A commercial cleaner can be quite simply defined; it’s a company or individual that cleans commercial buildings such as offices, shops, factories, hotels, bars and restaurants.
Whilst the offer will vary from company to company, there is typically a comprehensive suite of services to choose from, with the equipment and staff available to clean everything from desks and kitchens through to carpets and windows.
A commercial cleaner is focused on cleaning, sanitising and even restocking a space to a high standard as agreed by both the cleaning company and the client. From first impressions through to health and wellbeing, this level of cleaning is important for any business, regardless of the type of premises they occupy.
A typical offering
There are three main types of cleaning that usually take place:
- Regular cleaning – this includes the daily, weekly and often monthly list of tasks that are repeated on an agreed cycle. This can include sweeping and cleaning hard floors with the appropriate chemical solution, vacuuming carpets, light dusting of pre-identified areas and the sanitising of desks and other communal furniture.
This type of cleaning is also likely to include the cleaning of bathrooms and kitchens, including the disinfection and sanitizing of high-volume touchpoints like door handles and light switches. If required, white goods can be cleaned and supplies restocked as well as managing rubbish bins throughout the space.
- Deep cleaning – commercial cleaners are well-placed to carry-out extensive deep cleaning, with both the equipment and expertise available to ensure this is done safely, efficiently and effectively. This can include regular, scheduled deep cleans as well as more ad-hoc services such as commercial fogging or as part of a refurbishment.
This type of cleaning can include deeper carpet and upholstery cleaning, internal window cleaning and the cleaning of vents, ceilings and walls. It can also incorporate specialist cleaning regimes, such as decontamination and mass disinfection spraying.
- External cleaning – depending on the building type, commercial cleaning companies may offer a range of external building cleaning services. This can include the use of specialist equipment to clean siding, brick, doors and windows.
The benefits of commercial cleaning
As well as the satisfaction of knowing an environment is sparkling clean, there are a number of benefits to bringing the professionals in. These include:
- The gift of time – letting cleaning professionals deliver a complete service means time can be better spent utilising the expertise of your own business professionals
- Access to equipment – a cleaning company will arrive with everything they need to deliver the requirements you’ve specified, along with trained and insured operatives where this is necessary
- Reliability – no longer at the discretion of an already busy workforce, a professional cleaning contract can be relied upon to deliver on the agreed roster of works to the schedule set
There are also wider health and safety benefits. It’s generally accepted that a clean workplace equals a happier workforce and with increased cleaning and sanitising, there will be a reduction in the spread of harmful bacteria resulting in fewer bugs and viruses sweeping through the staff population. A clean and safe building also gives the right first impression of a business that is responsible and cares about the wellbeing of those who use the space.
What to look for in a commercial cleaning partner
As well as finding a company that offers the services you require, it’s also worth considering factors such as the experience of the company in the sector you’re in, the vetting and background check process for the operatives they employ and also what their staff turnover is like.
If it’s important for you to have consistency because of tailored or specific needs, explore whether the same team or individuals can be assigned to you on a regular basis. How your account will be managed is also important information to know, such as what level of reporting will you receive, how will you be alerted to issues and how you can raise concerns or queries about the services you have requested.
If you have multiple sites or a particularly complex estate, ensure the cleaning company can support the geographical coverage you’ll need and can supply the quantity, as well as quality, of cleaning technicians that will be required.
When an electrical fault needs fixing or legal advice is needed, business leaders naturally turn to a professional in that field to get the results they need. When it comes to commercial cleaning, surely it makes sense to apply this same principle and bring in the professionals to get the best possible job done.
