Remembering Marie Freeman
Marie Freeman passed away last month after a difficult battle with cancer. She had been a member of The Wilburn Company for 21 years, serving in many buildings as a Day Porter and as an Environmental Hygienist. Marie was respected and beloved by all who knew her, on our team and in our community. Bob Baldwin, Chief Operating Officer at The Wilburn Company, puts it this way: “While I didn’t work directly with Marie, I knew her and heard the many stories about the amazing personality and dedication that she always displayed. It is always hard to see someone pass,…
What to Expect from the Fall Cleaning Season
The past couple of years have been a roller coaster ride. We’re not here to recap everything that’s happened. That would probably require a book, and besides, it’s been attempted in plenty of other places. We’re just here to offer thoughts on where things are going, especially where commercial cleaning services are concerned. Because the unfortunate reality is that the rollercoaster is making another circuit around the track; this fall, we’re facing pandemic-related challenges yet again. The good news is that the fundamentals of the course haven’t changed. Commercial cleaning this fall will still bring challenges and opportunities. Here’s what to…
3 Tips to Finish Up Spring Cleaning for Offices in 2021
As we move through the end of spring and get ready to head into summer, it’s a great time to double-check your spring-cleaning list. Winter and early spring lead to a lot of time indoors, which can lead to the accumulation of dirt in buildings. Unfortunately, a dirty office isn’t just an aesthetic issue; it can hurt occupants’ health. A clean office, on the other hand, can keep people safe and benefit your building’s reputation with employees and customers. With that in mind, as the weather warms up, here are three quick tips to help you finish up spring cleaning…
4 Tips to Disinfect the Dirtiest Shared Spaces in Your Office
The break room. The common room. The kitchen. Whatever your company calls it, the purpose is usually the same: to provide a shared space for employees to relax, eat, and unwind from the stresses of a day on the job. Break rooms are some of the most commonly used spaces in a workplace. They’re also some of the dirtiest. One room continuously cohabited by a large volume of people guarantees the presence of germs – and lots of them. During cold and flu season especially, you can be sure that a microbiological zoo of bugs is thriving on the handle…
What’s New with Green Cleaning Services in 2021
Three years ago, The Wilburn Company officially became GS-42 certified by Green Seal. This notable distinction signaled that our company met green cleaning service requirements, including: Reducing chemical waste through the efficient use of chemicals Reducing solid waste Optimizing cleaning frequencies Providing continuing training to staff Ensuring transparent communication with clients and employees But the journey didn’t end there. While earning our GS-42 certification took commitment, keeping it requires ongoing effort, as well. Green Seal, the nonprofit organization responsible for confirming green cleaning services, is continually updating their standards, and maintaining the certification rightfully requires persistence in compliance. Continuing to…
The Wilburn Company Introduces its First Management Trainer, James D. Graham
James “Darryl” Graham is an encourager. “Everywhere I go, I tell people to have a blessed day,” he says. “I say it so much that people just say it right back to me.” That line – have a blessed day – comes from a strong Christian faith and represents what is a central theme in Darryl’s life. “I’m blessed,” explains Darryl. “God has blessed me, and I believe, 100%, that I’m called to live like it.” That calling translates into a passion for hard work and for building other people up, both traits that have led Darryl into his current role at…
Top 6 Commercial Cleaning Companies in Maryland
Looking for a commercial cleaning company in Maryland? We’ve put together a list of six top options based on our 20+ years of experience serving the Maryland area. There’s a strong chance one of these cleaning companies will be well suited to meet your needs. 1. The Wilburn Company Yes, we’re biased – but we’re also proud of our work. At The Wilburn Company, we provide commercial cleaning for corporate offices, high-security government facilities, and real estate investment trusts across Maryland and the DC area. What sets us apart: Our people are awesome. That’s not just fluff. Check out featured articles on…
What Happened in 2020: The Year in Review
For each of the last several years at The Wilburn Company, we’ve taken a moment in December to reflect on the year in review. As you might expect, this year, that reflection feels a little bit different. What a crazy 12 months it’s been. Coming into 2020, our expectations for where we’d be at this moment were entirely different. And yet, it’s encouraging to realize that many of the initiatives we’d planned seem almost prescient in retrospect – useful in any year, and maybe even more useful in the midst of a pandemic. As we’ve written before: A lot has changed,…
4 Things to Know About Winter Cleaning During the Covid-19 Pandemic
By now, you’re probably caught between Covid-19-fatigue and a desire to know what you’ll be facing in the coming months, especially when combining the pandemic with flu season! We get it. We don’t want to fatigue you further. And we don’t have a crystal ball. But we do have strategies and plans in place for cleaning our clients’ facilities during the coming winter months, and we believe it’s important to keep our clients up to date as we continue cleaning for health. With that in mind, here are four things that you should know about cleaning during the winter of…
Meet the Wilburn Company: Kan Smoot
Kan Smoot claims to be a boring person. “I am boring,” insists Mrs. Smoot – or Young, as her coworkers call her. She lists her interests. “I love my home. I love my family. I have a great cat.” “I don’t need to do exciting things,” she says, laughing. Young may view her life as simple, but despite the fact that she doesn’t “do exciting things”, as she claims, there’s no denying that she has a passion for life and for others that shines through in her work. Roxanne Miller, Project Manager at The Wilburn Company, can testify to that. “Young…
3 Cleaning Innovations From the COVID-19 Era
In some ways, COVID-19 has completely transformed the commercial office cleaning industry. Hand sanitizer, masks, and other personal protective equipment are now normative. Disinfecting procedures for the virus are part of standardized training. There’s more communication around cleanliness than there’s been in decades. But, in many ways, this pandemic hasn’t changed what we do. Our employees were already trained to use PPE for hazardous materials. We’ve had reliable disinfecting procedures in place for decades. And we’ve always made client communication a focus. Another way of saying it is that the game hasn’t changed, but the stakes are higher. With that…
What is Deep Office Cleaning?
