(632) 7527 2669 | +63 917-144-CMDA (2632) | +63 908 812 9503 inquiry@cmdacleaning.com

Rise, Re-enter and Recover: CMDA Cleaning Services COVID-19 Story

Rise, Re-enter and Recover: CMDA Cleaning Services COVID-19 Story

Our management has always advocated for proper and fair business development and management. Throughout the company’s history and experiences, which included low seasons and economy inflations to name a few, our company has developed measures to ensure that all the financial, legal and workforce obligations are met during trying times. Now that the country is in a health crisis, the company’s plans and its principles are put to the test.

At the start of the pandemic

At the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic here in the Philippines and the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine, a lot of companies are worried about business and how to go about doing transactions in what would be the new norm of, not just the Philippine society, but the whole world. Aside from the economic impact, there is a health risk posing against all – rich or poor, employee or employer, a small business owner or a mega corporation.

Thankfully, the full brunt of these fears and implications did not totally impact our company (though still affected with the decrease in inquiries and sales). There were measures already in place for something like this prior to the crisis, however, not meant for this length of time:

  • Emergency Savings Fund
  • SOP for Human Resource coordinator

When news arrived that the Enhance Community Quarantine was to be imposed in the entire nation, internal measures were arranged:

  • “Work from Home” set up for administrators
  • “Stand-by for transport” for custodians
  • Provided full salary at the end of March
  • Provided pro-rated 13th month pay plus cash assistance on April 15th payroll
  • Provided comprehensive Salary loan on the start of May
  • All health monitoring was based through communications via sms and chat

Need something cleaned?

The financial assistance from concerned government agencies haven’t arrived yet as of this posting, but the company knew that compassion is also part of growing a business, especially in a service industry that relies on manpower. Thankfully, the government released some memorandum that enables CMDA Cleaning Services to do a unique and rising type of service – Disinfection. Our Disinfection officers were still able to work but operates on special and strict guidelines:

  • Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), gloves, masks and face shield (provided by CMDA)
  • Operate and transport 1:1 disinfection officer to vehicle

 

ECQ to MECQ

At the beginning of May, thankfully, government agencies has relaxed some measures to recover the economy, and so we slowly restored our other services like office cleaning and home sanitation. However, certain guidelines were needed to follow and so we used appropriate and recommended measures to slowly return to work:

  • We picked up each employee from their homes to staff house
  • The company provided board and lodging for employees through a rented unit near the office (one for male employees, one for female employees)
  • Provided a dedicated transport vehicle when servicing clients to avoid contamination
  • Imposing strict health measures such as always wearing face masks and observing proper physical distancing
  • Provided vitamins and ensuring they get 6-8 hours of sleep
  • Direct approach of health monitoring by visually and directly checking for symptoms by the health officer
  • Provided PPEs for each custodian to protect them and the clients every time there are projects
  • Comprehensive training and seminar on our company’s recovery plan to identify the role of each team member
  • Testings will be done twice a month on all CMDA employees to ensure their safety considering the line of work we do

Prior to the pandemic, safety of everyone has always been the company’s top priority, and it has emphasized it more now by further augmenting it with the additional protocols placed in our Standard Operating Procedures. With the government slowly modifying the community quarantine guidelines on each regions, CMDA Cleaning Services will surely be there to help everyone to rise and recover through a cleaner and safer place. As a start, we offer our recovery plan template on all companies that we are in partnership with to help them kick start their back to work program and place a robust health protocol for all of their employees.

GCQ and the “New Normal”

Finally on June 01, 2020, the government has declared that the National Capital Region be placed on General Community Quarantine (GCQ). Althought we have been operating already at a limited capacity, this gave our clients more flexibility in terms of getting our services before they resume back to office. Since the pandemic has affected life and business, our services has been in demand for the “new normal” as more and more require disinfection.

Though not mandated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Health (DoH), nor the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), we opted to test all our staff for the Rapid Anti-Body COVID-19 test, and last June 12, 2020, we all had our test made and thankfully, from the transport team, to the custodians and up to our admin team are all COVID-19 NEGATIVE. This gave us, including our families, especially our clients, peace of mind. We know we can always be true to our virtue on “providing a clean and safe place for everyone”.

