Coronavirus sanitation blog

Our Approach to Cleaning & Sanitation During Coronavirus

by cascade building servicesJanitorial Services

Here at Cascade Building Services, we are literally on the front lines of the battle against Coronavirus in the Portland area. We are actively helping construction companies, banks, manufacturing facilities, and other essential services remain safely open for business in this challenging and complex time.

 

Be proactive, not reactive

If there was one thing we would tell every business owner in Portland, it would be this:

Don’t wait for a client, customer, or employee to test positive for Coronavirus. Start sanitizing and disinfecting your space now. This proactive approach provides peace of mind to everyone connected to your business.

 

We start with our own team

Our teams of janitorial service providers and commercial cleaners receive continuing education to make sure they are aware of best practices and CDC guidelines. We are proactively monitoring the health of our team for any signs of infection.

When out on a job, all team members are provided with disinfecting wipes to disinfect anything they touch and for their own personal protection. These wipes are returned to our facility and disposed of.

 

Our Coronavirus sanitation process

We tailor our Coronavirus sanitization and disinfection process to our clients’ needs. Each type of building and facility requires a unique approach. For example, we use a food-safe disinfectant when sanitizing anywhere food is present, including:

  • Employee break rooms
  • Coffee bars
  • Cafeterias
  • Lunchrooms

We’re also flexible and can work around your facility’s schedule — our cleaners are available day or night! We use a quick-drying commercial grade disinfectant. Our treatments are fast and your team can get back to work in as little as 30 minutes, even if we disinfect during the day.

 

Keep reading

 

Not all surfaces are equal

Our team is especially aware of the need to thoroughly disinfect key touchpoints like:

  • Doors and door handles
  • Telephones
  • Desktops and tabletops
  • Electrical switches
  • Communal supplies
  • Copiers/printers
  • Railings and handholds
  • Soap/sanitizer dispensers
  • Sink handles, taps, and flush levers

Because there are so many surfaces to clean and because these surfaces are often irregularly shaped with nooks and crannies, a simple cleaning just won’t do. Instead, we use a powerful fogging disinfectant that sanitizes even the most difficult surfaces. In fact, Delta Airlines is using the same fogging approach to disinfect their airliners.

We believe it’s especially important to clean high-touch surfaces as often as possible.

 

Once is not enough — regularly scheduled cleanings are essential

We can’t stress it enough. Disinfecting your commercial space and protecting your team and customers against Coronavirus is an ongoing battle. We are proud to help you fight it.

Based on the size of your building, the size of your team, how many people visit your facility each day, and a number of other factors, we’ll create a custom cleaning schedule to meet your needs.

Call (503) 691-0776 today for your free consultation and no-obligation quote.

 

We do graffiti cleanup, too!

In these challenging times, so many businesses are closing their doors or operating on a more irregular schedule. We’ve heard that there’s been an increase in property crime in the Portland area, including graffiti. As a property owner, you must keep your property free of graffiti.

In addition to Coronavirus cleaning and sanitation, our janitors and contractors can provide graffiti removal and repair of damage caused by vandalism. Call (503) 691-0776 today.

Portland cityscape

Sustainable Property Management in Oregon: 9 Tips You Need to Know

by Advicecascade building servicesProperty Management

Looking to make a difference in your community, save money, and make your property stand out from the competition? Sustainable property management may be just what the doctor ordered.

Read on to learn 9 ways to practice sustainable building management and be part of the green revolution!

Take a holistic approach

First things first — sustainability is more than just an advertising tactic. While it may seem like you can get in on the trend by just slapping a “sustainable” sticker on your office or apartment complex, it takes more to really adhere to sustainable property management practices.

Not only is false advertising, potential tenants will see right through your attempt at being sustainable without any actual sustainable actions. Conversely, an honest attempt at sustainability as a property manager will come across well. It will impress tenants and make potential tenants more likely to rent your space.

Once you do it right, flaunt it

While we encourage you to focus your efforts on good-faith sustainable actions, it does not mean you shouldn’t tell people about the awesome sustainable things you’re doing.

Don’t be afraid to let people know the initiatives you’re proud of, sustainability related or otherwise. People like to be a part of causes they care about, and will be interested in the sustainable actions you’re taking to better the world and your community.

