San Francisco – Janitorial Services

You shouldn’t need to check that the janitorial cleaning service has fulfilled the terms of the contract every time they clean your office space, but you may want to check the company’s work the first time they come to clean your office building.

This will give you a chance to ask questions about, make changes to or provide feedback on the services you’ve received. You may also want to do random checks to ensure the level of service stays consistent.

After the custodial work is completed, the commercial cleaning company you’ve hired should provide you with a written invoice for services rendered.

This invoice should include the following items:

• The San Francisco janitorial service’s name, physical office address and license number.
• An itemized list of all cleaning services performed.
• A complete list of all cleaning supplies used (if you are expected to pay for cleaning supplies. This isn’t necessary if cleaning supplies are included in your contract rates.)
• The total cost of the job, broken down into amounts due for cleaning services, extra services requested, labor and supplies.
• Any guarantees or warrantees provided by the janitorial cleaning crews.

Use the information on the invoice to compare against the work that was actually completed. If items don’t match up or you have questions about what was done, ask your commercial cleaning service representative about the discrepancy.

You may also want to ask the lead janitor to walk through the building with you after the first commercial cleaning service visit so that they can show you what was done and answer any questions you may have.

After they have proven their ability to clean to your standards, you may only need to check the cleaning services on a random basis to ensure quality controls.

Most good janitorial companies in San Francisco provide guarantees on their office cleaning services.

If the commercial cleaning company you’ve hired does warranty their custodial services, ask for written proof of the guarantee and what it covers.

A good written guarantee on janitorial cleaning services will include:

1. The janitorial service’s name, physical address and contact information.
   
2. Specific details including what janitorial services and products are guaranteed and how the janitorial contractor will deal with warranty claims (refunds, complimentary office cleaning, immediate replacement services, replacement of janitors/custodial staff on your job, termination of the janitorial contract at your request, etc.).
3. Your responsibility when filing a complaint and how you should report problems with the commercial cleaning services.
4. The exact terms and limitations of the guarantee.
5. All exclusions to the cleaning services guarantee must be in writing and presented at the same time as the written warranty.

Most janitorial companies in San Francisco provide the same basic office cleaning and commercial cleaning services, along with specialized services that cater to clients’ diverse needs. Some of the most popular janitorial cleaning services are listed below along with examples of that type of office cleaning.

Commercial Cleaning Services in San Francisco
Commercial cleaning services include all janitorial services provided in commercial buildings. This includes business vacuuming, business entryway cleaning, office bathroom cleaning, private office cleaning, recycling and trash removal, plant watering, office carpet cleaning, dusting, elevator cleaning, board room cleaning, janitorial services for lobbies and waiting rooms, and office floor refinishing services.

Industrial Cleaning Services
Industrial buildings often need specialized cleaning services, including industrial floor cleaning, machinery cleaning, trash removal, hazardous waste removal, bathroom cleaning, industrial waste cleaning and power washing.

San Francisco School Cleaning Services / Educational Building Cleaning
School custodial services and other educational building janitorial service companies provide cleaning and sanitizing for preschools, K-12 schools and colleges and universities in and around San Francisco.

Industrial Cleaning
Cleaning services for industrial facilities include conveyor belt cleaning, equipment cleaning, interior and exterior storage tank cleaning, coatings removal, hydroblasting and pressure washing, filter replacement, silo cleaning, machine cleaning, floor cleaning, ceiling cleaning and clean room services. Some larger janitorial companies in San Francisco provide industrial cleaning, while others are not equipped to do this specialized type of janitorial work, so make sure you ask upfront if the custodial services you’re considering are able to meet your needs.

Green Cleaning / Green Janitorial Services
Eco-friendly janitorial services are popular throughout San Francisco. They often include the use of green cleaning products, non-toxic cleaning solutions, cloth rags or reusable cleaning supplies rather than paper towels and disposable cleaning products, and biodegradable janitorial products. Some green janitorial services provide unscented cleaning products that are safe for individuals with chemical sensitivities, allergies and for children.

