Best Winter Cleaning Tips For Keeping Your Retail Business Healthy and Clean

As winter sneaks upon us, here are some retail business cleaning tips for keeping your store healthy and clean – especially now more than ever because of the pandemic.

Provide cleaning products for your personnel and customers

Highly touched surfaces like counters can become a rapid storage and transmission ground for viruses and germs, leading to more sick days that, in turn, lowers productivity.

Thus, ensure that employees keep these areas clean and healthy. That means dusting, wiping down, and disinfecting desks, counters, light switches, doorknobs, and other spots.

Provide your employees with non-toxic cleaners and effective disinfectants for the same, and remind them to wash hands and sanitize afterward.

The same goes, of course, for your customers. Give them hand sanitizer, and ask them to keep social distancing. 

Changing Air Filters

The HVAC system runs more during the winter, and along comes an accumulation of dust, molds, bacteria, viruses, and other contaminants on all air filters. 

If left to accumulate in high levels, the HVAC system will be ineffective, not to mention that these contaminants can also be drawn into the store– causing health havoc once inhaled.

Note; contaminated air is riskier during winter as compared to summer due to the low air density. Studies have shown that the air is drier in winter as the water vapor usually changes in water droplets. That, in turn, lowers the air density and can have germs and viruses suspended on the air longer – increasing their chances of being inhaled.

Thus, clean your HVAC system and monitor and change air filters as regularly as needed. Replace existing filters with those recommended by your system’s manufacturer.

Replace or renew your protective gear

Since the pandemic started, stores have updated their spaces to protect their employees and customers. Protective screens between cashiers and buyers are essential items to keep in the best shape, free from scratches, and ideally positioned.

Other essential accessories like social distancing wall and floor signals, contactless payment methods, and everything involved in delivery and pick-up services must be maintained appropriately to ensure they are working fine.

Do the appropriate reparations to your physical accessories and check the functioning of online apps to ensure your customers’ safest experience.

Paying Attention to Seasonal Maintenance

Think of the messes cold weather mixed with snow and ice can do.

You’ll have employees and customers taking in all sorts of dirt and moisture. Make sure you have quality doormats that can absorb mud, road salt, the brunt of the water, and more. 

Rotate and change the floor mats as needed. Position them in entryways and other locations in the store where people are frequently passing by.

Note non-carpeted surfaces (such as tile) can get slippery from snow and water brought in from outdoors. Thus, avoid lawsuits by putting in measures that can increase such areas’ slip resistance this winter.

Protecting and Cleaning the Floors

Besides adding entry mats, you should keep dust, moisture, and salt off of the floor. Keep the floor clean, dry, and vacuumed.

If it’s allowed to settle for long, dirt and salt can break down the floor material’s fibers –forcing you to replace it prematurely.

Besides, dirty floors are a breeding ground for germs, viruses, and other pathogens, increasing their spread in already highly-infectious winter weather.

Cleaning Windows

Winter weather is tough on windows – especially in snow or ice prone areas. Snow and ice can quickly fall and accumulate on the window panes, which blocks the sunlight. If left for long, the employees will have to use electrical lighting, which will increase your energy bills.

Furthermore, the weight of accumulated debris, snow, and ice can break the window – leading to extra repair expenses or, worse, cause injuries resulting from the broken glasses. And seeing that keeping your office clean and healthy, especially amid the pandemic, can be overwhelming, you’re better off hiring a professional cleaner like the experts at Best Office Cleaning. Visit their site and learn more about how we can help you keep your office healthy.

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6 Preventive Measures To Avoid COVID-19 During The Holidays

Avoid large gatherings or indoor parties as much as you can. Learn about other useful measures to prevent COVID during the holidays in this infographic.

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Great Ideas For Celebrating Halloween This Year During Covid-19

Despite the COVID pandemic, it’s still possible to have Halloween celebrations like no other in St. Louis, Missouri. Many exciting events will be taking place in this part of the country, so your Halloween celebrations don’t have to be dull or boring. However, the prevailing health concerns make it imperative that you and your family only take part in events that you are sure are safe. 

Things to Do On Halloween in St Louis

The list of things to do this Halloween in St. Louis is endless. Consider the following safe activities pick what best suits you and your family.

The Great GO! St. Louis Halloween Race!

Join in this 13.1-mile race that will be held at Missouri Research Park. Yes, this will be at the intersection of Highway 94 and 1-64 in St. Charles County. You can try your running skills as you keep fit on the paved paths and crushed gravel that comprises this race route. The race will take you and your friends from Busch Greenway to Katy trail. 

Of course, one thing you’ll like about the race is that it won’t put excessive strain on you. There are substantial downhill sections and plenty of flat ground to see you run comfortably.

As part of the bargain, you and all the other runners will get a super-soft Halloween themed sweatshirt, glitter-filled Halloween medal, custom Halloween face mask, and a cold Schlafly beer.

