Custodial

Custodial Services

FMO Custodial proudly serves as Harvard’s in‑house custodial service provider. We keep the University's classrooms, labs, residences, and common spaces clean, healthy, and welcoming for students, faculty, staff, and visitors every day.

Custodian mops gleaming wood floor as sun pours through stained glass windows

What We Do

FMO Custodial delivers reliable daily cleaning and restorative maintenance for Harvard’s interior spaces. Our team of 500 highly trained technicians combines deep knowledge of Harvard’s buildings, clear service standards, sustainable practices, and industry‑leading data analytics to keep campus spaces safe, clean, and ready for use.

Customized Cleaning for Every Building

Harvard’s campus spans centuries of architecture—from historic houses and libraries to cutting‑edge laboratories and performance spaces. Each building has its own history, uses, and constraints, and requires a tailored approach.

FMO Custodial develops customized cleaning programs for schools and departments through Service Level Agreements (SLAs). SLAs translate your facility’s unique needs into a clear, shared plan by defining:

  • Spaces & Priorities – which areas require enhanced attention, special protocols, or extended coverage
  • Tasks & Frequencies – what is done, how often, and by whom
  • Standards & Compliance – health, safety, and sustainability expectations, including specialized lab or residential needs
  • Budget & Planning – transparent assumptions and costs to support planning and decision‑making

Safe, Clean, and Green

Our commitment to excellence extends to the health and safety of our community. As a Green Seal™ GS-42 certified program, we adhere to the industry’s highest standards for sustainable cleaning and disinfecting. We use environmentally preferable products and equipment to protect our campus, advance the University's climate goals, and promote the health and well‑being of the Harvard community.

white checkmark on green background and says green seal certified meets a high standard for protecting people and planet

Contact FMO Custodial

24/7 Urgent Response

Call the University Operations Center at (617) 495-5560 for urgent issues requiring an immediate response.

Examples include: 

  • Active leaks or flooding
  • Spills, including biohazards
  • Any condition that poses a health or safety risk
exclamation point

Share Appreciation

Share a compliment or note of thanks for a custodial team member. We ensure these messages reach the individuals being recognized.

thumb up icon

FMO Custodial by the Numbers

9.1 million

Square feet of campus cleaned

Across the Cambridge, Allston, and Longwood campuses, as well as the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University.

100+

Harvard facilities served

Including academic, administrative, athletic, research, and residential facilities, as well as historic houses, museums, and libraries.

93.0%

Overall cleaning quality score

Based on 2,600 internal and external quality audits, FMO Custodial maintained APPA-1 cleaning—the industry's highest, showcase standard—across the University for the entire Fiscal Year.

Custodial Leadership Contacts