How to Choose a Commercial Janitorial Company for Warehouse and Logistics

Warehouses, logistics facilities, and fulfillment centers have a lot of specific cleaning and disinfection needs. They are filled with products, machinery, and specialized equipment and can get messy quickly if they are not cleaned regularly.

A good commercial janitorial company can handle all your warehouse or logistics facility’s cleaning needs including general cleaning tasks such as removing trash, cleaning floors and sanitizing restrooms. The right commercial janitorial company can also handle more detailed or advanced cleaning needs, including disinfection and deep cleaning.

Finding the Right Commercial Janitorial Company

When you are evaluating commercial janitorial companies, these are some things you should consider to find the best fit for your warehouse or logistics facility.

Licensed, Insured, and Bonded

You should only work with commercial janitorial companies that are licensed, insured, and bonded.

• Verify the company’s business license with the state licensing board.
• Review the company’s insurance to be sure you are covered for general liability at acceptable levels and any claims that may arise if there is an accident or on-the-job injury at your facility.
• Ensure the company has the proper bonding in place to protect you from damage to your property that results from negligent behavior.

Ask to see everything in writing and verify it.

Experience in Warehouse or Logistics Facility Cleaning

Warehouse and logistics facilities have unique cleaning needs. A commercial janitorial company that knows your industry will do a better job for you and focus on the important things for a safer and healthier environment at your facility. Therefore, you do not want to work with a company that will need to learn on the job. You should work with a well-established commercial cleaning service that has experience working in industrial and warehouse environments.

Staffing

Make sure the commercial janitorial company employs professional cleaning crews. Probe for information about training and certification. You want technicians working at your site that have been trained in best practices including OSHA workplace safety and handling of bloodborne pathogens. They should also be trained on:

• Chemical and Product Handling
• Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• State and Local Health Regulations

A commercial janitorial company should also be trained on how to use EPA-registered antimicrobial disinfectants for infection control.

Avoid any commercial cleaning services that hire day workers or cash workers instead of using their own staff. It is likely that the workers will not have the proper training, which means they cannot provide the quality of service your warehouse or logistics facility deserves.

Ask about the dress code. Professional janitorial cleaning companies ensure their staff is dressed professionally in appropriate attire or in uniforms and are equipped with the appropriate PPE for the job.

References

When evaluating a commercial janitorial service, you should always ask for references. If possible, get references from other companies in your industry with warehouses and logistics facilities. Then, take the time to call each company to get an independent opinion on the quality of the commercial janitorial company’s services. If possible, visit one of the reference’s locations after cleaning has been completed. A visual inspection will let you see what you can expect when they clean your facility.

Checklists

Cleaning checklists are essential to ensure the job is done thoroughly and should be filled out each time the company cleans your facility to give you a way to spot-check the results. You also want to make sure there are regular inspections by the janitorial company to ensure the work is done to your satisfaction. So, ask to see a checklist of the services the company will provide during each visit and note how often they will be provided. Review the list and make notes about anything else that should be included. Before you discuss price, make sure all the services you need are listed.

Disinfection Services

In today’s virus- and germ-conscious environment, a commercial janitorial company should be capable of providing cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection services. This should include not only regular disinfection but long-lasting protection. For example, OpenWorks’ elite network of service providers can provide Continuous Care for better infection control. This includes the application of an antimicrobial surface protectant that provides protection from germs, bacteria, and microorganisms for up to 90 days.

OpenWorks Commercial Janitorial Services

OpenWorks has been handling the toughest commercial and industrial cleaning tasks for more than 35 years. Its elite nationwide network of service providers consists of hard-working people and businesses that treat customers’ facilities as they would their own. This is why OpenWorks has a 98% client retention rate in an industry that averages around 45%.

If you are looking for a full-service commercial janitorial company that can help make your warehouse or logistics facility into a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment, contact OpenWorks to get an estimate.