Back to MECQ and the fight for COVID-19 goes on

As the metro and surrounding provinces return back to MECQ, we have already gone through our 3rd monthly Rapid Anti-Body COVID-19 test for all our employees. Knowing that we are all still negative for covid, it goes to show that our safety measures are working, but still, we remain vigilant and continue our efforts in ensuring we, and our clients are free from infection. We have had a lot of occassions as well that we have come to rescue our clients from their cancelled cleaning service because our competitors were limited and challenged by the MECQ guidelines. Our training has always involved quick response to our customers, with safety as the priority, to make sure their place is clean and disinfected immediately.

COVID-19 Check Up and Test Results

First Posted on: May 16, 2020
Updated: August 15 2020

More Related cleaning tips below:

Home Kitchen Cleaning

Home Kitchen Cleaning

Kitchen Cleaning is another feat we encounter everytime we do a general home cleaning routine. Here are some tips on how to do a better kitchen cleaning.

read more

Safe Disinfection Processes for Each Business

Safe Disinfection Processes for Each Business

Businesses or employers are responsible for the health of their employees (they should be), be it during a time of pandemic or not, keeping the office clean should be part of its priorities. But what are the best and safe ways to disinfect the office? Searching for the “best way to disinfect your office” over the web will deliver you a lot of links and reports that are mostly “greek” to you or even unhelpful in what you really need. Your office housekeeping staff might not be well informed of the various disinfection processes or techniques and information for sanitation compliance might not be very clear with the Department of Health. Well, you are in luck because we’re here to share with you the best and safe disinfection processes for each business:  

Need something cleaned?

Pat down / Wipe down

This is a process wherein you use a washcloth/mop damped with disinfectant (dilluted or concentrated) on surfaces. You can do this after a general or deep cleaning of your office, or at the same time during that process. If you have the manpower, this is the most economical, since disinfectants and chlorine based liquids are available almost anywhere. Type of Office:
  • Any type of office that are NON-carpeted
PROS:
  • Easy and fast to apply
  • Kills bacteria and viruses (depending on the disinfectant)
  • Dry surface outcome
  • Does not affect office equipment (depending on the application)
  • Does not affect smoke alarms
  • Safe for Humans, Pets, and Plants (depending on the application)
  • Area is safe to use after application
CONS:
  • Hard to apply on ceilings
  • Effective disinfection depends on the technique of the person doing it
  • Effectivity does not last a day
 

Spray Disinfection

As the name implies, a mechanical or electric spray is used in the this process. The objective of this process is to disperse the liquid disinfectant on surfaces. The action and effectivity of disinfection depends highly on the disinfectant used. With the tool or machine, it can reach more areas as compared to doing a pat down/wipe down disinfection, however, the end result – wet surfaces. Wiping down the disinfectant would mean less effect on killing bacteria and viruses, so you have to wait until it dries up. This is not good on carpets as it might give out a nasty smell after a few days. It may also affect office computers and outlets. Type of Office:
  • Non-carpeted offices
  • Offices with minimal electronics
PROS:
  • Kills bacteria and viruses (depending on the disinfectant)
  • Does not affect smoke alarms
  • Safe for Humans (depending on the application)
  • Effective up to 3 days (or until the surface is moist with disinfectant)
CONS:
  • Messy preparation
  • Wet surface outcome
  • May affect office computers and outlets
  • Unsafe for pets and plants
  • Area not accessible after application
  • Effective disinfection depends on the technique of the person doing it
 

Hot Fogger

This type of disinfection is unique compared to the rest, as it utilizes fog or fumes instead of liquid or aerosol. The process involve heating oil or water based disinfectants to disperse it as fog or fume, effectively dispersing it on more surface area. When using the correct disinfecting liquid solution that is manufactured for this type of equipment, you can achieve a good disinfection, however, the process may trigger the smoke alarm (due to the fog/fumes). The fumes are also in the area for an hour or more, so it would be impossible to use the area after the process. The fumes can also cause respiratory illnesses that affects humans, animals and plants. Type of Office:
  • All types of offices
PROS:
  • Can reach ceilings and hard to reach areas with proper technique
  • Dry surface outcome
  • Kills bacteria (depending on the disinfectant, may include viruses)
  • Effective up to 3 days (or until the odor of the fume is distinct)
CONS:
  • Triggers smoke alarm
  • May affect office computers and outlets
  • Unsafe for humans, pets and plants
  • Area not accessible for an hour or so after application
  • Effective disinfection depends on the technique of the person doing it
 

