Commercial Archives | Modernistic ®

Do I Really Need Scotchgard?

Posted Tuesday, July 17th, 2018

If you have ever had your carpets or upholstery professionally cleaned you’ve probably been asked if you wanted Scotchgard protection applied, right? You said yes because you care about the impression your facility leaves on your customers and employees. But do you know what it does and do you really need Scotchgard? We do, and we really think it’s worth its weight in gold.

WHAT DOES SCOTCHGARD DO?

Scotchgard creates a protective barrier that helps repel liquids and blocks stains. It’s an odorless application that can be applied to any fabric material such carpet, upholstery, cubicle walls, and entry rugs, and it is best applied during a professional carpet cleaning.

READ: Advantages Of A Cleaner Carpet

Helps You Clean Stains And Spills More Easily

Because Scotchgard creates a protective barrier around the fibers of your carpet and upholstery, it makes cleaning stains and spills much, MUCH easier. Instead of the liquid instantly absorbing into the fibers, the Scotchgard barrier keeps it on the surface, so you can quickly and more effectively clean up the mess. It’s a huge benefit, but that’s just one of the reasons you need Scotchgard applied in your business.

Makes Vacuuming Easier And More Effective

Vacuuming is more effective when your carpet and upholstery is protected by Scotchgard because its protective barrier keeps dry soil, like dirt and dust, on the surface instead of deep down in the fibers. This means that every vacuum pass is more effective because dirt and dry soil is on the surface and more easily sucked up. Without Scotchgard, these dirt particles would work their way into the fibers and cause unsightly wear patterns.

Helps Limit Wear Patterns

Wear patterns, typically called traffic areas, occur when the fibers of the carpeting become damaged by dirt and soil. On a microscopic level, dirt is made up of very sharp particles. When these particles grind against the fibers of your carpet, it breaks down the individual woven fibers, leaving your carpet looking worn and faded.

When Scotchgard is applied, it keeps the loose dirt and soil on the surface, making it more difficult for those sharp particles to grind up against the fibers and cause wear patterns. Fewer wear patterns means your carpet will last longer, look better, and save you the cost of frequently replacing your carpet.

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED SCOTCHGARD?

It all depends on how much you use your carpet or upholstery. If you have Scotchgard applied in an area such as a lobby, hallway, or conference room, it’s a good idea to have it reapplied during every professional carpet cleaning (or every 6 months, whichever comes first). If you have areas that don’t have as much foot traffic or usage, you may be able to go longer in between applications.

QUICK TIP: If you’ve recently had new carpet installed, check the manufacturer’s warranty. Believe it or not, some carpet and upholstery manufacturers require regular applications of Scotchgard in order to maintain the warranty.

For over 45 years, Modernistic has been helping Michigan businesses enjoy a cleaner, healthier, more enjoyable work environment. Want to learn more about how we can help? Click here to contact your local Modernistic for a FREE cleaning quote!

5 Tips to Keep Your Workplace Clean

Posted Thursday, June 28th, 2018

Did you know that if you have a 9 to 5 job, you’ll spend one third of your life at work? It’s true! That means keeping your workplace clean and inviting is just as important as maintaining a clean home. Do you wish you had some ideas on how to keep your workplace clean? A sanitary, organized and comfortable workplace will have a positive effect on productivity and on your employees’ mindsets. Even if your workspace is closed to the public it is important for team morale to maintain a space people are happy to come to everyday. And consider your business’s reputation; customers react better to a clean and organized workplace. It’s easy to get so caught up in day-to-day tasks that office cleanliness slips to the wayside, so here are 5 tips to keep your workplace clean!

1: Make A Cleaning Maintenance Plan

The best way to protect your carpet (and the investment you made in it) is to schedule regular professional carpet cleanings. Dirt and small debris are tracked in every day by your staff, and continued buildup of even the tiniest particles can damage the individual carpet fibers. Regular cleanings will keep your business looking and smelling great. For a small business with only a few employees, yearly cleanings would probably suffice. A larger business or a public space with heavy traffic would benefit from more frequent cleanings on a commercial cleaning maintenance plan.

