If you're looking for professional cleaning services, you’ve likely seen the terms janitorial and commercial cleaning. While they’re often used side by side, they don’t mean the same thing. Understanding the difference can help you choose the right level of service for your workplace.
Janitorial services cover routine cleaning — the day-to-day tasks that keep spaces tidy and running smoothly. Think emptying bins, wiping desks, cleaning kitchens, and restocking washrooms.
Commercial cleaning services go further. It includes specialist services like carpet and upholstery cleaning, high-level dusting, deep cleans, window washing, and disinfection. These tasks are often scheduled less frequently but require more time, tools, and expertise.
Knowing how these two types of services work — and when you might need each — is key to maintaining a clean, safe, and professional environment.
In this article, we’ll break down the key differences, show how janitorial and commercial cleaning services can work together, and explain why working with a provider that offers both gives you the best value and results.
What Is a Janitorial Service?
Janitorial services focus on the regular upkeep of busy spaces.
They’re designed to keep offices, schools, shops, and public buildings clean and usable throughout the week.
A typical janitorial service covers tasks like:
- Dusting desks and surfaces
- Emptying bins and replacing liners
- Cleaning and restocking washrooms
- Sweeping and mopping floors
- Vacuuming carpets
- Replenishing soap, toilet paper, and paper towels
These services are usually carried out daily or several times a week, depending on how the space is used and how much foot traffic it gets.
The aim is to prevent mess from building up and keep the space safe, clean, and welcoming.
Unlike deep cleaning, janitorial work is routine and preventive. It keeps things in good shape, but it’s not meant for more intensive cleaning or specialist hygiene jobs.
Take a school, for example. Janitorial staff clean classrooms, empty bins, and keep washrooms stocked and hygienic. But they wouldn’t normally carry out infection control or deep carpet cleaning — those are classed as commercial cleaning services.
Janitorial work is essential, but it has limits.
It keeps everyday mess under control, but when it comes to deep dirt, bacteria build-up, or seasonal sanitation, you’ll need a more thorough approach.
What Are Commercial Cleaning Services?
Commercial cleaning includes everything offered by janitorial services — and goes well beyond.
It focuses on deep cleaning, specialist hygiene, and tasks that require trained staff and professional equipment.
Typical services include:
- Deep carpet cleaning and extraction
- Hard floor stripping, polishing, and sealing
- Internal and external window cleaning, including high-level glazing
- High-level dusting, light fittings, and ventilation systems
- Disinfection and infection control
- Specialist work like pressure washing or post-construction cleaning
These tasks reach the areas daily cleaning doesn’t.
While a janitor might vacuum a carpet each day, commercial cleaning gets deep into the fibres to remove dirt, bacteria, and allergens. It’s about going further — not just keeping things tidy, but keeping them truly clean and hygienic.
Commercial cleaning is usually done less often — weekly, monthly, or seasonally.
It’s often scheduled around specific needs, like flu season, deep cleans during holidays, or maintenance periods in high-traffic areas.
Some businesses need both.
Sectors like healthcare, hospitality, and food service rely on daily janitorial support and regular commercial cleaning to stay compliant and protect staff and visitors.
In short, janitorial cleaning handles the day-to-day.
Commercial cleaning takes care of the deep-down work — helping protect health, meet hygiene standards, and extend the life of your assets.
How Janitorial Services and Commercial Cleaning Services Work Together
It’s important to understand that commercial cleaning is not a replacement for janitorial cleaning — the two work best as a team.
Daily tasks like wiping surfaces, disinfecting washroom touchpoints, and emptying bins help to maintain a baseline of cleanliness. These jobs ensure the workplace feels tidy and functional every day. But over time, dirt builds up in carpets, grime collects on windows, and bacteria can grow in hard-to-reach places.
That’s where commercial cleaning services step in. These services tackle the deeper, more complex cleaning challenges that daily janitorial work can’t fully address.
For example:
- A janitor may spot-clean a coffee spill on a carpet.
