by Giavanna Fulco | May 23, 2025 | Uncategorized
Overview
When the floor of a busy airport food court had deteriorated beyond recognition, even industry experts thought there was only one answer: full replacement. But DFS saw something different — potential. Leveraging decades of floor care expertise and a reputation for innovative solutions, the DFS team turned what seemed like an impossible task into a showcase of precision, efficiency, and transformation.
The Problem: Worn, Stained, and Written Off
After years of constant foot traffic, food spills, and wear-and-tear, the food court floors at a major airport were in a severe state of disrepair. The surface was dull, deeply soiled, and riddled with stubborn stains. The damage was so extensive that several floor care specialists deemed restoration unfeasible and recommended full floor replacement — an expensive and disruptive solution.
On top of that, the high visibility and continuous use of the food court meant that any work done in the area would require careful coordination to avoid interfering with travelers and vendors.
The Solution: A Bold Proposal by DFS
DFS was already the trusted custodial partner for other parts of the airport, known for delivering reliable service and expert care. When our custodial manager assessed the condition of the food court floors, they saw an opportunity — not for replacement, but for restoration.
While this area wasn’t covered under DFS’s existing contract, our team offered a bold alternative to the costly replacement plan. With confidence in our advanced floor care methods and experienced crew, we proposed restoring the original floors to their former shine.
The approach offered:
Airport leadership agreed, and the project began.
Execution: Precision, Planning, and Performance
The entire restoration project was completed in just six days, demonstrating DFS’s commitment to operational excellence and adaptability.
To ensure the busy food court could continue functioning, DFS implemented a phased approach, dividing the project into manageable sections tackled during off-peak hours.
Our team followed a meticulous three-step restoration process:
- Stripping layers of embedded grime and buildup
- Deep cleaning residual debris and preparing the surface
- Applying a protective finish that brought back the original luster
Each phase was executed with attention to detail, safety, and minimal disruption to travelers and vendors alike.
Results: A Floor That Shines Like New
The transformation was nothing short of remarkable. The floors, once written off as beyond saving, regained their original shine and professional appearance, dramatically enhancing the overall look and feel of the food court.
Airport management was thoroughly impressed — not only with the end result but with the speed, cleanliness, and professionalism of the entire process.
As a direct result of this successful project, DFS was awarded a new contract to manage floor care services in another high-traffic area of the airport, a testament to the trust we earned through performance.
Key Benefits of Floor Restoration with DFS
✅ Cost Savings
Restoring instead of replacing saved the airport a significant amount — funds that could be redirected to other essential improvements.
✅ Efficiency
Our streamlined process allowed for a quick turnaround, minimizing downtime and maintaining service in a critical area of the airport.
✅ Minimal Disruption
By working during off-peak hours and avoiding demolition, we limited noise, dust, and interruptions for both vendors and travelers.
Conclusion: When Others Gave Up, DFS Delivered
This project highlights what DFS does best: finding smart, cost-effective solutions to tough problems. Where others saw failure, we saw opportunity — and delivered outstanding results with professionalism and speed.
If your facility is facing similar challenges, don’t assume replacement is the only answer. Let DFS show you how restoration can save you time, money, and headaches — while making your space shine again.
by Giavanna Fulco | Mar 31, 2025 | Uncategorized
For the third consecutive year, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) has once again been recognized for its outstanding customer service with 2024 ACI World – Airports Council International Airport Experience Award. This amazing recognition, determined entirely by passenger feedback, places a spotlight on cleanliness as an essential factor contributing to passenger experience.
At DFS, we understand that a well-maintained, spotless airport is paramount to the overall passenger travel experience. Our dedicated janitorial teams at DFW work tirelessly, around the clock, to ensure that every terminal, gate area, and restroom meets the highest standards of cleanliness. Their relentless hard work directly contributes to the airport’s continued success and enhances the journey for millions of travelers each year.
