Why is cleaner training so important?

Cleaning is a critical part of any business, in any industry, either directly or indirectly.  It is easy to image the consequences that would follow to health if cleaning was so poor, or stopped altogether, in a hospital; but imagine the consequences to any other business where cleaning is an indirect service.  Think about how fast the physical appearance of the building would deteriorate and how that impression would stick in your customer’s minds.

Imagine a corporate office, retail store, or restaurant where cleaning is neglected. The physical appearance of these spaces would quickly deteriorate, leaving a lasting negative impression on customers and clients. In today’s highly competitive market, where first impressions can make or break a deal, the cleanliness of a business premises is often a silent but powerful determinant of success. A clean and well-maintained environment communicates professionalism, attention to detail, and care, all of which are critical to building trust and confidence with customers.

Whilst in this case the poor standard of cleaning would not pose a direct health risk, the financial risk through loss of customers could damage to the ‘corporate image’ could be substantial, and lasting.

Having established that cleaning is critical, why is it considered a low priority?  Why is training of cleaners (beyond the statutory health and safety training) considered superfluous?  We consider it necessary to train cleaning operatives in a wide range of tasks, to give reassurance that they are capable of performing the job to a high standard.

One of the problems is that as a society we don’t treat cleaning as skill and as such we think of cleaning to be of lower status, that is until something goes wrong and all of a sudden cleaning becomes our top priority.  Once the problem is fixed, cleaning reduces in priority level in our minds, until they cycle happens again!

Investing in training not only ensures that cleaning staff can perform their jobs to a high standard but also empowers them to take pride in their work. When cleaning operatives understand the importance of their role and are equipped with the skills they need, they are more likely to be motivated and committed to maintaining high standards.

Moreover, businesses should implement regular audits and feedback mechanisms to maintain consistent cleaning standards. By setting clear expectations and providing continuous support and development opportunities for cleaning staff, businesses can ensure that cleanliness is maintained at all times, not just when problems arise.