Commercial Cleaning Across The Industries
Everyone wants a clean and neat workspace. From the employees to the customers accessing the facility, managers, suppliers, vendors and other potential partners – they all want to be in a setting that is conducive for them to carry out their activities. Commercial cleaning services cover a wide range of business premises – from retail stores and office spaces to medical facilities and retirement homes. Here, it entails dealing with a qualified contractor who has the tools needed to handle the cleaning needs of your particular facility. These tasks are highly specialised, with each industry requiring its particular cleaning processes. For instance, the procedures used in gyms are different from those when cleaning factories. Commercial cleaning in medical facilities follows different protocols to working in office buildings, nightclubs or bars. Commercial cleaning companies invest in equipment, staff training and safety measures to deliver the task to the required standards.
For the commercial cleaning, both the interiors and exteriors of the business premises need to be worked on. The state of the walls, sidewalks, doors, windows and other exterior surfaces has a direct impact on your curb appeal. It will make an impression on the customers even before they walk into the building, which is why you should ensure that the different areas are well maintained. After all, image is everything – and you don’t want to chase off your customers into the waiting arms of your competitors.
Everyday dirt and grime, gunk that has accumulated due to pollutants in the environment, bird and insect waste on the different surfaces, to graffiti that has been spray-painted on the different spots – it all needs to be addressed. When it comes to the interiors, you want to have a comfortable setting for your employees, since they are the engine of the company. Here the state of the workspace affects their productivity, where dull and dingy interiors, surfaces covered in allergens, or odours permeating across the interior space make it difficult for your staff to focus on their tasks. Taking care of your employees’ workspace encourages them to be more productive – which has a positive effect on your business bottom line.
The customers, on the other hand, will be critical of the business if they find it in a dilapidated space. After all, how much confidence will they have in the products and services of a company, while the environment in which they are offered is in a messy state? You want to give them a welcoming setting, one where they will be relaxed, and looking forward to engage with your staff about what you have to offer. In this social media age, bad news can travel fast, and you don’t want complaints about a dirty business environment spreading across social sites and denting your image. Invest in quality commercial cleaning services to keep your premises in top shape all year round. Cleaning needs vary from one industry to the next. Let’s delve into different niches where these services are offered, and the highlights involved.
- Creating A Vibrant Office Space
Office cleaning is versatile. These are complex spaces with a wide range of surface types. Work desks, delicate electronics, lifts and staircases that see heavy usage, service rooms, kitchen and restrooms – they all need to be worked on during the deep office cleaning. To top this off, there are usually lots of people in the building while the commercial cleaning contractor is carrying out the task, and the goal is to get rid of the dirt and grime without disrupting the operations of the business.
Usually, employees have a “shared duty” list of the day-to-day cleaning they carry out – like dusting the desks, wiping surfaces, and even quickly running a mop over the floor. However, it’s easy for things to get missed, and due to the hurry in which the cleaning is done, areas get overlooked. Take the simple bin for instance. Office bins get quickly filled, emptied, and a new bin liner put in place – but other than that, they don’t receive much attention. Over time, the bin walls build up layers of gunk. The blinds on the other hand are quick to accumulate dust and grime – especially since employees will not exactly want to clean them – it’s not part of their job description anyway. What about the vents and extractors? The airflow going through them sees them also build up lots of dust, which inevitably gets recirculated into the office air space.
Is there a dishwasher in the building? When was it last given a thorough wash? Dishwashers tend to be overlooked, even though they are used multiple times in the day to clean the glasses, mugs and cutlery that the employees in the premises use. Buttons and light switches are a germ hotspot, as well as the buttons on machinery like copiers that people use. Then there is the desk itself, which can have over 400 times more germs compared to a toilet seat. The pathogens are usually concentrated in areas like the phone. The floor itself accumulates loads of grime, with all the people walking around the facility. Dirt tracked in by the employees and customers, those occasional drink spills that leave behind stains – it all needs to be addressed as part of the routine commercial cleaning program. Note that the cleaning methods used here will depend on the particular installation being worked on. For instance, while water is taken to be a universal cleaning solvent, it is one of the leading causes of damage to wood floors, especially when used in large amounts. The formulations used when scrubbing concrete or ceramic tile floors can end up damaging the natural stone installations like marble. You want to hire the services of a commercial cleaning contractor that is well experienced with the different kinds of flooring materials, that way they can get the task done without putting the underlying installation at risk.
