WA facility managers: use this 10-point checklist to evaluate cleaning vendors
Why Evaluation Matters
Switching cleaning vendors feels risky. The incumbent is familiar, problems are intermittent, and replacement consumes management attention. But a vendor that cannot show what was cleaned, what was missed, and what was corrected is a vendor you cannot evaluate — you can only complain to.
The 10-Point Checklist
1. Can the vendor produce a written scope for your facility? 2. How does the vendor verify that work was completed? 3. Does the vendor use color-coded tools to reduce cross-contamination? 4. Are products used according to their labels, including contact time? 5. Does the vendor document corrective actions? 6. How quickly does the vendor respond to issues? 7. Can the vendor show photo evidence of cleaning quality? 8. Does the vendor provide recurring inspection reports? 9. Is the vendor bonded, insured, and background-checked? 10. Does the vendor offer a documented baseline before proposing changes?
Red Flags
A vendor that resists documentation, cannot describe their verification process, or relies entirely on visual appearance should raise concern. 'Looks clean' is not a quality standard — it is an opinion. Without a documented process, you have no factual basis for evaluating improvement or holding the vendor accountable.
The Anvil Approach
Anvil's Facility Hygiene Review provides the documented baseline this checklist asks for. A focused review of one priority area uses fluorescent-marker verification to evaluate mechanical cleaning coverage, then delivers documented findings and a prioritized corrective-action plan — whether or not you switch vendors.
