Category: GSF News

Congratulations to our team members who are celebrating significant milestones and anniversaries at GSF USA! We’re proud to have a dedicated team that works hard to provide a safe and clean environment for our customers.

At GSF, it’s our mission to build a team of trusted cleaning professionals with enthusiasm to learn and grow. With training and opportunities for career development, our employees gain the skills that will further them within the commercial cleaning industry. Thank you to everyone for their hard work! We wouldn’t be where we are today without you.

35^th Anniversaries

Ronnie T., GSF Indiana

25^th Anniversaries

Maria F., GSF Illinois

20^th Anniversaries

Yadira D., GSF Indiana

Aurelio G., GSF Indiana

15^th Anniversaries 

Guadalupe C., GSF Illinois

10^th Anniversaries 

Dora D., GSF Ohio

Angelica G., GSF Illinois

Abraham L., GSF Indiana

Maria L., GSF Indiana

Larry M., GSF Ohio

Emerita S., GSF Indiana

Angel T., GSF Indiana

5^th Anniversaries

Juan A., GSF Rockford

Jesus B., GSF Rockford

Marcos B., GSF Illinois

Lucila B., GSF Illinois

Ana B., GSF Illinois

Luis B., GSF Illinois

Donald B., GSF Rockford

Nancy C., GSF Illinois

Margarita C., GSF Illinois

Benjamin C., GSF Illinois

Lourdes D., GSF Illinois

Martha E., GSF Illinois

Ma E., GSF Illinois

Maria G., GSF Indiana

Iris G., GSF Indiana

Yesenia G., GSF Illinois

Nicholas H., GSF Rockford

Laura J., GSF Illinois

Christina L., GSF Rockford

Scott M., GSF Illinois

Maria M., GSF Indiana

Eloy O., GSF Illinois

Grace Abdu P., GSF Rockford

Lucia R., GSF Indiana

Montserrat R., GSF Indiana

Maria Del Rosario R., GSF Illinois

Gabina T., GSF Illinois

Rigoberto V., GSF Illinois

High-traffic areas, such as lobbies, entrances and common spaces, can be difficult to maintain. With 85% of people wanting to see visible evidence of cleaning in the facilities they visit, this brings an additional challenge. The constant foot traffic makes it difficult to maintain a spotless facility. However, with the right strategy in place, you can easily tackle these areas to help maintain your cleanliness standards within your facility.

Here are some tips to help maintain cleanliness in high-traffic areas.

Schedule Cleaning Times

Finding the right time to clean high-traffic areas in your facility can be challenging. However, creating a detailed schedule of when and where to clean can help maintain your cleanliness standards. Opting for less busy times, such as the beginning or end of the day, can help facilitate effective cleaning of these areas. Additionally, regular disinfection of these areas helps prevent the spread of illnesses, fostering a healthier environment for all occupants.

Outsource Additional Help

At times, the workload that comes with cleaning high-traffic areas might feel overwhelming for your cleaning team. Bringing in additional assistance through outsourcing can alleviate some of this pressure. These professionals can help ensure your high-traffic areas are thoroughly cleaned, even during peak hours. It can also free up your cleaning team to concentrate their efforts on other pressing tasks.

Use Automated Machines

Traditional floor cleaning consumes a significant amount of time in your cleaning team’s schedule, especially with the relentless demand for floor care in high-traffic areas. Automated floor cleaning robots offer a solution by operating autonomously, freeing up your team from hours of manual cleaning labor.

At GSF USA, we use robotic self-guided vacuums that can work autonomously for up to three hours, cleaning around 50,000 square feet per week. These robots allow you to work with their built-in AI platform to create a cleaning schedule that works best for your facility.

Train Your Cleaning Staff

Training your cleaning team is essential for helping maintain consistent cleanliness across your facility. During this training, clarify your cleaning expectations, outline proper procedures and define each team member’s role. As a facility manager, ensuring everyone understands their responsibilities creates smoother operations.

Tackle Cleaning with Ease

Implementing effective strategies can help your facility maintain its cleanliness standards despite the challenges brought on by constant foot traffic. By prioritizing these measures, tackling the complexities of cleanliness in high-traffic areas becomes easier, ultimately helping contribute to a healthier and more welcoming environment for all occupants.

