Diverse Facility Solutions Recognized at the DFW Airport Excellence Awards

Diverse Facility Solutions Recognized at the DFW Airport Excellence Awards

We’re proud to share that Diverse Facility Solutions (DFS) was recognized at this year’s DFW Airport Excellence Awards for our continued commitment to quality and cleanliness across the airport.

DFS was honored with awards for:

  • Most Improved Cleanliness & Condition of Washrooms
  • Most Improved Cleanliness & Condition of Terminals

These recognitions are a direct reflection of the day in and day out dedication of our custodial teams at DFW. Our employees show up early, stay late, and take genuine pride in their work, ensuring the airport remains clean, safe, and welcoming for the millions of travelers who pass through each year.

Improvement at this level does not happen overnight. It is the result of consistent training, strong leadership, attention to detail, and a team that understands the importance of their role in the passenger experience.

We are grateful to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) for this recognition and for their continued partnership. Most importantly, we want to congratulate and thank our incredible DFS team for setting the standard and representing our company with professionalism and pride every single day.

Understanding Wet Floor Signs: DFS Best Practices for Safety and Visibility

Understanding Wet Floor Signs: DFS Best Practices for Safety and Visibility

Introduction
In busy environments like airports, universities, and other public spaces, safety cannot be left to chance. Wet floor signs are among the simplest tools a facility team can use, but if used incorrectly, they can lose their effectiveness or even create new hazards.

At Diverse Facility Solutions (DFS), safety is built into our daily operations. Our teams focus on awareness, proper placement, and best practices to keep facilities organized, compliant, and injury free. This approach helps protect your guests and employees.


Why Proper Placement Matters
Proper signage placement is essential to effective risk management. A wet floor sign should warn people early and guide them safely around a hazard. Signs placed too close to the wet area, facing the wrong direction, or blocking walkways can create confusion instead of preventing incidents.

DFS teams are trained to view signage as part of overall traffic flow. The goal is to ensure visibility, allow safe movement, and support confidence in crowded or fast paced environments.


Our Three Sign Types
DFS trains teams to use the right tool for each situation.

Sign Type Key Features Placement
Folding Signs Standard A-frame design; most commonly used Best for smaller, expected hazards such as around water fountains, restrooms, and contained spills in walkways
Cone-Style Signs Taller, robust, and visible from all sides Ideal for large open walkways, building entrances, and transition points such as the top and bottom of escalators or moving walkways
Pop-Up Signs Stores flat and opens instantly Perfect for rapid deployment during unexpected spills in high-traffic areas such as gate hold rooms or terminal walkways


Best Practices: The DFS Standard
DFS teams follow clear guidelines to ensure each sign is used effectively:

  • Place Signs Before the Wet Area: Position the sign where people can see it early and react safely. It marks the start of the warning zone, not the hazard itself.

  • Select the Right Sign for the Situation: Choose the sign type based on the area, traffic flow, and urgency. Cone-style signs work well in busy open spaces, pop-up signs are ideal for quick deployment during unexpected hazards, and folding signs are perfect for smaller, routine spills.

  • Ensure Visibility: Keep signs in clear view at all times. Avoid hiding them behind equipment, carts, or corners. In long or open areas, use multiple signs so the hazard is visible from every direction.

  • Maintain Sign Integrity: Keep signs upright and stable. Replace damaged, faded, or dirty signs to maintain safety and a professional appearance.


Avoiding Sign Fatigue
One of the most important considerations for wet floor safety is the timely removal of signs. Leaving signs out after the floor is dry can create tripping hazards and lead to sign fatigue. When signs are used unnecessarily, people may stop paying attention, and a real hazard might be ignored.

At DFS, wet floor signs are used only for active hazards. Once an area is verified as clean and safe, the sign is removed immediately and returned to its proper storage location.


Conclusion
A successful safety program depends on consistent training and attention to detail. By choosing the right wet floor signs, placing them correctly, and removing them promptly, DFS helps reduce risk and maintain safer environments for employees, visitors, and everyone in your facility.

