We obviously need to reduce our ever changing number of covid-19 cases and deaths, so people can return to business and help our economy recover.  A little inconvenience of wearing a piece of cloth to cover your mouth AND nose is a small price to pay for saving businesses in our community.
Masks are necessary and mandatory in Arizona.  They might allow us and our loved ones to live long enough to see a vaccine developed and used.  Not wearing a mask is disrespectful, foolish and harmful to a person's health.
We miss just hanging our with our friends, eating out in restaurants and watching movies in a cool theater.  Our business has been going overtime trying to keep the offices we clean sanitized and as germ free as possible.  We too would like to return to something a little more normal!  By wearing a mask out in the public, you are saying that you respect people and want to keep them and their employees safe and healthy.  So they can stay open and continue to serve our community.  So we will all be able to have jobs and pay our bills and ride our this nightmare until we find a cure.  
Why wouldn't you wear one if it will knock down our number of daily deaths and new cases?  

The first two rules have been in place forever, and most people don't seem to have a problem following them.  NOBODY likes wearing masks...but just think how much easier we will all be breathing once this pandemic has passed and we will no longer have to wear one.
We follow these rules in our everyday lives as well as our business.  Many companies turn off their A/C or turn it way up during the time we are cleaning, making wearing a mask even more miserable and hard to breathe. The tasks we have are critical for the health and safety of everyone we come into contact with.  As a green cleaning company, we have had to by- pass the all purpose green cleaners for something that is a sanitizing and disinfecting.  
Hopefully, all businesses are maintaining a clean and sanitized facility on a regular basis.  All places of business are different and require their own unique requirements. 

Are you taking the employees temperatures upon entering your facility?
Are you requiring masks be worn in your building and are you practicing social distancing?
Do you have con- tactless hand sanitizing stations?
Do you offer water bottles instead of a drinking fountain or water coolers and cups?

It is best to have a customized sanitizing program in place in order to maintain a safe and healthy environment. Think about times when client activity increases in your business.  (before lunch or mid-afternoon) or when there is heavier movement of more people through your facility.
Establish a sanitizing procedure performed by different staff members during the day as well as a reliable cleaning service at night.  That way, everyone is assured that they and their co-workers are safe.  Make sure the proper cleaning agents are being used and be sure to wear gloves.  Approved wipes and disinfectant spay can help with a   good wipe down of high touch areas and places where foot traffic has been heavy.
As a cleaning service that has been through many cold and flu seasons - we are following CDC guidelines and have had many open and honest discussions with our clients about how we operate.  We have kept our customers informed about what is available and if we notice any shortages of any products.
Arizona is one of the states with a high increase of people testing positive every day. The numbers of people being affected are scary and whether you believe it is all media hype or not, the doctors  and nurses seem to think it's real.
Wear a mask, maintain social distancing and wear a mask!
Please be polite and kind and we will all get through this together.

The world has changed a lot in the last few months.  We have made the best of our circumstances work and have performed admirably during these stressful times.  Many people have completed more projects in the last month than they have in years.  Social media is full of all these accomplishments, including artwork, decorating and bread making!  
Some have been making fabric face masks and donating these to people and places in need.  We were quite pleased the masks we made (when nothing else was available) passed the "can't blow out a candle test" through the mask.
Many of us have been quite adaptable in creating a home work area. Using makeshift desks out of kitchen counter tops, dining room tables and living room couches.  
We are still preparing offices to get ready to open to the public,  Several have opted for extra cleaning which has included everything form sanitizing pens, staplers and the bottom of their chairs to cleaning carpets and upholstery.  We have recommended that they switch to water bottles instead of paper cups.  Using non-contact hand sanitizer bottles and setting up work areas to include 6 foot distancing between everyone.  And anything else we think might apply to their circumstances.  
Please be respectful to all of those employees in businesses by wearing a mask!

Remember, that even though it is encouraging that our state is opening up. We still have a responsibility to continue doing our part of protecting ourselves, as well as friends, families and neighbors.  Particularly those who are vulnerable.  
Our work is far from done and we must work together to move forward.  Wearing a mask makes a statement that you care about yourself and others.  
With so much uncertainty concerning  the impact of covid-19, safety and the well being of our employees and our clients remain our top priority.  We are committed to wearing masks and gloves, and wiping off every high-touch surface in all offices and buildings we clean with a disinfectant approved by the CDC. (Not just using a spray.) 
I would like to give a big Thank You to Kohl's department store.   We needed to venture out past our usual T.P. and supply run to return some Amazon items.  Every Kohl's employee had on a mask and gloves.  It was a little sad that a customer in line asked the employee if all that was really necessary.  She replied that it was for "her own safety, as well as his".  Many people are considered high risk, and you would never know it by looking at them!
Take a moment to remember that all your actions and precautions, no matter how small are appreciated.

(We are not affiliated or paid by Kohl's or Amazon, we just shop there...a lot!)