2: Protect Your Investment

Many professional carpet cleaners offer additional products to protect your carpets. Take advantage of these products! 3M Scotchgard provides additional protection to your carpeting. This is perfect to apply to cubicle areas, break rooms, or areas with heavy traffic such as your lobby.

3: Don’t Forget About Air Quality!

Out of sight, out of mind, right? Air quality is not usually brought up in a conversation about cleanliness, which is why your HVAC system could be the filthiest part of your business! Your air duct system works around the clock to keep your staff comfortable. Over time, dust, dirt, dander, and other contaminants like mold and mildew will accumulate and circulate throughout your building. Keeping your air ducts clean will help your employees who suffer from allergies stay healthy, and the person responsible for cleaning will spend a lot less time dusting. In general, your office will feel much fresher and be a healthier environment for employees and customers alike.

4: Keep Cleaning Products Accessible – To Everyone!

Don’t keep all the cleaning supplies behind lock and key! Even if you have someone who handles general cleaning make the supplies accessible to everyone. Disinfectant wipes are easily kept in office drawers and are perfect for wiping down a desk, keyboard, phone, and most other surfaces. Having these wipes accessible can greatly reduce the spread of disease! Swiffer dusters can also easily be stored in a desk drawer and are perfect for dusting those hard-to-reach places – like behind the desk and up near the ceiling!

5: Provide Organization Options

One of the first steps to creating a clean environment is to reduce clutter. Built up clutter can make even the cleanest and tidiest environments seem messy even though they are not! The best way to reduce clutter is make it as easy as possible to keep your workplace clean. Clean work spaces improve productivity, which is important for team health. It is also much harder for dust and grime to build up on a clean desk than one covered in piles of paper. Provide your employees with desk organizers and encourage them to maintain a clean and organized desk. You may be surprised at how excited people are about organizing their personal workspace!

The office reflects the culture and work ethic of the people who occupy it. Disorganization can result is distraction, disrupted productivity, and eventually chaos. If the staff doesn’t pick up on it your customers will! Using these tips to keep your workplace clean will help will help your business make the right impression on staff and customers, new and old. And remember to lead by example!

Modernistic has been helping Michigan businesses stay clean and organized for over 45 years! To learn more about our commercial cleaning maintenance programs, call us today or click here.

You Have To See It To Believe It

Posted Monday, June 11th, 2018

When we say we’ll get your carpet, upholstery, tile, and air ducts clean, we mean C-L-E-A-N! Check out these awesome before and after photos of the level of clean you can expect from Modernistic, and you’ll see why Michigan businesses have been choosing us for over 45 years!

From small one-room offices to giant NBA arenas, Modernistic has been helping keep Michigan businesses clean for over 45 years. Click here to see how we can help your business look its absolute best.

How a Commercial Cleaning Maintenance Plan Will Save You Money

Posted Wednesday, March 28th, 2018

There are so many factors to consider when running a successful business that it would be impossible to ever cover them all. Because of this, some issues, such as repetitive cleaning for your carpet, tile, or upholstery, can get pushed off as less important. However there are several reasons that getting your business on a commercial cleaning maintenance plan can benefit your long term growth.

The most obvious reason to be on a commercial cleaning maintenance plan is keeping your business clean. Appearance is the first thing many customers notice when they enter a business and having stains in the carpet, grout lines, or seats can negatively shape their opinion, regardless of the quality of the actual services performed. Having a clean workspace will show customers and employees alike that you take pride in your business.

Most businesses receive much more foot traffic than the average home and, guess what? They get dirtier much faster as well. While all carpeting and upholstery will eventually begin to wear with age, having it regularly cleaned will help prolong its life. Having professional cleaning done every month, or even every few months, removes the buildup of dirt before it gets deep into the fibers of your carpet and upholstery. For further protection, 3M Scotchgard can be applied after the cleaning to help prevent stains. This topical product safely coats the surface of the fabric to help prevent stains and dirt from setting in, making spots much easier to remove.

