Most business owners and managers are pretty fuzzy on the differences between day porter job duties and janitorial services. Some commercial buildings use both day porters and janitors interchangeably. But when you’re looking to find a cleaning crew that’s the best fit for your company’s needs, you’ll want to know the specifics. Learn about the meanings of ‘day porter’ and ‘janitor’ with Empire Fresh Cleaning, a top commercial cleaning company for the San Francisco Bay Area.
What Are Typical Day Porter Job Duties?
Day porter services can also be called ‘matron services’, much like we would say ‘host’ or ‘hostess’. Day porter or matron services are performed by a team of trained professionals who can be hired directly by the company or outsourced from a commercial cleaning company. Day porters act as ‘brand ambassadors’ for the business; their actions, cleaning practices, and policies should always reflect the company’s core values. In some cases, day porters may meet with company stakeholders to ensure cleaning and maintenance aligns with the company’s mission and vision.
Day porters often take on a managerial role, deciding what needs to be done to keep each and every part of the building clean and maintained properly. Day porter job duties are usually a part of a specific task list, but this can easily change as cleaning emergencies pop up or new directives from property management arise. Day porter job duties are often centered on keeping things organized and guests feeling welcome and accommodated.
Some common day porter job duties include:
- Maintaining the professional appearance of lobbies, waiting rooms, and high-traffic areas
- Concierge services like baggage handling, taxi service arrangement, and guest direction
- Increasing employee satisfaction by making sure the building is kept clean throughout the day
- Boosting the company’s reputation for cleanliness by maintaining clean, tidy, and well-stocked restrooms
- Helping to create great first-time impressions on clients with a spotless building
What Are Janitorial Service Duties?
When comparing day porter job duties vs. janitorial services, there are plenty of similarities and tasks that may overlap. But in general, the duties of a janitorial service tend to focus on sanitation and maintenance, while day porter duties focus on cleaning, guest services, and addressing professional needs on the spot. Janitors, also called custodians, may even report to a day porter in a supervising role if both are employed by a business. Some janitors may also have handyman skills like drywall repair, basic HVAC maintenance, floor care, and carpet shampooing experience.
The Benefits of Day Porters Alongside Janitors
As the owner of your company, you don’t have to choose between one or the other, you can have all the benefits of a day porter’s job duties alongside your janitorial services. As the property manager or building owner you can custom tailor the porter’s cleaning services, meaning they will fit the unique needs of your business. You can task your day porters to act as liaisons between your management team and your janitorial staff.
Is It Better to Hire Staff or Outsource?
When it comes to the amount of effort and time it takes to directly hire day porters and janitors vs. contracting them with a reputable cleaning company, contracting is the best decision—hands down. When hiring your own janitorial staff and day porters for all your cleaning job duties, you’ll also need to think about the products and equipment you will need to supply. Both janitors and day porters use a variety of tools and supplies like:
- Special cleaning chemicals
- Paper products
- Microfiber cleaning cloths
- Floor buffers
- Squeegees
- Carpet shampooers
- Commercial-grade vacuum cleaners
- Brooms and mops
If you want your day porters to perform deep cleaning duties, they may need even more specialized equipment. When contracting with a professional cleaning company, much of your equipment and cleaning products are supplied by that company. Day porters and janitors from Empire Fresh Cleaning are supervised and trained by experienced professionals, so quality is always a priority. You can focus on running your business while the important details of guest services and facility cleanliness are properly addressed.
Find A Reliable Cleaning Company
You want only the best and most reliable people to maintain your sanitation and assist your customers and guests, so consider testimonials and reviews when selecting a commercial cleaning company. While many companies use unreliable subcontractors to build their teams, Empire Fresh Cleaning is one of the top cleaning companies in the San Francisco Bay Area because we hire full and part-time employees who are offered bonuses and incentives to always perform their duties to the best of their abilities.
You’ll also want a company that can offer a free consultation and customized quotes for their services. In addition to day portering and general janitorial services, we provide a wide range of other commercial services including high-rise window washing, deep cleaning, floor cleaning, carpet and upholstery care, kitchen cleaning, commercial painting, power washing, and more. Contact us today to discuss our solutions!