Civic Building Cleaning / Government Building Janitorial Services
Cleaning for civic buildings and governmental buildings in San Francisco is a specialized form of janitorial services provided by some local cleaning companies. These services often include office cleaning, bathroom cleaning, public lobby cleaning, courthouse janitorial services, hallway refinishing, wall scrubbing and graffiti removal.

Office Cleaning
Office cleaning includes cleaning in small offices, home offices, home business cleaning and cleaning offices within larger businesses. Office cleaning services in San Francisco often include desk cleaning, vacuuming, organizing papers, watering plants, dusting office furniture, bookshelf dusting, window washing, trash bin removal and garbage can cleaning, paper recycling, office fan cleaning, office light changing and other janitorial tasks within a personal office space.

Janitorial Equipment
Janitorial equipment provided by San Francisco commercial cleaning companies usually includes vacuums, mops, brooms, dusting cloths, janitorial carts, trash cans and recycling receptacles.

Full-Service Custodial Cleaning / Day Porter Services
Custodial cleaning for stores and large office buildings takes place during business hours and keeps the buildings clean and functional for patrons. These services often include dayporter services. Typical full-service custodian and day porter services include spill clean-up, sweeping, light vacuuming, window washing, fingerprint removal, mopping, bathroom cleaning, paper product replacement, soap refilling, trash removal, high-traffic area monitoring, airport cleaning, apartment complex cleaning, educational and entertainment facility cleaning, lobby maintenance, kitchen and cafeteria cleaning and exterior maintenance.

Medical Building Cleaning
Examples of medical buildings that require janitorial cleaning services include:

1. Private medical practice janitorial services
2. Physician office cleaning
3. Acupuncture office cleaning
4. Veterinary clinic janitorial services
5. Medical research lab cleaning
6. Dental office cleaning
7. Medical lab cleaning
8. Chiropractic office cleaning
9. Medical clinic cleaning

Many janitorial companies provide general cleaning services for these medical facilities including hallway and bathroom cleaning, reception area cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning, power washing, green janitorial services, floor sanitizing and medical office disinfecting services.

Janitorial Supplies
Many local janitorial firms provide janitorial supplies including janitorial paper products, bathroom cleaning products, office cleaning products, window washing products, bathroom soap, floor cleaning products, scouring agents and abrasives, room fresheners, trash can liners and other common janitorial supplies.

The terms below are some frequently used by local janitorial firms. Familiarizing yourself with the terms and their meanings can ease communication between you and your office cleaning company.

biodegradable janitorial supplies
Biodegradable cleaning supplies are solid and liquid cleansers and cleaning products that break down over time. These include organic cleaning agents. Biodegradable can refer to detergents, cleansers and paper products. Many green janitorial companies use biodegradable products.

Also known as: eco-friendly janitorial supplies, non-toxic cleaning supplies, organic cleaning supplies
 

black marking
Black marks left floors and walls; caused by black rubber shoe soles. Black marks can usually be removed by mopping, but deep marks caused by hard-soled shoes may require buffing and rewaxing.

Also known as: black shoe mark removal

buffable surface
A buffable floor surface is one that is safe to buff with a floor buffer. This produces a sheen or gloss. Most buffable floor surfaces require stripping, buffing and waxing once or twice a year; more frequently for high-traffic areas.

Also known as: floor buffing, buffable floor, floor waxing

buildup
When many layers of dirt, grime, dust, wax, floor finish, cleaning agents or deposits collect on a surface, it is called buildup. This can often leave surfaces such as floors, sinks, cracks and corners looking dirty and dingy. Janitorial services usually have the tools and skill to easily remove layers of buildup.

Also known as: build-up, dirt build up, hard water build up

business janitorial services
Business janitorial services are those that clean small businesses. This often includes general janitorial services that take place during off-hours (such as evenings and weekends) and daytime janitorial services.

Also known as: small business custodial services, commercial janitorial cleaning, business cleaning services

carnauba wax
Carnauba wax is the hard wax obtained from the leaves of the Carnauba palm tree. This wax is has a glossy, durable finish and is easy to buff. There are different formulations of carnauba wax, and only certain formulations are used in janitorial cleaning applications.

