Becoming The Sales Super Hero

"May I ask who does your window cleaning?” Jimmy mutters to the "gatekeeper". Her look and answer almost knocks him down – as if a dragon just opened its mouth and spewed fire at him. Helga Gatekeeper responds, "WHO WANTS TO KNOW!?"

Has this never happened to you? If it hasn’t, then you haven’t prospected before. It's happened to all of us who sell services business-to-business. Unfortunately, oftentimes the answer to Helga kills the deal right then and there. Most professional service providers retort with something like, "I'm Jimmy Meek and I'm the best window washer in town!". A fine answer indeed, right? Jimmy knows he's the best but it's his word against the gatekeeper - and the world, for that matter. She’s heard every Tom, Dick, and Harriett say those same words with a different name. Helga’s thinking in her head, “Oh good, an easy one”.

Jimmy doesn't think about this but the gatekeeper gets dozens of requests to see the decision-maker every day. The gatekeeper's job is to knock down the weak with her mental toughness and “rejection-speak”. She's a seasoned vet at this and the typical salesman is no match for her prowess.

The gatekeeper rolls her eyes at Jimmy and mutters under her breath, "Sure, that's what they all say. Give me your information and I'll pass it on to the appropriate party". This typical scenario ends when Jimmy complies, thanks the gatekeeper and departs with his tail between his legs.

When this happens the deal is dead in the water. Kaput, end of story – NO SALE. Sorry! Jimmy isn’t going to get a return call. It’s doubtful that Helga will even give the information to the decision-maker. The next stop for Jimmy’s material – the circular file called the garbage can!

It doesn't have to be this way. In fact it NEVER should. The salesman should be in control of the sale at ALL times. Let's go through a successful "gatekeeper experience" now.

Johnny Star, Window Cleaning Super Hero, has already done his homework and knows that James B. Grouch is the decision-maker. He found out this vital information by using his brains instead of wasting his time, energy and resources. Johnny called ahead a few days prior and asked to be put through to the maintenance decision-maker “immediately”. When Helga Gatekeeper said, "who is this?” or “is he/she expecting your call?” Johnny turned it around on her and said, "Look, this is urgent. If I tell you who’s calling will you finally put me through to him or her?"

Let's stop right here and analyze what's going on. Johnny has met the gatekeeper and she's as tough a gatekeeper as Johnny’s ever met. But Johnny anticipated this and responded with a tough answer. Notice Johnny's answer didn't end with a period, it ended with a question. At this point the gatekeeper will either say yes or no. Let’s go through the no scenario because if he gets a yes, he’s done his job well and has outmatched Helga.

Helga Gatekeeper says “No!” Johnny is quick on his thinking skills and immediately responds, “As I said, this is urgent and I really need to speak with that person. My name is Johnny - now can I please speak w/them now?”

Let’s analyze this for a minute. Helga got her way with the first “no”, but she’s not going to get away with it this time. If she says “no” again, it better be for a good reason. At this point Helga either patches him through, or the more likely scenario is, “I’m sorry but he is not available right now, can I take a message?” Johnny says, “Look, I’ve got to run. What is his name? I’ll call him back later.” The gatekeeper’s job is to scatter away the weak, not the ones who truly NEED Johnny and those like him. If she says “I can’t give you his name”, Johnny’s going to ask for the manager. But the likely scenario is Helga gives up the name: “His name is “James B. Grouch”, Helga blurts out. As Johnny gets off the phone he says, “Do me a favor and tell Mr. Grouch that Johnny Star needs to speak with him ASAP”.

Now that Johnny is armed with one of the most critical steps – getting the decision-maker’s info, he can use his star sales ability to get the decision-maker on the phone.

…two days later…

Johnny: “I need to speak with James Grouch please. It’s urgent”

Helga: “Is he expecting your call?”

Johnny: “Yes I said I’d call back”

Helga: “Hang on please”

Grouch: “Grouch here”

Johnny: “James - I may call you James, can’t I?”

Grouch: “Sure. Who is this?”

Johnny: “I’m Johnny Star and I need to speak with you about your windows ASAP.”

Time to analyze again. Johnny did a great job of getting Grouch on the phone. He said he was going to call back and did. He didn’t drive out and get met by Helga Gatekeeper; in fact he spent only a minute or 2 of his time getting the info about the decision-maker. Johnny then used his brains to get through the door – right over the phone.

This is a great way to get through the gatekeeper without having to drive out and do a song and dance. Even then, getting to the decision-maker is likely not going to happen without an appointment. The truth is, gatekeepers are notorious time-wasters and want nothing more than to be left alone. It’s YOUR job, Mr. Business Owner/Decision-Maker to speak with other Business Owners/Decision-Makers. Not to demean the Helga Gatekeepers of the world, but are you going to be the meek Business Owner/Decision-Maker and let $15/hour Helga prevent you from doing business or are you going to be like our Super Hero, Johnny Star, and do business today? In future episodes of Johnny Star we’ll pick the scenario back up and show how Johnny smartly closes the job.

Gatekeepers beware: they have met their match and it is…Johnny Star.

Scott Rendall is CEO of BRC Systems Solutions - a small/medium service business resource and consulting group, author and freelance magazine contributor. He has been in the service industry since 1994 and runs his own successful cleaning and restoration company in Michigan.
BRC Website

Cold Calling Success for Cleaning Companies

Most people recoil in fear at the thought of cold calling in order to make sales for their business. But if you spend your time sitting in your office waiting for people to come to you, you're going to have a long wait. If done properly, cold calling can be an effective sales technique for your cleaning business.

The following tips won't eliminate your fear of cold calling, but they can help to make it a more positive, successful experience for you.

Remember the purpose of a cold call. Many people think that the purpose of a cold call is to get the sale - wrong. The purpose of the call is to get an appointment so you can get a chance to make the sale.

Do your research. Don't just pick up the phone and start dialing. You need to do a little research first. Who is your target market? Start making a list of the companies who fit into your niche and then start doing preliminary research on each company before calling. For example, find out if they have a web site and read it thoroughly. Find out who the decision-makers are. See if they're a member of the Chamber of Commerce to get additional information that way.

Be nice to the gatekeeper. It's very likely that when making cold calls you're going to be connected to the gatekeeper (assistant to the decision-maker, receptionist, etc.). Be friendly, learn their name and use it, and maybe say something like, "I wonder if you could help me?" You want to get them on your side, willing to give you the information you need. Ask if they can help you get the name of the person you need to talk to or when would be the best time to contact that person.

Call early in the morning. This is typically the best time to reach the decision-makers. It's also a time when most people are more pleasant and have more energy.

Prepare your script. Don't just "wing it". This will keep you from making common mistakes like opening up with, "How are you today?" This will give them a chance to end the call before it's even started.

You should start the conversation with a greeting and an introductory statement, which can transition into more dialogue. For example, "Good morning, Mr. Smith. This is Tom Jones of ABC Cleaning Company. I recently read in the business section of the local paper that you're moving your business to a larger location. We specialize in commercial cleaning services in buildings of this size and can help you to reduce your monthly maintenance costs by using proven cleaning systems that also use environmentally friendly products. I'd like to ask you a few questions in order to determine the amount of savings we can potentially provide your company."

Prepare for the rest of the call. It's difficult at this point to completely script the call, but you should have a list of the benefits of your services and the reasons that the prospect should buy from you over the competition. Don't simply make a list of features, like being bonded and insured. While that's an important consideration after you've made the sale, the prospect only cares about what's in it for them at this point in the call.

Make a list of possible objections that they're likely to make like, "We already have a cleaning service that we're happy with," and then craft statements to overcome the objections.

