The professional cleaning sector is facing a revolution as an increasing number of companies explore ways to swap out of hours cleaning for more daytime operations. Karen James, sales and marketing director for Nilfisk-Advance, considers the implications of this trend for contract cleaners and their customers, and how innovations in floorcare equipment can assist the process.

Many regard daytime cleaning as the way forward for our industry and we know from our experience at Nilfisk that more and more of our customers are promoting this option to their clients, resulting in benefits on both sides. It is already a well established practice in America and now looks set to become more common over here. Indeed, one US industry consultant reports that positive comments from building occupants with daytime cleaners outnumbered complaints by 20 to 1, while another cites a 5-10% saving on cleaning budgets - which is good news for suppliers and end-users of this vital service. So what’s driving this trend, and what will a move towards more ‘normal’ working hours mean for those involved in this highly competitive industry?

Changes in the way we work and play are clearly a factor, including extended opening hours in the retail and hospitality sectors and in some commercial environments, such as call centres. This has left considerably less time for contractors to come in and clean when premises are closed and empty. In fact, our 24-hour society is one of the keys to the growth in daytime cleaning. Nine-to-five business hours are becoming a thing of the past across many industry sectors, and this is obviously having an impact on the more traditional early morning or night time cleaning shifts. As a result, many cleaning contractors are having to adapt their working arrangements to meet this challenge. And by embracing rather than resisting this change, many are finding new profit opportunities for their businesses and are able to deliver improved standards of service for their clients.

Lower labour costs

Whether you are a large contract cleaner or a smaller independent, daytime cleaning operations bring some obvious economic benefits. The cleaning industry has long been associated with part-time staff working unsocial hours. This has tended to make cleaning jobs more difficult to fill and has meant higher wage bills for employers. Switching to daytime working not only results in lower labour costs, it also improves staff retention. High staff turnover has been a longstanding problem in this industry and can have an adverse effect on commercial efficiency and quality standards, so this is an important plus point for daytime operations.

End user benefits

In addition to the cost saving advantages for contract cleaners, there are also a number of benefits for their clients. With cleaners and their customers in the building at the same time it is much easier to build a good relationship between the two. Also, any issues relating to the service provided can be discussed directly, which can help to improve overall cleaning standards. Immediate cleaning needs can be addressed more quickly if the cleaners are on the spot, and by working alongside each other, cleaning operatives and their customers tend to gain more respect for each other.  Whether it’s an office, shop or factory, the staff can see cleaning personnel in action and the latter will get a better insight into how the building is utilised and which areas are used more or less heavily. This all helps cleaning managers and housekeepers to deploy operatives more effectively and reduces unnecessary cleaning of areas that are used less frequently.

Machinery developments

Cleaning during the day has always made more sense but hasn’t been particularly practical for various reasons. Perhaps one of the most notable reasons has been noisy, cumbersome machinery that would disturb hospital patients or people trying to work in an office, for example, or create a nuisance for hotel guests or shoppers. There are also potential hazards to public safety caused by floors that remain wet after cleaning or trailing wires from floorcare machines. However, advances in equipment design from manufacturers like Nilfisk are making daytime cleaning not only possible, but a much smarter way of working for all concerned. These include low noise vacs, more compact scrubber/dryers and sweepers that are easy to use and to manoeuvre, and multi-function floorcare machines that can scrub and strip hard floors to speed up cleaning and minimise disruption.

Battery powered machines, which overcome the problem of people tripping over electrical flexes, have also improved in recent years and advanced Li-Ion (lithium ion) batteries are now available in Nilfisk’s new GD 911 commercial battery vac, for example. This can deliver impressive 100W suction power, 60 minute run time, a quick charger and the possibility of continuous use with additional battery packs. In terms of more compact machines for daytime cleaning, Nilfisk has just launched the CA 331 - the smallest pedestrian scrubber/dryer in our range. This also features double squeegees for effective drying when working in either forward or reverse mode, so floors are left safe for people to work on immediately after cleaning.

Daytime cleaning operations certainly look set to rise in the UK and given the benefits for those involved. I believe this is a trend that should be widely welcomed by contract cleaners, their staff and end users. From the manufacturers’ point of view, Nilfisk-Advance will continue to develop floorcare equipment that will help our customers maximise the benefits of daytime cleaning.

Web: www.nilfisk-advance.co.uk