The cleanliness of your facility has a large impact on the health and safety of your employees. Although you trust the commercial cleaning company you chose to work with, it is important to measure their performance to ensure that your facility is remaining in its best possible shape. We recommend the same periodic inspection process practiced by our customer service representatives and supervisors based upon a specific task schedule with daily, weekly, and monthly tasks clearly defined.Utilize the following spot-checks to test the reliability and accountability of your cleaning partner:

Floors

Your floors should be cleaned nightly. This means that at least spot vacuuming and spot mopping is performed in all high traffic areas to leave the floor free of debris. Find out how often the floors are cleaned wall to wall, typically once per week, and check up on the schedule to make sure the process is being followed according to a set frequency.  The cleaning of your floors is one of the most important factors in keeping your facility free from excessive dust.  In addition to the daily services you should also consider when the last time your floor was stripped and waxed and your carpets deep cleaned, and make sure it’s on a set schedule. Not only do these services provide a more thorough clean, but they also help elongate the life expectancy of your floor and create a better appearance. Following any commercial floor cleaning project be sure to walk the cleaned area with the manager or supervisor in charge to be certain the service was performed properly.  Expect a work order with a sign-off to verify the job was completed.

Trash

Is your cleaning company removing trash every day? It is important to notice the frequency of these withdrawals because it can make a big difference in the cleanliness and look of your environment. You should also be aware of companies who will dispose of trash without changing the bag. In certain industries, waste and their containers must be completely removed. In others, it is ok to use the same bag as long as it isn’t torn. If your current janitorial services company is not properly disposing of the waste in your building, there is potential for a build-up of bacteria which can lead to poor odors and, at times, allergic reactions or illness in the workplace.

Restrooms

No employee or customer wants to be stuck in a restroom without toilet paper or to see dirt and grime in the mirror rather than their reflection. Restrooms are a breeding ground for germs and your cleaning company should be trusted to properly clean and sanitize each surface. One simple way to check this is to mark a toilet seat or counter with a marker and see if the spot is removed during cleaning.  A special pen which is only visible under a black-light can be purchased to inconspicuously mark areas that you want to survey.

Customer Service

When is the last time you spoke with your commercial cleaning provider regarding matters besides bills? It is important to be able to reach out to your company with any concerns and for them to be addressed quickly. If you notice any problems during a spot check, you should give your company the chance to remedy these issues, and then measure their response time. They should strive to be easily accessible and to fix any issues in a timely manner with a positive attitude.  You should ask if they have an automated system for making requests and reporting incidents so that this process is streamlined.

Common Areas

Your employees deserve a clean break room and common area. To check these areas, ensure that tabletops and chairs are wiped down and counters are clean in accordance with the scope of work. We do not encourage customers to leave crumbs around to see if their cleaning company is really cleaning every surface. It’s better to just point it out instead of playing a game of trick the janitor.  Even the best eye misses things occasionally so just point it out and monitor and report accordingly. 

Here at Service Master, we are committed to meeting the strict standards our clients are promised. We created a “spot accountability” system where we randomly check facilities in order to ensure cleanliness. These checks allow us to further train our employees and if necessary, correct any mistakes. If you are looking for a team you can trust, look no further. Give us a call today to learn more!