Most businesses do not switch cleaning companies because of one big disaster.
They switch because of the slow stuff that never gets fixed.
Restrooms look “clean enough” but never feel truly clean. Floors look dull no matter how often they are mopped. Trash gets missed in corner bins. The breakroom smells like old food even after cleaning. And every time you bring it up, you get the same response: “We’ll do better next time.”
If you are searching for commercial cleaning Ann Arbor and you want a company you do not have to chase, the goal is not just finding “a cleaner.” The goal is finding a partner with:
- A clear scope
- Consistent staffing
- Quality control
- Documented standards
- And the right protection in place, including insured janitorial services and properly trained staff
This guide walks you through cleaning company selection step by step, including what to ask, what to check, and the red flags that cost businesses the most in complaints, inconsistency, and rework.
Step 1: Start with your needs, not their packages
Most cleaning companies sell packages. Your building does not run on packages.
Before you call anyone, define what “clean” must mean for your facility. The most useful way to do that is by zones.
Identify your high-risk and high-visibility zones
High-risk zones are where hygiene issues show up quickly:
- Restrooms
- Breakrooms and food areas
- Touchpoints (handles, switches, shared equipment)
- Trash zones
High-visibility zones are where your brand gets judged:
- Entryways
- Reception and lobby
- Conference rooms
- Glass and front-facing surfaces
If you do not define these zones up front, you will get a generic quote that looks fine until you realize the areas you care about are not being handled the way you expected.
Decide what must happen every visit vs weekly vs monthly
A serious commercial cleaning plan has layers:
- Every visit: restrooms, trash, touchpoints, main traffic floors, breakroom reset
- Weekly: detail work like baseboards in priority areas, corners, deeper restroom edges, meeting room detailing
- Monthly/quarterly: deeper floor care, buildup zones behind appliances, detailed dusting, periodic carpet extraction
If a company only talks about the nightly checklist and cannot explain deep cleaning cadence, you are walking into the “slow decline” problem.
Step 2: Ask for a written scope that is specific, not vague
This is the fastest way to separate professional providers from “we’ll figure it out.”
When comparing commercial cleaning Ann Arbor proposals, insist on a written scope that clearly states:
What areas are included
Not “office cleaning.” You want the actual list:
- Restrooms (and what “clean” includes)
- Breakroom cleaning tasks
- Floors (vacuuming lanes vs full vacuum)
- Conference rooms and common areas
- Glass, doors, touchpoints
- Trash and recycling handling
How often each area is serviced
A strong scope reads like a schedule, not a promise.
- Daily tasks
- Weekly detail tasks
- Monthly deep tasks
What is excluded (so you are not surprised later)
Common exclusions that cause conflict:
- Inside refrigerators
- Interior cabinet organizing
- Heavy stain removal without prior approval
- Post-construction cleaning
- Biohazard cleanup
- Major floor refinishing
If exclusions are not written, you will still pay for them later, just in the form of frustration.
Step 3: Confirm insured janitorial services and verify coverage
This is not optional. It is protection for your business.
A professional company should be able to provide proof of insurance, and the coverage should match commercial reality. “We’re insured” is not the same as “here is the certificate.”
What to ask for
- Proof of general liability coverage
- Proof of workers’ compensation coverage (where applicable)
- An up-to-date certificate of insurance (COI)
This matters because accidents happen. If a cleaner slips, breaks something, floods a restroom, or damages flooring, you need to know the company can actually handle the risk without pushing it back on you.
Insured janitorial services should mean you can request documentation, not just hear the phrase.
Step 4: Do not assume “licensed cleaners Ann Arbor” without asking what that means
Cleaning is not always a “licensed trade” in the same way plumbing or electrical is, and requirements can vary depending on what services are being performed.
So instead of asking only “are you licensed,” ask more useful questions:
- Are you a registered business in Michigan?
- Do your employees receive formal training before being placed onsite?
- Do you perform background checks for staff entering commercial properties?
- Do you follow OSHA-aligned safety practices for chemicals and equipment use?
- Can you provide SDS (Safety Data Sheets) for chemicals used onsite?
If a company advertises licensed cleaners Ann Arbor, they should be able to explain their compliance approach clearly and provide documentation where it applies.
Step 5: Evaluate their hiring and training system (this predicts your consistency)
Most cleaning issues are not “cleaning problems.” They are people and process problems.
The questions below tell you whether your service will be consistent or chaotic.
Ask how they staff your building
- Will you have a consistent crew, or rotating people every week?
- Who is your point of contact if something is missed?
- What happens if the cleaner calls out last minute?
- Do they have backup coverage, or do you just lose a cleaning day?
Consistency matters because your building has patterns. A crew that knows your office will clean better than someone who is guessing every visit.
Ask about training and standards
- Do cleaners follow a checklist per building or a generic routine?