It’s not only dirt that can reside the carpet of your business. Allergens like dust mites and even mold spores will build up over time, causing allergies and promoting illnesses. Professional carpet cleaning removes these allergens and sanitizes the carpet to promote a healthy work environment. After all, a healthy worker is a happy worker (and one that doesn’t miss time!)

Scheduling repetitive cleaning can benefit your business in many ways; whether it’s improving company image, prolonging the life of your property, or protecting the health of your employees. Many of our cleaning maintenance customers find that the biggest benefit isn’t any of those. Letting us worry about keeping their office clean means it’s one less thing on their plate. That way, they can focus on what they do best: running their business!

If a commercial cleaning maintenance plan is right for your business, contact Modernistic today for more info.

4 Ways to Make a Great First Impression with Customers

Posted Friday, February 16th, 2018

What reaction will your customers have?

Have you ever walked into a restaurant, looked around, and immediately thought “There’s no way I’m eating here”? They lost your business because they didn’t make a good first impression. Maybe it was the décor, or nobody greeted you when you walked in, or there was that weird smell, but you knew right away. A potential customer will decide within 11 seconds of walking into your business whether or not they like you. Those 11 seconds are critical – you only get 1 chance at a first impression, which will greatly influence whether or not they do business with you. No one wants to lose out on sales, so here are 4 crucial ways to help your business make a great first impression with customers.

1 – Optimize your website and train your employees to answer the phone

Often the first point of contact that customers will have with your business will be on the web or over the phone. Make sure their experience is a good one that leaves them with positive feelings about your business. An out-of-date website or a confusing phone system will discourage customers from visiting you in the first place.

Is your website…

Easy to use?
Customer-focused?
Modern?
Engaging?

When a customer calls in…

Is there a live person answering the phone? Are they knowledgeable and friendly?
How long do they have to wait on hold?
Do they have to navigate a phone tree?

A customer’s experience online or over the phone will often decide if they visit you or one of your competitors. Consider writing a script for your employees who answer the phone, and make sure your business’s information (like address and phone number) is up to date and consistent everywhere a customer can find it online.

2 – Make sure your lobby is clean and well-lit

Your entryway should tell a customer everything they need to know about your business. The lobby is the “point of no return” for a customer. They’ve made a decision to seek out your business and, at the very least, committed to getting more information about you. Your lobby should reward them for that decision and commitment, giving your customers no reason to second guess themselves. That means your lobby should be orderly, welcoming, and above all, clean.

Orderly – Does your customer know where/how to get help? Having a receptionist to guide potential customers is key (see #3)

Welcoming – Does your lobby put people at ease? The décor, the lighting, the building materials all play a part in helping customers feel relaxed. Did you know that watching fish swim around in aquariums helps reduce heart rate and blood pressure? It’s true!

Clean – Are your floors, upholstery, walls, etc. free of dirt and stains? Nothing says “I don’t care about my business and, by extension, the problems of my customers” quite like stained carpet and dirty upholstery. It’s important to have a professional maintenance plan not only to impress customers, but to protect your investment – and your bottom line.

3 – Have a good receptionist

“You only get one chance to make a good first impression, and yours may be in the hands of the receptionist”

-Harvey Mackay

A knowledgeable, friendly receptionist will go a long way towards making a good first impression with customers. As the first employee a customer sees, they are essentially the “face” of your business; it’s important they represent you in a positive, confidence-building way.

Your receptionist/greeter/face-to-face marketing liaison (whatever you want to call them) should also know the ins and outs of your business. When a customer has a question or an issue, they will feel much more confident about your business if the first person they bring their problem to knows what to do to help.

4 – Have marketing info readily available

If a customer has decided to walk into your business to get information, have that information – and more – available to them! Be ready to make the most of every opportunity. Give them reasons to choose your company, or highlight additional products/services you offer, or why they should add on to their current service. This can be done through printed pieces, handouts, displays, or even your expertly-trained receptionist/greeter/F2F Mkg Liaison. Not only is this preparation professional, it helps maximize each customer who walks through your door. Fortune favors the prepared!

