What Is the Difference Between Janitorial and Cleaning Services?
So, you’ve decided that your business could use some professional help to stay clean and sanitary. Now it’s time to determine the type of cleaning service you need to follow through on that goal.
During your research, you may come across both “janitorial services” and “cleaning services.” What’s the difference, and which is right for your business’s needs?
Main Differences Between Janitorial and Commercial Cleaning Services
Janitorial services typically refer to the daily tasks needed to keep a commercial space clean. Meanwhile, “cleaning services” is a much broader term that can be used to describe both commercial and residential cleaning and includes a wide range of tasks. For the purposes of this article, we will focus on the difference between janitorial services and commercial cleaning services.
The main distinctions between the two involve the following.
Types of Services
Janitorial services focus on tasks that need to be done about once a day to keep a commercial space in neat, orderly condition. Meanwhile, commercial cleaning services typically refer to deep cleaning tasks that aren’t necessary as frequently.
Certain spaces in your business, such as the restrooms, kitchen, breakroom, and shared working spaces, likely require daily cleaning to return them to hygienic condition. Meanwhile, other spaces and surfaces, such as the windows and ceiling fans, become dirty less quickly. These aren’t cleaning tasks your business needs done every day, but they are important to the overall cleanliness and safety of the environment.
Janitorial services focus on the former, while commercial cleaning focuses on the latter.
Frequency of Services
The service frequency is also distinct between janitorial and commercial cleaning services. Janitorial services are routine tasks that need to be completed about once per day, depending on the size of the business. Smaller businesses might be able to get away with every other day or even once per week, but most businesses require daily services.
On the other hand, your business likely doesn’t become dirty enough that you would need to scrub the tile and grout every day or even every week. Commercial cleaning services are typically only necessary once per month or even less frequently.
Intensity of Cleaning Tasks
Another difference between janitorial and cleaning services is the intensity of the cleaning tasks. You might see janitorial services referred to as “maintenance cleaning.” They involve less intense tasks and usually don’t require much specialized equipment. Still, professionals take care to perform them to the highest industry standards, follow specific protocols to prevent cross-contamination, and ensure thorough, comprehensive cleaning.
Commercial cleaning services typically refer to more intense tasks requiring specialized equipment. For example, cleaning grout requires more than a normal mop and bucket. The cleaning crew might need to bring in special machinery and heavy-duty chemicals to achieve this task.
What Do Janitorial Services Include?
Janitorial services include routine cleaning tasks, such as:
- Removing trash and replacing trash bags
- Taking out the recycling
- Cleaning and sanitizing restrooms
- Sweeping and mopping floors
- Vacuuming carpeting
- Cleaning kitchens and breakrooms
- Disinfecting workspaces
While this scope of work is more limited to daily tasks, some janitorial services also offer deep cleaning on a routine basis. For example, they might clean your windows every other week or deep clean the flooring once a month.
Janitorial services are often customizable, allowing you to choose the services you need and the exact schedule they follow.
What Do Commercial Cleaning Services Include?
In contrast, commercial cleaning includes more specialized cleaning tasks, such as:
- Deep cleaning tile and grout with specialized equipment
- Pressure washing the business’s exterior
- Cleaning the insides and outsides of windows
- Dusting hard-to-reach surfaces
- Cleaning the upholstery on furniture
- Dusting the vents and cleaning the air ducts
If your business needs other specific services, such as cleaning machinery or merchandise, you can typically enlist commercial cleaners to perform these tasks as well.
Schedule Services With Precision Commercial Cleaning Today
Now that you know the difference between janitorial and cleaning services, you can determine the correct services to schedule for your business. Precision Commercial Cleaning provides comprehensive cleaning services for a wide range of businesses, such as:
- Office buildings
- Industrial facilities
- Warehouses
- Religious facilities
- Community centers
- Banks and financial institutions
We provide both janitorial services and specialized commercial cleaning services. Allow our cleaners to create a custom schedule that suits your business’s needs, then provide long-term cleaning assistance. We offer eco-friendly cleaning practices, flexible scheduling, and competitive prices.
Contact Precision Commercial Cleaning today at 585-595-2783 to request a free estimate for commercial cleaning services. Then, learn more about us and our commitment to trust and excellence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a cleaner the same as a janitor?
“Janitor” and “cleaner” are often used interchangeably, but they don’t exactly mean the same thing. A janitor is a special type of cleaner that focuses on routine, maintenance cleaning in commercial facilities. “Cleaner” is a more general term for a cleaning professional and can include residential and commercial tasks. All janitors are cleaners, but not all cleaners are janitors.
What are typical janitorial duties?
Typical janitorial duties include the day-to-day tasks a business needs to stay sanitary. They might include removing trash and debris throughout the facility, disinfecting high-touch surfaces, mopping, and vacuuming. The exact duties can vary depending on the facility.
Are janitorial services customizable?
Janitorial services are typically customizable if you choose a company that provides more personalized cleaning plans. Not every organization needs the same cleaning tasks performed according to the same schedule. A good janitorial service will customize your cleaning tasks according to your business’s needs.
How many cleaning professionals does your business need?
A good rule of thumb is that one cleaner can cover about 5,000 square feet of space if they are performing routine janitorial services, while more may be necessary for deep commercial cleaning services. However, your cleaning company will assign the correct number of professionals to your space depending on a range of factors. The goal is to be able to finish the cleaning job within a few hours.