Recently I read an online article on Chron.Com’s website written by Neil Kokemuller entitled “What are the Negatives About Being a Janitor”. I must admit after reading the article, I became emotionally saddened. My first ever job in the public service 32 years ago was custodial. While I was happy for the job to put food on my table at that time, I felt being a janitor was demeaning, degrading and embarrassing. I believed the way I perceived my job at the time was influenced by the way the general public viewed the role of “cleaners”. Generally people have established a set of stereotypical ideologies where janitors and janitorial staff are concerned. These ideologies suggests that janitors and janitorial staff have no formal education, they can be found anywhere and everywhere, they possess no specialized skill-sets, they are low income earners, they are unintelligent, they do the dirty stuff that most people scorn or disdain, they are most vulnerable to be infected with diseases, they are most likely to be excluded from company’s meeting and/or events and they are the first to be fired if something goes wrong.

What COVID 19 has demonstrated and what it has singularly accomplished to date, is to change the general perceptions of the value and importance of Janitors and Janitorial Staff. Janitorial staff worldwide are now praised and respected, catapulting the profession and esteeming it as a front-line defense and essential service in the fight against the Corona Virus. In fact, the government of Trinidad and Tobago publicly commended and congratulated front-line cleaning staff at our nation’s hospitals and healthcare centers. What is interesting is, during the mid and thereafter post-Corona Covid 19 pandemic, the emphasis and relevance and importance of janitorial personnel will triple. What we do know is COVID 19 will and already have caused many business organizations to take an introspective look at the quality of Janitorial services they engage. Firms that outsourced Janitorial Services will place greater emphasis on certification and a knowledge-based approach to hiring this type of service. Firms with in-house cleaning staff will focus on training and development and that’s where the IJCSA’s role as a reputable and experience-based association takes first place.

Try and imagine if you may what would this world be without Janitors and Janitorial Staff. A pretty messy and nasty world, isn’t it? Think about what our stadiums, schools, hospitals, restaurants, public buildings, health centers, play parks, the White House, cruise ships, hotels, public transportation, airplanes, airports, ambulances, train stations, shopping malls, cinemas, cities, streets, and this list can go on and on and on will be transformed into. The absence of janitors can be the break of several pandemic since without cleaners the fatality and mortality rate due to some other outbreak can be in the millions. How does it feels entering the restroom of a restaurant and the toilets are stained and filled, the sinks are unclean, the floors are dirty, the urinals are smelly and garbage bins have not been changed. The chances of returning to that establishment is unlikely. Janitors remove that unpleasant experience and make shopping, eating out, studying or visiting the hospital pleasant.

The line of defense Janitors and janitorial staff provides in the workplace cannot be sufficiently covered in this article. The methods, procedures and know-how to keep the workplace, residential or commercial space germ-free is not known by everyone. A great many sicknesses are associated with unclean and ill maintained spaces. Janitors work to ensure commercial and other spaces are clean, sanitized and disinfected so it is safe for humans to operate with a high degree of health and safety. I do not think people generally sit and ponder the contributions being made by janitors. Janitors are essential. Janitors make us smile, they make us comfortable to go out and sit and eat and play and have fun because they keep environments clean. Janitors promotes good health and they assist in the preservation of the natural environment. Janitors are lovers of life. Janitors help keep families and the general public safe from sicknesses and outbreaks. Janitors are people with feelings, with dreams, with families, with degrees, with homes and with time to keep all our private and public spaces clean. Without janitors we wouldn’t have the International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association. Finally, Janitors are professionals. They are essential. They are important. They are us.

Conclusively, if you are a newly registered janitorial company and are looking for other companies like yourself to help you craft your business strategy, towards greater competitive advantage, you can find reputable member Janitorial companies listed in the Janitorial Directory of IJCSA at https://www.ijcsa.org/Janitorial-Service-Directory-Find-A-Janitorial-Service-JanitorialServices.

Being green certified is becoming more and more important to both clients and companies. Green certifications means that organization has reviewed  product or service and found it to uphold standards of environmental responsibility and safety.

All IJCSA green cleaning certified companies -- you can find just one click away on the  IJCSA Green Cleaning Directory. 

Green cleaning is important not only for the environment and our planet, but for the health of the general public.

In summary, implementing Green Cleaning effectively:

●    Reduces exposure to pollutants that have been found to cause cancer, neurological disorders, learning disabilities, infertility, hormonal imbalances and more.

It is important to properly clean healthcare facilities because reduction of exposure is in itself an increase of health protection. Our procedures are essential for avoiding complications during the care and recuperation of patients, by removing soils, germs and other contaminants that spread infectious diseases. All workers must wear gloves properly, focus on high-touch areas and work from clean to dirty areas and disposal of contaminated materials safely. A clean and safe healthcare environment is a win win for everyone!!!!

Find Professional Certified Cleaning Firms Here

It’s important for all persons to understand what Bloodborne Pathogens are, and how this could impact their lives. Not taking the correct precautions could expose them to serious and life threatening illnesses.

These are and not limited to illnesses such as HBV or Hebititis B and HIV which could develop in AID’s or Aquired Immune Deficiency. 

By treating all bodily fluids from ALL patients as potentially infectious, proper precautions must be adhered to, to ensure minimal risk of exposure. 

If by chance exposure  has occurred, immediately contact your supervisor and GP.

'Cleaning' is such a small word that encompasses such a broad plethora of acts.

