The Three Most Overlooked Areas in Office Cleaning

Almost all businesses invest in commercial cleaning services for floors, carpets, and windows. And when the pandemic hit, companies also paid attention to touchpoints, like keyboards, light switches, and doorknobs.

However, non-professional cleaners miss other areas in the office that are a hotspot for dirt, pests, and pathogens. These spots blend into the background and don’t get the attention they need, and as a result, dust and grime accumulate without anyone noticing.

As a professional commercial cleaning company, The Purple Maids knows that every nook and cranny deserves a deep clean, but not every corner gets regular and proper cleaning.

Here are the three most overlooked spots when cleaning a commercial office.

Furniture and Upholstery

The average office desk harbors 10 million bacteria, which means the chairs have about 21,000 germs per square inch. And it’s not just the chairs; germs also collect on the office partitions and the furniture in the lobby.

Although recent sanitation guidelines pushed for cleaner desks, the furniture and chairs are still often overlooked. Because they’re covered in fabric, the layer of dust and dirt is not as visible as it is on tables and windows.

If multiple people use the office chairs and stools, they could spread potentially infectious pathogens from a dirty leather armchair to the rest of an otherwise clean space.

Moreover, even if office chairs are part of a commercial office cleaning routine, the undersides are often forgotten. These areas still need to be cleaned because they have recesses and crevices that collect dirt.

Light Fixtures

Office workers take indoor lighting fixtures for granted, especially if the space relies on natural light. It’s also difficult to clean fixtures because they require a ladder. As a result, people neglect cleaning light fixtures, especially for ornate pieces like chandeliers and sculptural lights.

However, dirty fixtures reduce the light that spreads across the office. The grime also shortens the lifespan of the light bulbs and attracts bugs. A quick swipe of a feather duster or soft cloth goes a long way in keeping the lights bright and the fixtures dust-free.

Fake Greenery

Recent research has shown that offices with plants encourage better mood and increase productivity among employees. As a result, many commercial spaces decorate using fake green plants. They offer the same result but require less maintenance.

Fake plants don’t need fertilizer or water, but they need cleaning. Dust collects on the leaves and the edges of the pots. But they’re not included in standard cleaning routines.

Choose Reliable Janitorial Services

Make sure your commercial cleaning services don’t miss these often unnoticed spots. With The Purple Maids’ janitorial services, you can be confident that every corner of your office will be spotless, from the fake greenery to the underside of the chairs.

Customized Cleaning. We cater to your business needs, whether you run a warehouse, an office, or a medical practice.
Eco-Friendly Solutions. The Purple Maids uses only well-researched, environment-friendly products.
Extensive Professional Experience. We’ve been in the business for 27 years, which is why we know which spots tend to be missed by other cleaners.

Don’t miss cleaning any part of your office by hiring our team. Get a free estimate today!

Janitorial and Commercial Cleaning: Is There a Difference?

Janitorial and commercial cleaning are often used interchangeably, but they are different services. The Purple Maids distinguishes each service in this blog.

Appearances matter in business, and if you don’t believe this statement, then you better believe the numbers. An early study found that 95 percent of customers say that their decision to shop or not to shop in a store is influenced by the establishment’s appearance. Fifty-two percent said outright that they avoid stores that look dirty from the outside.

Cleaning services for businesses are then very important, and something that offices and businesses shouldn’t overlook.

Now when we talk about business cleaning services, two more terms show up: janitorial services and commercial cleaning services. Both are often used interchangeably even though they mean different things.

Let’s talk about what these services mean and what each of them offers in this article.

What Are Janitorial Services?

Janitorial services cover more than routine cleaning. They include the small, everyday tasks that need to be done to keep your office or establishment clean and impressive to customers. These include sweeping and mopping floors, dusting desks, shelves, and other surfaces, emptying the trash bins, vacuuming rugs and carpets, cleaning the office pantry and bathroom, and restocking toiletries, soap, and other essentials that everyone in your office consumes each day.

The purpose of janitorial services is to maintain cleanliness in an establishment at all times. Daily janitorial staffs follow fixed cleaning schedules, although they will check the entire place for random dirt or trash every few hours. This allows them to keep the entire office or store clean without exhausting their crew.

Commercial janitorial services are offered more regularly compared to commercial cleaning services. We at the Purple Maids, for instance, offer professional janitorial services on a daily or weekly basis.