Ask for an appointment at a specific time. Don't simply end the call by saying something like, "Can we meet next week to discuss this?" Instead say, "Would next Tuesday at 10 a.m. be a good time to meet?"

Be persistent. They say that most people need 7 to 10 "touches" before the're ready to make a purchase, so don't give up after only one or two calls!

Try sending a Thank You card after the call thanking them for taking the time to talk to you. Most people appreciate this simple, thoughtful gesture.

Practice makes perfect. The only way to get better at cold calling is to practice. You may never really enjoy it, but you can definitely get better at it the more you practice. Remember, your customers are out there, you just need to let them know about you!

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift!

Are Your Cleaning Customers Motivated by Quality or Price

You don't have to be running your own business for very long to find out that customers are different when it comes to what they expect out of a cleaning service. There are those customers who want the best, no matter what the cost. On the other end of the spectrum are price conscious customers who are more concerned with how their cleaning expenses fit into their overall budget than anything else. Marketing to these two distinctly different groups can indeed be a challenge.

What are the differences between the "budget conscious" and the "quality minded" customers? There are always individuals who will make their final decision based on price. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that these are not good customers for your cleaning business. With the budget minded there are special issues to consider:

1. For the budget minded, regular carpet maintenance will not be high on their list of priorities.

2. They will probably only become concerned about the "soiled" look of their carpet and ask for cleaning before a special event or occasion.

3. When they finally decide the carpets need cleaning, they will want the "biggest bang for the buck".

4. The budget minded are also not likely to ask for special services, such as carpet spotting, floor stripping and waxing, and window washing.

5. Overall, these customers are willing to have fewer cleaning services provided and deal with some inconvenience in exchange for a lower price.

Quality minded customers have a different view because they value high standards, professionalism and great service.

1. The quality minded customer believes in the value of building maintenance and the results that are achieved with a contractor who provides quality service.

2. They are willing to pay to avoid inconvenience. 3. Poor service is a big irritation to the quality minded customer.

4. They will want carpets cleaned on a regular schedule and not allowed to become so soiled that they are an embarrassment to employees, customers and visitors.

Marketing to these two distinct groups means tailoring your materials to match what they are looking for in a cleaning service. The budget minded customer has let things go for so long that they will be in a rush to find someone to do the job. They may not take time to get referrals and will search traditional advertising sources such as phone books, newspaper ads, and direct marketing materials. In addition, they are always looking for specials or discounts.

The budget minded customer's first question is likely to be "How much do you charge?" As they tend to wait until the situation is critical, they may also be looking for fast service. Penny-pinching customers are also likely to ask for outrageous guarantees and try to get you to lower your price. The "budget conscious" are also more likely to complain about the smallest details even though they want everything done quickly and cheaply.

Quality customers will be using a professional cleaning service regularly. If they become unhappy with their current cleaning service they will ask for referrals from friends and colleagues. They are not motivated by specials or discounts. If your cleaning company does not offer the specific services they are looking for, they may quickly remove your cleaning service from consideration.

Customers who are looking for quality will want a company that has a high degree of professionalism and takes pride in its work. They don't want any surprises when it comes to getting their building cleaned. This customer is looking for an expert and is relying on your judgment, knowledge and skills to handle their cleaning needs. They trust that you are recommending and providing what they need and not promoting services that are not needed. The quality minded customer wants a long-term relationship and wants to avoid going through that long search process of finding a cleaner that suits their needs.

It often takes a referral from a happy customer to get you in the door of someone looking for quality. When you do "get in the door" make sure that you have quality printed marketing materials. Know your business and be proud to "toot" your own horn.

As you are marketing your cleaning business keep in mind these two distinct customer types. Remember, the budget conscious customer is looking for specials and package deals. Effective marketing tools for "economy" customers will involve using direct mail, newspaper ads and door hangers. The customer who is seeking quality will most likely ignore these marketing strategies and be searching for a reliable and knowledgeable cleaner that has a solid reputation in the community. Remembering that there are two types of clients can help you market your cleaning business more effectively.

Copyright 2006 The Janitorial Store

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community that offers weekly tips, articles, downloads, discussion forums, and more for anyone who would like to learn how to start a cleaning business. Visit The Janitorial Store's blog and get inspired by reading cleaning success stories from owners of cleaning companies.

Residential Cleaning Customers Be Prepared to Answer Their Questions

Are you ready to start your residential cleaning service? Once you've purchased the supplies and equipment, obtained the necessary insurance, and hired your crew you will be looking for clients. Your cleaning customers will have questions for you - everything from the training you give your employees to your rates to what they should do with their pets when you come to clean. Following are questions you should be prepared to answer:

1) Can I trust your company? Are you insured and bonded? Your cleaning company should be bonded and have liability insurance, as well as workman's compensation for your employees. Be prepared with a flyer or document that lists your insurance/bond company and the types of coverage you have. You should also do background checks on all employees.

2) Does someone need to be at home when you clean? This is generally the customer's choice. If the customer will not be home you need to have the key in a safe place and if they have an alarm you will need the alarm code.

3) Do I provide the cleaning chemicals and equipment? As a cleaning company it is your responsibility to provide your own supplies. Purchase professional cleaning chemicals and equipment from your local janitorial supply house. You'll be able to save money by buying quality equipment that will last and economical chemicals that go a long way with dilution control systems, rather than using ready to use products.

4) How do I pay for your services? Make sure you state your payment policies clearly. If you require payment at the time of service, the customer needs to leave you a check or credit card number if they will not be home.

5) Will I always have the same team cleaning my home? You should always try to have the same individuals or team clean the home. This will mean faster cleaning time as your staff will be familiar with the home. It also helps the customer feel comfortable having the same individuals in their home.

6) What if something in the home gets damaged or broken? Accidents do happen. Train your employees to report any damaged or broken items immediately to a supervisor. A note should then be left for the customer explaining about the accident and that your company will take care of the damaged or broken item as soon as possible.

7) How many people will be in the home to clean? Your team should consist of 2-3 individuals.

8) What services does your residential cleaning company provides? List the services included in regular cleaning (vacuuming, dusting, cleaning of kitchen and bathrooms, etc.) and also indicate what special services you provide (carpet cleaning, window washing, etc.) and the additional charges for those services.

9) What time will you clean the home? It may not be possible to give the client the specific time that you will be in the home, but give them the hours you clean, Monday thru Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, and the approximate time you expect to be at their home.

10) Should I do anything before you arrive to clean? Your job is to clean the home. However, you may ask that your customer pick up toys, clothing and other household type items that will slow you down.

11) Do I have to sign a contract? This is a decision you will have to make for your cleaning business. Contracts are helpful as they spell out the responsibilities of both parties.

12) What do I do with my cat? Cats, dogs and other animals, birds, etc. should be in a kennel, cage or other location where they will not get in the way of the cleaning team.

Copyright 2006 The Janitorial Store

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of TheJanitorialStore.com, an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift. Read cleaning success stories from owners of cleaning companies at http://www.cleaning-success.com. .

Sales for Aircraft Cleaning Companies

When selling aircraft cleaning services it is important to build relationships at the airport. It is not always easy to develop leads of customers to call upon. One of your main ways to get into corporate aircraft cleaning is to meet all the chief pilots and let them open the door for you to introducing you to the decision maker who will then give you the contract to clean the Jets.

When selling aircraft cleaning services you must know your aviation terms and be experienced around aircraft. Nobody that owns a $6 million jet will let you touch it if you do not know about aircraft and how to handle them properly. When selling aircraft cleaning you should concentrate more on listening to what the customer wants then to deal with price promotion or price cuts to make the deal.

