It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year… to Help Your Office Cleaning Company Help You
We all know that the winter months and the holiday season can bring shifting needs when it comes to office cleaning.
This time of year can create both challenges and opportunities for you and your commercial office cleaning company.
With more employees taking vacation time, your needs often change.
You may need less service, or you may need more support from your office cleaners, depending on the nature of your business.
And with fewer people in the building, it can also be a great time to schedule deep cleaning.
However, some factors can get in the way of maintaining a clean facility and even limit your cleaner’s ability to make the most of seasonal downtime.
So how can you take advantage of the slowdown and make sure your offices look their best?
#1: Keep Desks Organized to Help Out Cleaning Staff
Your commercial cleaning company can’t properly clean desks if they are covered in paperwork and personal items.
Most cleaning staff won’t know what is important, what can be moved, or what should stay in place.
Trash, cups, and miscellaneous items can also make it nearly impossible to reach the surfaces underneath.
As a Facility Manager, it can help to remind employees to tidy their desks and shared areas before leaving for holiday break.
This makes it easier for cleaners to do deeper, more thorough work while the building is quieter.
#2: Prevent the ‘Holiday Fridge’ From Becoming a Biohazard
When people leave for the holidays, the communal refrigerator can quickly become a biohazard if no one manages it.
How often have you looked in the office fridge after a holiday party and found stacks of leftovers that no one claimed?
Old food (and the smell that comes with it) can create the perfect environment for mold and other unpleasant surprises.
If ignored, the fridge can become the worst-smelling part of the office.
The trick to solving this common issue is getting employees to take responsibility for expired takeout and half-finished drinks.
A reliable solution is creating a regular fridge clean-out schedule.
That way, anything unclaimed within a set time frame gets disposed of before it becomes a problem.
This reduces risk, prevents odors, and gives cleaning staff the opportunity to deep clean the fridge properly.
Tip #3: Winter Means Cold and Flu
The holiday season also overlaps with cold and flu season.
That means your Michigan janitorial company should be focused on keeping touch points and hotspots cleaned regularly.
This helps reduce bacterial and viral spread and supports a healthier workplace.
Is your office cleaning company cleaning for health?
At the same time, it isn’t solely on your cleaning service. There are a few reminders that can help your employees stay healthier too:
- Wash your hands correctly to limit the spread of pathogens
- Don’t come to work sick, it reduces productivity and increases risk for others
- Use hand sanitizer regularly and avoid touching your face whenever possible
- Practice proper coughing and sneezing habits to reduce spread
Tip #4: Use Winter Downtime to Your Advantage for Deep Cleaning and Maintenance
Most offices are busy places, so deep cleaning and maintenance tasks often get pushed aside longer than they should.
But during the holiday season, fewer people in the building creates a rare opportunity to catch up.
You can also use this time for preventative maintenance before the busiest months return.
Many office cleaning services offer more than cleaning alone.
Depending on the provider, you may be able to schedule services like HVAC care, plumbing, painting, electrical, carpet cleaning, and window washing.
Need carpets cleaned? Need floors stripped and recoated? Need extra building care tasks completed?
The holidays can be the perfect time to get those projects done without high foot traffic in the way.
Tip #5: It Is the Season of Giving, So Give Yourself an Effective, Professional Commercial Cleaning Company
The holiday season is a time of giving, so give yourself the right office cleaning service provider.
Maybe you’ve had it with your current cleaning company and you’re ready to try something better.
Or maybe you’re new to the janitorial market and deciding who can keep your facility fresh and clean.
Either way, if you want consistent, responsive, professional service, there is a company out there that can meet your needs.
Winter can also be a great time to transition to a new cleaning provider.
Many Facility Managers are facing tighter budgets while expectations keep rising.
That combination makes it harder to keep buildings clean effectively AND affordably.
Budget pressure isn’t going away anytime soon.
So you need a cleaning company that delivers strong value, stays flexible, and works with your facility’s real priorities.
Thoughtful winter planning, preventative maintenance, and upgrading to a better cleaning partner can help ensure your office stays clean all winter and throughout the year.
Understanding professional cleaning goes far beyond surface-level appearance. For example, different flooring types require specific cleaning methods to maintain durability, safety, and hygiene standards.
To ensure these standards are met, facility managers increasingly rely on measurable data. Using tools like an ATP meter allows cleaning teams to verify cleanliness at a microscopic level, not just by sight.
At the same time, many organizations are prioritizing sustainability. Choosing a provider that is truly committed to green cleaning helps protect indoor air quality while reducing environmental impact.
Behind every successful cleaning operation are the people who built and upheld these standards. Stories like Jerry Ledbetter’s legacy highlight the leadership and dedication that shape the cleaning industry.
For a deeper look at best practices, equipment, and safety protocols, download our industrial cleaning ebook, which brings these concepts together into a practical, in-depth resource.
