Cleaning office common areas: “Environment shapes attitude”
There is little doubt that successful businesses operate in environments that are comfortable and clean. Maintaining this type of atmosphere is important for keeping both employees and customers satisfied. It ensures that visitors receive a good first impression of your company, that everyone remains healthy and that productivity is maximized.
These benefits might not seem crucial, but they can make a huge impact on a business over time. For example, according to data compiled by the International Sanitary Supply Association, employee sick days in the United States end up costing businesses $225.8 billion each year. Meanwhile exposure to colds, flu viruses and dust inhibit employee performance and cognitive skills.
Customers, too, value cleanliness. Whether shopping, eating out or using an office restroom, customers rate cleanliness as a top factor in their willingness to do business with a given company.
Thankfully, keeping employees and customers happy—and your business running smoothly—doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, of all the operating expenses that a business faces annually—expenses such as insurance, building management costs, utilities and taxes—cleaning and maintenance are the lowest ones.
But what is “clean”? Is there a standard of cleaning? And is an environment that looks clean synonymous with an environment that is healthy?
Professor Michael Berry, who has authored a book titled Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health, defines cleaning as “putting unwanted matter in its proper place.” This process involves separating the unwanted matter from an object, containing the unwanted matter so that it can be effectively moved, transporting the unwanted matter to a suitable location and properly disposing of the unwanted matter.
Each day people are exposed to millions of bioaerosols, including microorganisms like fungi, bacteria and viruses. Some of these microorganisms have beneficial effects, but others are detrimental to human health. A good cleaning routine is the only way to reduce the deleterious effects of these unwanted pollutants.
At Avery Cleaning, we have identified the following seven major sources of airborne microorganisms in the office environment: humans, plants, bathrooms,
HVAC systems, mold, dust re-suspension and the outdoor environment.
Humans are one of the biggest sources of bioaerosols in office buildings because we carry a myriad of microorganisms in our digestive tract and on our skin. Respiration and the daily shedding of millions of skin cells result in the build-up of these tiny life forms, especially in poorly ventilated or heavily occupied offices. For example, a collection of airborne microorganisms in a pet-friendly office showed that 40% of the organisms originated from humans, 30% came from dogs and 30% came from the outdoors.
Uncontrolled moisture and engineering mistakes in built environments can further contribute to the accumulation of microorganisms, especially fungi. Meanwhile, constant foot traffic leads to the tracking-in of pollutants from the outside world. These pollutants tend to amass on surfaces and are constantly re-suspended as we walk or otherwise interact with those surfaces throughout the day.
In fact, contamination largely occurs not from coughs or sneezes, but from the re-suspension of bacteria from floor surfaces. A study by showed that one person can re-emit an average of 10 million bacteria per hour. Further, it turns out that the type of floor surface plays a role in the degree to which particles are re-suspended in the air.
In the study, one person was first asked to walk on both a carpeted surface and on plastic sheeting. Next, researchers invited 30 people to walk only on the plastic sheeting. The results showed that a single person walking on carpeting re-suspended more particles than 30 people did walking on plastic sheeting.
In addition to floors, objects susceptible to cross-contamination in offices include tabletops, office equipment, items in break rooms and bathrooms, as well as many other frequently touched surfaces. Without regular cleaning, all of these surfaces accumulate more and more pollutants over time and pose greater dangers to human health.
Clearly, cleaning for health is much more valuable than cleaning for appearances. That’s why at Avery Cleaning, we use research-based techniques to ensure that every inch of your office environment is left not only looking clean, but also more hygienic for your employees and customers.
Our unique approach to wiping tabletops and other flat surfaces employs a spray-microfiber-squeegee extraction vacuum. All our microfiber towels are disposable; we never wash and reuse these tools.
When it comes to floors, we use auto scrubbers and a spray-and-vac method of cleaning to reduce cross-contamination risks. This method eliminates germs far more effectively than the use of traditional string or microfiber mops and buckets. We also use quiet HEPA-filter vacuums for improved indoor air quality.
Regularly cleaned surfaces lead to less re-suspension of harmful pollutants, and, ultimately, to reduced illness and absenteeism. Regular cleaning also boosts employee morale, attracts new customers and helps companies grow their business. As Professor Berry says, “Environment shapes attitude.”
At Avery Cleaning, we are happy to sit down with you to consider your unique set of problems. What areas would you like addressed? What issues do you see emerging on a regular basis? Together, we will work to develop a customized cleaning program that makes sense for your office and schedule.
Here are just some of the highlights of what we offer:
· We sanitize bathrooms with a high-level of detail, especially when it comes to disinfecting high-touch surfaces to minimize the risk of germ transfer
· We make your break room a pristine space to eat lunch and unwind
· Our professional office cleaning crews wear uniforms and name tags, so you can feel secure knowing who is in your space
Call Avery Cleaning today at (860) 503-8333 to schedule a consultation with our team.
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Cleaning office common areas: “Environment shapes attitude”
There is little doubt that successful businesses operate in environments that are comfortable and clean. Maintaining this type of atmosphere is important for keeping both employees and customers satisfied. It ensures that visitors receive a good first impression of your company, that everyone remains healthy and that productivity is maximized.
These benefits might not seem crucial, but they can make a huge impact on a business over time. For example, according to data compiled by the International Sanitary Supply Association, employee sick days in the United States end up costing businesses $225.8 billion each year. Meanwhile exposure to colds, flu viruses and dust inhibit employee performance and cognitive skills.
Customers, too, value cleanliness. Whether shopping, eating out or using an office restroom, customers rate cleanliness as a top factor in their willingness to do business with a given company.
Thankfully, keeping employees and customers happy—and your business running smoothly—doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, of all the operating expenses that a business faces annually—expenses such as insurance, building management costs, utilities and taxes—cleaning and maintenance are the lowest ones.
But what is “clean”? Is there a standard of cleaning? And is an environment that looks clean synonymous with an environment that is healthy?
Professor Michael Berry, who has authored a book titled Protecting the Built Environment: Cleaning for Health, defines cleaning as “putting unwanted matter in its proper place.” This process involves separating the unwanted matter from an object, containing the unwanted matter so that it can be effectively moved, transporting the unwanted matter to a suitable location and properly disposing of the unwanted matter.
Each day people are exposed to millions of bioaerosols, including microorganisms like fungi, bacteria and viruses. Some of these microorganisms have beneficial effects, but others are detrimental to human health. A good cleaning routine is the only way to reduce the deleterious effects of these unwanted pollutants.
At Avery Cleaning, we have identified the following seven major sources of airborne microorganisms in the office environment: humans, plants, bathrooms,
HVAC systems, mold, dust re-suspension and the outdoor environment.
Humans are one of the biggest sources of bioaerosols in office buildings because we carry a myriad of microorganisms in our digestive tract and on our skin. Respiration and the daily shedding of millions of skin cells result in the build-up of these tiny life forms, especially in poorly ventilated or heavily occupied offices. For example, a collection of airborne microorganisms in a pet-friendly office showed that 40% of the organisms originated from humans, 30% came from dogs and 30% came from the outdoors.
Uncontrolled moisture and engineering mistakes in built environments can further contribute to the accumulation of microorganisms, especially fungi. Meanwhile, constant foot traffic leads to the tracking-in of pollutants from the outside world. These pollutants tend to amass on surfaces and are constantly re-suspended as we walk or otherwise interact with those surfaces throughout the day.
In fact, contamination largely occurs not from coughs or sneezes, but from the re-suspension of bacteria from floor surfaces. A study by showed that one person can re-emit an average of 10 million bacteria per hour. Further, it turns out that the type of floor surface plays a role in the degree to which particles are re-suspended in the air.
In the study, one person was first asked to walk on both a carpeted surface and on plastic sheeting. Next, researchers invited 30 people to walk only on the plastic sheeting. The results showed that a single person walking on carpeting re-suspended more particles than 30 people did walking on plastic sheeting.
In addition to floors, objects susceptible to cross-contamination in offices include tabletops, office equipment, items in break rooms and bathrooms, as well as many other frequently touched surfaces. Without regular cleaning, all of these surfaces accumulate more and more pollutants over time and pose greater dangers to human health.
Clearly, cleaning for health is much more valuable than cleaning for appearances. That’s why at Avery Cleaning, we use research-based techniques to ensure that every inch of your office environment is left not only looking clean, but also more hygienic for your employees and customers.
Our unique approach to wiping tabletops and other flat surfaces employs a spray-microfiber-squeegee extraction vacuum. All our microfiber towels are disposable; we never wash and reuse these tools.
When it comes to floors, we use auto scrubbers and a spray-and-vac method of cleaning to reduce cross-contamination risks. This method eliminates germs far more effectively than the use of traditional string or microfiber mops and buckets. We also use quiet HEPA-filter vacuums for improved indoor air quality.
Regularly cleaned surfaces lead to less re-suspension of harmful pollutants, and, ultimately, to reduced illness and absenteeism. Regular cleaning also boosts employee morale, attracts new customers and helps companies grow their business. As Professor Berry says, “Environment shapes attitude.”
At Avery Cleaning, we are happy to sit down with you to consider your unique set of problems. What areas would you like addressed? What issues do you see emerging on a regular basis? Together, we will work to develop a customized cleaning program that makes sense for your office and schedule.
Here are just some of the highlights of what we offer:
· We sanitize bathrooms with a high-level of detail, especially when it comes to disinfecting high-touch surfaces to minimize the risk of germ transfer
· We make your break room a pristine space to eat lunch and unwind
· Our professional office cleaning crews wear uniforms and name tags, so you can feel secure knowing who is in your space
Call Avery Cleaning today at (860) 503-8333 to schedule a consultation with our team.
',
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CLEANING OFFICE COMMON AREAS: “ENVIRONMENT SHAPES ATTITUDE”
THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES OPERATE IN ENVIRONMENTS
THAT ARE COMFORTABLE AND CLEAN. MAINTAINING THIS TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE IS IMPORTANT FOR KEEPING BOTH EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS SATISFIED. IT ENSURES THAT VISITORS RECEIVE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION OF YOUR COMPANY, THAT EVERYONE REMAINS HEALTHY AND THAT PRODUCTIVITY IS MAXIMIZED.
 
