Choosing the right janitorial company is not as difficult as it seems.
In today’s business environment, it is important to project the right image to your staff, clients and customers, and, in some cases, your tenants. If you are a property owner or facilities manager, it is crucial to maintain a clean and sanitary workplace. This will help your business be successful and give a great first impression.
Two oft-asked questions are “How do I choose the right janitorial services company?” and “What criteria should I look for in the services it offers?”
As with any important business decision, choosing the wrong janitorial company can lead to long-term issues if it doesn’t deliver the levels of service you require. Because you have an agreement or contract with the company, you need to know you have chosen the right one, and your choice was made based on a proven track record and not just because the company gave the lowest bid.
Establish a Checklist
Once you have decided to hire a commercial janitorial cleaning company, have a clear idea of what you are looking for. This will help you sort the good from the bad in terms of quality, reliability and service delivery. Here is an easy-to-follow checklist to help you make your choice:
Ask for references
You are well within your rights to ask your potential professional janitorial company for references. This gives you the opportunity to contact or even visit the company’s customers and ascertain how well or poorly it performed the services.
Is the staff experienced and well-trained?
This is often overlooked, but it can have a big effect on the quality of service provided. Yes, experienced staff is always a good thing. But, are they being trained on the latest equipment and cleaning techniques? Ask about the training schedule, who does the on-site training and how often.
What is the availability of the janitorial services?
Establish whether the company has policies in place in regard to emergencies or other issues that may arise during irregular hours, i.e. after a normal business day or weekends. Would the company be able to supply additional janitorial staff in case you have a function or corporate event?
Is your janitorial services company flexible?
Once you get your professional cleaning company on board, is it flexible enough to make changes to the schedule you have set up? You may find certain key areas are not being properly maintained and need to be addressed. Ask your janitorial provider if it has add-on services to help streamline efficiency.
The accountability of the janitorial cleaning company
Find out how the commercial cleaning company will measure and track its success on the premises. How and when you provide feedback is one thing, but once the company has it, how will it act on the information presented? Establish procedures with the company in case of complaints and ask if it will provide you, the customer, with tracking tools.
Cleaning supplies and equipment
Ask the cleaning and janitorial services company about the cleaning products and specialized equipment it uses. Does it use environmentally friendly chemicals when cleaning, what is its budget for cleaning supplies and does it actively seek out more cost-effective ways to save costs on products and equipment?
Safety and security
The janitorial cleaning services company that you choose to use will have access to your building; its staff members will be exposed to confidential information and/or records. Make sure any janitorial services company you choose is fully compliant with OSHA laws. Does it provide uniforms and identification to make its staff easily identifiable at all times? Does it follow established procedures in the workplace for the protection of confidential information and records, as well as keep staff, tenants and customers as safe as possible?
Is the cleaning and janitorial company’s insurance up-to-date?
Make sure that any commercial cleaning company you choose to hire is fully insured and bonded. This is highly important for the safety and security of not only you and the janitorial services company and staff but your staff and clients as well.
Meet the person responsible
With some commercial cleaning companies, the last person you will meet is the person in charge of cleaning your account. It pays to meet this person and establish a rapport. By doing this, you can establish what procedures the janitorial services company has in place when it is necessary to replace personnel who are not performing up to standard. Maintaining communication at all times is imperative and leads to peace of mind on both sides.
Green cleaning and beyond
Your janitorial cleaning service may use environmentally friendly chemical cleaning products and that is good, right? But, does it subscribe to people-friendly health and safety practices in the workplace? Knowing the difference between cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting is one thing. But, you don’t want to find restroom cleaning equipment in the kitchen even though the equipment may be clean. Each cleaning product or equipment needs to be in the correct area.
This is by no means a comprehensive list of attributes to look for when choosing your professional cleaning company. It is designed more as a quick checklist to show you, the potential customer, what sets a professional cleaning company apart from the competition.
If you follow these guidelines and tips, you are well on your way to ensuring you will get the best janitorial services available. You can also rest assured that your premises, offices or facilities will be kept in cleanest possible condition at all times. The first impression is the lasting impression.
If you need any help or advice on cleaning and janitorial services available, please do not hesitate to call iNX today!
