Strata Janitorial Services in Metro Vancouver: A Practical Guide for Cleaner, Easier-to-Manage Buildings

By EcoPlanet Property Services

If you live in or help run a strata in Metro Vancouver, you see the building in a way most people do not. You notice the lobby floor after a wet morning, the fingerprints on the elevator buttons, the flyers that pile up near the mail room, and the slow creep of dust along the baseboards. Residents pass through these spaces every day. When they are cared for, people feel proud to come home. When they are not, complaints start to show up in emails and at council meetings.

Garbage and recycling rooms are another flash point. A missed cleaning can mean stubborn odours, spills that never quite get wiped up, or bins that feel unpleasant to use. In winter, slush and salt can follow people in from the sidewalk and sit at the entrance for hours. Over time, it can feel as if cleaning is always on the agenda, yet nothing really changes.

This guide is meant to give you a clear, practical look at strata janitorial services. You will learn how to think about your building’s cleaning needs, how to set a realistic plan, and what to ask from any provider you consider. Throughout, we will draw on the experience of EcoPlanet Property Services, an eco-friendly janitorial and strata cleaning partner serving buildings across Metro Vancouver.

What Strata Janitorial Services Really Mean in Metro Vancouver

“Strata janitorial services” can sound like a line item on a budget, but in day-to-day life it is simply how your building is cared for. In most Metro Vancouver stratas, this includes the spaces everyone shares: lobbies, hallways, elevators, stairwells, restrooms, mail rooms, garbage and recycling areas, amenity rooms, and the main entrances that welcome people home. When a janitorial team is working consistently, these areas feel looked after rather than forgotten.

At a practical level, strata cleaning services in Vancouver often cover a mix of tasks. Floors are swept, mopped, or vacuumed so grit and dust do not build up. Glass doors and mirrors are cleared of fingerprints. High touch points such as elevator buttons and door handles are wiped regularly. In garbage and recycling rooms, spills are cleaned, bins are kept reasonably tidy, and odour is managed so using the space does not feel unpleasant.

The impact shows up in small ways. Residents notice when they step into a lobby that smells fresh instead of stale, or when they no longer see the same scuff marks and cobwebs week after week. Good common area cleaning for a strata does not call attention to itself. It simply makes it easier for people to move through the building without feeling irritated by mess or clutter.

Regular janitorial work also supports the physical building. When floors are cared for properly, they hold up better to sand, salt, and daily traffic. When surfaces are wiped before dirt and moisture sit for long periods, finishes generally look better over time. It is not about promising specific gains in property value. It is about steady, ongoing care that helps the spaces everyone shares feel welcoming and well managed.

Janitorial, Caretaker, and Concierge: Who Does What in a Strata Building?

In many Metro Vancouver buildings there are several people involved in keeping things running. It helps when everyone understands who does what, so requests do not get passed around or forgotten.

Janitorial services for strata buildings focus on the cleaning itself. The janitorial team looks after the shared spaces that everyone uses. That usually includes sweeping and mopping floors, vacuuming carpets, wiping fingerprints from doors and elevator panels, cleaning washrooms, checking garbage and recycling rooms, and giving amenity spaces regular attention. Some buildings choose nightly service. Others prefer a few visits a week or a extra services during busy hours. EcoPlanet Property Services already works this way, building schedules around how each property is actually used rather than forcing every strata into the same routine.

A caretaker or building manager, where one is present, has a different role. They are often the person who walks the site, notices small issues early, and helps arrange trades for repairs. They might test doors, check mechanical rooms, and keep an eye on how the common areas are holding up. They are the eyes and ears of the council and property manager.

A concierge or front desk team is more focused on residents and visitors. They handle deliveries, let contractors in, book elevators for moves, and help keep the lobby calm and orderly. They may pick up small bits of litter, but their main job is service rather than full cleaning.

When councils clearly describe these roles, it is easier to build a cleaning plan that fits. People know whether to call the concierge, the caretaker, or the janitorial company, and there are fewer moments where someone says, “I thought they handled that.”

The Essential Areas Your Strata Cleaning Plan Should Cover

When you picture strata building cleaning services, certain spaces come to mind right away. A good plan goes a little deeper and makes sure every high-traffic area is included, from the front door to the parkade.

