The commercial cleaning industry is one that many of us take for granted.  We enter offices and retail spaces and we spend little time (if any) considering how these spaces get clean.  The commercial cleaning industry is everywhere at the same time it is nowhere.  These cleaning services seem to be completed silently, even when we are witness to the services provided we rarely pay attention to the routines.  It’s interesting when you really start to consider those industries that do the unsung work, of which commercial cleaning is one.  For example, have you ever considered commercial cleaning etiquette?

That’s right, there’s an etiquette to commercial cleaning.  These are not necessarily hard and fast rules about how cleaning services are provided, but professional cleaning companies take pride in offering exceptional services, so it shouldn’t be so surprising that they have procedures guiding how the work is done.  At its core, the etiquette of commercial cleaning services ensures quality cleaning in a way that minimizes impact on the stakeholders involved.

What does that mean, to limit the impact on involved stakeholders?  First and foremost, commercial cleaning companies will want to arrange a regular cleaning schedule.  What time of the day is your office or business likely to be least disrupted by cleaning services?  Or, what services can be provided at which times of the day to maintain a clean and efficient workplace?  Shared spaces like kitchens, bathrooms, and breakrooms will likely need to be cleaned on a daily basis, and sometimes even throughout the day depending on the number of people using the facility.  These services are often provided outside office hours so that staff and customers are not affected except to benefit from clean shared spaces.

Another way that commercial cleaning etiquette helps to maintain a positive impact on stakeholders is the prioritizing of cleaning tasks.  Workflow and traffic will often dictate how these tasks are prioritized.  A small office will have different demands than a large office, but priority cleaning areas tend to be washrooms, break rooms, reception, waiting rooms, and conference rooms.  With respect to workflow, how do your day-to-day operations impact your cleaning needs?  Do you have a lot of recycling or do you need garbage emptied more frequently?  Identifying priority cleaning services will help commercial cleaning companies provided the services you need on the schedule you need them.  There’s no cookie cutter approach to prioritizing these services.

Finally, commercial cleaning etiquette demands safety awareness.  Not only should cleaning supplies and equipment be properly stored, labeled, and maintained to ensure safety of cleaners and other staff, but cleaning services must be provided in a safe manner.  For example, adequate signage (perhaps for wet floors or hazardous spills) is important for proper health and safety.

Knowing commercial cleaning etiquette is important for the cleaning company as well as their clients.  When both parties are mindful of cleaning protocols, they are more likely to forge a successful working relationship.