High-Traffic Escalator Cleaning Solutions by Diverse Facility Solutions

High-Traffic Escalator Cleaning Solutions by Diverse Facility Solutions

Overview

Diverse Facility Solutions (DFS) partnered with San Antonio Airport to restore and maintain the appearance of high-traffic escalators. Through specialized equipment, detailed hand cleaning, and a recurring maintenance plan, DFS delivered a cleaner, safer, and more welcoming environment for passengers.


The Challenge

San Antonio Airport faced several issues with their high-traffic escalators:

  • Visible Dirt and Grime: Years of use without deep cleaning left steps and threads noticeably dirty.

  • Negative Passenger Feedback: Travelers had raised concerns about the escalators’ appearance.

  • High-Traffic Environment: Cleaning needed to be thorough yet efficient to avoid disrupting daily operations.


The DFS Solution

DFS implemented a multi-step approach to bring the escalators back to a professional standard:

  • Specialized Equipment: Professional-grade machines were used to deep clean escalator steps and threads.

  • Detailed Hand Cleaning: DFS team members addressed risers and hard-to-reach areas with hand tools for complete coverage.

  • Recurring Maintenance Plan: After the initial restoration, DFS established a consistent schedule to maintain cleanliness and prevent future buildup


The Results

The transformation was immediate and noticeable:

  • Escalators were restored to a clean, polished appearance, enhancing the passenger experience.

  • The recurring maintenance plan ensures the escalators remain consistently clean over time.

  • Airport management praised DFS for delivering efficient, high-quality work that exceeded expectations.


Key Takeaways

  • Proactive Maintenance Matters: Regular upkeep prevents long-term dirt buildup and protects facility investments.

  • Combination Approach Works Best: Using advanced equipment along with detailed hand cleaning delivers optimal results.

  • Cleanliness Enhances Experience: Consistently clean escalators improve passenger satisfaction and reinforce a professional image.

  • Strong Partnerships Lead to Success: Collaboration between DFS and the client ensures lasting results and continued excellence.


Conclusion

DFS’s partnership with San Antonio Airport demonstrates the value of proactive, high-quality facility maintenance. By combining advanced equipment, detailed hand cleaning, and a recurring maintenance plan, DFS not only restored the escalators’ appearance but also enhanced the passenger experience and protected the airport’s investment. This project highlights how expertise, planning, and strong client collaboration lead to lasting results and continued success.

Deep Cleaning and Refreshing Schools: DFS Summer Projects

Deep Cleaning and Refreshing Schools: DFS Summer Projects

Summer is a busy and exciting time for our custodial teams at DFS. While students and teachers enjoy their break, DFS has the opportunity to complete some of the most thorough and detailed cleaning projects of the year in K-12 schools and colleges. These summer months allow us to deep clean and refresh classrooms, cafeterias, labs, and more, ensuring learning environments are spotless and ready for the new school year.

Thorough Classroom Cleaning

During the school year, our custodians maintain daily cleaning routines, but summer lets us go beyond the surface. We move every piece of furniture out of classrooms including desks, chairs, and shelves so we can clean every inch of the floors and corners that are hard to reach during busy school days. Our team uses industry-leading equipment and techniques to scrub and polish the floors until they look like new.

                          

Once the floors are gleaming, we carefully replace the furniture exactly where it belongs, preparing the room perfectly for fall.

Revitalizing Common Spaces

Our summer projects extend beyond classrooms to include cafeterias, laboratories, and various common areas throughout schools and colleges. These spaces experience heavy daily use and naturally accumulate dirt, spills, and wear over time. During the summer, we take the time to thoroughly clean and sanitize every surface to ensure a healthy and welcoming environment.

     

Why Summer Deep Cleaning Matters

Deep cleaning during summer break helps reduce allergens, bacteria, and buildup that can accumulate during the school year. It also prolongs the life of flooring and fixtures which saves schools money in the long run. Most importantly, it creates a safer and healthier environment for students and staff to return to in the fall.

Our Commitment to Schools

At DFS, we are proud to partner with local schools and colleges to keep their facilities clean and well maintained. Our custodial teams are trained, experienced, and dedicated to delivering exceptional results every summer as well as every day of the school year.

