It is pretty common to see people confusing commercial cleaning with office cleaning services, as far as business cleanliness is concerned. Regardless of how synonymous they seem to be, they are still not quite the same.
To find out everything you need to know about both distinct cleaning services—from the subtle differences between the two to their numerous benefits—read on.
What is Commercial Cleaning?
To define commercial cleaning, it is a service primarily involved in the deep cleaning and hygienic maintenance of large spaces, such as industrial facilities. Concrete examples of these commercial entities include:
- Retail stores
- Restaurants
- Hospitals
- Schools
- Offices
- Factories
- Warehouses
- Leisure centres
What is the Role of a Commercial Cleaner?
A commercial cleaner is the individual responsible for maintaining a clean and tidy commercial space. They carry out extensive cleaning tasks ranging from:
- General cleaning
- Deep cleaning
- Specialised cleaning
- Sanitisation
- Dealing with hazardous products
Major Types of Commercial Cleaning Services
There are numerous types of cleaning services available for commercial spaces. Here are some of them:
Janitorial Services
These cleaning services may be one of the most prevalent types of commercial cleaning.
Janitorial cleaning usually entails daily, general cleaning tasks that are not necessarily intricate, but are needed to keep a commercial space habitually presentable and organised.
They should not be confused with commercial cleaning, though, which can be a common misconception among many that they are the same. Nonetheless, janitorial cleaning still falls under the umbrella of commercial cleaning.
To learn more about their subtle differences, check out our blog on janitorial vs commercial cleaning.
Window Cleaning
Although it may seem like an insignificant aspect of a commercial property, the cleanliness of windows is indispensable for enhancing the building’s overall appearance to both outsiders and insiders.
Carpet Cleaning
Even more so than window cleaning, carpet cleaning rarely comes to our attention day-to-day, although we come across carpets all day long in commercial spaces.
School Cleaning
Given that schools have commercial purposes, the cleaning of schools is also considered a subcategory of commercial cleaning services. School cleaning encompasses the disinfection of hallways, classrooms, and cafeterias.
Jet Washing
Also known as pressure washing, jet washing utilises high-pressure water to clean the exterior surfaces or external walls of commercial buildings.
Office Cleaning
Since it is part of our topic of discussion, it would not make sense to exclude office cleaning from the main types of commercial cleaning services.
As mentioned, office cleaning services are distinct from commercial cleaning services; however, that does not mean that office hygiene is not a type of commercial cleaning.
We will dive more in-depth into what office cleaning is precisely, and the contrasts between it and commercial cleaning throughout the rest of this blog.
What is Office Cleaning?
To explain it briefly, office cleaning is primarily focused on maintaining the hygiene of workplaces. It involves cleaning a much smaller space and scale than if we were to discuss the cleaning of commercial spaces in general.
What is the Role of an Office Cleaner?
An office cleaner is usually in charge of rudimentary, routine-like cleaning duties, and those can be summarised as follows:
- Vacuuming
- Dusting
- Mopping
- Wiping down surfaces
- Emptying bins
- Sanitising restrooms
- Restocking
The Key Differences Between Commercial Cleaning and Office Cleaning Services
The key differences between the two cleaning services can be represented below through several points of comparison:
Scope
The scope or scale of commercial cleaning is often way greater than that of office cleaning. This is because both are concerned with different property sizes: commercial cleaning is for large spaces such as factories and warehouses, whereas office cleaning is for smaller spaces like offices and cubicles.
Frequency
Given how comprehensive commercial cleaning is and how much attention to detail is involved, it is usually executed every once in a while, like every few months or even once a year.
On the other hand, office cleaning can be performed regularly—e.g., daily, weekly, or monthly cleaning—as it is less effortful than deep, commercial cleaning.
Equipment
In commercial cleaning, more advanced equipment is employed, as it is much more thorough and heavy-duty. Unlike office cleaning, where more standard and basic equipment is utilised to get the job done.
Commercial cleaning equipment can include:
- Pressure (Jet) washers
- Floor scrubbers
- Carpet extractors
- Air duct cleaning machines
Office cleaning might require equipment such as:
- Basic cleaning supplies
- Vacuums
- Mops
Specialisation and Expertise
With regards to hiring a commercial cleaner or an office cleaner, it is essential to note that the two won’t acquire the same expertise or skillset, since both services are not the same.
Commercial cleaners will specialise in more complex tasks than office cleaners, which makes the former more knowledgeable and trained in advanced cleaning solutions and techniques, as well as how to deal with hazardous items while cleaning.
Service Costs
In terms of cleaning service prices, the costs of both cleaning services can differ greatly.
Typically, the costs of a commercial cleaning service will be higher than those of an office cleaning service. This is because commercial cleaning requires a higher level of sanitisation and hygiene, and is also involved with larger spaces than a workplace or office.
However, some factors still determine a cleaning service’s cost, whether commercial or office cleaning, such as:
- Space size
- Type of tasks
- Frequency
How are Commercial and Office Cleaning Services Similar?
Since office cleaning is a type of commercial cleaning, it shares certain characteristics with other types of commercial cleaning.
Ultimately, both cleaning services are essential in commercial entities that require regular cleaning, and they share the common goal of maintaining a clean office or commercial space.
The two cleaning services share tasks such as vacuuming, dusting, disinfecting bathrooms, sanitising, and more. Although the scope and comprehensiveness may vary, they still have a unified purpose.
Which Cleaning Service is Right For You?
Now that you have a clear understanding of the differences between the two cleaning services, it is time to know which one to choose.
There are some assisting points you can refer to when you want to make an informed decision on which cleaning service to hire:
Workspace Size
If your commercial space is large, such as a building or facility, you may want to consider hiring a commercial cleaning service. On the other hand, if you have a relatively small workplace, then office cleaning is what you need.
Scope of Cleaning
You should also consider the scale at which your space requires cleanliness. If it requires larger-scale cleaning, commercial cleaning is the best option; otherwise, office cleaning will suffice if your commercial property does not necessitate deep or extensive cleaning.
Frequency of Cleaning
How frequently your space needs to undergo cleaning also matters. If you intend to maintain a clean space through regular cleaning rituals, consider hiring an office cleaning service.
On the other hand, if your focus is to have a meticulous cleaning session every few months, then commercial cleaning will align better with your cleaning goals.
Why are Commercial and Office Cleaning Services Important for Business?
Neglecting the cleanliness of your commercial space can easily happen if you are not aware of the importance of office and commercial cleaning for your business.
Here are some benefits that are worth mentioning, to remind you to make commercial and office hygiene a priority:
- Reputation enhancement
- Employee health and well-being
- Employee productivity
- Positive first impressions from clients
Give Our Professional Cleaning Services at Benchmark Cleaning A Try
Whether you need to hire a commercial or office cleaning service in London, Benchmark Cleaning offers both services and more. We ardently prioritise professionalism and impeccability in all our cleaning services.
You can get a free quote if you get in touch with us today. We can’t wait for your call and your best commercial cleaning experience yet!
