The state of a building is a direct reflection of the company. This is one of the reasons why building owners hire facility managers or supervisors regardless of the industry they are in. This is because they want the building to always be in the best possible condition. It is important to make a good first impression on clients, especially in today’s pandemic era.
Clients, facility visitors, vendors, employees, and other stakeholders need to know that you are taking all possible measures to keep the building clean and sanitized. It is not reasonable to expect your in-house cleaning crew to perform all tasks necessary for maintaining a clean and sanitary environment. This is why most facility managers turn towards finding a professional cleaning company that can work around their busy schedules and offers exactly what they want.
Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. It has become harder to find a reputable commercial cleaning service provider with so many amateurs entering the market.
This blog post is dedicated to helping facility managers and building owners find a professional and experienced cleaning company that fits the bill. Keep reading to know more.
What Is a Professional Facility Cleaning Company?
A commercial cleaning company provides customized cleaning solutions and programs for businesses in almost all settings and industrial verticals.
Commercial cleaning providers don’t offer house cleaning services. House cleaning companies tend to offer different services as compared to commercial facility cleaning companies.
Generally, the cleaning services are performed after-hours to avoid disrupting the day-to-day working of the business operations. However, certain settings require daytime cleaning as well. This is especially true for high-traffic buildings.
Standard cleaning tasks include recycling and trash removal, bathroom cleaning, dusting, kitchenette cleaning, appliances cleaning, mopping, surface cleaning, vacuuming, and other similar jobs.
More advanced services would include machine floor cleaning, commercial carpet cleaning, and window cleaning services.
Cleaning services offered by a professional cleaning company include the following:
- Mopping
- Removing dirt and dust from all surfaces
- Vacuuming
- Sweeping
- Recycling and trash removal
- Laundry
- Bathroom cleaning
- Stocking consumables
Specialized services include:
- Disinfecting
- Floor waxing
- Carpet shampooing
- Construction clean-up
- Computer and hardware cleaning
Custom cleaning programs can be built by full-service commercial cleaning vendors for all facility requirements.
Business and facility managers tend to experience a great reduction in the internal load and overhead expenditure with this turn-key capability.
How Do I Find a Professional Facility Cleaning Company Near Me?
There is a wide variety of commercial cleaning companies almost everywhere you look.
The key is finding the right company with the best credentials and expertise for your needs. Levels of experience, products used and services offered can vary tremendously.
Follow these recommended steps to find the right professional facility cleaning company for your business.
1. Start By Asking Those You Trust
You should tap into your existing network of office managers and other companies in the vicinity of the industry to find a capable cleaning service company. People happy with their cleaning service provider is a good indicator of satisfactory performance. You should note the names of the ones that don’t get a good review as well.
You should consider posing a question or searching on social media for opinions if you don’t have a network you can consult. There may be many people with similar concerns as yours.
2. Check Company Credentials
You should work with a company that is selective in its hiring process. They should have all their credentials in place. It is safe to work with a service provider that is bonded, insured, and certified.
Insurance and employee background checks are of major importance. Most cleaning teams work when everyone else has left for the day. You don’t want to trust your facility to people that have not been vetted.
You can also ask for training certificates for the cleaning crew. Professionalism is at the core of a cleaning business.
3. Save Time by Using A Database
You don’t have to waste time by looking at individual cleaning companies or speaking to other people for referrals. You can always make use of existing databases and conduct online searches to find the right team for you.
Always look at the reviews before calling the cleaners. Don’t just read the good reviews. Take time to sort through the bad ones as well. Shortlist companies that have punctuality, exceptional service, and attention to detail in their reviews. Google is a handy tool for finding local office cleaning companies.
4. Review Company’s Client References
You don’t have to take a company’s word for how good they are. You can always ask them for past and present client testimonials. The company should be forthcoming with testimonials. These references are useful if you want to know the strengths and limitations of the cleaning team.
5. Select A Company Finally
Once you shortlisted at least 3 potential candidates, it is time to make the final selection. You need to ensure the cleaning company you choose offers high-quality work and puts great stress on customer satisfaction. They should provide you with a point of contact that is available to answer your questions.
You should not work with a company that doesn’t respond to your concerns and queries within 24 hours. Hire a cleaning company that meets or exceeds your expectations. Supervisors should be available to take care of adjustments and the crew should be cordial and willing to cater to your needs.