Boo at the Zoo

Families can appreciate happy Halloween decorations, intuitive narrators, instructive exercises, children’s games, hauntingly fun amusement, and more at the Saint Louis Zoo’s non-frightening Halloween experience. Although this is not a trick-or-treating thing, costumes are nevewrthe4les encouraged. 

Six Flags Hallowfest 

During this most startling season, the amusement park is healthy family fun during the day, yet be careful around evening time when there is no place to stow away as spooky houses and alarm zones are all over the recreation center. 

Pumpkin Glow in Historic St. Charles 

At this Historic St. Charles Pumpkin Glow, you can have much fun with your family as you bask in the glow of the carved pumpkins in the historic district. Simultaneously, the sellers along Main Street remain open till late to offer you and other fun makes Halloween tastings and goodies. 

Little Goblins Trick or Treat

You can bring your young ones for some e exciting indoor trick or treating. Here you get a spooky scavenger hunt, games, pumpkin decoration, and much more. However, you need to make prior registration if you want your family to experience the thrill of this location.

Science Spooktacular  – Saint Louis Science Center

Your family will get a thrilling scientific experience at this center. You can bring your little goblins, ghouls, dinosaurs, and astronauts to the candy-free event highlighting hands-on spell-binding science. 

The entire family is encouraged to wear their costume.

Monsters on the Meadows Festival

This Halloween festival in St. Louis allows you to dress your young ones for the Monsters on the Meadows, you know, the Lake Saint Louis stuff. At this location, the kids have a lot of free pumpkin painting, face painting, trick or treating, and lots of giveaways, and much more.

Halloween Pumpkin Painting at Rise Coffee House

If your kids are enthusiastic about pumpkin painting, then Rise Coffee House is the place to go. They love to paint some pumpkins with craft ability at this fun location. 

This Halloween should be a time for great fun in St. Louis. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of Halloween events St. Louis area. As you prepare for this exciting celebration, remember to keep safe and clean.  Any time you want to get professional cleaning services in St. Louis, contact Cleaning Concepts. This team of experienced cleaners will help you make your home sparkling clean and free from any disease-causing pathogens.

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7 Costume + Face Mask Ideas For A Fun And Safe Halloween 2020

This Halloween, add a face mask to your costume. Check these creative and simple ideas for your next spooky outfit.

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Fall Cleaning Tips for Your Home; Both Outside and Inside

Summer is almost coming to an end, and we’re just about to usher in the fall. For homeowners, the onset of fall means much more than a few lifestyle modifications. Fall is a prime time to wrap up the spring and summer cleaning projects and implement the fall cleaning checklist in preparation for the holiday season. 

Before the winter sets in, you have to take care of seasonal cleaning chores both inside and outside of the house. Today, we’re going to roll out our tried-and-tested cleaning tips for fall to help you prep up, organize and clean both outside and inside of your home in readiness for the winter.

Fall Clean-Up Checklist for Your Home’s Exterior

As fall makes headway, it marks the end of the growing season and the start of your hard yard cleaning work. The following cleaning tips for fall will be useful during your out-of-door fall clean-up: 

Have your gutters cleaned or replaced 

Your gutters may get clogged as they drain water from your roof to offset the water damage. Clogged gutters are the recipe for water damage to your home’s foundation, siding, doors, and windows. With just a few tools, you can clean and de-clog the gutters on your own. But if the damage is beyond repair, you can easily schedule a gutter replacement with a professional service. 

Remove leaves or mulch them.

Leaves on the yard can suffocate your lawn during the winter. Get rid of them so that the grass can grow quicker and healthier when the next season begins. You can also mulch them directly into the lawn for fertilization, or collect the excess and put in a compost pile. 

Mow your lawn and add the appropriate nutrients 

Mowing your lawn in the fall is a perfect way to keep it looking great in the seasons to come. It’s best to set your cutting height at two inches to enable the grass to store food for growth and prevent snow and ice. Furthermore, never forget to give your lawn the nutrients it needs for optimum growth. 

Fall Clean-Up Checklist for Your Home’s Interior 

You should focus your indoor home cleaning on promoting a safe and comfortable living environment for the winter months in the fall. Here’s a proven fall cleaning checklist that’ll make your interior house cleanup easier than expected: 

Prioritize heavy-traffic areas

Start your indoor fall cleaning with specific high-traffic or highly visited areas, including the living room, kitchen, bathrooms, and bedrooms. Dust, wash, and rinse all the walls, paying closer attention to dry painted or wood-paneled walls. Also, make sure the kitchen cabinets are sparkling clean, organized, and ready for holiday cooking and baking. Discard any expired food and stock up on dry supplies in preparation for the holidays. 

Have your HVAC system cleaned and professionally inspected

Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning unit will prove useful during the winter season, especially if you live in northern climates. So, have your furnace professionally inspected by a specialized HVAC contractor. Make sure the technician has tested the system’s heat output and examined harmful CO2 levels. Once the inspection is complete, it’s time to improve your system’s output by clearing out dust/dander and wiping down all ducts and vents. Filters need to be swapped once in three months as per the manufacturer’s guidelines. 