THESE BENEFITS MIGHT NOT SEEM CRUCIAL, BUT THEY CAN MAKE A HUGE IMPACT
ON A BUSINESS OVER TIME. FOR EXAMPLE, ACCORDING TO DATA COMPILED BY THE INTERNATIONAL SANITARY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION, EMPLOYEE SICK DAYS IN THE UNITED STATES END UP COSTING BUSINESSES $225.8 BILLION EACH YEAR. MEANWHILE EXPOSURE TO COLDS, FLU VIRUSES AND DUST INHIBIT EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE AND COGNITIVE SKILLS.
CUSTOMERS, TOO, VALUE CLEANLINESS. WHETHER SHOPPING, EATING OUT OR USING
AN OFFICE RESTROOM, CUSTOMERS RATE CLEANLINESS AS A TOP FACTOR IN THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DO BUSINESS WITH A GIVEN COMPANY.
THANKFULLY, KEEPING EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS HAPPY—AND YOUR BUSINESS RUNNING
SMOOTHLY—DOESN’T HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE. IN FACT, OF ALL THE OPERATING EXPENSES THAT A BUSINESS FACES ANNUALLY—EXPENSES SUCH AS INSURANCE, BUILDING MANAGEMENT COSTS, UTILITIES AND TAXES—CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE ARE THE LOWEST ONES.  
BUT WHAT IS “CLEAN”? IS THERE A STANDARD OF CLEANING? AND IS AN ENVIRONMENT
THAT LOOKS CLEAN SYNONYMOUS WITH AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS HEALTHY?
 