The Odour Problem
Is there a nasty smell in the office? Unlike other senses, such as where you can ignore stains by simply not looking at them – or cover them up with a rug, with smells there is no running away from them. If there are stale, musty, or downright pungent odours in the workplace, everyone will be affected. Odour removal is a key part of the commercial cleaning program. This involves a combination of getting rid of the source of the smell, and incorporating odour neutralisers that react with the stench at a molecular level, preventing it from recurring. Here are some of the common causes of those office smells:
- Food elements
With over 30% of employees eating at their desks, there is bound to be some residue remaining, as well as the occasional spills. The desk, office chair, keyboard and even phones get sticky food on them, and this can also get to the upholstery or woodwork. Then there are those cases of sandwiches being forgotten in the desk drawer until it starts becoming mouldy, food items with particularly strong odours like fish being heated up in the microwave – identifying the cause of the smell is the first step, the next is dealing with it. In addition to encouraging good food handling practices in the workplace, reminding everyone to appropriately dispose of any out-of-date food, frequently tidying up the workspace, and having routine commercial cleaning done professionally to deal with the troublesome grime – it all plays a role.
- Sinks
They see it all. Tea bags, food residue as employees rinse the dishes they brought to work with them, packaging – it adds to the messes that go into the sink. Some even shouldn’t be here. For instance, tea bags should be disposed of in the bin. When large debris winds up in the sink, it brings about risks of blockage as well. When the plumbing takes long to clear, the strength of the smell increases – especially since all that moisture makes it a breeding ground for all kinds of pathogens. Occasionally, you should pour a kettle of boiling water into the sink, to assist in clearing the drain. Adding some soda bicarbonate, and allowing it to dwell for a few minutes, pouring a mixture of vinegar and hot water into the sink – then giving it 10 minutes to act, are some of the handy ways to deal with the smell. Afterwards, flush the sink with lots of water. The commercial cleaning pros also come with high-powered agents that will clear the clogs in the sink and do away with the smells as they work on the rest of the premises.
- Dirt in carpets
The carpet hoards loads of grime within its fibres. Soiling that gets tracked into the space, those accidental spills that were left unattended to for long, pet fur and dander, skin flakes from people in the building – as well as the organic waste from the dust mites feeding on the material, food residue from those snacking away at the workplace, insects’ faecal waste and body parts as the critters come over to feed on the food crumbs – it ends up being a messy cocktail that exacerbates the odour problem in the workplace. The vacuuming here should be done on a regular basis. Commercial cleaning crew come over with high-powered hot water extraction cleaning systems that flush out the gunk from the carpet fibres, leaving it all spruced up and vibrant. Definitely, there are different modes of carpet cleaning that will be carried out depending on the material, since some delicate fibres would be ruined by the high temperatures and pressures involved with the hot water extraction. One of the benefits of hiring a commercial cleaning expert who specialises in carpet care is ensuring that the different units in your facility get worked on safely.
- Restaurant and Hospitality businesses
Do you run a restaurant or commercial kitchen? The cleanliness standards of the facility have a direct impact on the food integrity. This should be a top priority, to protect the health of the clients you serve, as well as prevent you from facing fines. The kitchen appliances and surfaces need thorough care. Commercial cleaning services here also extend to beverage and packaging industries, where food and consumables are being prepared for transport and distribution.
Facilities in this industry are beset by greasy by-products and food residue, which quickly build up on affected surfaces and create health hazards. Manual scrubbing, working with tough oven degreasers and even incorporating disinfectant sprays – it’s all part of the process.
The power of vapour steam cleaning
One of the popular commercial kitchen cleaning methods is using steam. High-temperature low-moisture water vapour is used on the surfaces which, combined with the high pressures involved, ensures the different appliances and surfaces receive a thorough clean. This is applicable across the scope, from the ovens, coils and racks and food processing equipment, range hoods and deep fryers, to the appliances that are used to prepare the meals, as well as floors and sinks, fixtures and some select types of furniture. Temperatures as high as 240°F (115°C) can be applied.
This approach has the welcome benefit of reducing the amount of chemicals used in the process, with the steam also being effective in killing off mould, bacteria and other microorganisms crawling around on impact. Moreover, the steam can easily get into the crevices, cracks and other hard-to-reach areas that may be harbouring the microbes. The greasy residue, fats and soils are also easily removed from the surfaces. The low water usage also contributes in making it an environmentally friendly mode of commercial cleaning. It’s suitable for different types of materials, including stainless steel, aluminium, polypropylene, plastic and brass – and it also minimises the downtime taken during the cleaning.
Note that this cleaning method requires care. Some items and surfaces can easily be damaged by the steam. This includes furnishings and walls that have been finished using water-based products, unsealed marble, hardwood and limestone floors, porous surfaces such as bamboo and cardboard, those floors that have cracks or gaps, all through to delicate items like silk and thin plastics. Getting a professional commercial cleaning service provider with the tools and experience in dealing with the different kinds of situations in these busy kitchens will ensure that the right approach is taken for your establishment.