We believe that our daily habits should reduce the risks to others.   Our company has taken into the consideration the safety of our staff as well as the companies and people that we work with.  So, we were astonished as to why other janitorial services don't do the same.
Last week we were in an upscale office building to clean the carpets for a company that has their regular janitorial service provided by their leasing company.   (More than likely a large chain of corporate cleaning services)  While we were there, two very young men entered the building without a face mask or gloves.  They proceeded to pick up the trash only and were ready to leave.  They did not clean the restrooms or lunchroom, sanitize any surfaces or even clean any of the glass in the office.  When we asked of they intended to do it, so we could stay out of their way.  They replied that "someone else would take care of it".  Which according to the office staff would be them if they wanted it done., 
These men should have been wearing appropriate face masks and gloves for cleaning and disinfecting.  They were at an increased risk for being exposed to the virus, as well as spreading it from office to office as they went along their cleaning route.
If you oversee a workplace, you should take into consideration how to reduce the risk for exposure.  Make sure your janitorial service is following a cleaning routine that uses the CDC guidelines in their disinfection practices.  Consider using local services for a more personal approach with a company that is readily available for questions or requests.  Continue routine cleaning and disinfecting of all high touch areas.  Maintain your safe daily habits in order to reduce your risk.

UPDATE:
As the state of Arizona is set to start re-opening some of our businesses that have been closed, I am quite surprised to still find most sanitizing and cleaning products are still in very short supply.   We only go out for products once a week to keep our exposure to others to a minimum, and we have been lucky to find what we needed.  On our shopping trip this week, we found that the store we went to was completely out of toilet paper again.  Luckily, before this all started we had a supply of these cleaning products and have been able to replace some of them as needed.   Please continue to wash your hands properly and think about your safety as well as the safety of others.

Let's welcome a new month with a few things that we hope for...

That all the scientists out there all over the world are getting some sleep, eating regularly and finding a solution to this virus.

That the old habits that we have are being replaced by new healthy habits that are here to stay.

That hand washing and all over cleanliness continues at a higher standard for always and forever.

That we remember to brush our teeth before we put masks on.

Let's hope for a month that doesn't fly by or seem to last as long as the last couple of months have.

Don't let this one get you down.   
May your coffee and internet be strong ~ And your determination and strength even stronger to get you through the week ahead.
Get out of bed.  Stretch and exercise.  Enjoy a great cup of coffee.  We have learned to make our own "specialty" coffee using different coffee creamers.  The Starbucks nearest us is closed during this challenging time, so I hope that we have broke that expensive habit for good. We are saving a little money, even with ordering different creamers from our click and save grocery store lists.
On our weekly outing today we found that toilet paper was in abundant supply, so that leaves us with one less worry about taking care of our customers.  I did notice however, that the prices and amount on each roll has changed.  Disinfectant spray is still nowhere to be found, but maybe in the upcoming weeks. 
We have had several new businesses contact us to schedule a good sanitary wipe-down of all exposed surfaces when all this craziness starts winding down.  If your current janitorial services is not making you feel safe and germ free, please give us a text or call so we can put you on our list.  We have been extremely strict about being around people outside our normal group and do not want to expose anyone unnecessarily.  But, when this is finally over, we are ready to go.  
Make it an amazing week!

Over the years we have worked hard to support  our community.  It is important that we take care of each other!
Every day, we take our responsibility seriously to make sure all the appropriate steps are taken to insure the safety of our clients. We have implemented all requirements recommended by the CDC to make life easier during these challenging times.  We wear masks and gloves when entering and cleaning a building.  We wipe all high touch areas down first thing, before we start our regular cleaning.  We limit our outings for supplies to one time a week, so we are not exposing ourselves or the people we work with and for to any more germs than absolutely necessary.  (We wear gloves and masks for that also!)  We have become very large fans of ordering online and picking up our order at the designated time.  A big shout out to all the people who help make this so easy for many of us!
If you find that you will be needing a janitorial service after all this is over, and we are able to return to whatever the new "normal" is.  We would be happy to give you a free quote either by text or phone call.  We can come in before you fully open and give you a good sanitary cleaning.  Please stay safe and think of others when you feel you need to run errands.  Many of the things we feel we need to do, will still be available to do in the future when all of this insanity is over.

Is your business working harder than ever, or are you playing catch up with projects you have been putting off?   These are challenging times, where our normal lives have changed, and we have been asked to adhere to different rules concerning our business and personal lives.  Has your business had to make many changes?  Many businesses are offering support to all the various emergency departments and medical personnel, as well as to their friends and neighbors.  A little kindness goes a long way to those who are putting their lives at risk every day.
Catching up on projects allows us to feel a little sense of accomplishment, and adds just a little bit of normal to our days.  While we are quaranteening  and social distancing ourselves during the day, we work a little on our filing system.  While nobody likes to file, ours could use a little updating of necessary paperwork.  It helps to keep our minds occupied during this difficult time.
At night we are still hard at work keeping the places of business we clean as germ free as possible.  Gloves and Clorox wipes are an essential part of everything we do now.
How have your work habits changed?   Do you have more or less time available to work on projects?
As things change on a day-to-day basis, please stay safe.

As we are facing a situation that no one was prepared for, we are following the advice from the Government and local authorities.  We're adapting to an ever changing situation and making our health, as well as that of our customers our top priority.
We try to adhere to buying what we need, but not more then we can use.  We do not wish to take away from others in need.
A couple of days this week, we have been up at 5 am to stand in line at warehouse stores in order to get paper products and supplies we need, to go above and beyond for our customers.  Ron and his crews have been putting in long hours making sure all flat surfaces as well as high-touch areas are wiped down with Clorox wipes.  We are making social distancing a regular habit when we do have to go out, and hope that everyone is doing the same.  Please be safe and Wash Your Hands!