August 9, 2024
A clean commercial space is not just about having a pleasant smell or a shiny facade. Its impact ranges from improved health of your employees and clients to more positive first impressions. It extends the life of your commercial furniture and increases employee productivity.
In fact, a recent survey by the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) discovered that 94% of people tend to avoid businesses where they have encountered dirty restrooms. Alternatively, 77% of employees claim they produce higher-quality work when their office area is neat and organized.
But here’s the thing: commercial cleaning is not as straightforward as cleaning an apartment. It requires detailed planning, multiple products and equipment, and a comprehensive schedule. Depending on the dimensions of your property, you may also need to hire a dedicated team for the job.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to do it all alone!
Today’s guide is here to help you understand the best commercial cleaning tips that will help you achieve your cleaning goals. Plus, we have also shed light on what commercial cleaning entails and its benefits. Additionally, we will discuss how to hire professional cleaners in NYC.
So, read on and commit to fostering a clean, healthy, and hygienic workplace!
What Is Commercial Cleaning?
So, what is commercial cleaning? How does it work?
Commercial cleaning refers to a wide selection of cleaning services catering to commercial spaces, including:
Usually carried out by professional commercial cleaners, this type of cleaning involves the use of specialized tactics and technologies to achieve optimal hygienic conditions, such as electrostatic spray disinfection and mold prevention methods. Commercial cleaners must adhere to stringent industry requirements when performing their jobs.
Furthermore, there are different commercial cleaning services, such as regular and deep cleaning. Regular cleaning encompasses simple tasks, such as vacuuming, mopping the floor, sweeping, cleaning toilets, garbage clearing, and other daily tasks.
On the other hand, deep cleaning involves more complex tasks, like dusting high ceilings, treating moisture-prone areas, and sanitizing places that need to be cleaned regularly.
Nowadays, you also have the option to choose green cleaning products when hiring commercial cleaners. These products can help keep your business space clean while reducing its environmental impact.
When you opt for professional commercial cleaning services, you hire a team of trained and insured cleaners who are well-versed in your cleaning requirements. They’ll schedule their work without lowering your productivity while ensuring they leave you with a spotless workspace.
Considering the number of hours you and your employees spend in the office, it’s practically your second home. You won’t enjoy working in a germ-laden, cluttered environment like your home. Such conditions can make even the most hardworking employees feel frustrated.
However, as previously mentioned, cleaning a home or industrial area differs from tidying up a commercial space. There are some key differences and knowing these distinctions is crucial to ensure you get all the details.
So, let’s look at how commercial cleaning differs from residential and industrial cleaning.
Domestic or residential cleaning deals with cleaning housing complexes. It is far less complex and time-consuming than a commercial cleaning services list.
On the contrary, commercial cleaning is for business spaces, such as retail stores, offices, and hospitals. Everything, from the supplies used to the cleaning method, differs from residential cleaning.
For domestic cleaning, you may or may not need professional help. Even hiring cleaners for your home will cost you much less than hiring professional commercial cleaning services.
Commercial cleaning is much more intense. Following professional commercial cleaning tips and tricks will make it much easier to keep things in order than cleaning the space yourself.
Moreover, commercial cleaning, whether you do it yourself or hire experts, will cost you more than domestic cleaning services.
Here are the key differences between domestic and commercial cleaning:
Area: Domestic cleaning focuses on homes and private residences, while commercial cleaning is appropriate for business and office premises.
Frequency: Typically, most homeowners carry out thorough domestic cleaning once or twice a week. Commercial cleanings, however, can take place as many times as you need in a week or month.
Scope: Commercial cleaning tips and tricks tend to be more intense and prioritize deep cleaning. Domestic cleaning involves a lot of general cleaning practices, such as vacuuming, mopping, and dusting.
Equipment and supplies: Basic cleaning equipment and products are enough for domestic cleaning. For commercial cleaning, you may need to purchase industrial-grade tools and specialized cleaning products.
Cost: Professional residential cleaning services are more affordable, while commercial cleanings are expensive. However, both types of cleaning services are easy to customize and offer timing flexibility.
