While not the most interesting topic, commercial cleaning or janitorial services are essential for every business and landlord.

Clean, well-maintained workplaces not only promote productivity by providing a safe environment for tasks, but also prevent downtime-causing issues like sick building syndrome.

Additionally, a clean environment supports a professional brand image, is part of overall compliance, and goes a long way in protecting decision-makers from liability.

For large organizations, the scale and complexity of cleaning are tasks best left to the expertise and resources of third-party providers.

If your business has grown beyond the quick cleanup or you’re not satisfied with your current provider, explore what these companies have to offer and compare them objectively. You can find the perfect fit for your organization.

Commercial Janitorial Services

Consider the following criteria when evaluating commercial housekeeping and facility management vendors.

Services

Leading commercial janitorial service providers are more than just cleaners. While the main task is to clean, they are also tasked with ensuring that surfaces, particularly high-traffic zones, are sanitized. By doing so, they provide for the health and safety of your staff.

Determine whether your prospective vendor can maintain your unique workplace in a spotless and neat condition, both routinely and thoroughly, as their work is crucial to your business operations.

Service Areas

Major commercial cleaning players operate across multiple jurisdictions. Some concentrate on a single region, while others have footprints on many continents. Ensure that your country, territory, state, or province is part of a vendor’s geographic coverage.

Sectors Served

Businesses from different industries have distinct housekeeping requirements. Organizations in healthcare or the life sciences have more stringent janitorial needs than those leasing ordinary downtown offices. Use a vendor that explicitly advertises serving large businesses in your sector.

Staff Credentials

Accreditations and certifications are optional; however, when choosing a provider, consider whether your preference includes them, as it shows a commitment to training and service delivery.

The Global Biorisk Advisory Council’s STAR and the International Sanitary Supply Association’s Cleaning Industry Management Standard exist to enable commercial cleaning companies to attain and maintain standards, demonstrating to clients that their workforce is competent and committed to excellence.

Workforce Size

Housekeeping is mainly manual work. Top commercial cleaning companies recruit, train, and deploy local talent efficiently to meet the varying needs of enterprise clients. Ask how many cleaning staff members your organization needs and whether a vendor can consistently meet this demand.

Availability

Proper commercial housekeeping works quietly in the background and does not interfere with your organization’s day-to-day operations. Reliable vendors are flexible enough to deploy a sufficient number of cleaning professionals based on your schedule and during emergencies. Discuss scheduling with your prospective janitorial service provider.

Innovations

The best commercial housekeeping players invest in modern technology. They adopt innovative techniques and equipment to finish tasks fast without compromising quality. Identify the aspects of your vendor’s operations that are technology-driven.

Sustainability

Top-rated janitorial service providers recognize the increasing importance of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards in modern organizations. They are committed to embracing eco-friendly practices to help clients hit their sustainability targets.

By hiring a commercial housekeeping company that shares your commitment to sustainability, you can make it easier to meet your ESG goals and feel confident in your business’s environmental impact.

Credibility

Reputable companies consistently demonstrate that they conduct their business legally and ethically. Years in business, a solid track record, and awards are good indicators of credibility. Dig up information about a vendor’s past to predict its future behavior as your janitorial company.

Janitorial Service Providers

Now we get to the providers of commercial cleaning services.  We have selected three options for you to compare and use as a benchmark for choosing your third-party service provider.

The Facilities Group (TFG)

TFG is ideal for enterprises with multiple locations that are keen on consolidating vendors and seeking specialized facility management solutions beyond basic janitorial cleaning. It offers a comprehensive suite of over 20 services optimized for end-to-end facility maintenance through its integrated family of brands. One of its subsidiaries, The Facilities Group Hawaii, has been in business for over 54 years, underscoring this vendor’s extensive industry experience.

• Massive workforce: TFG has over 14,000 W2 Employees and collaborates with more than 200 independent service providers.
• Technology-driven approach: This vendor has a tech-forward culture and leverages state-of-the-art tools for work order management, data analytics, and more to empower its staff to accomplish tasks efficiently and effectively.
• Commitment to sustainability: TFG prioritizes health and safety, minimizes particles, moisture, and chemical residue, and contains all pollutants when cleaning. It documents routine maintenance schedules and disposes of cleaners in environmentally conscious ways.

Cushman & Wakefield’s Facility Services (C&W Services)

C&W Services fits the housekeeping and facility maintenance requirements of Fortune 500 companies. This commercial janitorial service provider has a client base of over 600 US companies and manages 6.2 billion square feet of workspace. It has been in business for over 75 years and employs approximately 14,000 skilled workers.

• High self-performance: Employed staff members handle over 80% of C&W Services’ business, and trusted subcontractors take care of the rest.
• Credentialed cleaning professionals: This vendor’s cleaning experts are familiar with occupational safety guidelines, clean room protocols, LEED project management best practices, and more.
• Predictive maintenance: C&W Services utilizes emerging technologies to anticipate and address issues before they arise, thereby preventing unscheduled downtime and minimizing productivity loss.

JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting

JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting suits large businesses seeking a top-rated janitorial service provider with housekeeping systems proven to work internationally. It entered the commercial cleaning market in 1991 and has since grown its network of franchise owners to over 8,000. This vendor offers a rigorous training program, enabling representatives to develop expertise in both routine and specialty cleaning services for diverse workspaces.

• Eco-friendly cleaning: JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting uses 100% biodegradable products bearing Green Seal or a similar certification, ensuring they kill 99.9% of germs while releasing zero toxic fumes and harmful residues.
• Meticulous quality assurance: This provider’s representatives follow a 50-point inspection system to ensure excellent work.
• Commendable guarantee: The company pledges to resolve cleanliness issues within one business day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the answers to the most common questions about commercial janitorial services.

What’s the Difference Between Janitorial and Commercial Cleaning?

Janitorial cleaning is synonymous with housekeeping and includes daily tasks, such as sweeping, mopping, and emptying trash, necessary to maintain visual cleanliness and support basic hygiene.

Commercial cleaning refers to periodic tasks designed to sanitize objects and spaces that janitorial activities may not cover, such as deep carpet cleaning, floor finishing, and window washing.

What Cleaning Job Is the Hardest?

The most demanding cleaning jobs involve hazardous conditions, require urgent attention, and necessitate specialized equipment and skills. Examples include cleaning up sewage backup, hauling construction debris, and removing traces of chemical spillage.

How Much Does Commercial Cleaning Cost Monthly?

The monthly cost of a commercial cleaning service ranges from hundreds to thousands of dollars. The size of your facility is the most significant determining factor; janitorial service providers generally charge per square foot. Job complexity, time of day, cleaning frequency, and location affect the final bill.

For example, the commercial cleaning budget of an academic medical center that treats dozens of patients, accommodates staff and medical students, and deals with hazardous waste daily may be greater than that of a full-service law firm.