Also known as: carnuba wax, floor wax, floor waxing services

chemical resistance
A surface’s chemical resistance is its ability to withstand exposure to chemicals without being damaged.

Also known as: chemical-safe, chemical resistant, chemical resistant flooring, chemical resistant surfaces

commercial office cleaning
Commercial cleaning services include office vacuuming, entryway cleaning, office bathroom cleaning, private office cleaning, recycling and trash removal, plant watering, office carpet cleaning, dusting, elevator cleaning, board room cleaning, janitorial services for lobbies and waiting rooms, and office floor refinishing services.

Also known as: business cleaning, commercial cleaning, commercial cleaning services, commercial janitorial services, small business cleaning, corporate janitorial services

custodian
Custodians are professional janitors and janitorial company staff. The term ‘custodian’ is most often used in conjunction with school janitorial services.

Also known as: custodial staff, custodial supervisor, janitorial custodian, janitor, janitorial cleaning staff, janitorial staff, janitorial company personnel

damp mopping
Damp mopping is a practical building maintenance method in which a janitor uses a wrung-out mop dampened with water or cleaning solution to clean floors that are slightly dirty. Damp mopping is less time-consuming than regular mopping services and is often used in bathrooms and other high traffic areas during the work day to keep public facilities clean and fresh.

Also known as: damp-mopping, light mopping

day porter services
Cleaning services for stores and large office buildings that take place during business hours and keep the buildings clean and functional for patrons are known as dayporter services or day porter services. Typical day porter services include spill clean-up, sweeping, light vacuuming, window washing, fingerprint removal, mopping, bathroom cleaning, paper product replacement, soap refilling, trash removal, high-traffic area monitoring, lobby maintenance, kitchen and cafeteria cleaning and exterior building maintenance.

Also known as: dayporter services, daytime janitorial services, on-site janitorial services

detergents
Janitorial detergents are chemicals used for cleaning surfaces. Detergents usually have abilities including surface wetting, soil emulsification, soil dispersion and soil suspension. Janitorial detergents can be green janitorial supplies or chemical-based.

Also known as: cleaning solutions, cleaning fluid, janitorial detergents, janitorial cleaning supplies

dry buffing
Janitors dry buff flooring using a floor machine and polishing pad or floor polishing brush to restore floor finishes to their glossy appearance. This is in contrast to buffing with waxes, detergents and floor buffing chemicals.

Also known as: dry buffing, floor buffing, dry floor buffing

dry stripping
When dry stripping flooring, janitorial cleaning companies remove old floor finishes with a floor machine, floor stripping pad, and spray-on floor stripping solution. After the floor stripping process is complete, new floor wax or floor polishes are applied to the floor to protect the surface and restore the shiny appearance.

Also known as: floor stripping, wax stripping, floor restripping

dust mopping
Dust mopping is a daily maintenance method in which local janitors use dry mops, dust mops or specially-treated mop heads to remove dust and light debris from floors. This is usually done between sweeping and mopping and before floor waxing to remove any fine particles. Dust mopping is also used by day porters to clean during the day and keep offices and shopping centers looking clean.

Also known as: dry mopping, floor dusting, light mopping

floor polishing
Floor polishing is the application of a temporary floor coating that enhances the appearance of flooring and protects the flooring underneath. Floor polishing is often done in hallways, classrooms and business lobbies.

Also known as: floor finish, floor wax

floor sealer
Floor sealing is done by applying a temporary or permanent coating to a floor. This is usually done before the floor polish is applied because floor sealer fills in cracks, gaps and pits in the flooring to create a flat surface which can be waxed and polished. Using a floor sealer often means fewer layers of floor finishing and floor wax are needed because the products won’t absorb into the flooring. Floor sealers also help the final flooring coats of wax and floor varnish to adhere to the flooring underneath for longer lasting results.

