What does commercial cleaning include? A standard service covers the recurring work done after hours: floors, washrooms, kitchens, bins and the touch points a crew can reach from the floor. Work that needs a ladder, a machine or a separate visit, such as carpet extraction or strip and wax, is booked as an extra.
Here is what a nightly route covers, what is scheduled on its own and what is usually left out. It ends with how to write the scope so the invoice matches your expectations. For the full service, see our commercial building cleaning page.
Commercial cleaning scope at a glance
| In the nightly route | Booked as an extra | Usually not included |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuuming and mopping walked floors | High dusting above standard reach | Inside desks, drawers and filing cabinets |
| Bins and recycling | Interior and exterior window cleaning | Server closets, alarm panels, locked comms rooms |
| Washrooms | Carpet extraction | Plants, fish tanks and anything a vendor services |
| Used kitchen surfaces | Full strip and wax of hard floors | Construction dust after trades |
| Lobby mats, elevator plates, the stairs people take | Move-out cleaning of a vacant suite | Regulated medical waste and sharps |
What is in a nightly commercial clean?
A nightly clean is a route that repeats. The crew works through the building in a set order and leaves a note for anything it could not finish. A typical route covers:
- Floors: vacuuming carpet and mopping hard floors where people walk
- Washrooms: fixtures, counters, mirrors and floors, plus restocking
- Kitchens and break rooms: the surfaces people use
- Waste: emptying bins and taking the garbage to the collection point
- Entrances: mats, glass at hand height and the lobby floor
- Desks: wiping open surfaces and leaving personal items where they are
Room-by-room tasks are listed in our commercial cleaning checklist.
What counts as an extra?
Extras run on their own schedule, because they need different equipment or more time than a nightly visit has. Common ones:
- High-level dusting, done with boom or scissor lifts and fall protection
- Carpet cleaning and extraction
- Strip and wax of hard floors
- Window cleaning, interior and exterior, done in-house
- Exterior pressure washing
- Air duct and HVAC vent cleaning
- Electrostatic disinfection
- Post-construction cleaning and move-out cleaning
Say which nights get the extra. “First Friday high dust on floors 2 and 3” is something a crew can run. “Keep it looking professional” is not.
What does commercial cleaning include in different buildings?
| Building | What the nightly usually covers | Booked separately |
|---|---|---|
| Office | Desks, kitchens, washrooms, boardrooms, lobby | Carpet extraction, window cleaning |
| Warehouse | Aisles, dock areas, offices and washrooms, with ride-on scrubbers on large floors | Racking-height dusting, floor scrubbing programs. See warehouse cleaning services |
| Restaurant | Dining room, front-of-house floors and washrooms | Kitchen hood and exhaust cleaning |
| Retail | Sales floor, entrance glass and mats, washrooms | Strip and wax, exterior pressure washing |
| Clinic | Rooms on a written checklist, washrooms, waiting area | Disinfection steps and waste handling. See clinic cleaning vs office cleaning |
Is window cleaning part of a commercial cleaning contract?
Glass at hand height in common areas is usually on the nightly. Full interior and exterior window cleaning, including storefronts, is booked separately. We do it in-house, so it can be added to the same account.
If you already have a window vendor on a schedule, tell us. We will wipe entry glass at hand height and leave the rest, so you are not billed twice for the same pane.
What is usually not included?
- Inside desks, drawers and filing cabinets
- Plants, fish tanks and anything a vendor already services
- Server closets, alarm panels and locked comms rooms
- Personal cups and dishes left on a desk (we wipe around them)
- Construction dust, paint overspray or a punch list after trades
- Regulated medical waste and sharps, which stay with a licensed pickup
Is a day porter the same as a nightly clean?
No. A day porter works during business hours, keeping washrooms, lobbies and kitchens in shape between visits. A nightly route runs after everyone leaves. Some buildings use both. We also run 24/7 shift cleaning for sites that operate around the clock.
How do I write the scope so the night matches?
Send a floor plan, or describe the building room by room on a call. Include:
- Typical lockup time, not just “we close at 5”
- Which desks stay occupied
- Leftover rules for the kitchen
- Where washroom supplies are kept
- Lobby glass versus tenant glass, and the height
- The elevator count and which stair people use
- Any gym, yoga room or locker hall, by name
Frequently asked questions
What does commercial cleaning include?
The recurring after-hours work: floors, washrooms, kitchens, bins and the touch points a crew can reach from the floor. The rooms should be named in writing.
Is window cleaning included in a commercial cleaning contract?
Usually only glass at hand height in common areas. Interior glass that needs a pole or ladder, and exterior glass, are booked separately. We do window cleaning in-house, so it can be added.
Is carpet cleaning part of the nightly?
No. Vacuuming is. Carpet extraction is a separate visit on its own schedule.
Are strip and wax or deep cleans included?
No. A full strip and wax, post-construction cleaning and suite move-outs are booked on their own. Say which nights get them.
Is janitorial the same as commercial cleaning?
For most buildings, close enough. The label matters less than having the rooms and the schedule written down.
After a busy season, the post-holiday restaurant and banquet cleaning checklist covers the reset that nightly cleaning skips.
Get the scope written down
Send the room list and a few photos and we will write the scope. We book a free site assessment if we need to see the space first, and quote within 1 business day. Get a free quote.
