Guide · Commercial Cleaning
How to choose a cleaner without getting burned.
Most office cleaning relationships don't fail on price — they fail on reliability. The cleaner stops turning up, sickness isn't covered, or the standard quietly slips and no one notices until the complaints start. Ask these seven questions before you sign and you'll know exactly what you're buying.
Seven questions before you sign.
What happens when my cleaner is off sick?
This is the question that predicts whether you'll be let down. A one-person operation has no answer; a proper company has vetted backup cover so your workplace is cleaned every scheduled visit regardless. Reliability, not the headline rate, is what you're actually buying.
How will I know the work was done?
"Trust us" isn't proof. Ask how the standard is verified. A photo check after every visit means you can see the job was done properly without walking the floor yourself — and it's the difference between a standard that holds and one that quietly slips after month two.
Are you insured and compliant?
Public liability insurance is non-negotiable. Depending on your site you may also need DBS-checked staff, COSHH method statements and safe-working paperwork. A cleaner who can't produce these on request is a risk you're carrying, not one they are.
Who do I actually call?
The best-value contract is one point of contact who owns the relationship — not an account-management chain or a stack of subcontractors passing the blame. When something's not right, you want it fixed the same day by someone who answers the phone.
Is the specification written down?
A vague brief produces a vague clean and an argument later. Insist on a defined checklist — what's cleaned, how often, to what standard — so you can compare quotes like-for-like and hold the standard to something concrete.
Are consumables in or out?
Hand towels, soap and bin liners are a real cost. A quote that quietly leaves them out looks cheaper until the extras land. Clarify whether they're managed and included, so you're comparing the true price.
Can you work around our hours?
Good commercial cleaning happens early mornings, evenings or overnight so it never disrupts your team or your customers. If a company can only work in your business hours, that tells you something about how they're staffed.
The short version.
Buy reliability, insist on proof, and get the specification in writing. A fixed standard with cover and a photo check built in beats a lower rate you can't rely on — every time. That's the whole idea behind U Spaces commercial cleaning: one point of contact, one accountable standard, one monthly invoice.
Common questions.
What's the most important thing when choosing an office cleaning company?
Reliability. Most cleaning relationships don't fail on price — they fail because the cleaner doesn't turn up, doesn't cover sickness, or the standard slips and no one notices. Prioritise guaranteed cover and a way to verify the work (like a photo check after every visit) over the lowest quote.
How do I compare commercial cleaning quotes fairly?
Put every provider on the same written checklist — the same rooms, the same frequency, the same standard — and confirm whether consumables and periodic deep-cleans are in or out. Only then compare the number. A low quote against a thinner specification isn't cheaper, it's less.
What is a cleaning SLA and do I need one?
A service level agreement sets out exactly what will be cleaned, how often, and to what standard — plus how issues are handled. It turns "they seem fine" into something you can hold a provider to. For any regular commercial contract, yes, you want one.
Should office cleaners be insured and DBS-checked?
Every commercial cleaner should carry public liability insurance. DBS checks are essential where a site requires them — for example medical, dental or education settings. Ask to see cover and method statements before you sign; a professional provider expects the question.
Which areas does U Spaces cover?
We cover Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, including Chelmsford, Brentwood, Colchester, Basildon, Watford, St Albans, Cambridge, Ipswich, Maidstone and Ashford. Get in touch and we'll confirm availability for your postcode.
Enquire
Put us to the test.
Book a free 15-minute walk round and we'll leave you a fixed quote against a clear checklist to compare against what you pay now. Call +44 7585 128207.