Cleanliness in the workplace is no longer just about appearances; it’s a critical component of employee health, productivity, and the overall impression a business makes on its clients. In high-traffic environments, a slip in cleaning standards can quickly become a liability, making the choice of a cleaning service a significant operational decision for any facility manager or business owner.
Ruhls Of Cleaning, a Columbus, Georgia-based company long trusted for its residential and Airbnb cleaning services, has recently expanded its offerings to include comprehensive
commercial cleaning. Founded by Tyler and Gabriella Ruhlman, the family-owned business brings over a decade of meticulous experience to the corporate sector. We sat down with Tyler Ruhlman to discuss this expansion, the challenges of commercial cleaning, and how their team ensures top-tier results for local businesses.
Q: Ruhls Of Cleaning has built a strong reputation in the residential and Airbnb markets. What drove the decision to expand into commercial cleaning now?
Tyler Ruhlman: Honestly, our path here started with a lesson learned. We built the business doing Airbnb turnovers, and while that taught us a lot about speed and attention to detail, it also showed us the downside of working with clients who wanted top tier results but weren’t willing to commit to consistent pricing or a reliable schedule. Every job felt like it was being renegotiated, with last minute changes, disputes over rates, and unpredictable timelines. It was exhausting, and honestly, it wasn’t sustainable for a business trying to grow with integrity.
That experience pushed us to ask where we could bring the same quality of work to clients who value consistency as much as we do. Commercial cleaning felt like the natural next step. Facility managers and business owners need a partner they can rely on, with fixed schedules, transparent pricing, and a team that shows up and does the job right every time. That’s exactly the kind of relationship Gabriella and I wanted to build from day one.
Q: Transitioning from residential to commercial spaces often involves a shift in scale and specialized requirements. How has your team adapted its approach for environments like corporate offices or industrial spaces?
Tyler Ruhlman: The biggest shift for us has been scale, not complexity. Residential and Airbnb cleaning is usually a few rooms at a time, and commercial spaces mean covering a lot more square footage in the same visit. That required us to get more efficient with our time and more organized as a team so we can move through a larger space without cutting corners.
What hasn’t changed is our approach. We still rely on the same basic equipment and cleaning fundamentals that built our reputation in residential work, we’ve just learned how to apply that consistency across bigger spaces and around a business’s schedule instead of a homeowner’s. A lot of it comes down to communication with the client upfront, knowing their hours of operation and what areas matter most to them, so we can get in, do the job right, and get out without disrupting their day.
Q: You mention offering services for apartment complexes and move-in/move-out scenarios. How do you maintain consistent quality when turning over multiple units under tight deadlines?
Tyler Ruhlman: I’ll be honest, move-in and move-out turnovers aren’t my favorite jobs to take on, and I price them accordingly. They come with tight deadlines and scheduling that can get chaotic fast, so I make sure the rate reflects that. What works for me is fitting those jobs around my recurring cleans whenever I have the availability to do it without sacrificing quality. If the timing doesn’t line up, I have no problem passing on it. I learned a long time ago that I don’t have to say yes to every job that comes my way. Protecting the quality and consistency of the work I do commit to matters more to me than filling every slot on the calendar.
Q: As a family-owned business, you and Gabriella personally oversee operations. How does this hands-on leadership style translate into better service for your commercial clients?
Tyler Ruhlman: Being hands-on isn’t just a talking point for us, it’s how we’ve operated since day one. I am personally involved in the day-to-day, so nothing about a client’s job gets lost between layers of management. If something needs to be addressed, whether it’s a scheduling change or a specific request from a client, they’re talking directly to the people who own the business and stand behind the work.
That level of involvement means accountability. We’re not relying on a large staff to represent standards we’re removed from, we’re setting those standards and making sure they’re met ourselves. For commercial clients, that translates into consistency
they can count on a level of care that’s hard to get from a bigger, less personal operation.
Q: With so many commercial cleaning options available, what specific standard or practice do you feel truly sets Ruhls Of Cleaning apart from the competition in the Columbus area?
Tyler Ruhlman: What sets us apart comes down to accountability and consistency. A lot of cleaning companies in the area rely on rotating crews or subcontractors, which means the quality of the job can change depending on who shows up. With us, that’s not a variable. Gabriella and I are directly involved in the business, so every client is
getting the same standard of work every single time, not a diluted version of it.
We’re also selective about the jobs we take on, which is something a lot of larger companies can’t afford to be. We would rather do fewer jobs exceptionally well than overextend ourselves and let quality slip. That mindset is what’s allowed us to build a
reputation people trust, and it’s the same standard we’re bringing into the commercial side of the business.
Q: Looking ahead, how do you see the commercial cleaning needs of businesses evolving, and how is Ruhls of Cleaning preparing to meet those future demands?
Tyler Ruhlman: I think businesses are going to keep expecting more consistency and more direct accountability from the companies they hire, not less. As more companies get frustrated with rotating crews or inconsistent service, they’re going to gravitate toward businesses that can offer that same level of care no matter how big they get.
Right now I have two employees working alongside me, and that’s intentional. I’d rather grow that team the right way, training them to hold the same standards Gabriella and I built the business on, than bring on a bunch of people quickly just to take on more jobs. As demand grows, our plan is to keep building a small, trained team we can vouch for personally, so clients still get that same accountability even as we take on more work.
This expansion by Ruhls Of Cleaning highlights a growing demand for commercial cleaning services that combine the scale needed for large facilities with the meticulous, personalized care often reserved for residential spaces. The company’s commitment to integrity and family-driven oversight provides a compelling option for businesses seeking reliable maintenance.
As workplaces continue to prioritize health, safety, and employee well-being, the role of professional commercial cleaning will only become more vital. Partnering with a dedicated team ensures that businesses can focus on their core operations while trusting that their environment is pristine.