Cleaning your bathroom 101

The simple rule to observe when cleaning your bathroom is that frequency does certainly relieve the misery of this unpleasant chore. Consider regularly wiping down the bath or shower cubicle every time you use it using a non abrasive cleaner (in the case of certain surfaces such as walls) or a general detergent and a brush to get round the taps. This would only take a few minutes and would prevent the unpleasant annual spring! Do not allow taps to drip as lime scale will eventually gather on the bath’s surface which is close to impossible to remove without causing damage. Use an old toothbrush to remove lime scale from the shower head once a week. Proceed to all other hard surfaces including the mirror and window as well as the door handle. Leave the toilet bowl for last as you would not want to transfer those germs to the rest of the bathroom. Use a pair of rubber gloves and a good toilet brush to scrub the inside of the toilet bowl briefly daily. Remember not to mix different toilet bowl cleaners together as the chemicals could cause a violent reaction. Bleach is by no means an effective cleaning compound as it conceals rather than cleans rather like the ubiquitous Jeyes Fluid. Bowl capsules may turn the water into a clean looking blue but all it does is colour and bleach. They do not disinfect and the smell itself could be offensive. Do not expect to do everything yourself though. The whole family should preferably take turns in this unpleasant chore, but consistency remains key to a fresh, clean bathroom. http://www.bubblews.com/news/427866-cleaning-your-bathroom-101

How to wash lingerie

Lingerie should be laundered according to the fabric concerned or the additional details under the garment headings such as brassieres, corsets etc. Once the underwear gets in contact with the skin and perspiration, it should be washed frequently to prevent grease, dirt and make-up from penetrating the fibres of the material. Quick drying fabrics containing terylene, nylon, lastex etc. should be washed after every wearing. Underwear soiled on the shoulder straps or hemline should be soaked for 20 to 30 minutes in warm soapy water with a detergent. White nylon may become discoloured fairly quickly and should be cleaned daily in a liquid synthetic detergent lather. Discolouration can be corrected with a special white dye in tablet or powder form intended to whiten yellowed nylon. Do not use bleach as it will damage the fibres permanently. Remember to avoid dying white nylon garments near heat or in direct sunlight. Furthermore, nylon or perlon net crinoline petticoats should be washed by hand in hot soapy water, rinsed and left to drip dry. They do not require stiffening or ironing. http://www.bubblews.com/news/416573-how-to-wash-lingerie

Cleaning with methylated spirits

This is an alcohol distilled from molasses (sugar cane) or wood with a dye added. It is useful for removing polish and wax stains and can be used on most oils and grease but is not effective on paints. It may also be used for cleaning mirrors, pictures and windows and for removing stains caused by grass, seaweed, ink and perfume. Always test methylated spirit on rayon (art silk) and apply with a sponge or soak with neat spirit if severe. If in doubt dilute meth with water and rinse. Methylated spirits may also be used to clean jewellery and piano keys, to remove emulsion paint and water wax emulsion polish.

http://www.bubblews.com/news/383500-cleaning-with-methylated-spirits

Clean homes need a doormat

We all have some interesting memory or image stored in our subconscious regarding the good old robust doormat. These doormats have after all reduced the amount of normal cleaning especially if you are living on the ground floor, basement flat or rural home. It maybe nearly impossible to stop sand, leaves and mud from blowing into your home but you may be able to stop them from getting further than the door!
For effective results try using doormat carpeting or at least a sensibly sized square metre or so of doormatting instead of the ubiquitous WELCOME mat. Once the carpeting is lifted you will realize how much dirt had been trapped there which would have entered the house. A foot scraper outside the door could also be useful if your outside environment is muddy.
There is, however, another way of keeping the house clean and that is to refuse anyone entry until they have remove their shoes and replaced them with slippers.

http://www.bubblews.com/news/380579-clean-homes-need-a-doormat

The specific timeframe element of a project

Projects are temporary undertakings that are different from ongoing programmes as they have a desired beginning and end. Projects can last years or decades such as feeding the world’s hungry or finding a cure for HIVAIDS. However, most of your everyday projects at work may last a few hours to weeks or possibly months.
A project begins with a person or group in authority authorizes its beginning. The initiating party has the authority, the budget and the resources to enable the project to be fully realized. Once project goals are completed, the project ends and is replaced by another one.
The efforts of the stakeholders and the effective use of funds are directed toward the success of the project and completed as scheduled in an appropriated manner. During the project there may be interim due dates in which “deliverables” must be completed. These deliverables could be a report, provision of a service, a prototype, an actual product, a new procedure or any one of a number of forms. Each one of them will ensure that the overall project will be completed on time and within budget.

