Restrooms and break rooms are where people spend their most intimate time at work. And while these areas may look clean, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are.
During cold and flu season, you want to know that these areas are getting the utmost attention. Bacteria can hide in many places, and it’s necessary that your cleaning company removes the threat of spreading sickness through the office.
And when it comes to bathrooms, well, you just want to know that they’re being thoroughly cleaned. Enough said on that point.
Not only that, but you want to know that you’re getting the most from the money you’re spending on cleaning services. Cleaning costs are an important part of a businesses’ budget, and you want to know that the dollars you spend are resulting in high-quality work.
If you’re looking to hire a cleaning company, know the right things to expect from them.
To truly clean an area effectively, your cleaning company needs the right combination of equipment, chemistry, and process.
Nine Things Your Commercial Cleaning Company Should Do
1. Have a Proper Cleaning Procedure
A good cleaning company will provide its employees with a very clear cleaning procedure checklist. Each and every cleaning employee should have a good understanding of their company’s cleaning practices and what is expected of them.
They should be given clear instructions for both the restroom and the break room. They should be trained to know where to begin cleaning and where to end. They should also know which equipment and supplies work best, and how to use them.
2. Use a Color-Coding System for Rags
It may surprise you to find out that many cleaning companies reuse cleaning rags for many different locations in your office. This means they may be using the same rags to clean the bathroom that they’re using to clean the kitchen in the break room.
How would you know if your cleaning company is doing this? An easy way to find out is to look at the color of their rags. If they’re only using white rags, then they’re probably repurposing their rags for every inch of your office. They’re using the same rags on your toilets that they’re using to wipe off your phones.
Instead of using the same color rags for every location, professional cleaning companies should use a color-coded system.
- Red rags are for toilets only.
- Yellow rags are for the rest of the bathroom.
- Blue rags are for glass surfaces.
- Green rags are for the rest of the office.
If your cleaning company is only using one color rag, it may be time to search for a new cleaning service.
3. Disinfect and Sanitize Surfaces
The last thing you want in a workplace is sick employees. Unhealthy employees are often unable to come to work, and if they do, the quality of their work declines. Not only that, but it can be a morale issue when everyone is sick. No one is at their best when they’re not feeling well.
If sickness is making its way around the office, you want to make sure that your cleaning company is doing the best they can to prevent the spread of germs. One way to prevent sickness is to disinfect and sanitize surfaces. The most critical places for this are public places that employees share like the breakroom and restroom.
To properly clean an area in your workplace, your cleaning company should be paying special attention to high-touch zones such as sinks, toilets, and handles. They should also use the proper cleaning materials for the job.
For example, floor cleaners should be used for the floors and not for countertops. Toilet bowl cleaners for the toilets, etc. It’s important that they use the proper cleaning supplies that kill germs and decrease the spread of bacteria and viruses.
4. Provide Their Own Equipment and Supplies
You’re hiring a cleaning company for their expertise and for the best equipment and supplies for the job. You may be able to buy a standard vacuum cleaner for the office, but it isn’t going to be a commercial grade one that offers a deep clean. You also don’t want to have to pay for other bigger equipment such as floor buffers.
A cleaning company should want to provide their own supplies because they know what’s best for the job. For example, you may not have known that it was important to have a color-coding system for cleaning rags, but they should.
One of the biggest perks of paying for a cleaning company is to avoid added stress. Cleaning the office isn’t your job, and you shouldn’t have to manage the equipment and supplies for them to do it.
5. Provide Safety to Their Employees and You
Cleaning may not seem like a dangerous job, but there are certain precautions that a janitorial company should consider.
A cleaning company employee should be well-trained on all equipment and chemicals that they will be using. They should know the proper OSHA practices in order to maintain a safe and healthy workplace.
Some chemicals can be toxic when mixed together and that can put both your employees and your cleaning person at risk.
In addition, a cleaning person should always wear the proper personal protective equipment when working to avoid contact with potentially harmful chemicals.
They should also use “caution when wet” signs when applicable, and clean up spills to avoid an accident.
A responsible cleaning company will ensure that its employees are aware of personal safety needs and the safety needs of your business.
6. Provide You With Quality Workers
When you’re shopping for commercial cleaning companies, it’s a good idea to ask them about their employees.
You’ll want to know how the cleaning company hires their employees, how they treat their employees, and how they guarantee their work.
Here’s a list of questions that may be helpful to ask your cleaning company:
- Do they require employee background checks?
- How do they determine how qualified their employees are when hiring?
- What kind of training do they offer their employees?
- What is the employee turnover rate?
- How do they guarantee the quality of their employee’s work?
Chances are, if a company is willing to provide their employees with good training, compensation, and support, their employees will also give better quality work. If a company has a very high turnover rate, there’s a good chance that they’re not providing a good atmosphere for their employees. In turn, it’s also very likely that their employees aren’t giving their best when cleaning your workspace.
Another thing you can ask is what kind of quality control they offer. Ask if they do frequent janitorial inspections. If not, then they won’t have a good idea of how well their employees are performing. It shouldn’t be your job to manage their employees if a job is done unsatisfactorily.
7. Be Insured
Any professional cleaning company should be insured and provide their employees with workers compensation. Without these things, it becomes a burden to your company.
If something is broken or stolen while they’re cleaning, it may be on you to pay for the damages. Likewise, if one of their employees is hurt while cleaning your office or commercial building, you’ll be the one paying hospital fees.
Sometimes new businesses do not have insurance or workers compensation. If a company tells you they have insurance, don’t just take their word for it. Insist on seeing proof of insurance before signing a contract with a cleaning company. Accidents happen even when precautions are in place. You don’t want to be liable for those accidents on your company property.
8. Be Professional and Have a Good Reputation
You’ll want to hire a cleaning company that has a good reputation. It’s a good idea to read online testimonials and reviews of a company. If the company has an overwhelming amount of bad reviews, you should probably avoid them.
If you’ve called their office, pay attention to the way that they communicate with you. Are they professional? Do they guarantee their work? Do you get the impression that they care about your business?
Choose a company that is client-centered and will work to give you exactly what you need for your workplace.
9. Provide Easy to Understand Pricing
When searching for a cleaning company, be sure you know how their pricing works. If they’re non-committal or confusing about pricing, you may engage in a contract that is far more expensive than you expected.
Make sure you have a defined price before they start working for you or before you sign a contract. This way you’re both on the same page and you can avoid uncomfortable or frustrating conversations in the future.
Find a Company that Works for You
Hiring a cleaning company can greatly relieve some of the stress and burdens that you carry in a professional workplace. Your cleaning company should provide you with seamless work that does not require a lot of input and management from you. Most importantly, you should be able to trust the quality of the work your cleaning company provides.
Jack Laurie Group offers janitorial cleaning services that are client-centered and are uniquely designed for your needs and goals. We’ll work hard to make sure that your high traffic areas are clean, sanitized, and safe. We’ll take care of the cleaning needs of your office and workspace so you’re free to focus on other day-to-day operations.
