Commercial vs Janitorial Cleaning: What’s the Difference?

Part of your responsibilities as a business owner or manager is to keep the workplace clean. After all, the negative effects of an unclean work environment run the gamut from higher employee call-off rates to a high risk for slip-and-fall accidents — which can seriously affect your bottom line.

As you explore ways to clean up your company’s physical spaces, you’re likely to come across options for janitorial cleaning services and commercial cleaning services. What’s the difference? And how do you know which types of cleaning services are right for your business?

The clean freaks at Shoup’s Cleaning are here to help! We took the time to break down the specifics about janitorial cleaning versus commercial cleaning so you can make a well-informed decision about which way to go.

Read on for the lowdown on these two types of cleaning services, our time-tested advice on when and how to use each one, plus a complete commercial cleaning list of services we provide.

Understanding the Types of Cleaning Services

In our 50-plus years of professional cleaning, we’ve seen it all. And our unwavering commitment to the highest standards of cleanliness means we know a thing or two about what goes into the daily upkeep of offices, retail shops and other businesses.

When you choose to outsource your commercial cleaning, you’re freeing up employees to focus on their jobs while protecting your business from the perils of messy hazards like spills. You’re also investing in a sparkling first impression on customers or clients — and we all know you only get one chance at that!

Understanding the difference between the types of cleaning services available will help you make the wisest choice about where and how to invest your money.

Janitorial vs Commercial Cleaning

At the most basic level, the main difference between janitorial cleaning and commercial cleaning is one of frequency. Janitorial cleaning services cover all the day-to-day chores that make everyday work life a little nicer. These are tasks that your workers are likely capable of doing, but that would take precious time away from their regular job duties.

Commercial cleaning, on the other hand, involves bigger jobs that only need to be done periodically. These tasks often require specialized equipment or skills that your employees may not possess — and they often entail physical risks from heights or pungent chemicals that you wouldn’t want your workers exposed to.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of both types of cleaning services:

Janitorial Cleaning Services

Most businesses arrange for janitorial cleaning on a daily or weekly schedule. Depending on the size and scope of your company, you can tailor these services to your specific needs. Whether you outsource or use an in-house crew, janitorial cleaning services include:

General Housekeeping

Just like your routine residential cleaning checklist, our commercial housekeeping service covers general dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces. We’ll also clean, mop and disinfect the restrooms and break room or kitchen if you have one. All counters and other hard surfaces get a thorough wipe down.

Trash Removal & Recycling

Our janitorial cleaning staff empties all the waste baskets in your shop or office. Then we consolidate the trash and remove it from your business, placing it in the building’s communal bin, outdoor dumpster or other agreed-upon receptacle for pickup.

Sanitizing High Touch Surfaces

Spaces that encounter a lot of people can quickly accumulate germs and bacteria — and those microbes can still spread illness, even when you can’t see them! Electrostatic disinfecting delivers deeper cleanliness and peace of mind, especially in large office buildings, banks, gyms, restaurants, schools, retail stores, medical facilities and other high-traffic businesses.

This special janitorial cleaning service combines a high-powered electrostatic sprayer and an EPA-approved hospital-grade cleaner to nix pathogens and elevate your company’s cleanliness.

Commercial Cleaning Services

Schedule bigger commercial cleaning jobs every month or quarter to keep up on your company’s overall image. Some of our commercial cleaning services are one-offs, but most deliver tangible benefits when they’re done on a regular basis.

Upholstery Cleaning

Keep those waiting room sofas, boardroom chairs and other office furniture looking as good as new with Shoup’s upholstery cleaning services. We’ll get rid of those deep-seated spots and stains, as well as vacuum up any debris and deodorize lingering smells from the fabric. Shoup’s Cleaning also offers cubicle partition cleaning to ensure your employee’s spaces stay clean and fresh. Your customers, clients and VIPs will be sitting pretty after this type of commercial cleaning!

Carpet Cleaning

Everyday foot traffic grinds dirt and debris into your business’s rugs and carpeting. All that wear and tear can make carpets look old before their time — not to mention the odors, allergens, dust mites and pollutants that soft floor coverings can hold onto! Refresh the look and feel of your company with periodic carpet cleaning from the Shoup’s pros. We bring our state-of-the-art truck-mounted carpet cleaning system to your business to provide a deep, thorough clean, paying special attention to trouble spots and high-traffic areas. We can move your furniture before cleaning, then put it all back when we’re done, or just focus on high-traffic areas.

Window Washing

Brighten your company’s outlook with routine window washing that saves your business time, money and safety risks. Our pros have the right equipment and know-how to reach the deepest-set bay windows, the highest elevated windows and the most awkwardly placed skylights — without risking falls or injuries. We’ll clean off even the most stubborn dirt and grime for a smudge-free crystal-clear view every time. This is a win-win-win for you, your employees and your customers or clients, who all benefit from your company putting its cleanest windows forward.

Concrete, Tile and Grout Cleaning

Durable flooring and walls make sense in high-traffic businesses, like mechanic shops, car dealerships and warehouses. They’re also an important element of restrooms and large-scale kitchens or break rooms. But when these hard surfaces, like vinyl composite tile (or VCT), accumulate stains, grime and dirt, they become unavoidable eyesores. Let the talented techs at Shoup’s deliver a new lease on these long-lifespan spaces with our heavy-duty concrete, tile and grout cleaning services. We’ll pay detailed attention to all the nooks and crannies, leaving behind a sparkling clean that makes a stellar first impression and ensures the life of your floors.

Specialty Services

Attention to detail is often what sets one business apart from the vast sea of its competitors. We understand this principle deeply at Shoup’s — which is why we offer specialty services that cover detailed tasks other commercial cleaning companies overlook. Have company vehicles that need their seats, floors and trunks meticulously cleaned? We do that, too. How long has it been since the mattresses in your fire station, hotel or dormitory were sanitized? Let us refresh them for you.

Cleaning Services From Shoup’s Cleaning

Now that you have a deeper understanding of the differences between commercial and janitorial cleaning services, it’s time to give your workspace the refresh it deserves! Contact Shoup’s today to discuss our complete commercial cleaning list of services and customize the cleaning schedule that works for your business. Your employees, customers, clients and bottom line will all thank you for it!

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