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What is the difference between housekeeping and janitorial services?

The term ‘janitorial’ and ‘housekeeping’ services tend to be used interchangeably in everyday talk. A housekeeper is primarily tasked with cleaning a house or a room to ensure everything is spic and span. A janitor on the other hand goes beyond the regular house cleaning as they are tasked with maintaining services too. In this article, we will be discussing the major differences between housekeeping and janitorial services so you can match each of them to the services you are looking for.

The definition of housekeeping and janitorial services

Housekeeping services is a term that is widely used in the hospitality industry. The services offered by housekeepers are to ensure guest houses, hotels, and residential homes are clean, hygienic, and free from pests.

cleaning an office in progress
Housekeeping and janitorial services are different, here is how
Since many established hotels have a reputation to protect, they need to look spotlessly clean throughout the year. The best way to make this possible is to hire professional housekeeping services.

Janitorial services, on the other hand, is a term commonly used in the commercial and business world as they take care of larger spaces and buildings. The services of a janitor are also indispensable in nursing centers, hospitals, sports venues, and much more. However, janitorial services offer several extra disciplines and professional janitors tend to be better trained than most housekeepers.

What is covered in housekeeping services?

Housekeeping services are mainly offered in houses, hotels, apartments, and other residential areas. This type of cleaning service is sometimes more like maid services because they are limited to inside work. What you expect from a professional housekeeping service includes dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and sweeping. The rooms covered include kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and other living areas. Other housekeeping companies may charge an extra fee to include extra jobs in their bucket list. Not all companies may take on these additional tasks so be sure to ask them first to avoid any disagreements. Unless agreed upon in advance, most housekeepers are often paid at the time of service. They prefer working during the day when you are at work so that you can have a clean and tidy space once you are home.

What is covered in janitorial services?

Janitorial services are mainly offered in commercial settings such as office buildings, business locations, government facilities, schools, and medical facilities. In addition to regular cleanings such as dusting, vacuuming, and mopping, professional janitors are trained to use heavy equipment such as steam cleaners, floor scrubbers, and carpet cleaning machines. Their services include both indoor and outdoor and may sometimes apply heavy-duty industrial cleaning products for jobs that are more demanding. The contract you get from a janitorial service spells out what you have done. For example, if you don’t want the staff to enter private offices within the building, they will do as requested. You can also spell out in the contract whether you want some portions of your office like restrooms to be cleaned daily and other areas only once a week.

Benefits of hiring professional cleaning services

Both housekeeping and janitorial companies offer professional cleaning services that save you time and money. They invest in state-of-the-art cleaning equipment and high-quality products that the average homeowner or business owner would find expensive to buy. With this kind of investment, they are always ready to pull out dirt and allergens from the deepest fibers of carpeting, upholstery, and hard-to-reach areas. You also get back your time and money by reducing the amount of stress you go through when cleaning yourself. Hiring a professional cleaning service for your business increases productivity and keeps your workplace presentable for your clients and staff.

Not all business owners or homeowners have the same preferences that are why professional cleaning companies are flexible enough to customize their services to your specifications. Since you are in charge, you need to set the tone for how you want your work to be done. A reputable cleaning service outlines its scope of work in the contract and strives its best to deliver on its promise. In addition, most professional cleaners are insured so you don’t have to worry about the many things that could go wrong. It is also comforting knowing that your business or home will be in good hands should anything happen.

Housekeeping and janitorial services are all aimed at delivering high-quality cleaning and long-lasting results. They are efficient at their work and have the right tools and techniques to handle any kind of cleanup that would be difficult to do as an individual. The decision to choose the two comes down to individual preferences and what service best suits the cleaning schedule you are looking for.