Woman and child abuse increase at an alarming rate.

Servest Cleaning is taking the initiative to educate their staff about abuse and not to keep it a secret, but to stand up and fight against it by supporting “16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children” with 24 hour  I Care (082 603 0272) line  available to report abuse or to assist victims. Servest Cleaning takes their staff’s wellbeing to heart. 

South Africa is taking part in the global “16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women” campaign, which runs from 25 November to the 10 December 2011. Although the worldwide campaign focuses purely on violence against women, South Africa added children to its campaign due to the high incidence of child abuse, which has become disturbingly high in this country. The “16 Days of Activism” campaign declares a truce on violence against women and children.

Clean Green: Servest and Green Cleaning Products

In a world that is constantly under severe environmental pressure from industry, all businesses should be endeavouring to reduce their impact on the environment. At Servest Cleaning we believe that utilising green cleaning products is a natural and responsible step towards lowering our carbon footprint, as well as those of our clients.

Servest Cleaning has policies in place which ensure that we stay up to date with the latest green technology in our line of service. We are aware of what is new, safe and thoroughly tested; and we employ the use of this technology to minimise impact during our daily operations. 

Using biotechnology, we are able to replace traditionally harsh cleaning products with those that incorporate the use of non-pathogenic bacteria. These are harvested from nature, and have no impact on plants, animals or people; and moreover they do not contaminate ground water. Acknowledging the level of impact that one’s own business has on the environment is the first step to sustainably managing business operations.

The ins and outs of carpet cleaning

It’s pretty hard these days to find an office that doesn’t make use of carpeting. It retains heat in colder rooms, acts as sound proofing and can be very aesthetically valuable in hard surroundings. However, there is a tendency to forget that like anything else made of fibre, carpets need to be cleaned effectively on a regular basis.

Dirty shoes, spilt food, dust accumulation, animal hair and many other kinds of miniscule particles are driven through our footsteps deep between the fibres of carpeting. Additionally, sticky oils are trekked in off the streets and bond to carpet fibres, creating the perfect tacky surface for hidden dirt to stick to. This process is known as oxidation, and the potent combination of oil and dirt manifests noticeably as dark patches, particularly in areas that receive a lot of foot traffic.

Not only are dirty carpets unsightly, but with the build up of muck comes the foundations for pollutants and germs to make an ideal home. Pollen, dust mite debris, fungus, mould and bacteria all thrive in dirty carpets, and can have serious negative effects on employee health, particularly staff with allergies. In fact, pathogens known to have been found on carpets include E.coli as well as Salmonella, something which may have a few less scrupulous employees reconsidering the ‘5 second’ rule when debating the cleanliness of a dropped sandwich.

Five ways keeping clean keeps the office safe

Using a professional cleaning service should guarantee you of a spic and span, sparkly clean office. Indeed, that’s what you’re employing the service for! But did you know there are many other indirect safety benefits from using a company like Servest Cleaning?

1. A professional cleaning service supplies contracted staff to perform cleaning duties. As such, staff are trained specifically to deal with the hazards of cleaning offices, including the use of chemicals and the moving of heavy furniture. Injuries related to cleaning (think slipping on a wet floor, back strains, chemical burns etc) are thus few and far between, and medical issues are dealt with by the parent company.

Eco-Friendly Ways to Improve Office Cleanliness

Having a clean and pleasant office is a very important element of any business, however in contemporary times sustainability is a priority throughout all corporate avenues. Consequently achieving high standards of hygiene should be done in as eco-friendly a way as possible.

There is a common misconception that in order to ensure a germ-free area one has to make use of the harshest chemicals possible. While it is true that not many germs are fans of hard-core bleaches, traces of these highly toxic cleaning agents become evident in ecosystems surrounding the office area via run-off, faulty drain systems and even simple misuse. A single offices’ effluent may seem minimal, but it is the combined waste of many offices that cause toxins to build up substantially and cause damage to the local environment.

Getting Rid of Mould in your Office and Home

Mould really is one of those painfully annoying things. No matter how many times you wipe it away, a few days go by and those irritating black dots have started to take shape again. For something so small, mould sure does take a lot of effort to get rid of!

There are different kinds of mould, but all of the ones you find in your home or office are part of the fungi family. Some moulds are innocuous, while others (referred to as toxic mould) can produce mycotoxins. If mycotoxins appear in concentrated volumes where people spend a lot of time, they can cause illness in the form of allergies, respiratory inflammation and in some cases neurological problems.

The Advantages of a Commercial Cleaning Service

For every business there are two choices when it comes to deciding how to tackle the cleaning of an office. The first is the DIY approach with hiring an in-house general cleaner and the second is contracting a commercial cleaning service.

While the first one may seem like a practical option initially, there are quite a few advantages to the second that you may have not thought about.

When you hire professionals you are gaining the benefits of having the best equipment, techniques and cleaning products used to clean your office, as true professionals will only use the best.

The Prerequisites of a Successful Office Cleaning Service

Have you ever thought about what you should be expecting from your cleaning service? Sure, the obvious thing that jumps to mind is a bright, shiny, germ-free office, but that is the end product that should come after a number of important foundations have been laid down. Foundations that you shouldn’t ever have to compromise on.

The establishment of a professional cleaning service should start quite literally at the folks doing the cleaning. No one wants to nip into the bathroom to be faced by an annoyed looking cleaner fortified with a ferocious mop. Yes they are there to do their jobs, and we’re pleased they want to do it efficiently, but well trained staff understand the importance of customer relations. Letting a desperate office worker pass unscathed to the toilet stall with a friendly hello should be standard staff behaviour.

Ster Kinekor - Cleaning at the Silver Screen

Going to watch a movie on the big-screen is always a special experience. There’s something exciting about finding the correct row in the dimmed theatre and settling into your seat with an over-sized Coke and a box of popcorn wedged between your knees. Whether it’s fast-paced action, a cheesy rom-com or art house deluxe, it’s hard to find someone who doesn’t like the movies.

Isn’t it incredible though that when the lights come on after the credits; a battle field of crushed Smarties, popcorn, wine gums and spilt drinks create a virtual obstacle course to the exit! Once we’ve dodged the debris, we leave the cinema to visit the bathroom, and as the door swings shut behind us – that’s the last we think of the movie house until the next block buster worth watching comes out.

Allergens in the workplace

A large proportion of our population suffers from allergic diseases on a daily basis. The form and severity these allergies take are wide ranging and there can often be a number of contributing factors. For example, a hay fever sufferer can experience violent sneezing attacks, itching eyes, and breathing difficulties when taking a simple walk in the park. However, were you aware that you are at the biggest risk of developing allergic diseases from factors located in an indoor environment? These factors mainly arise in the form of dust mites and animal allergens. Allergies are usually developed due to overexposure to such allergens. It is worthwhile being aware of the allergens that can inhabit indoor environments, as even people with mild allergies can start to suffer from more serious illnesses if exposure persists.