Though not as well known as more traditional cleaning services, the porter service industry is growing steadily. Understanding the difference between day porter services and regular cleaners can help you make better decisions about how to keep your business tidy and fresh throughout the day – even during busy hours.
Park Slope Cleaning offers a wide variety of services in industries like fitness centers, retail stores, auto dealerships, and others. Whether you need traditional after-hours cleaners or porter service, we tailor our solutions to meet your needs.
What Is a Porter Service?
Porters provide discreet professional cleaning services to ensure that a building or facility looks neat and tidy, but they do so during normal hours of operation – while customers or clients are present. They perform a variety of tasks depending on the company or industry needs, including some light maintenance where required. These professionals are available throughout the day to handle cleaning “emergencies,” such as spills, immediately, keeping the area safe for visitors and employees alike.
In some cases, a porter service may also assist with day-to-day operations. In hotels, for example, they may be called upon to help guests find their rooms or move their luggage. In hospitals, porters may move patients who are in wheelchairs to different parts of the facility.
How Are Day Porter Services Different from a Regular Cleaning Service?
There is some overlap between the role of a porter and that of a cleaning service, but they are not exactly the same.There are two primary differences between day porter services and regular cleaning services: the hours they work and their areas of focus.
Porter Service Focus Area
A traditional cleaning service tends to deep cleaning and heavier maintenance tasks, very rarely interacting with customers, clients, patients, or other visitors. A porter service, on the other hand, usually performs light cleaning and maintenance, ensuring that visitor-facing areas are clean and tidy. They may be called upon to deep clean an area if a safety hazard exists, or if a spill makes an area less inviting, but for the most part, they perform their duties with hospitality in mind.
Depending on the industry or company needs, a porter service may assist with day-to-day operations through interactions with visitors.
Day Porter Services Hours
Regular cleaners start their tasks after the business has closed for the day, or, in the case of always-open businesses, they arrive during the slowest part of the day. This allows them to focus on providing a deep clean without being under the visitors’ feet. Day porter services are present throughout the company’s business hours, maintaining the deep clean that the traditional cleaner provides.
What Are a Porter’s Tasks?
A porter’s tasks may vary depending on the industry. Some of the tasks that virtually all porter services carry out during a shift include the following:
- Routine cleaning services, such as sweeping, vacuuming, and cleaning ground-level windows
- Minor maintenance, such as replacing easy to reach light bulbs
- Restocking restroom supplies
- Carrying out trash
- Cleaning common areas like waiting rooms, break rooms, and kitchens
- Immediately attending to emergencies that can cause safety hazards
Some industry-specific tasks that a porter service may carry out include the following:
- Healthcare: In healthcare, porters may also be called upon to help transport patients, carry patient belongings, or assist family members in finding their loved ones’ rooms.
- Corporate Offices: In corporate buildings, porter services clean waiting areas, executives’ offices, and conference rooms between meetings.
- Transportation Hubs: Porters working in hubs like airports keep major areas clean and stocked, and they may also be asked to help travelers find the correct gate for boarding.
- Private Multi-Family Residences: Sometimes, the owners or managers of multi-family residences rely on a day porter service to keep common areas like hallways, conference rooms, playgrounds, and laundry facilities clean.
Why Would You Need a Porter Service?
If you already have a traditional cleaning service, you may wonder how a porter service could benefit you and your business. When your business struggles to maintain a clean and tidy environment during business hours with their present staff, a porter service can make all the difference. This is especially true if you have had complaints about the condition of your building or if you struggle to maintain your current staff due to the workload.
Many organizations and companies with tight spaces that experience significant traffic throughout the day – schools, hospitals, and hotels, for example – may also benefit from a day porter service.
How to Find a Trustworthy Porter Service
Finding a trustworthy porter service in New York or Miami is as easy as reaching out to Park Slope Cleaning. A porter service should have a good track record with positive reviews. The porters themselves should be well trained in the latest cleaning techniques, especially sanitization, for your specific industry’s needs. A solid day porter service should be equipped with the latest technology in equipment and supplies, and they must be fully insured to protect against any damages that may occur.
Park Slope Cleaning’s porter service takes pride in our reputation for responsiveness and flexibility, meaning we can provide excellent quality services without disrupting operations. We arrive on time and cater to any emergency scenarios immediately. Get a quote today and learn more about how we can tailor our services to your needs.
