Key takeaways
- Many specialty services can be added to a regular cleaning program, or handled by a separate specialist.
- Ask what the vendor performs in-house and what they subcontract.
- Price and schedule specialty work separately from daily cleaning.
Beyond routine cleaning, buildings sometimes need specialty work. Here are common requests.
Floor care
- Stripping and waxing of resilient floors such as VCT
- Burnishing and finish maintenance
- Tile and grout cleaning and sealing
- Concrete cleaning and polishing maintenance
Carpet and upholstery
- Hot water extraction and low-moisture cleaning
- Spot and stain treatment
- Fabric and furniture cleaning
See commercial carpet cleaning: how often and how much.
Detail cleaning
- High dusting of vents, beams and fixtures
- Baseboards, doors and walls
- Blinds and window coverings
- Light fixture cleaning
Disinfection programs
- Scheduled touchpoint disinfection
- Deep disinfection after illness outbreaks, when appropriate
- Electrostatic or fogging applications, which should use appropriate EPA-registered products and follow label directions
Read disinfection basics so you can judge what you actually need.
Construction and move-related
- Post-construction cleaning
- Move-in and move-out cleaning
- Tenant turnover cleaning
Exterior and exterior-adjacent
- Pressure washing
- Exterior window cleaning
- Parking lot and entry sweeping
See window cleaning for commercial buildings.
Highly specialized services
Mold remediation, biohazard cleanup, kitchen hood cleaning and water damage restoration need trained, certified specialists. See emergency commercial cleaning.
How to request
- Describe the need and the area.
- Ask whether the vendor does it in-house.
- Ask for a separate written price and schedule.
- Confirm insurance and chemicals used.
- Plan access and downtime.
Honest note: No cleaning company does everything well. A good one will tell you when to bring in a specialist.