6 min read · Updated September 2026
The short answer
Janitorial service is the recurring, routine work that keeps a building usable day to day — washrooms, garbage, vacuuming, wipe-downs, restocking. It is priced as a fixed monthly amount based on hours per visit and visits per week.
Commercial cleaning is the wider category, and in practice it usually refers to the periodic or specialized work layered on top: carpet extraction, floor stripping and refinishing, high dusting, window cleaning, power washing, post-construction cleanup. It is priced per project or per square foot.
Most GTA facilities need both. The mistake is assuming a janitorial contract silently includes the periodic work, or paying project rates for tasks that belong in the nightly scope.
Side-by-side comparison
| Janitorial service | Commercial / specialized cleaning | |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Nightly or several times a week | Monthly, quarterly, or annually |
| Typical scope | Washrooms, trash, vacuuming, dusting, kitchens | Carpet, hard floors, windows, high dusting, exteriors |
| Pricing model | Fixed monthly contract | Per project or per square foot |
| Equipment | Carts, vacuums, standard chemicals | Extractors, auto-scrubbers, lifts, pressure washers |
| Staffing | Assigned regular cleaner or crew | Scheduled specialist technicians |
| Contract length | Usually 12 months | One-off or annual schedule |
What belongs in a nightly janitorial scope
- Washroom cleaning, sanitizing, and consumable restocking
- Waste and recycling collection to the loading dock or bin room
- Vacuuming of carpeted traffic areas and spot cleaning
- Dust mopping and damp mopping of hard floors
- Kitchen and lunchroom counters, sinks, appliance exteriors
- Reception, boardroom, and glass entry door touch-ups
What is almost always quoted separately
- Carpet hot-water extraction and upholstery cleaning
- Floor stripping, waxing, burnishing, and refinishing
- High dusting above ten feet, including ducts, beams, and light fixtures
- Interior and exterior window cleaning at height
- Power washing of sidewalks, loading docks, and building exteriors
- Post-construction and post-renovation cleanup
- Tile re-grouting and replacement
How to buy both without overpaying
Ask for one written scope that lists the nightly janitorial tasks with hours per visit, and a separate annual schedule for periodic work with fixed prices and target months. When both live in one document, you can budget for the year and no one can bill periodic work as an emergency extra.
One accountable contractor for both also removes the finger-pointing that happens when a specialist blames the nightly crew for floor conditions, or vice versa.
Frequently asked questions
Is janitorial the same as commercial cleaning?
Not exactly. Janitorial refers to routine recurring cleaning, while commercial cleaning is the broader category that also covers periodic specialized work like carpet extraction, floor refinishing, and high dusting.
Do I need both a janitorial contract and specialized cleaning?
Most facilities do. Nightly janitorial maintains the space; periodic specialized work restores flooring, glass, and high areas that daily cleaning cannot reach.
Can one company provide both?
Yes, and it is usually cheaper and simpler. A single contractor can schedule periodic work around your operating hours and stay accountable for overall building condition.
Which is more expensive?
Janitorial is the larger ongoing line item because it is labour every week. Periodic work costs more per visit but happens only a few times per year.