The customer must trust you with their aircraft and understand you will do an excellent job and that you are trustworthy to show up on time and never let that aircraft get dirty. When selling aircraft cleaning services you need to let the customers know that you are at their service and give them your personal cell phone number.

Selling aircraft cleaning services is not so much as selling but rather insuring that you will never let them down and that your work will be flawless. I sincerely hope you will consider all of this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Steam Cleaning Your Rug

There are many ways to skin a cat. And there are many ways to clean a rug. The short of it is, there is no single, universal way to deal with carpet and rug stains, as they differ depending on the rug's make and fiber composition, as well as your cleaning preferences.

Those who don't really obsess about cleaning their rugs are satisfied with the simple scrubbing with soap and water. Those who don't fancy going down on all fours to face the dirt would rather buy rug cleaning machines that do the job for them. Others who really do not like making an effort to do the cleaning themselves opt to hire carpet cleaning professionals to get the job done. Again, there is no single way and style.

However, if you're the type who obsesses over your rug and carpet's cleanliness but do not picture yourself getting down and dirty for it, you may want to try steam cleaning. Yes, like clothes, carpet and rug dirt can also be addressed with steam.

The regular vacuum cleaner is a good tool against the dust and dirt that accumulates on your rugs; but it can only do so much as scratch the surface. This means that while your rug, post-vacuuming, looks spick and span and ready to deal with foot traffic again, it still is not thoroughly clean. The vacuum can only deal with the dirt that you see. It does not really reach deep into the rug and weed out the grime at the bottom of weave.

This is where steam cleaning comes in. Though relatively pricey compared to most carpet cleaning machines, steam cleaners can assure you that your rug is not only pristine after its done with it, you will be doing your household environment a big favor, as well.

You see, steam cleaning does not just eliminate the dirt on your rugs; it also eradicates the fungi, germs and viruses that might have developed there.

Steam cleaning blasts out dirt, mold and germs using very high water temperatures and pressures. And we all know what heat does to bacteria, right? That's why most households, particularly those who have asthmatics in their midst, prefer steam cleaning to regular rug vacuuming and shampooing.

There are many types of steam cleaning equipment available in department stores and appliance centers. If you have a personal steam cleaning machine, it is recommended that you steam clean your rugs and carpets at least once every two months to maintain not just its color and texture, but also to prevent dirt from seeping deeper into them.

If a steam cleaning machine is out of your budget, you can always hire professionals to clean your rug out for special occasions. A good steam cleaner will know what's best for your particular type of rug, so you can never go wrong with them. It's a sound investment for something that gives you not just cleanliness, but also long-term health benefits.

Michael Louis is a home owner with a passion for knowledge who enjoys sharing his rug care cleaning secrets. Did you find these tips useful? You can learn more rug care tips at rug-care.com

Sales for Concrete Cleaning Companies

If you own a pressure washing service, which specializes in flat work and concrete cleaning contracts then it is important to concentrate your sales efforts on property management companies and facilities and maintenance directors for large corporate outlets and corporations.

When selling concrete washing service is it is important that you listen to the customer and find out what their real needs are and it is even better if you can walk the property with them and then make your bid. So often I find that concrete cleaning competing companies will try to bid jobs over the phone without walking the property with the property management Company or without getting a list of properties so they can walk the properties themselves.

When selling concrete cleaning contracts it is important that the customer understands that you will show up when the businesses are not operating and you will do so in a professional manner and make sure that no one slips or falls on the property.

Additionally you'll need business insurance to cover this with up to $1 million liability and be able to additionally insure the property management Company and the owners of each property.

A concrete washing company salesperson needs to make sure that this is understood right up front otherwise the chances of getting a sales interview or even getting to meet the property management Company are slim to none. I hope you will consider this in 2006.

Lance Winslow

Start a Blind Cleaning Business

Equipment

There are two ways to start the business. The first is to buy a blind cleaning machine. This may cost you anywhere from between $7,000 to $15,000, depending upon the model and brand you buy. The other is to rent a machine. This is much more economical because you will not tie up your money. Instead, you will rent a machine as and when you have a confirmed order to clean blinds.

Besides this, you will need some essential items to run a blind cleaning business. You will need a proprietary cleaning solution, ideally based on ultrasonic technology, and a sheeting agent to dry the blinds. You will also need a small ladder, a set of cleaning cloths, a hand-held vacuum cleaner, a couple of buckets, some handy repair tools and a vehicle to move your equipment around. The investment that will go into these supplies and equipment is minimal.

Target Market

Almost every house and every commercial establishment use blinds, and quite a few of them employ outside help to clean the blinds. A blind cleaning business is one that will certainly never suffer from a shortage of work! You can even consider a customized cleaning solution that is meant only for hotels, hospitals, lodges or private homes. Homes certainly constitute a large market. There are hundreds of Americans who can't stand dust, and want professional cleaning. All you need to do is to reach out to them!

Charges and Earnings

The great thing about having a blind cleaning business is that it does not work on credit. You can make money from day one for every blind that you clean. The market rate today ranges from $10 to $15 per blind. Of course, this rate can vary from city to city, and can also depend upon competition. Even if you charge $12 per blind and clean, on an average 25 blinds a day, you can earn $300 a day. This can easily take care of your expenses. As your business grows, you can hire a worker. This will help you take up more assignments.

Publicity

How would you let people know that you have started a blind cleaning business? You probably don't have the money that big companies have. You will have to depend upon methods that cost less but can reach more. This can include direct mailers, small classified ads in newspapers, online ads targeted at your city, and community bulletin boards.

Training

There are websites that teach you how to use the ultrasonic blind cleaner. They also tell you which cleaning solutions to use and why. Everyone knows that blind cleaning business is not a rocket science. Anyone can clean blinds which makes this a perfect business to start when you don't have a lot of time or money to invest in training and/or education.

Financing Sources

Today there are several ways to finance your blind cleaning business. The first, of course, are traditional banks which are willing to finance a new business. What you need to show is a business plan, and the time you need to become viable. Since this is a low investment business, the chances of getting a start up bank loan are reasonable.

Several non-profit organizations also extend loans up to $15,000. Of course, you will have to search for these agencies. They are ready to help individuals who come from socially disadvantaged groups or from financially weak backgrounds.

A blind cleaning business can also qualify for a loan from several state-funded projects. These self-employment programs are meant to help youngsters in the age group of 18 to 35 who want to start their own business. So finding financing for your new blind cleaning business should be relatively easy-and painless.

Chris Navi I am a true freelance internet advertiser who dabbles in website design. You can check out resources for having a profitable blind cleaning business at my website http://www.getpaid2workfromhome.com/blind-cleaning/.

Also check out the 10 best places to advertise online that are completely FREE at: http://www.advertisesmallbusiness.com//free-online-ads

Commercial Cleaning Companies - A Strategy For The Future

A previous article looked at this in general terms with regard to a start up cleaning company. This article will concentrate on a strategy for an established company to follow if it wants to be even more successful and continue expanding into the future.

The nature of cleaning is changing and the criteria companies use to choose their cleaners is also changing. Little by little companies are realising that it is more economical and administratively easier to find a cleaning company that can meet all their cleaning requirements.

Very few cleaning companies are able to do this or have wanted to do so in the past. They have chosen to concentrate on a particular specialism and develop that. So we have firms that are office cleaners, carpet cleaners, window cleaners, stone cleaners, kitchen cleaners, and ventilation duct cleaners to name but a few. Each of these builds up their own particular client base and their only way of growing is to expand their area of coverage. Many cleaning companies are reluctant to do this and consequently their potential for growth is limited. A large proportion of these companies are run by a single person who is quite happy to restrict themselves to a physically manageable area and manage a finite number of clients. However if you own and operate a company or want to start a cleaning company that has wider visions then you have an opportunity to take advantage of the changing market place.

