Commercial cleaning services

Commercial cleaning services help keep your professional spaces presentable and tidy. Find out about the hiring process, typical costs involved and important factors to consider.

What is commercial cleaning?

Commercial cleaning is the custodial and janitorial services for commercial buildings and workplaces such as offices, schools, restaurants and hotels. A commercial cleaning company is a team of experienced professionals that tackle a variety of cleaning services.

What does a commercial cleaner do?

Commercial companies provide a range of services for different properties. For example, a hospital may require more disinfectants and specialized services than a school or an office. Be sure to use a cleaning service that meets your needs.

How much does commercial cleaning cost?

Services can use different pricing schemes depending on your cleaning requirements, size of the space, and how often you need the service.

Commercial cleaners can charge anyway from $25 to $90 an hour, with a national hourly average of $39.

Here’s an idea of what you might expect to pay depending on the size of your commercial space:

How do I hire commercial cleaners?

If you’re in the market for commercial cleaners, your best bet is to compare cleaners online. You can do this manually by searching via Google, HomeAdvisor or TaskRabbit. You can also use an online platform like Handy or Thumbtack, where you can browse local companies, read reviews and request quotes.

Follow these steps to find the right cleaners for your business:

1. Identify what cleaning services you need.
2. Shortlist a few commercial cleaning companies based on factors including pricing and customer satisfaction.
3. Get quotes from a few services.
4. Compare pricing and what’s included with each quote.
5. Sign up for services.

Handy

Get your first cleaning for $39 when you sign up for a Handy cleaning plan

Offer valid only for new customers and for first three hours of cleaning

Last verified 24 Nov 2020

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Handy

$30 Off your first cleaning

When you sign up for a plan

Last verified 24 Nov 2020

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Pros and cons of commercial cleaning

Here’s why you should let the professionals handle the cleaning and its disadvantages.

How do I compare commercial cleaning services?

Consider the following factors before hiring a company:

• Pricing. Compare prices and be sure to read the fine print about extra charges, such as cleaning supplies.
• Reputation and reviews. You’ll want a cleaning service that is experienced, professional, trustworthy and has satisfied customers.
• Employee selection and training. The company should have a team that is professionally trained to clean with minimal supervision.
• Range of services. Be sure that the service meets your cleaning needs.
• Tools and equipment. Ask about what kind of cleaning equipment and chemicals it uses.
• Insurance. A company’s cleaning insurance protects you if it ends up damaging something.

How should I prepare for commercial cleaning?

Before the cleaning team gets started, you’ll need to discuss a cleaning schedule, how the company can access the facility and whether you should have any supplies on hand.

Since some cleaning services come in after hours, you might want to lock up any sensitive documents before you leave. But you generally don’t need to do anything special for commercial cleaning services such as move furniture or supervise the cleaning. You can go about business-as-usual, and the cleaning team will handle the rest.

How long does a commercial clean take?

The time required depends on the following factors:

• Cleaning requirements. For example, deep cleaning and disinfecting take more time than a regular house cleaning service.
• Cleaning schedule. The more often you clean, the less work each visit.
• The size of the space. A large facility requires more time.
• The size of the team. The more people tackling the job, the shorter it will take.

Here’s an idea of how long a cleaning service might take to clean a space three times per week:

Do I need to be present for a commercial clean?

You don’t need to be present for the whole cleaning process, but you should first discuss this with the company or team before deciding whether to stay.

Bottom line

Commercial cleaning can be a useful service for all types of businesses trying to maintain a professional appearance. Be sure to evaluate a company’s past customer reviews and comparing quotes to find a cleaning service that works for you.

Frequently asked questions

• How often should I book a commercial cleaning service?

  It depends. Some commercial settings get dirty quicker than others or have high-traffic common spaces that need more attention. However, on average commercial cleaning for an office building might occur once a week, with an employee handling some daily cleaning tasks, such as emptying trashcans, refilling bath tissues and soap dispensers and tidying up office clutter.

• Will a commercial cleaner bring their own equipment and supplies?

  Yes, you should generally expect that the cleaning team to bring their own equipment and supplies. But be sure to discuss this with the cleaning service first.

• Do commercial cleaners clean after special events?

  Yes, many commercial cleaners offer special cleaning services for special events. Be sure to contact the company in advance to schedule this service so it can budget the time for the extra work.