PROFESSOR MICHAEL BERRY, WHO HAS AUTHORED A BOOK TITLED PROTECTING
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: CLEANING FOR HEALTH, DEFINES CLEANING AS “PUTTING UNWANTED MATTER IN ITS PROPER PLACE.” THIS PROCESS INVOLVES SEPARATING THE UNWANTED MATTER FROM AN OBJECT, CONTAINING THE UNWANTED MATTER SO THAT IT CAN BE EFFECTIVELY MOVED, TRANSPORTING THE UNWANTED MATTER TO A SUITABLE LOCATION AND PROPERLY DISPOSING OF THE UNWANTED MATTER.
 
EACH DAY PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO MILLIONS OF BIOAEROSOLS, INCLUDING MICROORGANISMS
LIKE FUNGI, BACTERIA AND VIRUSES. SOME OF THESE MICROORGANISMS HAVE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS, BUT OTHERS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO HUMAN HEALTH. A GOOD CLEANING ROUTINE IS THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE THE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF THESE UNWANTED POLLUTANTS.
 
AT AVERY CLEANING, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING SEVEN MAJOR SOURCES
OF AIRBORNE MICROORGANISMS IN THE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT: HUMANS, PLANTS, BATHROOMS [ /BLOG/SWIMMING-POOL/ ] , HVAC SYSTEMS, MOLD, DUST RE-SUSPENSION AND THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT.
 
