A janitorial service keeps a building clean on a set schedule: trash, restrooms, floors, kitchens and touch points, done by the same trained crew every visit. It is different from a one-time deep clean, and the difference matters when you compare quotes.
This guide covers what a standard janitorial contract includes, how often Bay Area businesses book service, and the questions that separate a reliable company from a cheap one.
Janitorial vs. commercial cleaning: what's the difference?
Janitorial service is routine, recurring upkeep, usually daily or a few nights a week. Commercial cleaning is the wider category: it also covers periodic and one-time work such as carpet extraction, floor stripping and waxing, post-construction cleanup and high dusting.
Most offices need both: a recurring janitorial schedule plus a few deep services a year. A good company quotes them separately so you can see what each costs.
What a janitorial service usually includes
- Emptying trash and recycling, replacing liners
- Cleaning and restocking restrooms
- Vacuuming carpets and mopping hard floors
- Dusting desks, ledges and common surfaces
- Wiping and disinfecting door handles, switches, railings and elevator buttons
- Cleaning break rooms and kitchenettes: counters, sinks, microwaves, tables
- Spot-cleaning glass doors and entry areas
Ask for this list in writing, with how often each task happens. "Restrooms nightly, high dusting monthly" is a scope you can check; "general cleaning" is not.
How often should a janitorial crew come?
It depends on traffic, not square footage alone:
| Building | Typical schedule |
|---|---|
| Small office, under 15 people | 1–3 visits a week |
| Busy office or shared workspace | 5 nights a week |
| Medical or dental office | Daily, with disinfection of exam areas |
| Restaurant or commercial kitchen | Nightly, plus scheduled deep cleans |
| Warehouse or industrial site | Weekly to daily, by area |
If your space is busy during the day, a day porter can keep restrooms and lobbies in shape between nightly cleanings.
7 questions to ask before you hire a janitorial company
- Are you insured and bonded? Ask for the certificate. Bonding protects you if something goes missing.
- Who cleans my building? Find out if it is the company's own trained staff and whether you get the same crew each visit.
- What is in the scope, task by task? Get the checklist and frequency in writing.
- How do you handle a missed task or a complaint? Look for a named contact and a turnaround time.
- Can you clean after hours? Night and weekend service keeps work and cleaning out of each other's way.
- Do you supply the products and equipment? Ask whether green products are available if that matters to you.
- Can you handle deep services too? One company for janitorial, floors and carpets is simpler to manage than three.
Janitorial services across the Bay Area
Blue Ocean Janitorial Services has cleaned Bay Area businesses since 1999. We're family-owned, insured and bonded, and available 24/7, with teams in San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento and service across the East Bay, including Oakland.
We clean offices, medical and dental practices, commercial kitchens, gyms, churches, warehouses and industrial sites, and add floor care, carpet cleaning and day porter service when you need it. See our commercial office cleaning page for details.
Get a free estimate: call (855) 761-4030 or request a quote online.