In Manitoba, fall doesn’t last long. One week we’re enjoying comfortable temperatures and changing leaves. Not long after, we’re dealing with freezing temperatures, snow, slush and everything that comes through the front doors with them. For facility managers and business owners, that makes fall an important transition period. What you do now can have a significant impact on the cleanliness and condition of your building throughout the winter. At Jani-King of Manitoba, we’ve seen firsthand what Manitoba winters can do to commercial facilities. Here are a few things worth thinking about before the first real snowfall arrives.
Your entrance is about to become the hardest-working part of your building
Once snow arrives, every person walking through your doors brings some combination of moisture, sand, salt and grit with them. A good entrance matting system is your first line of defence. Fall is the time to inspect mats, determine whether you have enough coverage and make sure damaged or worn-out mats are replaced. Stopping dirt and moisture at the door is much easier than trying to remove it after it has travelled throughout the building.
Protect your floors before winter attacks them
Salt and sand are necessary outside during a Manitoba winter, but they’re tough on flooring. Grit acts almost like sandpaper under people’s shoes, while salt residue can leave floors looking dull and stained. Fall is an opportunity to make sure hard floors have adequate protection and carpets have been properly cleaned before winter begins. Starting the season with flooring in good condition makes it much easier to maintain through the months ahead.
Winter changes how often things need to be cleaned
A cleaning program that works in September may not be enough in January. Entrances, lobbies, elevators and high-traffic corridors can suddenly require considerably more attention. Washrooms and common areas may also need additional service as people spend more time indoors. Rather than reacting to complaints, fall is a good time to discuss which areas of your facility are likely to need increased attention once winter arrives.
Don’t forget what’s happening above floor level
Fall also marks the beginning of months spent predominantly indoors. Dust on vents, ledges, light fixtures and other overlooked surfaces can accumulate over time. Detailed dusting and cleaning these areas before winter can help create a cleaner overall indoor environment when employees and visitors are spending more of their day inside.
Have a plan for the unexpected
Manitoba weather doesn’t always cooperate with cleaning schedules. A major snowfall can turn a normally manageable entrance into a wet, messy high-traffic area within hours. Those are the days when communication and responsiveness from your cleaning provider become particularly important. Ask yourself a simple question:
If our building suddenly needs additional attention tomorrow, do we know who to call and how quickly they will respond?
At Jani-King of Manitoba, we’ve always believed that great service isn’t about promising that nothing will ever go wrong. It’s about how you respond when it does.
Get ahead of winter while you still can
Fall gives Manitoba businesses a relatively small window to prepare. Take a walk through your facility. Look at your entrances. Look at your floors. Think about where snow, salt and moisture caused problems last winter. Then deal with those areas before the snow arrives. A little preparation in October can prevent a lot of frustration in January.
Jani-King of Manitoba has been helping Manitoba businesses keep their facilities clean for 35 years. If you’d like us to review your facility and help prepare your cleaning program for winter, we’d be happy to have the conversation.