The medium and larger sized companies and corporations are now beginning to look for cleaning companies that can provide them with all the cleaning services they require. From the simple and straightforward office cleaning on a daily basis to the six monthly or yearly cleaning of their ventilation ducts. If the cleaning company wishes to take advantage of this and gain corporate clients then it must expand its areas of expertise. If the financial burden of doing this is too great for the company to bear then the alternative is to find other firms who specialise in these various areas and work together either as partnerships or sub-contract out these fields of specialist cleaning.

Sub-contracting has its pitfalls and to a large extent should be avoided if possible but it is a way into this new market place until you can develop your own expertise. Companies working together in some form of partnership who share the same goals is a better solution but ultimately it is better if your own company can develop within these various areas and then you have complete control without the concern and constant anxiety of being ‘let down’.

ecome an expert in carpet cleaning, window cleaning, deep cleaning of commercial kitchens and ventilation duct cleaning. That way you can offer your prospective clients the complete cleaning package, increase your turnover and continue to grow.

David Andrew Smith owns and operates a successful commercial cleaning company which provides its cleaning services across the whole of the UK.

Spring Cleaning Out with the Mold

Are black spots showing up on the bathroom walls and ceilings? Is a musty smell curling your nose? Let’s face it, you’ve got mold. A touch of mold doesn’t present much of a health problem for healthy adults but can cause coughing, sneezing and wheezing. For people with ailments such as asthma, lung disease, allergies and immune disorders, mold is a much bigger problem.

Houses are a great place for mold spores to settle in and thrive. The drywall, paper, wood and insulation make for an ample supply of food. When these materials get wet, mold spores multiply becoming thriving colonies of black gunk. The musty odors are waste products from the growing mold. The odors are a sign that mold is actively growing and thriving.

One of the best ways to clear out the mold is to eliminate its environment. Molds need water in order to grow, so by eliminating excess water buildup, you can stop the growth.

The first task is to repair any leaks, including pipes, roof, water heater, toilet seals etc. Next use the exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms. If you don’t have an exhaust fan, install one. If it’s humid, use a dehumidifier or air conditioner.

Next, you must remove the mold itself. If your mold troubles are extensive, consider hiring a professional. For smaller trouble spots, you can tackle the job on your own.

Always wear goggles, gloves and a mask. Seal off the area from the rest of the house so the spores don’t travel and settle in elsewhere. Cover the air conditioning and heating vents, recessed lighting, electrical switch plates, doors and any other opening that spores might be able to travel through. Open the windows to the outside for ventilation.

Now that the area is prepped, scrub all surfaces with a mild cleaner or detergent. Next, mix a ผ cup of bleach with one quart of water and scrub with this solution taking care not to drip on carpet, towels and other fabrics or materials. Take a break for 20 minutes or so, in another room. After 20 minutes, repeat the bleach scrub down. Finally, apply a solution of a borate based detergent to the surfaces and do not rinse this off.

Remove the coverings from the air conditioning vents and vacuum the floor. Wash any towels, area rugs, bedding, etc from the affected area.

For more tips and information to help around your house please visit our handyman business site at http://www.handyman-business.com.

Proper Cleaning Tips for Your Levolor Blinds

Blinds are the most used shading device at home. It is very famous for its easy mechanism and easy to clean features. Blinds are composed of thin sheets of metal, wood or vinyl that are put together by string. The sheets or sometimes called as vanes can be opened or closed with a single turn of a rod attached to the upper bar. Blinds can also be pulled up to allow more light to pass through.

Levolor blinds are commonly made up of wood, vinyl and wood. They also have blinds that use cloth instead of any material. This blind uses the roman folding style while the other blinds use the traditional pull-up folding style.

Levolon has individual cleaning suggestions to be done for every blind type. The cleaning suggestion depends on the material used for the blind. Check out for the following for the cleaning tips.

For Premium Hardwood:

• The blinds made up of hard wood can look best when cleaned always by means of wiping it with a dusting mitt, a soft cloth or a brush that is commonly attached to a vacuum cleaner. Blinds can easily accumulate dust especially when windows are often open.

• When cleaning premium hardwood blinds, you do not need to bring them down. You may do the cleaning while the blind is hanging in its place. However, if you cannot fully clean it while it is hanged, you may bring it down to clean it. Just take note that removing the blinds would require a little extra effort.

• When cleaning, tilt the slat a little to clean its top surfaces.

• Never use any liquid cleaner even water. Premium hardwood blinds maybe damaged by using such cleaning agents.

For Natural Shades:

• You can clean natural shades by constantly vacuuming it with a brush. Cloth is major dust accumulator and dust can not be easily removed by stroking a brush in it. Vacuum are best solution for that.

• Use water in cleaning only if necessary. Cleaning agents may lose the color of the shade or even damage it.

• Cellular shades can be cleaned with water. However, the water must be lukewarm and is used with a sponge.

For Aluminum Blinds:

• You can use water in cleaning levolor aluminum blinds. Just make sure that the water is not mixed with concentrated cleaning agents that may cause shrinkage or color damage.

• Like wood blinds, you can also clean it whether hanged or not.

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Should You Start a Cleaning Business With Your Spouse

Running a home based cleaning business with your spouse can be a good way to combine business and family activities under one roof. But are you and your spouse the right match to work together as well as live together? Before you invest time and money into starting up a cleaning business with your spouse there are several key questions you should ask.

1. Will your financial situation allow both of you to quit your present jobs and go into business together? It may be necessary for one person to continue working on either a part-time or full-time basis until the business is profitable enough to provide the income you need.

2. What is your mission statement? Before taking out any loans or buying supplies and equipment, decide on a mission statement and write a business plan. This will help you get the "big picture". While writing your business plan, remember to address how the business will affect your marriage. Make sure you separate work and family conflicts by setting boundaries - such as "No business discussions during dinnertime".

3. Have you developed job descriptions? Running a cleaning business involves more than just cleaning. There is also marketing, bookkeeping, ordering supplies, and depending on the size of your business, hiring and supervising employees. Clearly state the responsibilities for each job description, and then divide the jobs fairly to make sure that one person is not doing most of the work.

4. Are you each doing what you love to do and do best? If you and your spouse have the same strengths and weaknesses, then you might have a problem. The best case scenario for working with your spouse is when you both have different strengths and weaknesses. For example, if you love working in the office and taking care of the behind-the-scenes tasks, and your spouse truly loves to clean, loves being out in the field and marketing the business, then you're in a great situation. There's less chance of getting into disagreements and butting-heads when you can each take control of your portion of the business.

5. How will you solve disputes? Between business owners there will always be a "difference of opinion" on the best way to get things done. Before you and your spouse make the financial commitment in a business, make sure you have a system in place for discussing and resolving business conflicts.

There will be business issues that come up daily - everything from scheduling to what supplies to buy to where to get your business cards printed. As a couple, you must be able to work together and make compromises when necessary. Having a management meeting once a week is a good way to review how the business is doing, discuss issues, and make plans for improvement.

6. Do you have a system in place to guide you through tough financial and legal decisions? A business can become paralyzed if you run into legal or financial difficulties and you have no experts to guide you. Before starting your cleaning business, create a support team that can help you if (and when) problems arise.

7. Have you set time aside for your private lives? Starting a business is a time-consuming endeavor. If you're not careful, the business can take over your lives. You and your spouse need time to reconnect as a couple and not as just business partners. This may be as simple as a quiet lunch or a walk where there is no "business talk".

8. If you have children, what child care do you have in place? As small business owners you will have business responsibilities pulling at you from all directions. Make sure that you have child care in place so the children are taken care of and you can devote the time you need to the business.

