Office cleaning done right
When you choose someone to fulfil your office cleaning requirements you want to make sure that you choose professionals that will not only make a good job of cleaning your offices but also that you can trust them to be left on your premises. From using the right products to making sure that they make a good job of keeping your offices cleaned, whether you have a small office or a larger office premises, there are a number of things to consider.
Office cleaners that you can trust
Starting with trust it is imperative that you choose people that are going to treat your business and the privacy of your business with respect. Often cleaners come in after everyone has gone home. If you have very sensitive data then you may want to consider locking it away and ensuring that computers are shut down where possible. If there is information left out in files on desks you need to ensure that you hire a firm that take the privacy of their clients very seriously. If you have a lone worker on the premises it is important that they feel safe. Choosing a professional office cleaning company that carry out background checks on their employees is very important. If they are a professional company then they will be able to provide you with references and any other information that you ask for.
Cleaners that will work around you
Professional office cleaners will understand the cleaning requirements of a busy office premises. They will know that it is important not to disturb those that might be working a late shift in a call centre for example by vacuuming around their desk. They will need to be able to work around the office workers without making their presence felt and to understand that they need to get the job done with minimum disruption to everyone else. They should be able to offer a service that works around the client, carrying out the main cleaning tasks when everyone has gone home (if you don’t operate a 24 hour clock call centre that is).
Choosing the right level of service
Decide with your cleaning company what level of service it is that you need. They will often offer a service that is tailored to suit most office environments. Don’t be sucked into choosing a plan that is far greater than what you need. Be firm with what you want and make sure that they work to your requirements. This might be a quick tidy, clean and vacuum at the end of every other day with a more thorough office cleaning at the end of the week. It may be that you have them in to clean the bathrooms regularly throughout the day and then at the end of the day to clean the kitchen areas and general communal areas.
What cleaning products and equipment are used?
If you are concerned about the products that the company uses when cleaning, ask them to explain what it is that they use. Do they use chemicals or products that might cause bleaching or staining? Are their products environmentally friendly and what sort of machinery do they use? Do they have noisy machinery that is likely to disturb those that work there?
Insurance and compliance
It is also important to ensure that your office cleaning company has insurance for any incidents that might occur on your premises and that they are compliant. If something happens that causes an accident because of wet floors for example, you want to ensure that they are fully insured and that it doesn’t come back to you to deal with.
Are they experienced in office cleaning?
It is important to ensure that a professional office cleaning company has experience of working in other office environments and that they understand the requirements of the job. You want to be able to leave the cleaning to them, knowing that you are in good hands and not have to go around checking after them. A reputable company with a good amount of experience should be able to provide you with a list of other clients that they work for and references.
Making sure that you are getting value for money
How do you know that your office cleaning is being carried out according to what you are paying for? How will they make themselves accountable to you? Ask them to provide you with feedback of work carried out and when it was done. What is their complaint procedure if you are not happy with some aspect of their work? At the end of the day how can you quantify that you are getting the office cleaning service that you are paying for? Of course all of these points will be covered if you choose a professional office cleaning company that are experienced in this field leaving you free to get on with your job whilst they get on with theirs.
Sources
OHSA, Retrieved June 2017, Cleaning Industry Standards
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/cleaningindustry/standards.html
Wikipedia, Retrieved June 2017, Background Checks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Background_check