Choosing a Commercial Cleaner

10 Questions to Ask Your Commercial Cleaners

by AdviceJanitorial Services

Whether you’re thinking of switching from your current cleaning service or you’ve never worked with one before, choosing the right company can feel like a big decision. Taking the time to weigh your options and make the right choice can have huge benefits in the long run, including:

  • A better first impression for your business
  • Improved employee productivity
  • A healthier work environment
  • Fewer distractions and less stress for you

It’s all about asking the right questions. When you have one or two commercial cleaners you’re considering, ask them these 10 questions:

1. Do you offer all the cleaning services I need?

bank building portlandDo you need janitorial services, carpet cleaning, and window cleaning? Do you generate a lot of paper recycling you need someone to manage?

Make sure any company you’re considering does everything you need.

(You don’t want to hire 3 different companies when you could hire just one!)

It’s worth double checking each cleaning company’s answers with the services page of their website too.

2. What kind of cleaning products & supplies do you use?

This is a good question to ask, just to make sure the person you’re talking to is knowledgeable about the cleaning process.

It’s especially important if sustainability matters to you. In Portland and the surrounding areas, many businesspeople feel strongly about their impact on the environment. If that sounds like you, it’s worth finding a commercial cleaning service with the same philosophy.

At Cascade Building Services, we always use environmentally safe products without harmful toxins or unpleasant odors.

3. Can you clean at night or on weekends?

Part of the reason for hiring a commercial cleaner is to free up more time and energy for you to focus on business. You can’t do that if your cleaning company is constantly showing up during business hours.

At Cascade Building Services we work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our clients simply tell us the most convenient time for them, and that’s when we show up.

industrial area portland swan island

Photo: ienjoysushi

4. How long have you been in business?

There’s nothing wrong with being a young business — everyone has to start somewhere — but there’s a lot less risk for you when you choose a cleaning company who has a long history of doing quality work.

We’ve been serving the Portland area for more than 50 years. We’ve handled nearly every type of cleaning job out there and we have many good reviews from great clients to back it up… which leads to the next question:

5. Can you provide me with references?

Unless you’re the company’s first client, they should be able to put you in contact with at least one or two clients they’ve worked with in the past (or that they still work with!).

It never hurts to ask for references, even if you don’t actually call all of them. You might learn some valuable information that makes your decision easier.

It’s also a good idea to check each company’s online reviews on Google, Yelp, and their own website.

6. Will your employees clean my facility?

Some companies use day laborers instead of hiring their own employees. There’s not necessarily anything wrong with that, but it’s always nice to know when a company has loyal employees.

One benefit of choosing a company who hires its own employees? At Cascade Building Services, we have a professional staff of employees who wear uniforms and I.D. badges. Many of our employees have worked with us for over a decade! We perform a background check on everyone we hire and provide ongoing training.

janitorial services employee traning

Photo: Sean Mulgrew

7. Do you work with other businesses in my industry?

Does the cleaning company have experience with businesses like yours? Can they handle the ins and outs of cleaning a space like yours?

If they have worked with clients in your industry, can they tell you which business(es)?

8. Will you have an ongoing contact person?

It’s important to have the name and number of a single person you know you can always contact — whether that’s the owner, an employee, or a customer service representative whose job is to make sure you’re getting the service you need.

There’s nothing more frustrating than sealing the deal with a salesperson and then having to climb your way through a phone tree once you’re actually working together.

9. Are they responsive and quick to get back to you?

This is more of a question to ask yourself. Does the company instill confidence that they’ll do what they say they’ll do? Do you trust them? Is it clear that getting back to you and answering your questions are top priorities?

If you answered yes, yes, and yes, that’s a good sign!

phone businessman

10. Can you give me a free quote or estimate?

Free quotes are a sign that a company is not only legitimate but believes in the work they’re doing. It’s also a sign that they respect their clients’ time and money.

My advice is that if a company won’t provide you with a free quote before you start working together, start looking for someone else.

Ready to get started? We’d love to give you a free quote.

Get a free quote from Cascade Building Services, or give us a call at (503) 691-0776 if you have questions.