The difference between commercial and industrial cleaning:
The primary difference between commercial and industrial cleaning is that the latter cleanses hazardous waste and materials.
Professional industrial cleaning services protect surfaces from contamination and damage by removing substances like chemicals, waterborne compounds, fats, and oils.
Industrial cleaning can reduce the risk of illness outbreaks and comply with applicable safety standards. It often includes deep cleaning, pest control, waste management, and mold removal.
While a janitorial or commercial cleaning checklist covers business premises, industrial cleaning is ideal for large-scale areas, including manufacturing facilities, power plants, factories, and warehouses.
Furthermore, industrial cleaning professionals use heavy-duty solvents to break down tough stains and chemicals. It involves much more safety hazards than commercial cleaning services.
Commercial cleaning, on the other hand, focuses on removing dirt and grime from public spaces like schools and restaurants. It’s safer, requires less equipment, and takes more time.
Here are the primary differences between industrial and commercial cleaning:
Scope: Industrial cleaning is more extensive than commercial cleaning. It’s more time-consuming, expensive, and requires more equipment and products.
Hazards: Specialized training and safety precautions are crucial for industrial and commercial cleaning. However, due to the risky nature of their work, safety precautions are much stricter for industrial cleaners.
Equipment: Commercial cleaning utilizes more generic cleaning tools compared to industrial cleaning. You may observe industrial cleaners using chemical dispensing systems, industrial vacuums, and high-pressure washers.
Regulations: To guarantee environmental compliance and safety, industrial cleaning services must comply with specific industry standards and regulations. Commercial cleaning professionals typically follow general cleaning standards.
Other areas: Due to the complexity of the task, industrial cleaning takes more time and budget. Commercial cleaning is comparatively affordable and can be completed within a few hours, depending on the size of the premises.
From accumulated dust, pathogens, and allergens to stained desktops, door handles, and carpets - failing to keep your office neat means creating more room for bacteria and germs to thrive. It can cause prolonged and widespread illness for your employees and lessen the longevity of your business equipment.
Fortunately, you can avoid these issues by following a comprehensive commercial cleaning checklist.
Here are all the best benefits you can enjoy from regular commercial cleaning:
1. Increased employee productivity
It’s no surprise that employees are happier when the workplace is free from dirt and dust. The air is fresh and healthier to breathe. A survey by the American Psychological Association in 2023 also indicated this factor.
It showed that 92% of the surveyed employees preferred organizations that value their emotional and psychological well-being. One factor that heavily influences employee well-being is the cleanliness of the workspace.
Maintaining a healthy business space is as crucial as training your employees. Polluted air quality, in particular, can lead to a significant drop in productivity and increased absenteeism. The constant circulation of contaminated air can even diminish human cognitive functions.
If you want your employees to breathe cleaner air, you must follow commercial cleaning tips and maintain the HVAC equipment.
2. Reduce the spread of disease
With most of your valued team operating from the office, you can’t afford to have a disease breakout. It will slow down your company’s productivity and affect its sales, delivery, and revenue.
The best way to prevent the spread of viruses is to keep your office surfaces clean and sanitized. To reduce the spread of germs, you can try different types of commercial cleaning services and carry out deep cleaning once a month.
Additionally, all shared spaces and frequently touched surfaces, including bathrooms, training, and breakrooms, should be rigorously cleaned daily. Initiatives, such as installing soap dispensers and no-touch wastebaskets, can significantly reduce the risk of infections at your business premises.
Another noteworthy space you should always keep clean is the air ducts. As a common host of pathogens, air ducts are often the culprits behind triggering allergies and spreading bacteria.
3. A positive professional appearance
The image your business projects to a customer has a strong influence on your operations. If your business space appears clean, your clients will also believe your work to be smooth.
A smart and sanitary area with fresh and crisp air, on the other hand, demonstrates your commitment to professionalism. As a result, your guests will have a higher confidence in your goods and services.
