Shortly summarized, janitorial services are centered around maintaining your premises in top shape.
These types of services are best if, as a facility manager, you want to know your property is safe, your employees healthy and your clients satisfied.
This easy-to-read guide will explain the different types of services offered by janitorial companies and how to find the right one, among other tips and tricks to take your business to the next level.
What Is A Janitorial Service?
Janitorial services refer to the cleaning of commercial properties, including educational institutions and professional offices. Janitorial services generally include mopping, sweeping, trash removal, upkeep of washroom, and vacuuming among other similar services.
However, there are a few commercial janitorial service providers that may offer property management and maintenance services as well.
What Is The Role Of The Janitorial Service Provider?
The facilities that need cleaning will determine the scope of janitorial services on offer. For instance, medical facilities require a very different approach from a casual office workspace.
It is recommended that you book a company that offers extensive experience in cleaning a workplace from the same industry and one that is similar to yours. You must find a janitorial cleaning service that is flexible to adjust to your needs.
There are several reasons for hiring a trusted professional cleaning company. This is particularly true if you are an entrepreneur or a manager on a tight schedule.
However, knowing the role of a janitor is highly important if you want to select the right commercial cleaning service. Janitors are responsible for a broad range of cleaning tasks. These are a few duties you can expect your janitor to perform for you:
- Emptying trash cans;
- Mopping and sweeping the floor;
- Vacuuming carpets;
- Vacuuming upholstery;
- Cleaning toilets;
- Dusting furniture;
- Cleaning mirrors and windows;
- Changing light bulbs;
- Restocking toilet supplies;
- Disinfecting high-touch surfaces frequently.
If you have heavy furniture that needs moving or windows that require cleaning, you should hire a deep cleaning service from time to time.
However, several janitorial cleaning providers offer these value-added services at an additional cost.
Cleaning Services Provided By Janitorial Companies
There are plenty of different janitorial services on the market, which can be confusing. This is why it is important to choose a custodian service provider that best matches your needs and requirements.
These are a few cleaning services provided by janitorial companies:
1. Janitorial Cleaning Services
Most people think that commercial and janitorial cleaning services mean the same thing or are subsets of one another. In reality, they are different from each other.
Janitorial cleaning services cover ongoing maintenance and everyday cleaning tasks of commercial establishments, such as schools, office spaces, and industries among others. Commercial cleaning involves larger deep-cleaning tasks that are performed once a few times a year.
2. Commercial Cleaning Services
Commercial cleaning services are also known as an office or facility cleaning. It is the process of cleaning schools, office spaces, and community buildings among others.
The cleaning process can be scheduled during working hours or outside of working hours. Janitors often double up as commercial cleaners, as they perform a broader range of duties.
3. Pressure Washing Services
Pressure or power washing involves using a cleaning solution or plain water at high pressure to clean the exteriors of a building. This can include the walls and sidewalks among others.
Pressure washing removes graffiti, grime, and stuck dirt among other things. You can find a janitorial service provider that offers pressure washing. This will prevent you from working with and managing too many partners for each different service on your premises.
4. Green Cleaning Services
‘Green’ refers to using sustainable practices that are conducive to protecting the environment and the ecosystem as a whole. This type of cleaning is performed for using fewer chemicals while getting better results.
These types of services must follow specific regulations, substances used and have certifications that are not easy to obtain.
You can show the public your company’s sense of responsibility by choosing a green cleaning service.
5. Sanitization and Disinfection
Now more than ever, it is vital to keep offices, public spaces, and private properties free from Coronavirus and other pathogens.
Sanitization and disinfection can prevent harmful bacteria and viruses from causing colds, allergies, and coughs. The janitor you hire can be made responsible for disinfecting all surfaces properly.
There are several ways of getting this done without harming the environment. You should consider a company that makes use of state-of-the-art technology, such as electrostatic sprayers for getting the job done.
Electrostatic disinfection involves using specialized equipment that sprays a fine mist on objects and surfaces. The mist is electrostatically charged and does a better job of attracting dust, debris, viruses, bacteria, and other germs. It doesn’t leave a residue after being wiped clean.
Why Choose A Commercial Cleaning Service?