Lobbies, Hallways, and Elevators

Lobbies and corridors are the face of the building. Residents, guests, couriers, and real estate agents all walk through these spaces, so they notice every streak on the floor and every mark on the walls. In a typical Vancouver strata, these areas need daily or near daily attention. That usually means vacuuming or mopping, wiping handrails, cleaning glass at the entrance, and giving elevator buttons, doors, and panels a regular wipe. When this work is done consistently, the building feels cared for even on a rainy Tuesday.

Garbage and Recycling Rooms

Garbage and recycling rooms are rarely anyone’s favourite place, yet everyone uses them. Without regular cleaning, odours linger, spills harden on the floor, and bins start to feel unpleasant to handle. A practical strata cleaning plan treats these rooms as a priority. Floors are cleaned after pickups, touch points such as door handles and chute areas are wiped, and the space is checked often enough that small problems do not sit for long. The goal is not perfection. It is a room people can use quickly without wanting to hold their breath.

Amenities and Shared Facilities

Many Metro Vancouver stratas now have gyms, lounges, guest suites, or rooftop spaces. These areas help sell units and support community life, but they also add to the cleaning list. Equipment needs regular wipe downs, mirrors need attention, and washrooms or change rooms benefit from frequent checks. A thoughtful plan looks at how often these spaces are booked and schedules cleaning around that pattern, so they stay fresh for the next group using them.

Parkades and Loading Bays

Parkades and loading bays collect dust, dirt, and vehicle residue over time. If they are never swept or scrubbed, they can start to feel dark and neglected. Including parkade cleaning in your overall strata building cleaning services keeps these areas more comfortable to use and helps reduce the amount of grime tracked into the lobby. EcoPlanet offers parkade sweeping and scrubbing as part of a wider service mix, which makes it easier to fold this work into the rest of your janitorial plan.

Entryways, Stairs, and Exterior Paths

Finally, it helps to think about the journey people take from the sidewalk to their front door. Exterior stairs, ramps, and walkways collect leaves, litter, and winter grit. Stairs and secondary exits inside the building can also be easy to overlook until a resident points them out. Many stratas in Vancouver coordinate exterior cleaning with snow and ice services from the same provider so that sweeping, litter pickup, and winter response support each other. Even a simple schedule for these “in between” spaces makes the whole property feel more consistent and well managed.

How Often Should Strata Common Areas Be Cleaned? Sample Schedules to Start From

One of the first questions councils ask is how often different spaces should be cleaned. There is no single right answer. A small low-rise in a quiet neighbourhood will not need the same strata janitorial schedule as a busy tower in downtown Vancouver. Building size, layout, number of residents, pets, short term rentals, amenities, and even street traffic all play a part.

As a starting point, many stratas in Metro Vancouver choose something close to this pattern for a busier building:

• Lobby, main corridors, elevator interiors and buttons, entrance glass, washrooms, quick garbage room check: daily or five times per week
• Stairwells, more detailed lobby dusting, amenity rooms: weekly
• Vents, baseboards, full amenity deep cleans, parkade sweeping or scrubbing, exterior power washing: monthly or a few times per year

Written out as a simple text checklist, it might look like this:

• Lobby and main entrance: floors, glass, touch points – daily
• Elevators and corridors: floors, panels, handrails – daily or several times per week
• Stairwells: floors, rails, corners – weekly
• Garbage and recycling rooms: floors, bins, touch points – several times per week
• Amenities: surfaces, washrooms, equipment – weekly or more when heavily used
• Parkade and exterior: sweeping, scrubbing, power washing – monthly or seasonally

Your council and property manager can adjust these examples up or down based on how people actually use the building.

Eco-Friendly Strata Cleaning: Supporting Residents, Pets, and the Planet

Strata buildings share air, floors, and touch points. When strong chemical smells linger in a lobby or garbage room, everyone feels it. Many residents also live with asthma, allergies, or other sensitivities, so it makes sense to pay attention to the cleaning chemistry that is used in common spaces.

EcoPlanet focuses on eco-friendly strata cleaning that balances cleanliness with comfort wherever possible. The team incorporates Green Seal certified products where appropriate and, when practical, a Buckeye Eco Pro proportioning system to control how much product is dispensed, along with microfibre cloths and mops to capture more dust with less chemical use.