This award isn’t just a win for DFW; it’s a reflection of DFS’s unwavering commitment to excellence. We’re incredibly proud of our teams at DFW, whose hard work and dedication are a testament to our company’s values. Their efforts shine, proving that even the most demanding environments can be transformed into spaces of exceptional cleanliness and comfort. We are honored to play a part in DFW’s continued success, and the positive experiences of the millions of people that travel through DFW airport.
by Ryan | Mar 21, 2020 | Blog, Uncategorized
3/21/2020
To Our Customers,
All of us at DFS take our responsibility to serve our community very seriously as we know our customers depend on us — especially during times of crisis. With COVID-19 evolving daily, we are continually evaluating what we must do to meet the needs of our customers while also keeping our community and employees safe. Over the past two weeks we have implemented several measures to make sure our facilities are being cleaned and disinfected with the utmost care and detail. We have worked closely with our suppliers, partners and customers to make sure our supply chain of required products can be met and delivered on-time. I would like to thank all of you for your assistance during these trying times and ensure you that our employees continue to work hard to ensure safe and clean facilities for everyone.
Listed below are protocols that have been implemented to ensure safety of our employees working at your facilities. Understanding no two facilities are alike, we have asked our Site Managers to work with facility management to ensure we can accomplish what is needed to comply.
Promoting Social Distancing:
- Managers have been instructed to review all work schedules and adjust start and end times to eliminate employees gathering at the time clock. Employees are required to wear gloves when using the main time clock, and disinfectant will be used between shifts to clean each punch surface.
- Where applicable, we have activated the ability for employees to punch in via an app on their personal phones, should they wish to do so. All transactions are monitored via geofencing technology.
- Break times and areas are being modified to make sure our employees have ample room and maintain the 6-foot space requirement recommended by the CDC.
- Supply rooms and equipment are being distributed so that employees will not have to gather in a common space at the same time.
Procedure Requirements:
- PPE is always required while in the facility. This includes the use of gloves and goggles. Under special circumstances, as required by our SOP’s, protective gowns and face masks are also required.
- Mandatory hand washing every 30 minutes regardless of task or assignment.
- For our locations in NY, CA and IL affected by the “Stay in Place Orders,” letters have been distributed to each employee identifying them as “Essential Needs Employees” with a company contact number, should anyone have questions. Employees are only allowed to present that letter while going to and from work. We are encouraging our employees to comply with their respective order otherwise.
Please know that we are committed to taking every measure possible to keep our customers and employees safe and healthy so we can continue to service your facility during this much needed time. We will also be communicating with you if and when we have additional updates or information to share. You can also get updates on our social media platforms at any time.
Thank you for your continued support!
Mark Wright, President/ CEO
by Ryan | Feb 8, 2016 | Blog, Uncategorized
DFS has emerged as a leader in the janitorial services industry. With over 800 employees across the country, a presence coast-to-coast in 7 states across the US, and three corporate offices in Illinois, California and Texas, DFS has grown up to be a frontrunner in providing janitorial and facility services in this country. As the company grows we realize it is time to also grow and develop our marketing strategies. Conventional methods of marketing are no longer as viable as was in the past, but an online presence can prove to be an effective method of reaching target markets and customers.
We now need to find our voice. Who do we want to be online? What do we want to represent?
We know that we want to focus our messages on educating the public about all things janitorial – how to keep your facility clean, what to focus on in terms of a cleaning contract, industry standards and best practices. We also want this voice to project information that we believe in as a company. How to interact with your customers. How to interact with your employees. Human resources initiatives and safety topics. We believe that in order to secure that voice we need to also present the public with an individual that lives, breathes, moves, talks and has a personality that people can relate to and want to listen to. We also believe that this same concept can be a great tool within our organization. To create a personality that speaks to our employees and effectively communicates all things DFS, and most specifically safety information, would be a valuable addition to the method in which we interact with new and existing employees.
With that idea, DFS recently revealed two characters to all of our employees across the country. We launched a Character Naming Contest and asked all employees to get creative and submit names for each of the characters, to win cash prizes. We received over 50 submissions but only two names could immortalize our two new team members. After the names were compiled and votes were tallied our characters now begin to form personalities with the addition of their new names.
And the winners are: DFS/San Antonio International Airport Custodian Lauren Carter for submitting the winning name DisInfecto for our online/social media character. And DFS/Midway International Airport Supervisor Maria Mora for submitting the winning name Tidy Bot for our internal company character.
Lauren and Maria will be presented with their prizes this month and their legacy within the DFS company has been established. We are thankful to all of the participants and appreciate our employees’ enthusiasm to be a part of the company’s growth and personality. Congratulations to Lauren and Maria!