Your Checklist

Want all these questions in one place? You can print this page and use this checklist of all 10 questions to ask you cleaners:

Cleaning Company Questions Checklist

Name of Cleaning Company: ______________________________________

  • ❑ They offer all the cleaning services you need.
  • ❑ They use safe (and possibly environmentally friendly) cleaning products.
  • ❑ They can clean at a time that’s convenient for you.
  • ❑ They’re experienced with a history of success.
  • ❑ They can provide you with references.
  • ❑ Their own employees will clean your facility (no day laborers).
  • ❑ They have experience working with businesses in your industry.
  • ❑ You will have an ongoing contact person.
  • ❑ They’re responsive and quick to get back to you.
  • ❑ They can provide you with a no-obligation quote or estimate free of charge.

Notes:

 

 

 

 

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.

Why You Need Professional Window

Why You Need Professional Window Cleaning

by Janitorial ServicesWindow Washing

Why Clean Your Windows?

No matter what business you’re in, appearances matter. The way your business presents itself says a lot to your current customers and prospective clients. You keep your place of business organized and you don’t make sloppy mistakes in your work. You should show the same level of dedication to keeping your building clean, especially your windows.

Dirty Glass DoorDirty windows with streaks and smears stand out. In a bad way. You don’t want your customers to see them. And you also don’t want your team members to work while looking at smudgy windows. Your employees will feel less valued if they’re working in an unclean space (and they can even get sick from it).

Show your dedication to and respect for your customers and your employees. Keep your windows clean!

Keep reading and we’ll talk about how how professional window cleaners work, guidelines for how often your windows should be cleaned, and how you can pick the right professional window cleaner for you.

How Professionals Clean Windows

You’ve cleaned your windows at home. Windows are windows right? What does a professional window cleaner do differently

They’re experienced! A professional window cleaner cleans more windows in a week than most people will clean in their lifetime! They know how to work quickly and efficiently. You’ll be amazed at how fast professional window cleaners work while still making sure your windows are spotless.

Professional window cleaners have access to tools and equipment that most people don’t. They’ll have extra-long-handled brushes and cleaning supplies that are needed for cleaning the tall windows found in many office buildings, hospitals, banks and other commercial spaces. They’ll also know just the right tools and supplies to use when cleaning your windows.

At Cascade Building Services, for example, we use an eco-friendly and biodegradable cleaning solution! We’re always looking out for the environment!

How Often to Clean Windows?

How often to enlist the help of professional window cleaners is a tricky question and the answer is, “it depends.” One factor to consider is the number of windows you have. The more windows, the more noticeable dirty windows will be and the more frequently you’ll need to have them cleaned.

Also consider the climate. Rainy weather in Portland doesn’t actually clean your windows! In fact, it can make them more dirty by leaving behind tiny particles of dirt that build up over time. And during the spring, the Northwest is known for its pollen, which can accumulate on all exterior windows.

If your building is near a major road or highway, you’ll need to clean more frequently, as car exhaust and other particulates in the air can build up a layer of grime on your windows.

Below, you’ll find my general recommendations for how often you should have your windows professionally cleaned. If you’ve got questions, get in touch, I’d love to tell you more.

Hospitals

Hospital Building

Depending on the size of your hospital or clinic, you’ll need professional window cleaning services about once a month. Windows on the ground floor, or those in an exam room, or a patient’s room might need cleaning a bit more often to keep them spotless.

Banks

Modern bank buildings tend to have lots of windows. That means there’s a lot of surface area that can get dirty and need cleaning. That’s why I think that most banks need to have their windows cleaned at least twice a year. Depending on climate and other factors, you may need to have some windows cleaned more frequently than others.

Office buildings

Office Window with a view

A good rule of thumb is that an office’s windows should be thoroughly cleaned twice a year. However, monthly touch-ups, especially for your lobby, conference rooms, and other areas that clients spend lots of time in, are a good idea.

RestaurantsRestaurant

Restaurant windows get dirty fast! They’ll need to be cleaned every two weeks, both inside and out! Grimy, streaky, dirty windows are sure to make your customers want to eat someplace else. Take a look around on Yelp reviews for local restaurants. You’ll be amazed how often dirty windows are mentioned.

