Businesses in Wilkes-Barre span downtown office buildings, medical campuses along the River Street corridor, retail in and around Wyoming Valley Mall, restaurants, and industrial facilities throughout the greater Luzerne County area. Each type of facility has specific cleaning needs, and the right company for one isn’t necessarily right for another. Here’s a practical guide to understanding your options and finding a commercial cleaning provider that will actually perform.
The Standard Scope of Commercial Cleaning Service
When you contract with a commercial cleaning company, a regular service visit typically covers:
- Restroom sanitation. Full cleaning of all fixtures, disinfection of touchpoints, floor mopping, mirror cleaning, and restocking of all consumables (soap, paper products).
- Office and workspace cleaning. Desk surfaces wiped down, common areas dusted and tidied, high-contact surfaces (keyboards, phones, light switches, door handles) disinfected.
- Floor care. Vacuuming of all carpeted areas, mopping of hard floors, spot treatment of visible stains. Deep floor care (carpet extraction, strip-and-wax) is a separate scheduled service.
- Trash and recycling service. All waste receptacles emptied and relined, material transported to disposal areas.
- Kitchen and break room. Counter surfaces wiped, sink cleaned, exterior of appliances wiped, floor mopped, trash removed. Refrigerator cleanouts are typically on a separate monthly schedule.
One thing worth clarifying early in any vendor conversation: the line between standard janitorial service and specialty services. Exterior window washing, carpet shampooing, hard floor stripping, and power washing are not included in a standard janitorial contract, they’re add-on services priced and scheduled separately. Make sure you understand what’s included before signing.
Industry-Specific Cleaning Requirements
Different types of businesses in the Wilkes-Barre area have requirements that go beyond standard janitorial work:
- Healthcare and medical offices. These facilities require EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants, strict cross-contamination protocols between rooms, proper handling of sharps and biohazard waste, and staff who understand infection control basics. Pennsylvania’s Department of Health has specific requirements for healthcare facilities that cleaning protocols must address.
- Food service establishments. Restaurants and commercial kitchens require cleaning products that are safe for food-contact surfaces, knowledge of grease trap maintenance and hood degreasing schedules, and service timed around health inspection preparation. One failed inspection in Pennsylvania costs time and money, and it’s often a cleaning failure that triggers it.
- Professional offices. Law firms, financial services, and insurance offices need consistent nightly service that’s reliable and discreet. Client-facing areas require higher presentation standards than back-office spaces.
- Warehouses and distribution facilities. Large-footprint facilities need floor scrubbing equipment, dust control between product areas, loading dock cleaning, and restroom service scheduled around shift changes.
How to Evaluate Commercial Cleaning Companies
When comparing options, these factors matter most:
Insurance: Verify general liability (minimum $1 million per occurrence) and workers’ compensation. Ask to be listed as an additional insured and request the certificate before service begins. This isn’t optional, a company without proper coverage creates real liability exposure for your business.
Employee screening: Your cleaning crew works in your space, often unsupervised after hours. Ask directly: are workers employees or subcontractors? Are they background-checked? What’s the vetting process? Companies that use subcontractors aren’t necessarily worse, but accountability is harder to enforce.
References from comparable businesses: Ask for references from clients in businesses similar to yours, same industry or same size facility. Call them. Ask whether service quality held up over time (not just at the start), how complaints were handled, and whether they’d recommend the company today.
Written scope of work: Everything agreed to should be in writing. A professional company will provide a detailed scope document before service begins. If the agreement is vague, “general cleaning, as needed”, expect problems when your definition of “clean” differs from theirs.
Understanding Cleaning Contracts and Pricing
Commercial cleaning contracts in this market typically run month-to-month or on annual terms. Annual agreements sometimes come with slightly lower monthly pricing, but make sure there’s a 30-day cancellation clause for non-performance. A contract that locks you in with no exit option if service quality drops works against your interests.
Pricing for commercial cleaning in the greater Wilkes-Barre area reflects labor, supplies, insurance, and the specifics of your facility. Rough market ranges for standard janitorial service:
- Small office (under 1,500 sq ft) serviced twice weekly: $150–$350/month
- Mid-size professional office (3,000–6,000 sq ft) serviced three times weekly: $450–$950/month
- Retail or customer-facing space with daily service: $400–$750/month
- Medical office with disinfection protocols, three times weekly: $500–$1,200/month
These ranges are starting points. Your actual quote will depend on restroom count, floor types, equipment requirements, and any specialty services built into the scope. Any company quoting a firm price without walking your facility is guessing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get started with Excellence Janitorial Services?
Fill out the form below or call us directly to schedule a walk-through. We’ll assess your facility, discuss your requirements, and provide a written scope of work with fixed pricing. The process takes one visit and typically 48–72 hours to produce a formal proposal.
Can you clean during business hours, or only after hours?
Both are possible depending on your facility type and service requirements. Most clients prefer after-hours service to minimize disruption, but some businesses, medical offices, retail locations, require daytime availability for specific tasks. We’ll build the schedule around your operational needs.
What happens if I’m not satisfied with a cleaning visit?
Report it to us within 24 hours. We’ll schedule a return visit to address whatever wasn’t completed to standard. We also track issues over time, if the same task is consistently falling short, that’s a training or staffing issue on our end, not something you should keep reporting indefinitely.
Do you use green or eco-friendly cleaning products?
We use EPA-registered commercial cleaning products appropriate to each surface and environment. If you prefer fragrance-free, low-VOC, or Green Seal certified products for your space, we can accommodate that, mention it during the walk-through and we’ll spec accordingly.
How far in advance should I contact you to start service?
Two to three weeks is ideal, it gives time for a walk-through, proposal, contract review, and scheduling. That said, if your situation is urgent (a current provider isn’t performing, you’re moving into a new space), contact us anyway. We can often accommodate faster starts depending on scheduling availability.