 

Reduce your carbon footprint where possible

While it’s impossible to run a commercial building or office and have a zero carbon footprint, reducing your consumption of fossil fuels will go a long way towards truly practicing sustainable property management

Some ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your commercial building include:

  • Optimized HVAC system: Heating and cooling comprises over 40% of carbon emissions! Making sure your system is running smoothly and only when necessary will not only save you money, but is great for the earth as well.
  • Good insulation: Though more expensive at first, properly insulating your building will cut down on heating and cooling costs quick.
  • Water: Installing low flow shower heads and faucets will reduce water use while still providing a great experience for your tenants.
  • Lighting: Using energy efficient light bulbs, integrating an open floor plan, and taking advantage of natural light will use less power to light your space.

Energy Star appliances

Another great way to cut down on energy use is through using Energy Star appliances. Energy Star appliances run significantly more efficient than older models, often with the same or better performance than less efficient models. To qualify appliances must be 10-50% more efficient.

Appliances to consider include:

  • Refrigerators
  • Washers
  • Televisions
  • Air Conditioners
  • Stoves

Use recycled materials when possible

When choosing materials for new spaces for your property, start with recycled options to see if there are any good fits. These items could be upcycled materials or even things made from recycled materials.

Using these recycled materials will cut down on mining and extraction of new materials. This cuts down on deforestation and is overall better for the earth. It’s also one of the things that very much defines being sustainable — you’re lengthening the usefulness of items.

This doesn’t have to lead to higher costs, either! In reality, many of these materials are the same price or cheaper. A win-win!

Get your tenants involved

People like being a part of something good. Being environmentally friendly is no different. If they feel like there are sustainability efforts going on around them, they’ll want to be a part of it.

If tenants feel like they’re a part of your sustainability efforts, they’ll feel ownership in your building and will also be more sustainable in their actions. Provide avenues for them to act sustainably. When they see you making an honest effort, it will be easy for them to follow suit.


Encourage recycling

Besides adhering to the law, recycling limits the waste your building produces. Setting up a program is necessary, but empowering your tenants to do the same is different. Make sure to give them easy access to recycling receptacles so they feel empowered to do their part!

At the bare minimum, you should…

  • Recycle paper and containers (metal cans, plastic bottles and tubs, and glass bottles and jars)
  • Sort and separate recyclables correctly (make sure to separate the glass specifically!)
  • Set out materials for recycling collection

Recycling actually does not take much work! With a company like Cascade Building Services by your side, the logistics are easy. We can help you set up your recycling program and make sure you’re compliant and doing the truly sustainable thing!

Solar panels

Though a massive project, harnessing the power of the sun to lessen your reliance on fossil fuels is one of the best ways possible to make your building more sustainable.

A significant federal tax credit is available for commercial businesses called the Solar Investment Tax Credit. This credit provides a 30% rebate on the investment in a solar panel system. You must as quick, however! This tax rebate is being scaled back and will no longer exist after 2022. This rebate is only available to commercial property owners who own their solar panels. Those who lease solar panels are not eligible.

With solar panels, you’ll also be paying significantly less for energy monthly. While you’ll likely be making payments on the purchase, it will still be significantly less than what you’re paying for energy from the utility company.

On top of all of this, you’ll be lessening your reliance on the power grid, which comes from either coal-powered energy plants or hydroelectric power plants. While hydroelectric weens us off of coal, it still does ecological and cultural damage to major riverways. Solar is the only truly sustainable choice for energy consumption.

Use green cleaning supplies

Chemicals are almost never a good thing. Everything eventually ends up in the ocean, and chemical leach from something as simple as windex is no different. They’re also damaging to the health of your tenants and their animals.

This does not mean your space has to be dirty, however! Professional maintenance companies like Cascade Build Services specialize in cleaning spaces using only environmentally friendly methods. This is not only sustainable, but will ensure your commercial space or apartment or condo complex is a safe and welcoming environmentally friendly space.

Cascade Building Services can help you run your commercial space sustainably!

For over 50 years, we’ve delivered sustainable building management and janitorial services to Portland area businesses. Sustainability is important to us. So is the health of our clients and their tenants. We only use products that:

  • Deliver exceptional results
  • Ensure a sustainable workplace
  • Are free from harmful odors and toxins
  • Improve indoor air quality
  • Help us provide a clean and safe work environment

Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you.

Office-cleaning-maintenance-calendar

Office Maintenance Calendar for Portland Businesses

by Advicecascade building services

Building maintenance is one of the most important aspects of owning or managing a commercial property in the Portland area. Keeping your building clean and in good condition protects your investment and ensures you’re providing a safe and professional environment for your employees or tenants.

This goes far beyond just sweeping the floor and cleaning the bathroom once a week. For best results, pay attention to every inch of your space. Make sure you understand what cleaning need to be completed and at what frequency.

