• First time business owners tend to go for the cheapest quote when hiring office cleaners.
• Avoid mistakes such as failing to do reference checks and not monitoring cleaning hours.
• Ask the cleaners where the waste goes and about environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Once your small business grows from working in your garage to a commercial space, you'll need to hire a commercial or office cleaner. Most first timers may google “local office cleaner” to find one, but this option won’t give you the best office cleaners and can lead to more hassle, confusion and work for you.  You should avoid any extra headaches when focusing on your business growth and success.

As an experienced commercial cleaning company, we've listed 5 common mistakes business owners make when they are looking to hire a commercial cleaner.

Mistake #1: Cheapest is not always best

When running a small business, your budget tends to be lean and cash flow in a state of careful balance. It may be tempting to go for the cheapest option, but this can be damaging in several ways.

Firstly, there is an ethical question. Are you paying the required minimum wage? Is your cleaner being exploited? Do they have the proper rights to work in Australia? Also, if you are paying little to your cleaner, you are likely to get a person who won't do the best job for you.

Mistake #2: Not conducting reference checks

Reference checks may not seem important, after all, it's just for a cleaner, right? Wrong!

Think about it. You are letting a person into your commercial premises, usually after hours when staff aren't around, so it’s important to trust your office cleaner. You've worked hard to start and run a successful business, so it pays to remove any risk of damage to your property, equipment or even, in worst case, theft. All it takes is just 20 minutes out of your day to call and collect reliable references before you employ a cleaner to enter your business.

Mistake #3: Not checking hours allocated

Make sure that you are getting a comprehensive cleaning service for the hours worked. For example: How do you know your cleaners are working for the full allocated time? Is there a checklist of items to complete daily, weekly, monthly? Do a spot check now and again to keep your cleaning team honest and build a relationship with them. An engaged and happy cleaner will always do a better job for you.

Mistake #4: Not checking where your waste goes

When you walk into your business each morning and smell the fresh air and see the clean surfaces before you, do you think about where your garbage bags have gone? If not, you should!

Some cleaners dump everything in the landfill and general waste, even your carefully sorted recyclables. Ask your cleaner how they separate and dispose of waste and make sure they are sending it through to the proper waste channels.

Mistake #5: Using toxic cleaning products

Some commercial cleaning products, particularly cheap ones, can be toxic, trigger lung conditions and be abrasive to the skin. As a business owner, you want to take care of your staff with the cleaner doing the work and taking care of the planet, so ask to see the cleaning chemicals used. Choose non-toxic and paraben-free chemicals to ensure a safe and healthy workplace and reduce the negative impact on the environment.

Avoiding these five common mistakes when hiring an office cleaner can save you time and money which is far better spent on your business!