Your office is more than a building – it’s the face you show your clients, your workspace, and the place where you live much of your life. Knowing that it is clean and well cared for is vital. You need to know that your offices will always be kept in the best condition. This means having a commercial cleaning company you can trust and rely on. But how do you go about finding a company you can trust with such a critical, yet often unseen task?

Here are four key points to consider, along with a checklist for each to help you find the right company for your commercial cleaning needs.

1. Trust - The work of cleaning your commercial space often goes on after hours when your employees have left for the day. It is crucial that you select a company you can trust around your valuable equipment and confidential information. Your ideal choice should: 

• Perform thorough background checks on all employees. 
• Provide rigorous training to all employees. 
• Have references readily available for you to contact regarding their previous work. 

2. Make sure they use HEPA compliant vacuums that move at least 99.97% of airborne particles 0.3 micrometers in diameter. Using this type of filter has been shown to reduce the spread of airborne bacteria, which can thereby reduce the spread of infections.  Find out what kind of surface cleaners they use and if those cleaners meet your needs. Medical facilities, for example, require a higher grade of surface cleaner than traditional office spaces. 

Ask if they take steps to prevent cross-contamination such as color-coding cleaning materials used for different types of surfaces.

3. Your Specific Needs – Every business is different. You need to know your cleaning company is capable and ready to provide with the services your company needs.  

• Does the company have the expertise and equipment needed for your field?
• A medical facility has different needs than an IT company. You’ll want to know they are prepared to work around your equipment and set-up.  
• Check their availability to ensure it meets your needs. It’s important to make sure they’re available to clean at times that work with your business’ schedule. 
•  What are the cleaning schedules available? When will the various parts of your facility be serviced? A detailed schedule that covers both light and deep cleaning schedules gives you peace of mind and predictability. 

Keeping these key factors in mind and checking all these items off as you consider your options for a commercial cleaning service will help you find a company that is right for your business and your needs.

Quality Control – Maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and professionalism is key. This means knowing that the company you’ve chosen has the highest standards for quality control.  Ask if the company will perform regular, thorough inspections of your facility.  Find out what their communications and deficiency resolution processes look like.  Make sure they are insured and bonded.

4. Equipment and Methods – All rest is for naught if you have a company using vacuums from the 1950s that just move dust around the room and onto your equipment.