If your school is interested in learning more about our janitorial services or scheduling a deep cleaning project, contact us today!

What It Really Takes to Launch a New Custodial Contract

What It Really Takes to Launch a New Custodial Contract

When we begin services at a new site, it may look like a seamless handoff from the outside. But behind the scenes, a custodial contract startup is a complex, carefully managed operation that starts weeks before the first day on-site.

At DFS, we approach every new contract with a detailed startup plan, built around one central goal: setting up our people and clients for long-term success. That means going far beyond just hiring and cleaning, it means building an entire operation from the ground up.

Here’s a look at what really goes into launching a new facility.


1. Planning Starts Long Before Day One

Every successful transition starts with detailed planning, and that begins 30 to 60 days before our team ever sets foot on-site. We hold weekly internal meetings with leaders from HR, Recruiting, Operations, Training, Finance, and Compliance to make sure every detail is covered:

  • Reviewing client expectations and scope

  • Creating staffing plans and schedules

  • Coordinating background checks and badging

  • Ordering supplies and equipment

  • Mapping out onboarding, payroll, and compliance timelines

These early meetings form the foundation for everything that follows.


2. Building the Right Team, Locally

We make it a priority to hire from the communities we serve. Hosting local recruiting events near the new facility allows us to connect with candidates who are already familiar with the area, resulting in a workforce that is more committed and reliable.

At these events, we often complete much of the onboarding on the spot including fingerprinting, I-9s, document collection, and uniform fittings. This helps streamline the startup and ensures every employee is fully prepared for Day One.


3. Paid Training That Sets the Standard

We invest in hands-on training for every new hire, offering paid orientation sessions where employees learn:

  • How to clean efficiently, professionally, and safely

  • The proper use of chemicals and equipment

  • DFS safety standards and reporting procedures

By training with intention, we help every employee feel confident and capable before they even start.


4. Preparing Supervisors and Managers

Leadership is one of the most important ingredients in a successful startup. Our VP of Operations and senior leadership team conduct specialized training for site supervisors and managers, focusing on:

  • How to lead teams and solve problems on the ground

  • Managing timekeeping, scheduling, and performance expectations

  • Enforcing safety, cleanliness, and cultural standards

This helps create strong leaders who model excellence from the start.


5. Hands-On Vendor Training

To further support safety and quality, we bring in local vendors during training week to demonstrate how to properly use equipment and chemicals. When employees understand their tools, they work smarter and safer.


6. Tech and Operations Setup

In the final days leading up to launch, we turn our attention to operational infrastructure:

  • Installing time clocks

  • Cataloging rooms in our QA/QC tracking software

  • Stocking janitor carts, chemical stations, and supply closets

  • Distributing uniforms and radios

  • Setting up site-specific communication systems

Everything is mapped and organized so the site runs smoothly from Day One.


7. Onsite Support During Go-Live

Our commitment doesn’t end at launch, it ramps up.

When the site goes live, a dedicated transition team from DFS remains onsite for at least two to three weeks. During this time, we:

  • Monitor shift performance

  • Provide real-time support to staff and supervisors

  • Troubleshoot issues and improve workflows

  • Adjust supply systems and resolve gaps

  • Reinforce expectations and culture

We don’t just start operations, we stabilize and elevate them.


8. The Final Step: Culture Change

Perhaps the most important, and most often overlooked, part of a startup is shifting the culture on-site.

Many times, we inherit facilities where the workforce has felt unsupported or undervalued. From day one, we work to change that by creating an environment where employees feel:

  • Supported by present, hands-on leadership

  • Equipped with the tools and training they need

  • Respected as professionals

When employees feel pride in their work, the entire facility benefits. And that’s what sets DFS apart.


Building More Than Operations

For us, a startup isn’t just about cleaning floors. It’s about building trust, professionalism, and pride from the ground up. Every site is different, but our approach remains the same: plan thoroughly, hire locally, train intentionally, and lead with care.

That’s how we deliver more than facility services. We deliver solutions that work.