Cleaning is something that is best left to professionals. An increasing number of facility managers are turning towards commercial cleaners to save time and cost while getting better results.
This is how a commercial cleaning service can help you and your business:
1. Cheaper In The Long Run
There are a lot of costs associated with maintaining an in-house cleaning crew. You would need to pay their salaries, hire a supervisor, spend on their training, and provide them with sick leaves.
The facility manager will also have to oversee everything which can keep them from other important jobs.
Outsourcing cleaning and maintenance tasks can help reduce costs in the long run.
2. Helps Your Building Run More Efficiently
Professional cleaners make it their business to stay on top of the recent advancements in the field of cleaning. They ensure that a building is run more efficiently by keeping everything in its place.
By outsourcing the cleaning requirements of a commercial establishment, as a facility manager or business owner, you can focus on more important things instead of worrying about any small issue, such as a fuse in the lobby.
3. Comfort
Janitors bring a greater degree of comfort to everyone around, especially employees. Clean offices mean greater productivity. It also means that the workers are not made responsible for daily cleaning tasks.
Commercial office cleaning services can ensure that your workers can focus on the things that they were hired to do instead of worrying about washing the dishes or replacing the toilet paper.
4. Helps Your Building Look Good For Clients And Employees
The world has become increasingly particular about cleanliness and hygiene in the post-Covid-19 times. Your clients and employees will have a better impression of you if they know you care about the facility and their health.
By hiring a commercial janitorial service company you can ensure that your building always looks presentable and good for all visitors and stakeholders.
What Kind of Services Do Janitorial Companies Offer?
There are a lot of services offered by a commercial cleaning company. However, it is important that the cleaning staff take pride in their work, backed up by years of experience and satisfied clients.
The commercial janitorial company you hire should offer to customize according to your needs and requirements. Every commercial establishment has unique janitorial service needs.
These are a few common services you should expect from an experienced office cleaning company:
1. Scrubbing and Sweeping
Sweeping and scrubbing floors is one of the most basic tasks performed by a janitor. In case your flooring is carpeted, the janitors will perform basic vacuuming. However, carpet shampooing won’t be a part of the service contract unless otherwise specified.
2. Building Maintenance
Several cleaning companies offer facility maintenance as part of the contract. It is recommended that you work with such a company so as not to have to deal with multiple contractors at the same time.
Janitors can be hired for performing basic building maintenance, such as fixing broken light bulbs or light plumbing and repair jobs.
3. Floor Waxing
Floor waxing can be part of the contract if required. However, you should speak with the commercial janitorial company beforehand about any waxing needs.
You can also consider hiring night janitors that perform this task since waxing protects hardwood floors for many years to come.
4. Steam Cleaning
Steam cleaning is another value-added service. Steam cleaning can be performed on a broad range of surfaces, such as walls, floors, curtains, carpets, and others.
Dry steam is capable of removing dirt, grease, stains, and oil without harming the surface. It also sanitizes and deodorizes a space at the same time.
5. Floor Care
Floorcare is the most common janitorial service offered. However, every company is not equipped to provide every type of floor care.
Floors are probably the biggest investment in a building. They are of various types, such as carpet, hardwood, marble, raised floors, and tile among others.
6. Odor Removal
A room doesn’t seem or feel clean till all types of odors are completely removed. You may be up against a challenge if your facility doesn’t have a good ventilation system.
This will cause odors to build up making the office or commercial space appear dingy and dirty. The commercial janitorial company should offer odor removal as part of its services.
Local Janitorial Services Can Offer More Than Cleaning
Most facility managers want a janitorial service provider that offers all-in-one cleaning. This is because while managing a facility, it is best to work with the least number of contractors. This is where local janitors come in. They understand the terrain and know what a business requires instinctively.
They also provide services to other commercial properties in the same neighborhood, which means they are aware of unique problems, such as graffiti creating miscreants, bird excreta on sidewalks, or excess mud tracks in the lobby among others.
Local janitorial service providers usually offer the following:
- Take out trash and recycling;
- Clean upholstery;
- Sanitize restrooms;
- Clean windows;
- Power-wash your building;
Local companies are more likely to offer customized packages. You can add or remove services as you choose. For instance, you may require special cleaning during special events.
