What Are Janitorial Teams & Their Responsibilities?

What comes to mind when you think of a janitorial services team? Maybe the friendly janitor who cleaned your elementary school. Or even the yellow “wet floor” signs placed in public areas to prevent any slips.

These are only a small glimpse into the different services professional janitorial teams provide. Janitorial services are about much more than simply cleaning and keeping a space tidy. A janitorial team’s responsibilities range from ensuring safe and sanitary environments to acting as a crucial role in your business’s day-to-day operations. 

Let’s dive into the definition of janitorial services to clarify their roles, establish the benefits of outsourcing commercial cleaning, and shed light on how janitorial teams differ from traditional cleaning companies. 

What Are Janitorial Service Teams?

A janitorial service team is made up of professionals with various cleaning roles that work together to maintain smooth operations for a variety of facilities. The team typically consists of the following:

• Supervisor: This role serves as the team lead, overseeing operations and making sure the team is meeting quality standards. 
  
  
• Day porters: This person handles tasks during regular business hours, such as keeping restrooms stocked and cleaning up spills.
  
  
• Night crew: This team comes in outside of normal business hours to tackle larger cleaning tasks to avoid disrupting daily operations. 

Understanding the roles of each member of a janitorial team and knowing which services they provide is key to picking the right team, as well as keeping your facility in its best shape. 

What Exactly Are Janitorial Services? Examples of Duties

Now that we’ve covered what a janitorial team is, what are the exact services these teams provide? The true meaning of janitorial services goes beyond basic cleaning. The team’s duties, which often focus on preventative maintenance with day-to-day upkeep of the facility, can often be found in the scope of work listed in the janitorial service agreement. 

These teams typically handle routine, surface-level tasks – such as vacuuming, trash removal, and disinfecting restrooms. But they’re also responsible for more in-depth tasks that require a deeper clean – such as disinfecting isolation or procedure areas to prevent cross-contamination. 

Which Facilities Can a Janitorial Team Service?

Janitorial teams are equipped to handle a wide range of environments. A well-trained team understands what areas require cleaning, sanitizing, or disinfecting in any setting.

A complete list of facilities that a janitorial service could clean is quite extensive. Here’s a list of some of the most common industries:

• Offices: Janitorial teams will often clean workspaces, including desks, conference rooms, and waiting areas, as well as breakrooms and restrooms. Cleaning workflows will adjust around business hours to provide janitorial services with little disruption. 
  
  
• Schools: Educational janitorial teams ensure a clean and hygienic environment for students and staff in classrooms, restrooms, cafeterias, and even in high-activity areas, like the gymnasium. Services are flexible to work around class schedules and the academic calendar. 
  
  
• Industrial spaces: Janitorial teams can provide services in all types of industrial environments, including warehouses and factories with manufacturing lines. Services can also include breakrooms and restrooms, as well as specialized floor care needed in these spaces. 
  
  
• Healthcare facilities: Commercial cleaning teams are also certified to handle such high-risk healthcare facilities, such as hospitals and doctors’ offices. Teams are equipped for terminal cleaning in operating and patient rooms, as well as waiting areas and cafeterias, all following the healthcare industry’s regulations. 
  
  

How Janitorial Service Teams Add Value to Your Facility

A professional janitorial service team should do more than just make your building look tidy. With the curated janitorial checklist, these teams work continuously towards maintaining a healthy and safe space for your team and visitors. They achieve this by reducing the spread of germs, all while not interfering with the productivity of your business. 

One of the greatest benefits a janitorial team adds is their ability to integrate both daily maintenance with specialized add-on services – such as floor waxing and seasonal deep cleaning. Instead of juggling multiple vendors for your facility’s various needs, a janitorial team can be your all-in-one solution, streamlining operations while ensuring quality. 

What Makes a Janitorial Team Exceptional?  

There’s no shortage of janitorial companies out there, so what truly sets an exceptional team apart? While each business and facility has its own set of needs, there are a few characteristics that should be considered a top priority when choosing a janitorial provider: 

• Consistency: Your team should follow the agreed-upon schedule,  completing tasks in a timely manner,  ensuring your facility is always clean and presentable. 
  
  
• Communication: While the janitorial team is a hired vendor, they should always operate as a true partner, maintaining a clear line of communication between both parties. 
  
  
• Professionalism: You hired a janitorial team to give your business’s image that extra boost. They should maintain a professional demeanor while on and off the job. 
  
  
• Reliability: In many settings, cleanliness isn’t optional. Having a dependable team is imperative to make sure the business can operate smoothly. 
  
  
• Flexibility: While sticking to a schedule matters, adaptability is just as important. The best teams can pivot to handle unexpected mishaps, seasonal changes, and events without missing a beat. 
  
  

Find a Janitorial Service Team That Suits Your Facility

Every facility has its own unique needs, which means there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. A janitorial team should offer a range of services covering everything from routine upkeep to specialized services. By choosing a janitorial service team that can seamlessly do both, you can save time and money, maintain a quality image, and create a healthy environment for your staff and patrons.

Ready to find a team to fit your facility’s needs? Contact us and learn more on choosing the best cleaning service for your needs.