6 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Janitorial Service in Dayton or Columbus
When it comes to finding the right janitorial services for your business, we know it’s about much more than just cleaning up after the day is done. Janitors provide a wide variety of services to the average business owner, often going above and beyond to assist with maintenance issues, daily inspections, and reports. As a business owner, you put a lot of trust in your janitorial staff to remain professional and task-oriented. So let’s take a look at what you should know when you want to hire from a janitorial service.
What kind of janitorial services do you offer?
Not every company requires the same services. Nor do all janitorial companies offer the same variety. When looking for your company, you want to find a service that provides the kind of quality you need. You may want to know what kind of products and cleaning equipment they use, in case they are incompatible with your office equipment. Maybe you want a regular disinfectant clean to help keep your employees healthy as cold and flu season approaches. Does your company have a green initiative that it takes seriously? You may want a company that offers green solutions for your cleaning needs.
Is your company bonded and insured?
This should be a given in any professional cleaning industry. Bonded and insured businesses offer your business an extra layer of protection in case of any concerns or accidents. While freelance janitors are always an option, a certified company can offer you more thanks to the safety net in place. You may want to see proof of this, so be sure to ask for a Certificate of Liability and Worker’s Comp insurance for your records.
What kind of facilities do you currently work for?
A good company offers a variety of expertise, so you know the person working for you is highly knowledgeable. Some locations, such as hospitals or warehouses, may have high standards and specifications that must be followed for the safety and well-being of everyone. Other companies that deal with sensitive information, like a bank or car dealership, prioritize their clients’ privacy and need to know their janitors are trustworthy. A company with a good variety of clients comes with knowledge of how to professionally handle any job.
This is also a good opportunity to see if the company has experience in your industry.
How do you guarantee quality assurance?
Most professional cleaning companies perform a comprehensive review of themselves regularly to ensure they are keeping up with their clients’ needs. You may want to know more about how they train their staff, what they do in the case of special cleaning requests, and how they comply with industry regulations or emergencies. The biggest indication of quality will be examples of previous clients’ satisfaction, so don’t hesitate to ask for a case study.
What kind of services would you suggest for my company?
How you see your company is vital. How your janitorial service sees your company is just as important. This offers you the opportunity to see how your cleaning company breaks down its services. You can learn more about their attention to detail and where they would put the most focus. You can also discuss areas of concern and see how your janitors would handle this. A quality janitorial service will be happy to break down their plan for you and will look forward to knowing how they can better meet your company’s needs.
Do you offer customized cleaning plans?
Most janitorial services will have a standardized regimen they follow based on training, knowledge, and previous experience with handling similar companies. That being said, any high-quality janitorial service will want to make sure they meet your cleaning needs. Don’t hesitate to ask what additional services are offered and how they can better customize their services for your building.
Finding the right fit for your company can be a process. But the right fit means fewer concerns down the road. Vanguard offers tailored commercial cleaning services that exceed the current industry standard.
Why Commercial Cleaning Consistency Matters More Than Price
Facility managers often start their search for a cleaning partner by comparing quotes. That makes sense—budgets matter. But after a few months with a new vendor, the real question usually becomes something else: Why do I keep seeing new cleaners?
Consistency is one of the most overlooked factors in commercial cleaning, yet it has the biggest impact on trust, security, and long-term satisfaction.
The Real Cost of a Revolving Cleaning Crew
When cleaning teams change frequently, problems follow. Missed tasks, uneven quality, and repeated onboarding all add friction to a facility manager’s day. Over time, those issues cost more than the initial savings from a low bid.
High turnover also creates security concerns. After-hours cleaning requires trust. Seeing unfamiliar faces week after week makes it harder for property managers to feel confident about who has access to their building.
Why Facility Managers Care About Seeing the Same Faces
Consistency builds familiarity. Familiarity builds trust.
When the same cleaning professionals return night after night, they learn the building’s layout, traffic patterns, and expectations. They notice when something looks off. They work more efficiently because they know the space.
For facility managers, that reliability means fewer complaints, fewer follow-ups, and fewer surprises.
How Low Attrition Changes the Cleaning Experience
One of the strongest indicators of consistent service is attrition rate. A low attrition rate means cleaning professionals stay longer, take ownership of their work, and develop real relationships with the facilities they serve.