Deep office cleaning refers to thorough cleaning procedures that sanitize the parts of a facility that aren’t frequently cleaned. It may also include specialized services, like stripping and waxing floors, machine-washing ceramic tiles, or spot cleaning carpets. Essentially, deep cleaning is the kind of approach you might take at home during “spring cleaning.” You pay special attention to getting areas you normally wouldn’t and are extra thorough in everything; your goal is to get your space to its cleanliest. In deep commercial cleaning for offices, the same principles apply. Let’s take a look at what sets deep office cleaning apart…
Big Changes and Big Results: The Year in Review
It’s been a big year. While we’re driven toward innovation at The Wilburn Company, we also acknowledge that, in order to maintain a clear perspective, it’s important to have times for reflection, too. This – the end of the year and of the decade – is one of those times. Our team has accomplished a lot over the previous 12 months; it’s worthwhile to recognize and celebrate those accomplishments. To that end, here are some of the highlights from the course of the year. 1. We reorganized for increased effectiveness. We began this year by recognizing the need for focus.…
How Much Does Commercial Cleaning Cost?
Commercial cleaning services cost from $.05 to $.25 per square foot. Premium services (deep cleaning, add-ons like floor waxing, or specialty services for healthcare or highly secure facilities) may cost $0.50 per square foot. Obviously, these square-footage costs vary widely depending on the size of the facility and the scope of services delivered. Here’s how they translate as cumulative costs at commercial buildings of various sizes and service levels: Sq. Footage Minimum Service High Service Premium Service ($0.05 per square foot) ($0.25 per square foot) ($0.50 per square foot) 8,000 $400 $2,000…
The Benefits of Commercial Vacuuming
Commercial vacuuming is an essential part of every office cleaning routine. Along with deep sanitization of bathrooms, mopping, and more, your office needs commercial vacuuming as part of a successful office cleaning checklist. So, what is commercial vacuuming? And how can it be done effectively? It’s a bit different from vacuuming your home or apartment. Commercial vacuuming uses industrial equipment designed for prolonged and consistent use. They also come with commercial power cords to keep your office safe and prevent sparking. Better for the Environment Commercial vacuuming is better for the environment than the office cleaning staple of wet mopping…
The Power of Transparency in Cleaning
The cleaning industry has traditionally been viewed as a utility in that the outcomes of service have been binary. In the same way that electricity is either on or off, cleaning is either effective or it isn’t; things are either clean or they’re dirty. A lack of transparency has accompanied that perspective, because when the most important factor is whether or not something’s working, there’s no need to see behind the scenes. People complain when the power goes out. Very few people are vocal about optimizing and understanding the power grid. But things are changing. Leaders in today’s cleaning industry…
How Technology is Transforming Cleaning Services
Cleaning services are different today than they were a decade ago. In ten years, cleaning services will be vastly different from their current form. In other words, this isn’t a static industry. The skills that cleaners need are changing. Techniques that cleaners use are changing. The products and tools that enable cleaning service are constantly being innovated. The cleaning industry is dynamic. And it’s being transformed by technology. At The Wilburn Company, we pride ourselves in staying on the cutting edge of cleaning service. Continued growth is part of our commitment to our clients, and it helps us to deliver…
Why Cleaning is More Than a Commodity
Cleaning is more than a commodity. The cleaning industry has always faced a level of stigma, largely on the basis of misconception. Take these commonly held myths, for example: People think that cleaning is a static industry. It’s not. It’s dynamic. Technology and innovations are evolving the cleaning profession just as they’re evolving other professions. People think that cleaning doesn’t require training or skill. It does. Extensive training is required in order to provide high-quality cleaning services (to say nothing of GS-42 certified services). People think that cleaning is for aesthetics. Cleaning is for health. Looking clean is important. But…
How High-Quality Commercial Cleaning Can Save You Money
Picture this. You’re walking into your neighborhood grocery store. You notice dirt on the floor, dust on the packages and there’s a weird smell that probably means it has been quite a while since the trash was emptied. Even if the groceries look great—you probably won’t want to go there unless you absolutely have to. A dirty building means that you’re losing customers. Dirty buildings ruin first impressions and even your reputation. But that’s not all that’s at stake. An unclean environment is costing you money. Here’s how a building cleaning company can save you money. Increase Productivity Have you…
A Look Inside the Wilburn Employee Training Process
How a company trains its employees has a lot of significance for the quality of service you’ll receive. Poor training leads to mistakes, low-quality, and an unprofessional cleaning provider. When you work with a cleaning provider, you have set expectations. You expect a trustworthy cleaning team, a high-quality clean, and the ability to deliver on the standards you set at the beginning of your contract. At the Wilburn Company, we pride ourselves on our training process. With comprehensive training programs ranging from generic custodial training to management training, we believe that continuing education is crucial. Not only does it offer…