 

Proactive vs. reactive building maintenance

There are two ways you can tackle your building upkeep…

  1. Waiting until there’s a problem and taking care of any issues as they happen
  2. Being proactive about maintenance and establishing a regularly scheduled maintenance calendar

Can you guess which approach we recommend?

There may be times when reactive maintenance is necessary to maintain a safe, efficient, and OSHA compliant workplace. But adopting a proactive cleaning approach will help you prevent issues in the first place!

 

The benefits of proactive building maintenance

Take a moment to soak up all the wonderful benefits of adopting a proactive building cleaning and maintenance approach:

  • Increases your building maintenance service or team’s transparency and accountability.
  • Leads to fewer large-scale repairs or maintenance projects.
  • Since planned work can be scheduled, it minimizes disruption.
  • Planned work also improves budget control.
  • Improves OSHA compliance with health and safety requirements.
  • Increases overall staff/tenant satisfaction and helps encourage efficiency and productivity.

Did you pick up on a familiar theme here? Proactive maintenance saves you money!

Conversely, taking a strictly reactive approach is very costly. Fixing problems is almost always more expensive than preventing them. Plus, there’s the overall faster wear and tear of your building to consider. And don’t forget about unpredictability. You’ll never know when something might go wrong and completely upend the flow of business.

 

Tips for creating an office maintenance calendar

So how do you create a proactive cleaning and maintenance schedule that’s right for your office? What tasks should be included on this calendar? And how often should they happen?

To come up with a plan, you’ll first need to consider the unique factors of your business…

  • Size of your space – How many rooms and floors does your office have? What is the square footage? This will play a part in how much time will need to be dedicated to cleaning and maintaining the space.
  • Number of employees and people in your space – How many people do you have working in your office? And how many clients or customers visit your office every week? This will make a huge difference in how much daily wear and tear your space experiences and how quickly the space will get dirty.
  • Type of work being performed – Similarly, the day-to-day operations of the office can affect how often a cleaning or maintenance task needs to be performed.
  • Materials and spaces that need cleaning – Does your office have wood floors? Carpets? Multiple bathrooms? Reception area and kitchen? Other heavily trafficked areas?
  • Operating hours – Consider what hours your office can be made available for cleaning and maintenance without disturbing the daily operations of the business.

Keeping all these things in mind, it’s time to start working on creating a cleaning and maintenance schedule.

Pro Tip: Aim to make a preliminary list on your own to give you a better idea of the scope of work. Once that’s done, consider enlisting the help of a professional Portland building service company to dial in the specifics of your schedule and put your plan in action.

 

Types of office maintenance needed

What does keeping your office in tip-top shape involve?

There are some specific tasks that every business should have set on their preventive maintenance calendar. We’re laying them all out below. It’s kind of a lot, but bear with us — these are all very important for keeping your space in great condition.

 

General Interior Cleaning/Maintenance

  • Empty waste bins and replace liners
  • Dust and disinfect desks, chairs, tables, and other furniture and horizontal surfaces
  • Vacuum carpets, mats, and sweep hard floors
  • Mop all hard floors
  • Clean away fingerprints and marks from around light switches, door frames, internal glass, and doors
  • Clean elevators and stairwells
  • Clean lighting fixtures and replace bulbs as needed
  • Clean all glass windows and doors (both inside & outside)
  • Vacuum vents and chairs
  • Test smoke detectors and service other fire protection equipment (sprinklers, alarms, etc.)
  • Clean and replace air filters, fans, and ventilators as needed

 

Bathrooms

  • Stock toilet paper, tissue, and hand soap
  • Clean and polish mirrors
  • Wipe down hand towel dispensers and hand dryers
  • Clean and sanitize all sink basins
  • Remove splash marks from walls
  • Mop clean floors with disinfectant
  • Clean and disinfect toilets and urinals

 

Kitchen or eating areas

  • Toss old/moldy food left in the fridge
  • Wipe down and disinfect fridge, inside and out
  • Clean counters, wipe down cupboards
  • Polish appliances

 

Exterior Cleaning/Maintenance

  • Pick up trash around property
  • Mow and weed lawn
  • Mulch and landscape
  • Trim shrubs and trees
  • Perform pest control
  • Pressure wash building
  • Monitor parking lot condition, restriping when necessary

Your full maintenance list may be longer or shorter than this, depending on your situation. And of course, not all of these tasks need to be completed every day. Many are once-a-year responsibilities.

