Perfect Clean Home

So you've done all the hard work of building a reliable lead generation machine. You're drawing in leads from all kinds of sources (PR, articles, AdWords, word of mouth, blogs) and you've put together a formidable number of useful and educational materials on highly optimized landing pages.

When you look at your numbers, you couldn't be happier. Your ads are converting at 7-10% depending on keywords, your press releases are driving 10,000 page views with every blast, and you're getting 15% conversion rates on your landing pages.

\"cleaning House\"

You look at your overall numbers and you calculate that over 5,000 unique leads are going into your database every year. However, as your CEO points out, the sales force has only converted 500 of those leads into customers. Now, this isn't so bad considering that you're selling a 0,000 product, but it's human nature to fixate on those 4,500 leads that haven't gone anywhere.

You have to figure out a way to nurture those leads, to figure out where they are at in their decision making process, and to clean house.

The first step is to identify any and all leads who didn't buy your product but who have had multiple interactions with your company. They've downloaded a few white papers, attended a demo or webinar, maybe had a few calls with your team.

Let's say that these account for 1,000 leads in your system. Send them all a survey that asks for their feedback. Essentially, shape your survey such that you figure out why they haven't bought. Did their company lose interest? Did they lose their budget? Did they lose their mandate? Have they purchased from your chief competitor? Most important, ask them if they want to continue the conversation or if they want to keep receiving information from you.

A certain fraction of these folks will bow out of the process, removing themselves from your loop. Another fraction will tell you that their plans have been delayed but not canceled, but please stay in touch. A whole bunch of others won't answer at all.

For all those who don't answer, send them a follow up postcard reminding them to take the survey. The point is not to bug them, but to point out that you're seeking to serve them better.

Next, take all those people who have only had an initial interaction with you (downloaded a special report and nothing else) and invite them to sample something else from you, like an audio podcast or an upcoming teleseminar. Be sure to do this at regular intervals, and be ready to delegate people to a lower level of attention if they don't act on something after x number of attempts (say, 8-10 invitations).

Keep in mind that a lot of these folks with just a single interaction are tire-kickers, very early in their research, or otherwise highly undecided. They're gathering information, just curious, or window shopping. Make it really easy for them to continue this process, but also make it really easy for you to use your resources elsewhere.

Without a systematic process that is part of your organic process, this lead nurturing program won't work. For example, if you haven't systematized your email newsletter efforts, all of this data analysis and segmentation by behavior will consume your marketing and sales team.

This needs to be an automatic thing, where every Friday a sophisticated query runs to see who has only downloaded one item from your site but has been invited less than 8 times so they get another invitation. Everyone with only one download and 8 or more invites gets moved to an inactive list so a sales person can see it and give them a last-chance call.

And that's the gist of it, really--using systems and automatic processes to filter people up out of the great mass of leads flowing into your company. They should filter up if they're moving toward a close, or they should filter up if they're about to be dropped and need a high-touch event to get them back in the loop.

(Naturally, the latter is up to you. A lot of companies either keep dead leads in their system for all eternity or quietly flush them out after a year or two of inactivity. Seems like a waste to do either especially if a quick call to invite them to a live demo only takes 3-5 minutes. After all, these people have been receiving your invites for a while, so they know and trust you at some level.)

The Gentle Art Of Lead Nurturing

Thomas Myer is the Top Dog of Triple Dog Dare Media, an Austin TX Web consultancy that helps customers turn their online marketing dreams into reality. You can go to http://www.tripledogs.com to get more tips on online marketing, or become a member of the Lead Generation Center at [http://www.tripledogs.com/leads] to learn how to maximize your lead generation efforts.

Steam carpet cleaners are one of the best ways to clean a carpet for best results. if you have decided to but a new steam carpet cleaner, there are many factors that needs to be considered be fore you pick up the right one.

Here are some of the features, which you must look for in carpet cleaners.

\"clean Home\"

1) Since it is "carpet cleaner" it must have wheels at the bottom, so that you can easily move them around for cleaning all corners are areas with ease. Also check the length of the power chord so that you can move around easily.

2) You must check the weight of the steam carpet cleaner, before and after the water is filled in. It is quite obvious that you will be using the carpet cleaner with water filled in it for producing steam. You must be able to move it easily even after water filled in.

3) Another advantage of checking the weight is, you must be able to lift it to upper floors by hand.

4) Check the nozzle of the cleaner from where the steam is thrown out. Is adjustable with a capacity to regulate the throw of the steam. This feature is important because not al surfaces will require equal amount of heat. Also check the temperature of the steam that gets produced. For home use it must be 240 to 260 degrees.

5) Does the carpet comes as a package with cleaning accessories such as cleaning brushes, towels, etc. Also all other standards features such as servicing of the steam carpet cleaner of anything goes wrong, warranty, etc, must be checked. One of the most important points to consider while servicing is that, do the company have a service center in your local city or do they send your carpet cleaner to somewhere else for servicing. It should not happen that 15 days have gone in servicing your steam carpet cleaner because of the time taken in transportation from one city to another.