As residential and commercial cleaners, both small and large, we encounter various types of situations and levels of 'cleaning' with each and every appointment...the act of cleaning, shining, tidying, organizing, stain-removal..and often dealing with ever-present mold issues of varying degrees.  

Learning about mold, where and how to inspect for, how to get rid of it safely and effectively, and how to prevent it from forming and growing to begin with, would add an immense value to your cleaning company and what you are able to offer clients. It could also be considered another layer of the maintenance and preservation of the safety, health, and well-being of the client, that of your team, and yourself.

My statement here is to announce how I plan on implementing mold cleaning into my residential and cleaning business. As I have not come across and large-scale mold issues in any homes of office buildings that I have cleaned since the beginning of the business in 2011, I do however come across very common mold problems in areas such as in bathrooms and basements. 

Planning on using what I've learned here in this Mold Remediation Course, I will be more apt and able to properly identify any problem areas that I see in the home or building to inform the client/building manager of potential sites that I foresee becoming a mold-growth problem in the future. 

I also plan on using the information that I've learned to clean any mold areas that I do come across more safely, efficiently, and effectively, so as to lessen chances of occurrence. 

By adding Mold Cleaning and Inspection into our everyday routines, this will add yet another helpful service to our dear clients, in the protection of their homes, buildings, property, and their health, as well as our own. 

There are a lot of benefits from green cleaning. By reducing the chemical foot print from cleaning we reduce our impact on the environment and we create a healthier in door environment.

Schools and child cares centers can greatly benefit from having a green cleaning program. By having a green program you reduce the chemicals in the air. A green clean program that stress the use of natural cleaning chemical would reduce the chemical residue in the air from cleaning. You can also reduce the chemical impact by choosing furniture and carpeting that is green certified . Which creates an healthy environment for the kids.  

Janitorial services are extremely important to the work environment.  Janitors are essential worker and should be praised and appreciated.  They are responsible for ensuring that all areas are kept clean and managed throughout the day and/or week.

The janitorial staff will ensure that proper chemicals are used, disposed of, and stored properly. They assist in the preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses. They put proper precaution in place to prohibit slips and falls.  They ensure that designated areas are stock and replenish frequently. They routinely maintain the removal of dust, dirt, and grime throughout the day. They often leave your facility with a fresh fragrance and your environment looking its very best.

Janitorial staff should always take pride in providing the ultimate customer experience. Their services are adored my many.   If you are seeking to find a professional cleaning service, do not hesitate to visit https://www.ijcsa.org/Janitorial-Service-Directory-Find-A-Janitorial-Service-JanitorialServices for quality service.

Imagine a patient just threw up in the hallway and in the vomit there was blood in it Also when throwing up, it got on to the hand railing and a doorknob. When cleaning the mess, they just used a rag to get rid of the fluids but didn’t really take the time to properly clean it. Using the correct methods and chemicals to ensure to remove all bacteria and possible future infections away from it. Proper cleaning in health care is super important and when doing so you’re saving lives.

It is very common for germs and viruses in the workplace. Did you know every minute a working adult touches 30 objects? Every object that has been touched can be filled with bacteria, germs, infection, and viruses. The bathroom is where the most bacteria is and not having it cleaned since there’s a lot of bodily fluids happening dangerous disease can be caused by it such as HIV and HBV. Taking the proper precautions to make sure to disinfect everything in the bathroom to ensure the safety of the public. 

Also when cleaning makes sure to dispose of your gloves and properly wash your hands before the bacteria starts spreading. Having cleanliness and good hygiene in a hospital is important so germs won’t spread and won’t endanger and put the patients at a greater risk. By following the rules of the guideline you’re making the place safety by making it clean.

When cleaning the facilities it is to prevent any diseases and infection to start occurring. That’s why taking the extra step to clean something and disinfecting it is life-saving. That’s why using the 7 step cleaning process ensures that nothing will happen. Making sure to pull out the trash, to high dust, to damp wipe, to clean the bathroom, to dust and mop the floor, to damp mop, and to inspect the room for any correction and to make sure the room is available to be in use. We can implement this by using PPE and properly cleaning everything.

Imagine a patient just threw up in the hallway and in the vomit there was blood in it Also when throwing up, it got on to the hand railing and a doorknob. When cleaning the mess, they just used a rag to get rid of the fluids but didn’t really take the time to properly clean it. Using the correct methods and chemicals to ensure to remove all bacteria and possible future infections away from it. Proper cleaning in health care is super important and when doing so you’re saving lives.

When cleaning the facilities it is to prevent from any diseases and infection to start occurring. That’s why taking the extra step to clean something and disinfecting it is life-saving. That’s why using the 7 step cleaning process ensure that nothing will happen. Making sure to pull out the trash, to high dust, to damp wipe, to clean the bathroom, to dust and mop the floor, to damp mop, and to inspect the room for any correction and to make sure the room is available to be in use.

Also when cleaning makes sure to dispose of your gloves and properly wash your hands before the bacteria starts spreading. Having cleanliness and good hygiene in a hospital is important so germs won’t spread and won’t endanger and put the patients at a greater risk. By following the rules of the guideline you’re making the place safety by making it clean.

Customer service plays a key role in the success of any company. Being a Member of IJCSA your company is placed on a much higher standard. Being able to provide specialty cleaning services to our clients and leaving them satisfied with the finished product, not just puts a smile on our customers faces but our own, knowing that we did an exceptional job.

As IJCSA Members, we take pleasure with providing our customers with multiple divisions that cover all aspects of janitorial cleaning.

IJCSA: "WE AIM TO PLEASE!"