Day Cleaning Commercial Offices

Day cleaning continues to gain popularity in commercial facilities. Instead of cleaning at night after most or all building occupants have left, cleaning workers come in during the day and work alongside tenants. Special project work, however, is still usually done before or after the typical 9-to-5 workday.

Day cleaning reduces costs for building service contractors by eliminating duplicate staffs. Day porters that handle small tasks during the day can be replaced with the full-time cleaning crew that would have normally come in at night. Fewer supervisors are also needed because janitors are being watched by building occupants.

Facility managers, too, can see reduced costs. By switching from nighttime cleaning to day, facilities can reduce utility expenses by up to 30 percent. These energy savings can also relate to green or sustainable initiatives.

By cleaning when occupants are present, it helps put a face on cleaning. Occupants aren’t so quick to blame nameless, unseen workers for missing objects and they are also less apt to complain about small problems. And usually, there are fewer issues because a daytime crew can react quickly to spills and ensure restrooms are fully stocked throughout the day. Natural light can also make it easier to see dirty areas, such as spots on windows, cobwebs in corners or crumbs on the floor.

Day cleaning, however, isn’t simply night cleaning during the daytime hours. Building service contractors need to take a new approach to their operations. The average noise level in an office environment is 64 to 68 decibels. To prevent disturbing occupants, BSCs need vacuums with low-decibel ratings.

Also, cleaning workers will no longer be the only people in the building. Damp mopping or using floor machines with faster dry times will help reduce slip-and-falls. Battery equipment that doesn’t use electrical cords can prevent tripping hazards. Chemicals should have little or no odor.

Finally, to avoid an unsightly appearance, all equipment should be in good repair. Workers should wear proper uniforms and be easily identifiable.

Excerpted from the April 2008 issue of Housekeeping Solutions and September 2008 issue of Contracting Profits.