If you’ve been weighing the pros and cons of hiring a company to help clean and maintain a space, you’ve probably seen different businesses and sources refer to ‘janitorial services’ and ‘commercial cleaning services.’ So isn’t ‘janitorial’ the same as ‘cleaning’ services?
Your top priorities are health, safety, professionalism, and productivity. It would be reasonable to assume that janitorial services and professional cleaning services meet your needs in the same way, especially since some people use these terms interchangeably. After all, both of these services help keep facilities clean and safe for workers and the public.
But there is a distinction between janitorial and professional cleaning services. Before you look any further for cleaning help, you should know the difference between the two, so you can hire the right company for you.
So, what’s the difference?
The key differences between janitorial services and commercial cleaning services usually lie in the types of cleaning and maintenance work they do and the consistency and intensity of the work.
To make an educated decision when you choose a company that provides commercial cleaning services, janitorial services, or both, keep reading. We’ll get you up to speed on how these two services differ in tasks, frequency, staffing, and costs, so you can pick the best fit.
The Difference Between Janitorial and Cleaning Services
The main difference between janitorial and professional cleaning services is cleaning frequency and intensiveness.
In most cases, janitorial cleaning services tend to be more routine, everyday cleaning and maintenance while also being equipped to tackle some heavy-duty jobs.
On the other hand, cleaning services are more about once-in-a-while focused cleaning of surfaces that need specialized care.
In the upcoming sections, we’ll go into detail about what types of work professional cleaning services and janitorial services do, the advantages of each, and how to choose.
What Do Janitorial Services Provide?
With everyday use, any facility should be expected to accumulate some trash, floor dirt and debris, glass smudges, and germs on frequent touch points and in restrooms. Janitorial cleaning services are there for your daily or weekly touch-ups to address these concerns:
- Sweeping, mopping, and/or vacuuming floors
- Trash removal
- Wiping glass
- Dusting
- Cleaning and sanitizing bathrooms and replenishing bathroom supplies
- Disinfecting high-touch surfaces
- Tidying, cleaning, and sanitizing kitchens and breakrooms
- Incidental tasks like replacing light bulbs
- Sometimes, janitorial services can also do outdoor work, specialized/heavy-duty cleaning, or are trained to use equipment like carpet/steam cleaners and floor scrubbers
You can usually arrange with a janitorial cleaning service provider to customize the timing and frequency of the above services, having some areas cleaned three to five times per week and other areas tended to once per week.
What Do Cleaning Services Provide?
Some spaces have more demanding or specialized cleaning needs for health and safety reasons. Additionally, most facilities periodically require more intensive jobs like window washing, floor care/deep cleaning, and power washing surfaces such as concrete entryways.
What type of cleaning is included in commercial cleaning? Commercial cleaning services often specialize in environments like offices, schools, and medical/healthcare facilities, typically focusing more on occasional deep-cleaning tasks:
- Sanitizing and disinfecting
- Carpet cleaning
- Hard floor services like tile and grout cleaning
- Furniture polishing/upholstery cleaning
- Window washing
- Power washing
- Specialty services
Depending on the type of space, you may need commercial cleaning services daily, weekly, or just a couple of times per year.
Advantages of Using a Commercial Cleaning or Janitorial Service
Now that you know the exact differences between janitorial and commercial cleaning services, you’re likely already getting a better idea of which is best for you. Or, you might be leaning towards finding a company that offers both commercial cleaning and janitorial services.
By reviewing their respective benefits, this section should get you even closer to a decision on whether to hire a janitorial service or commercial cleaning business.
Commercial Cleaners’ Expertise Keeps a Space Looking its Best
Even with frequent lighter cleaning, most places will still need sprucing up with those extra tasks like window washing, power washing, deep cleaning, furniture touch-ups, and floor care. Going above and beyond the bare minimum elevates the professional and positive impression of your space.
You’ll notice the difference in morale and motivation when your workforce shows up each day to a workplace that looks spotless inside and out, from entryways and windows to furniture and floors.
A Commercial Cleaning Business Customizes Services to Your Needs
Do you have low-maintenance floors or furniture that require minimal attention? Perfect, you can hire commercial cleaners as infrequently as you need them, only paying for what you need.
Alternatively, do you have a space that easily gets scuffs, stains, and debris buildup, for example from dirt or rock salt? No problem, commercial cleaning service providers can come help out as often as necessary.
Commercial Services Have the Right Techniques, Training, and Tools
Special places like schools, warehouses, construction sites, and medical facilities necessitate specialized cleaning knowledge, training, tools, and protocols. Cleaning services have what it takes.
Additionally, cleaning services are a worthy investment for the longevity of a facility because they have the correct equipment, products, and expertise to cater to floors and other surfaces, extending their lifespan.
Janitorial Services Provide Consistency
Your space probably needs certain upkeep jobs done once to five times weekly. For consistently clean and healthy conditions, a janitorial cleaning service may help daily with bathrooms, floors, and garbage, dust every other day, and wipe windows once or twice per week.
Cleaning on an as-needed basis means daily wear and tear won’t get a chance to build up. Plus, when you hire a janitorial company for regular cleaning, they’ll likely send the same staff each time, so they always know what needs to be done to deliver the most consistent services.
Janitorial Services Keep Workforces Healthy and Safe
High-traffic areas and high-touch surfaces see the most dirt, spills, and illness-spreading germs. Janitorial services prevent slip and fall accidents by getting dust, dirt, and spills off the floors, prioritizing frequent touch points with attention to detail to help prevent people from getting sick.
Janitorial Services Offer Versatility
With janitorial services, you can usually come up with a cleaning schedule that suits your building’s maintenance and cleaning needs. Between your personal experience with the facility and what it needs and the janitorial company’s expertise, you can precisely customize the tasks and their frequency.
And if you sometimes need emergency assistance or a specialized service like deep cleaning, sanitization, disinfection, floor care, etc., many janitorial service providers can step in to do those bigger jobs, too.
FAQs About Janitorial vs. Cleaning Services
My office space is small, should I still consider hiring a commercial service?
Small offices usually do best with a janitorial service to take care of the day-to-day services, whereas larger offices may need commercial cleaning services. A commercial cleaner may also be appropriate to prepare for an important event.
Would it be more cost-effective for me to hire my own cleaning team or to hire a cleaning service?
Building an in-house cleaning/janitorial operation is like running another business within your business. Outsourcing cleaning and janitorial services almost always reduces cost and effort expenditures because you don’t need your own industry knowledge, products/supplies and sources, staff, and equipment/maintenance.
I’m still not sure which service is best for me. What else should I consider?
Make and rank a list of some of your foremost cleaning priorities for your office, whether it’s things that need more help or things that must be clean and presentable at all times.
If you need basics like trash disposal and regular floor and bathroom cleaning, janitorial services will do. If you have more intensive needs, specialized services, or a large office, maybe consider commercial cleaners.
Ready to Hire a Commercial Cleaning or Janitorial Service?
We’ve cleared up the difference between janitorial and commercial cleaning services, so now you know the difference, the advantages, and what might be preferable for different contexts.
No matter which one you choose, Dallas Janitorial Services can help, because we cover both commercial cleaning services and janitorial services in the DFW metroplex. When you contact us via our site or email or call to fill us in on your needs, we’ll provide a free quote. You can trust Dallas Janitorial’s wealth of expertise, flexibility, and diligence for a clean, tidy, and professional space every time.
