Articles by John Pletz on ArticleSnatch.com

Why to Use Green Cleaning Products

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:27:32 -0400

It is estimated that as many as 30% of all U.S. workers at one time or another suffer from health problems related to the aptly coined Sick Building Syndrome. Switching to green cleaning, which can incur no additional cost with an outcome as good if not better than traditional cleaning, is one viable solution. Indoor air quality is the number one reason to use green cleaning products, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. If you can smell your cleaning solution what you are really smelling is VOCs, or volatile organic compounds. VOCs which come from furniture and carpets, poor air circulation, bad lighting and mold build-up have been shown to contribute to a number of various health problems, including lethargy, nausea, skin rashes, headaches, and respiratory problems. Not something you want your employees to suffer from! Green products are better for a number of reasons, including: They are better for the environment You don’t leave residue behind They prevent dangerous chemicals from entering the atmosphere All of ServiceMaster’s green solution products, with the exception of the oxidizer, which is used in restrooms, are food-based. **End Summary** Topics: cleaning]]> gree]]> green cleaning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Why to Use Green Cleaning Products

What Is Green Cleaning?

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:23:17 -0400

It’s been proven that 96% of all dirt is removed just by putting a cleaning solution on a cloth and rubbing it around. So why take the risk of increasing that number from 96% to 98%, by using a solution that could cause you to get sick or create allergies? That doesn’t make a lot of sense at all, and isn’t good for you or your employees. Some people think using a harsh solution that gets rid of odors means it’s working. The truth is that often all harsh solutions do is mask odors, not eliminate it, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. But replacing your cleaning with mild products is not enough. Green cleaning is more than that, it’s looking at your entire process of cleaning. Risk of Developing Respiratory Problems It’s been shown in numerous studies that people who use harsh cleaning products are more likely to have breathing problems and suffer from associated health problems such as nausea, lethargy and headaches. **End Summary** Topics: ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. What Is Green Cleaning?

How Green Cleaning Products Can Save You Money

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:18:50 -0400

Making and maintaining a healthy building and a healthy office environment through a combination of green cleaning products and green practices means going green in general. And creating a sustainable business will not only benefit the environment, but can also help owners reduce operating costs. If employees are not getting sick, they are coming in to work and being productive, active contributors to your business. If they are staying healthy, they are also not using your insurance, and are therefore saving you money, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. As Founding Chair of the Green Business Task Force, Pletz does regular assessments of businesses and grades them on categories such as recycling. He has seen that there are simple things a business can do to encourage and facilitate regular recycling, such as having recycling bins in the office and reusing paper that is only partially used to reduce paper costs. Green Tips Here are other tips to help businesses go green: Encourage employees to turn off their CPUs and monitors each night and to turn off monitors anytime they are not in use. **End Summary** Topics: green cleaning]]> green cleaning products]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. http://local.yodle.com/articles/national-programs-to-help-make-your-business-green

National Programs to Help Make Your Business Green

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:14:46 -0400

you have decided to take the first step toward sustainability, congratulations. Not only will you, your company and your employees and customers benefit, but you will also be helping the environment in the long run by doing your part, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Switching to green cleaning is one way you can save money and help your entire business get healthier, and now several reward systems are in place to either encourage or help you get certified, as you see fit. S National Programs Generally, two main programs can help you and your company go green: The nationally accepted benchmark for the design, concept and maintenance of all green buildings is the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. It gives building owners and operators the tools they need to make their buildings a green success, and helps measure their progress as well as encourage and reward them for their efforts and achievements. Switching to ServiceMaster Clean can help your business qualify for LEED points and put you on the path toward sustainability. **End Summary** Topics: green]]> green cleaning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. National Programs to Help Make Your Business Green

How to Keep Your Home Clean Between Professional Cleanings

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:09:43 -0400

Many people realize the benefits of having a professional clean their home on a regular basis, especially if they suffer from dust mite or other allergies, or have a sensitivity to cleaning products and want something entirely green and safe. John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois, says that a professional clean can help with a lot of the more arduous household tasks, and should be called regularly to perform duties that most homeowners are not equipped to deal with themselves. They include: Cleaning carpets and floors: Carpets collect dirt no matter how much you vacuum, and if you don’t extract the dirt regularly you can breathe it in the air. Unclean carpets can actually make your building dusty. Cleaning difficult to access upholstery: Make sure a professional attends to furniture on a regular basis. Cleaning tiles and grout: Can give new life to old tiles. Washing walls: Makes a building look like new. **End Summary** Topics: cleanings]]> professional cleanings]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. How to Keep Your Home Clean Between Professional Cleanings

