean.

We cannot over emphasize the fact that if you develop an efficient work routine in each office on your cleaning route you will turn a profit in every office.