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To ensure health and safety and a professional image, companies need commercial cleaning, meaning a high level of business experience, advanced equipment, and specialised cleaning techniques.
Put simply, commercial cleaning is professional cleaning tailored for businesses, office spaces, and other large commercial buildings, carried out by highly trained commercial cleaners.
Commercial work requires specialised equipment, trained professionals, and a strict adherence to health and safety standards.
Whether it’s daily office cleaning or retail cleaning, it ensures businesses remain hygienic, presentable, and compliant with health-and-safety or industry regulations.
But is there really that much difference between commercial and domestic cleaning? Does a business need specialist commercial cleaning services, or will a regular cleaner do a similar job?
Commercial vs. domestic cleaning: What’s the difference?
Commercial cleaning is designed for offices, retail spaces, warehouses, hospitals, schools, and other commercial properties – whereas domestic cleaning tends to focus on homes and flats.
Unlike domestic or residential cleaning services, commercial cleaning is carried out on a much larger scale and often involves advanced cleaning techniques and industrial-grade equipment.
The differences are evident in scale, equipment, cleaning standards, and frequency. Offices, retail stores, and warehouses tend to be large spaces, requiring industrial-grade machines and specialised cleaning techniques – domestic cleaning, on the other hand, uses general household cleaning supplies.
Businesses must comply with strict health and safety regulations, ensuring hygienic workplaces for employees and visitors. This must be factored into commercial cleaning processes and quality assurance.
While domestic cleaning might operate on a semi-formal schedule, commercial cleaning will almost always operate to a fixed timetable, whether that be daily/nightly, weekly, or monthly deep cleans and audits.
Commercial cleaning services
Many businesses choose daily office cleaning or retail cleaning services if they are a store with customers visiting all day, every day.
But there are plenty of nuances and some companies need more specific services on an ad hoc basis, such as specialist floor cleaning. Here are some of the most common commercial cleaning services:
Daily office cleaning
This is a thorough and professional clean of your premises to an agreed specification. Typical cleaning activities include, but are not limited to:
- Dusting and wiping tables, desks, chairs and other furniture
- Vacuuming or mopping floors
- Cleaning bathrooms
- Cleaning the kitchen
- Sanitising and disinfecting surfaces
- Emptying all bins and replacing their liners
- Polishing mirrors and using glass cleaner
- Using industrial vacuum cleaners
- And more
High-touch areas like door handles and keyboards are sanitised and washroom supplies are restocked too. Here is a comprehensive office cleaning checklist.
The good news is that commercial office cleaning does not need to disrupt your staff at all, with after office hours cleaning readily available.
There are many benefits of a clean office space. In particular, find out more about how to boost employee productivity with a clean office.
Retail and boutique cleaning
First impressions matter, especially when it comes to retail spaces. A clean and tidy store not only increases the visual appeal but also creates an inviting atmosphere for customers.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that well-maintained stores are much likelier to bring in customers – find out how to increase footfall in retail.
ThinkFM is a specialist in retail cleaning London stores throughout the capital trust to keep their bricks and mortar outlets clean every day.
Deep cleaning services
Unlike routine cleaning, deep cleaning targets hard-to-reach areas, eliminating hidden dirt and bacteria. A key benefit of regular deep cleaning is the prevention of illnesses – staff sickness costs UK businesses approximately £103bn a year, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research.
A professional deep cleaning service will generally cover high-level dusting, carpet shampooing, kitchen sanitization, and thorough washroom cleaning.
This level of cleaning, carried out periodically, is important for preventing illness and maintaining a high standard of workplace hygiene. Learn more about deep cleaning vs regular cleaning in this article.
Commercial floor cleaning
In areas of heavy foot traffic, floors may need regular cleaning. And different types of flooring require different approaches to cleaning.
Tiles benefit from regular mopping – and don’t forget grout cleaning – while vinyl flooring needs dust mopping and occasional deep cleaning.
Carpeted areas need regular vacuuming, stain removal, and steam cleaning to maintain freshness and hygiene.
Stone floors need restoration work or repairs after a period of time, while wooden ones need regular sanding and maintenance too. Read more in our commercial floor cleaning guide.
Window cleaning
Dirty windows create a negative impression and reduce natural light. Professional window cleaning services ensure a streak-free finish, improving office aesthetics and atmosphere.
Commercial cleaners use water-fed pole systems for effective window cleaning, particularly effective for high-rise buildings.
Benefits of professional commercial cleaning
There are many benefits to using commercial cleaners rather than the alternatives, such as going without or relying on non-specialists – these include:
- Health and safety compliance – Regular disinfection minimizes bacteria, allergens, and pollutants, ensuring a safe workplace that meets hygiene regulations.
- Better productivity and well-being – A clean workspace reduces stress, improves focus, and lowers absenteeism due to illness.
- Positive business image – A well-maintained office conveys professionalism, reinforcing a strong reputation with clients and visitors.
- Efficiency – Outsourcing cleaning services eliminates in-house staffing costs and ensures consistent, high-quality cleaning.
- Access to advanced equipment & expertise – Professional cleaners use industrial-grade tools like HEPA vacuums and steam cleaners for a superior clean.
For more detail, learn more about the various professional office cleaning service benefits.
Final thoughts: Commercial cleaning meaning
The next step is to look for a commercial cleaning company to ensure the highest standard of hygiene and safety are adhered to, while also enhancing employee productivity.
Here at Think FM, we are proud to be a leading provider of commercial cleaning services, offering a wide range of comprehensive and high-quality cleaning solutions. That includes daily office cleaning London businesses throughout the capital trust.
Think FM delivers a top-tier commercial cleaning service London companies rate very highly – see our reviews on Google for more details. With over 200 experienced cleaners working daily, we make sure you have a spotless, safe, and productive workspace.
To keep your workplace spotless, get a quote or contact us today and discover how we can support your business with expert cleaning services.
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