At GSF USA, we care about cleanliness and the people who deliver it. Contact us to learn how we can support your facility’s cleaning needs.

As flowers begin to bloom, unfortunately, seasonal allergies also begin to appear. The reason why we see a surge in allergies during the springtime is due to plants beginning to release pollen into the air. While typically linked to outdoor settings, these allergens can easily find their way indoors through various means, such as open doors or even clinging to footwear. This influx of allergens and the usual accumulation of dirt in facilities raises significant health concerns if left unaddressed.

What are the common indoor allergens?

Seasonal allergies afflict over 100 million people and are commonly triggered by dust and mold. When your facility is not cleaned regularly, dust and mold can begin to accumulate. Dust mites thrive in warm, humid environments and are typically too small for the human eye to see, making them tricky to clean. Additionally, in the United States, approximately 21% of asthma cases are linked to mold. Unaddressed leaks or spills can lead to mold growth within your facility, further exacerbating allergy concerns.

Strategies for reducing indoor allergens.

It’s important to take a proactive approach to cleaning this spring season. Evaluate your existing cleaning procedures and protocols to identify areas for improvement to help ensure thorough cleaning. Here are several recommendations to help effectively address indoor allergens.

Implement a routine maintenance schedule.

Implementing a routine maintenance plan can help combat allergens within your facility by guaranteeing consistent cleanliness. This proactive approach within your facility also aids in the early detection of water leaks, thereby helping catch mold growth early while simultaneously keeping dust mites under control.

Consider adding robotic self-guided vacuums into your cleaning routine to help handle dirt removal. These vacuums can work autonomously for 3 hours, covering over 50,000 square feet per week. This will help free up time on your cleaning team’s schedule and allow for consistent cleaning within your facility.

Use sustainable cleaning products.

Traditional cleaning chemicals can carry volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are emitted into the air during cleaning and can irritate the eyes, ears, nose, throat and lungs. The presence of these particles negatively affects your indoor air quality (IAQ), creating issues for everyone, especially those with asthma and allergies. Opting for sustainable cleaning products can help improve your IAQ. Look for certifications from reputable third parties, like Green Seal®, to help ensure your cleaning products do not contain any VOCs.

Another reliable, sustainable option is to use electrochemically activated solutions (ECAS). These solutions do not have any harmful additives or VOCs since they were created using just salt, water and electricity.

Outsource additional help.

The spring allergy season brings additional cleaning needs with the uptick in allergens. Outsourcing additional help allows your cleaning team to not be overwhelmed with the increased cleaning needs this season. At GSF USA, we have a team of trained cleaning professionals ready to help your facility. They will help ensure every area of your facility is thoroughly cleaned with the correct chemicals and equipment.

Keep springtime allergens at bay.

By implementing a cleaning plan this spring, you can effectively combat indoor allergens. Consistent cleaning and the use of sustainable cleaning products not only help reduce allergens but also promote a healthier indoor environment, overall improving your facility’s IAQ.

At GSF USA we care about clean and the people behind clean. Contact us to learn how we can help support your facility’s cleaning needs.

 

 

When it comes to a successful facility, maintaining consistent hygiene standards is essential. Implementing a scheduled maintenance plan can be a game-changer to meet today’s public expectations. Regardless of the facility, prioritizing regular maintenance brings numerous benefits, such as a positive reputation, increased safety and cleanliness and averting additional costly expenses.  

Here are some of the main reasons scheduled maintenance can benefit your facility. 

Consistent Cleanliness

64% of consumers say a poorly maintained facility has made them leave. Scheduled maintenance is a powerful tool for helping maintain a consistently clean environment. With a well-established cleaning schedule in place, your cleaning team can proactively tackle dirt, grime, and any other potential hygiene hazards, helping prevent them from escalating into significant problems. It also helps send a message to your facility occupants that you care about the cleanliness of your facility, helping create a positive reputation. 