This was a small list of features to choose from. I hope it will help you as a starting guide in picking up the best carpet steam cleaners for home use.

Copyright Shrinivas Vaidya

Best Carpet Steam Cleaners For Home Use

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Every supervisor, every manager and anybody in a leadership position should understand that poor housekeeping contributes to poor safety.

Go and have a look at your workplace and ask yourself these ten questions.

Housekeeping

Are all travel ways clear of obstructions?

Are they properly marked?

Is there any rubbish on the floor?

Is the workplace free from flammable materials?

Is it clean and tidy?

Is there any accumulation of rubbish in corners?

Are all the tools in a safe usable condition?

Are they stored in their proper places?

Is the machinery and equipment clean?

Is the floor slippery from moisture or oil and grease?

Your answers will indicate the areas that require attention and enable you to start the establishment of housekeeping standards. The ultimate question to ask yourself when you have inspected the workplace is, "Are there any unnecessary things in the workplace and are all the necessary things in their proper places?"

Housekeeping in any organization is the cornerstone of efficiency and the maintenance of operating standards. If you are going to increase safety levels, first of all to improve housekeeping. A tidy workplace reduces the opportunity for accidents, incidence and prevents wasted energy. It also has the effect of making the greatest use of precious space. Keeping things in order is the first step of doing everything right, if you can't manage the housekeeping, you will find it very difficult to manage the business.

Good housekeeping will ensure safer production and greater productivity at lower costs. This alone makes the return on investment well worth it.

Without a doubt, a messy working environment contributes to unsafe work practices, undesirable incidents and ultimately, workplace accidents. From a leadership point of view, poor housekeeping is often a reflection of the levels of leadership within the organization.

Housekeeping inspections should be a regular part of leadership activity. During these inspections it is possible to recognize hazards and note them for action. It is also a great opportunity to identify unused inventory that can be returned to the store. If everything is discovered that represents a serious risk or potential danger then action should be taken immediately. Over a relatively short period of time, housekeeping will improve and so will safety. The investment in time is relatively short and it is an ideal job that can be delegated to a supervisor or manager.

The most effective way to conduct housekeeping inspections is to invite someone from a different department to inspect your workplace and then you can inspect theirs. This creates the opportunity for looking at the area with a fresh set of eyes.

Good Housekeeping is the Foundation For a Safer Workplace

Thank you for reading my article. For much more information on this and related subjects go to my Resource Center. Here you will discover a wealth of resources, FREE downloads, ideas, information, reports, books and on-line training courses. Click here http://plmitchell.com/

It is important for you to learn how to clean a bowling ball to make it last as long as possible. If you have your own ball, you know how expensive it can be to purchase. Learning how to clean a bowling ball means that you will be able to get the most for your money. You do not want to replace the ball in a few months because you did not know how to clean a bowling ball properly.

Steps to learn how to clean a bowling ball are as follows and should be completed on a schedule so it is maintained in a correct manner:

\"how To Clean\"

First, you will need to wash the ball. It is important when learning how to clean a bowling ball; you make sure that the holes of the ball are tapes up so no water gets in them. In learning, you need to make the cleaning water as warm as possible but not so hot that you can not put your hands in it. Next, add some detergent that cuts grease. A lint free cloth should be used when learning how to clean a bowling ball. Make sure to clean the track area when learning how to clean a bowling ball so they do not affect your game.

Next we will discuss how to clean a bowling ball after the initial washing is complete. You need to throw away the wash water and refill the container with cold water. Rinse out your cloth and clean the ball with the fresh water. You have now learned this and just need to let it air dry. Make sure you take the tape off the holes. This is essential in how to clean a bowling ball properly. When learning it might be a good idea to talk to someone who works at the local bowling lanes in the shop. Buy yourself a ball stand to help with the drying process. Learning how to clean a bowling ball means that you dry the ball correctly to prevent it from becoming damaged.

Once you learn how to clean a bowling ball, it should be cleaned when you have completed a set of ten to twelve games. If you go not clean the ball on this schedule, the oil may go so far into the ball that it can not be taken off the ball. In knowing how to clean a bowling ball you will learn that as your ball gets older, it will not be able to work as well as before. However, it is perfectly normal for this to happen. When you learn and the schedule that is best for it to stay clean, you will be adding on months to the life of your ball and making your game much better. Learning how to clean a bowling ball will prevent it from becoming too oily and causing a bad pattern when you throw.

How To Clean A Bowling Ball

Jordan Matthews is an internet entrepreneur with a 239 average, who enjoys bowling at local ABT tournaments every weekend. Visit Jordan's Bowling Website for more information about bowling in tournaments and improving your scores.

The name of your cleaning business will make up a large part of the perceptions that customers have about your brand. It will eventually become one of the most valuable assets that your company has, representing the sum total of all the goodwill that you build up over the years. The process of naming a cleaning business is indeed something that you should take very seriously.

