How to Choose a Janitorial Company

How do you choose the right janitorial or cleaning company for your business?
1. Company Culture
​You want to make sure that the company and persons you choose to clean your business fit within your business' culture. Hiring a cleaning company which holds the same values as your business will make for a much better understanding and will make for a better working relationship. Simply put - it's the cleaner who does the job, not just the cleaning equipment. 
2. Recognizing the "hot spots" of your business
These are areas in which for you there's no negotiation - something that may be outside the norm of just taking trash out or cleaning bathrooms. If there are certain areas that are "hot spots" (or very important) to you and  your business, your cleaners will make these areas priorities. Take, for a simple example, the lobby area; if it drives you crazy to see the magazines stacked and would rather see them fanned out, that's how you want it. If your cleaner doesn't take that to heart, every morning when you walk in, you'll see those magazines stacked - or worse, scattered all over the place - and it'll make you think your cleaners don't care.
3. Communication
Communication is key to any business, and is especially important in the janitorial business. How are your concerns being communicated to the cleaners cleaning your building? Does it go through a long email chain, or can you call or text the supervisor of the cleaning company to make sure that your concerns are being communicated directly to the person(s) doing the work?Having one point-person in your company will help to ensure that all communication is clear.You'll want to make sure there's a seamless line of communication so that your concerns are taken care of immediately. Photographs of the work being done will provide evidence that your concerns have been addressed.
Important in communication is also discussing with your cleaning company every area that is expected to be cleaned. Don't ever assume that your business is just a "normal" clean. Over-communicating upfront is better than assuming that your cleaning company will clean everything you think.
4. Setting Realistic Expectations
The cleaning company you hire should set up realistic expectations of what will be cleaned. Square footage is key in this, however, many factors come into play with regard to number of garbage cans, blinds that need to be cleaned, kitchen areas, and number of bathrooms, as well as extra detailed areas, or high dusting. Different types of flooring or counters (granite, marble, stainless steel) may take extra care and should be considered. High traffic areas should be noted. Here, again, communication is key in making sure you and the cleaning company you're considering are on the same page.
5. Background Checks and/or Drug Testing, Legal Worker Status
Your business is important. The cleaning company you're considering should run background checks and/or drug testing as well as confirming that their employees have legal worker status.
6.Training
Once again, we'd like to say that it's not the cleaning equipment that does the job, it's the person behind it. While you may not think it takes training to clean a building, you'd be mistaken. Unfortunately, too many cleaning companies just put a vacuum in a new employees hand and send them on their way. A trained cleaner will assess the area to be cleaned, and will know the best way to clean the area efficiently and effectively. They will feel good knowing they are serving their clients (you) and will provide a better working environment for those working in the business.

We are a commercial cleaning company specializing in growing our people and completing outstanding work in the Portland, Oregon and Spokane, Washington areas. If you'd like a free estimate from The Cleaning People NW, LLC, please call today! 971-409-9108