Consistency doesn’t just improve quality—it reduces risk. It limits the number of people cycling through your building and creates accountability that’s hard to achieve with constant turnover.
A Real Example of Consistency at Work
In Cincinnati’s Hyde Park neighborhood, one Vanguard-supported cleaning professional has serviced the same facility for years. The building team knows them by name. They understand the site’s routines, special requests, and seasonal needs.
That kind of continuity doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of supporting long-term cleaning relationships rather than treating labor as interchangeable.
Why the Lowest Bid Often Loses in the Long Run
Low-cost vendors often rely on frequent staffing changes to control expenses. On paper, the numbers look good. In practice, the service rarely feels stable.
Facility managers end up spending time managing issues that shouldn’t exist—tracking missed cleanings, addressing tenant complaints, and re-explaining expectations to new crews. Over time, that hidden cost outweighs the initial savings.
Consistency as a Risk-Reduction Strategy
Commercial cleaning consistency reduces more than headaches. It lowers security risks, improves cleanliness outcomes, and creates a more predictable operating environment.
For property managers and operations teams, consistency isn’t a luxury—it’s a form of risk management.
Choosing a Cleaning Partner You Can Rely On
When evaluating cleaning providers, asking the right questions matters. Instead of focusing only on price, it helps to ask:
- How often do cleaning crews change?
- What is the average tenure of cleaning professionals?
- How is consistency maintained across accounts?
The answers to those questions often reveal more than a quote ever could.
Consistency Builds Confidence
In commercial cleaning, trust is built over time. Seeing the same professionals, receiving the same quality, and knowing what to expect week after week creates confidence for facility managers and tenants alike.
If you’re questioning the consistency of your current cleaning service—or tired of seeing a revolving door of crews—Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Ohio helps facilities build long-term, reliable cleaning partnerships rooted in trust and continuity.
What Commercial Buildings Really Need from Floor Cleaning Services
Floors are one of the hardest-working surfaces in any commercial building. They absorb constant foot traffic, rolling equipment, spills, dirt, and seasonal debris — all while being expected to look professional and remain safe. Yet floor care is often treated as an afterthought instead of the long-term investment it truly is.
For facility managers and property teams, understanding how professional floor cleaning services support safety, appearance, and longevity can make a meaningful difference in both budgets and daily operations.
Why Floor Care Is an Investment, Not a Line Item
Ignoring floors doesn’t just affect how a building looks — it accelerates wear and creates safety risks. Scratched finishes, worn wax layers, and embedded dirt can shorten the lifespan of flooring materials and increase slip hazards.
Regular floor maintenance protects the original surface, reduces the need for premature replacement, and helps facilities stay compliant with safety standards. Over time, a consistent floor care program costs far less than major repairs or full floor replacement.
Understanding VCT and Hard Surface Floor Requirements
Many commercial buildings rely on VCT (vinyl composition tile) and other hard surface flooring because of durability and affordability. But these surfaces require specific care to perform well long-term.
VCT floors depend on proper stripping, waxing, and burnishing cycles to maintain their protective finish. Without routine maintenance, the surface dulls, stains more easily, and becomes harder to clean. Other hard surfaces — such as tile, concrete, or sealed stone — also benefit from specialized cleaning methods tailored to the material.
What Professional Floor Cleaning Services Include
Commercial floor care goes well beyond basic mopping. Depending on the facility and surface type, professional services may include:
• Stripping and waxing to remove worn finish and apply protective coatings
• Burnishing to restore shine and smoothness
• Deep scrubbing to remove embedded dirt and buildup
• Spot treatments for high-traffic or problem areas
• Ongoing janitorial floor services as part of a larger cleaning plan
These services work best when scheduled strategically rather than performed reactively.
Why a Floor Care Schedule Matters
A planned floor care schedule keeps surfaces looking consistent year-round and prevents damage from building up unnoticed. High-traffic areas may need more frequent attention, while lower-use spaces can follow a lighter maintenance cycle.
Seasonal factors also matter. Winter brings salt, grit, and moisture that can quickly break down floor finishes if not addressed properly. Scheduling deep cleaning during or after heavy winter months helps protect floors from long-term damage.
Scaling Floor Care Across Different Facilities
Not all buildings have the same needs. An office space, medical facility, warehouse, and school all experience different traffic patterns and wear.
Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Ohio supports floor cleaning services that scale across facility sizes and surface types. From small offices to large commercial buildings, floor care programs are adjusted to match real-world use — not generic assumptions.
Supporting Safety and Professional Appearance
Clean, well-maintained floors contribute to safer environments and stronger first impressions. They reduce slip risks, improve indoor appearance, and support a more professional atmosphere for employees, clients, and visitors alike.
For facility managers, floor care is one of the most visible indicators of building upkeep — and one of the easiest to overlook until problems arise.
Build a Smarter Floor Care Program
Commercial floors perform best when they’re maintained with intention, not just cleaned when they look worn. A proactive approach protects surfaces, controls costs, and supports safer facilities year-round.
Looking for reliable floor cleaning services for your commercial building in Ohio? Contact Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Ohio to discuss a customized floor care program designed around your facility’s needs.
Post-COVID Cleaning Costs: What Facility Managers Are Really Paying For
Commercial cleaning budgets look very different today than they did just a few years ago. Since COVID, expectations around cleanliness, consistency, and accountability have risen — while labor costs and operational pressures have increased across the board.
For facility managers, the question is no longer just “How much does cleaning cost?” but “What am I actually getting for that cost?”
Why Cleaning Costs Have Increased Since COVID
Several factors have reshaped commercial cleaning pricing in recent years. Labor costs have risen significantly, supply chains have shifted, and expectations for disinfection and hygiene are higher than ever.
At the same time, facilities are asking cleaning partners to do more — more consistency, more documentation, more reliability — often without expanding budgets. This tension has made pricing comparisons more complicated and, in many cases, misleading.
The Hidden Cost of the Lowest Bid
Many facility managers have experienced this firsthand: a low cleaning quote that looks great on paper but falls apart in practice. Missed services, inconsistent staffing, poor communication, and frequent crew turnover often follow.
What appears cheaper upfront can quickly become expensive when managers spend time chasing vendors, addressing complaints, or rebidding contracts. Price alone doesn’t account for operational disruption or reputational risk.
Why Inconsistency Drives Vendor Changes
Across onboarding conversations and weekly check-ins, Vanguard consistently hears the same two reasons clients switch cleaning vendors: price increases and inconsistent service.
Inconsistency is often the bigger issue. When crews change constantly or standards slip, even modest cost savings stop feeling worth it. Reliability — seeing the same people, receiving the same level of service, week after week — has become one of the most valuable aspects of a cleaning contract.
Reframing Cleaning as an ROI Decision
Cleaning isn’t just a line item — it’s an investment in your facility’s function and reputation. Consistent janitorial services reduce complaints, protect flooring and surfaces, support healthier work environments, and free facility teams from micromanaging vendors.
When evaluated through an ROI lens, value shows up in reduced turnover, fewer service escalations, longer-lasting finishes, and predictable operations.
What “Value” Looks Like in a Cleaning Contract
Post-COVID, value in commercial cleaning is defined less by scope lists and more by execution. Strong contracts include:
• Consistent staffing with low attrition
• Clear communication and oversight
• Reliable service schedules
• Scalable support as facility needs change
• Accountability through regular check-ins
These factors don’t always show up in a bid comparison — but they’re often what determine long-term satisfaction.
Why Facility Managers Are Rethinking Cost-Cutting
Budget pressure is real, especially in property management and commercial operations. But many managers are finding that aggressive cost-cutting leads to service gaps that cost more to fix later.
Post-COVID cleaning expectations haven’t disappeared. Occupants still notice cleanliness, and leadership teams still expect safe, professional environments. Cutting too deep can undermine both.
Making Smarter Cleaning Decisions Moving Forward
The most successful facility managers today focus on partners, not just providers. They look for cleaning services that deliver consistency, transparency, and measurable results — even if the initial quote isn’t the lowest.
That approach leads to fewer disruptions, stronger relationships, and better long-term cost control.
Finding the Right Balance Between Cost and Confidence
Post-COVID cleaning costs reflect a new reality — one where consistency matters as much as price. Evaluating cleaning services through the lens of value helps facilities protect their spaces, their people, and their reputation.
If you’re reassessing your cleaning costs or questioning whether your current service delivers real value, contact Vanguard Cleaning Systems of Ohio to talk through your facility’s needs and long-term goals.