Retail and Commercial Cleaning: A Full Guide

A clean business environment can help reduce absenteeism, improve staff morale, enhance the look and feel of your business space, and create a positive customer experience.

Commercial cleaning services are more thorough and comprehensive compared to residential cleaning services, as they need to take into account things like Food Safety Regulations for restaurants and bars, and address infection prevention for businesses with high footfall.

Another important aspect of commercial cleaning is trying to minimise the impact that cleaning has on both your staff and customers. Most commercial cleaning companies operate with flexible schedules to maintain the cleanliness of your business space with minimal disruption to your operations.

Consistency is also important when it comes to commercial cleaning, which is why it’s always important to look for an ISO-certified cleaning partner.

And with the growing trend towards green cleaning, it’s also important to make sure your commercial cleaning partner uses eco-friendly products and sustainable practices that align with your ESG initiatives.

The good news is, that no matter what industry you work in, a good commercial cleaning company will be able to develop a tailored cleaning plan to help you achieve a clean and hygienic commercial space.

However, it’s important to be wary of any cleaning companies that approach your commercial cleaning with a ‘one size fits all’ approach.

At Green FM, we’ve been cleaning commercial properties across London for more than 20 years. Part of our difference is that we complete a comprehensive cleaning needs assessment before we begin any work.

This helps us to identify any gaps in your current cleaning routine and the hours that would be most convenient for cleaning your space. This allows us to create a tailored plan that perfectly suits your business.

The commercial cleaning services we offer cover all industries, including:

• Offices
• Restaurants
• Pubs
• Kitchens
• Rental properties
• Gyms and health clubs
• Retail stores
• Schools, colleges and universities

At Green FM, we have the experience, expertise, and latest innovations in green cleaning technology to deliver the highest levels of cleanliness and hygiene for any commercial property. 

Bonus Tip 1: How to efficiently clean your commercial carpet

If your business has high footfall, the daily wear and tear can quickly take a toll on your commercial carpets, leaving them looking worn and dirty.

It's important not to underestimate the impact that dirty carpets can have on customer perceptions of your business. They can make your premises seem unprofessional and poorly maintained.

But it’s not only the perception of your business that you need to worry about.

When your carpets aren’t cleaned properly, they can become home to dust mites and allergens that can have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of your customers and staff.

However, trying to find the right time to properly clean commercial carpets can be a challenge. If staff or customers walk on your carpets before they have been allowed to fully dry, it can lead to re-soiling of the carpet, and can even cause damage to your carpet fibres.

This is why it’s important to schedule carpet cleaning during low-traffic hours, or when your business is closed.

Professional commercial cleaning companies can work around your schedule, to make sure your carpets are cleaned effectively without disrupting your daily business.

Commercial carpet cleaning specialists are also likely to have access to the latest green cleaning products, which are not only kinder to the environment, but also to staff and guests who might be sensitive to certain chemicals.

When you choose to outsource your commercial carpet cleaning, you can also benefit from the use of the latest cleaning equipment and an experienced team that is equipped with all the correct PPE and can effectively complete risk assessments.

However, if you decide against outsourcing and want to tackle your commercial carpet cleaning yourself, we’ve put together a helpful guide that covers:

• The correct preparation for carpet cleaning;
• The different carpet cleaning methods;
• Using safe and eco-friendly products;
• How to care for your carpets on an ongoing basis.

Bonus Tip 2: Why commercial kitchen deep cleaning can make the difference

If you have a kitchen in your restaurant, hotel, or place of work - you’ll understand how critical it is to maintain the hygiene standards set by the Food Hygiene Regulations 2006.

Not only does having a clean, hygienic kitchen help you ensure the food you’re serving to customers, students or staff is safe - but compliance with regulations also helps you avoid any fines, legal action or reputational damage.

If you’re a restaurant or takeaway, your business will need to display a Food Hygiene Rating, which gives your customers a score out of 5 for your cleanliness and hygiene practices. So if you want to present a positive image of your food premises, and attract new business - it’s important to invest in effective kitchen cleaning.

It can be tempting to think that your kitchen and restaurant staff can stay on top of their own cleaning tasks, and keep your kitchen to a compliant standard.