Therefore, ensure your office space is always clutter-free and keep the bins clean. Standard vacuums don’t usually have HEPA filters. Hence, consider hiring professional commercial cleaners to thoroughly tidy up every corner of your office.
4. Morale booster
A pristine commercial space is not only about maintaining tidiness. It declares that you value the comfort and productivity of your employees. The absence of clutter and chaos fosters better concentration.
The proper order of things boosts employee mood, motivates them, and sets the stage for success. It encourages team members to engage in essential activities and maintain high morale.
Your employees’ perception of your company can have a massive impact on the further retention of team members. Hence, keeping it spotless is crucial.
5. Long-term cost savings
Dust stashed on your company’s shelves, cabinets, floors, and desks will slowly deteriorate the furniture and electronics. It’s often the primary reason your office electronics give up much earlier than expected.
Hence, we recommend deep cleaning the premises and remove contaminants regularly. It will increase the longevity of your tools and equipment, saving you expenses on repairs and new purchases.
6. Free-up storage space
Clutter and dirt accumulate in every business premises, consuming much space. Utilizing a commercial cleaning services list allows you to clean out these corners and better use them.
The increase in space will make the rooms appear spacious and reduce the risk of mold growth.
Commercial cleaning is more complex than spraying and wiping down surfaces. You must have a good understanding of what products or devices you need to use for different areas. Otherwise, all your efforts will go in vain, wasting money and time.
To help you get more ideas on how to keep your office immaculate, below, we present professional commercial cleaning tips for all spaces.
So, read on!
1. Choose the correct product
Whether you partner with professional cleaners or not, you must ensure they use the correct products for your facilities. For instance, if your business is a bar or restaurant, you want the cleaners to use non-toxic, eco-friendly, or natural disinfectants. These should be effective on tough stains without affecting the health of your employees and guests.
When cleaning special equipment, such as micro ovens, refrigerators, keyboards, screens, and glasses, ensure the products suit the particular equipment.
2. Make disinfecting a priority
Don’t stop at getting rid of visible dirt stains. Use appropriate solutions to eliminate contaminants from all surfaces. We recommend cleaning the surfaces with a detergent agent and following it up with a disinfectant spray to keep them germ-free.
Also, encourage your team to adopt the ‘clean as you go’ policy. It will save your cleaning crews time dealing with piles of garbage or stains from week-old spills.
3. Clean the electronics using the latest cleaning equipment
Clean all screens, kitchen appliances, keyboards, and other office equipment. For moisture-sensitive areas, use dry foggers. These devices create a disinfecting fog that coats the entire object and leaves it germ-free. You can pair these with disinfectants for maximum effect.
Consider investing in good quality, latest cleaning technologies. It will guarantee the well-being of the equipment while you sanitize them. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when tidying up electrical devices.
4. Vacuum the carpets and clean the floors
If your business facilities have carpet flooring, instruct your cleaning team to vacuum it regularly before disinfecting it. Following the commercial cleaning tips and tricks will help you control allergens and keep the space fresh and clean. Also, it will reduce the risk of developing respiratory complications in the long term.
Alternatively, vacuuming is also essential for non-carpet flooring. Do it at least twice a week to keep the dirt outside. Following the vacuuming, consider mopping the floor at least once a week.
5. Take out the trash
Nothing generates more contaminants than your trashcan. Hence, taking the trash out regularly is essential to decrease the possibility of bacteria and viruses spreading throughout the office. Doing this is also vital for controlling odor. Keep the bags at the bottom of the bin to make it easy for your cleaning team to replace them.
Also, consider investing in decent-quality storage solutions and labels. Focus on improving the accessibility of daily essentials and reducing clutter. When employees know where to find the required documents or tools, they won’t need to dig through stacks of papers or materials, saving time and effort.
6. Clean the regularly touched surfaces and make the lights shine
Cleaning the doorknobs, handles, and railings is as important as sanitizing the bathrooms and desks of your office. High-touch surfaces may appear clean but play a critical role in spreading germs and diseases. Hence, pay special attention to your office's light switches, refrigerator and microwave doors, chairs, phones, and desks.