- Healthcare facilities
Risks here are higher, with a wide range of pathogens and contaminated surfaces being dealt with. Without proper care, infections will easily be transmitted between countertops, medical devices such as ventilators and catheters, putting the health of the personnel and patients further on the line. Medical grade commercial cleaning has three key goals:
- Adhere to stringent safety and privacy requirements in healthcare facilities
- Protect the health and safety of the patients and medical personnel
- Establish a clean and pleasant ambience for the comfort of the patients, their visitors, staff, and service providers in the facility
The cleaning carried out here focuses on getting rid of the dirt and grime on the surfaces, and preventing the speed of infections. Commercial cleaning services vary from one particular establishment to the next. For instance, dental offices, clinics and hospitals have different requirements to rehabilitation centres or even veterinary clinics. Specialised care is needed all through.
Relying on a commercial cleaning company that delivers specialised service to health care facilities has its benefits:
- First, unlike other industries, medical facilities can’t have “down days”. They need to remain in a clean and sanitised condition every day, all week. Even for consultant offices, their state makes an impression on clients accessing the premises. You want a clean and tidy space that enables patients coming in to trust your services. It creates an inviting atmosphere where patients will be able to recover in a comfortable space.
- Next is limiting the risk of the spread of disease, and the stakes are higher here given the prevalence of contagious pathogens. You want to have a medical grade commercial cleaning contractor that you can rely on to keep the premises in a sanitary state to minimise risks of exposure to pathogens or illnesses being transferred onto visitors of the patients or staff in the facility as much as possible.
- Commercial cleaning professionals can deliver consistent services in line with the demand of these high traffic environments. In this particular case you want to deal with a crew that has the proper training on medical procedures and protocols that will be required, and one that works with strict quality control guidelines.
- You get to have the different spaces worked on – even on a daily basis, including the highly trafficked sections like patient rooms, lobbies and offices.
When reviewing the different commercial cleaning companies offering services to medical facilities, some factors that you should consider include:
- Medical-grade disinfectants
The horde of pathogens crawling over all the surfaces in medical facilities require more powerful sanitizers compared to the conventional office or home cleaning products. Ask the commercial cleaning company representatives about the kinds of products that they will use in the different areas of the medical facility.
- Colour coding & preventing cross contamination
The commercial cleaners should have strict rules in place to avoid cross contamination between the medical equipment, cleaning products, as well as the personnel carrying out the task. This includes aspects like colour coding industrial standards where tools are segregated based on the areas where they will be used to clean, preventing them from being mixed up.
- Disposal measures used
With all the waste and contaminants that will need to be disposed from the facilities, this should be handled following strict industry measures. Here, the personnel should be well trained in dealing with biowaste.
- Telecommunication and IT businesses
These are the likes of data centres, running expensive technology for their day-to-day business operations – including massive computer hardware that is sensitive to dust and dirt. The commercial cleaning programs needed are specialised, since a mishap could lead to millions in losses and widespread disruption of business activities. Caring for the machinery goes beyond simply wiping and dusting. The environmental aesthetics, plus the health and safety standards of the employees need to be factored in – as well as the precautions when handling wires, electrical joints and plugs. Commercial cleaning services here have tailored solutions to campuses, IT institutions, medical centres with their IT systems, to fully-fledged telecoms businesses.
The cleaning is carefully done for the servers, computers, storage devices, display screen, load balances, telecommunication devices, wall-mounted equipment, to dusting high surfaces safely. The floors are vacuumed and given a thorough scrub, to remove any dirt and stains. Gum, adhesives and other kinds of grime are got rid of while sticking to safety protocols. The rooms hosting the machinery are given a detailed clean, as well as the equipment itself – such as vacuuming the grills of the UPS systems, using cleaning material that is safe for LCD screens, while even working the interior and exterior of the server cabinets.
- Fitness centres
These are high traffic areas, requiring a professional commercial cleaning crew that is well versed with the unique needs of these facilities. No one wants to visit a gym and be hit by the smell of sweat from the moment they get through the front doors, to find the equipment all covered in sweat, lotions and other bodily residue. The conditions in gyms make them the ideal environment for fungi and bacteria to grow. Nearly every surface here is a high-touch area, with the sweat and grease building up, trapping more dust particles and over time becoming layers of grime. Hygiene measures extend beyond the workout equipment. Changing rooms in fitness centres can get pretty gross, with all that dead skin floating around, the sweat from people walking barefoot, to the high-touch spots like handles.
