What's the difference between domestic and commercial cleaning?

Commercial premises have different cleaning requirements than domestic environments. Factors such as size, the nature of operations, number of visitors and standards of cleanliness require specialised skills, knowledge and equipment.

The benefits of a clean work environment go beyond appearances. A clean workplace helps ensure a healthy, more productive workforce, and people tend to feel more motivated in a freshly cleaned work area.

Let's take a look at some of the factors that set commercial cleaning apart from domestic cleaning.

Domestic vs Commercial Environments

Commercial premises are very different to domestic environments. They are usually much bigger, contain specialised equipment and have larger spaces. Commercial environments and public spaces also have a large number of people passing through them, bringing with them dirt, dust and other contaminants.

Supermarkets, shopping centres, entertainment venues and office buildings are considered high-traffic areas due to the hundreds of visitors that pass through each day. High-traffic areas need to be kept safe for the general public; this includes keeping floors free of spills and trip hazards as well as controlling germs and pathogens. Lift buttons, door handles, stair railings, and escalators are all high-touch zones that need to be kept germ and bacteria-free to prevent spreading infectious diseases.

The activities undertaken in commercial premises are very different from what happens inside our houses. Business operations can produce a range of pollutants that must be responsibly managed. Manufacturing environments and construction sites are messy, dusty places, and it takes specialist skills and equipment to keep them clean and safe. Even medical facilities and laboratories produce waste that needs to be handled responsibly.

Commercial Cleaning Standards

When you clean your house, the only standards you have to meet are your own. No one will come around to ensure you are meeting industry and international standards.

Commercial cleaners must ensure the environment they are cleaning adheres to industry standards, especially health care facilities, food preparation areas and public spaces. These types of businesses are governed by strict cleaning and hygiene standards to ensure the health and safety of the general public.

Many businesses also subscribe to ISO standards for quality, environment, and health and safety. To maintain their ISO accreditations, they must show that they have the appropriate systems in place, including proper cleaning systems, methods and products.

Commercial Cleaning Equipment & Products

Sometimes a specialised job requires specialised tools and knowledge. It is no different when it comes to commercial cleaning.

Commercial cleaners have a range of equipment that is designed for particular environments. Mechanical floor polishers help commercial cleaners polish a shopping centre floor quicker. Elevated platforms allow them to reach high places like vents and air conditioning ducts.

Sometimes commercial cleaners need to use specialised cleaning products too. In schools, medical facilities, food preparation environments and even supermarkets, commercial cleaners must use low allergenic products that still deliver a hospital-grade clean without interrupting daily operations. Cleaning staff often use products like Nanocyn, a chemical-free disinfectant and sanitiser applied as a fine mist to disinfect and sanitise the air space and surfaces.

Commercial environments need cleaning more often

With the high number of people attending commercial environments and public spaces, they must be cleaned more frequently than domestic environments. Shared areas and high-touch zones must be disinfected and sanitised often to ensure everyone's health, safety and comfort.

Public toilets, lift buttons, door handles, phones, and light switches are breeding grounds for bacteria. Commercial cleaners are responsible for ensuring they are cleaned at appropriate intervals with the correct products to stop the spread of germs and infections.

Benefits of professional commercial cleaning services

Commercial cleaners understand how businesses work, including OH&S risks, waste products, and industry standards. Maintaining a clean working environment is crucial to maintaining the well-being of your employees, tenants and visitors.

At Zippy, our cleaning services and specifications are tailored to your requirements and the facilities included in your premises. We work with you to arrange a cleaning schedule that works for you. We can also help you identify areas that will need periodic, deep cleans or specialised services.

We have more than 30 years’ experience in cleaning all kinds of commercial environments and public spaces. You can rely on our extensive expertise to ensure that the job is done properly, the first time and every time.