One approach to naming a business is to give people a clear idea about what a business does so that people immediately know what a company can do for them. Other experts believe that this approach is too limiting and that as you may want to change the direction of your company in the future you should go for something a little more creative. abstract and versatile. Including the word 'cleaning' in a name is a good idea but you wouldn't want to describe the services that you offer to precisely in the name as you might discontinue that particular service at some point in time.

Cleaning

Using the owners name or the area where the business operates in as part of the business name, while seemingly adding a nice touch can also be limiting and inappropriate as your business evolves.

Depending on your budget you could even approach an expert in naming businesses to come up with something creative and effective for you. The naming decision is worthy of some expert attention as so many entrepreneurs regret their selection further down the road. Maybe business owners shouldn't name their own business when someone a little more objective and with more business experience could do a much better job.

A name should be reasonably short, distinct and memorable, separating a business from the crowd. Use strong words that command attention. Stay away from overused words like 'Global' or 'Best'.

Try out a few of your favorites on friends and family. Ask them what they think of your top choices and see if they can remember them the next day. Make sure that they can pronounce them correctly too.

Make sure that your selection is not already in use by another cleaning business. Check online and also do a database search at your city or county clerks office. You might also want to check to see if there is a suitable domain name as you will undoubtedly set up a website for your cleaning business at some point. Most importantly, you, as the business owner have to like the name. It has to inspire you, instill confidence in you and allow you to envision your success.

A name forms an important part of a companies overall branding strategy and is one of the factors contributing to overall success. Changing a cleaning business name in the future would cause a loss of brand power and would result in a serious inconvenience and expense. You should do everything that you can to get the name right first time round.

Creative Cleaning Business Names

To compare some of the top cleaning business startup guides visit - Starting a Cleaning Business

There are few things more frustrating than blemished skin, so consider turning to these easy home remedies for clear skin instead of harsh and expensive skin care creams and washes.

Especially if you have sensitive skin, you will most likely find that over the counter and prescription skin care products are too strong and can potentially add to the problem with your skin.

\"cleaning Home\"

Furthermore, a trip down any grocery store or drug store aisle will produce an overwhelming number of skin care products that can easily rack up a hefty bill. Instead, save your skin in addition to saving a few bucks by whipping up a quick and easy skin care remedy out of items that are probably already in your home.

* Clear Your Skin From Within *

Remember the old saying, you are what you eat?

Although the adage has been around for years, the advice is completely up to date. If you find yourself suffering from acne or other skin blemishes, take a look of your body from the inside out.

Your body notifies you when something is off balance, especially when you are lacking the proper nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. This notification can likely express itself in the appearance of blemishes.

Instead of slathering your skin with items from the beauty aisle, take a walk down the rest of the aisle in your grocery store in order to experience a regeneration of your skin.

Eating a well-rounded, healthy diet is incredibly important. Be sure to include lots of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet, as the nutrients provided by these items are critical.

Furthermore, drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water each day to ensure that your skin remains well hydrated.

* Skip The Drug Store And Head To The Kitchen *

Read any label of skin care product available on the retail market and you may find your tummy rumbling. These skin care products are packed with edible ingredients, from oatmeal to honey to avocado to cucumber.

Instead of buying these expensive, heavily preserved creams, lotions, and potions, consider making the alternative mixtures yourself.

Look no further than your kitchen for many fantastic home remedies for clear skin.

When you see a zit pop up, avoid the urge to squeeze! Instead, dab a bit of lemon juice on a cotton swab and apply to the affected area.

The acid in the lemon juice will help extract any infection and your will avoid adding more bacteria to the mix by keeping your hands off your skin.

Since one of the main problems associated with skin blemishes is dead skin cells, exfoliation is critical. Instead of spending big bucks on fancy bottles and containers of exfoliants, grab a canister of old fashioned oatmeal.

Mix with water and scrub your skin clean. The gentleness of the oatmeal is perfect for even the most sensitive skin and the grainy consistency will remove any dead skin cells before they have a problem.

You probably use toothpaste with baking soda for whitening your teeth, so why not use the same product to clear up your skin?

Each night, wash your face with baking soda and water. This mixture is perfect for keeping your skin clean and dry. The basic property of the baking soda works to dry up the excess oils that typically cause skin blemishes.

If a pimple rears its ugly head then you should head immediately to your stove. Mix ground nutmeg with milk and boil.

After the concoction is completely cooled, apply to the affected area and let dry overnight. Wash the yummy mixture off your face in the morning and you will be surprised by the results!

Easy Home Remedies For Clear Skin

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Do you know that feeling you have when you get towards the end of Winter, and all you want to do is open up the place and air it out? Your home feels stuffy, heavy and stale after being closed up for months and you know that a good airing will lighten everything up. Well when you do that, you are clearing your home of negative energy. This article is all about simple ways to clear out stale and even negative energy, brightening up your home and lifting the mood.