HUMANS ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST SOURCES OF BIOAEROSOLS IN OFFICE BUILDINGS
BECAUSE WE CARRY A MYRIAD OF MICROORGANISMS IN OUR DIGESTIVE TRACT AND ON OUR SKIN. RESPIRATION AND THE DAILY SHEDDING OF MILLIONS OF SKIN CELLS RESULT IN THE BUILD-UP OF THESE TINY LIFE FORMS, ESPECIALLY IN POORLY VENTILATED OR HEAVILY OCCUPIED OFFICES. FOR EXAMPLE, A COLLECTION OF AIRBORNE MICROORGANISMS IN A PET-FRIENDLY OFFICE SHOWED THAT 40% OF THE ORGANISMS ORIGINATED FROM HUMANS, 30% CAME FROM DOGS AND 30% CAME FROM THE OUTDOORS.
 
UNCONTROLLED MOISTURE AND ENGINEERING MISTAKES IN BUILT ENVIRONMENTS CAN
FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCUMULATION OF MICROORGANISMS, ESPECIALLY FUNGI. MEANWHILE, CONSTANT FOOT TRAFFIC LEADS TO THE TRACKING-IN OF POLLUTANTS FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. THESE POLLUTANTS TEND TO AMASS ON SURFACES AND ARE CONSTANTLY RE-SUSPENDED AS WE WALK OR OTHERWISE INTERACT WITH THOSE SURFACES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
 
IN FACT, CONTAMINATION LARGELY OCCURS NOT FROM COUGHS OR SNEEZES, BUT FROM
THE RE-SUSPENSION OF BACTERIA FROM FLOOR SURFACES. A STUDY BY SHOWED THAT ONE PERSON CAN RE-EMIT AN AVERAGE OF 10 MILLION BACTERIA PER HOUR. FURTHER, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE TYPE OF FLOOR SURFACE PLAYS A ROLE IN THE DEGREE TO WHICH PARTICLES ARE RE-SUSPENDED IN THE AIR.
 
IN THE STUDY, ONE PERSON WAS FIRST ASKED TO WALK ON BOTH A CARPETED SURFACE
AND ON PLASTIC SHEETING. NEXT, RESEARCHERS INVITED 30 PEOPLE TO WALK ONLY ON THE PLASTIC SHEETING. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT A SINGLE PERSON WALKING ON CARPETING RE-SUSPENDED MORE PARTICLES THAN 30 PEOPLE DID WALKING ON PLASTIC SHEETING.
 
IN ADDITION TO FLOORS, OBJECTS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CROSS-CONTAMINATION IN OFFICES
INCLUDE TABLETOPS [ /BLOG/DESKTOP-SURFACES/ ] , OFFICE EQUIPMENT, ITEMS IN BREAK ROOMS AND BATHROOMS, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER FREQUENTLY TOUCHED SURFACES. WITHOUT REGULAR CLEANING, ALL OF THESE SURFACES ACCUMULATE MORE AND MORE POLLUTANTS OVER TIME AND POSE GREATER DANGERS TO HUMAN HEALTH.
 
CLEARLY, CLEANING FOR HEALTH IS MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN CLEANING FOR APPEARANCES.
THAT’S WHY AT AVERY CLEANING, WE USE RESEARCH-BASED TECHNIQUES TO ENSURE THAT EVERY INCH OF YOUR OFFICE ENVIRONMENT IS LEFT NOT ONLY LOOKING CLEAN, BUT ALSO MORE HYGIENIC FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.
 
OUR UNIQUE APPROACH TO WIPING TABLETOPS AND OTHER FLAT SURFACES EMPLOYS
A SPRAY-MICROFIBER-SQUEEGEE EXTRACTION VACUUM. ALL OUR MICROFIBER TOWELS ARE DISPOSABLE; WE NEVER WASH AND REUSE THESE TOOLS.
 
WHEN IT COMES TO FLOORS, WE USE AUTO SCRUBBERS AND A SPRAY-AND-VAC METHOD
OF CLEANING TO REDUCE CROSS-CONTAMINATION RISKS. THIS METHOD ELIMINATES GERMS FAR MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN THE USE OF TRADITIONAL STRING OR MICROFIBER MOPS AND BUCKETS. WE ALSO USE QUIET HEPA-FILTER VACUUMS [ /BLOG/VACUUM-CLEANERS/ ] FOR IMPROVED INDOOR AIR QUALITY.
 
