Office Cleaning vs. Janitorial Services: What’s the Difference?

If you’re a facilities manager, office supervisor, business owner, or anyone responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of a commercial space, you’ve probably asked yourself:

“Is there really a difference between office cleaning and janitorial services?”

Spoiler: Yes, there is—and understanding that difference matters more than you might think.

Choosing the right service can directly impact everything from employee health and workplace satisfaction to regulatory compliance and long-term maintenance costs. As someone who works closely with facility teams across a wide range of industries, I’ve seen firsthand how the confusion between office cleaning and janitorial services often leads to service gaps, misaligned expectations, and overspending on unnecessary tasks—or worse, underspending and dealing with costly issues later.

So let’s break it down clearly and practically—so you can make smarter decisions about what your space actually needs.

What Is Office Cleaning?

Office cleaning usually refers to routine cleaning tasks focused on maintaining a tidy, presentable, and hygienic workspace.

Common office cleaning tasks include:

• Vacuuming carpets and rugs

• Emptying trash bins

• Dusting desks, shelves, and equipment

• Sanitizing high-touch surfaces (phones, keyboards, doorknobs)

• Cleaning interior windows and glass

• Wiping down breakroom surfaces

• Restocking restroom supplies

  
  

This service is typically scheduled daily or weekly, depending on the size of your space and the number of employees.

Office cleaning is about day-to-day appearance and comfort. It keeps your work environment clean and professional for both employees and visitors. According to a report from the ISSA (2023), clean and well-maintained offices improve employee productivity by up to 12% and reduce absenteeism by nearly 46%.

Example: A 3,000 sq. ft. accounting firm with 15 employees might schedule office cleaning three times per week to handle trash, restrooms, dusting, and basic disinfection.

What Are Janitorial Services?

Janitorial services are broader and often more comprehensive. While they include the standard cleaning tasks mentioned above, they also encompass more specialized cleaning and facility maintenance responsibilities.

Janitorial services often include:

• Hard floor maintenance (buffing, waxing, scrubbing)

• Carpet deep cleaning and extraction

• Disinfecting large spaces (restrooms, conference rooms)

• Minor building maintenance (changing light bulbs, unclogging drains)

• Event cleanup and prep

• Cleaning air vents and high surfaces

  
  

Janitorial services are usually provided after hours or overnight and are more common in larger commercial properties, schools, medical facilities, and warehouses.

Janitorial teams tend to function like an extension of your facility management department, helping not just with cleanliness, but with general upkeep. These services can be critical to maintaining compliance with OSHA cleanliness and safety regulations.

Example: A logistics center with 24,000 sq. ft. of warehouse and office space uses janitorial services five nights a week to handle floor scrubbing, machine dusting, restocking sanitation stations, and basic repair checks.

Key Differences Between Office Cleaning and Janitorial Services

Feature	Office Cleaning	Janitorial Services
Frequency	Daily or weekly	Daily, nightly, or customized
Scope	Light, surface-level cleaning	Includes maintenance & deep cleaning
Service Hours	During or after business hours	Often after-hours
Tasks	Basic cleaning tasks	Advanced cleaning + light maintenance
Best For	Small to medium offices	Large facilities, schools, medical, etc.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, tailoring your cleaning program to the right level of service saves businesses up to 25% in annual maintenance costs (SBA, 2023).

Which One Do You Need?

Here’s a quick way to decide:

Go with Office Cleaning if:

• You have a smaller office space

• You need basic, routine upkeep

• You’re mainly concerned about appearance and hygiene

Opt for Janitorial Services if:

• Your facility is large or has multiple floors

• You require floor care, deep cleaning, or minor maintenance

• You want a team that functions more like an extension of your facility ops

Many clients actually need both, depending on their space and operations. A study by Cleaning Business Today found that businesses that combine routine office cleaning with periodic janitorial deep services report 30% fewer employee complaints about cleanliness and a 20% improvement in indoor air quality.

Example: A law firm may use daily office cleaning for their suites and common areas but schedule monthly janitorial visits to polish marble floors, deep clean carpets, and disinfect shared boardrooms.

Not Sure? Schedule a Free Walkthrough with Jan-Ex

Still trying to figure out what’s best for your building? We can help.

At Jan-Ex, we offer both office cleaning and full janitorial services—tailored to your business, your space, and your schedule. Let us walk your site, assess your needs, and design a plan that works.

Schedule a free walkthrough today and get the clarity you need to make the right call. For immediate service or personalized help, email us directly at cstanza@jan-ex.com.

Works Cited:

1. U.S. Small Business Administration. (2023). Facilities Maintenance and Cleaning Services Guide.

2. ISSA - The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. (2023). Cleaning vs. Janitorial Services: Understanding the Scope.

3. OSHA. (2022). Housekeeping and Workplace Cleanliness Standards.

4. Cleaning Business Today. (2023). Workplace Cleanliness and Employee Productivity Study.