Before starting a home cleaning business with your spouse, it's important that you sit down and discuss these issues. If you have a good relationship with your spouse, put a good business plan in place, and know where your business is going, you can start a successful cleaning business. Putting in time before-hand to plan properly will help to ensure that your cleaning business is on the right track to success!

Copyright 2006 The Janitorial Store

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of TheJanitorialStore.com, an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift. Read cleaning success stories from owners of cleaning companies at http://www.cleaning-success.com.

Flooring Tips Top 10 Care Instructions For Real Hardwood Flooring

Did you know that real hardwood flooring can add significant value to your home? This is not only because it is a high quality flooring material, but also because of its timeless charm and ability to suit most d้cor. Now, if you’re going to invest in the considerable cost of installing real hardwood flooring, you should be prepared to protect your investment by putting in place some ground rules and also make a few adjustments to ensure that your pride and joy remains in beautiful condition for a long time to come.

There are several culprits responsible for damaging real hardwood flooring. UV rays from the sun, wet spills, overzealous cleaners and harsh contact with furnishings can all do significant harm. Here are a few tips on how to enjoy your floors without being a slave to them.

1. Attach felt or plastic pads to the bottoms of chairs, tables and other furniture so that they can be moved around without scraping the floor.

2. Lift furniture, and don’t scrape it, as you move it around the room.

3. Avoid the use of toys, large or small, with wheels. The wheels are often made of hard plastic that becomes rough with use.

4. When vacuuming, use the brush attachment. It’s even advisable to conserve one particular brush attachment for the real hardwood flooring and use a separate one for other areas of the house.

5. Sand and dirt are abrasive so keep mats at doorways to the rooms where hardwood flooring is in place. Wiping feet removes most traces.

6. Ask your flooring consultant about the correct cleaning agents to use on your floor. Different treatments on floors can require specialized products for cleaning.

7. While sunshine streaming in through the window makes us feel good, it has the potential to fade your floors over time. Keep drapes and blinds closed whenever possible.

8. Spills should be cleaned up immediately as liquids, including water, can stain real hardwood flooring.

9. Never walk on hardwood floors while wearing high heels, especially those with stiletto spiked heels.

10. If pets are housed in the area, make sure their nails are trimmed to avoid scratching the floor.

While the above list may seem like a lot of bother, it’s worth paying attention to these points so that your real hardwood flooring can stay in top condition for the long haul. Enjoy your home and your floor and use it … an unused room is a wasted expense, regardless of what’s on the floors, walls or ceiling.

Visit onlinetips.org, where you can read more about reclaimed wood flooring and how to lay laminate flooring.

Cleaning; Finishing Metal Castings In The Hobby Workshop

Every metal casting you produce will require some kind of finishing operation before it becomes a useful, serviceable casting. Finishing of castings can be a laborious job if carried out entirely by hand, luckily for the home metal craftsman or woman (yes. there are a few women who are involved with metal casting) there are a number of very handy tools which can be used to great effect to remove flashings, fins, sprues, risers & dags, which remain after the casting operation.

The number one tool in the workshop is a reliable 4" angle grinder, they can be fitted with a coarse-grained resinoid grinding wheel which are known to remove aluminium, bronze or brass metal at a rapid rate with out clogging up.

The 4" angle grinder will also eccept an abrasive metal cut-off wheel, which is used to cut off the sprues and risers from bronze or aluminium castings. The big 9" angle grinders can also be used to cut & grind any large size castings.

Angle grinders big & small can also be fitted with the abrasive flap type wheel which are a multi layered grit wheel. Flap wheel finishing will give a very smooth lustrous finish on any type of metal, good quality flap wheels can be expensive to buy,they remove metal quickly and will last quite a long time, so they are worth the money.

Another machine metal finishing worth the expense, is the belt
linishing tool, of which there are several different brands available. They are supplied with belts ranging from coarse to fine, a handy feature of the machine is the ability to carry out a quick belt change.

Finishing and preparation of a number of castings can be done in
a very short time using this type of machine, the linishing machine is attached to a one horsepower bench grinder, and once you install and use one; you will wonder how you ever did without it.

They are expensive to buy, but as you do more & more castings,
you will need a faster & better finishing system for your castings. A very handy linishing belt is the scotch brite belt, this belt will give a beautiful finish on any type of metal, cast or other wise.

Now, we are not advocating for you to rush out tomorrow to spend a sqillion on new tools, as quite a bit of excellent finishing can be achieved with normal hand tools.There is not much sense in
spending a large amount of money if you don't have a great need.
But you'll know when it's time to buy some good power tools, if
you don't already own some.

And of course, once you finish with all of the initial grinding
and cleaning, you may want to give the item a high polish.
A calico cloth buffing wheel mounted on your bench grinder,
and some special buffing compound will put a mirror finish on
your unique casting creation.

And don't forget to also buy and wear a pair of eye safety goggles, or wear a full face shield, plus a pair of thick leather gloves to protect your hands & fingers. Resinoid and abrasive cut off wheels throw a huge amount of hot particles of sharp splinter shaped metal...which could inflict VERY serious injury to your eyes and skin.

Metal craft hobbies can provide a lot of enjoyment but you need to be careful at the same time.

Col Croucher.

To find out more about hobby metal crafts and how you can employ
the methods & techniques to build & create your unique projects
visit our web site http://www.myhomefoundry.com to download a free ebook to begin your understanding, and intrigue of metal craft. This article is available for reprinting in ezines and other sources providing the above credit is given to the source.

Protect Your Carpeting From Dents

I'm sure it sounds weird. Denting your carpet. How do you dent a soft textile material like carpeting. Well it can be done. Learn how it happens and how to prevent it in this article.

The backing of the carpet is much more rigid than the plush surface that we walk on. This layer of latex can be easily dented by heavy furniture that lays on it for a long period of time. Furniture such as pianos, wardrobes and large entertainment centers can leave permanent dents in your carpet. Over time these dents may improve if you move the furniture but they will likely never come out all of the way. So how do you prevent these dents.

The easiest way to prevent dents in your carpet is to place your heavy furniture on pads. The pads will distribute the weight over a larger area and will prevent it from crushing and denting your carpet. Another benefit of using furniture pads is that you can purchase slider pads. Furniture sliders work the same way as pads but have a smooth surface on the bottom. This allow it to be moved easily. With sliders in place even a small child can move a 200 pound entertainment center. This makes it convenient to move your furniture around for cleaning or just to rearrange it from time to time.

If you would like to protect your carpet from damaging dents you can purchase sliders and furniture pads at almost all home improvement stores. If you can not find them locally you should be able to find them online. Just Google the term "furniture pads".

Find information on quality Chicago carpet cleaning at the authors website. Learn about carpet, area rugs and upholstery care and protection.

Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

Find more tips, tricks and how-to articles on the Great Priced Furniture Blog Look for great deals on Furniture at http://www.GreatPricedFurniture.com

Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

Find more tips, tricks and how-to articles on the Great Priced Furniture Blog Look for great deals on Furniture at http://www.GreatPricedFurniture.com

Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

Find more tips, tricks and how-to articles on the Great Priced Furniture Blog Look for great deals on Furniture at http://www.GreatPricedFurniture.com

Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

Find more tips, tricks and how-to articles on the Great Priced Furniture Blog Look for great deals on Furniture at http://www.GreatPricedFurniture.com

Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

Find more tips, tricks and how-to articles on the Great Priced Furniture Blog Look for great deals on Furniture at http://www.GreatPricedFurniture.com

Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

Find more tips, tricks and how-to articles on the Great Priced Furniture Blog Look for great deals on Furniture at http://www.GreatPricedFurniture.com

Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

Find more tips, tricks and how-to articles on the Great Priced Furniture Blog Look for great deals on Furniture at http://www.GreatPricedFurniture.com

Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

Find more tips, tricks and how-to articles on the Great Priced Furniture Blog Look for great deals on Furniture at http://www.GreatPricedFurniture.com

Spring Cleaning Tips and Advice

It's that time of year again! Time to break out the cleaning supplies and trash bags. That yearly spring ritual is upon us. You hate to think of the time it is going to take you. You wonder if a whole Saturday or even the whole weekend is worth it. We want everything done instantly, that's the fast paced world we are living in today.