Effective communication is your business lifeline

Building relationships is the most important aspect of a supervisor’s job and nothing can be achieved without the workers’ cooperation using the necessary communication skills. The main function of a supervisor is getting information and passing it on. A very important skill needed is the ability to deal with different personalities successfully. Your expertise is by no means a guarantee that you can teach what you know to others or that you know how to manage people.
New managers frequently do not know how to tackle people problems and they tend to make blinders that affect the working environment and productivity. Their effective business communication will determine their success.
All managers need to be able to communicate clearly through the written word. Putting thoughts in writing gives the writer a chance to think out what they want to say and to choose the best and clearest way to say it. A general notice that does not require a personal response but should be written concisely to ensure effective communication and records of this communication should be kept on file.
Most communication is verbal – speeches, orders, directions and conversations. Although the sender is actually present to deliver the message misunderstandings do occur. Instant clarification of a misunderstanding is possible but only together an understanding can be reached. Even if the manager is quite sure of what they want to say and feel the message may still not be communicated freely.

What is The Big Picture?

What is The Big Picture?

Who is the “do-it-now” person?

When we operate on a do-it-now basis focus remains on the important activities that need to be completed in order to meet organizational objectives. It is the only start to working effectively!
The do-it-now personality can be relied on to get work done on time. They do not put anything off until later, whether the issue involves taking immediate action, thinking matters through or gathering the facts necessary to make a decision. They also tend to create and maintain excellent relationships with their team, colleagues and business partners.
Do-it-now people have the uncanny ability to cope with stress in their business lives due to their well organized approach and intuition in dealing with issues of the day in an orderly manner allowing them to keep stress at a minimum. Once they go home, however, they leave work behind them entirely, pleased that their tasks are under control.
Do-it-now people never need reminding that they need to complete a task and will tell you when to expect that task to be done. Sadly, you never know where you are with people who put things off. When these individuals experience difficulty with a task, they fail to inform management and the error is only detected once the deadline elapsed.
You need to obviously make significant changes in order to become a do-it-now person. Getting organized would involve initial tasks such as changing your filing systems, using a new system for making decisions or implementing a new way of prioritizing actions. Your attitude needs adjustment as well when taking control of your work. In essence, be a proactive person who initiates actions rather than a reactive one who waits to be prompted.
Furthermore, the do-it-now person is quite clear about what their goals are. You should decide what your objectives are and begin to separate what you must do to achieve these objectives from any other matters encountered throughout the day. Simply be ruthless in avoiding unnecessary work!

What is Creativity?

What is Creativity?

Who is The Do-It-Now Person?

Who is The Do-It-Now Person?

Hanover Cleaning Services Profile - This is our new promotional video!

Maintaining a public toilet

Public toilets are usually outsourced to municipal agencies or private companies and a checklist will ensure that no task is left undone. While checklist items or standing orders would vary according to the facilities and local requirements, a number of tasks are common to most lists.
The maintenance team should spray the sink and all countertops with antibacterial disinfectant and then wipe the surfaces down.
Any fecal matter or obvious stains on the toilet bowl should be wiped off or scrubbed out. The bowl should then be disinfected and wiped down, both inside the bowl and outside.
Any litter contained inside the waste basket should be removed and be disinfected as well.
Urinal cakes should be replaced when they have begun to disintegrate and should be checked for foreign items which should be disposed of.
A constant supply of toilet paper should be maintained.
Hand soap dispensers should be examined to determine that they are in a working condition and then refilled to capacity.
All fixtures, including the knobs on the door, the paper towel dispenser and any other metal object, should be wiped down and polished so that all visible stains are removed.
All floors should be first swept and cleared of litter and then thoroughly mopped. A “Caution” sign should be placed and kept up until the floors are dry.
Mirrors should be sprayed with glass cleaner and wiped clear of smudges and stains.
The walls and partitions should also be disinfected and wiped down.