The exact frequency of each task will be determined by the factors we discussed earlier in this article and based on the recommendation of your building service company.

We recommend creating a spreadsheet that includes every maintenance task needed and outlines its frequency. You can also use this spreadsheet to log the last time the task was performed and keep tabs on upcoming projects.

 

Let’s develop your custom office maintenance schedule

Taking a preventive approach and staying up-to-date on office maintenance tasks takes a lot of work! It’s why so many property managers and business owners partner with a professional building services company to outsource the tasks.

Cascade Building Services has been providing complete building cleaning and commercial janitorial and specialized services since 1961. We help Portland-area businesses prevent issues by keeping their space clean and polished.

Talk to us about a recommended cleaning schedule. We’re happy to review your situation and provide our professional opinion on what tasks should be completed and at what frequency.

Make-Your-Apartment-Building-More-Eco-Friendly

8 Easy Ways to Make Your Multifamily Properties More Eco-Friendly

by AdviceCarpet Cleaningcascade building servicesJanitorial Servicesportland

It’s becoming increasingly important for property managers of apartments, condos, and other multi-family units to emphasize eco-friendly features in their buildings.

Sustainable properties are in high demand among renters throughout the greater Portland area. In fact, according to National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC), renters are even willing to pay more money to live in a building that includes sustainability initiatives.

If you are an Oregon multifamily housing property manager, taking steps to promote eco-friendly features in your building and individual units can be very beneficial. Keep reading for 8 easy ways to make your multifamily properties more eco-friendly.

 

Add Energy-Efficient Appliances

One of the most effective ways to introduce more sustainable features into your multifamily property is by adding energy efficient appliances. If you’re not sure where to start, revamp the lighting in your building or replace all shower heads.

Eco-Friendly Lights

Switch out the traditional fluorescent lightbulbs in your condo or apartment building and with LEDs. LEDs contain no hazardous solids, liquids, or gasses and so are safe for the environment. Even better, LEDs require less energy to power, so you will save on electricity costs.

LEDs come in a variety of colors and shades, so you can choose one to match the style, setting, and ambiance of the various rooms and areas in your building.

Low-Flow Shower Heads

Showers account for 17% of residential indoor water use– that’s 1.2 trillion gallons of shower water used every year. By installing low-flow shower heads in your condo or apartment units, you can help residents save a considerable amount of water.

There are many eco-friendly shower heads available. Most renters prefer high-pressure option– this helps decrease overall water flow without taking away from the overall shower experience.

 

Introduce a Recycling Program

You likely already have some sort of recycling program in place at your property, but is it as efficient as it could be? Here in the Rose City, recycling can get a little complicated. Your efforts are worth it though, as Portland has one of highest recycling rates in the US.

Establishing a system that makes it easy for your renters to recycle their items is important. Take time to create an efficient recycling program that meets all necessary requirements. You may also consider partnering with a building services company that specializes in recycling solutions.

 

Provide Garden Space

Providing space to keep a garden is a big draw for many Oregon residents. Not only does gardening space increase your property value by making your grounds more beautiful, it also gives your residents a sense of investment in the property.
Gardens are a great way to help the environment and promote sustainability. Residents can grow flowers, food, or native plants in their garden bed, helping reduce pollution, produce fresh veggies and fruit, and benefit local wildlife.

 

Use Low or Zero VOC Paint

Be careful about the type of paint you use– both on the interior and exterior of your building and units. Many standard paints are filled with Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and can be toxic to your health.

Luckily, there are many paint options on the market today that keep these chemicals to a minimum. Paint low in VOCs are easy to find and aren’t as expensive as you might imagine.

Some popular paint options are:

It’s becoming increasingly common for renters to request low-VOC paint in their unit before moving into an apartment or condo.

 

Weatherproof Windows

Old windows contribute to an increase in heating and cooling costs for your building. Adding energy-efficient windows to your building can be as simple or involved as you have the time and money for.

If you’re not up for completely replacing all your units with energy-efficient windows, consider adding window caulking and weatherstripping or storm windows instead.

 

Stay Away From Toxic Cleaning Products

A common misconception is you have to have harsh chemicals in order to clean your multifamily housing building effectively. This just isn’t true!

Chemicals found in traditional commercial building cleaning products are bad for the environment and toxic for your health, too. Carpet cleaning solutions are especially harmful. Thankfully, there are many sustainably cleaning options to choose from.

Make sure you hire a commercial cleaning company that understands the importance of using eco-friendly cleaning products. From your building’s general janitorial work, to carpet cleaning or window cleaning— always use green, biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning solutions.