Why You Need Tile and Grout Cleaning

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:05:21 -0400

A woman was considering replacing her shower with an entirely new one as she wanted to rent out her property and needed everything in tip-top shape. The shower tray was covered in limescale, which no cleaning product could apparently remove, and the tile grout was moldy, both in the shower itself and on the bathroom floor. Indeed, was she surprised when a one-off professional clean made everything look sparkling new, and saved her the cost of replacing her shower. John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois, knows how vital a professional clean can be, which is why he offers the ServiceMaster Clean Tile and Grout Cleaning process. **End Summary** Topics: grount client]]> tile cleaning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Why You Need Tile and Grout Cleaning

The Importance of Regular Hard Surface Floor Care

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 09:01:10 -0400

These days, homeowners have a variety of flooring in their houses. From real wood floors to marble floors to vinyl floors, there is a floor out there to suit every taste and budget. But no matter what type of floor you choose, you deserve to have it taken care of in the very best way possible. That’s why it’s so important, when choosing a professional company to look after your flooring in either a residential or business setting, that you choose only the best, according to John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. ServiceMaster Clean can look after your hard surface flooring in the following ways: Reduced wear Superior clean and shine No burn marks Faster and more efficient regular cleanings Dust-free burnishing Enhanced slip resistance Fewer strippings required Different types of floors require different cleaning methods, which is why a tried-and-tested professional is the right company to do the job. Would you entrust someone who is only used to caring for vinyl floors to look after your antique wooden floorboards? Of course not. **End Summary** Topics: cleaning]]> hard surface flooring]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. The Importance of Regular Hard Surface Floor Care

How to Keep Your Computer Clean

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:56:44 -0400

Many of us use computers daily, touching the keys, the screen and our desktops thousands of times a day. Hands are not often the cleanest parts of the body, which means our computers quickly can become a breeding ground for germs and bacteria, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The Clorox Co recently commissioned a survey to see which gender was the cleanest. The result may surprise you: it was not the fairer sex. The reason? Women’s offices may appear tidier on the surface, but they actually contain more germs. Makeup cases were found to be the top bacteria spot for women’s offices, with the phone, purse and desk drawer also common playgrounds for those nasty germs to breed. The survey also found that women using hand lotion and makeup were two of the worst culprits. Both enable germs to be easily transferred from one surface to another. Another cause was food, with a whopping 75% of women keeping munchies in a desk drawer. All in all, it was discovered that an average office desktop has 400 times more bacteria than the average office toilet seat. **End Summary** Topics: clean]]> computer]]> expert author]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. How to Keep Your Computer Clean

How Professional Cleaning Can Extend Carpet Life

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 08:52:02 -0400

John Pletz has worked in the cleaning business for more than two decades, and he knows a thing or two about extending the life of your carpets. Regular professional carpet cleaning can save a business not only time and money but also a lot of aggravation, says Pletz, who is CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois: Carpet cleaning can be compared to doing the laundry. Take your shirt off and put it on the floor. Now walk on it for six months, wash it and then put it back on your back. It still won’t feel very clean. It’s the same thing with your carpets. Even though they are designed to hide dirt they still retain dirt – unless you maintain them properly. The most important thing you can do to maintain your carpets is to vacuum them regularly. That might sound obvious, but it’s amazing how often people forget that simple golden rule. Another importance maintenance method to prevent dirt from migrating into your building is to use a good matting system. The Importance of Matting Matting is designed to capture the dirt off your shoes before it gets tracked into your office. **End Summary** Topics: carpet life]]> professional cleaning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. How Professional Cleaning Can Extend Carpet Life

How to Use Green Cleaning Products at Home

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:41:19 -0400

Your home is where you live, and most important of all you want to be breathing clean air. For that reason, using harsh chemicals in your home doesn"��t make a lot of sense. You don"��t want to breathe them, and you don"��t want your kids or pets breathing them either "�" or accidentally drinking them. Believe it or not, it is possible to use green cleaning products and still have a clean house. Often, you can make sue of everyday household items that most people have easily to hand, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. For example, use a little vinegar on a cleaning cloth to shine your sink and your chrome. Use baking soda and a little moisture to get rid of stains in sinks. However, using a commercial quality toilet bowl cleaner is still best on the home front. A green toilet bowl cleaner can work commercially if you are cleaning your toilet daily. But at home every once in a while you need one that has phosphoric acid, which is mild, or hydrochloric acid "�" use that as a last resort to remove rust stains. **End Summary** Topics: green]]> green cleaning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. How to Use Green Cleaning Products at Home