Even in the most positive of homes, negative energy can gather. There are so many ways in which negative energy gathers or is generated in your home. A moody housemate, traumatic history (of a person or the house itself), even by interacting with others, going to a shopping mall or work you can pick garbage up in your energy field and bring it home. Whatever the reasons, negative energy gathers over time, and needs to be cleansed.

\"cleaning Home\"

The Effects of Negative Energy

Negative energy is at best like a wet blanket. It brings the mood of the house down. Anyone that suffers from depression, is much more likely to experience the blues in a grungy home. If someone is anxiety prone, it is much harder to stay calm where heavy energy prevails. Accidents, flickers and movement out of the corner of your eye, illness, are often indicators of negative energy. All of this can often be prevented simply by regularly clearing the energy of your home.

Just to be clear, 'Negative Energy' covers a diverse list of 'garbage'. The methods of cleansing here are tools that anyone can use and work well for clearing basic 'stuffy' or 'heavy' energy. If you are seeing dark movements out of the corner of your eye for example, then using these tools will usually clear that. However if you are experiencing more than that - knocking sounds, entity appearance (ghosts, or any presence that makes you feel uncomfortable) then unless you feel competent to do so, it is better to get a professional to rid the problem for you.

Methods of Clearing

There are countless ways to clear your home, here are a few easy and effective methods that anyone can use.

• Spring Cleaning

- Cleaning out your home, opening all of the doors, windows, cupboards and drawers, letting the sunshine and fresh air in and brushing out the cobwebs is a very effective method of clearing. While you have everything open, take your broom and gently brush the walls right throughout, behind the doors, in wardrobes and so on. Heavy energy is palpable and so can often be cleared out by breaking it up with a broom. For a really good clearing, pull stuff out of wardrobes, clear out clutter (gunky energy loves hanging on to stuff we hang on to but no longer need - the two things have similar resonance). Whilst all of this is happening, play lively music, dance and play - all of this is light-generating and is unbearable for negative energy.

• Light Work

- Cup your hands together to create a closed off cave and imagine your house in the cave. Now imagine angels are flooding the house with light, dissolving away the muck. See the light getting right into the fibres of the wood and other materials the house is made of (carpet, metal, etc) dissolving all the hidden build up of grime and heavy energy. If you still feel the house needs more cleansing, do the same thing, but with just one room at a time in your hands.

• Smoke and Noise

- Go to your local Mystical supplies shop and pick up a smudge wand of sage. Hold a small ceremony where you set the intention of cleansing negative energy, restoring your home to the Light. Once the sage wand is smouldering, dedicate the smoke to Divine Light (according to your beliefs). Then, move through your home room by room, brushing the sage smoke around the walls, in the nooks and crannies, everywhere. You can also use a drum and bell to break up the negative energy and then use the smoke to brush it away.

Before and after any cleansing work, make sure you clear your own energy using the same technique - for the Spring Clean, have a shower, for the Light Work, imagine yourself in the cave being flooded with light and for the 'Smoke and Noise' - brush the sage smoke through your own energy field.

This subject is wide and diverse and can so easily become a study of lifetimes, however the purpose of this article is to provide a few simple versions of commonly used procedures for most people to use without having to train in depth. Remember, if you feel out of your depth, then commission a professional Energy Surgeon or Shaman (for example) to do the work for you. Many Energy Surgeons can work long distance and don't need to be present in your home to complete the task (no matter how serious the problem may have become). But for simple, regular clearing, most people are perfectly capable of doing the work themselves.

How to Clear Negative Energy From Your Home

Author Daniella Breen, B.Sc. (Psych), has been a professional energy surgeon since 1997. She has been successfully clearing homes and other buildings - as well as people and other systems - of negative entities and negative energy in it's many forms. To learn more, visit her site at http://www.soulpathcoaching.com.au

If your business premises include warehouse space then you're undoubtedly aware of the importance of the appearance of your premises. Getting your warehouse cleaned could provide your business with a real boost but the work needs to be carried out in the correct manner.

Due to the nature of the structures, warehouses can make quite imposing buildings to cleaned. They will often have a large surface area, including a large roof space.

Cleaning

It's not unusual for them to rise to quite a height and to be cladded in plastic. All of these details add to the complexities of cleaning the exterior of a warehouse.

One of the greatest difficulties is simply one of gaining access to all of the parts of the warehouse that will require cleaning.

Trying to simply use ladders is rarely going to be successful, partly because of the heights involved and partly because of the amount of time that such an exercise would take.

The answer to the problem usually involves hiring professional building cleaning contractors to carry out the job. There are a number of such companies based in the UK who are able to specialise in cleaning warehouses and industrial premises.

These professionals will have the necessary experience and expertise to carry out the job. Equally importantly, they will have the appropriate equipment to enable them to reach the various different parts of the structure.

