Hiring an Office Cleaning Company

Whether you are a new business looking to contract cleaning staff, or you have an existing company and you don’t want to handle the day-to-day management of cleaning duties anymore, hiring an office cleaning company can seem an arduous task.  Fear not!  The keys to hiring a great office cleaning company are not so different than hiring quality contractors from any discipline.  A little research and review up front will help you hire an office cleaning company that serves you, your customers, and your staff effectively and efficiently.

It goes without saying that maintaining a clean office has many benefits for your business, your staff, and most importantly – your customers.  A clean working environment reduces illness, ensures efficient operations, and ultimately establishes the image of your business.  After all, nobody wants to do business with a company that appears disorganized and disheveled.  That being said, it is also important to know that not all offices require the same services, and not all cleaning companies offer the same quality cleaning.

With that in mind, you must first have a very clear understanding of what you need from your office cleaning company.  Professional cleaners offer a wide range of services including:

• Vacuuming
• Mopping
• Carpet and upholstery cleaning
• Dusting
• Window cleaning
• Bathroom and break room cleaning
• Garbage and/or recycling removal
• Hardwood floor maintenance and restoration
• Power washing
• Cleaning and maintenance of outdoor spaces (including parking lots/garages)

And this is just a few of the services many office cleaning companies provide.  So, before you start contacting cleaners, it is important to make a comprehensive list of the services you require so that you can get an accurate quote of cleaning services.  In addition, you should carefully consider the schedule of cleaning services you’ll need – a small office may need garbage removed on a weekly basis whereas larger offices may require daily service.  Each business’ cleaning needs are as unique as the products or services they provide.

Next, do your research on cleaning competitors.  You want to identify a few potential cleaners that can show an established record of successful cleaning service in your community.  Ask yourself, how long has this company been in business?  Can they provide references?  Do they have experience cleaning for businesses that are similar to my own?  And, what are the typical costs for their services?  Collect as much information as you can about different cleaners so that you can make the most informed choice possible.

Finally, always make sure that your potential cleaning contractor is fully insured.  They need to have adequate liability insurance and their employees also need to be properly insured in case of injury at work.  This is one aspect of hiring an office cleaning company that many business owners overlook, but you don’t want to be holding the bag if something goes seriously wrong with your cleaning company.

Keeping a clean office is integral to running an efficient business with productive staff and satisfied customers.  Though you might see office cleaning as a tedious necessity, there is no question it needs to be done.  As such, the question often turns to whether to hire in-house staff to manage your cleaning requirements or whether to outsource your office cleaning.  So, why would you choose to contract your cleaning rather than managing the tedium yourself?  Let’s look at the top 5 reasons to outsource office cleaning.

Quality

Professional cleaning companies offer the highest quality cleaning work because they have the skills, experience, equipment, and supplies to get the job done right no matter the size or nature of your office.  They already know which products work and which don’t, and they know how to get the job done effectively and affordably.  Plus, as outsourcing professional cleaners means you’re working with people that prioritize cleaning you’re also sure to enjoy a spotless office.

Cost

Hiring, training, and managing in-house janitorial staff costs you time and money.  You’ll also have to purchase cleaning equipment and supplies, not to mention maintaining and replacing these products.  On the other hand, professional cleaning companies already have the tools they need to clean your office and you won’t need to worry about staff turnover, employee benefits, and other costs of managing and hiring cleaners.  You can also arrange a cleaning schedule that is right for your business rather than paying cleaning staff regardless of whether there is work to be done.

Service

At the end of the day, outsourced cleaners make their money from satisfied customers so they’ll go above and beyond to deliver quality work at a price you can afford.  While you might get lucky and hire an excellent janitor that takes pride in her or his work, you might also suffer the fate of many other business owners – high cleaner turnover and the costs associated with finding and training new cleaners.

Management

As it’s already been suggested, there are a number of administrative tasks associated with managing in-house cleaning staff.  Not only do you need to manage salaries and benefits, you’ll also be responsible for managing cleaning supplies and equipment.  Some products will require special attention as determined by health and safety requirements; for example, many cleaning products require special storage and warnings to protect the health of employees.  By outsourcing your office cleaning, all these extra duties are passed on to your cleaning company.

Comprehensive Cleaning

In many cases, even if you decide to use in-house staff for cleaning, you’ll still have to outsource some cleaning jobs.  Beyond basic cleaning services, you might need regular deep carpet cleaning, outdoor window cleaning, and other tasks that you might not consider affect your day-to-day operations.  Working with professional cleaners means all your cleaning tasks are handled by one company who can also help you identify some of the hidden office cleaning necessities.

We’re already more than half way through 2017 – it’s hard to believe where the time goes.  With the winter well behind us, facilities managers often take this time of year to take a much deserved break knowing it won’t be long before another fall and winter season kick off.  That being said, there’s no time like the present to start preparing for what’s to come and to consider new and better ways to manage your facility.  These maintenance tips for facilities represent our best practice advice to improve building maintenance efficiency.

Prevention Saves Time and Money

If you’re feeling like you have some extra time on your hands right now, don’t forget what your busy season looks like.  Regardless of your industry, facilities managers will benefit from a proactive approach that ensures structures and equipment are in prime operating condition.  You can even take some time to reflect on your biggest headaches of the past year and plan for the coming months by evaluating the current status of your facility, identifying potential repair and maintenance needs, and even developing a long-term maintenance schedule that helps you keep on track.