 

Offer Bicycle Amenities

Here in the Portland area, biking is a high priority. In fact, Portland has the highest percentage of bike commuters for any large American city. Even in more residential areas like Hillsboro, Tualatin, and Beaverton, renters want the ability to use their bike.

Providing bike storage areas in your building is a great benefit to renters and helps encourage an eco-friendly environment. These biking amenities could include indoor bicycle storage racks, bike lockers, or even bike repair areas.

 

Hire A Sustainable Building Services Company

If you’re having trouble promoting sustainability or don’t have the time to do it yourself, consider partnering with a trusted building services company. This ensures you and your staff can completely focus on ensuring the smooth operation of your condo, apartment building, or other multifamily housing.

At Cascade Building Services, we’ve been providing full-service building maintenance to the greater portland area for the past 50 years. We offer service 24 hours a day 365 days per year and are committed to using environmentally friendly practices and products.

We can help you promote a clean, safe work environment while minimizing the carbon footprint of your multifamily housing building. Contact us today to learn more.

Cleaning-Maintenance-Guide-for-Property-Managers

Cleaning & Maintenance Guide for Property Managers

by AdviceCarpet Cleaningcascade building servicesJanitorial ServicesportlandWindow Washing

Managing all of the units in an apartment complex or office building can be a logistical nightmare. With so many units occupied by so many different tenants with varying needs and reliability, it can be a lot to manage.

Luckily, we’ve put together this guide to help you manage your condo complex or office building so it is always in tip-top shape.

 

Evaluate the Individual Units Between Tenants

Good maintenance of office and apartment complexes starts with proper care of the individual units. While you can try as hard as possible to make sure a new tenant will take proper care of the space, the most you can do is make sure it is properly maintained between tenants. Not only will this help the space be more attractive to new tenants, it will encourage the new tenant to take good care of the unit.

Once the previous tenant has moved out, evaluate it for:

  • Damage to walls
  • Stains on carpets
  • Damage to large appliances like refrigerators or dishwashers
  • Cracked or dirty windows
  • Pest infestations
  • Mold

Fix the issues you find immediately. It will be significantly harder to fill the space if you don’t fix these problems. Potential new tenants will want to see a finished unit before signing a lease. Every day the unit is not occupied you are losing money.

After a tenant moves out, consider:

  • Repainting the walls
  • Replacing any damaged carpet or flooring
  • Changing the locks on the unit
  • Properly cleaning the unit

 

Ongoing Cleaning and Maintenance

People don’t want to live or work in an unclean environment. If you are managing a large apartment building or condo complex, there is a lot of space to clean. Managing this much cleaning, from floors to bathrooms, can be exhausting. Filthy surfaces completely filled waste baskets, and dirty bathrooms are unacceptable for a reputable space.

While your tenants will always have to perform some basic cleaning themselves, you are going to be expected to carry a lot of the heavy lifting, particularly in an office environment.

In addition to more basic janitorial services like cleaning bathrooms and emptying waste bins, there are other, more involved services to think about. Below, we’ve put some you will have to perform.

Floor and Carpet Cleaning

Walking on sticky, stained carpet or flooring is never an inviting prospect. It reflects poorly on a business’s image, and people do not want to see it when walking into their apartment building. Unfortunately, dirty floors are unavoidable.

Floors

Dirty floors reflect poorly on your business. Also, continuously unclean floors will have to be replaced much sooner, costing you more money in the long run to maintain.

For well-kept floors, you will need to do the following:

  • Seal and wax
  • Polish
  • Remove stains

Most floor cleaning companies will be able to handle everything from concrete to ceramic tile.

Don’t ruin your floors or leave a bad first impression with dirty floors!

Carpets

Often property managers think they need to replace their carpets when really all they need to do is properly maintain and clean them.

We recommend having your carpets cleaned twice a year to keep them looking great and not degrading. They will look nice, and last longer than uncleaned carpets.

Waste and Recycling Management

Waste management will be something you need to be on top of to ensure the cleanliness of your building. Trash build up will lead to unsanitary conditions on your property. The last thing you want to deal with are pests infiltrating your apartment building or office.

To keep costs down, pay particular attention to the management of recycling in your building. Good recycling management will lessen your building’s trash bill. Make sure to properly sign your recycling and empty the bins as much as possible to ensure your tenants participate in your recycling program.

Window Cleaning

Nobody likes looking out a window and seeing a smudgy, dirty view. While it may be relatively easy to properly clean the inside of your windows, ensuring the cleanliness of the outside can be a tricky task.

