The push for green initiatives is apparent in pretty much every business sector and industry.  Reducing or eliminating the harmful impact of human activity on the environment is more than just a fad and we can see the evidence of eco-friendly cleaning services gaining momentum over the past 20 years.  Nevertheless, many people are still uncertain of what eco-friendly janitorial services involve and whether it’s possible to provide the same quality cleaning with green products and procedures.  In fact, green cleaning is efficient, effective, and relatively easy to implement.  So what are eco-friendly janitorial services?

Green Cleaning Products and Supplies

It should come as no surprise that over the past couple of decades a new industry dedicated to the development of green cleaning products and supplies has emerged and is growing in popularity.  Many green products today out-perform conventional products and they are not only safer for the environment they’re safer for people too.  Moreover, many of these eco-friendly products are even more affordable than traditional cleaning alternatives.  As a side benefit, green products often provide better results that last longer.  From recycled paper products to environmentally-responsible hand-wash and sanitizer, floor seals, dishwashing liquid, and microfiber cleaning cloths, there are a wide range of eco-cleaning products that promote a healthier environment.

Whether you are looking for residential or commercial cleaning services, there are always green options available.  In the 21^st century, the focus on protecting the environment drives many of the choices we make.  We buy fuel-efficient and energy efficient appliances, we purchase products from companies that address sustainability in manufacturing, and we tend to choose natural alternatives wherever possible.  To this end, even the equipment available for janitorial services is becoming more environmentally friendly.

As we become more and more conscious of sustainability, we also need to consider the manufacturing and distribution of cleaning products and equipment.  This means utilizing products and equipment that are sourced locally, but also come from facilities that promote an environmentally friendly approach.  Truly green cleaning involves a chemical-free, locally sourced approach that ensures the health of the planet and the people who inhabit it.

Potential Services

Ultimately, many of the principles that apply to environmentally-friendly living apply to environmentally-friendly cleaning.  This involves reducing waste, conserving energy, conserving water, and obviously using products that do not contain harsh chemicals.  Arguably, any responsible professional cleaning company should be applying these principles to the services they provide, but this is not always the case.  As such, it’s important as the customer that you seek out professional cleaners that offer green cleaning services.

So, if you’re looking for eco-friendly janitorial services, don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions.  Try to get more information about what approaches your cleaner takes to ensure they offer truly green cleaning.

Are you considering hiring professional cleaners for your home or business?  If so, you might be wondering how different residential and commercial cleaning can really be.  Indeed, many cleaning companies offer both residential and commercial cleaning services, but often at significantly different rates.  Understanding the difference between residential and commercial cleaning can help you to see why this is the case, so let’s take a closer look.

Comparing Residential and Commercial Cleaning Services

Home cleaning services typically cost less than commercial cleaning mostly because of the scope of the services.  With respect to residential cleaning, professionals will offer a variety of services, much as you would expect from commercial cleaning.  Cleaning companies will take care of kitchens, bathrooms, windows, and floors in your home which isn’t so different from what you would expect from commercial cleaning services.  That being said, residential cleaning services are usually less complicated simply because of the amount of traffic – cleaning up after a family of four is a much different endeavour than cleaning an office with 50 staff members and countless customers.

Another factor that is important with respect to residential cleaning is the safety and comfort of your family.  Perhaps you have a sentimental nature and you want to know you can trust your cleaners to care for your belongings as you would, not to mention the fact that you’re exposing private elements of your life to professionals.  In this sense, you might say that commercial cleaning services are a little more no nonsense than residential cleaning.

On the other hand, hygiene and sanitation are often much bigger issues in a commercial cleaning scenario.  Ensuring a healthy workplace requires proper cleaning in a commercial environment.  In fact, commercial cleaning services can have a much bigger impact on a company’s bottom line than many business owners realize.  Whether you’re trying to improve workplace efficiency by maintaining a clean and organized workplace or you want to reduce staff sickness by maintaining a sanitary facility, commercial cleaning services are vitally important to the health and safety of your employees.

In short, whenever you are seeking cleaning services, either residential or commercial cleaning, it is especially important to work with professionals that have the skills and experience required for your unique job.  Always carefully vet your cleaning companies by asking friends, family, or colleagues for referrals and also checking references in advance.  You should also carefully consider your cleaning needs and make sure to speak to potential cleaning companies to ensure that they can provide the services you need on a schedule and budget that works for you.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking all cleaning services are the same, this is simply not true.

What is the face of your business?  There is no single answer to this question, though many business owners would be quick to identify resources such as their brand, their product or service, or their personnel.  While these are all fundamentally important aspects of any good business, many entrepreneurs, executives, and managers would also recognize their building and offices as important representations of their business.  Indeed, when clients, colleagues, or other associates visit your offices for the first time, and impression will be made.  What kind of impression do you want that to be?

Whether you want to streamline business operations, improve cleanliness of your office and facilities, or ensure proper maintenance of office amenities, there are myriad benefits to a professional janitorial maintenance plan.  An effective maintenance plan will keep your business running smoothly in a number of important ways from preventing problems before they arise to improving workplace health and safety.

Prevention as a Policy

Preventing building problems is as simple as a regular and monitored maintenance plan.  A maintenance plan takes the guess work out of keeping your building and offices in tip-top condition.  By working with professional janitors on a scheduled maintenance plan, you ensure all the details are accounted for: lightbulbs in stairwells are replaced in a timely fashion, facilities problems are identified and rectified quickly, and signs of possible future problems are recognized so major problems don’t arise.

Health and Safety

One of the most overlooked benefits of a monthly maintenance plan is the health and safety of your employees.  A clean, disinfected office reduces workplace illness so that workers take fewer sick days.  In addition, a well-organized and orderly office will promote efficiency among staff members.  Ultimately, clean, well-cared for offices are productive offices – and productivity means janitorial services have a measurable return on investment.

