How to choose a commercial cleaner: the key factors to consider when selecting a cleaning partner
You might think all commercial cleaning providers are created equal. But the truth is, there’s a world of difference between a basic cleaning service and a true cleaning partner. Choosing the wrong one can lead to hidden costs, inconsistent results, and even damage your reputation. This guide offers practical advice to help you navigate the landscape and find a professional commercial cleaning service that truly understands your business needs and aligns with its values.
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The Impact of Professional Cleaning: More Than Just Appearances
Your workspace speaks volumes about your business. It’s often the first impression you make on visitors, the environment where your team spends their time, and a key factor in morale and productivity. It’s not just about appearances; it’s about creating a healthy, safe, and inspiring atmosphere that supports your business goals. In the new world of hybrid working, it’s increasingly about creating a place where people want to be.
Investing in high-quality cleaning is more than just cleaning surfaces: it’s an investment in your people, your brand, and your future.
How to Choose a Commercial Cleaner: Finding the Right Fit
If you are considering how to choose a commercial cleaner for your business, this guide is here to help. Choosing a commercial cleaning provider is a crucial decision, and we’ll help you navigate the key factors to ensure you find the best cleaning company that can provide the right cleaning solutions and a professional team of cleaners to suit your specific requirements.
Local Expertise & Presence
A cleaning contractor with a strong local presence understands the nuances of your area and the specific requirements of your industry. They’ll be familiar with local regulations and best practices. They’ll understand the difference between cleaning a corporate office and a heritage building. Importantly, they’ll be nearby when needed.
Professionalism and Reliability
Trust is paramount. Look for a professional cleaning service with a proven track record of reliability and consistent service. Ask about best practices and safety standards, health and safety and proof of public liability insurance. Ensure the cleaning provider’s cleaning operatives are well-trained. Check for accreditations, ask about their training programmes, and don’t hesitate to request references. (A solid reputation for quality in the commercial cleaning industry is a good indicator!).
Eco-Friendly Practices
Sustainability is no longer a trend; it’s a responsibility. Choose a contract cleaning company that prioritises environmentally responsible practices, using the best eco-friendly cleaning supplies, equipment and methods that minimise their environmental footprint. B Corp certification is a valuable indicator of an organisation’s commitment – not just to sustainability – but social responsibility.
Security and Confidentiality
Your business’s security is non-negotiable. Ensure your cleaning provider has robust security protocols in place, including thorough background checks for all staff and strict procedures for handling sensitive information. You want peace of mind that your cleaning staff are who they say they are, that your business premises are safe
Quality & Value
While budget is an important consideration, it pays to prioritise value over price. A reputable cleaning company will offer competitive pricing while delivering a high-quality service and long-term cost savings through proactive maintenance and efficient practices. Focus on the overall value and the long term impact of your decision, not just the immediate cost.
Specialised Services
Every business has unique cleaning requirements, from routine cleaning to janitorial and window cleaning to more complex needs. Whether you need specialised cleaning for historic buildings, high-traffic areas in schools, or delicate surfaces in a modern office, choose a cleaning company with the expertise and resources to meet your specific cleaning needs.
Maintaining hygiene in laboratory environments, for example, requires specialised knowledge, products, and methods, as well as meticulous attention to detail.
Incorrect cleaning methods, such as those used on wooden floors, can cause significant and costly damage. An experienced cleaning company trains its cleaning team on the proper treatment for all building materials, provides the correct products and equipment, and implements quality monitoring to prevent costly repairs and replacements.
When discussing your cleaning needs, it’s essential to clearly define the specific job duties required. This ensures the chosen company’s cleaning processes align with your expectations and that all necessary tasks are covered.
Client Testimonials and Case Studies
Don’t just take their word for it. Read client testimonials and case studies to get a sense of the cleaning provider’s performance, experience and reputation. Look for examples of how they’ve helped businesses like yours. For example, a track record of successfully managing infection control in schools during outbreaks is a valuable indicator of expertise.