Warehouse cleaning experts also note the importance of carrying out the cleaning job effectively. It's important to leave the building looking clean but it's also vital that the cleaning process does not lead to the cladding being damaged.

Taking all of these factors into account, it's clear why many warehouse owners are looking to specialist building cleaning contractors to get the job done properly.

Cleaning Your Warehouse

As Keith Barrett found out, the specialists from EcoLogic Systems are experts in warehouse cleaning projects. This article may be published on any website but this resource box must be included in full. The author retains all copyright.

All the manufacturing companies and industries have to deal with waste on a regular basis. Waste can include the idle time of employees or the equipment, defects, shipment issues, actual wasted product and so on. It has been revealed by research that most of the manufacturing companies waste about 70% of the resources. On the other hand, it has also been revealed that a company which has implemented Lean Manufacturing has been able to cut the percentage of wastage by half.

Kaizen Methodology has to do with change as it is a principle of continuous change that is meant for the environment. Kaizen methodology requires involvement from employees of the organization as well as from the management. It requires willingness from the staff to adopt the change and do things differently.

Housekeeping

When all the employees of an organization are involved, it leads to a better work environment. However, methods need to be set up so that ideas and suggestion can be acquired, analyzed and finally implemented. The process needs to be standardized and guidelines need to be followed. It is essential to think about a number of methods of operation rather than limiting yourself to only one method of operation. This will help you find a better process which can lead to change in the standard of the operation and the environment of work overall.

A short and to the point housekeeping policy needs to be adopted. Being organized helps reduce the amount of time needed to find materials. A clean area needs to be maintained all the time as it is not only efficient, but safe as well.

There are 3 principles that need to be implemented so that the Kaizen methodology works properly.

1. Consider all processes with their results

2. Analytical thinking of all the process instead of the immediate problems only.

3. Approach Kaizen with a reasonable and learning method so that assumptions which were part of the current processes can be re-examined.

Kaizen Methodology

Want to know more? Read more tips on Kaizen and World Class Manufacturing by clicking on the links

For many home owners, cleaning your house can be a dreaded chore. Many people only have time once a week or less to devote to cleaning, and sometimes this make the task even more difficult. When clutter and messes accumulate, people become overwhelmed and may not even really try to clean their house because they do not even know where to start.

The list below is designed to help you organize your cleaning efforts so that you can tackle any cleaning project. This list does not need to be completed in one day, and once you are on a regular cleaning schedule, you may find that you do not need to complete each task every time you clean. This list is also divided by room, allowing you to even focus on one room at a time, depending on your schedule.

\"clean Home\"

Bathroom

o Clean and disinfect sinks, tubs, shower stalls, toilet tanks, and tile.

o Change towels and garbage can liners.

o Wipe down vanity area and clean the mirrors.

o Mop or scrub floor after sweeping

o Dust or wipe dust from base boards.

Kitchen

o Wipe down countertops, backsplashes, and cabinets.

o Scrub and disinfect sink.

o Scrub the outside of all appliances, check the insides to make sure that they are clean and in good working order.

o Empty trash and replace trash liner.

o Wash dishes or load dirty dishes into the dishwasher.

o Mop or scrub floor after sweeping.

o Dust or wipe dust from base boards.

Family Room

o Dust tables and surface areas.

o Pick up any clutter or papers.

o Dust picture frames or other framed objects.

o Fluff pillows on sofa.

o Vacuum floors.

Bedrooms

o Make beds after changing the bed linen.

o Dust all surface areas and picture frames.

o Spot clean walls and light switches.

o Pick up any clutter or clothing on the floor.

o Empty laundry basket.

o Empty trash and replace trash liner.

o Dust lampshades and window sills.

o Clean mirrors.

Depending on your home and cleaning needs, you may add and subtract chores from this list at your discretion.

Housecleaning Checklist - You Can Use and Print Out!

Kristi Patrice Carter is a housecleaning maniac and the proud author of Super Woman Doesn’t Live Here Any More: The Ultimate 2 Week Plan for Getting Your Family to Help With Housework.”

For ordering information and information on Daily Housecleaning Schedule, please visit http://www.dailyhousecleaningschedule.com

You've bought all your cleaning supplies and equipment, told everyone you know that you have started a cleaning business and now you are ready to start bidding on jobs and getting down to work. So your next step is to meet with potential clients and put together a bid for their cleaning services. But how do you know what to charge for cleaning your potential client's building?

Start off by remembering that you are in business to make a profit and earn a living. Sometimes the tendency is to price our services low in order to get our foot in the door. Pricing your services too low may mean you will end up working for very little per hour. And more importantly, will have little left over to reinvest in the growth of your company. There are cleaning companies that charge more than others and have all the work they can handle and there are companies that have lower fees yet are struggling to find work! Don't sell yourself short or you will not be able to earn a living off your cleaning business.