- Do they train specifically for restrooms, breakrooms, and floor care?
- Do they train on avoiding cross-contamination between restrooms and food zones?
- Do they train on floor chemicals so floors do not end up sticky or dull?
A company with training can explain how they prevent common failures.
Step 6: Make quality control non-negotiable
This is where most companies fall short.
If there is no quality control system, your building will slowly degrade even if the company “means well.”
What good quality control looks like
- A supervisor who inspects regularly
- Documented checklists
- A method for reporting issues (text, portal, email)
- A system to confirm fixes were completed
- Periodic walkthroughs with the client to adjust scope as needs change
What weak quality control looks like
- “Just text the cleaner”
- “We’ll tell the team”
- No documented inspections
- No formal escalation path
- Repeated misses in the same areas
A commercial cleaning relationship works when problems are caught early, not when you have to complain three times.
Step 7: Ask about products, equipment, and floor care
A lot of offices get “cleaned” but still look tired because floor care is wrong.
Questions that matter
- What vacuum system do you use (and is it suited to commercial carpet)?
- How do you handle salt and slush in winter entryways?
- Do you have a plan for periodic carpet extraction?
- What chemicals are used on hard floors, and how do you prevent sticky residue?
- Do you use microfiber systems for touchpoint cleaning?
Your floors and restrooms are where cleaning quality shows up first. If a company has no floor plan beyond basic mopping, you will feel it in a month.
Step 8: Compare pricing the right way (avoid the cheapest trap)
If one quote is dramatically cheaper, it is usually because something is missing:
- Fewer visits than you need
- No deep cleaning cadence
- Less time allocated to restrooms and breakrooms
- No quality control
- Underpaid staff with high turnover
- Vague scope that turns into add-on charges later
The right comparison is not price vs price. It is scope + frequency + quality control + insurance + consistency.
Red flags during cleaning company selection
If you want a quick filter, watch for these:
- They cannot provide a detailed written scope
- They avoid giving proof of insurance
- They cannot explain quality control
- They rely on “we do this for everyone” instead of asking how your office operates
- They cannot define what happens weekly vs monthly
- They promise “deep cleaning” but cannot describe what that includes
- They have no backup staffing plan
- Their proposal does not mention restocking, touchpoints, or breakroom standards
These red flags usually lead to rushed, inconsistent work.
Choose a commercial cleaning plan that stays consistent, not one that fades after week two
If you are choosing commercial cleaning Ann Arbor support, the goal is not finding a company that cleans once well. It is finding a company that keeps your building consistently clean without you having to chase them.
D Poole Commercial Kitchen Cleaning Services provides structured, dependable commercial cleaning with clear scopes, quality control, and insured janitorial services that protect your business. Book a walkthrough and get a cleaning plan built around your building’s high-traffic zones, hygiene priorities, and the real standard you want maintained.
FAQs: Commercial Cleaning Ann Arbor
1) What should I look for when choosing commercial cleaning Ann Arbor companies?
Look for a detailed written scope, clear frequency plan, quality control inspections, consistent staffing, and proof of insured janitorial services. Cleaning company selection should focus on consistency and accountability, not just price.
2) Do commercial cleaning companies need to be licensed in Ann Arbor?
Not all cleaning work is “licensed” like a trade, but companies should be properly registered as a business and able to explain safety practices, training, and compliance. If a company advertises licensed cleaners Ann Arbor, ask what that means in practice and request documentation where applicable.
3) Why is proof of insurance important for janitorial services?
Because accidents and damage can happen. Proof of insurance protects your business if there is property damage, injury, or a major incident during cleaning. Always request documentation instead of relying on verbal assurance.
4) How do I know if a cleaning company will be consistent?
Ask about staffing stability, backup coverage, training systems, and how quality is checked. A company with regular inspections and documented checklists is far more likely to stay consistent over time.
5) What should a commercial cleaning scope include?
It should list every area covered, the exact tasks per area, frequency (daily/weekly/monthly), and exclusions. Vague scopes cause missed expectations and disputes.
6) How should breakrooms be handled in office cleaning?
Breakrooms should be treated as hygiene priority zones. A good scope includes counter and sink cleaning, touchpoint disinfection, microwave and fridge exterior cleaning, trash removal, and floor attention. If food is used daily, breakrooms need frequent service.
7) How often should deep cleaning be included in a janitorial plan?
At minimum, your plan should include weekly detail tasks and monthly or quarterly deep cleaning tasks depending on traffic and building needs. Deep cleaning prevents buildup and keeps the facility from slowly declining.
8) Why do some cleaning companies offer much lower pricing?
Usually because they reduce frequency, limit scope, skip deep cleaning, or cut quality control. Low pricing often turns into inconsistent results, complaints, and add-on charges later.