It is best to work with a cleaning company that offers a wide range of services. The cleaning plans should be customized as per your business’s unique needs. You want a company that can handle all types of cleaning, whether you are looking for daily, weekly, or monthly cleaning.
What Do Professional Facility Cleaning Companies Do?
Many facility managers are unaware of the tasks performed by a commercial cleaning company. The list of jobs performed depends on the provider, and it is best to explicitly ask about the services provided.
You must work with a company that visits your premises first to discuss your requirements. They will propose the best cleaning schedule and offer a cost.
If you like what you see, you can ask the company to draw up a proposal. However, you must know exactly what is part of the contract.
Regular Site Cleaning
These are a few services that commercial cleaning companies provide on a daily or a regular basis:
- Vacuuming
- Dusting
- Cleaning drinking fountains
- Spot cleaning partition glass
- Cleaning mirrors
- Taking care of restrooms and toilets
- Mopping hard surface floors
- Removing rubbish from desk bins
- Restocking supplies
Depending on your facility needs, you may want a few of these services to be performed every week. Generally, the following services are offered as part of weekly cleaning:
- Dusting vertical surfaces
- Damp mopping hard floor surfaces
- Vacuuming carpets thoroughly
- Buffing of floors (if needed)
Professional facility cleaning companies provide the following services as part of their monthly regular cleaning:
- The dusting of high-reach areas.
- Machine scrubbing.
- Cleaning light switches and doorframes.
- Damp wiping all electronics, such as telephones, keyboards, and mouse.
- Disinfection of all surfaces.
You can always ask for carpet cleaning and window cleaning as part of the contract depending on your needs.
What to Pay for Facility Cleaning?
You would want to consider a wide variety of factors including the reviews and reputation, years in business, availability, and services provided when you begin exploring quotes from professional cleaning companies.
Widely available and experienced companies generally charge more as compared to smaller or newer teams. However, there is no universal standard for the cost of cleaning service. This is because the city you are in, type of facility, services required, and frequency of cleaning, all vary.
To get the best results, you should request proposals from multiple cleaning companies. Go through each proposal at least twice to ensure there is no hidden cost, and aim for a combination of quality and affordability. The most expensive and the cheapest might both be wrong for you.
Facility Cleaning Process
You want to know what you should be getting when you pay for a facility cleaning service. You should ask the provider to provide you with a checklist. Most experienced and reputable commercial cleaning companies use such lists to ensure that no area is missed.
This is how a facility cleaning process should look like:
Daily Cleaning Process
Your customer’s first impression is made when they enter the reception area. You want it to be clean, bright, and inviting.
With so many people cautious about germs in the present COVID-19 era, you don’t want a lobby that looks dirty or unkempt.
This is how the reception and office area need to be kept in top shape:
- Vacuuming carpets and mats.
- Vacuuming or dry mopping hard floors (disinfection if necessary).
- Dusting all horizontal surfaces (disinfection if necessary).
- Removing cobwebs from all areas.
- Removing fingerprints and other marks.
- Cleaning automatic glass doors.
- Wiping internal glass.
- Spot cleaning painted surface and walls.
- Collecting papers, garbage, bottles, and other things from the front entrance.
- Ensuring everything is arranged neatly and all areas are clean.
Washrooms and kitchen cleaning are as important as workstations to maintain a safe and germ-free environment.
These are a few ways your cleaners can ensure a germ-free facility:
Daily Cleaning Processes
- Stocking hand towels, toilet tissue, hand sanitizer, and facial tissues.
- Wiping hand dryers and hand towel dispensers.
- Wiping sills and doors.
- Cleaning and sanitizing basins.
- Dusting tops of mirrors and partitions.
- Removing splash marks from partitions, sinks, and walls.
- Mopping floors with a quality disinfectant.
- Removing garbage from all areas.
- Cleaning and disinfecting toilets and urinals.
Weekly Cleaning Processes
- Spray buff all hard floors.
- Cleaning all glass Inside and out.
- Removing stains.
Monthly Cleaning Processes
- Deep cleanings and vacuuming all carpets and floor coverings.
- Vacuuming upholstery.
- Vacuuming all ductwork.
- Deep cleaning service and focus on all hard-to-reach areas.
The Benefits of Professional Cleaning
There are various benefits of using a commercial cleaning service besides the obvious advantage of having an organized and clean space to present to clients and customers.
