A lot of cleaning contracts begin with great intentions from the provider. The initial weeks often bring real improvements to the customer’s premises. Unfortunately, these high levels of service delivery are not always maintained over time.
If you have experienced a decline or inconsistency of cleaning standards, poor reliability and / or communication, no doubt the service you were once impressed by has become something you now put up with rather than value. If this is the case, you don’t have to stand for second best!
Why service levels can decline
Too little time
Sometimes contractors can provide quotations for a service which doesn’t factor in sufficient time for the premises to be cleaned properly. While there may be an initial focus on getting the job done well by providing extra hours, this leads to reduced profits or even losses so it is not a long term solution. When cleaners are in a hurry and rushing to complete all required tasks, standards will decline.
Poor or insufficient supervision
Without proper supervision, standards can slip as even the most dedicated cleaning operatives can lose focus. Ongoing, structured monitoring of cleaning is key to maintaining consistently high-quality standards.
People changes
Your cleaning provider may be suffering from a high rate of employee turnover (which can be an indication of low employee satisfaction). In such instances, the cleaning operative(s) that started cleaning for you may not be the same over time. If training is not inconsistent across all employees then standards will highly likely be inconsistent too over time.
Poor communication and responsiveness
Ongoing customer feedback is crucial in ensuring that service levels are maintained. If your provider has stopped checking in with you regularly to find out if you are happy with their service, this is a red flag, as is failing to respond quickly to any concerns you may have raised.
When to review your cleaning situation and the consequences of not doing so
If any of the above apply to your cleaning arrangements, it’s time for a change, especially if you have already given your provider plenty of time / chances to improve.
The consequences of putting up with a poor cleaning include:
- Wasted expense paying for a service that is not fit for purpose
- Unfavourable first impressions from visitors to your premises
- Staff frustrations – people do not appreciate working in an unclean and / or unhygienic environment or thinking their employer does not care about standards
- Increased chance of employee illnesses and absences
- Increased risk of non-compliance with health and safety regulations
What to look for when changing your cleaning provider
Here are some key questions to ask a potential new cleaning contractor:
- What processes and controls do they have in place to monitor and maintain standards?
- How will the cleaning be managed and by who?
- What provisions do they have for covering absences?
- What level of communication can you expect from them?
- Will their team be readily available to respond to any questions or concerns?
- Can they confirm that the time they are quoting for will be sufficient to ensure your premises are cleaned as required and to a high standard?
- Can they provide you with testimonials from longstanding customers?
Choose better
If you are not happy with your existing arrangements, we would be happy to help. Please contact Minster Cleaning to arrange a meeting (including a survey of your premises) to understand your precise requirements and a no-obligation quotation for professional cleaning that’s a perfect fit for you.