Cold Fogger/Cold Microdroplets

This type of disinfection process utilizes a special machine that delivers the liquid disinfectant into microdroplets upon release. It’s almost similar with the spray disinfection but you get a less wet and less moist outcome. It does this by letting the liquid pass through a controlled airflow or blower (instead of pressurizing it or heating it) which results in microdroplet dispersal. It does not affect the quality of the disinfectant and it can reach a lot of surface area as well. Type of Office:
  • All types of offices
PROS:
  • Easy and fast to apply
  • Can reach ceilings and hard to reach areas with proper technique
  • Kills bacteria and viruses
  • Does not affect smoke alarms
  • Does not affect office computers and outlets
  • Safe for Humans, pets and plants (depending on the application)
  • Area is accessible after the disinfection process
  • Effective up to 3 days
CONS:
  • Effective disinfection depends on the technique of the person doing it
 

Charged Microdroplets

This is a specialized or evolved form of the cold fogger and perhaps the most effective and efficient way of disinfecting your office. The process involves charging/ionizing the microdroplets – magnetizing it with a similar charge so that it repels each other giving a better diffusion (scatters in spaces better), at the same time, it attracts bacteria and viruses. Because the microdroplet are greatly charged, it sticks to walls and surfaces, so what you have is the disinfectant, the bacteria and virus, all glued hard to the wall or surface, and still with enough charge to attract more bacteria and virus to the disinfectant. That is a total disinfection technology that is now available to us all. Type of Office:
  • Non-carpeted offices
  • Offices with minimal electronics
PROS:
  • Easy and fast to apply
  • Can reach ceilings and hard to reach areas with proper technique
  • Kills bacteria and viruses
  • Does not affect smoke alarms
  • Does not affect office computers and outlets
  • Safe for Humans, pets and plants (depending on the application)
  • Area is accessible after the disinfection process
  • Effective up to 30 days (without human interference within those days)
CONS:
  • Effective disinfection depends on the technique of the person doing it
      Aside from these processes, there are also some consideration with the type of disinfecting liquid to be used, like Chlorine or Quaternary Ammonium Chlorides, which are being greatly considered by big companies and health care facilities. If you are unsure of the right process for your office, contact us anytime and we would glady provide you with info (and a quote) should you need one.

    More Related cleaning tips below:

    Home Kitchen Cleaning

    Home Kitchen Cleaning

    Kitchen Cleaning is another feat we encounter everytime we do a general home cleaning routine. Here are some tips on how to do a better kitchen cleaning.

    read more

    Ways of Disinfecting your Home and Office

    Ways of Disinfecting your Home and Office

    There are several ways of getting rid of germs and viruses at home that uses cleaning materials readily available at home or at any supermarket. Some of us are already doing some of these ways of disinfection, but we will go ahead and list them for those who are new in home and office disinfection. From the simplest to the slightly complex process, here are ways you can disinfect your home and office:

    Chlorine, Chlorine Powder or Clorox

    Almost every household have a bottle of Clorox under their kitchen sink, and some uses liquid or powdered chlorine for cleaning homes and pools. In it’s purest form, it is a very good chemical disinfectant, so following the proper water to chlorine ratio should be considered. Most experts and professionals advise that a 1:100 dilution is already okay to kill bacteria and viruses without doing harm to you. That’s 5mL or a spoonful of Cholorox on a 500mL water bottle. You can wipe down almost all surfaces (except surfaces of plates and utensils to avoid ingestion) and you can spray it around your home and garden. The only downside using this is the odor that it leaves. Some prefer the odor but most find it offensive, and not to mention that Chlorine is a mild to medium irritant depending on the concentration.

    Need something cleaned?