Choosing Your Cleaning Partner: A Checklist
[ ] Local Expertise & Presence
[ ] Professionalism & Reliability
(Accreditations, Training Programmes, References)
[ ] Sustainable and Responsible Business Practices
(Certifications, Eco-friendly Cleaning Products, Company Practices)
[ ] Security & Confidentiality
(Background Checks, Security Protocols)
[ ] Quality & Value
(High Quality Service, Efficient Practices, Long-Term Benefits)
[ ] Specialised Services
(Tailored Cleaning Plans, Relevant Expertise)
[ ] Client Testimonials & Case Studies
Selecting Your Commercial Cleaning Partner: A Step-by-Step Guide
You’ve considered the key factors and know what to look for. This section now provides a step-by-step process to help you put that knowledge into action and choose the right commercial cleaning company for your business. Use these steps to structure your search and evaluation of potential providers.
Define Your Needs
Start by clearly outlining your cleaning requirements, budget and priorities. This will help you prepare for talking to providers. It can in fact be useful to talk to a recommended provider like JR&Co at this stage for expert advice.
Research and Compare Providers
Research potential cleaning suppliers and ask peers to compare their services. A recommendation (preferably more than one!) is often worth gold, especially if the cleaning provider has experience with businesses or buildings similar to yours.
Talk to Providers
Contact suppliers that seem like a good fit and find out about their process and values. You can request a detailed quotes and proposals at this point, but a thorough provider will want to understand your context more to provide a schedule that gives you the level of hygiene and cleanliness you require.
Schedule Site Visits
Arrange site visits to meet the team, discuss your needs in person, and assess their professionalism. A site visit allows you to get a feel for the company’s operation and how their people might interact with your team. A thorough provider will take the time to understand your unique challenges, and offer a tailored solution and recommendations you hadn’t thought of, whether quality or efficiency related.
Get Proposals & Quotes
When you receive proposal and breakdown, don’t be afraid to ask questions. The schedule should make sense and ensure what you need is covered. Many providers will offer a low price, but this is often a false economy. Such quotes may be based on a substandard service offer or level of service that that won’t meet your needs, often costing more for additional services later as they weren’t covered in the initial specification.
Ensure you understand the cleaning schedule
When evaluating potential cleaning providers, it’s crucial to understand their operational practices. Begin by discussing their cleaning protocols and the schedules. Specifically, inquire about their approach to daily cleaning and any periodic or deep cleaning services they offer. Make sure that periodic deep cleans are scheduled as needed. Consistent cleaning and maintenance can extend the lifespan of building elements, potentially delaying costly replacements.
Customer satisfaction is paramount, so ask how they measure and ensure it, including the frequency of performance reviews.
If you’re outsourcing your cleaning for the first time, or exploring different cleaning options, it’s essential to partner with a company that can adapt their cleaning to your evolving business needs. Make sure the cleaning operatives are trained.
Depending on size and complexity of your contract and building, it can be worthwhile having another meeting, including with operations team who will be managing your site before making a decision.
Sometimes the difference in service that professional cleaning company will offer at this point is clear. Pay close attention to the detail and ensure that the proposal aligns with your expectations.
Check References
Don’t hesitate to ask for references and speak to current or former clients. A good provider will have customer references and happy clients willing to talk to you about their experience. These can be valuable to making the right choice.
To make the right decision when choosing a commercial cleaning company, it’s crucial to carefully consider all of these operational factors to ensure a seamless and effective partnership.
Ready to experience the JR&Co Difference
At JR&Co, we know that a clean and well-maintained workspace is essential to the success of any organisation. We’re passionate about creating those spaces for our clients, and we don’t just clean; we build partnerships, invest in our people, and go above and beyond to deliver exceptional service.
We understand that choosing the right cleaning partner is a big decision, and we’re confident that our unwavering focus on attention to detail can provide the quality and care your business deserves. We call it “The Power of Undivided Attention”. It’s our commitment to meticulous care, to understanding your unique needs, and to building lasting relationships based on trust and exceptional service. It’s about going beyond the surface to create a truly healthy and inspiring environment for your people.
To discover how our approach can benefit your organisation, contact us today for a free consultation. We’d be delighted to discuss your specific needs and put together a tailored cleaning plan that will help you create a clean, healthy, and productive workspace. If you are considering new commercial cleaning for your business, we can help.
Find out how we make every hour of cleaning worth more.