Consider a New Approach to Lighting

LED lighting is the wave of the future – and while the initial costs associated with LEDs are higher (especially if you include installation costs), the long-term investment is a sound one.  LEDs last longer and they are more efficient too.  This means less time spent maintaining lighting as well as lower energy costs.  Plus, LED systems are increasingly standardized and their costs are dropping.

Get Analytical

Collecting an analyzing facilities data helps you do your job more efficiently.  There are numerous tools available that help you identify problem areas, inefficiencies, and even potential solutions that you may have never considered before.  Using the most modern technology available, you get access to the information you need to avert potential problems before they arise.  Indeed, data analysis offers myriad benefits – not only can data aid your prevention strategies, it can also help you in a crisis.

Mobile Technology for the Win

It’s the 21^st century, so it’s time to go mobile with your facilities management technology.  You’re a busy manager; heck, you may be managing multiple facilities at the same time.  You’ve got a smart phone and possibly even a tablet as well, so why aren’t you making the most of this technology?  Mobile apps and other programs can provide you with facility information when you’re on the go.  Pull up blueprints, check heating systems, view maintenance schedules or vendor information wherever you are so that you never miss a step.

Combining tried and tested facilities management strategies with the most up-to-date technologies available will put you at the top of your game while saving you valuable time and money.

As a business owner, you likely know how important it is to maintain your work environment.  Whether you want to ensure the health and safety of your staff or you want to make a good impression for your customers, cleaning services are an important (if not overlooked) aspect of running a business.  So, when it comes to hiring a janitorial company, what do you need to consider?  From the reputation of the company and their cost of services to references and services provided, there are many factors to think about before hiring a janitorial company.

The Janitor’s Reputation

Ultimately, when you are hiring any professional to provide a service, you likely want to consider how long that service provider has been in business and their general reputation in your community.  Sure, a start-up can provide excellent services, but it’s more difficult to verify the quality of their work.  On the other hand, hiring an established janitorial company helps you know you are working with a professional that has a satisfied customer base as well as roots in your community.

Dollars and Cents

Ideally, you want to collect bids from a variety of professional cleaning companies serving your company and business type before you make a final decision.  While you probably do not want to hire the lowest bidder, you also don’t want to be taken for a ride financially.  Getting a few bids that are based on a realistic expectation of services delivered will give you a good sense of what is a fair price to pay.  Then you can consider other factors such as the company’s reputation and references before settling on an offer.  As a rule of thumb, remember that the lowest bidder might be low-balling to try to get your business but exceptionally low prices are usually a reflection of poorer services.  Aim to get around 5 quotes, take the average and carefully consider the bids that are closest to that average.

Check References

Always….always…ALWAYS check references before hiring a janitorial company.  If you were interviewing a new employee, you’d check their references and the same should be true for potential cleaning companies.  Any reputable business will be happy to provide you a variety of recent references that can help you to confirm that you’re going to get the quality and variety of services you require at a fair price.  When speaking with the references, try to have a few questions prepared that reflect your needs.  For example, you probably want to know that services were provided on schedule and to a satisfactory level.

Products and Services

Not every business requires the same cleaning services.  Before hiring a janitorial company, create a comprehensive list of all the services you require and your ideal schedule for these services.  Make sure to negotiate carefully with your janitorial company so that you get the cleaning you need when you need it.

Do you hate cleaning windows?  As if cleaning interior windows wasn’t a hassle enough (it is!), but really…who wants to spend time cleaning exterior windows?  I can’t think of anybody, except maybe the professionals.  No doubt, cleaning outside windows involves a lot of messing around – you’ve got to drag buckets of water and other cleaning supplies up and down ladders to reach higher level windows.  Not to mention the actual work of cleaning the window.  To make a long story short, cleaning windows is a difficult job that also poses some risk to your safety (hello! Ladders!!).  Plus, as a amateur, you may have noticed how difficult it is to get pristine, streak-free windows.  I’d swear it’s impossible!  So, what can you do?

The answer is simple: hire professional window cleaners and your window-cleaning nightmares are gone.  Window cleaning service professionals have all the skills and tools they need to do the job (interior AND exterior) effectively, efficiently, and most importantly – safely.  When many of us consider the actual cleaning part of windows (i.e. before we’ve even considered hiking up and down ladders with buckets of water, squeegees, and whatever else you’ll need), we probably think – how hard can it be?  Wipe the window, dry the window, job done.  Then if you’ve ever tried to clean your exterior windows, you probably know how painstaking the job can be.  Fortunately, professional cleaners use the right cleaners and equipment to leave your windows clear as glass!

But, how often do you need to have your windows cleaned.  This really depends on a lot of factors.  What is the weather like in your area?  Do you get a lot of rain, snow, or wind?  Is your home surrounded by trees or other sources of debris?  How clean do you like your windows to be?  It may seem strange, but the frequency of window cleanings is a uniquely personal choice.

Nevertheless, most professionals recommend window cleaning services at least once or twice a year for basic home services.  You can even get more bang for your buck and have your interior and exterior windows cleaned at the same time.  As a business owner, you will want to have more frequent cleanings.  Clean windows are an easy way to make your business appear efficient and organized – and no matter how much our mothers tried to teach us not to judge a book by it’s cover, it’s usually the first thing we do.  Professional window cleaning services for businesses should be conducted at least once a month; but once again, that depends on several factors such as dirt, debris, and weather that may cause your windows to become dirty faster.