    Alcohol (Isopropyl or Ethyl)

    This is also a very common household item that can be easily used to disinfect surfaces. Be it 30% or 70%, Isopropyl or Ethyl, as long as it is not the ones you use as beverage, then you can definitely use it. Smell-wise, this is much more appealing compared to chlorine, and definitely less irritating on the skin. But for those who are cleaning mavericks out there, never combine alcohol and chlorine as it will create a poisonous gas that is nearly lethal to humans and animals. The downside of using alcohol is its cost and volatility (dries up fast and may catch fire). You can use too much of it if you are running on a budget, and you can’t simply spray it around the house as it dries up fast. Not to mention how it affects certain surfaces like varnished wood and laminated floors and walls.

     

    Commercial Liquid Disinfectant

    An occassional household that some of us use, liquid disinfectants (commercial names like Lysol or PineSol) are also good in cleaning your homes and offices. Most liquid disinfectants use Benzalkonium Chloride as an active ingredient, one of the things that most hospitals look for when looking for a good disinfectant. Similar to Chlorine, there are recommended dilution for each type of liquid disinfectant to economically clean your place. After mixing the concentrated form with water, you could use it to wipe or mop surfaces. Some brands also come in spray bottles but this may come out more expensive than your regular concentrated version when it comes to using it. Commercial liquid disinfectants are as effective as chlorine and much better smelling, however, it may cost you more.

     

    BEST WAY TO DISINFECT YOUR PLACE?

    Since our homes are unique, there are no rule of thumb on what is the best way to do it, but what we do recommend is utilizing and combining different techniques, approaches and different cleaning solutions (except alcohol and chlorine) to achieve the level of sanitation we want. Here are some tips you could use:

    • Start at the cleanest area to the most dirty (so you wouldn’t mistakenly spread the germs)
    • Use alcohol for hands only
    • Use diluted liquid disinfectants on surfaces (like tables, desks, walls, etc)
    • Use chlorine on floors
    • Use a different wash cloth (basahan/pamunas) for every room or area
    • Use a spray bottle for a more effective dispersal of your cleaning solution

    If you are not sure how exactly you can disinfect your home or office, you can always contact us for a more comprehensive disinfection service.

    More Related cleaning tips below:

    Home Kitchen Cleaning

    Home Kitchen Cleaning

    Kitchen Cleaning is another feat we encounter everytime we do a general home cleaning routine. Here are some tips on how to do a better kitchen cleaning.

    read more

    Hard Headed Stains: Hard Water Dilemmas

    Hard Headed Stains: Hard Water Dilemmas

    Dear CMDA,

    I just want to ask, how do you clean the stain droplets that appear on our glass windows and faucets? Even some of our bathroom tiles have that dried circles that can’t seem to be removed no matter how much I brush it, or dry it. I’ve tried using the strong toilet and bath cleaning solutions you mentioned, but they don’t seem to get away. Please help!

    Sincerely,
    Raine

    Need something cleaned?

    Hi Raine,

    Thank you for your question, and for being a loyal visitor on our site.

    Those droplets and circular stains that you are mentioning are called “Hard Water Stains”, and are caused by the tap water that comes out of our faucet. Unfortunately, all our water supply provider delivers hard water through our pipelines. Hard water contains small amounts of metals and minerals, which when they accumulate and dry up, would cause those hard to remove stains. Simply put, regardless of what commercial cleaning solution you use, as long as you rinse using hard water, those marks will always appear. An immediate solution to this would be cleaning with the same cleaning solutions, soak it for 15 minutes, but rinsing with distilled water. On your next home deep cleaning, you can also try rinsing the glass windows or faucets with vinegar, squeezed calamansi or lemon.

    Thank you so much and we look forward to your next message to us!

    Reena Alcantara

    Reena Alcantara

    President

    Reena, or “Renz”, is the owner and president of CMDA Cleaning Services. A work from home mom, loving wife and a mother of 2 girls, 2 cats and a dog. She is passionate about all things related to cleaning. She is a strong advocate of “Mompreneur” which enables mothers to be successful businesswomen. On her spare time, she looks for local suppliers and retailers to also help support small local businesses.

    Reena is a Registered Medical Technologist, and also a graduate of BS Nursing. She knows the real deal about germs and the importance of health. Though she does not practice her field for 15 years, she believes that she could help more people be healthy in providing clean homes and offices.