Retail stores

Retail storeJust like restaurants, clean windows are a surprisingly big part of customer satisfaction. They’re also key to making your store seem clean and inviting.

I recommend a monthly cleaning of all windows in your retail store, especially those that face the street where there’s lots of foot traffic.

Choosing a Professional Window Cleaner

Pro Window Washer

If you’re thinking about having your office, warehouse, store, condominium building, hospital, or bank’s windows cleaned, you’ve got a big decision to make. You need a window cleaning company that you can trust. Here’s what you should look for:

Satisfied Customers

Look on Yelp, Angie’s List, or at a company’s Google Plus and Facebook page’s for reviews and testimonials. The most recent reviews will give you the best idea about how a window cleaning company is doing.

Look for Experience

You want a window cleaner who’s been in the business for years, not months! Less established companies may not be able to provide the best prices, or worse, they may go out of business, leaving you searching for a new window cleaner at an inconvenient time.

And less-experienced window cleaners might not know all the tricks of the trade and might make mistakes when it comes to cleaning your windows.

At Cascade Building Services, we’ve been cleaning windows since 1961! We’ve seen it all and cleaned it all!

Talk to the Companies You’re Considering

Once you’ve narrowed your choices down to a few local window washing companies, give them a call. Ask them to come out and look at your windows. Here are a few questions you can ask to help you learn more about whether they’re the right choice for you:

  • What tools do they use?
  • Do they clean only windows or can they provide other cleaning services, too?
  • When cleaning windows do they also clean the sills, ledges, and tracks?
  • Can they provide you with references?
  • Do they clean at night or only during the day?
  • Do they work weekends?
  • How long will it take to clean your windows?
  • What areas do they service?

And of course, get their offer or quote in writing.

Conclusion

Your windows say a lot about your business. That’s why it’s so important to keep them clean. And there’s no better way to keep your windows clean, than to set up regular cleanings with an experienced, professional window cleaner.

Do you need commercial window cleaning services in the Portland, Oregon area? We’d love to get to know you! Contact us today.

Or you can always see if this little guy is available:


Photo Credits: Lynn Willis, Jaysin Trevino, Roger W, Doc Searls, Random Retail, Mike Mozart, Chucka_nc,

darrenAbout the author Darren

Darren is the owner of Cascade Building Services. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree at Lewis and Clark University. He used to work in sales for General Mills. In his spare time, you can find him in the great outdoors camping and boating.

do sustainable cleaning products work

Do Sustainable Cleaning Products Really Work?

by AdviceCarpet Cleaning

When people talk about cleaning products, there’s a common misconception that harsher chemicals clean more effectively. That’s not true; good sustainable cleaning products are extremely effective.

But if both sustainable and traditional cleaning products will clean your workplace effectively, why should you bother with the sustainable ones?

Because the chemicals found in most cleaning products aren’t just bad for the environment, they’re dangerous for your health too.

Ask yourself: Are toxic chemicals that put you at risk any better than dirt? Not if you ask us! Luckily you don’t have to choose one or the other. There are many sustainable cleaning options that are safe for your health and will get your business sparkling clean.

Why Are Traditional Cleaning Products Dangerous?

Traditional cleaning products that contain toxic chemicals can be dangerous for two main reasons:

droplets fountain water birdThey’re bad for the environment.

Toxic cleaning products don’t just sit around in your office. They frequently end up in the waste stream. From there, they can leach into our soil and drinking water.

That means we drink water with small amounts of nasty chemicals like perchloroethylene, ammonium hydroxide, and butyloxy ethanol — not to mention good old fashioned bleach! (Don’t worry, I’ll explain what all those chemicals are in the next section.)

They’re bad for you.

You know the chemical smell you’ve probably noticed after your space gets cleaned? The smell of a new car? The scent of a recently cleaned bathroom? That dry cleaning smell?

Those smells are the result of chemicals from cleaning products being released into the air and into your body. Eventually, the smell goes away, but until then, people in the area are breathing in potentially dangerous fumes with negative health side effects.