We've got some spring cleaning tips and advice from the pros that will help you get done in record time. Professional home cleaners come prepared and they're not going to waste any time. If you can afford it, hire them! If you can't hire the professionals here's how to get it done just like you did.

How To Do Spring Cleaning The Right Way

Motivation is key to getting things done and getting them done fast. Motivate yourself and the family with a special outing when the project is complete. The professionals don't take TV or email breaks and you shouldn't either. The ultimate goal for professionals is to get in and get out, for you it's get done and move on!

Listen to some music that really gets you moving. You could even load an audio book onto your iPod and listen to that while you clean. That's multitasking at its best!

Don't forget that dirt and dust follow the laws of gravity. It falls just like everything else. So, start at the top and work your way down.

Spring Cleaning Safety Tips

Make sure you dress for the job. You want to be comfortable but functional. The clothes you wear should be loose but not so loose as to catch on corners, doorknobs, or anything that could spill.

If you're going to be on your knees a lot, look at investing in some knee pads. The professionals use them, and for good reason. You'll loose steam and motivation quickly if you start feeling uncomfortable.

Don't forget the gloves! These can keep the germs and chemicals off your skin. The regular yellow cleaning gloves you see at any grocery store will work fine.

Have a Plan!

Probably the most important thing you're going to want to do, before you even break out the mop, is have a plan! This alone can cut a major amount of time off your spring cleaning project. Instead of guessing what to do next, you'll have your plan of action right in front of you.

Top of the list: pick up the clutter.

You don't want to slide your junk from side to side or just clean under and around it. Doing this first will make your whole job easier.

Find more tips, tricks and how-to articles on the Great Priced Furniture Blog Look for great deals on Furniture at http://www.GreatPricedFurniture.com

Why Just Cleaning Carpet and Floors Does Not Eliminate Odors

The previous owner of the property you just bought had multiple pets. Now you have to deal with the odor problem the pets left behind before you can rent the property. Shampooing all the carpets and washing all the floors seems like a logical solution, but will that work actually result in the elimination of the odors?

The way to answer that question is to first understand the cause of the odor. Urine residue is a water soluble and hydroscopic urea salt. When this urea salt becomes damp, it reacts with its surroundings and produces a gas called mercaptan. This gas is the smell associated with urine contamination.

To solve the urine contamination, the urea salt must be dissolved and then removed. If both of these processes do not occur, the contaminated area will become larger and more deeply imbedded in the cracks and pours of the flooring. And, as you know, the smell will remain.

Shampooing a carpet contaminated with urine will remove large amounts of the urea salt. But it won’t remove all of it. Neither will using a treatment call acid wash. You will still get rid of most of the urea salt and a great deal more dirt, but not the odor.

Washing flooring will also remove much of the urea salt, but flooring has an additional dimension which must be considered. Almost all wood flooring uses a tongue and groove design to hold the boards together after being installed. The small cracks between adjacent boards allow the urine, while in liquid form, to seep into the cracks and dry. The dreaded urea salt is thus left in the cracks.

Particle board and OSB flooring expand on this problem due to the hundreds of tiny cracks per square inch inherent in their structure. And though the cracks are small, all of them must be considered. Washing all the urea salt out of all the cracks and pores in the wood is simply not going to happen despite how well you wash the flooring.

Concrete flooring, its hard appearance notwithstanding, is porous. Water can seep through a concrete call or floor, and so can urine. But concrete covered with tile presents an interesting problem due to the gaps between the tile and the cavities between the tile and concrete. These gaps and cavities can and will harbor large amounts of odor-causing material.

Because it takes very little urea salt to produce copious amounts of mercaptan (the odor), additional treatment must be considered. The best treatment to consider is OdorXit.

OdorXit products completely eliminate the odor from urine residue. All OdorXit products work well on a wide range of surfaces and odors because they actually neutralize or absorb the substances that are causing the odors. They do so without enzymes, bacteria, perfumes or harsh chemicals. They are also non-staining, non-toxic and biodegradable.

Consequently, OdorXit is the ultimate odor solution.

***

Martin R Meyer is the President of Listening Systems, Inc., and OdorXit is the registered trademark of Listening Systems. Their mission is to provide the highest quality, safest odor-control products at a reasonable price and to offer the best available advice on solving odor problems, even if you don’t use their products. Visit http://www.odorxit.com for a full list of OdorXit products as well as valuable information on solving a wide range of odor problems.

Janitorial Cleaning Service Getting Started

A janitorial cleaning service is one of the best businesses for a hardworking, blue collar person to start from scratch. Every business and every building needs to be cleaned once in a while - in some cases, many times each day. With the overhead involved with hiring employees to provide janitorial services, it is convenient for a company to outsource to a commercial janitorial service provider.

This is where you step in!

If you are reading this article, you are probably looking for advice on how to start a janitorial service. Hopefully the following information and advice will get you moving in the right direction.

Start Up Costs and Financing Sources:

$500 and up

It is possible to get started with almost no investment, but you will be in a much better position if you have a few hundred dollars of basic equipment available. Equipment for a full-scale commercial janitorial service may run many thousands of dollars.

Writing a sound business plan describing how to start a janitorial service in your area - including detailed market research and plans for future growth - may help you to secure some of your initial funding from venture capitalists or angel investors.

Pricing Guidelines for Service:

Base your time at $20 to $50 per hour (before taxes and expenses) and price your services according to the time you expect to spend on each task.

Itemize the exact services you intend to provide. Charging by the hour tends to make clients comfortable asking you to do more and more work for the same money. Be clear that you provide certain services for a certain price. By charging a flat fee, you will continually earn a better hourly rate as you improve and become more efficient.

Advertising and Marketing:

Get listed in the yellow pages under all of the main services you provide. This is more expensive than one general listing, but you can't expect all of your potential clients to look under "Janitorial Services" when they are really looking for "Window Cleaners".

Face-to-face selling can go either way. Some managers and store owners like the fortitude of this very direct way of marketing, but others find it very annoying - especially if they get a lot of people coming in and asking to wash the windows. Always obey "No Soliciting" signs.

Walk around town and identify businesses which look like they really need your help. Send a professional-looking brochure to the general manager.

Essential Equipment:

A janitorial cleaning service can start very small and build up as it grows more popular. It is sometimes possible to start out by using the equipment of the client companies, buying your own equipment with that revenue.

Get a unique uniform - and unique does not mean outrageous! A uniform looks much more professional than jeans, and it can provide a marketing service for you, as well. When people recognize your janitorial cleaning service working at the company down the street, it lends credibility to you when you approach them for a contract.

Much of the following equipment will become useful as your business expands:

Safety Equipment:

dust mask

safety goggles

heat resistant gloves

heat resistant apron

slip resistant, steel toe shoes

hard hat

General Supplies:

dust mop, brooms, and dust pans

vacuum cleaner

window squeegee and buckets

wet mop and bucket

scrub brushes

towels, lots of towels

window cleaning solution

degreaser solution

carpet cleaning solution

plunger

drain "snake"

basic tool set: hammer, screwdrivers, wrenches, etc.

tape measure

utility knife and plenty of blades

tool belt

ladder

50-foot water hose

pressure washer

chainsaw

weed whip

a cargo van to carry it all

Income Potential:

$15,000 to $60,000 per year, going solo.