What Is Commercial Cleaning?

Commercial cleaning services are usually specialized. They take care of big cleaning jobs that may require special equipment and tools. These cleaning jobs don’t have to be done frequently but are still necessary to ensure that the office or commercial space is always clean and ready to receive clients.

Below are some examples of commercial cleaning services:

Tile and grout cleaning
Carpet cleaning and restoration
Furniture and upholstery cleaning
AC and air vent cleaning
Hard surface steaming
Hard surface stain removal
Window washing

Commercial cleaning can be a one-off service or a number of scheduled cleanings over a specified period, like once-a-month cleaning for two years.

Choose a Company that Offers Both

Even if your business only needs either janitorial or commercial services, it pays to hire a cleaning company that offers both. It’s easier and more cost-effective to source all of your cleaning needs from one service provider than from multiple vendors. It’s also faster and more convenient because you don’t have to go through the process of searching and vetting service providers twice.

Likewise, your cleaning company won’t have to open a new client account and set up payment methods. They can quickly send a cleaning crew to your place of business with just one call.

The Purple Maids offers both janitorial and commercial cleaning services in the Greater Seattle Area. If your business or office is located here, give us a call. We can’t wait to show you what we can do for your business.

Experience the best business cleaning services in Greater Seattle Area. Contact The Purple Maids and request a free estimate.

Professional Office Cleaning Is Important Now More than Ever

Office admins and managers should pay more attention to the indoor air quality in their offices: Harvard recently reported that “stale air” makes office employees less productive. If that’s not worrying enough, there’s such a thing as “sick building syndrome,” a phenomenon common in enclosed spaces wherein occupants experience eye irritation, coughing, and headaches.

Apart from growing indoor plants and improving ventilation systems, commercial cleaning or janitorial services can do a lot to improve indoor air quality. More importantly, they help prevent illnesses and disease from spreading, which is a must in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Overhauling a defective ventilation system when you’re merely renting may not be easy, and growing plants in the office might be challenging if no one in your organization can commit to caring for them. What you can do and have control over is ensuring the cleanliness of your office space.

Reasons to Pay for Commercial Cleaning

Let’s start with the obvious: professional janitorial services are vital to maintaining a clean and healthy working environment for your employees.

To keep your office virus-free.

As the world continues to deal with the life-changing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become more important than ever to ensure cleanliness in the workplace. Surface-level cleaning has proven inadequate; what offices need now is thorough cleaning and disinfection to remove not just dirt and clutter but also disease-causing bacteria and viruses.

To improve indoor air quality.

As mentioned above, cleanliness is a huge factor for productivity because it has a direct impact on indoor air quality. If an office is always dusty, operational ventilation might do more bad than good (strong airflow can stir up dust particles and make allergens circulate in office rooms).

To maintain a clean, comfortable place that’s conducive to working.

Janitorial services clean shared office spaces like break rooms, meeting rooms, and lobbies. They empty trash bins daily, restock bathroom supplies, and dust all surfaces. Thanks to professional janitorial staff, employees don’t have to spend their billable time cleaning their workspace instead of the job they are paid to do.

Now let’s discuss the non-tangible benefits of commercial janitorial services.

To help employees be more focused on their work.

Studies show that clutter is a visual stimulus. Visible mess and things in disarray stimulate the brain, but not in the way bosses would approve of.

Clutter can distract employees and take their focus away from their work. If your office admin forbids employees from leaving personal effects on their desks, it’s likely for this reason.

To maximize your employees’ time and talents.

As mentioned above, office employees can pour all their attention and efforts into their work instead of dusting their desks, emptying garbage cans, sweeping the floor in their work areas, and so forth. Employees don’t waste time or energy doing physical work that’s not part of their job description, so they can be more productive at their work.

To make a good impression.

A reliable janitorial service can make your company appear more professional and dignified than a dusty, marble lobby ever can. It reflects positively on your company if potential investors get the impression that resources are used properly for practical business operations instead of frivolous office features.

Whether the pandemic finally ends soon, and even if you don’t invite clients in your office, hiring a commercial cleaning service for offices is worth it. We can tell you more about how our janitorial services can benefit your company; just give us a call anytime.

Protect your employees’ health and create a work environment that increases productivity. Contact The Purple Maids today and request a free estimate.