Cost of Cleanliness

Given the benefits of a janitorial services, it should come as no surprise that the costs of these services are easily justifiable.  That being said, many business owners are surprised to learn how inexpensive a janitorial maintenance can be.  Indeed, working with professional janitors is often much less expensive than hiring, equipping, and managing in-house staff and the cost of services in general is affordable.  Most importantly, the best janitorial companies will work with each of their clients to set up a maintenance plan that meets their individual needs for services and budget.

As you can see, there are many benefits to working with a professional cleaning company and arranging a regular maintenance.  Regular cleaning and maintenance ensures our business puts forward the best first impression while keeping your workspaces in excellent condition and promoting the health and safety of your valued workforce.  And all this can be achieved affordably and effectively for any business model.

Fresh air is synonymous with feelings of freedom, refreshment, invigoration, and relaxation.  There are many expressions in the English language that allude to this fact.  We might talk of “needing to take a breath,” or we might describe a situation as a “breath of fresh air.”  As humans, we identify with the outdoors and open spaces as places that give us energy.  When it comes to air quality in your office space, it should come as no surprise that fresh air contributes to an energized, alert, and healthy workplace.  Indeed, happy and productive employees are more likely in an environment that is clean and has contaminant-free air.

That being said, maintaining air quality in an office, commercial, or industrial facility can be more challenging than you’d expect.  An effective ventilation system is important for climate control but also helps to keep air circulating while filtering contaminants thereby creating an environment with better air quality.

There are many contaminants that can degrade the air quality in your workplace.  Dust, allergens, bacteria, and odours are among the most common contaminants that can have a significant impact on worker productivity and efficiency.

• Dust contributes to coughing, sneezing, sore throats, and itchy eyes; and as the day progresses, these symptoms can become almost debilitating for some staff members.
• Likewise, allergens transported by staff with pets (via animal dander), pollen from plants or flowers in the office, and even mold can trigger allergic reactions in employees. Sometimes, these reactions pose serious health risks.
• Bacteria are a natural factor in any environment, but some airborne bacteria and other microbes cause serious illness. In fact, bacterial infections account for a significant proportion of sick time for staff fighting infections.
• Finally, odours can not only be a source of conflict in the office – nobody wants to smell your microwaved fish! But, they also may trigger allergic reactions, cause headaches, and generally distract people from the work at hand.

As you can see, it is incredibly important to maintain good air quality in your office space in order to ensure that work is completed effectively, efficiently, and happily.  Still, sometimes a good ventilation system is not enough to address air quality issues.  In fact, that ventilation system itself needs regular maintenance and upkeep.  You’ll want to ensure that your ventilation system and all air ducts and associated components are cleaned at least annually by a qualified professional.

You really can never take air quality too seriously.  Whether you want to ensure an environment that is free of contaminants, or you just want to create the most comfortable working environment possible, air quality should not be overlooked.  Even if you’ve never had your ventilation system cleaned, fear not!  It’s never too late to restore the air quality in your office.

Professional janitorial services are a must have for any business owner who operates an office, commercial, or industrial space.  Not only does proper cleaning help to maintain the image of your business, but it can also improve employee productivity and health and safety.  That being said, budgets are a real thing and business owners (particularly small business owners) are always looking to moderate their expenses.  With that in mind, you must be asking “how much should you pay for janitorial services?”

Any time we’re talking about the cost of services, we need to be careful because many factors will influence the bottom line.  When it comes to janitorial services, there are 4 main factors that will impact total costs: geographic location, cleaning requirements, cleaning frequency, and the facility.  We’ll discuss each of these factors so that you can get a clearer picture of what janitorial services will cost for your business.

Geography

Whether your business is located in a rural community, a city suburb, or a major metropolis will impact the cost of cleaning services, though not always predictably.  For example, rural cleaning services can be more difficult to come by as there will certainly be fewer janitorial companies and therefore less competition for your business; this can often translate to higher costs.  On the other hand, the cost of running a business in a major urban centre is typically higher, so this can also translate to higher janitorial costs.  Travel and parking costs, the costs of cleaning supplies and materials, and the cost and availability of sound labour are all elements that are influenced by geography and will therefore influence the cost of your janitorial services.

Nevertheless, to give you a ballpark idea of cleaning costs, you should expect to pay between $20 and $40 per hour for cleaning services.  In a small city, cleaning costs will typically fall between $20 and $30, whereas you’ll pay upwards of $25 per hour in a larger city.

Cleaning Requirements

Depending on the scope of your cleaning requirements, the cost of janitorial services will vary significantly.  For basic cleaning services, you’ll obviously pay less.  Basic services include tasks such as trash removal, bathroom and kitchen cleaning, and floor and windows.  More comprehensive services cost more because they require more time and energy as well as more specialized equipment.  You can even request environmentally-friendly cleaning services, but you should expect to pay more.  Ideally, you need to make a list of all the cleaning services you require so that your janitor’s quote reflects your specific needs.

Cleaning Frequency

This should really be a no-brainer: The more often you require cleaning services, the higher your monthly costs will be.  Still, you’ll find that the cost per cleaning is often lower when you require more frequent services.

Your Facility

The size of your facility will impact janitorial costs simply because larger facilities require more time to clean, but other factors will influence cost as well.  For example, an office with different types of flooring might be more expensive to clean because your janitor will need to utilize different types of equipment.  In addition, an industrial facility will likely require specialized cleaning equipment that isn’t necessary for most basic office spaces.

In the end, the cost of janitorial services can be very difficult to estimate.  Speak with several professionals in your area and get a quote based on your location, your cleaning requirements and frequency, and the type and size of your facility.