Cleaning

The rates for commercial cleaning vary widely depending upon the area you live. Hourly rates are anywhere from to per hour depending on the type of services that you provide, whether or not you're doing the work yourself, and your company's overhead and expenses. Monthly square footage rates could run anywhere from $.05 to $.20 per square foot depending on the type of building you are cleaning and the frequency of cleaning. You'll be able to bid a higher square footage price for medical facilities versus office buildings due to more specialized cleaning needs. You'll likely bid a lower square footage price for large buildings versus small buildings. For example, you may bid $.08 per square foot for a 50,000 square foot building versus $.12 per square foot for an 8,000 square foot building.

You will most likely be charging your customers a monthly price and you will need to figure that price by estimating how long it will take to perform the services that your client has requested. The more productive you or your employees are, the higher the hourly production rate. If you're able to clean 3,500 square feet per hour, your profit will be higher than if you're only able to clean 2,500 square feet per hour, so adjust your price accordingly.

It's also a good idea to find out what the "going rates" are in your area. A few phone calls to competitors may be necessary to get an idea of the basic charges in your area. Use a script when you call so you can compare apples to apples. So what do you say when you call? Try something like, "Hi, I have a small business office that I would like cleaned once a week. It is 3000 square feet and has two small restrooms. Can you give me a rough estimate of what you what you charge per month?" The person may or may not give you an estimate. Most contractors will insist on walking through the building, but it is worth a few phone calls so you have a ballpark figure on what cleaning companies in the area are charging.

To estimate what you should charge for cleaning a building, start by doing a walk-through with the building owner or manager. Keep track of the following:

* Frequency of cleaning (once a week, three times a week, five times a week). If frequency is one or two times per week, it's best to estimate your time and multiply by your hourly rate. If cleaning 3 or more times per week you can estimate your time by the square foot.

* Overall square feet

* Types of floor surfaces and square footage of each (carpet, vinyl flooring, ceramic tile)

* Types of rooms - general office, break room, restrooms. Also note the number of toilets/stalls and fixtures in each restroom, as well as the types of restroom supplies used.

* Any special considerations - heavy traffic areas, elevators, unusual requests, etc.

* Make note of the specific services the client is seeking such as emptying trash, dusting, restroom cleaning, mopping and vacuuming.

The following services are specialized services and you should bid them separately, and list a per-service charge on your bid:

* Stripping and Waxing (.25¢ - .50¢ per square foot)

* Buffing/Burnishing (.03¢ - .07¢ per square foot)

* Machine Cleaning of Ceramic Tile floors (.12¢ - .21¢ per square foot)

* Carpet Cleaning (.12¢ - .25¢ per square foot)

* Carpet Spotting ( - per hour)

* Cleaning appliances (microwave, refrigerator) - - per appliance

* Window Washing (.00 - .00 per pane)

Make sure you take enough notes so you can put together a realistic price that is fair to the client and one in which you will make a profit. After your first meeting with the client, go back to your office look through your notes and decide what it will cost you to clean the building. You may have to consult a production cleaning rate chart to determine how long it will take you and your staff to clean the building. Once you have an idea of how long it will take to clean the building you can put your cost estimate together:

* Estimate the time it will take by using a production cleaning rate chart or calculator.

* Determine your labor cost for cleaning the building one time.

* Determine your monthly labor cost to clean the building.

* Estimate a monthly cost for supplies. This will be a fairly low figure, perhaps 1 or 2% of monthly sales.

* Be sure to add in a profit margin!

Add up the figures and you will come up with your monthly cost. If you have access to a bidding calculator you will be able to put in a series of numbers and come up with a price. A bidding calculator will also show what profit you can expect to make. It is also advisable to add a first time cleaning charge. This is usually an hourly rate of perhaps - an hour. The first time you go through a building it will take longer and you may find the previous cleaning service may have left dirt in cracks and crevices that you will have to clean the first time through.

Once you have your price established, put your bid packet together. Your bid packet should specify what you are responsible for and what the client is responsible for (buying their own trash can liners, restrooms supplies, etc.). It should also include the monthly charge for cleaning services, how long the agreement is for, and the procedure to cancel the contract if either party is unhappy.

It is important to learn how to price your cleaning services so your customers know you are providing a professional service at a realistic price and so that you make a profit. After all, if you do not make a profit you won't stay in business very long!

Copyright (c) 2006 The Janitorial Store

How Much Should I Charge For My Commercial Cleaning Services?

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.

The most obvious and lingering signs of smoking are the tar and nicotine stains on the skin and teeth. The most prominent discolorations usually appear on the lips and on the nails of the fingers. Some ex-smokers often find these to be rather stubborn, and some of the deep stains may last long after the person has stopped smoking. For people who continue to smoke, the months and years from this habit can be clearly seen in the lank and brittle hair, the yellowing nails, the dark brownish crusts under the fingernails, the blackened lips, the dark gums and the yellowing enamel of the teeth. The best recommendation for the permanent removal of these stains and discolorations is the permanent removal of the person's smoking habit.