Also known as: floor sealing, floor sealing services, hallway floor sealing, hard floor sealing

government building janitorial services
Cleaning for civic buildings and governmental buildings is a specialized form of janitorial services provided by some local cleaning companies. These services often include office cleaning, bathroom cleaning, public lobby cleaning, courthouse janitorial services, hallway refinishing, wall scrubbing and graffiti removal.

Also known as: civic building cleaning services

green cleaning janitorial services
Eco-friendly janitorial services are popular with local business owners. They often include the use of green cleaning products, non-toxic cleaning solutions, cloth rags or reusable cleaning supplies rather than paper towels and disposable cleaning products, and biodegradable janitorial products. Some green janitorial services provide unscented cleaning products that are safe for individuals with chemical sensitivities, allergies and for children.

Also known as: green cleaning services, green janitorial firms, green janitorial companies, green janitorial services, eco-friendly janitorial services, earth-friendly janitorial services, environmentally safe janitorial services, environmentally friendly cleaning services

industrial cleaning services
Cleaning services for industrial facilities include conveyor belt cleaning, equipment cleaning, interior and exterior storage tank cleaning, coatings removal, hydroblasting, pressure washing, filter replacement, silo cleaning, machine cleaning, floor cleaning, ceiling cleaning and clean room services. Some janitorial companies in the local area provide industrial cleaning, while others are not equipped to do this specialized type of janitorial work.

Also known as: industrial facility cleaning, industrial janitorial services, industrial maintenance, industrial cleaning

janitorial equipment
Janitorial equipment provided by local commercial cleaning companies usually includes vacuums, mops, brooms, dusting cloths, janitorial carts, trash cans and recycling receptacles. This is often different than janitorial supplies, which tend to be smaller supplies rather than actual janitorial equipment.

Also known as: janitorial cleaning equipment, janitorial supplies

janitorial services
Janitorial services are any professional cleaning services offered to businesses, commercial buildings and civic or government buildings. Janitorial services often include facilities monitoring, minor building repairs, coordinating with contractors and other maintenance professionals, and garbage and waste disposal.

Also known as: commercial cleaning services, janitorial cleaning, custodial service, commercial building cleaning, janitor service, business cleaning, facility cleaning

janitorial supplies
Many local janitorial firms provide janitorial supplies including janitorial paper products, bathroom cleaning products, office cleaning products, window washing products, bathroom soap, floor cleaning products, scouring agents and abrasives, room fresheners, trash can liners and other common janitorial supplies.

Also known as: janitorial paper products, custodial supplies, janitorial cleaning supplies

medical building janitorial services
Examples of medical buildings janitorial cleaning companies serve include:

• Dental office cleaning
• Medical lab cleaning
• Chiropractic office cleaning
• Hospital cleaning services
• Medical clinic cleaning
• Private medical practice janitorial services
• Physician office cleaning
• Acupuncture office cleaning
• Veterinary clinic janitorial services
• Medical research lab cleaning

Many janitorial companies provide general cleaning services for these medical facilities including hallway and bathroom cleaning, reception area cleaning, carpet and upholstery cleaning, power washing, green janitorial services, floor sanitizing and medical office disinfecting services.

Also known as: medical building cleaning, medical building custodial services

mop and shine floor treatment
Mop and shine maintenance services use special mops made to clean and shine flooring finishes. This may be done in between floor waxing treatments.

Also known as: mop and shine floor cleaning

MSDS
MSDS forms are Material Safety Data Sheets, a standardized form containing all necessary information for the use, storage, and handling of chemical compounds and janitorial cleaning solutions. You may be required by law to have MSDS forms for all chemicals and cleaning products in your facility, even if they are provided by your janitorial company.

Also known as: Material Safety Data Sheet

no wax flooring
Flooring materials that usually have clear organic wear layers (usually made of urethane over vinyl floor backing) are known as no-wax flooring. These products are usually textured and designed for minimum maintenance and can save on janitorial costs associated with floor stripping and floor waxing services.

