The Challenge
During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the county converted a full hotel into emergency housing for homeless individuals. Nearly every room was occupied by COVID-positive patients. The facility needed professional decontamination that could handle:
- Extreme biohazard conditions: COVID-positive patients in nearly every room
- Unpredictable environment: Working with vulnerable, sometimes uncooperative populations
- High contamination risk: Rooms with bodily fluids, medical waste, and hazardous materials
- Urgent timeline: Rooms needed to be turned over quickly for incoming patients
- Safety compliance: Full OSHA bloodborne pathogen protocols required
"This wasn't a typical cleaning job. Every room told a story - and not all of them were pleasant. We found everything from medical supplies to items that shouldn't have been there. It was one of the most challenging environments our team has ever faced."
Our Response
We mobilized our entire team with specialized biohazard protocols:
- Full PPE deployment: N95 masks, face shields, disposable gowns, double gloves for every crew member
- EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants: Products proven effective against SARS-CoV-2
- Two-stage cleaning protocol: Remove contamination first, then disinfect with proper dwell time
- Hazardous waste removal: Proper disposal of medical waste, sharps, and contaminated materials
- Electrostatic disinfection: Full-room fogging to reach every surface
- Air quality management: HEPA filtration and ventilation protocols
- Documentation: Logged every room cleaned for county records
Safety First: We held daily safety briefings, monitored crew health, and rotated team members to minimize prolonged exposure. No TBM employee contracted COVID during this assignment.
The Outcome
100+
Hotel Rooms Decontaminated
24/7
Availability for Emergencies
The hotel remained operational throughout the pandemic, providing safe emergency housing for vulnerable populations. The county recognized TBM's work as essential to their COVID response efforts.
Key Takeaway: When other cleaning companies turned down this job due to safety concerns, TBM stepped up. We proved that with proper protocols, training, and equipment, even the most challenging biohazard situations can be handled safely and effectively.
"This was the hardest job we've ever taken. But we knew that if we didn't do it, those vulnerable people wouldn't have a safe place to recover. That's what separates TBM from other cleaning companies - we show up when it matters most."
— TBM Operations Team
The Emergency
Heavy rain overwhelmed the building's door seals, flooding the entire first floor with several inches of standing water. When we arrived, the scene was dramatic: long commercial hallways transformed into reflecting pools, with ceiling lights bouncing off inches-deep water stretching the full length of the corridors.
- Extensive flooding: Water covering entire hallways wall-to-wall - you could see your reflection in the standing water
- Professional office building: Modern facility with white walls, wooden benches, plants - all surrounded by water
- Multiple corridors affected: Water extended down full-length hallways into office spaces
- Door seal failure: Water penetrated through bottom door seals throughout the facility
- Time-sensitive situation: Water needed extraction within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth
- Business continuity crisis: Client needed facility operational by Monday morning
- Volume challenge: This wasn't a small leak - this was a full-building flood event
All-Hands Response
We deployed our entire company - every available crew member and piece of extraction equipment we had:
- Full team mobilization: Called in off-duty staff for emergency response
- Every piece of equipment: Portable extractors, shop vacs, wet/dry vacuums - everything we owned deployed simultaneously
- We're not water damage specialists: But we were already their cleaning company, and they needed help immediately
- Zone-based extraction: Divided facility into sections for systematic water removal
- Every fan imaginable: Every fan we owned from our company, every fan within the facility itself, borrowed fans, rented industrial air movers - all deployed simultaneously for maximum airflow
- Dehumidification: Commercial dehumidifiers running 24/7
- Moisture monitoring: Checked moisture levels every 6 hours until dry
- Antimicrobial treatment: Applied to prevent mold growth
Honest Truth: Water damage restoration isn't our specialty - we don't have truck-mounted equipment or handle that level regularly. But we were already their trusted cleaning partner. When they called in a panic, we showed up with everything we had and figured it out.
Crisis Averted
< 12 hrs
Water Extraction Time
$0
Carpet Replacement Cost
The facility reopened on schedule Monday morning with completely dry, clean carpets. No mold developed. No replacement needed. The client avoided tens of thousands in carpet replacement costs.
"When we got that call on Friday afternoon, we knew it was all-hands-on-deck. Every person on our team dropped what they were doing and showed up. That's what 18+ years of experience looks like - knowing exactly how to mobilize for an emergency."
— TBM Emergency Response Coordinator
The Crisis
A viral outbreak spread through the daycare, affecting multiple children and staff. Standard cleaning wasn't stopping transmission.