However, for ex-smokers who want to remove their ugly marks of a former addiction, there are some very simple home remedies for cleaning nicotine stains and tar tarnishes on the skin.

\"cleaning Home\"

1. Lemons (or any citrus fruit) can help bleach the discolorations on the skin, especially on the lips. Simply slice a fresh fruit and have the person apply it on the lips daily, for 2 to 5 minutes at a time. This can also be used on the discoloration on the fingertips and under the nails. The person can scrub the freshly sliced citrus fruit and its pulp vigorously on the affected areas for 2 to 5 minutes, and then rinse with water afterwards. However, this treatment is done best on skin areas that have no breaks or external damages since citrus juice and pulp can sting. Vinegar may be substituted for lemons, as long as the product label indicated that the vinegar is naturally made and is not mixed with any other chemical or preservative.

2. Yellowish nails can be buffed, covered over with nail polish or allowed to grow out. Many people would prefer that the nails eventually grow out, revealing the natural pink health of the tissues under the nails. However, more immediate and temporary remedies include buffing the nails with a mineral buffer (will add shine to the nails but will not really hide the discoloration) and painting the nails with color and polish. Rubbing the nails with freshly grated garlic can help strengthen the nails and eliminate the yellowish tinge. However, this treatment should be used sparingly - about once a week only and only for less than 2 minutes at a time. Wash hands thoroughly after treatment with soap and water. Pat dry and allowed to stay that way (without putting on lotions or moisturizers) for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Only then can you moisturize the skin of the hands with Vitamin E enriched lotion or moisturizer.

3. This problem can also be tackled internally. Increasing one's intake of Vitamin C and E can help speed up the skin renewal process, making the underlying tissues under the skin and nails to come out looking more rejuvenated.

As for the yellowing teeth, it would be best if the person is to consult a dentist. Some home remedies and products may actually do more harm to the weakened enamel of smokers' (or ex-smoker') teeth, causing the gums to look blacker and the enamel more brownish looking.

Cleaning Nicotine Stains - Simple Home Remedies

April Kerr owns website End Smoking Tips which is all about tips on stopping smoking [http://endsmokingtips.com/quit-smoking/tips-on-stopping-smoking.html] and best ways to stop smoking [http://endsmokingtips.com/quit-smoking/best-ways-to-quit-smoking.html].

The two aspects of our environment most invoked when we talk about keeping the environment clean are litter and water pollution. We will discuss both in this article.

Litter

Housekeeping

Litter is ugly and it can harm people and wildlife. Picking up litter can be costly for cities and highway departments.

Dog fouling in public places (another form of litter) is a serious health risk, particularly for young children.

Cigarette butts are another unpleasant form of litter. They may seem small, but with several trillion butts littered every year they are the number one source of litter in this county. Cigarette butts make up a large part of much urban litter and they can take up to 12 years to break down.

So how do we keep litter off our public places and keep the environment clean?

The answer is, of course, firstly educate the public to take their litter home, and when they do not, it is necessary to ensure that efficient street cleaning is provided.

Street cleaning is controlled by the Department of Public Works in all towns and cities and is usually removed by appointed contractors or the Council's own direct labor force. When it works well you will usually find that the local businesses take an active interest in assisting in streamlining the process with also making further regular consultation with the community. Street cleaning is often, but not always, carried out for extended hours, and these hours may range from 8 am until 12 or 2 pm in our big cities. Street cleaning is an absolute necessity in all modern well run cities.

Street cleansing is a manual task and labor is a significant cost. Satisfaction with the cleanliness of streets and commercial areas has improved in the UK since privatization. One reason likely for this is that previously the Council's staff had to be the policemen ensuring the efficiency of their own work. Human nature is such that to be on both sides of such a role seldom works efficiently.

Street cleansing is only a part of city housekeeping which in this article is just a part of how to keep the environment clean. The council (municipal) health department's business is to see that all the people have pure air, pure water, pure food, and are protected from contagious diseases.

Street cleaning is an important element of city housekeeping and is provided more and more by highly mechanized equipment such as through the use of street sweepers and flushers. Most streets are scheduled for cleaning at least five times per year, and paved alleys are cleaned once.

Street cleaning must always be strictly enforced, and react to events when litter will build up more quickly, but without clean water in the rivers and streams throughout the city the municipal authorities could hardly be said to be keeping the environment clean.

River Pollution

The avoidance of river pollution is if anything more essential than street cleansing, especially where the poorer population must rely on the river water for domestic and even drinking water use.

If asked how to keep the environment clean from river pollution we would have to say by collecting all sewage and treating it before allowing it to discharge back into the river downstream.

River pollution is the most devastative phenomena to health in the poor and developing. Pollution is occurring when the water shows an alteration of physical and chemical parameters such as odor, taste, colour, turbidity.

If polluted water is tested in a water quality analysis laboratory there are a number of tell-tale changes you will notice. These are exemplified by changes in total hardness, pH, chlorides etc. Expect to see BOD, and COD in increased quantities as well, among others.

