How to Cut Janitorial Costs Without Compromising Service Quality
Balancing cleaning costs with maintaining a spotless facility can be a delicate act. Spending too much on cleaning services strains your budget, while cutting corners can lead to subpar results. The challenge is to find a way to keep your facility clean without overpaying for unnecessary services.
1. Reevaluate the Cleaning Schedule
Labor costs make up about 60% of a cleaning company’s expenses. Reducing the time spent cleaning is one of the most effective ways to lower costs. Often, businesses stick to established cleaning routines that may no longer match their facility’s actual needs. Taking a closer look at your cleaning schedule can help identify tasks or areas that don’t require as much attention.
For instance, some spaces in your building might be cleaned daily, even though they’re rarely used. Offices with little foot traffic could be cleaned weekly instead, allowing you to focus resources on high-traffic areas like hallways, lobbies, and restrooms. This adjustment can reduce labor hours without sacrificing cleanliness in the areas that matter most.
Action Step: Walk through your facility and assess the cleaning needs of each area. Which spaces are heavily used and need daily cleaning? Which ones can be cleaned less frequently? Partnering with a professional cleaning provider can help you make informed decisions about how to optimize your schedule for efficiency and cost savings.
- Pay for Extra Services as Needed
Many cleaning contracts bundle special services—like floor stripping, window cleaning, or carpet shampooing—into the monthly bill. These project-based tasks are essential but don’t always need to be done as often as the contract specifies. As a result, you might be paying for services that aren’t actually required, or that could be scheduled less frequently.
A better approach is to arrange for these services only when they’re needed. For example, instead of automatically paying for floor stripping quarterly, you could have it done biannually or only when wear and tear becomes noticeable. By paying for extra services on an as-needed basis, you can significantly reduce your cleaning expenses over time.
Action Step: Discuss your options with your cleaning provider. Request unit pricing for project-based tasks and schedule them when necessary rather than bundling them into a fixed monthly cost. This flexibility allows you to maintain high standards while eliminating unnecessary expenses.
Balancing cost and service quality doesn’t have to be a struggle. By reassessing your cleaning schedule and switching to an on-demand approach for project work, you can keep your facility clean and professional while staying within your budget.
Ready to save money on your cleaning program? Contact us for a free consultation, and we’ll help you create a customized plan tailored to your facility’s needs and your financial goals.
