The Doc's Brand: Why we are who we are!

A Personal Connection

In 2000, my 18-month-old son was diagnosed with broad-spectrum autism. Little was known about autism at the time, and it was a struggle to adjust. Immediately I feared that I had passed some toxicity on to him as a consequence of my work. Working with dangerous chemicals was a daily task, often without adequate PPE (personal protective equipment). It was a different decade with a distinct lack of regulation in the cleaning industry. Add a culture of just-deal-with-it machismo to the mix, and it was a recipe for lifelong ill effects. 

Thankfully, tests by the physicians showed that I had not passed anything harmful to my son. However, it wasn’t all good news. I had taken in so much caustic material through my lungs and skin that they determined that I would have lifelong lung and liver damage, plus nerve damage in my hands and feet. I distinctly remember the phrase “more chemicals than an embalmed corpse.” 

A sobering fact, to say the least. But with time, it would become part of a resolution to raise the bar by cleaning for the public’s health rather than for shiny surfaces that smell nice. 

Redefining the Archetype

The Doc’s brand is one of breaking things. Not destroying our clients’ belongings—we prefer to break other things, like stereotypes. We refuse to accept the image of the uneducated janitor pushing a dirty mop, so we’re replacing it with the carefully trained public cleanliness expert with state-of-the-art equipment who is on time, on point, and does exemplary work. 

We believe that the truth is paramount. The correct information used to build expertise comes first, which is then applied through a solid work ethic, and brought home with a genuine desire to help people and keep them safe. We want to be scholars and guides. 

The Price Tag on Health and Safety

In the cleaning industry we have a phrase, the “race to zero.” We use this to refer to the efforts made to pay as little as possible for janitorial services. Some janitorial companies try to work with this by doing as little as possible, something we call the “trash and dash” approach that leaves most of the filth to fester unseen. 

We refuse to even entertain the thought of that behavior. The best cleaning services carry a price tag. When it comes to public health, think of that price tag as insurance against problems such as:

-       Outbreaks of illness at the office leading to lost production and too many sick days.

-       Clients carrying pathogens from your workplace to their homes and workplaces.

-       Pests that are attracted to the food and shelter your business offers them. 

-       A shutdown of your business due to failing a health inspection. 

Non-Negotiables

When shopping for a cleaning company, make sure they demonstrate proper understanding of what the essential tasks are and how to use substances to accomplish them correctly. 

The 4 essential tasks of proper cleaning are:

-       Above-floor care.

-       Carpet cleaning.

-       Hard floor cleaning.

-       Restroom cleaning/shower room cleaning. 

There are different cleaning intervals needed for different kinds of spaces and soil.

-       Daily maintenance.

-       Spot cleaning.

-       Interim cleaning.

-       Restorative cleaning.

Procedural Excellence

The procedures for correct cleaning practices are governed by what kind of surface is being cleaned and what kind of soil is present. This then decides what kinds of treatments can be applied and what order they can be applied in. One chemical treatment and application method can be right for one surface but irreparably damage another, and some surfaces require multiple processes. 

There are 2 kinds of soils: Dry soil and sticky soil. Dry soil is easier to remove but is easily introduced into the air. Sticky soil involves oily hydrocarbons and can form from dry soil that builds up and accrues moisture. Sticky soil adheres to surfaces and requires the right chemicals, equipment, and good old elbow grease to get rid of. Different soil makeup—acids versus bases/alkalines, residues, pathogens present—cause those soils to behave differently. That’s why Doc’s doesn’t treat dirt on a hardwood floor the same way we do salt in the entryway, grease in the kitchen, or biohazards in the bathroom. 

A professional cleaning company needs to know their chemistry. We use the principles of wetting, emulsification, dispersion, and adsorption every day. Some chemicals are mixed with water only and other chemicals must never touch each other, as a deadly cocktail could arise. Some treatments are safe to be around without a mask, some require a respirator, can’t touch the skin, and must be thoroughly removed after they’ve done their work. A professional cleaning company must know the right dwell time (the amount of time a treatment needs to sit on the surface before removal) for the surface and soil involved. A surface free from soils is always the best defense for the growth of germs, bacteria, and viruses. Plus, the smell of clean should be no smell at all, as when there are fragrances involved, they are placed to cover up poor cleaning habits.

We Want to Hear from You

Curious? Want to put Doc’s to the test? Reach out any time for the solution to creating a healthy environment for yourself, your co-workers, your clients, and the community. Docsfs.com

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