What Chemicals Are in Traditional Cleaning Products?

A few of the most important chemicals you’ll find in many cleaning products are:

Believe it or not, all those chemicals are found in common carpet cleaners. Carpet cleaners are some of the most important cleaning products to be wary of, because they often contain a lot of harsh chemicals.

walking on clean carpet

Traditional cleaners will kill germs and dirt in your carpet, but they may also do damage your body in the process.

What Are the Sustainable Cleaning Alternatives?

Most sustainable cleaning products are made of plant-based ingredients, less harmful chemicals, and plain old water!

essential oils natural sustainable cleaningA few things you might see on the ingredients list are:

  • White vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • Low concentration hydrogen peroxide
  • Essential oils
  • Castile soap

Not only are these solutions safer for you and better for the environment, they’re also extremely effective cleaners!

Let’s see why.

How Do Sustainable Cleaning Products Work?

At Cascade Building Services, we use sustainable cleaning products to clean carpets, windows, and just about everything else in your workplace. We use eco-friendly, citrus-based cleaners with no toxic chemicals or irritants.

One of the most common questions we get is:

“How is it possible to clean a carpet with a citrus-based cleaner?”

Good question! Carpets can be hard to clean, especially if it’s been a while. When you hire a professional carpet cleaner, you want to make sure you’re getting a thorough cleaning without dirt, moisture, or cleaning residue left behind. Here’s how it works:

Our proprietary process uses something called ion-exchange to separate and remove microscopic particles of dirt and other gross stuff from your carpet. The citrus-based cleaning solution we use for this process is completely biodegradable, nontoxic, and leaves behind absolutely no residue! Plus it won’t smell like chemicals when you come into work the next day.

grey luxury carpet silver

You should know: Some cleaning services will say they offer “steam cleaning” — a method which shoots water into the carpet and can take up to a few days to dry. That’s why we prefer our ion-exchange method. It dries in only a few hours, so you can get your carpet cleaned on a weeknight and come into work the next day!

The Cascade Building Services Promise

Eco-friendliness and sustainability are important to us. So is the health of our clients. At Cascade Building Services, we’ve made a commitment to using only products that:

  • Deliver exceptional results
  • Ensure a sustainable workplace
  • Are free from harmful odors and toxins
  • Improve indoor air quality
  • Help us provide the cleanest, safest work environment while minimizing our carbon footprint

Our goal is to improve air quality, recycle as much as possible, and reduce waste without sacrificing cleanliness and sanitation.

If you’re interested in an effective and sustainable cleaning solution for your workplace, contact us for a free quote!

Essential oils photo: Abi Porter

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.

paper in garbage recycle

How to Encourage Recycling at Work

by Advice

Want to get on track with recycling at your business?

Various metro areas and counties in and around Portland require businesses to meet certain recycling requirements. But following those requirements isn’t always easy for people who are busy helping customers and running their business.

Even the best-intentioned office recycling initiatives sometimes fail.

If you want to meet your area’s recycling requirements and do your part to help the environment, this post can help. We’ll look at the main reasons why many recycling plans fail. Then I’ll tell you how to set up a recycling system that will work for your business.

What Are Your Recycling Requirements?

Each area has its own recycling regulations for businesses. For example, the Portland metro area explains it’s recycling requirements here. And you’ll find Washington County’s similar recycling requirements here. A quick Google search should turn up results for other areas.

Here’s a helpful guide showing what to recycle and how. It’s for Portland, but it’s a helpful resource for pretty much any Greater Portland area business.

Most areas that have business recycling requirements expect businesses to:

recycling-bin-office

    1. Give employees the opportunity to recycle
    2. Recycle paper and containers (i.e. metal cans, plastic bottles and tubs, and glass bottles and jars)
    3. Sort and separate recyclables correctly (glass is almost always collected separately from other recyclables)
    4. Set out materials for recycling collection

If that sounds a bit overwhelming, don’t worry. Almost every city and county lists a help number on its website, where you can get your questions answered. I’ll also give you a list of more resources to help you at the end of this post.