Window exteriors should be cleaned twice a year, and professionals should be hired for the task. It is dangerous to try to perform yourself, particularly on windows of buildings over a story high!

A Note On Cleaning Supplies

Tenants hate living in filth. They do not want to work and live in a dirty space. They also hate the constant smell of chemicals and feeling like they are breathing in dangerous fumes.

To ensure tenants and guests don’t feel like they are breathing in noxious fumes, make sure to use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. Not only will this make your tenants feel better, it will be safer and better for the environment.

 

Common Rooms

Common areas are an often overlooked area of apartment buildings. Since no one tenant is responsible for taking care of the space, clutter and trash can build up in the room. It is also one of the main spaces guests and potential new tenants see when they enter the building, so it is particularly important to keep it clean. Make sure that the room is checked regularly for dirty dishes, left out items, and trash.

 

Landscaping

It doesn’t matter if you are managing an apartment building or office, there will be landscaping to be done. Landscaping projects an image for your building and is the first thing greeting your tenants or their guests when they are approaching your building. Make this space look beautiful!

A couple landscaping features needing maintenance:

  • Lawn or grassy areas
  • Bushes and hedges
  • Plants and flowers
  • Gutter cleaning

 

Trusted Cleaning and Maintenance Service Providers

While some property managers may be able to have employees on staff to help them clean and maintain their building, most do not. Property managers have a lot of tasks and need to be focused on managing the building, not maintaining it.

This makes hiring good people to clean and maintain your space crucial for a well-run building. Think about hiring companies for:

Since time is tight as a property manager, we recommend finding a company that can perform as many of these tasks as possible.

 

Let’s Talk!

Cascade Building Services can help with your janitorial and maintenance service needs.

Call Cascade Building Services today at (503) 691-0776 for a free, no-obligation quote. If you’re located in the Portland or Vancouver metro areas, we’d love to show how we can help with all your office or apartment building cleaning needs.

how to create a dog friendly office

How To: Create a Dog-Friendly Workplace

by Advicecascade building servicesJanitorial Servicesportland

In the Portland area, attracting and retaining top talent can be a challenge for any company. Great people have great options. What can you do to make your company stand out?

Surprisingly, it’s often the little things that make a big difference in employee satisfaction and happiness.

A growing trend among some of the fastest growing businesses in the Portland area is offering employees the opportunity to bring their furry friends to work. In today’s post, we’ll talk about best practices for creating a dog-friendly office environment.

 

How Does a Dog-Friendly Office Improve The Bottom Line?

Recent research suggests that having a dog-friendly workplace is more than just a nice perk. It can also:

Your employees will be happier, more productive, and more engaged with their work!

 

Remember: It’s Not Just About The Dogs

If you’re thinking about allowing dogs into your office, remember that your first concern should be for the happiness and safety of all your employees– not just those who have dogs. Consider an anonymous survey to determine if any employees are strongly against the idea before making it a policy.

 

Job Interviews & Private Offices Aren’t Just For People

Just like you wouldn’t let any person work in your office, not every dog will be a good fit either. If an employee wants to bring his or her dog into work, schedule a “doggie interview” where your team can judge the dog’s temperament and behavior.

Use an objective grading system to determine whether a particular pooch is a good fit for your office. Questions to ask may include:

  • Does the dog bark?
  • Does the dog obey commands?
  • Is the dog-friendly around other dogs?
  • How does the dog interact with other humans?
  • Does the dog require excessive attention?
  • Can the dog handle being in the office all day?

Consider a probationary period with all new office dogs before making them “permanent staff.” In fact, many offices do a “test run” of the dog-friendly policy to see how it works out and before making lasting changes to their office policies.

Your human employees often need a quiet place to meet or think when working on a difficult project. Similarly, even the best behaved office dogs may need a space of their own to relax in when they get overwhelmed.

 

Set Boundaries

Remember, the dogs don’t make the rules: you do! Any successful dog-friendly office policy will include plenty of boundaries. You may want to:

  • Only allow dogs above a certain age– not rambunctious puppies, no matter how cute!
  • Prohibit feeding dogs human food in the office, it can be a slippery slope to bad behavior!
  • Allow dogs only on certain days of the week.
  • Prohibit dogs on some days– like when clients are visiting the office.
  • Only allow dogs in certain rooms or offices. Maybe make the break room a dog free space, for example.

 

Provide Toys, Treats & Supplies

Like you best human workers, office dogs need stimulation to be happy! Consider investing in quiet toys they can play with, treats they can eat, and other supplies that the dogs might need.

