Property managers spend plenty of time thinking about whether their communities are clean.<\/span><\/p>\n But there is another question worth asking:<\/span><\/p>\n What is actually being used to clean them?<\/b><\/p>\n Walk through a typical multifamily community, and you’ll encounter many different surfaces: glass, carpet, tile, stainless steel, countertops, restroom fixtures, fitness equipment, flooring, elevators, and more.<\/span><\/p>\n Each surface has different cleaning needs.<\/span><\/p>\n Understanding the products being used throughout a community can help property managers have better conversations with their janitorial teams and make more informed decisions about how their properties are maintained.<\/span><\/p>\n Cleaning isn’t simply about finding one powerful product and using it everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\n A glass entrance door has different cleaning requirements from those of the lobby flooring.<\/span><\/p>\n Fitness equipment requires different considerations from restroom fixtures.<\/span><\/p>\n Carpeting needs different care than tile.<\/span><\/p>\n Natural stone may require a different approach from other hard surfaces.<\/span><\/p>\n Using the appropriate product and procedure for each surface can help achieve better cleaning results while maintaining the property’s appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n That’s why product knowledge matters.<\/span><\/p>\n Professional cleaning involves understanding not only <\/span>what needs to be cleaned<\/b>, but also <\/span>how it should be cleaned<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n Property managers may encounter words such as “green,” “sustainable,” or “eco-friendly” when researching cleaning products.<\/span><\/p>\n But those words don’t always tell the entire story.<\/span><\/p>\n One certification worth understanding is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s <\/span>Safer Choice<\/b> label.<\/span><\/p>\n According to the EPA, every chemical ingredient in a Safer Choice-certified product is reviewed against specific criteria. Products also need to meet requirements related to performance, packaging, and environmental and health considerations.<\/span><\/p>\n That distinction can be helpful for property managers.<\/span><\/p>\n Instead of relying solely on marketing language on a bottle, independent certifications can provide additional information about how a product has been evaluated.<\/span><\/p>\n Maintex provides commercial cleaning products and facility solutions for a variety of environments.<\/span><\/p>\n Its sustainability-focused offerings include products associated with recognized third-party programs and certifications, such as EPA Safer Choice, Green Seal, UL ECOLOGO, and Forest Stewardship Council.<\/span><\/p>\n Maintex also offers products incorporating recycled content and other sustainability-focused features.<\/span><\/p>\n For property managers, the important takeaway isn’t simply the brand name on the container.<\/span><\/p>\n It’s understanding what the product is designed to do and whether it is appropriate for the environment where it will be used.<\/span><\/p>\n A property may need products for:<\/span><\/p>\n The right cleaning program brings these different needs together instead of treating every area of the property the same way.<\/span><\/p>\n It’s easy to assume that using more cleaning products creates a cleaner surface.<\/span><\/p>\n That’s not necessarily the case.<\/span><\/p>\n Professional cleaning products can have specific directions involving dilution, application, contact time, and compatible surfaces.<\/span><\/p>\n Using too much of certain products can leave unwanted residue or affect a surface’s appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n Using too little may prevent the product from performing as intended.<\/span><\/p>\n Following manufacturer instructions helps cleaning teams use products appropriately and consistently.<\/span><\/p>\n This is also why training matters.<\/span><\/p>\n Even an effective cleaning product won’t produce consistent results if it isn’t being used correctly.<\/span><\/p>\n When discussing more sustainable cleaning practices, chemicals are only part of the conversation.<\/span><\/p>\n Property teams can also look at:<\/span><\/p>\n Concentrated cleaning products, for example, can help reduce packaging associated with ready-to-use products when properly diluted and managed.<\/span><\/p>\n Similarly, choosing paper products or packaging containing recycled material can become another component of a broader facility sustainability strategy.<\/span><\/p>\n The important point is that sustainable cleaning isn’t necessarily one major change.<\/span><\/p>\n It can involve a series of thoughtful decisions throughout the cleaning program.<\/span><\/p>\n The cleaning product itself is only one piece of the equation.<\/span><\/p>\n Cleaning teams also need to understand:<\/span><\/p>\n This is where procedures, training, and consistency become especially important.<\/span><\/p>\n The right product used incorrectly can still lead to poor results.<\/span><\/p>\n Likewise, trained cleaning professionals need appropriate products and equipment to maintain a property effectively.<\/span><\/p>\n A thoughtful janitorial program brings all of these elements together.<\/span><\/p>\n You don’t need to become an expert in cleaning chemicals to understand what’s happening at your property.<\/span><\/p>\n Start by asking a few practical questions.<\/span><\/p>\n Property managers should have a basic understanding of the products regularly used throughout their communities.<\/span><\/p>\n Flooring, stone, stainless steel, glass, carpet, and other materials can have different care requirements.<\/span><\/p>\n Third-party programs such as EPA Safer Choice or Green Seal can provide additional information about certain products.<\/span><\/p>\n Proper dilution, application, and handling are important parts of consistent cleaning.<\/span><\/p>\n Product selection and staff training should work together.<\/span><\/p>\n These questions can create more productive conversations between property managers and their janitorial partners.<\/span><\/p>\n Most residents will never know the name of the product used to clean their lobby floor.<\/span><\/p>\n They probably won’t know what solution was used on the elevator doors or how the fitness center was cleaned that morning.<\/span><\/p>\n But they experience the results.<\/span><\/p>\n They walk across the floors.<\/span><\/p>\n They touch the doors.<\/span><\/p>\n They use the elevators.<\/span><\/p>\n They exercise in the fitness center.<\/span><\/p>\n They spend time in the common areas.<\/span><\/p>\n That is why cleaning product selection shouldn’t be limited to what’s in the janitorial closet.<\/span><\/p>\n It’s about choosing appropriate products, following proper procedures, training cleaning teams, and creating consistent results throughout the property.<\/span><\/p>\n At <\/span>DAPA Services Inc.<\/b>, maintaining a clean community involves more than completing a checklist. It means considering the products, processes, people, and everyday spaces that contribute to a well-maintained property.<\/span><\/p>\n Because residents may never see what goes into cleaning their community, but they certainly notice the results.<\/span><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" What’s Really Being Used to Clean Your Property? Property managers spend plenty of time thinking about whether their communities are clean. But there is another question worth asking: What is actually being used to clean them? Walk through a typical multifamily community, and you’ll encounter many different surfaces: glass, carpet, tile, stainless steel, countertops, restroom […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1797,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nNot Every Surface Should Be Cleaned the Same Way<\/b><\/h2>\n
What Does EPA Safer Choice Mean?<\/b><\/h2>\n
Understanding Maintex Cleaning Products<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Stronger Doesn’t Always Mean Better<\/b><\/h2>\n
Sustainability Goes Beyond Cleaning Chemicals<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Products Are Only Part of a Successful Cleaning Program<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Five Questions Property Managers Should Ask<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Residents Experience the Results<\/b><\/h2>\n