Measured dosing helps reduce waste and strong odours, which is better for people, pets, and the environment.

How to Choose a Strata Janitorial Services Partner in Metro Vancouver

Once you have a sense of what needs to be cleaned and how often, the next step is finding a partner you feel comfortable with. Start by looking for real experience with strata cleaning services in Vancouver, not only offices or retail. It is reasonable to ask for references from condo or townhome strata buildings that are similar in size and style to your own.

Training and supervision also matter. A good strata cleaning company in Metro Vancouver will be able to explain how their staff are trained on equipment and products, and who checks the work. EcoPlanet, for example, uses supervisors to perform regular inspections and support the on-site team, which helps keep quality consistent over time.

Communication is just as important as mops and vacuums. Ask who your main contact will be, how quickly you can expect a response, and whether they use simple site logs, a cleaning app, or both. It helps when your janitorial partner can also coordinate related work such as parkade scrubbing, carpet cleaning, power washing, flood clean up, and snow and ice services. That way, the different pieces of your building care plan support each other. Finally, pay attention to fit. A partner who values eco-friendly products, clear communication, and long-term relationships with councils and property managers is more likely to feel like part of the team.

When It Might Be Time to Review Your Current Strata Janitorial Setup

Even with a contract in place, there comes a point when a building feels like it needs a fresh look at cleaning. You may hear the same complaints at every annual general meeting or see the same scuffs and cobwebs each week. Common areas can start to feel tired even though someone is technically coming in to clean.

There are also operational signs that it might be time to review your setup. It may be hard to reach your contact, staff may change often without warning, or feedback from residents may not seem to reach the people doing the work. None of these automatically mean you must change companies, but they are useful signals.

A gentle first step is to sit down with your property manager and review the existing scope alongside what you see in the building today. Invite your current provider into that conversation, share what residents are noticing, and see whether adjustments to the plan or schedule help. If, after that, the building still does not feel well cared for, your council can explore other strata janitorial services in Greater Vancouver with a clearer picture of what you need.

FAQs About Strata Janitorial Services in Metro Vancouver

1. What is the difference between janitorial services and caretaker services in a strata building?
   Janitorial services focus on cleaning common areas such as lobbies, corridors, garbage rooms, and amenities. A caretaker or building manager usually looks after light maintenance, checks the property regularly, and helps organise trades or repairs. Some buildings have both, while others rely on janitorial services and a property manager.
2. Can we customise a strata cleaning schedule for our specific building?
   Yes. Most providers, including EcoPlanet, expect to tailor a schedule to each property. A quieter low-rise with limited amenities will not need the same plan as a large tower with heavy elevator traffic and several shared facilities.
3. Do eco-friendly strata cleaning products still clean effectively?
   Modern eco-friendly products are designed to clean well when used according to their directions. Combined with microfibre cloths and proper tools, they can deliver strong results while reducing strong chemical smells and unnecessary product use.
4. Do you look after parkades and amenities as part of strata janitorial services?
   EcoPlanet can include parkade sweeping and scrubbing, as well as regular attention to amenities such as gyms, lounges, and guest suites, as part of a broader service plan. The exact mix depends on what your building needs and how often those spaces are used.
5. What areas of Metro Vancouver does EcoPlanet serve for strata cleaning and janitorial services?
   EcoPlanet provides strata janitorial services across Metro Vancouver, including Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, and nearby communities. If you are unsure whether your property is within the service area, you can ask for a quick confirmation when you reach out.

Next Steps: Turning Your Strata Janitorial Plan into Action

At this point you have a clear picture of what strata janitorial services include, which areas of your building matter most, and how schedules and products all fit together. The next move is to turn that understanding into a simple, working plan. Start with a short walkthrough of your property. Bring your checklist, note what residents have been mentioning, and decide where a stronger cleaning routine would make the greatest difference to how your common areas look and feel.

If you would like a hand, EcoPlanet can guide you. The team can review your strata buildings cleaning and maintenance needs, talk through eco-friendly janitorial services in Vancouver, and outline a strata janitorial plan that reflects how your property is actually used day to day.