Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to exit your current janitorial contract? Many clients find themselves contemplating this question, especially when the quality of cleaning or service deteriorates significantly. Here’s a breakdown of whether you can legally terminate your janitorial contract, with answers ranging from a definitive “no” to a possible “yes.” “No” – The Ironclad ContractIn the janitorial industry, it’s unusual but not unheard of to encounter a contract that is extremely difficult to exit without facing penalties. These contracts are tightly sealed with terms that strictly ..read more

Choosing a new cleaning service can seem daunting. Concerns about their performance, the smoothness of their start-up phase, and the potential for even more complaints than your previous service are all valid. Ideally, you’re looking for a hassle-free experience where cleaning concerns are off your plate. To ensure you’re partnering with a cleaning company that aligns with your needs, here are essential questions to guide your selection process. 1. How Do You Recruit and Train Your Staff, and What Compensation Do They Receive? The effectiveness of the cleaning service largely hinges on the peo ..read more

Selecting the perfect commercial cleaning service can significantly boost your team’s productivity and give you invaluable peace of mind. Here, we outline four crucial steps to guide you through the process of finding the ideal cleaning company for your business needs. Step 1: Opt for a Local or Regionally Based Company with a Local Presence Local professional cleaning companies often outperform national firms in terms of delivering a consistent, high-quality service. This reliability can lead to fewer complaints and distractions, allowing you and your team to concentrate more on your core bus ..read more

Choosing a janitorial company is akin to navigating the dating scene – there are good and bad options, and without caution, you might find yourself wanting to end the relationship. Can you predict whether your partnership with a cleaning contractor is destined for trouble? What are the warning signs, and which companies should you avoid? There are three types of janitorial contractors that you should avoid to spare yourself the frustration of a breakup. When seeking potential bidders, consider excluding the following companies. The “We don’t have any accounts like this” janitorial company: Hir ..read more

Have you been struggling with subpar cleaning services? There could be various reasons why your cleaning company isn’t meeting your expectations – they may have underbid the job, changed ownership, or prioritized other clients. How do you know if your janitorial company has lost interest in your business? Keep an eye out for these five signs that could indicate trouble ahead: 1. Increased complaints from your staff When you hire a cleaning crew, you expect them to make your job easier. While minor issues may arise that require a call or email, you shouldn’t be bothered by mundane cleaning prob ..read more

“Our floors look awful!” We often hear this complaint when prospective clients ask us to provide cleaning services. Aside from dirty restrooms and break rooms, nothing frustrates building owners more than having dull, damaged floors. This reaction shouldn’t surprise us. Think about the places you visit—doctor’s offices, grocery stores, department stores, restaurants—do you notice shiny floors? Do you notice if they’re dull or dirty? In this article, we’ll discuss vinyl composite tile (VCT) flooring and how to keep it looking good. So, What Is VCT Flooring? Vinyl composite tiles are made from P ..read more

Stained carpets? Scuffed up floors? Dirty windows? Hazy VCT? Germ infested common areas? Dusty air vents? Dirt-stained concrete? While routine janitorial services are an everyday need at your facility, there are a host of other needs related to the cleanliness and appearance. For instance, cleaning exterior windows is not something that is typically included in the regular cleaning work. But sometimes those windows, after winter weather, get dirty and smeared. To create that good first impression to customers and employees, those windows need periodic cleaning. Some services are needed on a ro ..read more

Sometimes it is obvious that a cleaning company is not living up to expectations, while other times, it can be a bit nebulous. In this article, we hope to provide information to help you and your cleaning company establish meaningful expectations. Additionally, we will give some tips on how to proceed if your cleaning vendor is not meeting expectations. Defining Expectations – What is Clean? Ask 10 people the question – “what is clean?” and you’ll likely get 10 different answers. It’s a bit like asking, “what is beautiful?” It all depends on who you ask. Hence, the problem with “clean.” Clean ..read more

Have you ever received cleaning service proposals that are significantly different in their pricing? It is not uncommon to have multiple janitorial services proposals with significant variances in pricing. Why does this occur? In most cases, the variance is due to each cleaning company’s estimation of the number of staff hours needed to complete the cleaning tasks. However, there are other elements that go into the development of a cleaning proposal. The following six items should be a part of every cleaning proposal you receive: Direct Staff Wages Direct staff wages account for the largest po ..read more

If you are in charge of the janitorial services at your facility, you are likely in charge of many other services and purchasing decisions. And while I don’t know your specific situation, I suspect you regularly get pressure to cut costs. The competitive business environment of our day requires a constant effort to keep expenses in check. When it comes to the janitorial program, in addition to many other services, cutting costs can potentially result in a loss of service quality. The challenge for any facility manager is finding the right balance between keeping costs low and service quality h ..read more