people smiling with cleaning supplies

What Is Included in Janitorial Services?

Nate PruittJanitorial Services

The Importance of Answering What Is Included in Janitorial Services

When budgeting and planning for your building’s maintenance, you may ask yourself what is included in janitorial services? Do they cover all the tasks and supplies you need to guarantee a clean and safe facility?

Below are a few reasons why the answer to these questions is essential for your company:

  • Not every cleaning service is the same. With differences in janitorial services and commercial cleaning jobs, and with recent updates to official hygiene protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s crucial to do some research to know what you can expect from different companies. 
  • The cleanliness of your space is crucial to create a great first impression on customers and visitors while keeping your employees healthy and happy. It is important to find out what is the best cleaning service you can afford. 
  • By gaining perspective and knowledge of your cleaning needs, you can save your business valuable time and money in the care of your building and its assets (furniture, hardware, etc.).

Let’s take a closer look at what is included in janitorial services and how you can find the best in Houston. Follow along to discover what you can expect from your service provider and how top companies can benefit your workspace. 

Related: How A Commercial Disinfecting Service Can Benefit Your Houston Business

Independent Janitorial Services vs. Commercial Cleaning

Since people often use these terms interchangeably, it is worth pointing out key differences in the roles they perform before concretely answering “what is included in janitorial services?”

In a nutshell, an independent janitorial service addresses routine cleaning and building care activities. These are the tasks that will need to take place regularly to keep your building looking and feeling great. 

Independent janitors could be part of your company’s payroll or work as freelancers by the hour. They usually provide their services daily, weekly, or biweekly, depending on your business needs.

On the other hand, outsourced commercial cleaning services are more comprehensive. They are ideal when including those significant, heavier-duty jobs that require more specialized expertise, such as post-event cleaning or construction clean-ups.

What Does a Commercial Janitor Do?

As mentioned above, janitors (whether independent or hired through a facility services company) are there to perform your routine cleaning needs. This includes completing tasks such as:

  • Cleaning and sanitizing restrooms
  • Maintaining staff areas and kitchen
  • Collecting trash and recycling 
  • Caring for floors and furniture

A premium commercial janitorial service can go much further than providing essential cleaning and can mix the best of both worlds: a janitor you can trust and the comprehensive care of a commercial firm.

For instance, you can have your expert outsourced janitor maintain an inventory of restroom cleaning products and supplies (such as toilet paper and tissue) so they are always stocked and available. They can also care for the dusting and cleaning of all furniture and even ensure your windows are always fingerprint-free. 

With the proper knowledge, equipment, and credentials, you can include the care of different flooring surfaces into the janitorial services. Top-notch suppliers will know how to properly manage hardwood, tile, laminated, or other unique materials without causing any damage. In the long run, this could prevent the need for refinishing or replacing surfaces due to harsh cleansers and improper care. 

Leading companies in the industry will have low staff turnover, which reduces the new-employee learning curve and results in consistent, quality janitorial services for your facility. Over time, these trustworthy people can become an extension of your staff because they will work with your organization’s goals in mind and help you reduce overall costs.

Related: Are Commercial Cleaning Services Worth The Investment In 2021?

When To Call In Specialty Services?

Before you hire a company, find out precisely what is included in their janitorial services.  Companies often offer essential cleaning services, and specialty services come with additional fees. 

For budgeting purposes, it is important to know exactly what you are paying for on a regular basis and services you can afford on an occasional basis. Specialty services may include indoor and outdoor window cleaning, carpet and upholstery steam cleaning, pressure washing, and event-based cleaning services. 

The best janitorial services in Houston can provide both regular maintenance cleaning and specialty services for the ultimate clean. Having one supplier to call and manage eases your administrative work and ensures the company is familiar with your building’s needs. They are available on short notice and can advise you on the most efficient and cost-effective solutions to get the job with the least amount of disruption. For example:

Landscaping and Outdoor Attention

The outside appearance of your building can significantly impact your visitor’s first impression and inspire your employees.  A clean building with a well-maintained exterior implies your company is professional and successful. 

To keep your grounds and building in tip-top shape, consider adding on landscaping and outdoor commercial care. These measures can benefit your business by boosting your curb appeal. 

This may include general gardening and plant care or keeping sidewalks and walking paths clean and clear. You may also benefit from having a service to ensure your parking lot is always free of debris and trash. 

Services such as pressure washing can revive the color and brilliance of your building, sidewalks, and parking lot. From the moment an employee or visitor enters your parking lot, they will get the sense your company values them and its brand.

Deep Cleaning And Event Clean-up

If you use your building for events or gatherings, you may find value in bringing extra hands to deep clean before the event and return your space to its normal state when the event concludes. 

Have your janitorial service send out more helpers to get the job done faster or address more detailed cleaning. This may include tasks such as tile and grout scrubbing, carpet cleaning, and upholstery treatments. This ensures you’ll be able to enjoy your event rather than the laborious cleanup. 

These deep-cleaning services are also valuable after renovations or building construction. The materials and mess left behind by these remodeling projects take much more care and knowledge than typical cleaning jobs. 

Floor Care

Even with the right cleaning products and care, heavy traffic marks and stains can build up on your floors over time and leave them looking dull and dirty. Frequent cleanings can help.

To maintain a professional-looking environment, investing in a service to strip, wax, and recoat your flooring can go a long way. Adding this to the routine will ease future regular cleanings and keep your floors looking newer for longer. 

Waste Transportation

Whether you’ve had an event or are clearing out clutter, sometimes the trash limitations in a commercial building can be problematic. Commercial building cleaning can address this issue with waste transportation services. 

Not only will your janitorial cleaning services gather the trash, but they will remove all of the unwanted garbage from the site in one swift service. This applies to your indoor garbage, outdoor debris, and even recycling for a better waste management system.

Janitorial Services In Houston


Now that you know what is included in janitorial services, you can create a tailored commercial building cleaning list and budget. From carrying out everyday sanitation to indoor and outdoor maintenance, DTK Facility Services has your back. Take your building environment to the next level with the help of our qualified professionals and secure the best janitorial services in Houston. Get started today.