Keeping your office or business property clean and in good repair not only helps your business make a good impression on potential customers and employees, but also ensures the overall health and well-being of your staff members. Janitorial and janitorial services help create an efficient work environment in which employees can achieve their highest levels of productivity and success. As such, keeping a clean commercial or business space makes it a suitable environment for doing regular office work, holding meetings, and presenting to clients.
Many business owners turn to professional custodial or janitorial companies for office cleaning and maintenance. In fact, there is a wide range of services available from these professional teams, and while there are a lot of overlaps between janitors and custodians, there are also differences between these positions. First, let’s talk about the similarities. Mainly, janitors and custodians are hired as permanent employees or part-time employees by the management of a company. Likewise, many businesses choose to contract out this work to professional janitorial and custodial organizations that act as an employer of cleaners, janitors, and custodians. Outside cleaning reduces the burden on your company managers, as the cleaning company pays, schedules, and disciplines the cleaning staff.
Still, while we can see that there are some similarities between janitors and custodians, there are also several differences. In many cases, people incorrectly use the terms “janitor” and “custodian” interchangeably, despite the significant differences between janitorial and custodial services. Simply put, janitorial services generally refer to those jobs that are more basic cleaning or maintenance jobs; while custodial services refer to those positions where an individual has control over the cleaning and upkeep of a property. The distinction is subtle but important.
Janitors and janitorial service companies focus on keeping a business or workplace clean. The service contract with a cleaning organization will likely include an extensive list of indoor and outdoor cleaning activities, along with some maintenance tasks. Cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming floors, washing windows, wiping down tables and desks, and emptying recycling and trash are just some of the tasks you can expect a janitor to do.
Alternatively, custodial services may include, but are not limited to, these basic cleaning tasks. Instead, custodians may also provide light or heavy maintenance, as well as facility management. Periodic repairs, equipment replacement, emergency maintenance, and other higher level tasks would fall under the custodian category. In addition, janitorial services may also include deep cleaning, painting, lamp replacement, plumbing maintenance, and other activities that ensure the smooth running of your office facilities.
So while you may see that custodial and concierge services are similar, you really need to understand the roles and responsibilities of each of these professionals before you’re ready to hire a concierge or concierge for your business.