Sometimes, it’s easier and more cost effective to hire a company that offers commercial recycling services to manage your recycling program. For example, at Cascade Building Services, we know all the regulations and can keep everything running efficiently.

Contact us to learn more, or keep reading for our tips on how to manage your recycling program on your own.

Getting Started: the Logistics

It’s important to know where you’re starting from. Especially if you’re a large or medium-sized company, getting everyone on track can require a bit more planning and coordination. Before you start a recycling plan, find out…

  1. How much is the business currently wasting?
  2. How much of that is paper? Plastic? Metal? Glass? (For most businesses, paper is by far the biggest culprit.)
  3. How much of that waste do you think you can realistically expect to recycle over the next year (or whatever timeframe makes sense for your business)?

Answering those questions will help you figure out what resources you need to make your recycling plan work. If you’re not sure where to start, talk to your janitorial service. They probably have a good sense for your recycling needs already.

You’ll also probably need to contract with a recycling hauler in your area to arrange regular pickups.

recycling-pick-up

Photo: atramos

Encourage Your Employees to Recycle

Why is it so hard to get people to recycle?

Despite the fact that recycling can reduce your trash bill and help the environment, businesses still send over 100,000 tons of recyclable paper and containers into landfills in an average year. Why is that?

People usually turn to the trash can when…

  1. There’s no recycling box nearby
  2. They aren’t sure what can be recycled and what can’t

That’s why it’s not enough to just convince people that recycling is important. You have to make recycling easy — so easy there’s no reason not to do it.

Once recycling is easy, it becomes a habit instead of a chore.

Have Enough Recycling Receptacles

The goal is to make it just as easy to recycle as to throw something away. That means making recycling boxes as easily accessible as your garbage cans. Depending on how much paper recycling your company generates, that might mean having a recycling box next to every garbage can. If you work in Portland, you can order free recycling boxes here.

Make sure you have paper recycling containers:

  • Near printers and copy machines
  • Near areas with a lot of desks

Consider putting aluminum and plastic recycling containers:

  • In the lunchroom
  • Close to vending machines

Show What Can Be Recycled and Where

recycling containers psu portland

Photo: Samuel Mann

When it’s not clear whether something is recyclable or not, many people’s first instinct is to toss it in the trash.

Make it easier for your employees by placing posters above recycling receptacles that show what should go in each one and what shouldn’t.

Lead by Example

If you and other company leaders make a point to recycle, it makes it easier for everyone else to follow your example. That’s why it’s so important for larger companies to get leaders from each department on board to make sure the recycling process is running smoothly in each department.

Make it Fun

There are some pretty mind-blowing statistics about recycling out there. Hearing them can make recycling fun. It also helps people see exactly where they are making a difference when they throw those papers in the recycling instead of the trash.

Here are a few:

  • Recycling one ton of paper saves about 17 trees.
  • You could power a computer for  three hours with the energy you save from recycling one aluminum can.
  • Recycling aluminum requires 95% less energy than processing new aluminum.
  • Recycling one plastic bottle can save enough energy to light a 60W bulb for up to six hours.

Why not put together a list of fun recycling facts and turn it into a company-wide email or even a bathroom poster?

You might even call attention to certain recyclable items you know people use a lot. Did you know you can recycle a Starbucks cup, lid and all?

recycle starbucks cup garbage bin

Photo: Krystian Olszanski

Resources to Encourage Recycling

Putting together a successful recycling plan can seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. As promised, here are a few resources you can use to learn more about recycling regulations in your area and how you can encourage recycling at work in an easy, cost-effective way:

  • Recycle at Work — Find all kinds of tips and resources, and arrange for a specialist to come to your business for free to help you get started.
  • Free printable posters — Portland businesses can print these and place them near recycling receptacles to help employees out (available in Spanish and other languages).
  • How Do I Recycle? Common Recyclables – Not sure how to recycle weird materials like batteries, used oil, or light bulbs? Check out this resource from the EPA.

I hope this post helps you encourage more recycling at your business! If you’d like to know more about how we can manage your recycling program, or just have more questions, get in touch!

