If you want to maintain high standards of cleanliness and hygiene throughout your workspace, office, or business building, using janitorial services or a commercial cleaning firm could be the answer. However, deciding which one is the best fit for your business very much depends on what type of cleaning service you should use and how often you need it.
The US commercial cleaning market includes janitorial services and commercial cleaning companies. Note, the term “commercial cleaning” describes both types of businesses. However, there are notable differences. Basic janitorial services providers typically cover a range of smaller, everyday cleaning tasks and chores. For example, mopping floors, vacuuming carpets, emptying the trash, tidying, dusting, cleaning restrooms and communal areas so on. In contrast, commercial cleaning firms are with larger cleaning challenges that may require specialist equipment and cleaning experience.
Hiring Janitorial Services or Commercial Cleaning Firm: Advantages and Disadvantages
Being aware of the differences between janitorial services and commercial cleaning firms can often highlight the advantages and disadvantages of each business model. Before you make up your mind which is best suited for your cleaning needs, look at the following:
Locked into a Cleaning Contract
If you are looking for someone to provide daily office cleaning services, a janitorial services provider can offer ongoing cleaning packages. However, you may then find yourself locked into a contract. Before you outsource your work, read the contract paperwork carefully. Can you switch or cancel contracts easily? If you don’t need a janitor on site throughout the day, then hiring a commercial cleaning firm for occasional deep cleans might be a better fit for your business.
Quality of Work
According to statistics, there are 1,063,988 janitorial services businesses in the US in 2021. These businesses vary greatly in size, structure, experience, and reputation. Traditionally, janitorial cleaning services always took care of basic day-to-day cleaning duties in the workplace. This business model is now evolving to meet customer demand for more stringent, sanitized cleaning measures, particularly since the global pandemic in 2020. However, not all businesses can guarantee rigorous quality control measures or the services of a highly trained team.
Make sure you ask questions before you hire a cleaning team. Will they use the correct commercial cleaning supplies, do the cleaners follow a checklist, what are the procedures? Read testimonials and reviews to get an idea of the quality of work they offer. This advice applies to both janitorial services and commercial cleaning firms.
Limited Checklists of Services
Some of the smaller janitorial services providers will simply not be able to cover all your cleaning needs. This includes deep carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, sanitizing the workspace and so on. Therefore, it is important to ask for a checklist of services to make sure they will cover your cleaning requirements. If a janitorial cleaning team can’t accommodate your requests, a commercial cleaning firm can help with bigger cleaning jobs or special requests such as restaurant cleaning services.
Ask About Specialized Cleaning Equipment
Janitorial services will keep your office or building clean and tidy by mopping floors, vacuuming, cleaning restrooms as well as fulfilling other basic cleaning tasks. However, if you want to spring clean your building or schedule bigger cleaning projects a few times a year, it is a good idea to hire a team who use commercial cleaning equipment and professional-grade cleaning products to get exceptional results. If you also want to go green, see below.
Seek out Innovation and Technology
While reputable janitorial companies are great for daily cleaning duties, there might be occasions when you want more from your cleaning provider. This is the time when some commercial cleaning firms stand out thanks to their experience and use of the latest technology. For example, DetailXPerts has a steam sanitization program to ensure a safe and secure environment for your workforce. It is a green method that combines steam cleaning with EPA-approved disinfectants that are safe for people and the environment. It is effective in offices, stores, temple cleaning and other public spaces.
Research Costs of Janitorial Services and Commercial Cleaning Firms
Costs vary greatly between cleaning companies. If you are hiring a janitorial team for everyday cleaning tasks, are you getting value for money? Or is it more cost-effective to hire a commercial cleaning firm with specialized equipment and a bigger team that can complete the work in half the time? These are questions you need to ask before signing a cleaning contract or hiring professionals. This is also true if you are thinking about residential cleaning services. Ask exactly what is included in the costs to get an idea of value for money.
Reliability of Service
The janitorial services industry in the US is labor intensive. It can be difficult to recruit a reliable team who are available for everyday cleaning tasks at your workplace. If you find a reliable person to clean your office, there is no guarantee he or she will be able to fulfil your cleaning needs on a day-to-day basis.
Staff shortages can hit cleaning businesses hard. Commercial cleaning firms have this problem too. However, it is much easier for a commercial cleaning business to organize teams for one-off, bigger cleaning jobs. For your peace of mind, scheduling a monthly deep clean with a commercial cleaning firm can help ease the pressure on daily janitorial duties if there are staffing issues.
Conclusion
Janitorial services are often marketed as “commercial cleaners.” This phrase can be used interchangeably with “commercial cleaning firms”, which can be confusing when you are trying to figure out who does what. In general, janitorial services are popular for everyday cleaning jobs. However, a lack of specialist equipment, high costs and staffing issues can create problems. Commercial cleaning firms can resolve these issues, but they might not always be available for the smaller cleaning tasks and tidying. They will generally offer robust, deep cleans using a highly trained team to eliminate bacteria and viruses in your workplace and premises.
We’re here to help with any questions you might have. Оr what type of cleaning service is best for you. Simply call DetailXPerts to discuss your needs for professional commercial cleaning services and how we can help.
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