Daytime cleaning has attracted a lot of interest recently but is this really the best description? Surely the point is to clean premises when it is most convenient, economical and sustainable for the owner, occupier and contractor? Many of the cost saving and improved service benefits can best be achieved when the building is at its busiest but with our round-the-clock culture this could be at any time of the day. Surely a better term is worktime cleaning?

Recent estimates put the annual value of the UK contract cleaning market at around £5600 million. This offers significant opportunities for new business and scope for savings in existing operational costs. Moving to worktime cleaning could be one way to harvest some of this market. A comprehensive European Union study on cleaning was conducted in 2007, and it was estimated that 16% of cleaning in the UK is undertaken during the day. This is lower than the EU average, broadly in line with some other countries but way behind Sweden (78%), the Czech Republic (40%) and Denmark (37%). Clearly there is room for improvement.

There are three main reasons to embrace worktime cleaning. First, costs can be reduced and these savings passed on to customers or used to increase profitability, or perhaps both. Second, the overall service can be enhanced which is good for customers’ reputations and the building users’ experience. Third, changes in processes can lead to greater sustainability.

If just 16% of UK cleaning is done during the day, a significant proportion of the remaining 84% is likely to be done when the building is otherwise unused. Worktime cleaning reduces costs for employers of cleaning staff because there is less pressure to pay out-of-hours premium rates and excessive overtime. Reducing the number of people entering the building at unusual times will simplify security and reduce costs. There will be less need to maintain heating and lighting at worktime levels, also saving costs and improving sustainability.

One of the most obvious benefits of daytime cleaning is that dirt and grime can be dealt with sooner and higher overall standards of hygiene maintained. Adopting a clean-as-you-go approach should mean a building’s users and occupants will notice the difference more quickly. Regular checks and cleaning when necessary but skipping areas that have not been used can enhance the overall room appearance while cutting out wasteful activity and costs. This is important, especially where the first impression people gain has a knock-on effect to customer satisfaction, retention and repeat business, such as in the healthcare, food, transport and retail sectors.

However, building managers and operators are understandably wary of allowing chemical-based cleaning when occupants are present because of the perceived health and safety risks. Although these fears are sometimes over-emphasised, one simple and highly effective way of avoiding them is to use ultra microfibre cleaning tools for hard surface cleaning. These can be used dry or with water alone to remove dust and general grime but have the additional advantage of removing infections from hard surfaces such as floors, desks and worktops.

Even in ordinary business premises this can reduce the transmission of infections such as common colds or flu through touching contaminated surfaces. Trolley systems equipped with colour coded cloths are smart and promote a professional image. They also ensure cleaning staff have a self-contained and well-organised set of tools to do their jobs efficiently.

Cleaning without chemicals is clearly good for sustainability but it can also help to reduce and control costs. Overall consumption and chemical miles are reduced and there is no need to buy multiple products. Former storage space can be put to other uses. There are also potential savings through reduced training or compliance procedures that come from having fewer tasks and products for staff to learn about.

Where chemicals are required, innovation can often provide an enhanced result. Products with odour neutralising technology that eliminate rather than mask strong smells may be more suitable for public spaces. Products with hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient may be less smelly than those containing chlorine and might also offer additional hygiene and infection control benefits.

Finally, there is a social dimension to worktime cleaning. Across the European Union, around 70% of cleaners work part time, averaging 20 hours a week, and 75% are women. Switching cleaning to more convenient times of the day will therefore have a number of benefits for staff, including better work-life balance, especially for those with families, easier and cheaper public transport when travelling to and from work, and the ability to make more journeys during daylight. All of this will help staff feel valued and aid recruitment and retention.

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