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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Cleaning Blog Posts

Cleaning is What We Do: SERVPRO of Citrus Heights/Roseville and Carmichael

7/2/2020 (Permalink)

Cleaning sink with a rag Used in a professional sense, the word cleaning connotes, cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting surfaces, materials, and other items.

Cleaning, as used in the title, is somewhat ambiguous and encompasses other processes than mere cleaning. Used in a professional sense, the word cleaning connotes, cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting surfaces, materials, and other items. All these activities are meant to reduce the microbial burden in the home or business. 

Lets briefly highlight the key differences between the three:

  1. Cleaning: Physical removal of dirt and grime from a surface or material with using soap/detergent and water. Cleaning by removing any dirt from the surface. The aim is not to kill microbes. However, since the dirt on which microbes thrive is dislodged, this invariably removes microbes as well. 
  2. Sanitizing: This is the use of approved chemical products to inactivate microbes. The aim here is to lower the number of germs on surfaces and objects to levels deemed safe by Public Health Standards. The target is often bacterial rather than viruses. 
  3. Disinfecting: This is the use of approved chemical products to kill germs on surfaces and objects. It does not necessarily clean the surface, but killing the germs lowers the risk of spreading infections.

There are several risks that a well-meaning individual can inadvertently expose themselves to if there is no professional guide. A typical example is mixing ammonia-based cleaning products with chlorine-based bleachers. Alcohol-based sanitizers are a no go for surfaces or items that would be close to a source of heating. What concentration should your cleaning agent be for a particular surface?

Guessing the proper combination and agent to use can be fatal in light of the recent pandemic. How do you properly clean up after a quarantine? How do you clean up after a confirmed COVID-19 patient is taken to a hospital? How about preventative cleaning. In such cases, professional help is needed.

SERVPRO of Citrus Heights/Roseville and Carmichael, with years of experience in biohazard cleaning, is well-positioned to provide such professional help. 

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned – a defensive cleaning program

6/3/2020 (Permalink)

Table tent signs describing the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned program on top of a wooden table. Our defensive cleaning program gives your business a way forward by providing your employees and customers ongoing safety and assuredness.

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities re-open, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.  Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

  • Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touchpoints, foot traffic and congestion points.
  • Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials.  In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 
  • Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of Citrus Heights/Roseville and Carmichael today at  (916) 966-2601 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation. 

* #1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. Study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience.  Each SERVPRO franchise is independently owned and operated.

10 Ways to Clear Dust From the Home

5/18/2020 (Permalink)

vacuum on wood floor Clean your house with a vacuum cleaner once or twice weekly, this will help in eliminating dust.

No matter how clean the home may be, it probably still has a little dust. This is a menace everyone has to deal with every day. Getting rid of dust in the home helps to improve air quality, and prolong the life of electrical appliances, furniture, and household electronics. The secret of having a dust-free home is by regular cleaning. 

Below is a list of things to do to keep the air clean and have a comfortable and dust-free home.

  1. Use Door Mats

Keep doormats outside and inside the house to trap dirt and keep it from migrating into your home. Get a doormat with bristles to prevent anyone coming from outside from depositing dust particles from shoes to your home. Wash or vacuum the mats regularly to prevent buildup.

  1. Groom Your Pets

Pets are huge carriers of dirt because of their fur. Pet fur is a good attractor of dust. Groom your pets to avoid dirty places where they get tangled up in dust to help keep dead skin and hair from accumulating dust.

  1. Close Windows

Dust gains access to homes through windows and doors and is visible on windowsills. It is advisable to keep the windows closed, especially on windy days to help minimize dust.

  1. Use a Damp Mop

When cleaning the floor, use a good damp mop. This will help a long way towards eliminating 90 percent of the dust in your home. A damp rag or mop collects and holds dust from surfaces which can then simply be rinsed down the drain.

  1. Beat Area Rugs

Rugs are known to absorb and hide dust particles. One of the best ways to get rid of the dust on rugs is to take them outside and beat them. Typically, rug beaters, which come in rattan, wire, or plastic versions, remove more dust than vacuum cleaners.

  1. Clean Blinds

Dust is drawn to blinds like moths to a flame, so you should clean them regularly.