There is a limit to the amount you can earn working alone. As you become more successful at negotiating with clients, you can eventually start hiring other people to do the work. The ultimate earning potential is unlimited.

Target Market:

One of the nicest parts about janitorial services is that you don't have to look for new customers week after week. After you secure a few accounts, you will have a fairly steady source of income that only changes infrequently.

Convenience stores, restaurants, grocery stores, strip malls, and office complexes are all great places to start looking.

Tips for Success:

Always be professional and courteous. Everyone encounters stressful and undesirable working conditions once in a while. It will carry you a long way if you can remain respectful and calm when dealing with these situations. Don't let your clients walk all over you, but don't let them walk out on you!

Janitorial services are very repetitive from day to day. Keep a mindset toward using your time more and more efficiently.

Go the extra mile. Do what you can to go above and beyond your clients' expectations. This translates to job security and a better reputation in the industry.

You should get your janitorial cleaning service bonded and insured. If you are not bonded and insured, your prospects for business are very limited.

Training, Skills or Experience Needed:

The best training is to have worked as a janitor for some time so you know what you're getting into. It is not easy work. Read a few books on how to start a janitorial service. No matter how much you already know, you are sure to find new information that will help you to be more successful.

Schooling is not usually necessary, but you can earn better money and find more contracts if you learn to maintain HVAC or other common equipment. There are independent classes available for this type of training.

ฉ Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy Wilson has dozens of home based business articles such as Ebay Money Making Tips, Nutrition Home Business and Small Business Web Design.

Spring Cleaning for the Mind

During the spring, many of us feel the need to clean our homes with annual spring cleaning. While clearing clutter is important, it is also important to do some "spring cleaning" in our mind and personal life. Here are some ideas for clearing internal clutter:

Use the external as a clue to where clearing is needed

Did you know that the clutter in our homes often correlates to internal areas that need uncluttering? For example, if we are uncomfortable with our appearance or worried about health, often clutter will appear in the kitchen or closet. If finances or debt is an area that needs attention, clutter will likely appear on our desks. Look around your house and office. Where is the most clutter? Ask yourself what might be going on internally that needs attention.

Shedding emotional weight

While people might start thinking about shedding physical pounds for summer, take a moment to shed any emotional weight, too. Do you have a group of good and positive people around you? Do you have any friends that are extremely negative? Reduce the time you are spending with negative people and increase your time with those who are positive and supportive. Take a moment this week to schedule lunch or coffee with someone who inspires you.

Check your energy level

How has your energy been the past 30 days? Do you have enough energy to match the tasks on your to-do list? If you are getting 7 hours of sleep and still lacking energy, there is likely an emotional culprit. Take a moment to list out your stressors and what is weighing you down. Make a proactive plan to deal with these issues. Energy is most often drained when we don't have options, hope, or know what to do next because we feel overwhelmed. Using Time Management skills or breaking down goals into small steps can help.

How is your balance?

Jot down your top 3 life priorities. Next, take a look at how you plan to spend this week. Have you scheduled time for your priorities? When what we do is different than what we value, we are more likely to feel fatigued or depressed. If your plan for the week is missing time for your life priorities, take action today by scheduling in time for your priorities.

What have you done for you lately?

When meeting the daily demands of others we often let our needs go unmet. Over the past month have you been taking regular time to rejuvenate your self? Even 5-10 minutes a day can do wonders. Remember that self-time isn't selfish, it is necessary in order to meet the demands of others at our 100% best.

Your Turn:

This week think through each of the 5 areas listed above. Spend at least one hour on "spring cleaning for the mind." You'll be amazed at how much better you will feel a week from today!

Brook Noel is the creator of the best-selling 70 Day Life Makeover Program for Women .. The Change Your Life Challenge. http://www.changeyourlifechallenge.com
This program has helped thousands of women take control of their home, finances, relationships, clutter, time-managmenet and more.

She is the author of 19 books and maintains three free newsletters. The Daily Rush is devoted to quick and easy recipes; Good Morning! is a daily newsletter to get your day off to a great start and The Challenge Weekly offers a personal challenge for self-improvement each week. To sign up for these free newsletters please visit http://www.changeyourlifechallenge.com/news.htm

Some Tips For Gutter and Downspout Cleaning

Downspout Cleaning:

Here Is How To Go About Downspout Cleaning

A downspout is that vertical pipe which carries water down from a roof gutter. Water trapped in gutters can cause serious damage to roofs and walls. Thus maintaining clean gutters and downspouts is very necessary and helps to keep one’s home in good shape.

Some Steps in cleaning of downspouts –

1. Firstly gain access to the roof with the help of a ladder. See to it that you don't lean the ladder against the downspout or the gutter. It can easily bend or break them.

2. Then remove leaves and twigs from gutters and with a large spoon, a gutter scoop or a small garden trowel.

3. Also, wet down the caked-on dirt, which is sometimes difficult to remove without causing damage to the gutter or downspout. Remove it with a gutter scoop or trowel.

4. Regularly check whether the downspouts are clogged or not. You can use water to unclog your downspouts by placing the garden hose in the opening. But be very gentle, as downspouts are not designed for withstanding the same pressure as that of a house drain. If a plugged downspout cannot be cleared with a hose then make use of a small plumber's snake or even an unbent clothes hanger. Again, remember to be gentle.

6. Alternatively, use a leaf blower to clean the gutters; however, remember that you'll be high up, often in awkward postures, and carrying a good-sized machine that not only is awkward to use but also can blind you with dust.

7. Further, you can use the hose for flushing the gutters with water after cleaning. (At this time, you can also find out if there are any leaks in the gutter or in the downspout.)

Some Tips For Downspout Cleaning –

Firstly, one can use the hose of the pipe and spray it forcefully at an angle less than 40* in the gutter for forcefully pushing the twigs and leaves towards any corner where one can use a trowel or hands to take it out with. That is much more convenient! But before doing this, make sure that the gutter spouts are not clogged, as water needs to go down there otherwise it will fill up the gutter. Secondly, remember to be especially careful when using a hose or a plumber's snake for unclogging the down spouts. It is likely that the clog has caused the gutter to rust, making it more likely that you will punch a hole in the gutter.

Cleaning your gutters regularly can save you a ton of work and headaches later. For more tips visit:
http://www.easyguttercleaning.com

I Want to Start An Aircraft Cleaning Business

It has always been said that aviation is a great place to spend money, but a terrible place to try to make a living. Many companies such as fixed base operators, avionics shops and general aviation businesses often complain about over regulation from the Federal Aviation Administration and lack of cash flow. But there are aviation businesses you can get into if you love airplanes, which will not cost too much to start.

In fact when I was only twelve years old I started my first business, well my first real business washing airplanes out at the local airport. You see my dad was a pilot and I wanted to be a pilot too and liked most young boys I loved airplanes. An aircraft washing and cleaning business can be a lucrative small business to start.

It is relatively simple and you can charge be a lot more to detail an airplane than a car. Plus, there is not the amount of competition that there is in auto detailing in the aircraft business of cleaning planes. Imagine yourself detailing a Learjet or a new Gulfstream jet?

To start an aircraft washing service you'll need to go down to the local airport and get an activities permit and a background check, which you will have to pay for. You will also have to learn the rules to collect the wastewater from the washing of the aircraft and acquire the proper equipment to help you clean the planes.

But you might be surprised how simple it is to start an aircraft cleaning service of your own. There are many places all over the Internet with an abundance of information to help you learn more about this industry. Consider this 2006.

