Commercial Cleaning Glossary: A Guide for Facility Managers
Commercial cleaning proposals and service agreements are often packed with industry jargon. For facility managers, property owners, and operations teams, this can make it harder to compare bids, evaluate scopes of work, and ensure your building is getting the level of service it needs. This cleaning glossary is designed to help you confidently review commercial cleaning proposals, understand service agreements, and communicate clearly with your cleaning provider.
At HealthPoint Cleaning Solutions, transparency and education are part of how we deliver consistent, compliant, and high‑quality commercial cleaning services.
Common Commercial Cleaning Terms
Scope of Work (SOW)
A detailed list of cleaning tasks, frequencies, and responsibilities. The scope of work outlines what is cleaned, how often, and how it is performed.
Service Level Agreement (SLA)
A document that defines performance standards, response times, quality expectations, and accountability between the cleaning company and the client.
Day Porter Services
Cleaning and maintenance are performed during business hours, such as restroom restocking, lobby touch‑ups, trash removal, and spill response.
Deep Cleaning
An intensive cleaning service that goes beyond routine janitorial tasks. Often includes detailed restroom sanitation, floor scrubbing, and high‑touch surface disinfection.
High‑Touch Surfaces
Frequently touched areas such as door handles, elevator buttons, light switches, railings, and shared equipment require regular disinfection.
Commercial Cleaning Equipment Explained
Auto Scrubber
A machine that cleans hard floors by applying a solution, scrubbing, and vacuuming dirty water in one pass. Common in healthcare, retail, and large facilities.
HEPA Vacuum
A vacuum equipped with a High‑Efficiency Particulate Air filter that captures very fine particles, improving indoor air quality.
Electrostatic Sprayer
A disinfection tool that sprays charged droplets, allowing disinfectant to evenly coat surfaces, including hard‑to‑reach areas.
Microfiber Cleaning System
Uses microfiber cloths and mops designed to trap dust and bacteria more effectively than traditional cotton materials.
Burnisher
A high‑speed floor machine is used to polish and maintain the shine on finished hard floors.
Types of Commercial Cleaning Services
Janitorial Services
Recurring cleaning services are performed daily, weekly, or on a customized schedule. Includes trash removal, restroom cleaning, floor care, and surface wiping.
Healthcare Cleaning
Specialized cleaning for medical facilities that follows strict infection prevention protocols, disinfectant dwell times, and compliance standards.
Office Cleaning
Routine cleaning focused on workspaces, conference rooms, breakrooms, and common areas.
Floor Care Services
Includes carpet cleaning, hard floor scrubbing, stripping and waxing, and ongoing floor maintenance programs.
Disinfection Services
Targeted cleaning using EPA‑approved disinfectants to reduce the spread of germs and bacteria in high‑risk environments.
Understanding Frequencies and Task Levels
Daily Tasks
Performed every service visit, such as restroom sanitation, trash removal, and high‑touch surface disinfection.
Periodic Tasks
Scheduled weekly, monthly, or quarterly tasks like floor detailing, vent dusting, and deep restroom cleaning.
On‑Demand Services
Additional services requested as needed, including emergency cleanups or special event support.
Why This Matters for Facility Managers
Understanding commercial cleaning terminology helps you accurately compare proposals, avoid gaps in service, and ensure your cleaning partner is meeting expectations. Clear language leads to better communication, improved accountability, and cleaner, healthier facilities.
Contact HealthPoint Cleaning Solutions
If you have questions about commercial cleaning services, scopes of work, or service agreements, our team is here to help. HealthPoint Cleaning Solutions provides professional commercial cleaning, healthcare cleaning, and facility maintenance services with clear communication and dependable results.
Contact us today to request a consultation or learn more about our customized commercial cleaning solutions.