  1. Install An Air Purifier

Get an air purifier that circulates the air and has a filter that captures dust and dirt. Air purifiers come in various shapes and sizes, from whole-house units to small, portable single-room models.

  1. Vacuum Regularly

Clean your house with a vacuum cleaner once or twice weekly, this will help in eliminating dust. With the new types of available vacuum cleaners which come with built-in HEPA filters to trap smaller particles of dirt and help freshen the air, your house is safe from dust.

  1. Get Rid of Clutter

Get rid of clusters by cleaning items on shelves and in curio cabinets. Dust is good at settling on any surface it comes in contact with. Submit objects like books, bookcases, and others to frequent dusting to get rid of clutter.

  1. Clean Closets

Fabrics also attract dust easily. Declutter closets and keep the door closed to avoid dust from migrating onto clothes in the closet. Dust the closet regularly, along with the rest of your home.

These tips are a great way to reduce dust in your home. 

Commercial Spring Cleaning Tips

5/11/2020 (Permalink)

Office Building Contact us here at SERVPRO of Citrus Heights/Roseville and Carmichael and let us be a part of YOUR team to help you with your business spring cleaning

As we draw closer to the warmer months, it is finally time for a fresh start. Your business should reflect the upbeat mood of spring with fresh and clean surroundings and the right atmosphere for customers.

As you look forward to the spring, here are some cleaning tips for your business:

A commercial cleaning service requires a professional touch. Hire the services of a well reputable company to give your business the quality touch it needs. You should consider looking at the reviews of any company you'd like to hire to avoid unsatisfactory work. A professional commercial cleaning service company will make sure that your spring cleaning is done right and follow your instructions precisely.

Ensure use of products that do not have harsh chemicals when cleaning. Some green products do not produce toxic substances and are harmless to the health and the environment. There are a wide variety of environmentally friendly cleaning items one can use for cleaning.

It is important to consider the weather when planning for cleaning. Weather can make a project difficult to execute that is why it is important to consider it in the planning process. It is advisable to select alternate days or a full range to allow for a change of plans for cleaning.

Working as a team is effective and valuable to the cleaning process. When planning for the spring cleaning of your business, hold a meeting with your team and let them know how they would contribute to the project. Perhaps, a member of the team can bring to your notice something that you missed or chip in an idea of how to improve the process. Teamwork gets work done faster and more efficiently, and a cleaning job is no exception!

Contact us here at SERVPRO of Citrus Heights/Roseville and Carmichael and let us be a part of YOUR team to help you with your business spring cleaning.

Differences Between Surface Cleaning, Sanitizing, Disinfecting

4/15/2020 (Permalink)

woman washing hands in a bathroom sink Measures to slow the spread of germs and bacterial growth include different methods of surface cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting.

Surface Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting are necessary measures. However, they are different measures that work hand in hand but serve different purposes. Measures to slow the spread of germs and bacterial growth include different methods of surface cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting. Below are the differences between the three. 

Surface Cleaning, Sanitizing, Disinfecting

1. Surface Cleaning is done to remove germs, dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. The best way to clean is to use soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces with a neat towel. Surface cleaning does not kill germs, it only removes germs from the surface or reduces the number and minimizes the risk of spreading infection. Surfaces that can come in contact with hands like table, door, device or equipment handles, even cutleries, water taps, and other surfaces can be contaminated with germs when a carrier touches it. That is why it is important to clean surfaces regularly to reduce the spread of germs carrying viruses/diseases.

2. Sanitizing also reduced the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level. There are liquid substances called sanitizers produced and are used specifically for sanitizing. Sanitizers come in different compositions for different purposes. Sanitizing should be done after surface cleaning but for the hand, one can use alcohol-based sanitizers after washing hands with soap and water or without washing.

3. Disinfecting is a preventive measure to avoid the spread of germs. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces by the use of chemicals.

Flu viruses are relatively fragile, surface cleaning, and sanitizing will help expose the flu viruses to be easily removed from the surface while disinfecting kills them. It is vital to understand the difference between these cleaning methods and to use the right products for the job. SERVPRO of Citrus Heights/Roseville and Carmichael will help you become more knowledgeable in this area and will take care of your cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting concerns using proper methods. Just call 916-966-2601