 

Share Chores & Responsibilities

Some dog-friendly workplaces encourage workers to share chores. Others may require each owner to be responsible for only his or her own puppy. You need to decide what will work best for your office and your team. A few jobs to assign might include:

  • Making sure there’s fresh water
  • Cleaning up after “accidents”
  • Walking the dogs

 

Brag On Social Media!

The interns are very excited about Donut Wednesday 🍩 At least one of them is, per usual

A post shared by Shortcake (@theladyshortcake) on

When talented people are looking for a new job, they have plenty of options and often look for a relaxed, fun work environment.

So make sure you post about your dog-friendly culture on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook! Update your company’s About Page to included pictures of your favorite CCOs (Chief Canine Officers)! It’s a great way to build your brand and attract the best available talent when hiring.

I mean just check out #officedog on Instagram! How cute is that!?

 

Plan Outdoor Adventures!

Photo Credit: Michael Lin on Flickr

In Portland, we’re never too far away from a great park! Let your dogs (and employees) take a trip into the great outdoors by visiting one of Portland’s amazing dog parks! They’re located all over town– and many have off-leash areas just for dogs!

 

Keep Your Office Sparkling Clean!

If you’re investing in your employees by creating a dog-friendly office, make sure you don’t neglect the cleanup!

Let’s be honest: even the best-behaved dogs make messes and leave smells behind. Hair, fur, drool, muddy paws, and just that “wet dog” smell are all too common in dog-friendly offices that aren’t committed to staying clean.

A dirty, smelly office isn’t just one that’s no fun to work in, it can also make your employees sick and reduce their productivity!

At Cascade Building Services, we can help! Our experienced janitorial staff can visit your office as often as needed and handle:

  • Floor & Carpet Cleaning
  • Window Cleaning
  • Trash & Recycling
  • And much more!

Our teams use eco-friendly green cleaning solutions that are safe for both people and pets! There are no harsh fumes or toxic by-products left behind.

 

More Tips For Creating Your Dog-Friendly Office Policy

Making your office dog-friendly is a big step and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. It’s important to protect yourself and your business as well. Many businesses require employees to sign a waiver to protect the business from liability.

We recommend you work with your business lawyer to draft an agreement that meets your needs. You’ll also want to check and make sure that your business insurance policy (or office lease) allows dogs in your workplace.

 

Further Reading:

If you’re excited about making your office more dog-friendly, check out a few of our favorite articles and get inspired!

 

Need Help Cleaning Your Dog-Friendly Office?

Cascade Building Services is here to help! We clean offices throughout the Portland metro area and specialize in large office buildings. Give us a call at (503) 691-0776 or contact us online. We’ll visit your office and create a custom cleaning package just for you!

how to choose office plants

How To Choose Office Plants

by Advicecascade building servicesJanitorial Servicesoffice plants

Indoor plants can beautify any office space. They even purify the air, creating a cleaner, healthier environment. Believe it or not, there’s evidence that indoor plants can actually make you happier too.

Unfortunately, some plants require more upkeep than others, and not every plant is suited to every office environment. How do you know which plants are right your office? It really depends on 3 factors:

  1. How much sunlight they’ll be exposed to (if any)
  2. How much maintenance you want to take on
  3. Whether you care about air purification or just appearance

Based on your unique situation and office conditions, let’s look at a few great options for office plants.

Best Plants for Offices with Little or No Natural Light

Office spaces without much natural light can really benefit from a little greenery! In fact, those offices may be the ones that need indoor plants the most. These lovely green plants thrive in darker conditions:

English Ivy

Photo: Derek Ramsey

Hedera helix (a.k.a. English Ivy) is easy to grow in almost any environment. It thrives in full shade but doesn’t mind some sunlight either. It purifies the air too. Studies have shown that it reduces mold, which helps everyone breathe easier — especially anyone with allergies.

English ivy looks great hanging in baskets or climbing up a trellis or pole. English ivy grows well in moist conditions, but it doesn’t like to sit in standing water or overly wet soil either, so be careful not to over-water.

Snake Plant

The snake plant may just be the perfect indoor plant. Sansevieria is one of the toughest and most tolerant plants you’ll ever find. It usually won’t wither even after being neglected for weeks at a time. It also doesn’t need much light or water.

Snake plants are also one of your best bets for air purification. They’re great for getting rid of toxins like formaldehyde and benzene.

