As a consumer you want to hire the very best. Cleaning companies that are actually trained to clean, and companies that train their employees. 

A full list of certified cleaning companies can be found here at this link.

Nine companies, including Comcast Corp. and software firm Intuit Inc., warn of 738 Illinois job cuts in a new state report.

More than 500 of the cuts are in the Chicago area, according to the July WARN report from the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

• Philadelphia-based Comcast plans to lay off 112 workers in southwest suburban Romeoville starting Sept. 14.
• Mountain View, California-based Intuit will lay off 104 workers in Arlington Heights starting Sept. 15.
• Commercial real estate company Equity Office Management LLC will cut 48 workers in Chicago starting at the end of September.
• Fairfield, California-based confectionery maker Jelly Belly Candy Co. is cutting 66 workers in North Chicago. The company said laid-off workers will receive outplacement services and also will be able to explore job transfers to other company locations.
• We Clean Maintenance & Supplies Inc. in Bedford Park will lay off... 

On August 7, 2014, the Washington Supreme Court unanimously adopted the "economic reality" test to determine whether a joint employment relationship exists under Washington's minimum wage state ("MWA"), chapter 49.46 RCW in Becerra et al. v. Expert Janitorial LLC and Fred Meyer Stores, Inc. (Case No. 89534-1).

In Becerra, the plaintiffs worked as independent contractors (the validity of that classification was not at issue on appeal) for subcontractors who provided janitorial services to Expert Janitorial LLC. Expert then had a contract with Fred Meyer to provide janitorial services in Fred Meyer stores in the Puget Sound while those stores were closed and locked at night. None of the plaintiffs were formally employed by Expert or Fred Meyer. The plaintiffs were regularly required to work more than eight hours per day because they were locked in the store and could not leave until the Fred Meyer employees reviewed their work and signed them out the next morning. The subcontractors paid the plaintiffs less than the minimum wage and did not pay them overtime.

The plaintiffs sued the subcontractors, Fred Meyer and Expert for violation of the MWA among other things. Fred Meyer and Expert moved for summary judgment on the grounds that they were not the plaintiffs' employers. The trial court applied the joint employment test set forth in Bonnette v. California Health and Welfare Agency, 704 F.2d 1465, 1469 (9th Cir. 1983) and granted summary judgment as to both, primarily on the ground that they were not involved in the hiring and firing of the plaintiffs.

More at source: Lexology

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On Monday, Superior Carpets on 14th Street was open for business. But the owners and employees were still cleaning up after 3 and a half inches of water flooded the 10,000 square foot building on Sunday.

"We had to take up all of our carpet and pad and the hardwoods we have installed in the showrooms" said owner Celeste Smith.

Smith said the damage will total over $100,000 but this is not the first time the store has flooded.

"We've been here for 26 years and we've never had this problem before last July 4th" said Smith.

The building is not in a flood zone so Smith and her husband didn't have flood insurance. They had to repair the building after it flooded last year and now they'll have to do it again.

"I don't know how long it will take us to get this done" said Smith.

More at source: WaaayTV

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TEMPLE (August 7, 2014) A work van was destroyed by fire Wednesday evening as a carpet cleaning crew was working at a Temple apartment complex.

Firefighters were sent at about 6:15 p.m. to a report of a vehicle fire at University Courtyard Apartments where the first unit on the scene reported heavy smoke coming from a van, Temple Fire and Rescue spokesman Thomas Pechal said.

A carpet cleaning company working inside an apartment noticed a malfunction in their equipment and when they went outside to check on the problem, they discovered their work van was on fire.

Pechal said heavy black smoke was billowing from the van that was parked about 20-25 feet away from apartments at 2315 South 1st Street.

No one was inside.

The manager at the complex tried to douse the blaze with a fire extinguisher but to no avail, Pechal said.

TFR investigators said the fire started due to a malfunction in the carpet-cleaning machine.

No apartments were in danger from the fire and there were no injuries but the blaze destroyed the van and cleaning machine mounted inside, Pechal said.

Fire units cleared the scene at 7:40 p.m. 

More at source: KWTX

Find a carpet cleaning service near you here. 