Benefits of our bin cleaning

Bins on our sites need to be cleaned for the following reasons:
Reduce bacterial build up causing bad odours
Decrease the risk of pest infestation: rodents, ants and flying insects
Remove fly eggs and maggots
Kill 99% of all known germs
Reduce the chances of cross contamination to the cooking/trading areas
Provide a clean and hygienic smelling wheelie bin
Disinfected and deodorized wheelie bins will ensure that there will be no mess left on your property

Why property managers need a reliable cleaning service?

Busy property managers need to ensure that vacant properties are presented to potential tenants in the best condition. A cleaning service has the experience to present your properties allowing you to give prospective renters the best view of the property. Cleaning companies can customize their service to meet the needs of property management firms, facility managers and building owners in commercial, institutional and industrial markets. Operations teams utilize check sheets to ensure that properties are cleaned according to agreed specifications. Any maintenance or cleaning needs can be communicated to have the necessary information available to manage the properties more effectively. Furthermore, property managers place a lot of research into trends and statistics when pricing their listings. The difference between selling your home for its listing price is how it feels and smells.

Duties of a cleaner at a public facility

Daily cleaning duties, including toilets, change rooms, activity/programme areas, function rooms, kitchens and other areas to a high standard
Carrying out any minor maintenance as instructed or required
Reporting any damage to the buildings, fixtures or equipment
Maintaining stock levels of cleaning equipment and chemicals
Maintaining all cleaning equipment and report on any breakages or replacement requirements

A brief history of spring cleaning

Spring cleaning refers to the annual act of cleaning a house in the first warm days of the year typically in spring or in certain regions during December in preparation for the festive season like the Scottish “New Year’s Cleaning” on Hogmanay (31 December).
The origins of spring cleaning could date back to the Iranian Norouz, the Persian New Year, which falls on the first day of spring. Iranians continue the practice of “khooneh tekouni” meaning “shaking the house” just before the new year.
Spring cleaning could possibly be traced to the ancient Jewish practice of cleaning the home in anticipation of the memorial feast of Passover. During this period Jews are only supposed to refrain from leavened foodstuffs but are commanded to rid their homes of small remnants of chametz for the length of the holiday. Observant Jews would therefore conduct a thorough “spring cleaning” of the house, followed by a traditional hunt for chametz by candlelight.
During the 19th century in America March was often the best time for dusting as it was getting warm enough to open windows and doors and the high winds could carry the dust out of the house. Modern rural households in North America continue to use the month of March for cleaning projects involving chemical products generating fumes.

Environmental Health workshop at Nyanga Central

Proper management of waste would reduce all risks of contamination and improve the overall cleanliness of the site. All traders were encouraged to adhere to the simple cleaning system of removing all waste in a plastic carrier and dispose of them using the bins that are present all over the site. Animal fatty matter should by no means be dumped in any of the drains and perhaps a mesh covering should be introduced. This would prevent further contamination and assist in the greater pest control initiative. Item was delivered by site manager Marlon Herwel.

Recovery when failures occur

Our operations managers need to constantly decide what they will do when failures do occur.  Our operation benefits regularly from well planned recovery.

The breakdown may be disruptive but not as much as it might be if operations managers had not worked out what to do.

Recovery procedures will also shape the customer’s perception of failure.  It is not necessarily the failure itself that leads to dissatisfaction but our response to the break down.  Mistakes may be inevitable, dissatisfied customers are not.  A failure may even be turned into a positive experience.

A good recovery may possibly turn angry, frustrated customers into loyal ones.  An effective response to failure may yield a high pay-off in terms of the long term success of our organization.  It will also send positive signals to our clients and employees about our policy to encourage corrective action to achieve high customer satisfaction.

Staff failures

People failures come in two types: errors and violations.  Errors are mistakes in judgement; a person shall have done something different and the result is some significant deviation from the normal operation.

Violations, however, are acts which are clearly contrary to defined operating procedure.

Applying furniture polish by Joe Gqabi