These are a few ways professional cleaning can benefit your facility and business:
Improve Overall Appearance
Cleaning is not usually at the top of the priority list for most businesses in their day-to-day running. Hiring a commercial cleaning company can make sure that the facility always looks its best.
The experts will come in to address all the cleaning needs while you can be left to focus on what truly matters – running the facility or business.
There is no better way of ensuring high-quality cleanliness in property than by hiring a capable and responsible professional cleaning service.
A good company will bring the right tools to the job to get the job done as per your standards. They will create a hygienic and safe environment for the facility visitors.
Increased Productivity and Confidence
Commercial facilities, such as office spaces or retail malls have a high footfall, which equals increased infections and health threats. The staff and customers need to know the space is clean to feel safe and confident.
You will not be able to boost employee productivity if you don’t offer an organized, clean, and safe working environment. Otherwise, people will start to fear for their health.
And this kind of fear can prove to be catastrophic to any business. In the case of retail establishments, visitors and customers won’t feel protected if the premise doesn’t look germ-free and hygienic.
Improved Employee Morale
Professional cleaning helps in boosting employee morale as well. You can ensure greater productivity and satisfaction by keeping your space spotless.
Your people shouldn’t be wasting precious time by navigating around piles of papers or battling over leftovers in the break room. They can better spend that time doing what they were hired to do.
Going with the professionals has its benefits rather than dumping the responsibility of cleaning on an in-house cleaner, receptionist, or office manager. Trained professionals are aware of keeping things clean, dusted, and sanitized in a metered way.
Decreased Costs
You can save a lot of money on maintenance, equipment purchase, uniforms, inventory, salaries, and other expenses by outsourcing the cleaning service.
In addition, outsourced cleaning services can also be customized to meet your budget. This means you don’t need to pay year-round for maintaining an in-house housekeeping crew, cleaning supplies, or equipment. You only need to pay for the services you need.
You can let your cleaning company manage the ins and outs rather than managing a rotating calendar of employee duties, sick days, salaries, and bonuses among other things. You can also be sure of high-quality cleaning without investing the time in keeping tabs.
What You Want to Get from The Cleaning Company
It is very important you know exactly what you want from a cleaning company before you search for the right one. It is easier to set expectations when you know the things that rank high for you. You can communicate better with potential partners if you identify the things important to you.
These are a few common things that facility managers want from their commercial cleaning company.
Quality and Confidentiality
The professional cleaning crew you hire must follow strict industry and safety standards, especially during these Coronavirus times.
Identify whether the company has any set protocols for keeping the business’ information protected. The workers should all be vetted after extensive background checks.
Identify if the company is fully licensed, insured, and bonded. Reputable and established cleaning businesses follow industry cleaning protocols and standards set by organizations, such as:
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Efficiency
A major advantage to outsourcing the cleaning team is the money you would save on time, labor, and expertise. You should know whether the cleaning company is using the best equipment and advanced cleaning products when you hire them. Remember that outdated cleaning equipment can harm your electronics, floor coverings, and fixtures.
Ask the shortlisted cleaning companies if they offer specific cleaning supplies that meet your industry’s special disinfection or sanitization procedures. You may want to ask about the kind of noise their equipment makes if you are having them clean when the employees are still there in the office.
You may even want to ask where the company gets their cleaning supplies and whether they use environmentally friendly products or not that are EPA Certified.
Reliability
You need to find a cleaning company that is committed to building lasting and positive relationships with clients. Commercial cleaning companies that provide courteous and personalized services are more likely to accommodate requests made by their clients.
Ask the company whether you will be provided with a primary point of contact to take care of your issues promptly.
You know a commercial cleaning service provider is reliable if they frequently check-in to ensure that their cleaning routines exceed your expectations and they ask for regular quality assurances.
Training and Level of Experience
It is important to work with a company that has adequate experience. They should also be backed by their commitment to quality and ongoing training. Meticulous and consistent training ensures that their workers receive the required updates on the latest safety protocols and cleaning techniques. Such employees tend to take pride in their work as well.
Training helps in encouraging greater accountability. It also ensures that your facility is always cleaned to the highest standards.
Availability and Flexibility
The experts you hire should be considerate of your business needs. For instance, most facilities don’t prefer cleaners and janitors to come in during business hours where there could be staff or guests in the building. Find a cleaning company that is ready to work around your schedule.
