How Do You Find a Reliable, Professional Office Cleaning Company?
Want to know a secret? You CAN find an effective, affordable office cleaning service you don’t have to micromanage — and it doesn’t require hours of searching you simply don’t have.
As a Facility Manager, choosing the right office cleaning provider directly impacts building appearance, employee satisfaction, operational efficiency, and your own workload. The right partner improves cleanliness, reduces complaints, and eliminates the need for constant oversight.
The real difficulty isn’t that great companies don’t exist — the challenge is sorting through the overwhelming number of low-performing office cleaning companies to find the small group that actually follows through on what they promise. And a trial-and-error approach? It’s costly, frustrating, and slow.
Fortunately, there’s a smarter way to identify high-performing office cleaners before you waste your time. A couple of strategic filters can turn a crowded marketplace into a short list of true contenders.
CIMS Certification Saves Time & Money by Identifying High Performers
The secret shortcut to finding a reliable office cleaning partner does NOT require luck, a magic formula, or an Indiana Jones–style quest for the holy grail of janitorial services.
The fastest, most reliable method? Check whether your prospective contractor is CIMS certified.
CIMS — the Cleaning Industry Management Standard — is the ISSA’s rigorous accreditation program for companies that voluntarily choose to operate at the highest level of professionalism, consistency, and performance.
When your next office cleaning company is CIMS certified, you’re partnering with a provider whose entire business model is built on efficiency, transparency, reliable systems, and measurable results.
Why CIMS Certified Office Cleaning Companies Stand Above the Rest
Industry certifications are often handed out like parade candy — but CIMS is different. It’s difficult to attain, voluntarily pursued, independently audited, and requires a comprehensive evaluation of a cleaning company’s operations.
What does CIMS certification tell you?
- The company is committed to continuous improvement. They proactively invest in better systems, training, and customer responsiveness.
- The company has structured, proven processes. This means predictable, consistent outcomes — not guesswork or excuses.
- The company has already been vetted by a third-party assessment. You’re not relying on marketing claims — you’re relying on evidence.
While CIMS certification can’t guarantee a perfect match for your specific facility, it dramatically reduces your risk by filtering out poor performers. This gives you a smaller, more trustworthy pool of candidates to evaluate on pricing, fit, and culture.
Think of it as your “easy button” for sorting through Michigan’s crowded office cleaning market.
CIMS Certification Isn’t a Participation Trophy — It Directly Leads to Better Service
CIMS certification is built on five core operational principles. Companies that meet these standards operate at the top of the industry:
- Management Commitment — Leadership has a clear vision and accountability structure.
- Quality Systems — Documented processes ensure consistency, measurement, and continuous improvement.
- Human Resources — The company hires, screens, trains, and retains the right people.
- Service Delivery — Proven systems guarantee reliable, efficient, and compliant service.
- Health, Safety & Environmental Stewardship — Cleaning is performed safely, responsibly, and in compliance with regulations.
When a company meets these standards, your facility benefits from cleaner spaces, fewer complaints, stronger communication, lower turnover, and higher overall value.
The best part? This shortcut costs you nothing. While companies pay to become certified, you can use CIMS as a free tool to eliminate unreliable vendors instantly.
The Secret Revealed
Now you know the secret: finding a reliable commercial office cleaning company will always require some diligence — but using CIMS certification dramatically simplifies the process.
By starting with CIMS-certified providers, you avoid the stressful, expensive mistakes that Facility Managers often make when selecting an office cleaning service based on price alone.
Want to see which office cleaning companies in your area are CIMS or CIMS-GB certified? Visit the ISSA directory and begin your short list with proven leaders.