REGULARLY CLEANED SURFACES LEAD TO LESS RE-SUSPENSION OF HARMFUL POLLUTANTS,
AND, ULTIMATELY, TO REDUCED ILLNESS AND ABSENTEEISM. REGULAR CLEANING ALSO BOOSTS EMPLOYEE MORALE, ATTRACTS NEW CUSTOMERS AND HELPS COMPANIES GROW THEIR BUSINESS. AS PROFESSOR BERRY SAYS, “ENVIRONMENT SHAPES ATTITUDE.”
 
AT AVERY CLEANING, WE ARE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU TO CONSIDER YOUR UNIQUE
SET OF PROBLEMS. WHAT AREAS WOULD YOU LIKE ADDRESSED? WHAT ISSUES DO YOU SEE EMERGING ON A REGULAR BASIS? TOGETHER, WE WILL WORK TO DEVELOP A CUSTOMIZED CLEANING PROGRAM THAT MAKES SENSE FOR YOUR OFFICE AND SCHEDULE.
 
HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE OFFER:
 
·         WE SANITIZE BATHROOMS
WITH A HIGH-LEVEL OF DETAIL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DISINFECTING HIGH-TOUCH SURFACES TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF GERM TRANSFER
·         WE CLEAN ALL TYPES OF
FLOORING, INCLUDING CARPET [ /BLOG/CARPET-CLEANING/ ] , TILE & GROUT [ /BLOG/TILE-GROUT-CLEARNING/ ]  AND WOOD. WE ALSO DEEP-CLEAN AND STRIP AND WAX VCT TILE [ /SERVICES/STRIPING-WAXING/ ]  UPON REQUEST.
·         WE MAKE YOUR BREAK ROOM
A PRISTINE SPACE TO EAT LUNCH AND UNWIND
·         OUR PROFESSIONAL OFFICE
CLEANING CREWS WEAR UNIFORMS AND NAME TAGS, SO YOU CAN FEEL SECURE KNOWING WHO IS IN YOUR SPACE
 
CALL AVERY CLEANING TODAY AT (860) 503-8333 [ TEL:8605038333 ] TO SCHEDULE
A CONSULTATION WITH OUR TEAM.',
'~SEARCHABLE_CONTENT' => 'OFFICE BUILDINGS
CLEANING OFFICE COMMON AREAS: “ENVIRONMENT SHAPES ATTITUDE”
THERE IS LITTLE DOUBT THAT SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSES OPERATE IN ENVIRONMENTS
THAT ARE COMFORTABLE AND CLEAN. MAINTAINING THIS TYPE OF ATMOSPHERE IS IMPORTANT FOR KEEPING BOTH EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS SATISFIED. IT ENSURES THAT VISITORS RECEIVE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION OF YOUR COMPANY, THAT EVERYONE REMAINS HEALTHY AND THAT PRODUCTIVITY IS MAXIMIZED.
 
THESE BENEFITS MIGHT NOT SEEM CRUCIAL, BUT THEY CAN MAKE A HUGE IMPACT
ON A BUSINESS OVER TIME. FOR EXAMPLE, ACCORDING TO DATA COMPILED BY THE INTERNATIONAL SANITARY SUPPLY ASSOCIATION, EMPLOYEE SICK DAYS IN THE UNITED STATES END UP COSTING BUSINESSES $225.8 BILLION EACH YEAR. MEANWHILE EXPOSURE TO COLDS, FLU VIRUSES AND DUST INHIBIT EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE AND COGNITIVE SKILLS.
CUSTOMERS, TOO, VALUE CLEANLINESS. WHETHER SHOPPING, EATING OUT OR USING
AN OFFICE RESTROOM, CUSTOMERS RATE CLEANLINESS AS A TOP FACTOR IN THEIR WILLINGNESS TO DO BUSINESS WITH A GIVEN COMPANY.
THANKFULLY, KEEPING EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS HAPPY—AND YOUR BUSINESS RUNNING
SMOOTHLY—DOESN’T HAVE TO COST A FORTUNE. IN FACT, OF ALL THE OPERATING EXPENSES THAT A BUSINESS FACES ANNUALLY—EXPENSES SUCH AS INSURANCE, BUILDING MANAGEMENT COSTS, UTILITIES AND TAXES—CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE ARE THE LOWEST ONES.  
BUT WHAT IS “CLEAN”? IS THERE A STANDARD OF CLEANING? AND IS AN ENVIRONMENT
THAT LOOKS CLEAN SYNONYMOUS WITH AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS HEALTHY?
 