The Advantages of Green Cleaning

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:35:20 -0400

In an increasingly competitive economy, more and more companies are taking the heart the need to protect their most valuable asset: their employees. Helping them work in a healthy operating environment is becoming even more vital as climate change and global warming are beginning to impact businesses around the world. It’s a fact that buildings that go green, or ones that are sustainable, have reaped financial awards that can actually be measured. These include better employee health, increased productivity and better overall employee retention, not to mention lower operating costs and certain government incentives. And, as more and more businesses benefit from green cleaning, their individual impact grows exponentially to reach a global scale. John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois, likes to point out to his clients that the benefits of green cleaning are far-reaching. **End Summary** Topics: green cleaning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. The Advantages of Green Cleaning

Tips to Keep Your Office Clean

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:30:39 -0400

We don’t all stay on top of things as much as we like, and sometimes our offices suffer. Have you ever had a customer or co-worker drop in for an impromptu meeting, only to find your desk covered in papers, memos and sandwich wrappers? In today’s hustle-and-bustle work climate we tend to accumulate far more work/projects than we can possibly finish off in the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, clutter and disorganization are not only eye-sores, but they can also be breeding grounds for germs, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. So here are some tips compiled by Pletz and co-worker Jaime Ross to help you keep on top of the workload – and keep your office looking great at the same time. * Email. Don’t print hard copies of emails as a reminder for a task you have yet to complete. Instead, “flag” the item for follow-up in your email system. This nifty feature allows you to quickly scan through emails, answering ones that can be immediately resolved while flagging the ones that require more time/research to review them later. Get in the habit of reviewing your flagged emails each morning. **End Summary** Topics: cleaning services]]> home]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Tips to Keep Your Office Clean

Keeping Your Wood Furniture Looking Good

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:26:14 -0400

Accidents happen, and the more people there are in an office, the greater the likelihood that something will get spilled, dropped or stained. At home, there is great scope for small accidents as well, and often something that happens in a split second has lasting negative results. Remember when you left that glass of scotch on the rocks on the kitchen table? Well, you did and now there’s an unattractive ring smack dab in the middle of what was your grandmother’s walnut treasure. To make matters worse, did you know that the water can cause mildew, which can eat through the finish? Luckily, many furniture disasters have basic home remedies which can cure the problem in a jiffy, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. And when all else fails, call in a professional… To remove white spots: First make a solution of equal parts toothpaste and baking soda. Apply the solution to the spot with a soft cotton cloth (a cloth diaper or old dishtowel or washcloth). Buff the area with a fresh cotton cloth. **End Summary** Topics: cleaning]]> furniture]]> clean furniture]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Keeping Your Wood Furniture Looking Good

What is Fabric Office System Cleaning?

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:20:11 -0400

Like carpets and floors, cleaning the fabric on your office furniture on a regular basis can be vital to extend the life of your furniture in general. Because fabric is porous, it can be a breeding ground for germs and can easily trap dirt, so it should be vacuumed and cleaned regularly to keep it looking good and lasting longer. Furniture is something we often take for granted, it’s something we use on a daily basis yet rarely pay enough attention to. That type of thinking, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois, is a no-no. Remember, you are sitting on your office chair every day, bringing whatever is on the seat of your pants into that chair. Every once in a while you ought to clean that spot, so it’s not just put back on your pants! Remember that day you wore your dirty jeans into the office? Guess what, the dirt and stains are now transferred to your nice new suit. And did Bob the Mechanic sit in your nice new chair yesterday in his oily jeans? **End Summary** Topics: fabric office system cleaning]]> fabric office systems]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. What is Fabric Office System Cleaning?

Reduce Carpet and Floor Wear

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:15:01 -0400

Cleaning carpets and correctly maintaining the surfaces of the floors in your business is important. Regular maintenance not only makes for a much more healthy and pleasant environment, it also cuts down considerably on costs. Keeping carpets and floors sparkling clean and in good overall shape means you have to replace them less often, which can come at an enormous price and be extremely disruptive for the business on the whole. John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz based in Crystal Lake, Illinois, stresses that once again it’s a simple maintenance issue. Vacuuming and cleaning carpets on a regular basis is vital, including steam cleaning, or hot water extraction. Matting is also paramount to extending the life of carpets and floors, whether the mats are on a tile floor or a carpet. Hard surface matting should be used on vinyl floors, both front and inside mats, which can trap dirt and capture large particles before people actually step inside the central interior of the building and track dirt and debris around. Indoor mats will also capture moisture, which is important for both safety and to prolonging flooring life. **End Summary** Topics: carpet]]> floor wear]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Reduce Carpet and Floor Wear

