Almost a Year of Showing Up: Cleaning at Beale Air Force Base

The work behind a building that size

When I think about the work we did at Beale Air Force Base, I remember showing up every day. I worked out there with the Army Corps of Engineers for almost a year straight, cleaning a building of approximately 210,000 square feet. A project that size takes a lot more than one final pass.

There was work underneath the building and work inside it. We cleaned doors, vacuumed, mopped and worked through the bathrooms, removing the mess left behind as contractors continued their work. It was hands-on cleaning, day after day.

Cleaning the same areas again and again

One of the hardest parts was having to redo work. I would get an area cleaned, then more contractor work would happen and there would be another mess. Floors needed attention again. Bathrooms needed another cleaning. Areas I had already worked through had to be done over.

That could be frustrating. I had put time and effort into those spaces, and I wanted the work to stay clean. But construction kept moving, and the cleaning had to keep moving with it. I went back, picked up the vacuum or mop and did the work again.

What nearly a year on site taught me

That job taught me how much persistence goes into construction cleaning. The square footage tells you how big the building is, but it does not tell you how many times you may need to return to the same space while the project is still active.

It also taught me to ask clear questions about timing: Are the contractors finished in this area? Is this a cleaning pass during construction, the final clean, or a touch-up after more work? Those details matter when planning the time and effort a project needs.

I carry that experience into Shelton’s Janitorial today. When we discuss a project, I want to understand the condition of the space, the work still happening and what needs to be ready by the deadline.

The same care, whether it is a large building or your home

That building was a huge part of my working life for almost a year. But the part I am proudest of is simple: I kept showing up and doing the work, even when it had to be done again.

Today, Shelton’s Janitorial offers post-construction cleaning, commercial janitorial and residential house cleaning. If you need help with a home in Yuba City, Gridley, Plumas Lake or Olivehurst, tell us what you need cleaned and we will discuss a plan with you.

— Sara Shelton, Owner, Shelton’s Janitorial

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