October 28, 2021

Trending challenges in the cleaning industry

Pura 4D Cleaning Products
During the global pandemic, the cleanliness levels of a facility were thrown into the spotlight. Along with the frontline cleaning teams who were hard at work, ensuring facilities continued to be safe places for all of us to visit. Today, we will discuss the challenges in the cleaning industry and how they can be overcome.
Here’s some information about the latest challenges and the latest opportunities…

New challenges in the cleaning industry

Some argue that the challenges most commercial and industrial cleaning businesses face today are the same challenges the industry has always confronted. While that may be true, these challenges don’t seem to be going away any time soon. Below are just a few of the most common market challenges facing cleaning companies and how they can be addressed.

1. Labour: Finding & Keeping the Right Employees

The public perception that professional cleaning is not skilled work has long been pervasive in the cleaning industry.

This perception tends to lead to high employee turnover for cleaning companies.
Due to this negative perception, those who apply for open positions may not be the best fit, and those who are a good fit may not want to stay in the position long.

Effective interview questions and accurate job descriptions are essential for cleaning companies to reduce hiring costs. National background checks are also important for hiring the right professionals for the job.

Employee retention is hugely important. Employee retention starts with understanding how your company culture impacts employee job satisfaction. Making positive changes to the culture can help ensure that employees are happier and more productive in their workplace. Which can lead to lower turnover rates.

Here are just a few ways that cleaning businesses can improve employee retention:

The public perception that professional cleaning is not skilled work has long been pervasive in the cleaning industry.

This perception tends to lead to high employee turnover for cleaning companies.
Due to this negative perception, those who apply for open positions may not be the best fit, and those who are a good fit may not want to stay in the position long.

Effective interview questions and accurate job descriptions are essential for cleaning companies to reduce hiring costs. National background checks are also important for hiring the right professionals for the job.

Employee retention is hugely important. Employee retention starts with understanding how your company culture impacts employee job satisfaction. Making positive changes to the culture can help ensure that employees are happier and more productive in their workplace. Which can lead to lower turnover rates.

2. Productivity: Improving Cleaning Efficiency

Investing in effective cleaning equipment makes it easier for cleaning companies to boost efficiency without impacting quality.

For instance, using machines that have pre-set cleaning options allows your staff to start cleaning right away without wasting time on set-up. This improves productivity and provides more consistent cleaning results.

Cleaning companies should also consider investing in equipment that allows employees to get into tight spaces and hard to reach areas. These machines give them the ability to clean close to equipment, pallets, shelves, racks, and other infrastructure.

Commercial cleaning technologies and automated systems should also be considered. These improve productivity even further!

3. Budget: Doing More with Less

As the economy dips and cleaning becomes a luxury service that businesses feel they can cut back on, cleaning companies have to continue to provide quality service with a smaller budget.

  • Cleaning companies need to look for opportunities to keep costs down without sacrificing quality of service. This may require you to change the way you operate and take advantage of new ways to save.
  • Planned maintenance of cleaning equipment is a simple way to save on operational costs over time. Just like a vehicle needs an oil change to maintain performance, so does your cleaning equipment. Routine maintenance saves you money in the long run and can even extend the life of your equipment.
  • You can also develop a strong training program that teaches staff how to work effectively and efficiently. The more efficiently your team works, the more services you can provide with fewer people.

4. Safety: Protecting Employees and Customers

  • Slip and fall accidents are one of the most common types of safety issues in commercial buildings and industrial facilities. Slip and fall accident training is a critical part of employee training.
  • Another safety issue that cleaning companies must contend with is the impact that cleaning processes and products have on the environment. For instance, harsh chemicals that give off a strong odor or equipment that creates noise pollution. These can impact customers and employees that are in the facility during the cleaning. Investing in more efficient cleaning technologies can help reduce both noise pollution and chemical use.
  • Safety gear and offering training on how to operate cleaning equipment properly is imperative for employee safety.
  • Using equipment and cleaning solutions that reduce the need for harsh chemicals not only provides a cleaner, healthier environment for the building, but also for the cleaning company’s employees who are regularly exposed to these materials.

Summary

Clearly the cleaning industry is in a state of change right now. However, there are solutions which can benefit employers, employees, and customers. Here at Chespack Hygiene, we specialise in all areas of cleaning and hygiene. We provide information and solutions to ensure your workplace is as clean as it can be. For a free audit of your organisation, contact us today.

Trending challenges in the cleaning industry