Why is Commercial Cleaning Important?
The COVID-19 Pandemic has created a new awareness of just how vital commercial cleaning services are. Your customers and employees are putting their faith in you to provide a clean and healthy workplace. The best way to ensure a healthy work environment is to hire a commercial cleaning company to get the job done. There are a few things, however, you can do to make sure that you are picking the right commercial cleaning company and you’re getting the best service out there.
Best practices when choosing a Commercial Cleaning Company.
One of the most important things you can do is to have a clear Statement of Work written to set expectations. A Statement of Work is a document that clearly defines what tasks you expect from a commercial cleaning company. It should detail what areas you need cleaned and how frequently you expect these areas to be cleaned. By setting clear expectations at the beginning, you are more likely to receive a better service.
Most commercial cleaning companies will go above and beyond your original Statement of Work and will provide you with a schedule of their cleaning. This way you know which services are performed on which days. Commercial cleaning companies have years of experience and will work around your schedule to provide your building with the deep cleaning it needs.
Another important thing you can do when choosing a commercial cleaning company, is to look for companies that are ISSA CIMS Certified. Companies with ISSA CIMS Certifications are audited every two years by a third party to ensure that these companies are not cutting corners.
When a commercial cleaning company is certified you know that they adhere to some of the highest standards within the cleaning industry. Hiring a CIMS Certified contractor will give you the peace of mind that things are being done right.
Finally, ask for at least three references of similar buildings that the potential contractor is currently cleaning. Any quality commercial cleaning company will be more than happy to give you these references if they are confident in the service they provide. You can use these references to get other business owners’ perspectives and better know what to expect.
If you want to go one step further, contact the referenced businesses and try to schedule a tour of their facilities. There is no better way to ensure that you are going to receive the best service other than seeing it for yourself. By physically touring buildings currently being cleaned by a potential Commercial cleaning company, you get to see the quality of their service first hand.
5 Things to consider picking a commercial cleaning company.
1. Where they are located.
When picking a commercial cleaning company, you want to make sure that they are already working in your area. It’s best to have a company that’s headquartered near your business so that they can give you a service unique to where you are located. Local companies will better understand and navigate the local labor market. It’s very difficult for a company headquartered a plane flight away to understand the specific needs or the labor rates of your area.
2. How well they pay their employees.
Something that most people don’t think to ask is how much a commercial cleaning company pays its employees. You want to find a company that pays its employees a decent wage that will attract and keep good help. A lot of times you get what you pay for and any service company is only as good as the people they hire.
3. What type of training they provide their employees.
The pandemic really shook up how we do everything and the cleaning industry isn’t any different. You want to hire a company that has adapted to this new pandemic landscape. The best way to check this is to look at how it trains its employees. Make sure whatever company you are considering has trained its staff specifically for COVID-19 and follow cleaning guidelines set by the CDC.
4. The quality of their chemical program.
The quality of the cleaning supplies used by a company is almost as important as the quality of its staff. You want to make sure that whatever cleaning supplies a potential commercial cleaning company uses are high-grade and sustainable. A good chemical program provides top-notch employee training in the proper use of those chemicals. This makes the employees delivering service in your facility more effective in jobs while reducing accidents from improper chemical usage. When hiring a professional commercial cleaning company, you expect them to have access to cleaning supplies not available to the general public. So make sure whatever company you are considering uses the best tools for the job.
If they are using a chemical disinfectant, it must be listed on the EPA List N to kill the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. The EPA has put this list together for your protection so you can be sure that your facility is safe and healthy from the coronavirus.
5. How realistic their price is.
The final thing to ask yourself before hiring a commercial cleaning company is: Is their price realistic? By getting several quotes for your building, you want to check if they are similar. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. Avoid contractors that cut corners and put the health and safety of your company at risk. The cheapest contractor today will most likely cost you more money in the long run.
Final thoughts.
Hiring a commercial cleaning company is your best bet at ensuring that your employees are healthy and safe, but not all companies are created equal. By being thorough and asking many questions, you can find the best service at a reasonable price while fitting your needs. Running a business during the pandemic has been challenging. You want to make sure you are putting your trust in the right company that doesn't cut corners and whose quality of service can be verified.