Many businesses see facilities maintenance as one of the last things on their list of concerns. With so many other bills, expenses and operating costs, the necessity of a janitor is sadly too often ignored. This can have detrimental problems on many levels. Firstly, a dirty or improperly cared for building looks unprofessional, and can contribute to the spread of disease and discomfort among employees. Second, requiring employees to clean the building, especially if they are specialized professionals, wastes their time while ensuring the job is not done right. Third, failing to keep a business clean can lead to imperfect or defective products coming off the line, especially in heavy industry situations.

As such, professional facilities maintenance plans are essential for keeping employees happy and healthy and customers from rejecting products. A highly trained and properly equipped janitor can do in a few hours what would take regular employees all day, and in many cases they can clean surfaces faster, better and more thoroughly than untrained personnel. Professional janitors are also trained to be proactive about dirt, dust, filth and decay, informing you about trouble areas and even potential structural damage caused by mold, leaky roofs, or invading insects.

When choosing a facilities maintenance plan, it is important to select one that fits the nature of your business. The nature and type of cleanliness varies from business to business, and it is important to ensure that your janitor knows what his responsibilities will be and the sort of cleaning solutions he can use. For example, ammonia is a highly effective cleaning agent, but because of the smell, it is inappropriate in most office and enclosed area situations. Likewise, gentle cleaning agents may not be strong enough for industrial facilities, which may need powerful caustics or firm abraisives to clean up spills and prevent them from damaging the floor.