TL;DR
- Professional commercial cleaning services provide cleaning solutions for offices, industries, institutions, warehouses, and other business establishments.
- Before hiring a commercial cleaning company, it's critical to learn about the kind of services they offer and how they match your needs. Some services could be general or industry-specific.
- A great help for business owners, office managers, and team leaders to hire reliable, efficient commercial cleaning service to keep their businesses running smoothly and without interruptions while maintaining excellent and hygienic practices for staff and customers alike.
1. Introduction
Maintaining a clean and healthy environment is critical to the success of any business. To that end, commercial cleaning involves routine, general, and custom cleaning attempts for tiles, floors, furniture, suspended ceilings, windows, restrooms, kitchens, and more.
Some businesses imagine that cleaning services are all the same. However, nothing could be further from the truth, as commercial cleaning services require industrial-grade equipment to cover challenging areas. They also have to clean vast spaces, which often requires intensive efforts.
This article will break down the full range of commercial cleaning services to help readers make informed decisions on the services they want.
2. What Is Commercial Cleaning?
Commercial cleaning is the cleaning of commercial and industrial spaces, such as offices, warehouses, retail stores, restaurants, and factories. Compared to residential cleaning, commercial cleaning entails larger cleaning areas with more foot traffic, frequently requiring specialized equipment and cleaning methods to maintain a sanitary and secure environment.
Businesses require these cleaning services to maintain a clean and hygienic environment that keeps their employees and customers functional in a safe and sanitary environment. High foot traffic in commercial spaces often leads to the accumulation of dirt, dust, and other contaminants that present health hazards to the occupants. Commercial cleaning services clean such spaces, thereby reducing the risk of illnesses.
With a clean and professional-looking workplace, a business's image and reputation increase, making everyone appreciate their concern for health and safety. Conversely, a dirty environment communicated the wrong message to potential customers. Commercial cleaning services vary depending on industry, size, and compliance needs.
3. General Commercial Cleaning Services
Common core services offered by most commercial cleaning companies:
Dusting and wiping down surfaces: There are multiple surfaces to dust and remove debris from, including desks, tables, chairs, and shelves. These particles can affect systems and important equipment if left unattended.
Vacuuming carpets, sweeping/mopping floors: Vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping floors, including carpets, can be done monthly. Carpets may take longer time frames in between cleaning sessions, especially for deep cleans.
Emptying trash bins: Such bins need regular and adequate removal to keep the commercial space neat and hygienic. Leaving them full and running over is an invitation to illnesses.
Restroom cleaning and sanitization: Restrooms are shared spaces and need disinfecting for proper hygiene and comfort. Daily cleaning is vital to keep staff and visitors free from illnesses and infections.
Breakroom and kitchenette cleaning: The breakroom or kitchen is an area where staff gather to take a tea break or eat lunch. Crumbs and food particles can attract insects or make for an unhealthy sight. Get your commercial kitchen cleaning checklist correct to clean appliances, countertops, and other spots.
High-touch point disinfection: Keyboards and doorknobs are good examples of high-touch points that need cleaning. These spots need frequent cleaning, thanks to constant use.
Glass and mirror cleaning: With glass materials around, such as partitions and mirrors, a commercial cleaning service is necessary to maintain a spotless environment. Glass is a notorious dust keeper and frequently needs a wipe down
4. Specialty & Deep Cleaning Services
More advanced or occasional services businesses may need:
Floor stripping, waxing, and buffing: Floor types like vinyl, linoleum, tile, and hardwood must be cleaned differently. Commercial cleaning companies use special tools and methods to clean hard floors, including stripping and waxing vinyl and linoleum, buffing and burnishing tile and concrete, and deep cleaning hardwood.
Carpet deep cleaning and extraction: Due to high foot traffic on carpets, dirt, dust, and other particles can spread allergens and bacteria, which can make customers and employees sick. Carpets need deep cleaning at intervals to improve air quality and appearance.
Pressure washing (exteriors, sidewalks): These services use water to clean building exteriors, sidewalks, parking lots, and outdoor furniture. This way, tough stains and grime are dealt with while eliminating harmful bacteria and mold.
