Hiring a company that not only provides Portland janitorial service, but does carpet cleaning, window washing, floor maintenance, emergency service, etc., not only gives you the peace of mind of handing the job to someone you already know and trust, it also saves you time and money.

Your janitorial company already knows your building and needs, so they can give you a quick and accurate quote. And you won’t have to waste any time searching for a new provider, breaking them in, handing out more keys and/or codes, and dealing with scheduling headaches.

At N&C Service, we pride ourselves on being able to take care of all of Portland’s cleaning needs. Handling unusual and special cleaning projects for our clients is one of our strong points, and it’s not something you will always get from some of the big national/corporate janitorial companies.

N&C Service are Portland born and bred, and we know how to get things clean here in our challenging Northwest climate.

Consider us Portland’s “Swiss Army Knife” of cleaning companies!

In buildings, safety glass is most often used anywhere there is a danger of someone accidentally bumping into and breaking the window pane, such as shower doors, sliding doors, and large picture windows.

The problem with safety glass is that the process used to make it creates tiny bubbles and imperfections on the surface, and when cleaned like a normal window, permanent scratching can occur.

Normal glass cleaners are okay to use on tempered glass, but you should never use vinegar or abrasive cleaners or scouring pads.

One great way to safely clean them is to:

1. Mix dish soap and water in a spray bottle.
2. Spray mixture onto the glass surface.
3. Allow solution to soak a few minutes to penetrate the grime and dirt.
4. Use a warm wet sponge to remove the cleaning solution.
5. Buff with a microfiber cloth to dry and shine.

And of course, for the window washing Portland has known and trusted for 50 years, call N&C Service!

Here, via the website nonprofitrisk.org, are some cleaning basics for office eating areas:

• Dirt, grime and garbage if left to accumulate can create health hazards and spread disease. Have sufficient trash receptacles located in kitchens, staff lounges, break rooms and other locations where food is consumed.
• Kitchens need to be clean and floors maintained. Spills on the counters or floors need to be mopped up promptly. Injuries can be sustained from slips and falls on wet floors.
• Kitchen counters need to be clean and free from spills and grime.
• Refrigerators should be cleaned out at least once a week, and stoves/microwaves need to be wiped down at least daily.
• Trash must be properly disposed on at least a daily basis to avoid attracting insects, mice, rats and other vermin. Rotting food, even in a refrigerator, is a health hazard.
• Staff and volunteers should be discouraged from consuming food at their desks, or in places that are not specifically designated for food consumption.

Keeping office kitchens clean is a big part of our Portland janitorial services. Contact us if you need this very important job done, done often, and done right.

Is This You? Call Us!

]]> http://www.nandcservice.com/blog/2012/04/30/portland-janitorial-services-keeping-your-office-kitchen-area-clean/feed/ 0 http://www.nandcservice.com/blog/2012/04/23/portland-green-cleaning/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=portland-green-cleaning http://www.nandcservice.com/blog/2012/04/23/portland-green-cleaning/#comments Mon, 23 Apr 2012 19:01:40 +0000 nandcservice http://www.nandcservice.com/blog/?p=230 Green Cleaning is something we Northwesterners value. However, when you are searching for a Portland green cleaning company, you might get bogged down in the aphabet soup that constitutes the various certifications and acronyms.

Below is a short glossary to help you get through some of the terms used in the cleaning and building industries as pertains to Portland green cleaning, and the green cleaning industry as a whole.

LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED employs four different levels for certifying green buildings: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The goal of LEED certification is to encourage building and maintenance professionals from architects to construction companies to janitorial services to create and maintain buildings using energy efficient and environmentally friendly methods.

HEPA: High-Efficiency Particulates Air filters. A feature commonly seen on vacuum cleaners, HEPA filters reduce particulate volume in the air as it passes through the machine, improving overall air quality.

FSC Certified: FCS stands for Forest Stewardship Council. Products that carry this certification are either created from trees in FCS certified forests, from other such controlled sources, or best of all, are recycled from post-consumer items.

