As a Facility Manager, you want effective, consistent, reliable janitorial services. Your building looks better, your workload gets lighter, and your operations run smoother. The challenge? Finding a commercial cleaning company that can actually deliver what you need—without blowing your budget or wasting your time.

The marketplace is crowded. Dozens of companies want your business, but the difference between wanting your business and being able to deliver results is enormous. You try to validate claims, compare bids, review systems, and determine who can realistically meet expectations. It’s time-consuming, unclear, and definitely not your full-time job.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a shortcut—a way to speed up the search and immediately identify which companies are truly capable of delivering high-quality service?

The Simple Shortcut to Identifying the Best Janitorial Companies

Fortunately, that shortcut exists—and no, it doesn’t require a crystal ball or bargaining with a troll under a bridge. The most efficient way to narrow your search for a great Detroit janitorial company is the ISSA’s CIMS-GB certification.

• ISSA: The International Sanitary Supply Association, the leading global association for building service contractors.
• CIMS: The Certified Industry Management Standard—a demanding operational and management certification for janitorial companies committed to best practices and excellence.
• GB: The Green Building component, supporting LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED-EB: O&M).

Together, ISSA’s CIMS-GB provides a blueprint for janitorial companies to operate with consistency, efficiency, sustainability, and professionalism.

How CIMS Leads You Straight to Better Service

Many certifications are meaningless—granted freely, rarely checked, and mostly marketing fluff. CIMS is the opposite. It is a rigorous standard requiring a comprehensive, independent evaluation by an ISSA-accredited third-party assessor.

For certification, a commercial cleaning company must:

• Meet all mandatory criteria
• Meet at least 60% of all recommended benchmarks
• Demonstrate proven systems, processes, training structures, and management practices

CIMS certification matters because:

• Companies who pursue it are proactively improving their operations.
• Those who achieve it already operate at the highest level of professionalism.
• These companies have the structure needed to deliver consistent, predictable results.

Since CIMS is evaluated independently, not self-reported, it offers a credible shortcut for Facility Managers. Start with CIMS-certified companies, and then compare price, services, and fit from a much stronger pool.

How CIMS-GB Translates Into Better Cleaning for Your Facility

The CIMS and CIMS-GB frameworks focus on five critical pillars that directly determine the quality of your janitorial services:

• Quality Systems — operational frameworks for continuous improvement
• Service Delivery — processes ensuring consistent, reliable performance
• Human Resources — best practices for hiring, screening, training, and supporting employees
• Health, Safety & Environmental Stewardship — compliance, safety, and sustainable practices
• Management Commitment — leadership structure, mission, and long-term stability

These elements are the strongest predictors of successful outcomes. CIMS essentially completes the most difficult part of your vetting process for you—and best of all, it’s a free tool for Facility Managers.

Let CIMS Make Your Path Clear

Choosing a janitorial company will always require thoughtful decision-making, but CIMS helps remove a huge amount of uncertainty. It lets you evaluate companies through a reliable industry standard built around measurable excellence—not marketing claims.

Use CIMS-GB to build your shortlist, then select the company that fits your facility’s specific needs, budget, and culture.

To find CIMS-GB certified janitorial companies in your area, visit the ISSA directory here.