- A commercial cleaner will use a carpet extractor to deep clean the area, removing the stain and eliminating bacteria beneath the surface.
Likewise:
- A janitor might clean a reception desk each morning.
- A commercial cleaning team might be scheduled monthly to deep-clean the entire reception area, including windows, flooring, and seating.
Together, janitorial and commercial cleaning services deliver a layered approach. One ensures everyday tidiness and hygiene. The other provides essential deep cleaning to maintain long-term cleanliness and prevent health hazards.
Industries such as corporate offices, healthcare facilities, education providers, and hospitality venues often rely on both.
In these sectors, it’s not enough to just look clean — they must meet hygiene standards and protect the wellbeing of staff and the public. This is why combining services delivers the most effective results.
Why Businesses Should Choose a Commercial Cleaning Provider
If your business needs both daily janitorial services and occasional deep cleaning, it makes sense to choose a commercial cleaning provider that offers both.
Relying solely on a janitorial service may leave gaps in your cleaning strategy — especially when specialist or high-risk cleaning is needed.
At Green Facilities, we offer a complete solution.
Our teams are trained in both janitorial maintenance and deep cleaning protocols, with access to advanced tools and safe, effective eco friendly cleaning methods.
We also stay up to date with industry best practices and use the latest technology to improve service delivery.
Choosing a full-service commercial cleaning provider saves time, reduces admin, and helps your business maintain a cleaner, safer, and more professional workplace — all from one trusted supplier.
The Cost of Janitorial Services Vs. Commercial Cleaning Services
Understanding the cost of janitorial services and commercial cleaning is key to making the right decision for your business.
Janitorial services are typically priced based on:
- Cleaning frequency (daily, twice a week, etc.)
- Building size
- Number of rooms and restrooms
- Tasks included (e.g. vacuuming, dusting, replenishing supplies)
Because they focus on daily maintenance, janitorial services are generally more affordable than commercial cleaning. They’re also more predictable, with fixed schedules and defined task lists.
However, commercial cleaning services are priced differently. The cost is influenced by:
- The type of specialist cleaning required (e.g. carpet cleaning, window washing, disinfection)
- How often these services are needed
- Access requirements (e.g. high-level cleaning or hard-to-reach areas)
- Equipment and time involved
While commercial services can seem more expensive at first glance, they offer long-term value:
- Prolong the lifespan of carpets, upholstery, and flooring
- Reduce the risk of illness and related absenteeism
- Improve the appearance of your space, enhancing reputation
- Help meet health and safety regulations, avoiding penalties
Businesses looking for a cost-effective cleaning strategy should consider a tailored package from a commercial janitorial services provider.
These packages often include both daily janitorial cleaning and scheduled deep cleaning, ensuring high standards are met without the need to manage multiple contracts.
A combined approach gives you value for money, simplified invoicing, and the confidence that your building is always clean — from the lobby to the boardroom.
Commercial Cleaning Services: The Best Way to Keep Your Business Clean
In summary, janitorial services provide the everyday cleaning that keeps workplaces tidy, sanitary, and ready for use. They’re essential for routine maintenance — but they aren’t designed to meet deeper hygiene needs or complex cleaning requirements.
Commercial cleaning services, on the other hand, offer a complete cleaning solution. They include janitorial work as well as deep cleaning, infection control, and specialist treatments that help maintain high hygiene standards, extend the life of fixtures and furnishings, and support regulatory compliance.
For businesses looking to streamline their operations and get better results, choosing a commercial cleaning provider that can handle both is the smart choice.
You avoid the hassle of managing multiple contracts, get consistent quality, and ensure your workplace stays clean, safe, and professional — every day.
At Green Facilities, we specialise in commercial cleaning and janitorial services.
From routine tasks to specialist deep cleaning, we deliver tailored solutions for offices, schools, healthcare settings, and commercial properties of all kinds.
If your business wants a cleaner, healthier, and more efficient environment, get in touch with Green Facilities today. We’ll help you build a cleaning plan that works for your space, your schedule, and your budget.