The truth is that internal kitchen staff are great at managing surface-level cleaning and getting rid of visible dirt and grime.

But you really need professional deep cleaning to help eliminate bacteria, dirt, and grease in hard-to-see and hard-to-reach areas.

Commercial cleaning companies use the latest innovations in kitchen cleaning to ensure every corner of your food preparation area is spotless and hygienic. The needs of every kitchen are likely to differ, but your cleaning company will be able to clean your cookers, hobs, deep fryers, floors, walls, ceilings, and more.

If you’re looking for a commercial kitchen cleaning company that has proven experience working with pubs, restaurants, and fast food chains like Five Guys - get in touch with Green FM.

Bonus Tip 3: Why you should hire a commercial window cleaning company

It’s amazing how many businesses overlook the cleanliness of their windows.

Maintaining clean windows is actually more important for your company than you might think.

First impressions matter, especially in service industries like hotels, restaurants, and bars.

The cleanliness of your windows can impact how potential customers perceive your business's overall hygiene and professionalism - and may sway their decision whether or not to enter your premises in the first place.

Clean windows also allow more natural light to enter your workspace, creating a more pleasant environment for both customers and employees and improving mood and productivity.

If you’re looking for the best results from your window cleaning, it’s always worth hiring a commercial window cleaning company.

Professionals are able to deliver the sparkle and shine that you’re after, thanks to their access to advanced cleaning products and innovative equipment. They are also able to work on a flexible schedule to clean your windows at a time that is least disruptive to your business.

The trained eye of window cleaning professionals can additionally help to spot issues like window seal failures early, preventing costly repairs.

Bonus Tip 4: How to clean outside windows you can't reach

We’ve already talked about how hiring a professional window cleaning company can help deliver high-quality results for your windows that simply aren’t possible for your internal team to achieve.  

This point becomes even more relevant if your outside windows are high up or difficult to reach.

Attempting to clean outside windows that are hard to reach can not only make it even more challenging to deliver the results you need, but can also be incredibly dangerous if your staff doesn’t have the right equipment or training.

Technically speaking, it is possible for businesses to address this by investing in equipment like extension poles, telescopic brushes, and specialist ladders and ensuring all staff are provided with thorough training and personal protective equipment.

In reality, the majority of businesses find it easier and more cost-effective to outsource the cleaning of hard-to-reach outside windows.

Professional window cleaning companies have access to advanced equipment like water-fed poles, which can reach several stories high - reducing the need for ladders and immediately improving safety.

Hiring a commercial cleaning company can also reduce administrative work for your business. They can handle all your cleaning risk assessments and ensure all safety measures are in place before starting the job. 

By this point, you’ll already have a good understanding of how working with a commercial cleaning company can improve the cleanliness and hygiene of your business - helping boost the perception of your company, the safety and comfort of your guests, the morale of your staff, and the health and wellbeing of everyone that spends time in your premises.

However, not all commercial cleaning companies are created equal, and it’s important to take the right steps to make sure you choose a partner who meets your unique business needs.

Some top tips to help you find the right commercial cleaning service include: 

Commercial office cleaning: Why you should outsource it

Maintaining a clean commercial office space not only projects a professional image to visitors but also helps ensure your team is healthy and productive, reducing disruptive absences because of illness.

However, many businesses find it challenging to manage cleaning tasks effectively with their internal teams.

Internal cleaning teams often overlook high-touch areas like light switches and door handles, which are often home to bacteria and can contribute to the spread of illness within the workplace.

Additionally, expecting employees to clean the office can distract them from their primary job roles, reduce their morale, and lead to frustration.

Considering the lower quality of cleaning by internal teams, the potential negative impact on staff, and the costs of purchasing and maintaining cleaning equipment - outsourcing office cleaning often makes more commercial sense for businesses.

Outsourcing your office cleaning to a commercial cleaning company comes with a number of advantages.

Perhaps the most important advantage is the quality of cleaning your office will receive. Professional cleaning companies have the expertise and advanced equipment to ensure that your workplace is cleaned thoroughly, including those areas that less experienced cleaners might overlook.