So there are the 4 crucial ways to make a good first impression with customers. Are there any other ways to impress your customers and build confidence with potential clients? Of course! Take a look at your business through the eyes of your customer and try to put yourself in their shoes. Look for ways to improve their experience and leave them feeling at ease, confident, and overall positive about you. After all, in the words of one of our favorite authors:

“A good first impression can work wonders”

–J.K. Rowling

From two-room offices to 20,000-seat stadiums, Modernistic has been helping Michigan businesses make a great first impression with customers for over 44 years. Click here to see how we can help your business look its absolute best.

How to Remove Salt Stains from your Business’s Carpet

Posted Tuesday, January 30th, 2018

Yes, it snowed again over the weekend. Sigh. It’s always about this time that people across Michigan start to get a little tired of winter. The cold, the snow, the road salt stains on their carpet and shoes; The holidays are over, winter can end anytime! Bring on summer!

Before we can get there, though, we have to deal with this snow. Obviously, you can’t let it pile up right outside your business, so you pay someone to remove it. And, of course, salt the sidewalk and steps so your customers don’t slip and slide all over the place. That’s where the trouble starts.

Necessary, but not Necessarily Good for your Carpet

If you’ve noticed unsightly white spots accumulating in the carpet near the entryway, you have a salt problem. Salt crystals stick to customers’ feet, and when they walk in from the wintery outdoors, these crystals get transferred to your carpet. A simple process, to be sure, but the consequences can be complicated and frustrating! Have you ever tried to remove salt stains from your business’s carpet by yourself? Did the spot look good at first, but then the exact same stain kept reappearing and reappearing and reappearing? We know. We’ve been there, it’s not fun!

To keep your business looking its best, Modernistic has put together a few ways to prevent and remove salt stains from your business’s carpet.

Prevention (Worth a Pound of Cure)

Floor Mats – Ok, to get the obvious out of the way, use floor mats. Use them! More than 1, preferably. If the space outside your business’s front door allows it, place a good outdoor mat right outside your door in addition to the mat just inside your door. Double floor mats = half the amount of salt making its way inside to your carpet.

Vacuum – Every. Day. Is it tedious? Sure, but removing the salt crystals before they get ground into your carpet fibers will help tremendously. Make vacuuming part of your closing checklist, and if you can manage it, vacuum at least once during the day when foot traffic is light. If you’re lucky enough to have associates working for you, they need something to do when it’s not busy, right?

Put Up A Sign – Right inside your entryway that says “Please Wipe Your Feet”. Sure, not every customer will read it, but more people being mindful about what they’re tracking in to your business can’t hurt!

Removal

Vacuum – That’s right, vacuum is on the list twice! For very light salt spots not ground into the fibers, a concentrated vacuuming can lighten the spot considerably or remove it entirely.

DIY (Do It Yourself) – Since salt crystals love to stick to carpet fibers, you might need a little “chemical persuasion” to loosen them up. Mix up a 50/50 solution of vinegar and warm water, then apply to the affected area using a sponge or towel. Agitate the solution into the carpet by gently scrubbing the spot with your towel or fingers. Wait 5 minutes, then blot up the liquid with a dry towel. Repeat as necessary, since salt stains can be extremely stubborn.

**NOTE** If you like your carpet at all, please don’t use soap of any kind. Soap will leave a residue that will actually attract more dirt and salt, making your problem much worse in the long run.

DITEW (Do It The Easy Way) – If you’re a busy person (or not keen on your business smelling like vinegar), have a professional take care of those pesky spots. To get the best results, make sure the professional you hire uses a truck-mounted hot water extraction method, AKA steam cleaning. Also, make sure they use an emulsifier and specialized products that specifically treat salt stains – someone using regular “shampoo” will only attract dirt and salt, making the problem worse!

There are a few different ways to prevent and remove salt stains from your business’s carpet, but these are the most effective. We put up with a lot to live in Michigan during the winter, but you don’t have to put up with pesky salt stains!

