Joining a Janitorial Association

There are several janitorial associations around the country, but the largest and most reputable is the International Janitorial Cleaning Services Association (IJCSA). It serves companies around the country and the world, and its mission is to "promote professionalism and ethics in the janitorial and cleaning services industry." It requires its members to be bonded, and to be professional. They believe their member companies should provide excellent customer service to customer standards, they should be professional and ethical, they should continually try improvement themselves through training and education, provide a save work environment for employees and clients, and they should ask questions when they encounter an unknown situation. They stress that companies should work with their clients' needs, and should always act professionally, no matter what the situation.

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When you pay for an office cleaning service, you want to get what you pay for.  Commercial cleaning and janitorial services will often supply a checklist of services so you can choose how much or how little they do. 

If you don’t have a checklist provided by your company, you can use ours to find out how thorough your current cleaning company is. 

DAILY CLEANING

Your reception area represents your customer’s first impression. You want it to always be bright, clean and inviting.  Every individual needs a clean work environment. A well organized and clean workplace helps to make everyone more productive. Cleaning tasks for the reception area and office spaces include:

1.  Empty waste receptacles and replace liners. Wash as needed.
2.  Vacuum all carpets and mats
3.  Vacuum all hard floors
4.  Dust all horizontal surfaces of desks, chairs, tables and other furniture
5.  Damp wipe all horizontal surfaces with disinfectant
6.  Mop all hard floors with disinfectant
7.  Remove cobwebs from front entry and immediate surrounding areas
8.  Remove fingerprints and marks from around light switches and door frames
9.  Clean automatic glass doors inside and out
10. Wipe all internal glass
11. Polish all brass and bright work on doors and cabinets
12. Spot clean walls and painted surface
13. Collect all garbage, papers, bottles etc. from front entrance
14. Ensure all areas are clean & arranged neatly

Kitchen/Break Room & Washroom
A clean and sanitized washroom is a must in any working environment to ensure safety and reduce the risk of spreading germs.  Same thing goes for a kitchen or break room where employees eat. It is imperative that this space be clean and sanitary even if no food preparation is done there.

15. Stock toilet tissue, hand towels, facial tissues and hand soap
16. Empty waste receptacles and wipe if needed and replace bin liners as required
17. Clean and polish mirrors
18. Wipe hand towel dispensers/hand dryers
19. Wipe down doors and sills – remove all dust and prints
20. Clean and sanitize all basins. Polish all bright work
21. Dust partitions, tops of mirrors and frames
22. Remove splash marks from walls and partitions around basins
23. Mop clean restroom and kitchen floors with disinfectant
24. Elevator and Stairs
25. Remove garbage from all areas
26. Polish all brass and bright work
27. Vacuum and mop all hard floors
28. Spot clean internal glass in doors 29. Toilets and urinals to be cleaned and disinfected on both sides and disinfected/sanitized and wiped dry

WEEKLY CLEANING

30. Spray buff all hard floors.
31. Clean all glass inside & outside with squeegee.

MONTHLY CLEANING
32. Vacuum vents and chairs

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1. Regular Cleaning: Exterior

   Most cabinet types, including metal, plastic laminate, painted wood, and vinyl cabinets, can be cleaned with a solution of dish soap liquid and warm water. This simple and mild solution is enough to get food smudges, dust, and mild grease build-up off of your cabinets. Rinse thoroughly with another clean cloth, before drying with a final cloth.

2. Heavy Duty Cleaning: Exterior

   For heavy build-ups of grease and dust, your best bet is a commercial cleaner designed to be used on wood kitchen cabinets. My favorites are cleaners with orange oil. They have a way of breaking down the thick grime that can accumulate on cabinet surfaces. Be sure to read the instructions before using, and test first in a hidden spot.

3. Interior Cleaning

   Empty each cabinet, beginning with the top most one. Remove shelf lining if necessary. Wash the interior of the cabinets with warm water and a mild detergent. If the interior cabinets have a lot of crumbs and residue, it may be a good idea to vacuum the cabinets out after they've been emptied, before wiping them down. Rinse with another clean damp cloth. Wipe dry with an additional cloth.

4. Cleaning Cabinet Contents

   Wipe down dusty cans and containers with warm water and dish soap on a dampened cloth. Throw out any items that have expired. Leave the cabinets open for a 1-2 hours to fully dry, before replacing the contents of the cabinet.

Tips:

1. An all-purpose cleaner can be used to clean cabinets too, but it's important to test cleaners in a hidden spot to make sure that they won't damage your cabinet's finish.

What You Need

• Cleaning cloths
• Dish soap
• Commercial cabinet cleaner
• All-purpose cleaner (optional)
• Vacuum cleaner (optional)

Kitchen

• Clear out and wipe down the sink (5 minutes).

  No piles of dirty dishes! Move them into the dishwasher, and wipe the sink with a sponge.

• Wipe down countertops and stove (1 minute).

  Clean splatters and spills with a damp cloth or sponge and an all-purpose cleanser.

• Wipe problem spots on the floor (2 minutes).

  You can save a full-floor mop for the weekend, but use the same cloth (once you’ve finished with the countertops) to quickly clean any spills or sticky spots, which will attract dirt and get more noticeable if left alone.

• Fold or hang dish towels (30 seconds).

  Even if they’re clean, a jumble of dish towels on the counter can look messy. Take a few moments to fold or hang them.

Bathroom

• Wipe out the sink (30 seconds).

  If you use a premoistened cloth to wipe your face, swipe the sink bowl and faucet handles with it, too. Or use a washcloth, paper towel, or a product like Windex Glass and Surface Wipes, which don’t leave streaks on chrome or mirror.

• Clean splatters off the mirror (15 seconds).

  Got foamy toothpaste spray on the mirror? Do a quick swipe with the same cloth you used on the sink.

• Wipe the toilet seat and rim (15 seconds).

  Same cloth! Just do the toilet last.

• Swoosh the toilet bowl with a brush (15 seconds).

  If you see a ring, give it a quick scrub.

• Squeegee the shower door (30 seconds).

  Wipe down glass doors to remove water droplets that can cause spotting. No squeegee? Use a dry towel.

• Spray the shower and curtain liner with a shower mist (15 seconds).

  A quick spray with a daily cleanser will reduce buildup of mildew and soap scum.

Bedroom

• Make your bed (2 minutes).

  Even a fluffy down comforter pulled up over messy sheets will look polished.

• Fold or hang clothes and put away jewelry (4 minutes).

  Even better: Resist the urge to toss them somewhere in the first place! Put them away as you take them off.

• Straighten out the night-table surface (30 seconds).

  Take last night’s water glass to the kitchen, stow your reading glasses in a drawer, and straighten books or magazines.

Living Room

• Tidy the sofa (2 minutes).

  It’s likely the focus of the room, so neaten it. Fluff the pillows and fold the throws.

• Pick up crumbs with a handheld vacuum (1 minute).

  Concentrate on surfaces in plain sight: sofa cushions, coffee table, and rugs in the middle of the room. Look for dust bunnies, too.

• Wipe tables and spot-clean cabinets where you see fingerprints (1 minute).

  Use a microfiber cloth or a Swiffer cloth to pick up dust. If the surfaces are streaked or sticky, use a moist cloth.

• Straighten coffee table books and magazines (2 minutes).

  Toss old newspapers and corral the remote controls into one place (a drawer, if possible).

• Clear major clutter (5 minutes).

  Stash video games, toys, and anything else you might trip over.