As a business manager or owner, you’ll be fully aware of the many and varied responsibilities that fall to you. Somewhere near the top of your priorities is likely to be the cleanliness of your premises.
You may be aware that a clean workspace promotes productivity as well as ensures health and safety. It also presents a positive image to clients and employees.
While it may seem cost-effective to manage cleaning in-house, businesses often make several mistakes when attempting to do so. These missteps can lead to poor results, wasted time, and even increased costs over time. We’ve encountered many of these when assuming new commercial cleaning contracts.
Here, we share some of the most common cleaning mistakes businesses make when trying to handle cleaning themselves instead of hiring a professional cleaning service and how to avoid them.
Don’t Underestimate the Time and Effort Required
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is underestimating the amount of time and effort that proper cleaning requires. We’ve seen all too often that a clean-up is only called for when surfaces start to look a bit grimy. By then it’s too late since germs and bacteria in workplaces congregate and multiply invisibly, every single day. To prevent this, a regular, proper cleaning schedule should be in place, which means diverting worker’s time or hiring in-house cleaners and managing their rota, tasks, equipment and supplies.
When cleaning is relegated to employees who already have their hands full with their primary responsibilities, it can lead to rushed, incomplete, or, as highlighted above, infrequent cleaning. This negatively impacts the overall cleanliness of the workspace. Without dedicated staff trained for cleaning, critical areas might be neglected, leading to hygiene issues and unprofessional appearances.
Know Your Cleaning Products
There are so many cleaning products on the market today but taking the time to understand what each one does may not be something you have space for in your dairy. However, choosing the wrong cleaning products is a common error that can result in inadequate cleaning or even damage to surfaces and equipment.
You may be tempted to simply choose generic cleaners or cheap products, which may not be suitable for certain materials like hardwood floors, treated leather, specialised machinery, or electronics. For example, using incorrect cleaning products to clean office furniture can not only reduce its lifespan but can also pose health risks to employees due to exposure to harsh or inappropriate chemicals.
By comparison, professional cleaning companies equip their teams with the right knowledge and products to clean various surfaces without causing harm.
Remember all the Nooks and Crannies
One of the most common mistakes we encounter when taking on new contracts is ‘invisible’ or low traffic areas being missed or deprioritised from regular cleaning schedules. In-house cleaning staff may focus on high-traffic areas, like WCs and kitchens, but often neglect less-visible spots such as behind office equipment, under furniture, or in air vents.
This is usually down to the simple fact that the dirt or dust is more highly visible and many high traffic areas are just faster and easier to get to and clean.
However, dust and dirt build up in these areas over time which can affect indoor air quality and contribute to allergies or respiratory issues. Professional cleaning teams are trained to address these often-overlooked areas, ensuring that every corner of the business is spotless.
Create Consistent Cleaning Schedules
As we touched on above, cleaning often only becomes a priority in a place of work when things start to ‘look’ untidy, unclean or dusty. But by then it can be too late and unhealthy germs may have already spread.
Without a professional cleaning service that follows a structured cleaning routine, your premises will fall victim to cleaning that is done on an inconsistent or ad-hoc basis. This can lead to fluctuating standards of cleanliness, with some areas being over-cleaned while others are neglected.
Creating a regular cleaning schedule will help you maintain a clean, safe, and healthy work environment. The benefit of working with a professional cleaning service is that they will operate with detailed plans and schedules, ensuring consistency across all spaces, regardless of season or foot traffic.
Manage Your Waste Properly
Improper handling and disposal of waste is another common occurrence that we discover when taking on new commercial cleaning contracts. Whilst it’s not their fault, employees who are not be trained in sorting waste correctly can end up putting recyclable items in landfill bins or disposing of hazardous materials incorrectly.
More generally, this contributes to environmental problems. More immediately, it can also lead to hefty regulatory fines for your business.
This can be avoided by adopting a waste disposal training programme for employees. Alternatively, partnering with a professional cleaning company who are already knowledgeable about proper waste disposal means you can have peace of mind without forking out for ongoing staff training.
Wise Up On Health and Safety Standards
If you’re managing a business premises, your main concern in relation to a cleaning schedule is likely to be about how it appears. But, maintaining workplace cleanliness isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s also a health and safety concern.
If you’re trying to handle your cleaning in-house, you may not be fully aware of the latest health and safety regulations. This is particularly important for areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and communal areas.
Improper cleaning can actually result in the spread of bacteria, viruses, and allergens, instead of reducing them. This increases employee sick days and potentially leads to outbreaks.
Arm yourself with the latest information about health and safety regulations or find out if any existing employees are interested in taking this responsibility on as part of their role. More simply, you could work with a professional cleaner who will follow stringent health and safety protocols, using disinfectants and cleaning techniques designed to reduce the spread of germs.
Invest in Professional Training and the Right Equipment
Cleaning may seem straightforward, but it involves a lot more than simply wiping surfaces and emptying rubbish bins. Professional cleaning staff undergo specialised training to learn the most effective cleaning techniques, proper use of chemicals, and how to avoid cross-contamination.
You might be relying on untrained employees to handle cleaning, but this puts you at risk of missing out on the benefits of expertise in this area. As a result, the cleaning in your building may be ineffective or even counterproductive (as discussed above), with bacteria being spread rather than eliminated.
Meanwhile, you’re probably also relying on basic tools such as household vacuums, mops, and rags, which are inadequate for a commercial setting. To get optimal results, you should research and invest in the right equipment and training for large-scale or specialised cleaning tasks.
On the other hand, you could invest in professional cleaning services, which will come equipped with industrial-grade machines like high-powered vacuums, carpet cleaners, and steam cleaners, which deliver a deeper and more thorough clean.
Without these tools, you may be left with superficial results that fail to address underlying dirt, grime, and germs.
Consider the True Costs to Your Business
Many of the businesses we work with have attempted to manage their cleaning in-house to save money. But, what they often fail to account for are the hidden costs involved. Included are the cost of cleaning supplies, equipment, time spent by employees who are pulled away from their primary duties plus training employees to manage the cleaning properly.
Additionally, subpar cleaning can lead to health problems, damaged assets, and poor employee morale—all of which can be costly in the long run.
While professional cleaning services may seem like a bigger upfront expense, they often result in long-term savings through better efficiency, less waste, and fewer costly repairs.
Housekeeping Club – Commercial Cleaning Expertise
Time and time again, we see businesses handling their cleaning in-house as a cost-saving effort. Although, this often results in more problems than it solves. By working with us, our clients are ensured of a higher standard of cleanliness, improved employee health, and a more professional appearance. Ultimately saving themselves time and money in the long term. If you’ve been struggling to manage your cleaning in-house and are looking for a good value cleaning solution, get in touch with us today for a friendly, no obligation chat.
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