For over 40 years, Modernistic has been dedicated to restoring the health of homes and businesses across Michigan with our award-winning service, start to finish! To learn more about how we can help keep the salt out of your business’s carpet, contact your local Modernistic for a free cleaning quote!

Apartment Community Dryer Vents Dos and Don’ts

Posted Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017

Manage An Apartment Community? Here’s What You Need To Know About Dryer Vent Fires

Clogged dryer vents are one of the leading causes of multi-family housing fires. Lint that builds up over time makes the perfect tinder, and all it takes is a single spark to start an inferno. Even if you can’t see any build-up on the outside of the vent, lint can coat the inside of the ductwork leading from your dryer to the outside.

Your risk is especially high if a large number of residents share a limited number of dryers, or if anyone in the building is a smoker. Colder months are especially dangerous here in Michigan, due to dry conditions and cold weather driving smokers indoors.

So how do you cut down on your risk of dryer vent fires? Here are some Apartment Community Dryer Vents Dos and Don’ts:

DO have your dryers professionally installed – You don’t want to take chances on an incorrect installation. A pro will make sure things like electrical plugs, vent connections, and dryer spacing are all properly addressed.

DON’T use a dryer without a lint filter – The lint filter does a great job of catching the majority of clothes lint, and not having a filter is literally playing with fire. You’ll find your dryer ductwork will get clogged much quicker, requiring more frequent cleanings to cut down on fire risk.

DO listen to your residents – If your residents are complaining about the dryer taking a long time to dry their clothes, it could be a sign that the vent is clogged and restricting air flow. Similarly, if they report a dryer that’s running extremely hot, that’s another indicator that the vent is clogged with lint.

DON’T allow smoking – This should go without saying, but discarded cigarettes will ignite lint in seconds. Smokers are going to smoke, of course, so make sure they have a designated outdoor smoking area.

DO inspect regularly – Monthly inspections of the dryer, ductwork, and vent will help you identify risks quickly and act appropriately.

DON’T use vent screens – Wire or plastic screens on the outside vent exit will collect lint and other debris over time, plugging the vent and restricting air flow. Use open coverings on the vents instead.

DO keep your laundry rooms clean – Keep the area around your washers and dryers clean and free of anything flammable. Don’t use laundry facilities for storage, especially of flammable cleaning supplies.

DON’T use coiled-wire foil or plastic venting – Use non-ribbed, durable metal ductwork for your dryer vents.

DO have your dryer vents professionally cleaned – Every six months to 1 year, depending on usage, have a professional clean the dryer vents in all your buildings. Any more than that and you risk dangerous lint buildup. Make sure the professional you choose uses a truck-mounted vacuum system and is certified by NADCA, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association.

The simple fact is that clogged apartment community dryer vents are one of the leading causes of residential structure fires in the US. Protect your community with regular cleanings from Modernistic! Our truck-mounted vacuum system is powerful enough to handle any length vent, and our certified technicians have the know-how to handle complex venting systems. Certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), Modernistic will make sure your apartment community dryer vents are thoroughly cleaned! Contact your Modernistic office to inquire about bulk discounts today.

5 Ways to Prevent Traffic Lanes in your Carpet

Posted Tuesday, July 25th, 2017

Who doesn’t love a professional carpet cleaning? The fresh smell, the feel of revitalized carpet under your feet, the relief of being rid of those unsightly spots; Our customers certainly appreciate how pristine their floors look after we’re done cleaning them, and one of their most pressing questions is how to keep them that way. Here’s what we tell them.

The Problem

Have you ever used that orange soap? That industrial-grade, gritty, no-nonsense soap you usually find near a slop sink or auto shop? If you haven’t, it’s got a rough texture that scours whatever you’re cleaning. It does a great job of scrubbing dirt and soil off your hands specifically because it’s so gritty. Your carpet experiences the exact same thing when it gets dirty.

