Cut Through the Red Tape to Find Effective Industrial Janitorial Services
Finding the right janitorial service provider for your facility has never been easy. But that doesn’t mean your time spent searching is wasted.
The right industrial cleaning services company makes a real difference, because not every commercial cleaning company is up to the job.
While cleaning providers come in all sizes and specialties, very few are equipped to handle large facilities with specific needs. With the right approach, you can identify the companies that truly stand above the rest.
Choose the right industrial cleaning partner and you can maintain your facility at the highest possible standard.
The Best People = The Best Service
Like any service-based business, your results depend on the people doing the work. If a company isn’t serious about hiring and supporting quality staff, you’ll usually see it in the service.
Ask the right questions early. Do they illegally hire or subcontract to reduce costs at your expense?
Do they hire, screen, train, and retain employees who are a strong fit for your facility? Are criminal background checks and drug testing required for every person entering your building?
Lower Turnover Equates With Improvements In Service
The janitorial industry often sees extremely high turnover. Some national averages put it near 200%, meaning teams can change constantly.
High turnover is common in lower-wage work, but it doesn’t have to be that high. In many cases, it’s a symptom of deeper issues.
Poor practices like low wages, weak benefits, limited training, and unresponsive management push good people out. And when good people leave, service consistency usually drops.
A revolving door of staff can create security concerns in your facility. It also increases the risk of incomplete training, missed tasks, and lower overall value.
Training Paves the Way to Results
The best manufacturing cleaning companies typically have the most comprehensive training programs.
Training isn’t the only ingredient for success, but it’s a critical one. Companies without proven training rarely deliver consistent, high-quality results.
Does your prospective Michigan industrial cleaning company provide training that matches your facility’s needs? Are workers arriving prepared to perform at the highest level?
Transparency, the Difference You Can SEE
There’s no excuse for a quote that’s confusing, vague, or filled with fuzzy math. If pricing isn’t clear up front, it becomes harder to compare bids and harder to trust what you’re buying.
A confusing bid can signal poor estimating. Or worse, it can be an attempt to hide upcharges and pricing games.
Either way, if a company can’t provide a clear, comparable bid, they shouldn’t be servicing your facility.
Beware of the “One-Size-Fits-All” Bid
Every facility is different. A company using a “one size fits all” plan should raise red flags immediately.
Layouts, traffic levels, schedules, and priorities vary from building to building. Your concerns as a Facility Manager may also differ based on budget and past service issues.
Be cautious of bids based only on square footage. Any professional industrial maintenance provider needs more detail to price your facility fairly.
An Effective Cleaning Service Has Effective Communication
No matter how skilled an industrial janitorial company is, mistakes and miscommunications can happen.
Problems don’t automatically mean you have a bad provider. What matters is how quickly and professionally issues get addressed.
Ask about their process for handling complaints, special requests, and service disruptions. If they can’t explain it clearly, they likely aren’t built to respond well when things go wrong.
Strong providers communicate fast, offer solutions, and keep you informed. They also conduct inspections to confirm you’re satisfied with the service you’re receiving.
Assure the Insurance
The best commercial industrial cleaning services protect both you and themselves with proper insurance coverage.
In most cases, you’ll want to confirm four key categories: automobile liability, general liability, workers’ compensation, and an umbrella policy.
Verify coverage directly so you’re protected from unnecessary legal risk and costly claims.
Why Cleaning Based on Science and Health Standards Matters
Buildings are full of employees sharing common spaces and touch points. When cold and flu season hits, absenteeism can spike fast.
The most effective solution is working with a company that understands how to clean for health, not just appearance. That means targeting touch points, preventing cross-contamination, and sanitizing properly.
Experienced cleaning companies apply proven methods to help reduce the spread of pathogens. That can protect productivity and help keep your teams healthier.
Smart Cleaning and Team Cleaning Can Help Get You to Budget
The janitorial industry has been evolving quickly, and innovation can help you control costs. One strong example is Smart Cleaning.
Smart Cleaning identifies critical vs. non-critical tasks. That allows you to reduce service in low-need areas while maintaining acceptable cleanliness overall.
Another innovation is Team Cleaning. Instead of zone cleaning, teams own full workflows, which can improve consistency and reduce duplicated equipment.
The best providers use innovation to reduce labor hours and control costs without sacrificing results.
A Commitment to Environmental Stewardship Through Green Cleaning
Green cleaning is a popular buzzword, but it can also deliver real value when done correctly.
First, green cleaning can reduce exposure to harsh chemicals used for deep cleaning and sanitization.
Second, it can support LEED efforts and help reduce your facility’s environmental footprint. Third, it can improve indoor air quality and reduce waste generated on-site.
What Is an Industry Best Practice?
Best practices can sound complicated, but the concept is simple. Best practices are methods that are proven to produce better, more consistent outcomes.
Standards and certifications like ISO 9000, ISO 14001, and CIMS exist because they reinforce those results through systems and documentation.
The best industrial janitorial companies follow best practices because they work. They improve efficiency, reliability, and service consistency over time.
Shortening Your List with the CIMS Certification
There are many factors to evaluate when choosing a commercial industrial cleaning partner. It can feel overwhelming at first.
Here’s a shortcut: lean on professional certifications. ISSA’s CIMS and CIMS-GB accreditations can help you reduce your shortlist quickly.
Certification signals a commitment to industry best practices and continuous improvement. Instead of starting from scratch, start with a smaller pool of CIMS-certified companies and compare from there.