Carpet Spot Removal Tips

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:10:00 -0400

You might think that getting someone in on a regular basis to clean your office carpets professionally is all you need to keep them in great shape. By and large that may be true, but what happens when an oily substance is spilled in your main hallway, and the carpet cleaning man isn’t due to show up for another three weeks? A quick removal of spots is recommended, to both keep your carpets looking good and to extend their life overall, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. When something nasty gets spilled, it’s imperative to call in a professional immediately. Delaying the problem will only worsen it, so get on the phone – quick! The problem with certain stains and spots, such as an such as oil-based substance, is not just that it looks unattractive and will be harder to get out the longer you wait. The problem is that within hours, it can – and no doubt will – get tracked throughout your entire facility. The oil holds on to dirt, so your carpets everywhere will become even more soiled, on any areas where people have tracked the stain. **End Summary** Topics: carpet spot removal]]> carpet spot removal tips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Carpet Spot Removal Tips

Your Cleaning Glossary

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:05:35 -0400

Every cleaning agent in use has an MSDS, or Material Safety Data Sheet, that describes its chemical properties and how to correctly and safely use the product. Business owners take note: Both employees and customers who are exposed to the cleaning agent should have access to these documents at all times. Most commonly, MSDS sheets are incorporated as part of a HAZ COM program. That program should include employee training, MSDS sheets and communication plans put in place by an employer to communicate the hazards that employees and/or customers may be exposed to. And it should be accessible to all employees at any time during their work shift, according to John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Avoiding Dangerous Exposure As a customer receiving cleaning services, why is it important that your cleaning company has a HAZ COM program with MSDS sheets? Because you, too, are being exposed to the cleaning agents and chemicals that are brought into your building. You need to know where your company is storing their products on your property and what each cleaning agent is used for. For instance, take toilet bowl cleaner. **End Summary** Topics: cleaning]]> glossary]]> green cleaning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Your Cleaning Glossary

How to Clean Your Bathrooms

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 05:00:34 -0400

When it comes to restroom cleaning, having hygienic surfaces is what it’s all about. Washing your hands is important – so make sure your employees always wash theirs – but equally important is washing that sink, that urinal and that toilet, and keeping all the floors sparkling clean. We all know what people do in bathrooms, so we want to make sure they’re cleaned properly, says John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. As a rule, women’s restrooms are generally more challenging to clean than men’s rooms are. The reason: women generally use more items in a restroom, such as make-up and hair products, not to mention you have to be concerned about feminine hygiene products. But of course, men sometimes have poor aim. Reflection of the Business It might sound silly, but a restroom can often reflect the ethos of an establishment. If a public restroom in a restaurant is filthy, do you really want to eat there? Of course you don’t. That’s why it’s critical to keep a restroom as clean as possible – even if you’re not running an eating establishment. **End Summary** Topics: bathrooms]]> restroom]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. How to Clean Your Bathrooms

How to Reduce Dirt

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:53:57 -0400

If you want to reduce the number of dirt particles in your building using a tried-and-tested green cleaning system, nothing is better than the complete ServiceMaster Capture and Removal Cleaning system, according to John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz, based in Crysal Lake, Illinois. This proprietary system works on all surfaces that are normally janitorial-cleaned, such as flat surfaces and floors. The result is a much safer working environment, because the main benefit is better indoor air quality, which you – and your employees and customers – will be breathing. The Capture and Removal Cleaning® system captures dust and dirt primarily by using micro-fiber cloths similar to Velcro, which attaches on to particular matter and removes it completely. Floor cleaning mops are also used, as well as high-filtration backpack vacuum cleaners. They are specialty vacuum cleaners that have a higher filtration system, therefore removing more particular substance from the air. They also use unique attachments for hard floor surfaces and carpet to capture and remove the dirt. **End Summary** Topics: cleaning]]> green cleaning]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. How to Reduce Dirt

How to Make Hardwood Floors Safe

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 00:06:21 -0400

Slip and fall accidents while on the job can be a nightmare for everyone. And they can be injurious for the employer or business owner as well if a client or employee slips due to a “hazardous condition,” such as a shiny floor that was found to be overtly dangerous. The owner of the property will be responsible if the accident was found to have happened because of a hazardous condition that is deemed permanent, and may have to take financial responsibility for the accident. It’s self-evident that no employer or business owner wants customers or employees slipping on their hard surface floors. Yet everyone wants their floors to look shiny and clean. The solution, according to John Pletz, CEO of ServiceMaster Clean by Pletz based in Crystal Lake, Illinois, is to prevent slipping initially by choosing the right floor finish, and then using a cleaning agent on a regular basis that has a gripping effect. Prevention Best Cure Most people want their floors to be protected. And to shine and to be slip-resistant. That means that before business owners even go about cleaning a floor, they should concentrate on choosing a floor finish that meets the proper standards. **End Summary** Topics: hardwood]]> hardwood floors]]> safe]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> John Pletz is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Professional Cleaners or more cleaning articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. How to Make Hardwood Floors Safe