Up close under a microscope, dirt particles look a lot like broken glass. They act as an abrasive, scouring and grinding against whatever they come across. The unfortunate thing is your carpet isn’t nearly as resilient as your hands! Dirt will cut up and wear down carpet fibers, which don’t heal like human skin.

Over time, walking over dirty carpet will grind those particles into the fibers where you step, resulting in wear patterns in your traffic lanes. Not good! Once wear patterns form, that’s actual damage; all the cleaning in the world won’t fix damaged fibers!

The best thing you can do to keep your carpets looking great for years is to prevent traffic lanes from forming. Here’s how:

Get the dirt off your feet – Use door mats on any door that leads outside, and make sure to use them! You can also make it a habit to take off your shoes when inside. No dirty shoes, no dirt getting into your carpet.
Keep your hard floor surfaces clean – Dirt sticks to carpet, but it slides right off hard surfaces like hardwood and tile. Keep these floors clean, and you won’t have to worry about transferring soil to your carpets.
Vacuum frequently – Depending on the foot traffic your floors get, you’ll want to vacuum frequently and (most importantly) regularly. High-volume businesses especially should vacuum carpeted areas daily to keep them looking their best.
Have your carpets professionally cleaned – Since carpet fibers do a great job of hiding dirt, professional hot-water extraction cleaning should be scheduled regularly. Even if your floors don’t look soiled, dirt could still be hidden away, damaging carpet fibers and creating those horrible wear patterns.
Apply fiber protection – After a professional cleaning, applying a fiber protector like 3M Scotchgard™ Protection will help repel dirt and stains, creating a barrier that will help keep the soil from destroying your fibers.

With these tips, you should be able to form a maintenance plan that will help keep your carpets wear-free throughout their lifetime. If you still have questions, or would like a plan from the pros, contact Modernistic for all your carpet maintenance needs!

22 Before and After Photos To Envy

Posted Monday, May 22nd, 2017

Before and After Modernistic!

At Modernistic, when we say we’ll get it clean, we mean it! You may have to reconsider the 5-second rule after you see these 22 before and after photos.

Contact Your Local Modernistic

4 Ways Clean Air Ducts Will Help Your Business

Posted Monday, April 24th, 2017

4 Ways Clean Air Ducts Will Help Your Business

When’s the last time you thought about your business’s air ducts? It’s not like you ever see them. As they say: out of sight, out of mind. But, as you are well aware, what you don’t know CAN hurt you. Dirt, dust, dander, mildew, and even mold will accumulate in your HVAC system over time. Who wants that in the air they breathe? Eventually these contaminants start affecting the quality of your indoor air and employee health. Who wants that?

If your HVAC system has been neglected for a while, consider what all that dust and debris is doing to your business, and why you need an air duct cleaning from Modernistic. Here are 4 ways clean air ducts will help your business:

Healthy Employees = Productive Employees
- Dirt, germs, and allergens love to hide out in your HVAC system. However, when your system kicks on, these contaminants get circulated around in the air, exposing your entire workforce to illness. If every employee cut down on just one sick day a year, how much productivity, time, and money would you save?
Put Your Best Foot Forward
- You only get one chance at a first impression! What your customers and clients see when they walk into your building says a lot about your business. Start off on the right foot with a clean, presentable environment.
Cut Down on Cleaning Time
- An office is only as clean as its air! If your cleaning crew is spending an inordinate amount of time cleaning up dust, it’s probably due to dirty ducts circulating the same particulate over and over again. Clean Ducts = Less Dust = Less Cleaning Time.
Clean, Breathable Air
- The HVAC system is your office’s biggest contributor to air quality. You and your co-workers spend 8+ hours a day here, so don’t skimp on your health! Keep it clean and you’ll breathe easy.

Modernistic uses only the most powerful and state of the art equipment available in the commercial air duct cleaning industry to give the most thorough and complete cleaning possible. We work hard to give each and every customer the commercial air duct cleaning services they need at an affordable price, and all of our cleaning services are covered with a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee. Call Modernistic today for your free estimate, and see why we are the leader in the commercial air duct cleaning industry. Experience for yourself how clean air ducts will help your business!