| People and businesses are moving from homes, | | | | up all trash that is too large to vacuum. You will |
| apartments, and offices on a daily basis. As | | | | be able to vacuum more efficiently as you will not |
| people and businesses move, they either need | | | | have to stop and pick up large objects. |
| their old location cleaned or want to make sure | | | | · Use a microfiber flat mop for cleaning |
| their new location is clean before moving in. Your | | | | ceilings, walls, baseboards, and doors. |
| cleaning company can fill this niche by providing | | | | · Proper vacuuming is an important step |
| what is known as move-in/move-out cleaning. It | | | | in move in/out cleaning. Using a backpack vacuum |
| can be an added service that your cleaning | | | | with the proper attachments can speed up the |
| business provides, a way to give employees new | | | | tasks at hand and make work easier on the |
| skills, and a great way for your company to | | | | cleaning staff. Remember to vacuum from high to |
| make more profit! | | | | low, including light fixtures, window tracks, blinds, |
| Move in/out cleaning can be cleaning a building | | | | and along the baseboards. It is also much easier |
| after an old tenant moves out or before a new | | | | to vacuum out cabinets and drawers than wiping |
| tenant moves in. The type of clients looking for | | | | them. |
| move in/out cleaning includes residential and | | | | Some of these items will need to be wiped down |
| commercial property owners and managers. | | | | after vacuuming; light fixtures, insides of cabinets |
| Commercial move in/out cleaning can vary from | | | | and drawers, ceiling vents, heat registers, and |
| small, quick jobs of just a few thousand square | | | | blinds. |
| feet to large office buildings of 15,000 square feet | | | | · Windows and patio doors should be |
| and up. | | | | washed with an applicator and squeegee. Use |
| A good place to start when looking for move in | | | | scrapers or #0000 steel wool to remove stickers |
| out cleaning accounts is to contact property | | | | and bugs. Be sure the window is wet when using |
| management companies. If you happen to be | | | | these tools or you could scratch the glass. |
| located in a college town there will probably be no | | | | Frames and tracks should be vacuumed and then |
| shortage of work. If you have been cleaning | | | | wiped down. |
| commercial buildings, your clients will no doubt ask | | | | · After picking up trash and vacuuming, |
| you to provide move in/out cleaning services | | | | start cleaning the stuck-on grime and dirt. |
| when they move into a new office or building. | | | | Chemicals to have on hand include: bowl cleaner, |
| When first starting out with move in/out cleaning | | | | fume-free oven cleaner, window cleaner, |
| it may be necessary to meet with the property | | | | all-purpose cleaner, degreaser, neutral floor |
| manager on-site to give an estimate on the time | | | | cleaner, stainless steel polish, and furniture polish. |
| it will take to clean the apartment, office, or | | | | Save money by using concentrated chemicals |
| building. Once you establish a relationship with the | | | | rather than RTU (ready-to-use) chemicals. |
| property manager you may be able to skip doing | | | | Spray spots and make sure you give dwell time |
| an estimate and just bill for your time. They will | | | | so the chemicals have time to work. It is |
| most likely need floor cleaning services too | | | | important that you have enough air movement |
| (carpet, tile, wood). These are specialized cleaning | | | | so employees do not breathe in fumes. Make |
| services, which you will charge separately for. | | | | sure that your employees have the correct |
| Offering these specialized services will also add | | | | personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, |
| more profitability to your cleaning company since | | | | etc.) when working with chemicals. |
| you will charge more for these services. | | | | · Deep cleaning. If you need to loosen |
| The prices charged will vary depending on the | | | | build-up, use the correct cleaning tools - paper |
| type of facility you are cleaning, but you should | | | | towels, terry cloth rags, microfiber cloths, pads, |
| be able to bill $20 - $25 for your services. | | | | brushes and scrapers. Use caution when using |
| Apartment buildings tend to be less profitable than | | | | these tools - you don't want to damage surfaces. |
| commercial buildings because many apartment | | | | . Use paper towels, terry cloth rags, or microfiber |
| managers have a budget to adhere to, so they | | | | cloths for most cleaning tasks. Use a green |
| like their cleaning contractors to bill a flat fee | | | | microfiber cloth for dusting; blue for windows, |
| because it's easier to stick to their budget. | | | | glass and polished surfaces; red for cleaning |
| Cleaning contractors need to be cautious about | | | | restrooms and yellow for countertops, sinks and |
| bidding this way. Some apartments take much | | | | walls. |
| longer to clean than others so you don't want to | | | | . Use hand brushes for scrubbing showers, sinks, |
| lose money because you underestimated your | | | | stoves, and refrigerators. Use grout brushes for |
| time. | | | | cleaning up grout on countertops and ceramic tile |
| No matter if you are cleaning a residential | | | | floors. Toothbrushes can be used for detail |
| apartment, home or a commercial building there | | | | cleaning around faucets and around the rims in |
| are several steps you should take to guarantee | | | | toilet bowls. |
| your success and your customer's satisfaction | | | | . Use white pads for surfaces such as glass, |
| with your move in/out cleaning services. | | | | chrome, stainless steel and plastic. This is because |
| · Use teams of 2 to 4 people for | | | | white pads are not as abrasive as green pads. |
| apartment cleaning, depending on the size of the | | | | . Green pads are good for greasy areas including |
| apartment. Larger teams may be needed for | | | | cabinets, toilets and scrubbing shower stalls. Be |
| commercial locations. | | | | careful when using green pads however, as they |
| Team members should be specialists in the tasks | | | | can scratch surfaces. |
| they are performing. For example, in a two | | | | . Use a 2" utility scraper for build-up and adhesives |
| person team, one person will be assigned to | | | | in kitchens and bathrooms. |
| dusting, windows, and vacuuming. One person will | | | | · Save time by spraying the inside of the |
| be assigned to bathrooms, kitchens, hard floor | | | | refrigerator and showers/tubs with a pump-up |
| vacuuming, and mopping. | | | | sprayer rather than using a spray bottle. When |
| The team leader is responsible for making sure | | | | cleaning kitchens, be sure to pull out the stove |
| that all equipment and supplies are brought to the | | | | and refrigerator. Clean the walls, sides of |
| job site and gathered when the job is complete. | | | | appliances, sides of cabinets, floor, and vacuum |
| Put all tools and chemicals into a plastic tote. | | | | the coils. Also clean the oven hood and filters. |
| · Before you begin check with the client | | | | · Clean floors last. Use the backpack |
| to make sure the job site has working utilities. | | | | vacuum to give the floors a final vacuuming, and |
| You cannot clean without running water and you | | | | then mop all hard surface flooring. |
| need electricity to run a vacuum. If it is the middle | | | | Offering move in/out services is one way to |
| of the summer, you should make sure the | | | | start your cleaning business. It also provides a |
| building's air-conditioning is working properly. | | | | way for an established cleaning company to |
| Cleaning chemicals and drying times can be | | | | provide added services to their existing clients |
| affected by heat and humidity. | | | | while putting extra dollars onto the bottom line. |
| · Begin cleaning by removing all trash. Pick | | | | |