PROFESSOR MICHAEL BERRY, WHO HAS AUTHORED A BOOK TITLED PROTECTING
THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT: CLEANING FOR HEALTH, DEFINES CLEANING AS “PUTTING UNWANTED MATTER IN ITS PROPER PLACE.” THIS PROCESS INVOLVES SEPARATING THE UNWANTED MATTER FROM AN OBJECT, CONTAINING THE UNWANTED MATTER SO THAT IT CAN BE EFFECTIVELY MOVED, TRANSPORTING THE UNWANTED MATTER TO A SUITABLE LOCATION AND PROPERLY DISPOSING OF THE UNWANTED MATTER.
 
EACH DAY PEOPLE ARE EXPOSED TO MILLIONS OF BIOAEROSOLS, INCLUDING MICROORGANISMS
LIKE FUNGI, BACTERIA AND VIRUSES. SOME OF THESE MICROORGANISMS HAVE BENEFICIAL EFFECTS, BUT OTHERS ARE DETRIMENTAL TO HUMAN HEALTH. A GOOD CLEANING ROUTINE IS THE ONLY WAY TO REDUCE THE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF THESE UNWANTED POLLUTANTS.
 
AT AVERY CLEANING, WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING SEVEN MAJOR SOURCES
OF AIRBORNE MICROORGANISMS IN THE OFFICE ENVIRONMENT: HUMANS, PLANTS, BATHROOMS [ /BLOG/SWIMMING-POOL/ ] , HVAC SYSTEMS, MOLD, DUST RE-SUSPENSION AND THE OUTDOOR ENVIRONMENT.
 
HUMANS ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST SOURCES OF BIOAEROSOLS IN OFFICE BUILDINGS
BECAUSE WE CARRY A MYRIAD OF MICROORGANISMS IN OUR DIGESTIVE TRACT AND ON OUR SKIN. RESPIRATION AND THE DAILY SHEDDING OF MILLIONS OF SKIN CELLS RESULT IN THE BUILD-UP OF THESE TINY LIFE FORMS, ESPECIALLY IN POORLY VENTILATED OR HEAVILY OCCUPIED OFFICES. FOR EXAMPLE, A COLLECTION OF AIRBORNE MICROORGANISMS IN A PET-FRIENDLY OFFICE SHOWED THAT 40% OF THE ORGANISMS ORIGINATED FROM HUMANS, 30% CAME FROM DOGS AND 30% CAME FROM THE OUTDOORS.
 
UNCONTROLLED MOISTURE AND ENGINEERING MISTAKES IN BUILT ENVIRONMENTS CAN
FURTHER CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACCUMULATION OF MICROORGANISMS, ESPECIALLY FUNGI. MEANWHILE, CONSTANT FOOT TRAFFIC LEADS TO THE TRACKING-IN OF POLLUTANTS FROM THE OUTSIDE WORLD. THESE POLLUTANTS TEND TO AMASS ON SURFACES AND ARE CONSTANTLY RE-SUSPENDED AS WE WALK OR OTHERWISE INTERACT WITH THOSE SURFACES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.
 
IN FACT, CONTAMINATION LARGELY OCCURS NOT FROM COUGHS OR SNEEZES, BUT FROM
THE RE-SUSPENSION OF BACTERIA FROM FLOOR SURFACES. A STUDY BY SHOWED THAT ONE PERSON CAN RE-EMIT AN AVERAGE OF 10 MILLION BACTERIA PER HOUR. FURTHER, IT TURNS OUT THAT THE TYPE OF FLOOR SURFACE PLAYS A ROLE IN THE DEGREE TO WHICH PARTICLES ARE RE-SUSPENDED IN THE AIR.
 
IN THE STUDY, ONE PERSON WAS FIRST ASKED TO WALK ON BOTH A CARPETED SURFACE
AND ON PLASTIC SHEETING. NEXT, RESEARCHERS INVITED 30 PEOPLE TO WALK ONLY ON THE PLASTIC SHEETING. THE RESULTS SHOWED THAT A SINGLE PERSON WALKING ON CARPETING RE-SUSPENDED MORE PARTICLES THAN 30 PEOPLE DID WALKING ON PLASTIC SHEETING.
 
IN ADDITION TO FLOORS, OBJECTS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CROSS-CONTAMINATION IN OFFICES
INCLUDE TABLETOPS [ /BLOG/DESKTOP-SURFACES/ ] , OFFICE EQUIPMENT, ITEMS IN BREAK ROOMS AND BATHROOMS, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER FREQUENTLY TOUCHED SURFACES. WITHOUT REGULAR CLEANING, ALL OF THESE SURFACES ACCUMULATE MORE AND MORE POLLUTANTS OVER TIME AND POSE GREATER DANGERS TO HUMAN HEALTH.
 