Photo: Rhonda Fleming Hayes

Lemon Balm

Photo: color line

Lemon balm, or melissa officinalis, is a very versatile plant. It will grow in almost any soil and, though it prefers some sunlight, can survive happily in shade too. It’s very low maintenance, and experts recommend you don’t fertilize your lemon balm plant. Don’t forget to water it though!

As a bonus, lemon balm leaves produce a sweet lemon scent that will help freshen up your office in no time.

Spider Plant

Photo: David B. Gleason

Can you see why chlorophytum comosum has been nicknamed “the spider plant”?

This is another versatile option if you need a tough plant for a dark office. The spider plant does like some indirect light, but full-on bright sunlight isn’t necessary. These plants are easy to grow and hard to kill. Just make sure to let them dry out a bit between waterings.

They look great in a pot or hanging in a basket.

Best Indoor Plants for Sunny Spots

If you have a nice spot by the window for your plant, you might want something that thrives in natural light. Luckily, sun-loving plants are easy to find! Here are a few to consider:

Succulents and Cacti

Cacti and other succulents are great because they require sunlight and not much else. They aren’t your best option for air filtration, but you only need to water them a tiny bit about once a week. There are many different kinds of cacti and succulents available. Jade is one of the most beautiful and most resilient.

Rubber Tree Plant

Photo: Maja Dumat

Rubber tree plants (ficus elastica) are great for removing indoor air pollutants, but they do require the right conditions. Indoor rubber tree plants need bright, and indirect light that isn’t too hot. You might want to place it near a window with sheer curtains, for example.

Experts also recommend you water your rubber tree plant more during growing season and less during the dormant season.

Great Indoor Plants for Reducing Pollutants

Several of the plants we’ve already covered are great for air filtration: English ivy, snake plants, spider plants, and rubber tree plants. Here are a few more:

Peace Lily

Photo: Tahmid Munaz

Chances are you’ve seen the peace lily in office buildings, waiting rooms, and hotel lobbies. That’s because spathiphyllum is beautiful, extremely resilient, and doesn’t need much water or direct light. To make sure it thrives, keep it in loose, rich soil and water every few days as necessary.

Did you know the peace lily is also one of the best plants for ridding your office of toxic agents like benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene, toluene, and ammonia? It’s truly one of the best air-filtering plants out there.

Philodendron

Photo: Cliff

This leafy green plant is extremely resilient and one of the best options for removing carbon dioxide and formaldehyde from the air. Studies show it can improve your cognitive function and focus at work.

Dracaena

Dracaena plants are another great option for cleaning your office’s air of pollutants like benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and more.

Just make sure you look into the different varieties of dracaena before you make a purchase — some types are small and others can grow quite large.

Photo: Maja Dumat

Best Indoor Plants for Very Small Spaces

When space is an issue, you need plants that don’t take up too much room and won’t grow out of control. Or maybe people want small plants for individual desks, cubicles, or offices.

Air Plants

Photo: amy gizienski

Air plants are the ultimate low maintenance plant. They don’t need soil to grow, and you don’t need to water them — just mist them a few times per week! You can display them on rocks in jars, wine glasses, or terrariums (like the one above). They do need to be open to the air, though. The tillandsia is a great, durable option.

Water Lettuce

Photo: Scot Nelson

Pistia stratiotes, commonly called water lettuce, is another small plant that doesn’t need soil. As you might have guessed from its name, this plant loves water. It’s easy to grow floating in a vase or even in an open bowl with some decorative accessories.

African Violet

Photo: Wildfeuer

African violets (saintpaulia) are small, cute, and colorful — a wonderful option if you don’t have much space. They do need to be exposed to light and moisture to grow. To make sure your African violet gets the right amount of water, you might consider a self-watering planter pot.

Tips for Placing Plants

Where your place your plants can be just as important as which plants you choose. For example, if air purification is one of your goals, your best bet is to place several plants throughout the office. Back in the 80s, NASA did a study on air-filtering plants as a way to help keep the air in space stations clean. They found that efficient air cleaning is best accomplished with at least one plant per 100 square feet of space.

A few other tips to keep in mind:

  • Airflow is important for most plants. Give your plants plenty of “breathing room.”
  • Most plants prefer higher humidity than you’ll find in most offices. Keep them away from heaters and radiators.
  • If you turn down the heat or air conditioner on weekends, your plant may require a little extra care on Fridays before you leave.

Soon your office’s air will be as fresh as the outdoors! But what about the rest of your space? Get in touch with Cascade Building Services for janitorial and other commercial cleaning services in Portland. We’ll even use eco-friendly products so your plants stay healthy!