Clean all windows and inspect the window sills 

Your indoor fall cleaning won’t be complete without cleaning windows and inspecting the sills for heat escape. Fill a spray bottle with tap water and add one squirt of dishwashing liquid. Shake the bottle to blend well, and then wipe down your windows using either a microfiber cloth or glass cleaner. Make sure there are no streaks left. 

Additionally, make sure to inspect windows for any signs of cracks in the sill or glass. Even a fully functional air-con unit will be rendered useless if the windows have small openings permitting heat to escape. In case there are openings, put plastic wrap over the windows to minimize heat seepage through the glass. 

Final Thought

At a glance, these cleaning tips for fall might seem quite tasking to follow and implement religiously. However, they’re easy-peasy to accomplish in just minutes, provided you have the proper cleaning, decluttering, and organizing supplies. If you’re unable to carve out 2-3 hours and handle your fall cleaning chores, you can always outsource them to a professional cleaning service. We’ll be glad to knock out your fall cleaning work and help prepare your yard before the long winter arrives.

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6 Parenting Tips To Prevent Anxiety And Fear During Back-to-school Season

Are your children feeling anxious or fearful about returning to school? This parenting advice will help you deal with their emotional problems.

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The Keys To A Tidy And Clean Home While Your Children Are Still Distance Learning

Total chaos is what best describes how most homes look like when the kids are around. From toys strewn all over, food stains and spills on the floor, and barely a clean patch on site, anyone would be forgiven for assuming a bomb went off inside your home.

Kids are a delight; they bring so much life in what would otherwise be a dull blank space. But, when you have to think about how much work it takes to clean up after them, they don’t seem that adorable anymore. It’s even harder now to keep your home looking spic and span when homeschooling or remote-learning might now be the norm. You are forced to watch after your kids and, at the same time, monitor them while they study. 

Are you at the last of your wits unable to keep your home organized? Here are some practical tips on how to keep a house clean all the time with your kids’ at home and ready for studying and homework.

• Ask the Kids to Clean up After Themselves

Children as young as three years old can learn how to clean up after themselves by picking up items and plastic toys they use during learning. Older kids can handle difficult chores like mopping the floors and organizing the bookshelves, among other duties.

Chip in and give them a hand if you see your kids struggling. Sing fun songs or put on some lively kid-friendly music to get everyone motivated and in an excellent mood to brush the carpets, wipe the tables, and dust the seats, and so on.

Be patient with your kids as they get the hang of cleaning their own mess. They may not be as focused or as fast as you are, but with your gentle nudges and constant reminders, the study area and the rest of the house will remain clean soon.

• Make Cleaning Part of Learning

The same way you would allocate forty minutes for math studies, how about you set some time every day to teach your kids how to organize, wash, and clean their study area? 

Teaching your kids how to keep their spaces clean helps them cultivate a sense of independence. They don’t always have to wait for mom to vacuum the floors, clear the table, or put away their books, paintbrushes, pens, pencils, and other items used in school work. 

By learning how to clean, children as young as four years old learn responsibility. They feel good about doing something productive and getting props from mom for doing a good job. Making cleaning regular allows the kids to make it routine unconsciously.

• Design a Daily Chore Chart

How does each kid know what their specific duty is at any given time? This is where a daily chore chart comes in. Assuming you have two or more kids in your home, a daily chore chart works as a point of reference that tells each kid what they are supposed to do.

The chart includes sections featuring days of the week, a list of chores, and the names of each child as per their chore. If, for example, a child named Kevin refers to the chart, they can see that they are supposed to sort the stationery and organize it in the drawers on Monday. On the same day, another child named Sally may be given the duty to clear the table and push the chairs in place, it goes on and on up to the last kid.

Remember to be age-appropriate as you allocate tasks where younger kids get to do the easy stuff, and older kids handle the slightly harder chores. Also, balance out the chores so that one kid doesn’t always end up doing the same chore every day.

• Set Up a Reward System

Most parents frown upon the idea of rewarding their kids for cleaning up after themselves. However, an effective reward system doesn’t have to be so drastic. Set up a reward system that is motivational and healthy for a child’s mental development. For example, make it clear that if the kids finish their homework and do their chores on time, they can watch TV for an hour during their break. 

Other excellent reward systems include offering them cookies, letting them ride their bikes or play outside with friends, weekend sleepovers (for when it’s possible)  and so on.

Helping your kid learn how to stay clean and organized has been found to improve their confidence even outside of school. They can better interact socially with other kids and adults, and they can negotiate to quickly get themselves out of tricky/puzzling situations and generally become smarter.

Do you find it near impossible to keep your children’s learning areas clutter-free? You are not alone. Any parent who now has to help their kids with their classes online sings the same song. Stick to your routines, and soon cleaning will become second nature even for your kids. They will automatically know what to do and where everything goes after they are done with their school work. But with the tips above, clean study space isn’t that hard to maintain. And if you ever need any extra help, just call us, the professional cleaners, and we’ll help you take a big load off your daily life.

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