Everything You Need to Know about Commercial Cleaners

What is Commercial Cleaning?

Commercial cleaning is cleaning that’s performed by professional cleaners, hired by organisations in a range of sectors. This can include everything from hoovering your office space, maintaining your hotel washrooms to looking after hazardous waste disposal. First impressions are important to every business, and most of the time a clean business can mean the difference between success and failure.

Why is Cleaning the Workplace Important?

Due to recent events, many of us are still anxious about venturing out into the world and we’re aware, now more than ever that proper cleaning measures must be observed and undertaken. Keeping your workplace clean and tidy reduces the spread of germs and bacteria, in turn reducing sickness and keeping your workforce in top healthy, feeling safe, and ready to go. Not only that, but we also all know that a cluttered and untidy working environment is distracting which can lead to decreased productivity and lost working hours; which can all incur additional costs to a business.

What Are the Benefits of Using Commercial Cleaners? 

Tackling the monumental task of keeping a premises clean should be a key priority when running a business. When handled incorrectly however, it can prove to be a drain on time, money, and resources. In addition to this, your business may not actually have access to the resources and equipment it needs to actually conduct cleaning routines properly.

There are so many important benefits of hiring a commercial cleaning company. Some benefits include the fact they’re professionals that have an extensive toolkit and the expertise to know how to clean different types of surfaces and equipment. They may even have a multitude of secret ways to get that age old stain out of the sofa in the rec-room, all while using the correct chemicals to do so safely. Hiring professional cleaners will not only reduce the spread of germs, promote employee productivity and give customers confidence, it also gives the furnishings and surfaces in your premises a new lease of life and prevent wear and tear, saving you time and money on repairs or additional purchases for replacements.

Alternatives to Using Professional Cleaners

 You’re probably reading this right now, and a big thing that you’re thinking about is the cost, or the fact it may be easier to get a member of staff to clean your premises… but should employees really be cleaning your workplace? Of course they can, but it might not be the best solution for your business.

Surprisingly, if you take care of your cleaning in-house, it will more than likely end up costing you more. Cleaning a premises takes more than people; there’s the cleaning supplies, chemicals, the cost of equipment and restocking all these items. Not to mention the cost of equipment repairs, liability insurance, staff holiday and staff sickness. Your staff may not have the experience either which means the time to clean properly will be longer and in business, we all know that time equals money.

Cleaning is by no means an easy job, different furnishings and surfaces can require a different procedure and equipment. This is a fact that many of us probably forget about when it comes to cleaning individual stains and dirt, haphazardly sloshing the nearest cleaning product onto the area, and crossing our fingers hoping for the best. We’ve all done it and we are all acutely aware of the outcome, which can be damaged surfaces, a worse stain than before, or even ruined furniture.

What Areas of a Business Will Commercial Cleaners Look After?

Commercial cleaners can look after many different areas of your facility. Dependent on your provider, the cleaning services on offer may vary, but the majority of commercial cleaners will have the know-how, equipment, and staff to take care of everything from dusting light fittings and emptying bins to cleaning the windows and carpets.

It’s up to you how frequently you would like your cleaner to attend, they will most likely wish to visit your premises first to discuss your business’ needs to be sure that they can tailor their service to you before agreeing on a cost. When hiring a contract cleaner, you must think about the areas that you want them to look after and they can advise on the best schedule that works for you and your budget.

Weekly professional cleaning tasks may include:

• Hoover and mop all floors
• Empty and disinfect all bins
• Dust all desks and surfaces (such as in reception)
• Disinfect toilets and replenish soap, paper towels and toilet rolls
• Empty and clean the communal fridge and kitchen appliances
• Polish glass, mirrors, and wooden surfaces
• Sanitise any surfaces which require cleaning such as door knobs, handles and elevator buttons

Monthly cleaning tasks may include:

• Hoover fabric chairs and fabric surfaces
• Dust all surfaces including areas which aren’t included on a daily basis
• Deep clean carpets
• Clean the windows (if possible)
• Polish and maintain hard floors
• Deep cleaning of hard to reach equipment and surfaces

Commercial cleaning doesn’t just make your facility look and smell nice, it also plays a major part in health and safety. For example, HVAC cleaning isn’t usually something that most people think about. Poor indoor air quality, and inefficient air flow can all result in dust accumulating in your air ducts. This dust then starts to filter down into the air, when this happens, your workspace will start to get dusty faster which will aid the spread of germs and bacteria and can also trigger asthma and allergies such as hay fever. HVAC cleaning may be something that a commercial cleaning company will offer.

If you’re a business that operates a warehouse, have you ever thought about having it professionally cleaned? Cleaning a warehouse is much more than sweeping and mopping the floor, it’s about preventing dust, dirt, and mould which can cause damage to equipment and be hazardous to your workforce. A warehouse means expensive equipment, if your machines and equipment aren’t free from dust and debris then this could reduce their efficiency; get them professionally cleaned to maximise their lifespan. In addition to this, maintaining your warehouse will prevent accidents and injuries, ensuring that your business complies with all health and safety regulations as well as leading to increased staff motivation and productivity.

If you work in an office then you know how busy days can be, it’s almost as if there aren’t enough hours in the day! As a result, some aspects of office cleaning can slip by the wayside. Expert cleaners will give your business a deep clean and scrub every aspect of your office leaving your facility disinfected, sanitised, organised, and most importantly germ free. This in turn will have a positive effect on your staff, leaving them happy, healthy, and more productive as well as making an excellent first impression on visitors.