There are also cost and efficiency benefits. By outsourcing your commercial office cleaning, means you no longer need to complete cleaning risk assessments or train and manage staff to complete cleaning tasks. Removing cleaning duties as one of your employee responsibilities also allows them to focus on their primary job roles, boosting morale and productivity.

A lot of cleaning companies are also starting to prioritise green cleaning and sustainable cleaning practices - ensuring your office remains clean and professional while reducing the impact that cleaning has on the environment.

A thorough approach to retail cleaning services might include tasks such as cleaning shelves, displays, changing rooms, staff rooms, stock rooms, and washrooms - along with supporting services like window cleaning, hard floor cleaning, and carpet cleaning.

A clean retail store can help enhance customer experience, build trust, and encourage shoppers to browse longer - ultimately improving your store's ability to attract customers and drive sales.

Having a clean retail store also helps maintain a hygienic environment, improving employee wellbeing and reducing the spread of germs and bacteria.

Why you should hire professional retail store cleaning services

Retail cleaning can be challenging for busy stores, especially if time and resources are limited.

Staff’s tendency to clean during trading hours can disrupt customers while they are browsing, and can lead to lost sales.

Additionally, relying on staff for cleaning often results in only surface-level cleanliness, with things like the sanitisation of high-touch areas often being overlooked.

This is why an increasing number of stores are hiring professional retail store cleaning services.

Professional cleaning companies can help ensure every area of your store is clean and hygienic, improving the customer experience and helping to encourage longer browsing times and stronger sales.

Most cleaning partners will be able to schedule their cleaning outside of business hours, so you’re able to minimise disruptions to customers as they browse your store.

By using the latest cleaning technology, commercial cleaning companies cannot not only clean, but also sanitise and decontaminate your retail space, creating a safer environment for your customers and staff.

Additionally, outsourcing your retail store cleaning frees up your team to focus on customer service and sales, improving business performance. 

At Green FM, we’ve been cleaning pubs and restaurants across London for more than 20 years and understand your specific cleaning needs.

Every pub and restaurant is different, which is why we’ll always create a tailored restaurant  cleaning services plan, which is likely to include some of the following areas:

• General cleaning
  Common tasks such as wiping down tables, cleaning chairs, dusting surfaces, and ensuring that all dining areas are spotless can keep your pub or restaurant welcoming for customers.
  
  
• Kitchen deep cleaning
  The cleanliness of your kitchen is critical for food safety and hygiene. Our services are likely to involve cleaning cooking equipment, counters, floors, walls, and ceilings.
  
  
• Washroom cleaning
  Keeping your washrooms clean and well-maintained is essential for customer satisfaction. We’ll thoroughly clean your toilets, sinks, mirrors, and floors, as well as restocking your bathroom supplies.
  
  
• Floor and carpet cleaning
  High foot traffic in pubs and restaurants can take its toll on your floors and carpets, which need to be cleaned regularly to make sure they look their best.
  
  
• Window cleaning
  Clean windows enhance the overall look of your pub and restaurant, and are important for giving potential customers the right first impression to improve your walk-in rate. 

We’ve been providing commercial cleaning services for businesses across London for more than 20 years. Our expertise spans a wide variety of sectors,  including office cleaning, retail store cleaning, hotel cleaning, health club cleaning, and the cleaning of pubs, restaurants, and educational establishments.

As an ISO-certified company and a member of BICSc, you can have the peace of mind that Green FM will consistently deliver cleaning that meets the highest industry standards.

We pride ourselves on using eco-friendly cleaning products and sustainable cleaning methods that align with your ESG goals, helping you achieve a cleaner workspace while protecting the environment.

But perhaps the key Green FM difference is our commitment to providing customised cleaning solutions. We understand that every business is unique, and we develop tailored cleaning plans based on your company's specific needs.

We offer clear, detailed quotes with no hidden fees, ensuring you know exactly what to expect when it comes to invoicing. And our flexible contracts allow you to adjust the frequency of our services to fit your evolving needs.

Our handy location in London also allows us to respond quickly to any last-minute requests across the capital and reduce our carbon emissions from travel.