What to Look for in a Commercial Cleaning Company

As a facility manager or supervisor, the state of your building is a direct reflection of your company. Regardless of what industry you're in, you likely only have one chance to make a good first impression on potential clients, current customers, and even existing and future staff members.

While maintaining a clean and sanitary environment is crucial to your company's success, finding a professional commercial cleaning service that offers the exact help you need and that can work around your busy schedule isn't always the easiest task. There may be a variety of commercial cleaning companies within your area, but each one may differ in level of experience, the products they use and the services they offer. So, how can you determine which cleaning company is right for you?

The professional cleaning company ServiceMaster Clean wants to help you find the professional, custom-tailored care your business needs on a regular basis. If you're wondering how to choose a cleaning company, here are a few essential qualities to look for.

Level of Experience and Training

A company with plenty of experience is important, but one that backs their commitment to quality with ongoing employee training is essential. Consistent, meticulous training allows employees to receive regular updates on the latest cleaning techniques and safety protocols. Training encourages greater accountability and helps ensure that your facility is always cleaned to the highest standards and reduces liability and increases safety. While you're interviewing a cleaning company, don't hesitate to ask the following questions:

• How often do you provide your employees with ongoing training?
• Who provides the training?
• How long has your business been in operation?

Flexibility and Scheduling Availability

Your cleaning company should be considerate of your business's needs. For example, you may not want your employees or guests to be distracted by a team that's vacuuming during office hours. Or, you may prefer to have a company clean your building after business hours. Feel free to ask a potential cleaning company the following questions regarding their schedule:

• Are they willing to work around your company’s hours?
• Are there any blackout times in their schedule?
• Will a main contact or team of cleaners be available for emergency requests or problems that unexpectedly arise outside of normal business hours?

Types of Services and Plans Offered

Sometimes, businesses looking to hire cleaning crews get cornered into hiring companies that offer too many or not enough of the services they truly need. Since your company’s environment is unique, a cleaning service must be able to handle both basic tasks and complex procedures your facility may require.

In other words, a good cleaning company will understand that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to providing your facility with the services you need. Ask a potential cleaning company the following questions to determine if they’re a good fit for your business:

• Do you offer customizable cleaning plans?
• What project-based services do you provide, such as power washing, hard flooring treatments, carpet and upholstery cleaning, or special event cleaning?

Types of Facilities Served

In addition to ensuring that a cleaning company specializes in a variety of services, find out what types of facilities they serve. Depending on the nature of your business, you may need specialized cleaning services that a business within another industry might not. For example, a business office may need basic daily cleaning, while a healthcare facility will require daily disinfection services that follow procedures set forth by leading organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For that reason, it's a good idea to ask a cleaning company about which facilities they've serviced that are similar to yours or references. No matter what industry you're in, your cleaning company should be dedicated to promoting a healthy work environment and providing professional cleaning services that keep your building sparkling.

Accountability and Communication

When choosing a cleaning company, finding one that's committed to building positive, lasting relationships with their clients is an important goal. A commercial cleaning company that provides you with personalized, courteous service is more likely to accommodate all of your requests and address any of your concerns in a timely manner. When consulting with a potential cleaning company, ask them the following questions:

• Will I have direct access to one primary point of contact?
• Can I contact that person after business hours if a need arises?
• How often can I expect a check-in to ensure their cleaning routines exceed my company’s expectations?
• Is there a system for customer communication? Regular quality assurance process?

Safety and Industry Standards

Make sure any professional commercial cleaning company you work with follows strict safety and industry standards. Find out if the company has established protocols for keeping your business's confidential information protected. Also identify if the company is fully licensed, bonded and insured. A reputable, established cleaning company should follow industry standards and cleaning protocols that are set forth by organizations like the following:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Supplies and Equipment

One of the biggest advantages to outsourcing your cleaning crew is the money you may save on labor, focus and expertise. When you enlist the help of a cleaning service, you should expect that they’re using the best equipment and innovative cleaning products to keep your facility in top condition. If your business requires specific cleaning supplies that meet special disinfection or sanitization procedures, ask the potential cleaning crew if those products are available. Some other supplies and equipment questions you may want to ask include the following:

• Do you use equipment that minimizes noise?
• Where do you buy your cleaning supplies?
• Do you offer environmentally friendly cleaning services?

The Benefits of Using a Professional Office Cleaning Service

Besides the advantage of having a clean, organized space to present to customers and clients, there are several other benefits of using a professional cleaning service. Some ways professional cleaning companies can benefit your business include the following.

Increased Employee Productivity

Your employees spend a lot of time at the office. Keeping the workspace organized, clean and safe to work in can lead to increased productivity. Furthermore, organized spaces can minimize distractions and help prevent employees from interrupting their daily tasks to clean up around them. The more they can focus on their work, the more likely they’ll be able to keep up with the company’s expectations.

Decreased Sick Days

When one employee gets sick, germs can quickly spread throughout an entire office. With regular cleanings and disinfections, a professional cleaning company can help keep sick days to a minimum. Daily wipe-downs of high-touch areas like breakrooms, restrooms, conference rooms and lobbies can help eliminate germs before they have a chance to get other staff members sick. Regular cleanings can also improve the indoor air quality through technology that removes and eliminates contaminates instead of moving them around.

Cost-Effectiveness

With outsourced cleaning services, you can save money on equipment, maintenance, inventory, uniforms and other expenses. Additionally, outsourced cleaning services can often be modified to meet your budget. That means you only have to pay for special services like window washing or HVAC system cleaning as you need them, rather than paying an insourced crew year-round. You also don’t have to keep extra employees on your payroll, which means less money spent on salaries, bonuses, benefits and other employee expenses.

Less for You to Have to Take Care Of

While you're running a busy facility, cleaning may not always be at the top of your priority list. Hiring a commercial cleaning company to come in and address all of your cleaning needs can allow you to have more time focusing on what truly matters – running your business.

A Higher Quality of Cleanliness

There's no better way to ensure a higher quality of cleanliness for your business than by hiring an experienced professional commercial cleaning service. A good cleaning company will have the right tools and the ability to get the job done to your standards. Any reputable company that specializes in office cleaning will have the goal of not only ensuring your office is clean from ceiling to floor, but that it's also a truly hygienic environment that's safe for your staff and customers alike.

Get the Professional Cleaning Service You Deserve

Perhaps you're in the process of evaluating your current janitorial team's ability to come up with quick solutions when unexpected problems arise. Or, maybe you're in search of a new team to handle all of the ongoing work associated with cleaning your building so you can remain focused on running the rest of your facility with greater ease.

Whether you're in need of experienced janitorial services or you're searching for project-based cleaning services, the professionals at ServiceMaster Clean want to ensure that your business maintains the highest standards of cleanliness on a regular basis. We use the latest technologies and procedures to deliver a job that's completed to our customers' satisfaction.

With a commitment to delivering the highest standards of clean every time we provide services, we’re proud to help national and local companies keep their facilities in excellent condition. There is no need to keep think if commercial cleaning services are right for your facility and workplace. Learn more about commercial cleaning and contact us today to find out how we can work with you to create a customized cleaning regimen that fits your business’s needs.