Upholds Hygiene Standards

Adhering to a predetermined cleaning schedule helps facilities effectively lower health risks related to pathogens and allergens. Regular disinfection of high-touch surfaces helps prevent the spread of illnesses and promotes a healthier environment for occupants. Additionally, scheduled maintenance allows for the timely identification of potential hygiene issues, safeguarding the well-being of everyone within the facility.  

Outsourcing cleaning professionals can help uphold your hygiene standards by providing specialized expertise and access to professional-grade equipment. These professionals can help ensure every part of your facility is being thoroughly cleaned. 

Extends Lifespan of Equipment

When using your cleaning equipment regularly, it’s essential to schedule time to check in and do routine maintenance. Having a scheduled plan allows your staff to know when equipment will be under maintenance and what needs to be checked when. This proactive approach helps prevent potential long-term damage because these checks can allow you to identify any issues or necessary repairs early on. 

Increases Productivity

Implementing a structured routine can empower your cleaning team, enabling them to start each day with clear objectives and timelines in mind. Having a scheduled maintenance plan provides your cleaning team with a comprehensive outline of the tasks for the day, assigns responsibilities, and specifies the duration of each task. This proactive approach minimizes the need for reactive responses, as potential issues are identified and addressed swiftly, helping create a consistently clean environment.  

Consider adding automatic cleaners into your routine to help boost productivity. Our robotic vacuums handle dirt removal and can operate autonomously for three hours, cleaning over 50,000 square feet weekly. This allows for more efficient cleaning within your schedule, giving your cleaning team time to focus their efforts elsewhere.  

We Care About Clean 

So why wait? Start reaping the rewards of scheduled maintenance today and take your cleaning strategy to the next level. At GSF USA, we understand the importance of maintaining a consistently clean environment. That is why we offer various services and products that ensure quality cleaning in your facility.  

To learn more about our services, visit www.gsf-usa.com  

Cleaning goes beyond the surface. As mundane as the task may seem, it has a substantial influence on a facility’s hygiene standards. Within the realm of cleaning, complex chemicals and various processes interact uniquely. Understanding how the different chemicals and processes work is pivotal in creating an efficient and effective cleaning regimen tailored to your facility’s needs.

All About Cleaning Agents

When cleaning solutions encounter a surface, it initiates a chemical reaction. That is why understanding the chemistry behind various cleaning agents is crucial. Around 10% of work-related asthma cases are linked to cleaning products, emphasizing the significance of comprehending the composition of the cleaning chemicals you use and their potential impact on facility occupants. It’s important to note that the EPA recognizes products designed to kill viruses and bacteria and possess antimicrobial properties as effective solutions.

The four main types of cleaning agents are neutral, acidic, alkaline and scouring. Neutral cleaning agents are pH-neutral, so they’re safer to use on most hard surfaces. Acidic cleaning agents have strong mineral acids that can remove inorganic deposits. Alkaline agents have the strongest pH bases to help dissolve grease, oils and protein-based substances. Finally, scouring cleaning agents are mixtures of the usual cleaning chemicals such as surfactants and water softeners, as well as abrasive powders. Each of these cleaning agents has different active ingredients for breaking down different types of dirt and grime. Understanding the purpose of each cleaner can help you select the correct one for the job.

There are many choices on the market for cleaning solutions, making it difficult to decide which is best. However, a way to simplify your chemical selection by using electrochemically activated solutions (ECAS). This solution is created with an on-site generator (OSG) that combines water, salt and electricity to create an effective cleaning and disinfecting solution. This generator uses two tanks, with one tank creating a cleaner/degreaser (sodium hydroxide) and the other producing a disinfectant/sanitizer (hypochlorous acid). This product is then easily dispensed into spray bottles, mop buckets and floor care equipment, making it simple and safe for your custodial team.

Different Cleaning Processes

While the terms cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting may appear interchangeable, they differ in their definitions and objectives. Cleaning involves physically removing most germs and dirt from surfaces, a crucial step that should be routinely taken before sanitizing and disinfecting. Sanitizing aims to reduce germ counts on surfaces to a safer level, whereas disinfecting kills any remaining germs from cleaning. The disinfecting solution is the most potent agent to help lower the risk of illnesses spreading within your facility.