They should also be flexible enough to change their working hours if required. Ask if the company has any blackout times in their schedule when they are not available. Inquire whether a team of cleaners can be made available for unexpected problems arising out of regular business hours.
Customized Services and Plans
Businesses looking to hire commercial cleaners tend to get cornered into working with a company that offers too many or not enough services that are truly needed. Don’t get bedazzled by a long list of services provided. Look at the services on offer with a critical eye. Make sure they are useful to your facility.
Cleaning services should be able to handle both complex and simple tasks since all facilities ’ requirements and needs are unique. The cleaning company should not be offering a one-size-fits-all approach to cleaning. Ask for customized cleaning plans along with the proposals.
You should only consider those companies that are interested enough to send a representative to your facility for assessing your needs and requirements.
It is best to hire a company that offers a broad range of services, such as hard flooring treatments, power washing, carpet and upholstery cleaning, and special event cleaning among other things.
Signs to Hire a Commercial Cleaning Company
It can be evasive to determine the right time to hire a cleaning company.
You may have a progressive work environment where team members sign up for completing specific cleaning tasks, such as doing the dishes. Or, maybe you have cleaning maids to empty the trash every Friday.
While these alternatives can help you save a few bucks right now, you may want to invest in a professional cleaning company for the long haul.
These are a few warning signs that you need to start looking for a professional cleaning company:
Your Team is Overworked
Your team thrives on being busy. However, your business cannot thrive unless your team is being productive. An overworked team will not be productive in the long run. They need to focus on the jobs they were hired to perform and not empty garbage cans or restock resources.
You don’t want your human resource to drain precious time that could otherwise be spent on profit-making meetings. For most companies, this is enough reason to hire a professional cleaner.
Your Facility is in Shambles
Whether you have concerns like availability, cost, etiquette or your current cleaner is not able to provide the level of hygiene you require, it is worthwhile to make the switch. You will earn back on your investment in the long run by working with a reliable provider or company.
You Have a New Space
It is always advisable to hire a cleaning company from the get-go when you move into a new facility or office space. This is also a good opportunity to give your team respite from DIY cleaning and to get a professional cleaning team on board.
Wrong Cleaning Company Can Prove to be More Trouble
Your business’ success is not just built on your firm’s reputation, but also the reputation of the contractors you hire.
These are a few red flags that you should avoid when it comes to hiring a cleaning company:
No Formal Quality Assurance
The commercial cleaning company must have a formal quality assurance program. If they don’t, the responsibility for managing the cleaning team will fall on to you.Â
No Safety Program
Cleaning is a risky business involving harsh chemicals. You need to ensure the company has a documented safety program. You could be placing your business at risk if the commercial providers don’t comply with OSHA.
A good tip is to search for companies that provide green cleaning services. they are a sustainable and more healthy alternative to regular, toxic substances that might be used wrong by inexperienced staff.
No Drug Testing
The cleaning company must perform background checks and drug tests on all its staff. The lack of an effective vetting process could make your facility and staff vulnerable.
No Formal Quotation
Formal proposals are important for protecting your interests. They should also have a consistent price structure. Companies who underbid for a particular job may not offer high-quality work. They will probably do less than they proposed or push for more money later on.
These are a few questions you can ask to avoid working with cleaning companies that don’t offer effective services as per your business needs:
- Ask the company about the number of hours they are willing to work per week. Use this for calculating the hourly rate. If it comes out to be less than $10, you should find another suitable cleaning company.
- You should ask for a copy of the safety plan as well. Any lack of follow-through or hesitation on part of the company is a red flag. Companies that care about clients will have all safety materials available.
- Employee documentation is an important factor. The company should be able to provide background checks and information about the cleaning team. You should have this information before allowing the cleaning crew to step into your facility.
Get The Right Commercial Cleaning Service as per Your Needs
You could be in search of a new team to handle your ongoing cleaning tasks or are in the process of assessing your current janitorial crew. Whatever your requirements are, the cleaning team at Servi-Tek is here to help you.
It doesn’t matter whether you want project-based cleaning services or an experienced full-boutique janitorial service, we want to ensure that your facility maintains the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene regularly.
We make use of the latest procedures and technologies for delivering a stellar job that is geared to be beyond your expectations.
Give us a call today or use our online form to get schedule an appointment.