 

Photos: Sebastien Wiertz, Kai Hendry

Young couple relaxing on the carpet

Why Use Green Carpet Cleaning?

by Carpet Cleaning

Do you put bleach in your morning coffee?

Probably not.

That’s because you care about your health. Maybe you even buy organic food and use other natural products.

Green carpet cleaning, however, might not have occurred to you. But it should, and here’s why. Toxic cleaners can end up in the waste stream, and from there, leach into soil and drinking water. So using harsh chemicals on carpet is sort of like using bleach as coffee creamer. Gross!

Eco-friendly carpet cleaning is the answer.

For years, Americans used bleach and other harsh chemicals to clean our bathrooms, kitchens, and homes. Now consumers and businesses are catching on. Carpet cleaning shouldn’t leave strong fumes and chemicals in the air for people, kids, and pets to breathe. Keep reading to learn what’s toxic in most carpet cleaners, why green cleaning is better, and what ingredients are more eco-friendly.

Is Carpet Cleaning Toxic?

bad smell flickrWhat’s so bad about traditional carpet cleaning, you ask? Well, one telltale sign should be the smell. Any smell from a new product — that new car scent, or the strange odor of a new rug or mattress, or that dry cleaning smell — means it is offgassing. That’s when chemicals are released into the air, usually with negative health side effects. After traditional carpet cleaning, carpets smell…different. After a while, the smell goes away, but until then, people are breathing in potentially dangerous fumes.

One such dangerous chemical in conventional carpet cleaners is perchloroethylene, aka “perc.” The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency suspects perc causes cancer and harms your brain. According to one health magazine, “People who live in residential buildings where dry cleaners are located have reported dizziness, loss of coordination and other symptoms.” That’s because dry cleaners use perc — and so do conventional carpet cleaners.

Other harmful chemicals in carpet cleaner are naphthalene and butyloxy ethanol. These two outlaws can hurt the nervous system, liver, and kidneys, possibly causing cancer. Another one to avoid is ammonium hydroxide, which irritates the lungs, eyes, and skin because it’s corrosive. Yes, these chemicals help break down dirt in carpet, but they can also break down YOU!

What’s in Green Carpet Cleaning Solution? sleeping dog carpet

Green carpet cleaners are made of plant-based ingredients, less harmful chemicals, or simply water. Here are some common ingredients:

  • Diluted hydrogen peroxide
  • Baking soda
  • White vinegar
  • Essential oil
  • Castile soap 

How can plain old water clean carpets? It’s called oxygenation. Here’s how it works:

The secret is in oxygenated water bubbles created in a special apparatus with an oxygenation chamber. These oxygenated water bubbles go through a special cell. In the cell, electric current forms a stream of very charged alkaline and acidic water, which breaks down the dirt into small bits and washes it away from the carpet.

All these methods are safer and healthier than toxic carpet cleaning methods. Not only do they get carpet clean, but they promote better air quality and thus healthier people.

What Does Cascade Building Services Use? 

Many “natural” carpet cleaning services offer steam cleaning, which doesn’t actually involve steam at all. It’s an extraction method that shoots water into carpet, then sucks it back up very quickly. This method takes a long time to dry — sometimes days!

Here at Cascade Building Services, we don’t use the extraction method, but we don’t use toxic cleaners, either. We also avoid detergents that can sit in carpet after it’s been “cleaned” and attract more dirt. Instead, we use a biodegradable cleaning solution that doesn’t offgas or harm the environment. It’s a proprietary process that uses a citrus-based cleaner and ion-exchange to remove the microscopic particles that create stains and dirty paths in carpets.  It’s completely nontoxic and residue-free, leaving clean carpet behind — and nothing else. Plus, carpet dries within a couple short hours. Learn more about our green carpet cleaning in the Portland, Oregon metro area.

Interested in green carpet cleaning? Contact us for a free quote!

Bad smell photo: Sira Hanchana

darrenAbout the author Darren

Darren is the owner of Cascade Building Services. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree at Lewis and Clark University. He used to work in sales for General Mills. In his spare time, you can find him in the great outdoors camping and boating.