Green Cleaning

It’s also important to understand the impact your cleaning chemicals have on people and the environment. According to the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, between 17% and 21% of custodians reported issues such as eye irritation or breathing problems due to the cleaning products they use. To help minimize these risks, opt for products certified by a reputable third-party organization such as Green Seal. This certification guarantees the products are both environmentally sustainable and safe for your custodial staff to handle.

Delving into the science behind cleaning processes can elevate their cleaning standards, helping ensure a safer and healthier environment for all.

At GSF USA, we understand the science of cleaning and use ECAS when possible. For more information, contact our offices here.

As 2023 comes to an end, we reflect on our best moments of the year. At GSF USA, we’re proud of our staff who show tremendous dedication to providing a safe and clean environment for our customers all year round. Before looking ahead to the new year, we’re excited to recognize our team members who are celebrating recent career milestones and anniversaries!

At GSF, we not only care about supporting our clients but our people too. Through training and career development opportunities, we believe it’s essential for our team members to continue to grow and harness skills that will further their careers.

35^th Anniversaries

Sharon B., GSF Indiana

20^th Anniversaries

Malgorzata P., GSF Illinois

Alexander U., GSF Indiana

15^th Anniversaries

Fernando R., GSF Indiana

Exsequiel R., GSF Indiana

10^th Anniversaries

Jose J., GSF Illinois

5^th Anniversaries

Nashiely B., GSF Illinois

Antonia C., GSF Indiana

Marie D., GSF Ohio

Rosalio E., GSF Illinois

Argelia F., GSF Indiana

Bertha G., GSF Illinois

Ashley K., GSF Rockford

Cipriano L., GSF Indiana

Juan M., GSF Indiana

Monica M., GSF Indiana

Veroncia P., GSF Illinois

Roman P., GSF Illinois

Guadalupe R., GSF Illinois

Jose R., GSF Indiana

Selma S., GSF Rockford

Wilson Z., GSF Illinois

The holiday season is officially here, and with that comes the inevitable cold and flu season. This time of year increases foot traffic in many types of facilities. Between holiday shoppers in stores, family and friend gatherings at restaurants and festive celebrations at work, it’s important to prioritize the health and safety of others. As people gather this holiday season, leave germs out of the festive fun by ensuring your facility is taking necessary precautions toward minimizing their spread.

Increase Cleanliness Measures

During a time of year when germs spread more rapidly, ensure your facility’s cleaning routine is adequate with the influx in foot traffic this busy holiday season. Be mindful of how often certain areas of your facility need to be cleaned, and suggest implementing additional cleanings in highly populated areas. This includes public restrooms, facility floors and high-touch points such as door handles, railings and touch screens.

Many facilities take on seasonal staff for additional support during the holidays. Ensure seasonal employees, as well as full-time employees, have received proper training to meet today’s cleaning standards. Research shows that 64% of customers have not returned to a facility that did not meet their cleanliness expectations. This makes it essential to communicate any additional holiday cleaning protocols to your cleaning staff and make the health and safety of facility occupants a top priority.

Efficiency and Effectiveness

With increased facility cleaning measures, ensure your cleaning staff provides pristine results. Cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting are often used as interchangeable terms. However, there are significant differences in the results they provide and when misused, won’t effectively kill germs. Prevent improper cleaning by selecting the right chemicals and tools for your cleaning staff and ensure products are used for their intended purpose.

With an influx in foot traffic, it can be difficult to plan for additional cleanings. Working with your cleaning staff to create an efficient cleaning schedule can help ease the stress of reducing the spread of germs while keeping facility occupants safe. Tasks such as floor cleaning can quickly become a hazard with increased occupants walking around. Minimize the risks of slips and falls by scheduling certain routine cleanings during closed facility hours.

Outsourcing cleaning professionals is another efficient solution that allows proper cleaning catered to a specific schedule that works for your facility. Outsourced cleaning services can recommend and provide the best cleaning equipment for your specific floor and facility needs. This results in an effective cleaning solution that is also cost-effective and convenient.

