How Industrial and Commercial Cleaning Services are Different
When you need to coordinate with a cleaning service, it's important to know which kind of service you should look for. Industrial and commercial cleaning services offer drastically different cleaning options that your business may need. We’ve highlighted several key differences between industrial and commercial cleaning to prepare you for hiring a suitable cleaning service.
What is Industrial Cleaning?
When most professionals hear industrial cleaning, they tend to think of warehouses, production plants, storage silos, and assembly lines. That leaves out critical infrastructure such as municipal industry support and industrial support call centers. Industrial cleaning generally involves cleaning production equipment (including phones and computers) on a regular and frequent basis.
What is Commercial Cleaning?
Commercial cleaning might involve a few large sites, such as a large-scale factory, which will be cleaned annually or a couple of times per year rather than regularly and frequently. These types of cleaning work often run based on contractual requirements and involve substantial amounts of pre-planning.
Types of Industrial Cleaning Services
Industrial cleaning and professional janitorial services are a necessity for businesses that must retain clean floors and an operating environment clear of obstructions. To this end, take a moment to read through the following list of industrial cleaning services and see which, if any, encompass your needs.
Asbestos cleaning and abatement
- Asbestos is a carcinogenic chemical that has been used to minimize the damage caused by fires. It has become quite a nasty contaminant, however, with countless studies linking it back to numerous types of cancer. Our technicians are trained experts in managing cleanup, abatement, and disposal of asbestos.
Mold Removal
- Countless types of mold float through the air, waiting for the right conditions to rest and grow from spores into colonies. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and other types of mold should be managed and eradicated by trained mold specialists. Many types of mold are visually indistinguishable from one another. Black Mold (the Stachybotrys genus) is visually identical to most other types of mold.
- Professional cleaners generally use field-test kits to identify mold on the spot and treat it with the correct mold control agents. Moldicides and other chemicals should always be EPA-registered and approved. Further, they should only be used in the form and conditions that they are approved for. Fogging, for example, is not recommended for most chemicals. Concrobium is one of a few mold control agents which is EPA-approved for fogger use.
Decontamination
- Decontamination can mean a variety of things, depending on the commercial or industrial cleaning environment. Some industrial complexes require nuclear decontamination, while others require biological decontamination or other types of decontamination. COVID-19 has resulted in an unprecedented call for decontamination services as well as anti-microbial cleaning supplements.
- Industrial cleaners should be certified by the governing organizations that offer guidance for decontamination procedures. Without proper training, decontamination isn’t just dangerous, it can result in lasting damage and consequences for whoever conducts the decontamination procedures.
Industrial Cleaning
- Industrial cleaning, including servicing manufacturing facilities and municipal infrastructure requires keen attention to detail. Metal shavings and filings must be removed from crevices on machinery using magnets, floors must be cleared of any and all obstructions, and pipelines or large-scale cables must be cleaned and quality-checked regularly.
Lead Removal
- Lead removal, abatement, and post-abatement cleaning are very complex operations. Commercial and industrial businesses which offer lead removal services must equip workers with respirators and proper filters to ensure they are not at risk of inhaling, consuming, or otherwise ingesting lead particles. The heavy metal has terrible effects on unwitting cleaners.
- Lead removal often encompasses lead paint removal, cleaning, and then encapsulation of any remaining particles which are deemed unfit for removal. Once encapsulated, lead paint cannot readily flake, chip, or scatter particles into the air.
- Other industrial cleaning services, such as mercury removal, are available in the industry, but fewer companies manage higher-risk operations such as these.
The Key Differences Between Industrial and Commercial Cleaning
Industrial cleaning is often focused on a few high-impact cleaning operations per year. Commercial cleaning is usually done daily, weekly, or monthly. Both industrial cleaners and commercial cleaners can carry out routine maintenance tasks as needed.
Industrial cleaners are often geared toward non-customer-facing areas such as silos, pipelines, storage facilities such as warehouses, and manufacturing sites. Commercial cleaners generally tend to serve office buildings, retail locations, and other locations where customers and business partners may be present during standard operating hours.
If you’d like to learn more about commercial cleaning services in particular, please read this post for additional details.
Finding a Cleaning Service Near You
Bear these details in mind when seeking a commercial or industrial cleaning service to manage your operational cleanliness needs. Be sure you take some time to list your needs and expectations for professional industrial cleaners and commercial cleaning businesses.
Pritchard has been providing services for more than 100 years. Our clients love the way our staff manages their facilities. As a result, more than 95% of our clients remain with us. If you’re interested in booking a consultation, please contact us here!