You’ve hired a commercial cleaning company and been working with them for several months or years now, but you’ve just had the realisation that you really need to review the work being done and if it’s really up to scratch. They might tell you the work is getting done, but when you check or question items, it seems things may have been missed or not completed at all. If your commercial cleaning contractor starts cutting corners, the evidence will pile up quickly (sometimes literally!).
This article outlines 7 signs of a bad commercial cleaner, which all warrant a discussion or plan to switch to a new provider ASAP, however as an overall rule: you shouldn’t notice your cleaning job, because when it’s done properly, there’s nothing to see.
If you’re seeing any of these 7 issues with your provider, feel free to get in touch with us today for a proposal to take over the cleaning contract and ensure your space is clean and tidy day in and out.
1. Cleaning is only done in response to a complaint
Cleanliness is a key yardstick that your business will be measured against. If you are getting regular complaints from staff, customers or residents that even routine cleaning tasks aren’t being attended to, your reputation will suffer. Quality check: look for a proactive service approach A top-notch, professional cleaning service will notice and respond to cleaning ‘emergencies’ before they come to your attention. Look for contractors that use controls like cloud-based checklists to guarantee that regular tasks are never missed. Site-specific training will also ensure that your cleaner knows more about cleaning your facility than you will ever need to.
2. You don’t know the exact movements of your cleaning team
If the who, what, when, where and how long of your commercial cleaning service are a bit hazy, then your cleaners likely aren’t across it either. It’s not enough to just assume that staff are where they are meant to be. Quality assurance is sure to become an issue. Similarly, from a security perspective, you shouldn’t be left wondering who is coming and going from your facility. If you don’t have on-demand access to that information, then it’s cause for concern. Quality check: look for transparency Choose contractors that show a commitment to providing high-level visibility for their customers. For example, the use of tools such as GPS-tracked staff clocking systems allows for accurate and instant updates on a cleaner’s location, as well as start and finish times.
3. You’ve never seen a cleaning scope or schedule
Do you know how many times a day/week your bathrooms are cleaned? Do you know if your cleaners routinely wipe down door handles and light switches? Does your agreement include moving the furniture to vacuum the floor underneath? If you’ve never looked these nitty-gritty details in the eye, you’ll have no idea what to expect from your contractor (let alone if they’re delivering on it!). Quality check: look for detailed and custom-fit services A professional cleaning contractor will ‘bore you with the details’ so that you understand exactly what your investment is buying. Your comprehensive cleaning scope should be translated into a tailored work program so that everyone is (literally) on the same page.
4. The cleaning room or cupboard isn’t well-maintained
The space where a cleaner keeps their tools of trade acts as an advertisement for how they approach their work. On a practical level, if their gear is dirty or not working properly, your cleaners can’t possibly clean thoroughly or efficiently. They’ll also waste valuable shift time trying to find things if the supply area isn’t kept well-stocked and organised. Quality Check: A clean and maintanined store room with stock well organised and equipment clean and looked after.
5. You never see the same cleaner twice
Far from feeling like your cleaner is ‘part of the family’, you’re not even 100% sure that they’re part of your contractor’s team! A constant stream of unfamiliar faces is not just a security issue; a lack of ‘relationship’ can often mean that the care-factor is low. Quality check: look for contractors who value their people These last two issues come about when contractors don’t see their staff as their most important asset. Choose commercial cleaning companies who employ their staff directly and pay award rates. This demonstrates good company values such as loyalty, trust and pride in a job well done.
6. You have no ‘relationship’ with your ‘relationship manager’
If you haven’t heard from your relationship manager in 3 months (or worse – you don’t even know who they are!) it suggests that your contractor has a ‘set and forget’ service culture. Their focus is clearly on winning new clients at the expense of delivering great service to their existing ones. Quality check: A professional cleaning service agreement should include face-to-face time with a real, live person. Regular in person ‘quality-checks’ are essential for accountability and to make sure your service remains aligned with your needs.
7. (OK, this one’s obvious but…) Your building is not clean!
Are your employees tearing through their sick days? Are common area bins not reliably emptied? Are there areas that are consistently ‘missed’*? Not only is a dirty facility unappealing to your customers, residents or employees, it’s a potential health hazard (and a liability!). *pro-tip: check behind bathroom doors and under desks – these are good indicators of attention to detail! Quality check: look for a contractor who does things differently, a contractor who cares and has practices and systems in place to make sure your building really is clean. Ok- so you’ve now reviewed your current provider, and perhaps there is a few red flags here and there of slipping service and less-than expected results. What do you do about it? There are really two options, the first is that you book a meeting or discuss these issues you’ve found with your current supplier to give them the opportunity to fix the issues. If you have already brought up issues countless times and the same issues keep recurring, then we highly recommend it’s time to source a new supplier before your business suffers any further.
Why you should consider Realcorp for your commercial cleaning contract.
At Realcorp we’re different – in a good way! The next-level quality commercial cleaning service that Realcorp delivers has its foundations in knowing exactly what clients don’t want to see in their commercial and office spaces. To deliver a consistently ‘above expectations’ commercial cleaning service, we’ve modelled our systems, processes and controls on those used in professional services, including:
- GPS-tracked staff clocking system – providing transparency and accountability
- Cloud-based completion checklists – staff can check off all tasks in real time using a mobile device
- Tailored work programs – you’ll know exactly what gets cleaned and when
- In-depth, site-specific training – we really get to know your facility and its particular cleaning needs
- Direct employment on award rates – when you value your staff, they take care and have pride in their work
- Regular ‘walk-throughs’ performed by your relationship manager – any issues can be identified and resolved quickly
For a commercial cleaning service that’s thought of everything (so you don’t have to) Call 1300 307 298 or email sales@realcorp.net.au ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Written by Realcorp director, John Reale. John wasn’t always in the business of commercial cleaning; prior to starting Realcorp Commercial Cleaning, he was a chartered accountant. With a background in auditing, you can probably guess that ‘details’ were in his DNA. Unfortunately, this also means that he spent over a decade involuntarily noticing bad cleaning jobs and therefore a passion for delivering high-quality commercial cleaning services has driven Realcorp to prosper.