Also known as: no-wax flooring, non-wax flooring, low-maintenance flooring

OSHA
OSHA, or Occupational Safety and Health Administration, is the United States Federal Government regulatory agency that is concerned with workplace safety. OSHA is tasked with making sure individuals have safe and healthy working conditions through workplace inspections and enforcement programs.

Also known as: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

office cleaning
Office cleaning includes cleaning in small offices, home offices, home business cleaning and cleaning offices within larger businesses. Office cleaning services often include desk cleaning, vacuuming, organizing papers, watering plants, dusting office furniture, bookshelf dusting, window washing, trash bin removal and garbage can cleaning, paper recycling, office fan cleaning, office light changing and other janitorial tasks within a personal office space.

Also known as: small office cleaning, business office cleaning, medical office cleaning, executive office cleaning

pH
pH measures the degree of acidity or alkalinity. A pH of 1 shows extreme acidity, while a pH of 14 is highly alkaline. The pH scale runs from less than 1.0 to 14, and neutrality is centered at pH 7.0.

Also known as: pH scale, chemical pH

school cleaning
School custodial services and other educational building janitorial service companies provide cleaning and sanitizing for preschools, K-12 schools and colleges and universities.

Also known as: educational building cleaning, custodial services, custodian cleaning, custodian services

Q: Why choose Diamond Certified janitorial companies instead of uncertified custodial services?
A: Diamond Certified helps you choose a janitorial service company with confidence by offering a list of top-rated local companies who have passed the country’s most in-depth rating process. Only custodian companies rated Highest in Quality earn the prestigious Diamond Certified award. Most companies can’t pass the ratings. American Ratings Corporation also monitors every Diamond Certified company with ongoing research and ratings. And your purchase is backed by the Diamond Certified Performance Guarantee. So you’ll feel confident choosing a Diamond Certified janitor in your area.

Q: Why hire a janitorial service company?
A: Some companies choose to divide cleaning duties among employees or hire in-house janitorial staff. However, this can add a burden to employees who are already busy with other work. This can mean the office cleaning isn’t done correctly or frequently enough, leaving offices dirty and unwelcoming. It can also mean damage to the facilities if the employees don’t have the skill and knowledge to use janitorial supplies correctly.

Many companies choose to hire outside janitorial firms to handle their office cleaning and business janitorial needs. Most janitorial companies provide  flexible schedules and fair fees for the amount and type of janitorial cleaning required.

Q: What types of buildings do janitorial firms clean?
A: Local janitorial firms offer the following custodial services:

1. Office building cleaning  / professional building cleaning
2. Banks and financial building cleaning services
3. Office parks and corporate campuses
4. Medical offices / medical research buildings / biopharma facility cleaning
5. Commercial real estate cleaning
6. Transportation and aviation facility cleaning
7. Restaurant cleaning
8. School cleaning / K-12 and higher education janitorial services
9. Church cleaning services
10. Factory / industrial facility cleaning
11. Retail store cleaning / shopping mall janitors
12. Government building janitorial services
13. High-tech facility cleaning
14. Homes/private residences

Q: Is janitorial cleaning different than house cleaning?
A: Yes. While some facets are the same—vacuuming, sweeping, trash removal, bathroom cleaning, dusting and plant watering, for example—most house cleaning companies don’t provide business cleaning and most janitorial companies don’t provide house cleaning. Commercial cleaning services use different janitorial supplies, and often are tasked with cleaning projects that aren’t needed in homes, such as floor stripping and waxing, dayporter services, high-traffic area cleaning and boardroom cleaning.

In addition, much janitorial work is done during the evenings and weekends when businesses are closed to the public. Housekeepers may not be able to provide the type and timing of services required for many professional businesses.

Q: Will I have to sign a long-term contract with the janitorial company I choose?
A: This depends on the commercial cleaning company you choose. Most janitorial companies have some type of contract term, which may be monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly or yearly. Good janitorial companies provide clear contracts that protect your interests and theirs. As with any service company, you should have the option to try out the services before you sign a long-term contract, and there should be specific verbiage in the contract you sign that details how you can get out of the contract without large penalties if there is a problem with the services or the janitorial staff. Never sign a long-term contract with a commercial cleaning company you’re not comfortable with.