Back to Basics: Hand Hygiene

Our hands collect a lot of germs throughout the day. Handwashing is a simple and effective solution that, when done properly, can remove up to 99% of germs and bacteria. Remind facility employees to clean their hands frequently during the busy holiday season and that it takes at least 20 seconds with soap and water to effectively kill germs. Encourage additional hand hygiene practices by providing hand sanitizer stations for occupants and employees to utilize throughout your facility.

Other solutions include placing hand hygiene signage in public restrooms or opting for touch-free technology in your facility to minimize high-touch points that harbor germs. Additionally, while increased staff is often needed during the holiday season, remind employees to stay home if they are sick to reduce the risk of spreading illnesses to other employees or occupants.

Have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season

Don’t let cold and flu season stop your holiday cheer. Prepare your facility with an effective cleaning routine, proper training and hygiene practices to help keep occupants healthy and safe. Spread joy and not germs this time of year by making facility cleanliness a top priority.

GSF USA is committed to hiring a team of professionals who share the same goal of providing exceptional work to clients and are eager to learn while continuously developing their careers. We are thankful to have a strong team of employees who come to work every day with a growth mindset and hard work ethic. Their dedication to the clients who choose to work with us is what creates quality results that customers value.  

One of GSF’s more recent employees, Willie, is a prime example of hiring individuals who have a willingness to learn and a commitment to providing quality results through their work performance. Although Willie has worked in the cleaning industry for over 40 years, he has been with GSF as an Area Manager for only 9 months. “I chose to work for GSF because I heard they were different. So far, my experience has been wonderful,” stated Willie, “They promote that they care about their employees, and I have found that to be exactly true by watching them consistently put GSF team members first.”  

As an Area Manager, Willie’s role requires him to visit clients and work directly at their sites. “I’ve seen GSF make a significant impact on the clients they work with,” said Willie, “They really listen to their client’s needs and respond with effective solutions.” Between new partnerships and clients, it’s essential for GSF to provide clean and safe facilities consistently. “GSF is great at ensuring that the buildings we clean make a good impression on the public, specifically entryways and restroom maintenance,” stated Willie, “The appearance of a facility, as well as how it’s maintained, has a profound impact on the public’s perception and likeliness to return. This makes it important for us to provide high-quality cleaning results to all our clients.”  

Additionally, GSF is constantly looking for ways to improve the quality of its outsourced cleaning services. This means employees are regularly introduced to and working together to learn about new cleaning technology, equipment and techniques. “We have a strong culture at GSF. Everyone gets along, which has made it easy to build relationships with my team,” said Willie, “We all show up to work excited to learn and develop our careers.”  

Employees like Willie are the reason GSF has such a strong company culture. Cultivating a work environment of team members who inspire those around them to grow and succeed leads to exceptional performance and quality results. The heart of GSF is made up of a dedicated team of individuals who believe no task is too much and that a sustainable, clean facility can help make a positive impact. Interested in joining a team like Willie’s? Check out our open positions! 

The cleaning industry is constantly evolving. Even in just the past five years, technology has changed drastically and will continue to influence the cleaning industry greatly. This technology helps to meet the rising demand and pressure for facilities to be spotless. 85% of consumers want visible proof that a facility has been cleaned. This creates increased pressure for facility managers to keep up with the demand and can cause excess strain on their cleaning teams.

A way to keep up with the pressing cleanliness demand is to implement automated cleaning tools. These tools can aid in simplifying your cleaning tasks and allow your cleaning staff to pivot their efforts elsewhere.

More time efficient

Think about conventional floor cleaning. This method requires your team to spend hours on end operating the machine to clean the floors. Automated floor cleaning robots can be programmed to clean by themselves, saving your team hours. These machines require little human labor and can run all day, saving your cleaning team time to put their efforts into different tasks.

Robotic self-guided vacuums that handle dirt removal can operate autonomously for up to 3 hours, cleaning nearly 50,000 square feet per week. The built-in AI platform allows these vacuums to develop their own cleaning routes for areas that require cleaning. Automated vacuums help take the hassle out of manual vacuum sweeping.