VOC: Volatile Organic Compounds. Some cleaning products such as disinfectants and degreasers contain these compounds, which present a health risk. Green cleaning products help to lessen the risk by containing the lowest possible VOCs.

We hope this clears some of the confusion out there. If you are looking for the green cleaning Portland can rely on, please feel free to contact us!

What's wrong with this picture? EVERYTHING!

Without a doubt, clean windows are one of those details that make life a lot better, but they are nothing to get yourself all (literally) broken up over. If you insist on doing your windows yourself, please do it safely. If you can’t, call a professional.

There is a great video about ladder safety here, done by the Washington State Dept of Labor.

Of course, we think you should just call us for the window cleaning Portland has relied on for 50 years and counting. We offer a free consultation and quote, and we have all the equipment needed to do the job right. It’s just our thing.

While we’ve already told you all about how clean windows are clean windows, rain or shine, there is still something you need to know about Portland window washing when the sun is out.

Try to avoid washing your windows when the sun is shining directly on them, as the heat can tend to dry the cleaning solution on the windows before you can properly wipe or squeegee it off.

So there you go — one simple tip to keep in mind as the days get a little warmer and nicer. And if your window washing project is too big for you to handle, give N&C Service a call.

We’ve been the window washers Portland has relied on for 50 years and counting! After all these years, you best believe that we know Portland, we know window washing, and we know Portland window washing!

Keep this tip in mind for window washing on sunny days!

Well, it just got us thinking: While we enjoy our business of providing Portland janitorial services, (and have for 50 years)  who’s to say what the next 50 years will bring?

When we say “if it’s dirty we’ll clean it” we mean it! So, NASA and all you other space people, when it comes time to hire a company for extra-terrestrial cleanup, please keep N&C Service in mind.

And of course, in the here and now, if you need the janitorial services Portland has come to rely on for 50 years and counting, call N&C Service.

N&C Cleaning Up The Moon! (Artist's Rendition)

This useful tool provides you with all the questions you need to ask a cleaning company, whether you are hiring a new provider or simply reevaluating your current service.

As you can see, this checklist is set up to allow you to compare answers from three different companies (the minimum number that you should request bids from).

You can download the checklist here, or click the image below.  And you can always contact us  if you have any questions.

Click the image to get your printable hiring checklist!

Since our carpets act as giant air filters for our homes and offices, keeping them free of these contaminants contributes to a healthier overall environment. Plus they look a lot nicer.

Here are four tips for keeping clean carpets clean in a wet climate — from those who know Portland carpet cleaning best.

1. Use door mats outside and inside all entrances. Clean and change them as needed.

2. Even better, see of you can’t talk your family and visitors into leaving their shoes at the door. This is not all that uncommon a rule in Northwest houses, and for good reason. Of course, this is probably not a viable option for businesses!

3. Vacuum your carpets on a regular basis (at least weekly) to help prevent buildup.

4. Get your carpets professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Once or twice a year is best for homes. Offices and businesses should schedule them more frequently.

If it is time for you to go the professional route, keep in mind that N&C has been providing the carpet cleaning Portland homes and businesses have been counting on for 50 years and counting.

That's right. Shoes off!

In between cleanings, it is important to take good care of your carpet. Here are some tips that will help you keep your carpets looking their best:

1. Vacuuming is vital, especially when there are pets around (see below). Vacuum once a week, and change the bag often (up to weekly) to reduce funky odors while vacuuming.

2. When it comes to spills and stains, there are different methods to take care of different types, but in all cases, please remember: Blot, don’t rub.

3. After spot cleaning, use a solution of water and white vinegar to remove cleaner residue. If you don’t, the residue may attract dirt and start to turn gray.

4. From the “you learn something new every day” file: carpet fibers twist clockwise. So when you are blotting stains or using spot attain removers, work in a clockwise direction to keep your carpet from fraying.

If you are searching for Portland carpet cleaning services from somone who knows this NW environment and all that it takes to keep it clean, give N&C a call.

Portland: We know it. We love it. We clean it.