Window cleaning (interior/exterior): Cleaning window panes gives commercial spaces a clean and professional look, so it's easy to see outside.
Window cleaning: Clearing and polishing windows and glass surfaces that may be difficult to reach, often through trained experts.
Ventilation and HVAC duct cleaning: Such systems can accumulate dust and debris over time, hence the need for a professional commercial cleaning service.
Post-construction cleaning: Debris and harmful particles have to be cleared after construction, with commercial cleaners handling the project.
Electrostatic disinfection or fogging: Commercial cleaners use this equipment to work faster over large spaces. Evenly spraying surfaces to ward off contaminants.
Note that these services are often scheduled less frequently or upon client request.
5. Industry-Specific Commercial Cleaning
Specialized services tailored for regulated or sensitive environments:
Medical facilities: These facilities face the most challenges when it comes to maintaining good health, hygiene, and a presentable atmosphere. Services include sterile surface cleaning while adhering to OSHA compliance regulations.
Schools & daycares: Non-toxic product use and germ control are necessary due to high foot traffic from students, staff, and visitors. This keeps germs and diseases at bay.
Industrial Property Cleaning: Due to their size and various storage systems, warehouses could be difficult to clean. However, commercial cleaning companies provide grease removal and safety hazard management services.
Restaurants/kitchens: These spots must follow strict cleaning codes; hence, degreasing and food-safe sanitizing services are required.
Property management: Helping clients move in/move out by cleaning common areas and providing maintenance services.
Remember, businesses should ask about industry experience when hiring commercial cleaning services.
6. How to Choose the Right Services for Your Business
Before choosing a cleaning service for your business, evaluate your needs. Consider the following:
Consider square footage and foot traffic: What's the size of the business space? Consider the square footage and foot traffic to determine the scope of cleaning required. For example, schools and warehouses take up a lot of space.
Review industry regulations or hygiene requirements: Some spaces, like restaurants and hospitals, must follow industry regulations or hygiene regulations. Depending on your line of business, choose accordingly so you don't do something illegal.
Decide between routine maintenance vs. deep cleaning: Some spots need deep cleaning, especially where carpets are involved. Such areas will be attended to with specialized equipment. Others may require just routine maintenance to keep up their experience.
A cleaning audit or site assessment is not out of place. It helps you to determine the extent of the cleaning services your business needs.
7. What Affects Commercial Cleaning Costs?
Size of the facility: If you run a large facility, it means you'll have to pay more to get it cleaned. For example, industries are huge and have some intricate spaces.
Frequency of service: Some spots need constant cleaning and maintenance more than others, which will cost more to service.
Type of service required (routine vs. specialized): Specialized services will cost more due to the custom options.
Add-ons like windows, vents, or carpets: Add-ons like windows and vents are mostly part of the process. It's best to learn what such spots will cost alongside the service.
Generally, check out the local market rates and use the free quote section provided by some commercial cleaning services.
8. FAQs
- What’s the difference between janitorial and commercial cleaning?
These two services are often used interchangeably, but there are some notable differences. Janitorial services mostly focus on maintenance and basic cleaning with an emphasis on appearance. However, commercial cleaning involves comprehensive cleaning solutions and custom plans, with an emphasis on health and safety.
- How often should a commercial space be cleaned?
The frequency of cleaning a commercial space depends on several factors, such as foot traffic, industry, and size of the facility. Generally, sweeping and mopping can be performed daily, while vacuuming can be done weekly. Deep cleaning carpets, upholstery, and furniture can take place monthly.
9. Conclusion
Many factors set commercial cleaning apart from the rest, and this post has mentioned some of the most significant ones, including the size and scope of the space, as well as the industrial-grade equipment necessary to keep them clean. It's important to know how the service operates to help you understand what aspect of your business needs, which could be deep cleaning or a custom solution.
What you can do as a business owner is evaluate your space and cleaning needs. This will help you avoid interruptions and know what costs are involved with the process.