Keeping your office or commercial property clean and well-maintained not only helps your business make a good impression with potential clients and employees, but also ensures the overall health and well-being of your staff members.  Custodial and janitorial services help to create an efficient working environment wherein employees can achieve their highest levels of productivity and success.  As such, maintaining a clean commercial or business space makes for a suitable environment to conduct regular office work, hold meetings, and pitch to clients.

Many business owners look to professional custodial or janitorial companies for office cleaning and maintenance.  Indeed, there are a wide range of services available from these professional outfits, and while there is a fair amount of overlap between janitors and custodians, there are distinctions between these positions as well.  First, let’s talk about the similarities.  Primarily, janitors and custodians are hired either as permanent employees or part-time employees by the management of a company.  Likewise, many companies decide to contract this work to professional janitorial and custodial organizations who act as the employer for cleaners, custodians, and janitors.  Out-serviced cleaning reduces the burden on your company’s managers, as cleaning staff are paid, scheduled, and disciplined by the cleaning company.

Still, while we can see there are some similarities between janitors and custodians, there are several differences as well.  In many instances, people incorrectly use the terms “janitor” and “custodian” interchangeably, despite significant differences between janitorial and custodial services.  Simply put, janitorial services usually refer to those jobs which are more basic cleaning or maintenance jobs; whereas custodial services refer to those positions where an individual has control over the cleaning and maintenance of a property.  The distinction is subtle but important.

Janitors and janitorial service companies are focused on keeping a business or workplace clean.  The service contract with a janitorial organization will likely include an extensive list of indoor and outdoor clean-up activities, along with some maintenance duties.  Cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming floors, washing windows, cleaning tables and desks, and emptying recycling and trash are just a few of the tasks you might expect a janitor to do.

Alternatively, custodial services may include but are not limited to these basic cleaning tasks.  Instead, custodians may also provide light or heavy maintenance, as well as facilities management.  Regular repairs, equipment replacement, emergency maintenance, and other higher level tasks would fall under the category of a custodian.  In addition, custodial services may also include heavy cleaning, painting, replacement of light-fixtures, plumbing maintenance, and other activities which ensure the smooth operation of facilities in your offices.

So while you can see that custodial and janitorial services are similar, you really need an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each of these professionals before you’re ready to hire a custodian or janitor for your business.

We would all agree that the health of our employees is of paramount importance.  Not only is employee health important for ensuring an efficient and effective workplace, but employee satisfaction is going to be significantly impacted by said employee’s health.  As such, many managers and business owners make efforts to ensure their workers’ health through benefits, gym memberships, and other practices aimed at improving or maintaining health.  Yet many of us overlook the importance of office cleaning in terms of the health of our employees and clients.

Nevertheless, much like our homes, offices can become dirty and subject to the effects of bacteria and viruses.  In a very short period of time, offices can go from immaculate to disastrous which is why it is important to take cleaning seriously.  Regular office cleaning services ensure that the working environment is free from dust, bacteria, and other health hazards while also creating a comfortable and motivating workplace.

Computers and Phones

Especially when shared, computers and phones should be disinfected regularly to prevent the spread of germs, bacteria, and related infections.  It might be surprising to hear that a quick wipe with an antibiotic solution can remove nearly 99.9% of bacteria that may accumulate around workstations.

Furniture and Upholstery

Office cleaning extends beyond a workstation, computer, or phone.  During influenza outbreaks, nasty germs can live in furniture and upholstery making it almost certain that other workers or clients will become infected.  Moreover, indoor air quality is significantly impacted by the cleanliness of fabrics and upholstery located throughout your office.  Regular steam cleanings will remove allergens from upholstery and furniture, while also preventing the spread of infection.

Carpets

As is the case with furniture and upholstery, carpets can be the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and viruses while also harbouring allergens.  In fact, carpets are a known source of both chemical and biological pollution in offices as airborne pollutants and other substances can easily settle in carpets.  Moreover, dirt, bacteria, mites, and fungi can be tracked via shoes onto office carpets meaning that carpets are often the source of chemical and biological emissions that cause a variety of adverse health effects from eye, ear, and throat irritation to allergies, flus, and even fatigue.  To this end, office carpets should receive regular professional cleanings in order to maintain a sanitary office environment.

A regularly scheduled office cleaning plan helps to ensure that bacteria and germs are removed from the work environment without risking exposure to harsh chemicals or cleaning agents.  Moreover, in order to improve the air quality in offices, carpets, furniture, and upholstery should be vacuumed and cleaned regularly.  Ultimately, it is in the best interest of any business manager or owner to meet with professional cleaners and determine the best cleaning methods for that particular office.