Office cleaning is a necessity for every business, especially those in office spaces. However, it’s not enough to ask staff to do a once-over after their shift. In order to maintain hygiene standards, professional cleaners are required. But this is not a free-service.
In this blog, we will explore the question ‘How much does office cleaning cost?’
Sentrex Services stands as a leading provider of comprehensive cleaning and hygiene solutions, serving a vast region from the Northwest to the Southeast of England. With a dedicated team of over 600 professionals, we deliver bespoke cleaning services tailored to the unique needs of each commercial client.
What are the 5 steps to choose the right cleaning service on a budget?
- Defining your needs
- Budget allocation
- Quote collection
- Evaluation
- Finalisation
Below is a detailed look at each of these steps, and how they help you to stick to your allocated cleaning budget:
Defining your needs
- What you need vs what you’d like: Distinguish between must-have cleaning tasks (e.g., sanitising bathrooms) and less critical ones that can be done in intervals rather than daily. (e.g., window washing).
- How often will you need the cleaning service?: Determine how often you need cleaning (daily, weekly, monthly). Higher frequency usually means higher cost. Make sure to highlight if specific cleaning tasks can take place in intervals.
- What needs cleaning?: Create a detailed list of cleaning tasks required, this will help you get accurate quotes. Understandably, more tasks means more labour, and a higher cost.
Budget allocation:
- What can you afford?: Determine how much you can realistically allocate to cleaning services.
- Compare costs: Research average cleaning service rates in your area, make enquiries to other services directly, this will give you a benchmark, cost-wise.
Quote collection:
- Request detailed estimates: Contact as many reputable cleaning companies as you can, and ask for detailed, itemised quotes. Be sure to provide them with the information they need from you, such as office size, special requirements, etc.
- Clarify included services: Ensure all quotes cover the same tasks and services for accurate comparison.
- Flexibility: Inquire about options for customising services to fit your budget.
Evaluation:
- Compare prices: Analyse quotes, paying attention to hourly rates, square footage costs, and contract terms.
- Assess service quality: Of course you want the best service at the best price, but reputation also goes a long way. Be sure to check customer reviews to ensure the service adheres to the standards they project.
Finalisation:
- Negotiate terms: If possible, negotiate pricing or service terms to fit your budget.
- Review the contract: Carefully read the contract before signing, ensuring all agreed-upon terms are included.
What influences the costs of an office cleaning service?
Office cleaning services aren’t a standard price, simply due to the different factors that influence the cleaning job at hand. Here’s what affects the costs:
Office size:
Larger spaces mean more time spent cleaning, more labour time means a higher cost. If your office space spans a wide area, including multiple floors, this will definitely affect the costs.
Type of services:
Standard cleaning is generally cheaper than specialised deep cleaning or sanitation. Some specialised cleaning also requires specialist equipment, this requires trained cleaners to operate.
Depending on the industry your office operates in, specialised deep cleaning may be more of a frequent need. Professional services can integrate specialised cleaning needs into the schedule you agree on.
Specialised needs:
Further to the previous point, services like window washing, or hazardous waste disposal, for example, can add to the price. Be mindful of the fact that some cleaning services may be able to offer more specialised cleaning services than others.
Labour costs:
The wages cleaning companies pay their staff will impact the cost passed on to clients. Wages will vary depending on time spent working, specialist requirements, etc.
How can you reduce office cleaning costs without sacrificing quality?
There are a few methods you can implement to ensure you still receive the quality of professional cleaning with the potential of reducing potential costs.
Here are some methods to explore:
Understand which areas need more cleaning.
- Assess which areas truly require daily cleaning versus weekly or monthly.
- Focus daily cleaning on high-touch surfaces and high-traffic areas.
- Doing this will reduce the total labour of a professional cleaner, optimising the labour cost in your favour.
- Check cleaning service providers.
- Obtain multiple quotes from cleaning services.
- Negotiate contract terms, including pricing and service frequency.
- Consider long-term contracts for potential discounts.
- Ensure employees maintain cleaning standards:
- Encourage employees to maintain tidy workspaces.
- This reduces the cleaning staff’s workload.
- Ensure employees clean any mess they may make, if it doesn’t require specialised cleaning.
- For very small offices, or very specific tasks, it might be more cost-effective to have staff complete certain daily tasks. This may be appropriate for some businesses than others.
- Focus on preventative maintenance:
- Address spills and messes promptly to prevent buildup. This can take the form of ensuring any food consumption is restricted to one room only.
- Regular maintenance of carpets and floors extends their lifespan.
- Review and adjust services regularly.
- Periodically assess the effectiveness of the cleaning service.
- Adjust the scope of services in collaboration with the cleaning provider to match actual needs. Any professional cleaning service should have reviews of their services for you.
- Energy efficiency.
- Optimise cleaning times so it is done at times that reduce energy consumption, by switching off lights, and other devices while cleaning. This may not be necessary for battery operated cleaning equipment.
Is it better to clean an office myself?
No. Unless you are a professional cleaner, and have the equipment necessary on hand, you shouldn’t clean an office space yourself over using a professional service.
Experience, expertise, efficiency:
Professionals have the knowledge and experience to clean effectively and efficiently. They understand proper cleaning techniques, product usage, and sanitation protocols.
As a result, they can complete tasks much faster than untrained individuals, minimising disruption to your workday.
Specialised equipment and supplies:
It is standard practice for professional cleaning companies to use commercial-grade equipment and supplies that are more powerful and effective than standard consumer cleaning products.
This provides a deeper clean and better hygiene, especially in high-traffic areas.
Consistent and reliable:
The best professional cleaning services adhere to a schedule agreed on with you, ensuring consistent cleanliness.
Professional cleaning services are reliable and accountable, taking the burden of cleaning off your shoulders. They usually conduct reviews of their services and are open to your feedback.
Hygienic and healthy:
Professionals are trained in proper sanitation practices, reducing the spread of germs and bacteria. This creates a healthier work environment for your employees, and can help to prevent some illness-related absences.
Cleaning solutions with Sentrex
At Sentrex, we prioritise commercial, industrial, and specialist cleaning services. Our services aren’t just a standard once-over, we ensure a comprehensive and individually tailored approach perfect for any site.
In this blog, we’ve provided the key information you need to know when it comes to the question ‘How much does office cleaning cost?’ whilst providing supplementary information about the benefits of our professional services.
Our commitment to fair pricing, environmental sustainability, and personalised service sets us apart. We prioritise quality through rigorous control measures, including monthly audits with advanced software, real-time management via iPads, and an automated time and attendance system.
As members of esteemed trade bodies, we adhere to the highest industry standards. Beyond core cleaning, we offer a full suite of soft and hard FM services, ensuring comprehensive building maintenance. Want to know if our services apply to your business or site? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to secure a superior clean.