Forget expensive cleaning products, use a POTATO to clean your home: Expert reveals science behind foods that tackle rust, limescale and stains

• Cleaning experts from London-based Hassle.com have revealed which food items can be used as substitutes to expensive cleaning products
• Acids in coke and vinegar are found in products and react to lift stains
• Mayonnaise contains oils and proteins that diminish marks on wood
• Potatoes and baking soda tackle rust because the oxalic acid in the potato mixes with the baking soda to dissolve it 

By VICTORIA WOOLLASTON

PUBLISHED: 06:02 EST, 7 August 2014 | UPDATED: 08:43 EST, 7 August 2014

For decades, food items have been touted as substitutes to expensive household cleaning products.

And now a cleaning expert has revealed the science behind why certain foods are so useful for tackling rust, removing stains and tightening cracks in wood.

This ranges from potatoes, banana skins, brazil nuts, vinegar to mayonnaise.

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A cleaning expert has revealed which food items can be used as substitutes to expensive cleaning products, and also the science behind why they are so effective. For example, potatoes are effective at removing rust because the oxalic acid reacts with baking soda to dissolve the hydrated iron oxides

For example, Alex Depledge, chief executive of cleaning site Hassle.com told MailOnline that tomato ketchup is good for cleaning brass, copper and silver elements.

'Tarnishing mainly occurs due to sulphur compounds in the air. 

'When the ketchup is applied to the metal, the natural acid in the tomatoes reacts with the oxidising of the tarnished silver, brass or copper.'

'Potatoes and baking soda are effective at tackling rust because the oxalic acid in the potato mixes with the baking soda to help to dissolve the rust,' said Mrs Depledge.

Even the weakest levels of acid can dissolve and loosen the hydrated iron oxides found in rust. 

Read more at source: Daily UK

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Greg Terhaar surprised his interviewers when they asked him what kind of job he’s seeking.

“Working for the government, doing policy-making for disability rights on a global stage,” Terhaar replied.

Terhaar, 26, already has some experience. As someone who has Down syndrome himself, he has been to Olympia and Washington, D.C., advocating for people with disabilities, and has been a member of the Spokane Human Rights Commission.

But he has had trouble finding steady employment. He is now working at Target, doing what he says is mostly cleaning, and he is looking for a more fulfilling job – something people with developmental disabilities have a hard time finding.

The Partners for Work program, started a year ago by Spokane’s Rotary Club, aims to create job opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.

More at source: Spokesman

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WATERLOO | A new custodial firm has been hired to clean City Hall and other municipal buildings.

But at least one councilman is concerned the low-wage jobs send the wrong message to the community.

Ward 3 Councilman Pat Morrissey cast the lone dissenting vote when the City Council voted 5-1 Monday to approve a three-year contract with Midwest Janitorial Service, of Waterloo, to take over building cleaning.

Morrissey said he would prefer to see the city hire its own workers to provide better accountability. But he was particularly concerned the staff would be part-time, paid about $8 per hour and receive no benefits.

When he was campaigning for office last fall, Morrissey said constituents told him the city need to do more to create higher-wage jobs in the community.

"Waterloo needs to be a leader in bringing good ... 

More at source: WCF Courier

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About 70 janitorial workers from the Fort Belvoir military base have gone on strike, prompting both a local union and U.S. Rep. Jim Moran (D-Dist. 8) to seek action on their behalf.

The workers are employed at the military base through a contract held by contractors Brown & Pipkins/Acsential of Atlanta, Ga. They allege that Brown & Pipkins refuses to bargain a contract in good faith with their union, 32BJ SEIU. Workers began striking on Tuesday morning, and remained in negotiations as of Thursday afternoon, according to Brown & Pipkins.

“Nobody wants to strike, but these men and women are willing to do what’s necessary to support their families,” said 32BJ SEIU Vice President and Capital Area Director, Jaime Contreras.

More at source: Fairfax Times

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FORT WORTH undefined Dozens of African-American parents stormed the Fort Worth school district offices Tuesday claiming that their children were not paid for janitorial work they performed at schools under a contract with a local minister.

Kyev Tatum, minister at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, said the school district has violated its contract with him to provide a program encouraging inner-city youth to become productive citizens. He said that under an agreement with the school district, about 100 youngsters mopped floors, wiped windows and performed other custodial duties over a 15-day period.

“We refuse to embrace the history of this district of treating people of color this way,” Tatum said after a meeting of more than 70 parents at district offices on University Drive.

“We are being demonized for creating something that is helping our kids get better,” Tatum said.

School district officials said Tatum was told not to implement the program after a May 26 meeting with several district officials, including former Superintendent Walter Dansby, who resigned June 2. On May 27, the district sent Tatum an email explaining that the district could not support the program, district officials said.

More at source: The Star Telegram

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