Do you require janitorial services or commercial cleaning services for your facility or property? You may be wondering if there is a difference. Think for a moment about the way in which you keep your own home clean and well-maintained (hopefully!), and you’ll have a better understanding of the difference.

Janitorial cleaning services are all of the large and small cleaning activities that are necessary to do on a regular, even daily, basis. These include janitorial-type work like sweeping floors, cleaning washrooms, sinks, and toilets, throwing out the trash and dusting surfaces. Look at it this way If janitorial services aren’t being done well, you can see the difference right away!

Commercial cleaning services, on the other hand, typically involve larger jobs that need to be done periodically for overall maintenance, but not on a daily basis. These include activities such as rug cleaning, floor stripping and polishing, the deep cleaning of appliances and equipment, duct and window cleaning. As part of overall maintenance, there often is some repair required as well. The need for commercial cleaning services may not be immediately obvious to the eye, but without regular, expert cleaning and maintenance, the results soon become apparent through equipment break-downs, less efficient operations, and an overall shabby, unkept appearance.

Does property maintenance include both janitorial and commercial cleaning services?

Yes! Both janitorial services and commercial cleaning services are essential, and for different reasons. Property managers who oversee the operation of commercial, residential, or institutional facilities require janitorial services to ensure their facilities look clean, well-maintained, fresh and ready for customers/clients/residents. Commercial cleaning, however, means that over time, facilities operate at peak efficiency, while protecting the health and safety of those who work, visit or live in the facility.

Here are some of the services under each category:

Janitorial Services

  • Cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms, kitchens, and break areas
  • Wiping down surfaces, dusting and polishing
  • Mopping and sweeping floors
  • Vacuuming
  • Removing garbage
  • Parking lot sweeping
  • Minor repairs
  • Ground maintenance such as mowing the grass, trimming hedges, etc.

Commercial Cleaning Services

  • Carpet cleaning
  • Floor maintenance (stripping, polishing, etc.)
  • Furniture and upholstery cleaning
  • Grout repair and cleaning
  • Window cleaning
  • HVAC mechanical cleaning and checking
  • Checking/cleaning electrical equipment, plumbing systems
  • Landscaping, seasonal clean up and repairs

How are Janitorial Services provided?

Not all cleaning companies provide a comprehensive list of both janitorial and commercial cleaning services. This is because there is a big difference in how each type of service is provided, and the expertise required to deliver such services.

Cleaning staff that provide janitorial services are typically generalists when it comes to cleaning a facility. Ideally, they have been trained in effective, safe cleaning products and methods, and they follow quality standards so that each task is completed properly.

The staff who come to your facility also receive training and refresher courses on new products and methods, and if applicable, new cleaning regulations. For instance, this past year would have included the kinds of products proven to effectively eliminate or reduce the spread of COVID-19.

How are Commercial Cleaning Services provided?

Commercial cleaning staff have speciality skills in specific kinds of cleaning methods, and how these methods apply to different property and/or equipment maintenance needs. For instance,

a floor specialist knows the most effective and safe protocols and equipment for dealing with cleaning a carpeted area or a marble floor.

The kinds of services available vary widely according to the facility being cleaned and maintained, and the speciality needs at each site. If you are a hospital or medical institution, for example, you would want commercial cleaning services to include experts that know how to properly sanitize and disinfect high-risk areas in addition to cleaning. A bakery, on the other hand, would require continuous cleaning and maintenance on equipment that handles food products.

Specific commercial cleaning requirements are assessed and evaluated at the beginning of a contract, and at regular intervals during the contract period. Services can also be added through the year, such as an extra rug cleaning during winter, or a special event set up.

Discover Kleenway’s Complete Custodial Care Services

Complete custodial care offered at Kleenway means that both services—janitorial and commercial—are combined under one “care” package for each client. This means as a facility or property manager, you are assigned a team that understands the need of your building for on-going, regular cleaning, but also has a plan in place to address speciality cleaning and maintenance requirements.

A list of our complete custodial services are provided below:

  • Janitorial
  • Floor maintenance
  • Carpet cleaning
  • Window cleaning
  • Parking lot sweeping
  • Procurement support and inventory management
  • Waste audits
  • Special events prep and clean up

The above arrangement also means that clients can take advantage of our Facility Maintenance Program. Through this building maintenance program, you don’t have to try and sort out what you need, and when and how the work will be done. Your facility is being constantly monitored for its cleanliness, as well as its overall health, safety, and operational efficiency. You can rest assured that we can dispatch trusted, certified service providers to service immediate problems during, before, or after normal business hours. In addition, the program assigns as single point of contact for extended services, which saves you time and money.

Sounds like a plan? Give us call and get an estimate for how this could work for you.