Lance Winslow

7 Proven Tips To Market Your Cleaning Business

Marketing your cleaning business is something that you will already have an idea about when you start your business plan. Nothing is better for an emerging cleaning business than a really good marketing strategy. This is when all of your research will work to your advantage. Cleaning business or any other type of service business cannot survive without a proven marketing plan, In order to build a good marketing strategy you must first:

1- Correctly assess your competition and what they are doing to market their businesses. You have to offer your clients something that is fresh and different if you want to get their attention.( You can offer free information on keeping your clients area clean - this will show your clients that you are an expert in your field).

2-Survey your potential market beforehand so that you can establish what your clients are missing in their current needs as consumers. You will want to know what they want and give it to them.( may be they need special cleaning product or prefer more special services)

3-Learn what types of advertisements work best in your business’ locale. Sometimes commercials are best whereas other area get a better response by utilizing the local newspaper or pennysaver.( how about direct response marketing? )

4-Begin your promotion before you plan to start your cleaning business so that you can garner an interest in your services before you even start. Building up some interest ahead of time can help to ensure good contract. If some consumers are not satisfied with their current cleaning service they could be waiting for any opportunity to switch to a different cleaning company.

5-Promotions and discounts are a necessity to running a successful residential or commercial cleaning business. You must make sure that you are in a position to compete in this manner. Your business start-up will run a lot better if you begin with a special promotion.

6-The key to successful marketing will be your ability to meet the basic supply and demand of your community. Be sure to stay on top of this because these things are always changing. You can offer extra services that are not supplied by most of your competitors.

7-You should be able to keep up with market changes and try to anticipate them beforehand because it keeps you a step ahead of the average consumer. This will prove invaluable to you later. by following the news about the cleaning field.

About The Author

Khali S,

http://www.office-cleaning-business.com

How to start & run an office cleaning business.

Cleaning Business StartUp Free Mini-Course.

8 Road Blocks to Success in Your Cleaning Business

All business owners face road blocks throughout the life of their business. It's how they deal with and overcome these road blocks that will determine their level of success. The following are 8 common road blocks that cleaning businesses face.

1. Not Having a Business Plan

Take time to write a business plan. This forces you to take a serious look at all areas of your business and plan for what lies ahead. Some of the things you should be addressing in your plan are:

*location (home-based, lease an office, and timeline on any transition plan);

*who are your customers and how will you find them;

*who is your competition and how will you deal with them;

*how many employees will you have and how will you handle hiring and training;

*management team and advisory team;

*exit plan;

*financial plan (cover 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years forecast of sales, expenses, cash flow, and balance statement);

Your business plan is a living document that should be looked at and updated on a yearly basis.

2. Not Having a Marketing Plan

Your marketing plan will actually be developed in your business plan, however a separate, more detailed marketing plan should include a timeline on all marketing activities. Some things to consider when developing your plan is:

*who is your target market? (office buildings, schools, retail, industrial, medical)

*what services will you provide? (general cleaning, window washing, carpet cleaning, hard floor care, construction clean-up)

*what is your market area?

*what is your marketing budget?

*what methods of marketing and advertising will you implement?

*what is the timeline for each activity?

3. Under Capitalized

Most cleaning companies start on a shoe-string budget, but if you're serious about growing your business, you'll need to have money to invest in your business. Start by researching start-up costs for a cleaning business. Some things that need to be considered are equipment, vehicle expenses, insurance, office supplies, bookkeeping costs, advertising costs, business cards and marketing materials. If you're going to hire employees, there are many additional costs associated with this. This list is not all inclusive - there are many more expenses that must be considered.

You'll need to have additional funds in your checking account to make sure all the day-to-day expenses are being paid in a timely manner, and that you have funds to cover emergencies.

4. Growing Too Fast

Most cleaning companies are ready to take on any job available just to have money coming into the business. If you're having a lot of success adding accounts, it becomes exciting watching the income grow each month. Proceed with caution however, as the result oftentimes is neglect of existing accounts. Before you know it, you'll start losing accounts because of a loss of quality service.

It's much easier to keep existing customers than it is to find new customers, so be sure to take care of these existing customers, and think of ways to sell additional services to them. Control your growth at a slow and steady pace; you're much more likely to become successful this way. At the same time you'll build a solid reputation for offering quality service that will result in a large referral business.

5. Inadequate Hiring Practices

In the cleaning industry it's all too common for small business owners to quickly hire "warm bodies" just to fill an opening. And then the new employee is thrown into the job without the proper training and left to fend for themselves. No wonder employee turnover rates are so high!

It's never a good practice to hire someone just to fill an opening. Implement a structured interviewing process, and ask targeted questions designed to get the employee talking about how they would handle different situations. Find out more about the employees work history, find out why they left previous jobs and how they interacted with co-workers and supervisors. If possible, have another person conduct a second interview if the applicant appears to be a good fit for the position. Check references, and conduct a criminal history check if applicable.

Once the decision has been made to hire a new employee, conduct a detailed orientation, discussing the company policies and procedures. From there the employee should be fully trained on their job responsibilities. They should be taken on a tour of the building(s) they are to clean, and should never be left to do the job without adequate supervision and training during the first week.

6. Lack of Employee Training

The best thing an employer can do in any industry is to invest in training programs for their employees. Consistent training of each employee is extremely important; otherwise you're likely to wonder why one employee does a great job, and another is seriously lacking in the ability to clean properly. The answer usually comes back to inconsistent training.

Invest in a standardized training program. Make sure each supervisor is thoroughly trained in the program and is taught how to train each employee. The training program should be broken down into sections: trashing, dusting, restroom cleaning, vacuuming, mopping, etc. After each employee is trained on a section, have them sign off, demonstrating that they have been trained and understand the procedures. By following each step consistently, it's less likely that an employee will come back and say, "I was never told to do that!"

Follow-up and review is equally important. Go back after 30, 60, and 90 days and review each section with the employee. Repetition will help them to retain what they've been trained to do.

Your training should not stop there - have ongoing training for all employees throughout the year on various trouble areas and also on safety issues. Also consider offering an employee newsletter that addresses training.

7. Lack of Industry Knowledge

Many new business owners started their business because they have worked in the industry previously. This is usually true of owners of cleaning companies. Some were supervisors for another company, and some might even have worked for a time as a part-time custodian and decided that owning this type of business would be easy enough to do.

Now that you are a cleaning business owner, it's time to dig deeper into the industry and learn as much as possible in order to be one step ahead of the competition, and to stay on top of industry trends. Some of the things you can do to learn more about the industry is to subscribe to trade magazines and read them religiously, join membership groups (www.TheJanitorialStore.com would be a great start), do research on the Internet, and get to know other people in the industry. There is no need to reinvent the wheel when you can learn from others who are willing to share their success stories with you.

8. Not Knowing the Competition

Many business owners start their business without giving a second thought to who their competition is and what they're up to. Some of the things you should be aware of are:

*who are they and how long have they been in business?

*are they independent or a franchise?

*what is their target market and are they in direct competition with you?

*what are their strengths and weaknesses?

Knowing some of these things can give you an edge when going up against them in a bid situation. Also keep in mind that you don't always have to look at other cleaning companies as competition. Consider becoming referral partners with companies who do not directly compete with you on bidding contracts. For example, if you specialize in cleaning office buildings and another cleaning company specializes in medical facilities, you're each likely to get leads on other jobs that could be referred to each other's specialy. Remember, being independent doesn't mean going it alone.

Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community for owners and managers of cleaning companies who want to build a more profitable and successful cleaning business. Sign up for Trash Talk: Tip of the Week at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com and receive a Free Gift!