River pollution is a serious problem. In recent years there has been a growing awareness of the issues involved but, at the same time, continued urbanization and industrialization and the continued growth of population produce ever-increasing amounts of waste for disposal.

Dangerously, River pollution is concentrated around urban areas. River Pollution is a major environmental problem today, but we don't seem to be making as much progress as we should. Perhaps the reason is ideological?

Where sewage treatment plants have been installed the levels of indicator bacteria and nitrogen in the discharge should be tracked to measure management performance. If a failure in discharge quality occurs the municipal authorities must act to determine changes needed in monitoring protocol to avoid any further occurrences. It is important to also report progress and recommendations to inform planning and management decision-makers. Levels of any pollutant can be measured by water quality testing methods, and once the analysis has been provided it is always important to check the data carefully against the legal standards. For example, the State of Florida sets the safe health standard for bacteria as less than 1000 faecal coliform bacteria per 100 milliliters.

The most common sources of pollution are domestic water discharges from the houses in the catchment area, and uncontrolled dumps of solid domestic wastes along tributary banks and in dry ravines. Industrial discharge can be a major cause of pollution. Each industrial discharge usually contains chemicals and organic compounds which can enter the bodies of many aquatic animals. Even ground water can be polluted from the soakage pits, septic tanks, manure, garbage, etc. and that eventually discharges to the rivers still worsening the problem.

Industrial pollutants from smaller units continue to be a problem. While most of the large and medium industrial units have put up treatment plants and are using them. 40 per cent of the industrial waste seen in one example - a whopping 4000 mld - is from small scale industries in cities and residential colonies.

How to Keep the Environment Clean

Steve Evans has written for the Wasters blog since 2006. It recently received nearly 50,000 hits in a month, and continues to grow. If you have any interest in free waste settlement ebook - download-ready - shouldn't you take a look?

There are 2 steps that you can take to prevent wrinkled skin on hands. Actually, those two steps will help get rid of hand wrinkles, too. Here you will find a step-by-step approach that really works.

Step 1: Protection

\"cleaning House\"

Most hand wrinkling problems are caused by harsh environments at work or play. We fail to protect them from sun, wind and dirt. We use harsh cleansers to get rid of the dirt. We fail to wear gloves when we are doing dishes or cleaning the house. These things add up over time.

So, under the heading of protection, there are these suggestions:

o Wear gloves when gardening or during other outdoor activities

o When gloves are impractical, cover them with a zinc oxide sun block

o Wear rubber, plastic or surgical gloves when doing dishes or cleaning house

o Avoid the use of cleansers, whenever possible; warm water and a clean cloth are all that should be necessary, if you wear gloves during the dirtiest activities

o When a cleanser is necessary, try a dishwashing liquid that is specially designed to be gentler on the skin

The sun is the number one cause of wrinkled skin on hands and other parts of the body, although there are contributing factors, such as decreased production of elastic fibers and skin cells. A body and hand lotion containing the right ingredients will stimulate the production of cells and fibers. More on that later.

Cleansers and detergents contribute to hand wrinkling problems, because they cause excessive dryness. In some cases, the wrinkled look is actually a reaction to detergents. It's called detergent-related contact dermatitis and it is usually accompanied by redness and cracking.

It is possible to find a hand cream that is effective against the dermatitis and is effective for reducing wrinkled skin on hands. Using that type of cream is step two.

Step 2: Lubrication

The skin's natural lubricant is called sebum. Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands. The glands are located deep within the pores, but only on the backs of the hands, not on the palms or inside of the fingers.

Since there is no natural sebum on the palms, the area is particularly prone to dryness and itching from detergents and other irritants. When it comes to the back of the hands, each time that you wash them, you wash away the sebum.

A good hand cream or body lotion will help prevent and repair wrinkled skin on hands. It will also prevent irritation on the palms and excessive dryness. When you are shopping for a lotion, avoid the ones that contain petrolatum or mineral oil. They make the problem worse.

The ingredients to look for include:

o Jojoba oil

o Olive oil

o Grape seed oil

Those oils are quickly absorbed, because they are very similar to the skin's own sebum. They do not cause a greasy feeling, but they do contribute to softness.

Another ingredient, called Functional Keratin, has proven to be effective for treating detergent-related contact dermatitis. Researchers have found that it stimulates skin cell production, reduces inflammation and acts as an antioxidant, which will help prevent wrinkled skin on hands.

And now please visit the XtendSkinCare website listed below for updated information on how to remove wrinkled skin on hands.

Remove Wrinkled Skin on the Hands

And now I would like to invite you to visit http://www.XtendSkinCare.com for FREE Instant Access to a very helpful newsletter that will keep you updated on skin care, nutritional supplements and other health related issues. And I have more information on How to Remove Hand Wrinkles for men and women available at http://www.XtendSkinCare.com - Thank You, Margaret Bell