Cleaning Tasks That May Require Professional Cleaners

While many of us are certainly able to take on generic cleaning tasks, there are some cleaning tasks you can’t do without a commercial cleaning company. Without the right tools and knowledge things can go catastrophically wrong and end in you having to pay more than you bargained for on new furniture or even expensive equipment.

Soft Fabric Furnishings and Furniture

It’s important to consider how you will go about cleaning items of furniture and soft furnishings in your facility. There are so many different types of fabrics and materials that it’s easy to assume that the 3-year-old ink stain or the ground in dirt can’t be cleaned so it just gets left. Or, you try and have a go yourself using the wrong chemicals and techniques which result in you having to pay for new furniture.

Over time, furniture collects stains, dust, and even human oils which build up, settling into the upholstery giving it a horribly dirty appearance. In some cases, this can even lead to dust mites, which affect allergies and air quality. Hiring trained professionals to clean these things for you will ensure that they are cleaned according to manufacturer’s recommendations, and any stains/ground in dirt is removed with knowledge and ease instead of having to throw things away and purchase replacements.

Floor Maintenance

If your flooring isn’t correctly maintained, then this can lead to a number of workplace accidents as well as having an effect on employees and visitors’ impressions of your company. Cleaning the floors in your workplace requires specialised equipment and supplies. Without these, dirt and grime will begin to build, leading to floors not looking or even smelling clean. In addition to this, floors are more likely to become damaged if proper cleaning equipment isn’t used. Standard mops and any old detergent aren’t enough to get the job done, commercial environments need industrial strength hoovers, shampoos, and polishes to be maintained correctly. Without the right equipment to hand, your floors may not dry properly which can result in a build-up of mould and mildew which will be hazardous to health.

Professional Disinfection Services

While daily cleaning removes some dirt and bacteria, professional disinfection can bolster the cleaning efforts that you already have in place, ensuring that all surfaces including hard to reach areas are properly cleaned. We recommend hiring commercial cleaners to manage this for you as they will already have access to all of the equipment and chemicals needed, as well as performing the disinfection process with minimal disruption to your business. They’re also specially trained in using and disposing of all chemicals involved ensuring that everyone is safe and taken care of.

Where do Germs Harbour in the Workplace?

There are more germ hotspots in your workplace than you think, right now, your desk could be harbouring 400 times more germs than a toilet seat. Failing to clean regularly or properly can encourage all manner of germs and bacteria to spread in force throughout your workplace.

Did you know that lift buttons are among the top of the list when it comes to germ hotspots in the workplace? Any items within high traffic areas must be cleaned regularly and thoroughly using the correct equipment and products. This also includes items such as door handles, telephones, kettles, light fittings, and any surfaces in communal areas. If regular cleaning measures aren’t put in place or adhered to then it can lead to increased staff sickness, which will have a detrimental effect on man hours and cost your business money. According to surveys, staff sickness is costing the UK economy £77.5 billion a year.

How Much do Commercial Cleaners Cost?

There are several factors that determine the cost of a commercial cleaner including the size of your facility, which directly links in with the time that it will take the team to clean your premises. Obviously, the cost will also depend on your business’ needs, and if there are any additional requirements, such as cleaning high traffic areas. Washrooms are high traffic areas and require specialist cleaning. One thing is for certain though, the results that you see and the money that you save in the long run will very much outweigh the initial commercial cleaning cost.

What to Look for When Choosing a Commercial Cleaning Company?

Where do you start when choosing a commercial cleaning company? Obviously, getting the best price is important, but you also need a company who are reliable, professional, and knowledgeable. Look out for companies that have a proven track record with cleaning your type of business and ensure they can offer a wide range of services to fit your needs with quality, reliable staff. Of course, factors may vary dependant on your business’ requirements so have a read of our guide to choosing a commercial cleaning company for more advice.

Are There Any Other Considerations to Make When Picking a Partner?

When choosing a commercial cleaning company, it’s also worth checking their website to look for any accreditations and testimonials from past clients. This will give you piece of mind and show you what they were able to achieve for previous employers. Another sign of a fantastic company is their stance on sustainability; companies committed to using eco-friendly, green cleaning products and eliminating harmful chemicals will often mean a reduction in the costs associated with cleaning, as well as eliminating any irritants that can cause a decline in your employee’s health. Lastly, if you have a multi-site location business, we recommend looking into the company’s coverage. If you’re hiring professional cleaners to spruce up your business, you must ensure that they can travel to each of your locations.

Commercial Cleaning in a Post-Covid World

Given recent global events, commercial cleaning may change. As it stands many companies are doing everything that they can to reassure their staff that they are doing their part to combat all viruses. Before the pandemic, 68% of employees  were resigned to the fact that we would suffer with the obligatory office cold at least once a year, which cost our economy £16.2 billion each year. Commercial cleaning companies are in demand now more than ever, and they’re diversifying into more and more different sectors. There is a suggestion that Covid-19 will reappear every year around winter, and that it may become similar to the flu. The cleaning industry must now assess how to pre-empt future outbreaks and how to protect their clients, businesses must improve their cleaning routines and higher standards of hygiene will need to be enforced. Forbes provides advice on what types of commercial cleaning businesses should consider in a post-covid world while further guidance from other sources can be found below.

Cleaning and Hygiene Guidelines from the UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE)

Jani-King’s Professional Cleaning Services, Local to Your Business

 First impressions count, and as a global leader in the commercial cleaning industry, we are committed to providing the highest standards of cleaning services to your business. We have over 50 years’ experience in the business and have delivered unbeatable clean for companies such as Wagamama, Frankie & Benny’s and Mercedes to name a few. To see what how we can keep your company’s facilities in top condition explore our range of commercial cleaning services that cover a broad range of sectors in the UK.