You need to make sure the company you choose offers all the special janitorial services that you require. Otherwise, you will be stuck with different contractors.
These are a few value-added services you may need from your janitorial company:
1. Furniture Repair
Furniture can easily deteriorate if not maintained properly. You need a janitorial service provider that can handle polishing and waxing. They should also be able to service mechanical parts on modern chairs.
It can become time-consuming and costly if you opt for a separate contractor to take care of broken wheels on your chair.
2. Office Furniture Installation and Removal
Janitors can easily double up as handymen when you need them. It is best to work with a company that provides trained custodians.
They should know how to install and remove furniture. This is particularly vital if your company has a lot of special events.
3. Office Furniture Service
Furniture is one of the biggest investments in office space. You don’t want your assets to get spoiled and need replacement because of poor maintenance. For example, a moldy, wet carpet wears down any wood materials placed on top of it.
You can ensure that your furniture remains as good as new with office furniture service.
How To Find The Right Janitorial Service?
Finding the right cleaning company can be difficult. It is especially true if you don’t know what to look for.
Poor processes, limited communication, and outdated techniques are what make many companies unreliable.
These are a few tips for finding the right janitorial service:
1. Determine Your Cleaning Needs
The first step you need to take is to make a list of all your cleaning needs. You need to find a company that can best meet your needs and demands.
You should also identify whether you require general cleaning or other specialized services, but here you can also talk with a professional company, as they will advise you on what’s a priority and what isn’t.
Several companies offer a wide range of janitorial services as well as specialty cleaning solutions. You should consider choosing one of them if you have excessive specialty cleaning needs.
These are a few services you can look for from a janitorial cleaning company:
- Specialty floor cleaning and restoration;
- Deep carpet cleaning;
- Restroom sanitation;
- Trash removal;
- Hard surface floor care;
- Upholstery cleaning;
2. Ask Others
A great way of finding a cleaning company that doesn’t disappoint is to ask your friends, family, business partners, and other local businesses.
It is best to look at the state of their building before getting the name and number of their commercial cleaner. This is a better way of getting a janitorial cleaning company as opposed to finding a random contractor online.
You should also look for reviews from other clients. Once you have the price quote from different cleaning contractors, you should ask whether they have their paperwork in place.
They should be certified, licensed, and insured to work on your property. You should also ask whether the janitors are regular or contractual.
It is best to work with a contractor that takes care of their employees.
3. Perform a Thorough Search
Before selecting a commercial cleaning company, you should perform an online check to get an idea of prevalent rates.
Compare different companies and create a list of pros and cons. You can make use of Angie’s List, Google, and Yellow Pages to find commercial cleaners.
Look for companies that are more professional than others. They should have a company site on Facebook. They should have online reviews. You can learn more about their knowledge if they have a blog.
4. Ask All the Right Questions
You should ask all the right questions before hiring a commercial cleaning company. You need to understand what you are getting into. Questions also help in setting the right expectations. These are a few questions to ask the company while getting a quote:
- Do you have any references?
- Can you meet my building’s team lead?
- Can you explain the bid or pricing structure?
- Do you have insurance?
- Are your cleaners full-time and regular?
- How do you monitor the work of your staff?
- How can I trust your workers in my building during off-hours?
You should compare the answers you receive from different companies. Never hire a cleaning company that doesn’t have liability insurance.
5. Ask for a Building Walkthrough
Building a walkthrough allows you to gauge the knowledge of the cleaning staff.
It also allows the contractor an opportunity to offer customized cleaning services that best fit your company’s unique needs.
6. Shortlist From Multiple Bids
Never go for the first cleaning company that comes your way. Take your time before hiring a commercial cleaning service.
You should get multiple quotes from different providers. Talk to the cleaning team and see whether you get a point of contact. You should also observe the time taken by the company to get back to you with answers.
Get the Right Commercial Janitorial Service
Has your workspace been looking less than stellar recently? Are you tired of all the mess and clutter?
You are probably in need of a good janitorial company. You can improve your employees’ work productivity and impress your business partners and clients with janitors from Servi-Tek Facility Solutions.
Give us a call today at 866-454-6185 or use our online form to find out all you want to know. We have top professionals ready to help you, just a phone call away!