CLEARLY, CLEANING FOR HEALTH IS MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN CLEANING FOR APPEARANCES.
THAT’S WHY AT AVERY CLEANING, WE USE RESEARCH-BASED TECHNIQUES TO ENSURE THAT EVERY INCH OF YOUR OFFICE ENVIRONMENT IS LEFT NOT ONLY LOOKING CLEAN, BUT ALSO MORE HYGIENIC FOR YOUR EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS.
 
OUR UNIQUE APPROACH TO WIPING TABLETOPS AND OTHER FLAT SURFACES EMPLOYS
A SPRAY-MICROFIBER-SQUEEGEE EXTRACTION VACUUM. ALL OUR MICROFIBER TOWELS ARE DISPOSABLE; WE NEVER WASH AND REUSE THESE TOOLS.
 
WHEN IT COMES TO FLOORS, WE USE AUTO SCRUBBERS AND A SPRAY-AND-VAC METHOD
OF CLEANING TO REDUCE CROSS-CONTAMINATION RISKS. THIS METHOD ELIMINATES GERMS FAR MORE EFFECTIVELY THAN THE USE OF TRADITIONAL STRING OR MICROFIBER MOPS AND BUCKETS. WE ALSO USE QUIET HEPA-FILTER VACUUMS [ /BLOG/VACUUM-CLEANERS/ ] FOR IMPROVED INDOOR AIR QUALITY.
 
REGULARLY CLEANED SURFACES LEAD TO LESS RE-SUSPENSION OF HARMFUL POLLUTANTS,
AND, ULTIMATELY, TO REDUCED ILLNESS AND ABSENTEEISM. REGULAR CLEANING ALSO BOOSTS EMPLOYEE MORALE, ATTRACTS NEW CUSTOMERS AND HELPS COMPANIES GROW THEIR BUSINESS. AS PROFESSOR BERRY SAYS, “ENVIRONMENT SHAPES ATTITUDE.”
 
AT AVERY CLEANING, WE ARE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU TO CONSIDER YOUR UNIQUE
SET OF PROBLEMS. WHAT AREAS WOULD YOU LIKE ADDRESSED? WHAT ISSUES DO YOU SEE EMERGING ON A REGULAR BASIS? TOGETHER, WE WILL WORK TO DEVELOP A CUSTOMIZED CLEANING PROGRAM THAT MAKES SENSE FOR YOUR OFFICE AND SCHEDULE.
 
HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT WE OFFER:
 
·         WE SANITIZE BATHROOMS
WITH A HIGH-LEVEL OF DETAIL, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO DISINFECTING HIGH-TOUCH SURFACES TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF GERM TRANSFER
·         WE CLEAN ALL TYPES OF
FLOORING, INCLUDING CARPET [ /BLOG/CARPET-CLEANING/ ] , TILE & GROUT [ /BLOG/TILE-GROUT-CLEARNING/ ]  AND WOOD. WE ALSO DEEP-CLEAN AND STRIP AND WAX VCT TILE [ /SERVICES/STRIPING-WAXING/ ]  UPON REQUEST.
·         WE MAKE YOUR BREAK ROOM
A PRISTINE SPACE TO EAT LUNCH AND UNWIND
·         OUR PROFESSIONAL OFFICE
CLEANING CREWS WEAR UNIFORMS AND NAME TAGS, SO YOU CAN FEEL SECURE KNOWING WHO IS IN YOUR SPACE
 