Safer for cleaning professionals

Automated and high-tech cleaning equipment can help to make work environments safer, helping minimize mistakes made by human error. For example, consider overnight cleaning crews who, when fatigued, can make errors, potentially resulting in mixing wrong cleaning chemicals, equipment damage or excessive product usage. Automated equipment, programmed for reliability and equipped with sensors and safety features, help effectively minimize such risks.

Environmentally friendly

Automated cleaning machines offer a sustainable alternative to manual cleaning. GSF USA’s Écologique program is backed by a Green Seal® certification, ensuring a genuinely eco-friendly approach. Our programmable machines allow cleaners to precisely control the amount of cleaning solution used, helping to minimize excess waste. This helps create a more environmentally responsible cleaning process.

Our machines also feature ec-H2O™ technology, transforming tap water into a safe cleaning solution through electrolysis. This innovative method conserves water usage by up to 70% and minimizes wastewater generation. It also efficiently removes soil without leaving a chemical residue, helping to ensure a cleaner and more sustainable solution.

Transforming Cleaning

Automating cleaning tasks offers a significant advantage in today’s evolving cleaning industry. It helps to enhance efficiency, safety and promotes sustainability in the facility. Embracing automation is a crucial step towards meeting the demands of modern cleanliness while contributing to a greener future.

At GSF USA, we care about clean and the people behind clean. CONTACT US to learn how we can help support your facility’s cleaning needs and follow us on LINKEDIN and FACEBOOK for updates.

This week marks the start of International Infection Prevention Week (IIPW). As a facility manager, this is a perfect time to reflect upon your current infection prevention protocols and identify areas you can improve. A survey found that 7 in 10 consumers pay more attention to the level of cleanliness of the facilities they visit. Updating your cleaning team’s routine for heightened infection prevention can help your facility be prepared in case of an outbreak.

Here are some key practices you can implement in your facility to help create an effective infection prevention program.

Key Infection Prevention Practices

Enforce Proper Hand Hygiene

Proper handwashing is a core pillar of cleanliness and infection prevention. Research shows that over 80% of common infections are spread by hand, making it crucial for facilities to promote proper handwashing techniques throughout. Consider installing signage in restrooms to remind your facility occupants of the correct hand-washing techniques. Remember, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends scrubbing your hands for at least 20 seconds.

Ensure your facility has proper hand hygiene essentials such as soap, hand sanitizer and paper towels readily available throughout. This allows your facility occupants never to have to go without the proper hand hygiene essentials.

Educate and Train Your Staff

To create a successful cleaning program, you must properly train your staff. Education helps make employees feel more comfortable working with various chemicals, equipment and machines. This training is crucial for your employees to understand how to disinfect your facility properly. That way, in case of an outbreak, you can have confidence that your cleaning team is ready to go.

If your staff feels ill, they should feel comfortable taking time off to heal. If a staff member comes in sick, it could potentially cause them to spread their germs to coworkers and other building occupants. Within your training, create a list of procedures to follow if anyone calls out sick and how employees can cover for them. Additionally, consider posting signage to encourage all facility visitors who are feeling ill to avoid entering the building.

At GSF-USA, we ensure all our employees undergo mandatory training to stay updated on the latest trends and information. Our program helps ensure our staff members can safely and successfully implement cleaning operations within your facility.

Create Standard Cleaning Protocols

In addition to educating your team on proper cleaning techniques, it’s crucial to establish and enforce standard cleaning procedures. Focus on minimizing cross-contamination by consistently cleaning high-touch surfaces to remove visible dirt and debris. Follow this with disinfection as needed, aligning with the CDC recommendations. Nevertheless, these tasks should always be addressed, with particular attention given to disinfection during an outbreak in your facility or during peak flu season.

Tackle Infection Prevention with Ease

Take this week to reflect on your facility’s current cleaning routine to identify ideas that can be improved to help enhance the overall hygiene of your facility. Creating an infection prevention plan can help ensure your cleaning team’s readiness in the event of an outbreak within your facility. By incorporating the above practices, you can be assured of your team’s preparedness to confront any hygiene challenges.

Infection prevention should be a year-round focus for your facility. Do you have a qualified team ready to uphold your infection prevention program? Contact GSF USA here to learn how we can help.