- Active viral transmission: Illness spreading despite existing cleaning protocols
- Vulnerable population: Young children with developing immune systems
- Chemical resistance risk: Improper disinfection can make viruses adapt to chemicals
- Parent concern: Families considering pulling children from center
- Regulatory pressure: Health department monitoring the situation
Scientific Disinfection Protocol
We implemented a staged approach based on CDC guidelines for preventing chemical resistance:
Stage 1: Deep Cleaning (Week 1)
- Remove all organic material with soap and water first
- This eliminates the biofilm that protects viruses
- Disinfectants can't work on dirty surfaces
Stage 2: Initial Disinfection (Week 2)
- EPA-registered disinfectant with 10-minute dwell time
- Focus on high-touch surfaces: toys, door handles, tables, chairs
- Document every surface treated
Stage 3: Rotating Disinfection (Weeks 3-6)
- Rotation strategy: Alternated between different EPA-registered disinfectants
- Why it works: Prevents viruses from adapting to a single chemical
- Child-safe products: All chemicals safe for use around children
- Frequency: Daily disinfection with weekly deep cleaning
Staff Training: Taught daycare staff proper cleaning and disinfection procedures to maintain results long-term.
Outbreak Eliminated
2 weeks
To Stop Transmission
0
New Cases After Treatment
100%
Parent Confidence Restored
6 weeks
Follow-up Protocol
The viral outbreak was completely eliminated within 2 weeks. No new cases occurred. The daycare remained open and maintained full enrollment. Health department signed off on our protocol.
Long-Term Impact: The daycare adopted our multi-stage cleaning protocol as their new standard, significantly reducing illness transmission in subsequent years.
"A lot of cleaning companies would just spray disinfectant and call it a day. We understand the science - you have to remove the dirt first, then disinfect properly, and rotate your chemicals to prevent resistance. That's the difference between temporary results and actually solving the problem."
— TBM Disinfection Specialist
The Situation
A major snowstorm hit Portland overnight. The building's maintenance supervisor called in sick, leaving the facility with snow-blocked entrances, dangerous walkways, and no one to clear pathways before employees arrived.
- Safety hazard: Ice and snow blocking all building entrances
- Liability risk: Employees and visitors at risk for slip-and-fall injuries
- Time pressure: Building opened in 2 hours - pathways needed clearing immediately
- Brutal conditions: Freezing temperatures, heavy snow, physically demanding work
- Not our job: Snow removal isn't part of our cleaning contract
We Showed Up Anyway
When the facility manager called TBM in desperation, we didn't hesitate:
- Immediate deployment: Sent available crew members with shovels and de-icer
- Route prioritization: Cleared main entrances first, then walkways, then parking areas
- Ice treatment: Applied de-icing salt to prevent re-freezing
- Continuous monitoring: Checked pathways throughout the day as snow continued
- Physical labor: Hours of manual shoveling in freezing conditions
"It was cold. It was hard work. And it definitely wasn't what we signed up for. But our client needed help, and we weren't going to leave them stranded. That's what partnership means."
Building Opened Safely On Time
2 hours
All Routes Cleared
0
Slip-and-Fall Incidents
All entrances and walkways were cleared before the first employees arrived. No injuries. No delays. The building operated normally despite the snowstorm.
Why It Matters: This wasn't a cleaning job. It wasn't in our contract. But when a long-time client needed emergency help, TBM showed up. That's what 18+ years of partnership looks like - going beyond the scope of work to support your success.
"Could we have said 'that's not our job' and gone home? Sure. But that's not who we are. When you've been cleaning someone's building for years, they're not just a client - they're a partner. And partners help each other out, even when it's freezing cold and your back is killing you."
— TBM Crew Lead
The Panic Call
Friday afternoon: the phone rang with a frantic facility manager. They had a major event scheduled for Saturday - and they'd completely forgotten to schedule cleaning services.
- Less than 24 hours notice: Event starting Saturday morning with no janitorial coverage
- Pre-event cleaning needed: Facility had to be spotless before guests arrived
- Post-event cleanup required: Full cleanup after the event concluded
- Weekend emergency: Most cleaning companies don't even answer the phone on Friday evening
- Client in panic mode: "Can you help us? Anyone? Please?"
On-Standby Team Deployment
This is exactly why TBM keeps crews on standby - for moments like this:
- Friday evening coordination: Immediately assembled available crew members
- Saturday morning pre-event cleaning: Floors, restrooms, common areas, trash removal - full facility detail
- Event support: Standby crew available if issues arose during the event
- Post-event cleanup: Returned after the event for complete breakdown cleaning
- Sunday morning verification: Final walkthrough to ensure everything perfect for Monday opening
Why We Keep Crews On Standby: Emergencies don't happen during business hours. Events get forgotten. Pipes burst on weekends. Having trained staff ready to deploy at a moment's notice isn't just good service - it's what separates TBM from companies that "check back Monday."
Event Executed Flawlessly
Weekend
Emergency Coverage
The facility was spotless for guest arrival. The event proceeded without any cleaning or maintenance issues. Post-event cleanup was completed swiftly. Monday morning, it was like the event never happened - except for one very grateful facility manager.
Happy Ending: Everything went according to plan. Client was relieved. Guests were impressed. Event was successful. And everybody had a nice weekend - including our crew, who earned well-deserved overtime pay for saving the day.
"We could have said 'sorry, we're booked' and enjoyed our Friday night. But when someone's in a genuine bind, and we have the people and capability to help - why wouldn't we? That's what 24/7 emergency service actually means. Not just for pipes and floods, but for the quiet emergencies too, like a forgotten phone call that could ruin someone's important event."
— TBM Operations Manager