Another thing you need to look after is the light fixtures of your office. Fixtures often get a dingy appearance due to dust accumulation, reducing their productivity. Hence, when cleaning the knobs and the switches, swipe the bulbs and fixtures as well. You will notice an instant difference in the brightness.
7. Encourage your employees to contribute and follow a checklist
From washing their hands to keeping their desks neat, there are many ways your employees can contribute to your initiative to foster a cleaner work environment. Installing sanitization stations is an easy way to encourage employees to sanitize themselves before handling paperwork or catering to customers.
Furthermore, having an individual cleaning checklist for each area of the premises will also help keep things in order. It will help your cleaning crew understand what tasks they need to complete and possible overlooks. Consider creating a checklist for the lobby, bathrooms, kitchens, work desks, cabins, pantry, restrooms, reception, and other areas.
8. Ensure easy access to cleaning supplies
If you have a considerably large premise, an excellent way to maintain that will ensure cleaning products and materials are accessible to everyone, including your employees. If each employee has their cleaning supplies near their workstations, they will be more inclined to swipe down the screens and dust the keyboards whenever needed. In this manner, they won’t feel obligated to clean their desk.
The quantity of extra cleaning will reduce the workload for your cleaning team and save you costs in the long term. So, ensure products like dish soaps, glass cleaners, disinfecting wipes, paper towels, and brooms are accessible to everyone at the office.
9. Establish cleaning procedures for every area
Besides following professional commercial cleaning tips and tricks, we recommend establishing cleaning procedures for every area. The busiest areas of your office, such as breakrooms and washrooms, may need regular cleaning, while others may do well with weekly dusting.
Identify and categorize these spaces to create a dedicated cleaning routine. Consider scheduling deep cleaning for all areas based on their frequency of use. Holding small meetings in each space is an effective way to ensure individual spaces remain clean and organized.
10. Clean In A Top-Down Approach
There are several ways to clean commercial spaces. However, one method has stood the test of time. Cleaning from top to bottom means focusing on the higher surfaces first, such as fans, ceilings, and shelves, before moving on to the lower surfaces, such as the floor. This will make cleaning much easier as the dust from the higher surfaces accumulates on the floor. You can easily swipe them at the end for a spotless space.
Keeping your business premise pristine by following the above commercial cleaning tips is easy if you have a small space. However, the cleaning tasks can quickly pile up for larger businesses and take up your entire schedule. On the other hand, maintaining an in-house cleaning crew can be expensive.
Hence, organizations often opt out of professional commercial cleaning services.
If you wish to do the same, here’s a short guide on how to hire the best commercial cleaning services in NYC!
Find the one: NY has no shortage of reputed cleaning companies. A simple Google search will direct you to plenty of reputed cleaners. Alternatively, you can seek references from other business owners to find a better match.
Credibility: Once you narrow down your choices, check the credibility of the companies, including their license, insurance, and reviews.
Security: Make sure the companies you select have considerable years of experience cleaning different surfaces and materials.
Price: Compare the cost of services of the different companies. Enquire about hidden charges or other additional fees before hiring the one.
Quality: Ensure the company you intend to hire has a reputation for delivering quality work. They should have all the required cleaning products and equipment for safe and quality work.
Reputation and experience: Prioritize companies that have worked with organizations in your industry. Check their Google reviews, including the negative ones, before making any solid decision.
If you have stuck around till the end of this blog, you must be genuinely committed to maintaining the hygiene of your business.
At Sterling Cleaning Services, we help businesses like yours stay at the top of their cleaning chores by delivering the best quality commercial cleaning services in NYC. From disinfecting heavily used surfaces to removing mold and mildew with deep cleaning, we do it all with our latest equipment, eco-friendly products, and years of experience.
With our flexible schedule and tailored services, you can maintain the cleanliness of your office without hurting its productivity.
Please reach us at any time to set up an appointment to review your commercial cleaning requirements. Sterling will provide an on-site review of your janitorial needs, then create a custom proposal that fits both your specifications and budget
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