Infections in fitness centres can spread quickly due to:
- Overcrowding, with the people exercising too close to each other – which is often a case where space is limited.
- Contact – those greetings – be they handshakes, hi-fives or as customers pass items between each other.
- Contaminated items and surfaces – especially when using gym equipment that has not been properly cleaned.
The different surfaces need thorough washing and disinfecting, while still using formulations will not end up irritating people’s skin. In fact, the commercial cleaning procedures in gyms are typically carried out using hospital-grade disinfectants. From the floors, to the stability balls, foam rollers, dumbbells, cardio equipment and weight machines, treadmill belts, yoga mats – they all need attention.
Odours also need to be controlled, including the restrooms in these facilities which are fertile grounds for mildew growth. An in-depth cleaning system here will get rid of the growing fungi and curtail the odours, leaving the premises clean and fresh for the customers.
Are you in charge of a fitness centre? You want your gym members being comfortable in the space. They quickly get accustomed to their workout faculties, and will easily notice tiny details if anything were to be amiss. The satisfaction of your customers is tied to the cleanliness standards of the facility. Getting the services of a professional commercial cleaning crew which will work on every area – from the touch surfaces to the floors, will enable you to maintain a clean and hygienic premises for your customers to conduct their workouts.
What You Should Consider When Hiring A Commercial Cleaning Company
While outsourcing the cleaning of your business premises helps you cut down on costs and focus on managing the rest of your operations, you want to ensure that the contractor you’re giving the responsibility to will be able to deliver on their mandate. Here are factors that you should have in mind as you go through prospective companies providing the services:
What do others say about their quality of services? This focuses on the reviews of the commercial cleaning business. Do not just rely on the testimonials that have been posted on their website. Go further to dig through their social media pages and business directory listings, looking at feedback from other clients who have hired their services.
Are there complaints that have been raised – and were they addressed? Negative reviews have the benefit of showing you how the commercial cleaning company deals with client concerns and complaints. Usually, they follow up on the issue, and after taking care of it, ask the aggrieved client to update their feedback. This goes to show you the value they place in ensuring that the client will be satisfied with the services rendered.
A professional commercial cleaning company takes pride in its work, and is keen on ensuring that the clients are satisfied with the services being rendered. This includes ensuring that the cleaning has been thoroughly done, and inspecting the different surfaces to ensure that there are no blemishes that have been left behind. They also work together with the maintenance team of the particular business, pointing out issues that need to be addressed through structural changes or renovations, such as mould growths or dampness. Bringing this to your attention enables you to have the issues resolved early to avoid huge losses in future.
Starting with the licences, you want to ensure that you’re dealing with an established business, not some run-off-the-mill company that only exists online, and whose offices or owners can be traced. Remember that you’re putting your business on the line when you bring over a third-party to handle the cleaning task and as such, you should only engage with legitimate businesses.
What kind of training have the personnel of the commercial cleaning company been taken through? This – coupled with their level of experience (how long they have been in operation) will help in giving you confidence about the level of quality that you can expect from their services.
Insurance comes in to protect you in case of any unfortunate incident while the commercial cleaning contractor is carrying out the task. Accidents can happen, even with the most experienced businesses. Sure, they should put in safety measures while cleaning your premises, but having insurance comes in as an extra layer of protection. After all, you don’t want to be stuck with liabilities due to property damage after an accident. Ask about the insurance coverage that the company has, including worker’s compensation for their personnel, that way you can be sure that they are protected in case they get any injuries. Also note that some of the commercial cleaning companies offering cheaper prices compared to industry averages are able to do so by skipping out on the insurance, to avoid the premiums. This is actually a red flag, since it exposes you to losses should anything go off the rails.
What happens when you’re not satisfied with the quality of work that has been undertaken? The warranty kicks in here. What guarantee does the commercial cleaning company have, and which steps will be followed should you have a complaint about the services rendered? Getting this cleared up from the onset will minimise disagreements later on, should they arise.
Here the focus is getting value for our money. You don’t want to overpay for the commercial cleaning, such that it hives off huge chunks from your business’ operating budget. On the other hand, you don’t want to turn to the cheap companies and end up suffering as a result of compromises made during the process. Getting quotations from different local commercial cleaning companies will enable you to have a rough estimate on how much it will cost for you to have your particular business worked on. Outlier prices – those that are too high or too low compared to this average are a pointer to something being amiss. For instance, commercial cleaning contractors offering below average prices can be a sign that they have not invested in proper machinery or skilled personnel to carry out the cleaning. This can result in anything from low quality results after they have completed the task, to damages being made to your property due to the right processes not being followed.
Commercial Cleaning Across The Industries