Q: How much do janitorial cleaning services cost?
A: The cost of your janitorial cleaning services depends on what commercial cleaning you need and the frequency you require it. Labor is the largest expense in janitorial services, so keep in mind that the cheapest commercial cleaning services may not be the best. That’s because some janitorial services hire unskilled cleaning staff rather than professional custodians. This may mean the work will take longer, be unreliable, or that you may face high turnover rates in cleaning staff or damaged facilities if the staff aren’t knowledgeable about the cleaning products and janitorial equipment they’re using.

The contract you sign with your local janitorial service should clearly outline the cost of the service, including any extra fees for emergency janitorial cleaning or janitorial supplies.

Q: What do I need to supply? 
A: Some janitorial services provide all cleaning supplies, janitorial equipment, soap, trash can liners and paper products. Others ask that you provide some or all of the janitorial supplies needed to clean your facilities. Some will provide certain supplies, but request that you provide certain cleaning solutions or items that you prefer, such as green cleaning solutions or microfiber towels instead of paper towels. So talk with the cleaning services you’re considering and factor the items you need to supply into the cost of their service. You should also ask whether or not you’ll be expected to provide storage space for paper products, cleaning solutions.

Q: What are green janitorial services and why should I consider them?
A: Green janitorial services are those that provide eco-friendly custodial services. This is often accomplished through lower water usage, environmentally friendly cleaning products, recycled paper products, unscented cleansers and non-toxic janitorial supplies. Green janitorial equipment is also an important component of environmentally safe commercial cleaning because tools including HEPA-filters, microfiber cloths and mops, and two-chamber mop buckets are designed to prevent dirt from contaminating surfaces and reduce the amount of chemicals required for cleaning. Green janitorial cleaning companies are often preferred by office personnel who have allergies, asthma, sensitivities to chemicals, or in locations such as daycare centers and schools.

Q: Should I hire a janitorial firm that performs background checks on their employees?
A: This is an important factor for many companies when hiring a good janitorial service, especially in high-tech, medical offices, schools or other buildings where the safety of individuals, property and intellectual property are at stake. Keep in mind that most business owners don’t see the janitorial staff, because most commercial cleaning is done at night or on weekends. So it’s important to hire a trustworthy janitorial service. Many people like the added security that comes with knowing the backgrounds of those providing their commercial cleaning services.

Q: What are day porter services?
A: Day porter services are often provided to shopping malls, apartment complexes, large business parks and other areas that require janitorial cleaning services throughout the business day. Typical day porter services include spill clean-up, sweeping, light vacuuming, window washing, fingerprint removal, mopping, bathroom cleaning, paper product replacement, soap refilling, trash removal, high-traffic area monitoring, lobby maintenance, kitchen and cafeteria cleaning and exterior building maintenance.

Q: Can janitorial companies clean areas with lead paint?
A: This depends on the janitorial company and the area in question. If the lead paint is flaking, chipping or is otherwise coming free from the surface, you should have a certified lead paint removal specialist in your area remove the paint and clean the area to reduce the risk to you and others. Lead paint is known to cause cancer, and by law, lead paint removal must be done by a certified professional. If the areas you need to have cleaned are known to contain lead paint but the paint is not chipping or disturbed, talk honestly with your commercial cleaning company owner. He or she may not want to clean the area, or may be very comfortable providing janitorial services. In either case, caution must be taken not to crack, chip or damage the paint to avoid exposure to potentially hazardous material.

Q: How should janitorial companies deal with asbestos?
A: Some janitorial companies will not deal with asbestos and will refer you to an asbestos contractor. Others will clean those areas. However, asbestos is known to cause cancer and other illness, so you must legally disclose the presence of asbestos to all individuals working in an area where they may be exposed. Janitorial companies who are licensed to clean up hazardous materials and others who work in potentially hazardous areas should have the proper equipment to prevent the spread of asbestos fibers.