CALL AVERY CLEANING TODAY AT (860) 503-8333 [ TEL:8605038333 ] TO SCHEDULE
A CONSULTATION WITH OUR TEAM.',
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SCHOOLS & DAYCARES
Safeguarding Children’s Health in Day Care Centers
Day care centers are a great way for young children to socialize and build communication strategies. They also help children manage a structured schedule and lay the foundation for reading and math skills that children will need to develop once they start school.
But it is a well-known fact that children attending day care are more likely to get sick than those who are not enrolled in day care programs. For many parents, sending children to day care is a stressful experience, and they look to facilities for reassurances that their children will be cared for in a safe, comfortable environment.
While day care centers can’t eliminate all
germs and pollutants, there are certainly important steps they can take to mitigate the risks posed to kids. First off, it’s important to recognize that young children have developing immune and organ systems. As a result, they are at a greater risk than adults of being harmed by pollutants, such as lead, fungi, viruses and chemical residue that may be present in dust.
“Pre-school children are not just small adults,” warns Eugene Cole, director of research for LRC Indoor Testing & Research. “They have higher respiratory and heart rates than adults, plus unique oral behaviors, immature livers, kidneys, and immune functions that render them at high risk for adverse health effects from indoor exposures.”
Children, who have little to no knowledge of good hygiene practices, are also active spreaders of fecal and respiratory pathogens. They are unlikely to cover their mouths for a sneeze or a cough, they tend to use their hands to wipe their noses or eyes and they are constantly crawling on the floor, spreading germs to toys, surfaces and other people around them. Therefore, keeping day care centers in tiptop shape is key to decreasing absenteeism and complaints from disgruntled parents.
At Avery Cleaning, we have developed a three-pronged system to help day care providers reduce indoor pollutants in their facilities: prevention, cleaning and awareness.
Prevention
Some games and activities common in day care centers actually promote microbial growth and support the spread of microorganisms. These include rotting log science experiments meant to teach children about mushroom growth and bugs; kitty pools for splashing and floating boats; and classroom pets.
While these activities may be fun for young children, they also pose health risks. For example, fungal organisms, like Aspergillus and Penicillium, while important in composting and decaying vegetable matter outdoors, can quickly accumulate indoors and lead to life-threatening infections. While the medical community seeks more effective anti-fungal treatments, little has been done to address prevention through the reduction of these microbes indoors.
Simply moving the rotting log and similar types of children’s activities outdoors can significantly improve indoor air quality. Other measures, like regularly changing the water in kitty pools and cleaning out pet cages, can also help day care centers better manage indoor environments. For facilities that keep pets and small animals, Professor Cole recommends dedicating “one room as an animal room, thus taking active pollutant sources from the classrooms and facilitating the cleaning process.” Small steps that prevent the accumulation of indoor pollutants can go a long way in improving the air quality in your day care center.
Cleaning
While children can get sick from exposure to coughs and sneezes, most of the contamination in indoor environments actually happens from the re-suspension of pollutants from floor surfaces. In fact, a single person can add 37 million bacteria to the air every hour by re-suspending germs that have accumulated on the floor over time, according to a study conducted by Jordan Peccia, associate professor of Environmental Engineering at Yale University. “The floor dust turns out to be the major source of the bacteria that we breathe,” Professor Peccia says.
In another study, led by Brandon Boor, a Purdue University assistant professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental and Ecological engineering, researchers used a robot wrapped in tinfoil to simulate a child crawling on a carpeted floor. They then tracked the particle concentration in the robot baby’s mouth (represented by red in the graph below) and the particle concentration of the air in the room (represented by blue in the graph below).
The researchers found that when babies crawl, they stir up high levels of dirt, bacteria, skin cells, pollen and fungi from the floor surface. The babies also inhale these pollutants at an amount that is four times (per kilogram of body mass) what an adult would breathe walking across the same floor.
As shown in the graph, when the robot baby is stationary, the particle concentration in a baby’s mouth (red lines) and the particle concentration of the air in the room (blue line) are about the same. But when the robot baby is crawling, the particle concentration in a baby’s mouth rises to almost 100 times as high as the ambient air.
Given these studies, it is paramount to keep day care crawl surfaces clean. At Avery Cleaning, we emphasize frequent treatments and the use of proper techniques and equipment, such as brushless vacuums with single-use bags and carbon and HEPA filters; hot water extraction and carpet shampooing; and the spray and extract method that many researchers nowadays suggest is more effective than the traditional “mop and bucket.”
We also avoid using potent chemicals that can lead to the release of volatile organic compounds for up to a few days after application. Inhaling these compounds invites the chemicals into our bloodstreams, where they can wreak havoc on our bodies—an especially problematic scenario for young children. In lieu of such harsh substances, Avery Cleaning relies on a combination of soap, heat and mechanical applications.
Awareness
Lastly, we believe that raising awareness about indoor pollutants among day care staff is an effective way to reduce the effects of such pollutants on young children, and also on the people working to care for them day in and day out.
Avery Cleaning’s trained professionals offer free educational guidance to teachers and staff to help them understand cross contamination processes and best cleaning practices, and to prepare them for possible infection outbreaks. Our materials are always research-based and adhere to the latest industry standards.
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Ultimately, targeted cleaning at day care centers can help reduce illnesses, prevent child and staff absenteeism, and allay parents’ fears. Call Avery Cleaning today at (860) 503-8333 to learn about how our three-pronged approach of prevention, cleaning and awareness can make a difference at your day care center.
