Post-Construction Cleaning & Exactly How We're Continuing to Build an Exceptional Company
- Jeff Dougherty
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
We’ve been incredibly blessed to be providing Commercial Cleaning Services across Fort Myers, Naples, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, and the rest of Southwest Florida for decades.
Over the years, I’ve learned that what separates a good cleaning company from an exceptional one comes down to two simple but powerful things: great relationships and great systems.
We recently sat down with Charly on the Cleaning with Purpose podcast to talk about how these two pillars drive everything we do—especially as we’ve grown significantly in post-construction cleaning.
Here’s what I shared, and why it matters for any business owner or leader reading this.
The Foundation: Relationships First
I grew up in the Midwest with a strong religious influence, much like Dave (our owner).
Early on, we all learned a simple truth: when you genuinely pay attention to other people’s needs and treat them right, you usually end up getting what you want too.
It’s the Zig Ziglar idea—help others get what they want, and you’ll get what you want.
That mindset shapes how we run Crystal Clean. We view our team as family, and we treat our clients the same way. We’re not just cleaning buildings; we’re helping people feel safe, secure, and comfortable in their spaces.
One of the best examples is our work with FineMark Bank.
Their testimonial says it all:
"Here at FineMark we have went through several different cleaning companies.
Finding the right cleaning company was my biggest challenge as FineMark’s Facilities Manager.
I am happy to report that Crystal Clean is BY FAR SUPERIOR to any cleaning company we have ever dealt with.
What sets them apart is they have quality control personnel. These are the ones that make sure their crews are living up to our standard. They go above and beyond which is also a key part of our internal culture here at the bank.
You will not be disappointed hiring them to take care of your janitorial needs.
If you have any questions about any of their services, please feel free to reach out to me."
Blaine Lokhorst | Facilities Manager
They’ve searched for years for a company that delivers consistently and fixes problems quickly.
When issues come up (and they always do in this business), we step up immediately. That willingness to own mistakes and make them right is often what builds the strongest relationships.
The same goes for our team. We hire people who share our values—growth-minded, ambitious in a positive way, and committed to doing things the right way. We focus on “I get to” instead of “I have to.”
Cleaning isn’t always glamorous, but when you realize you’re helping others feel better in their environment, and you go home with a sense of accomplishment and a paycheck, it changes everything.
Systems That Deliver Consistency
Relationships get you in the door, but systems keep the quality high day after day, even when someone is out sick or we bring on new team members.
That’s why we created Crystal Clean University. New hires don’t just get thrown into a job.
They come in, meet the team, tour the warehouse, and go through targeted training videos on the right products, techniques (like proper microfiber mopping and disinfecting), and our expectations.
We want them to understand they’ve joined a company that cares about their success.
We’re constantly iterating—taking feedback from clients, lead techs, and account managers to make our processes better. Lead techs and account managers play a huge role here.
They train, coach, inspect, and keep communication flowing so quality doesn’t slip.
Putting It All Together: Construction Cleaning
One of the biggest growth areas for us lately has been Post-Construction Cleaning.
Southwest Florida’s building boom has given us some exciting (and challenging) projects, including our largest to date—the new Suncoast Beverage world headquarters in Fort Myers, a roughly 90,000-square-foot facility (with total space reaching about 200,000 square feet including warehouse and shop areas). Built by Arco, this was a big step up for us.
That job started with a referral and was won through a solid proposal, but what carried us through was relationships.
When challenges popped up—like learning curves with glass cleaning or working around other trades—we owned it, communicated quickly, and made it right.
We replaced scratched glass, adjusted our approach, and turned it into a learning opportunity that now strengthens our training.
In construction cleaning, we typically break projects into phases: a rough clean to handle dust and debris, a final clean, and then a touch-up or buff clean with a walkthrough.
We’re upfront with clients that they’ll be working around other trades, and areas may get dirty again.
We build that reality into our proposals so there are no surprises.
We serve commercial projects of all sizes—offices, medical facilities, warehouses—and some high-end residential post-construction cleans too.
Whether it’s a 12,000-square-foot building or something much larger, we mobilize quickly when needed. Our operations team has a “can-do” mindset that makes it possible.
We proudly serve Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Estero, Naples, Sanibel, Captiva, Marco Island, Punta Gorda, Immokalee, LaBelle, and surrounding areas.
Final Thoughts
If you’re running a business—whether in cleaning or any other industry—focus on building real relationships and solid systems.
Be willing to learn, iterate when things don’t go perfectly, and always own your mistakes.
That combination has helped us take on bigger projects, strengthen our entire operation (including window cleaning, power washing, and floor care), and attract great people and great clients.
We’re always growing, always improving, and always committed to doing things the right way.
If you have a construction project coming up or need reliable commercial cleaning in Southwest Florida, I’d love to talk.
Give us a call at (239) 936-7700 or reach out through our website at: www.CleaningFortMyers.com. We’re ready to help!
Here’s to building better spaces—and better businesses—together.
Jeff Doughtery
General Manager
