8 Signs It’s Time to Change Cleaning Companies

Posted by Marketing, January 27, 2021

Let’s face it: your office cleaning service should solve problems rather than create new ones, and the fact you’ve found yourself reading this article is in itself an indicator that something about your office cleaning service needs to be changed. 

In order to help you find the root causes of your issues, we’ve put together a list of common red flags cleaning companies exhibit that tell you it’s time to look for a replacement service. Without further ado, here are eight signs it’s time to change cleaning companies.

1. Communication issues

A disregard for good customer service or a failure to update you on important things like staff changes is a serious red flag for any business, and office cleaning companies are no different. If you’re having to wait several days for someone to respond to your email, it’s clear that your business is not a priority to your cleaning company.

2. Inconsistent results

Everyone makes mistakes, and the occasional bin left unemptied or desk left dusty isn’t necessarily anything to be concerned about. However, if inconsistent cleaning results become the norm, you know something isn’t right. This could be due to insufficient training, poor tools or lack of proper management. Whichever the cause may be, if you are not getting a consistently high score in your cleaning audits, your money would be better spent elsewhere.

3. You have to manage the cleaners

You hired a cleaning company so that you could think less about the cleanliness of your office, not more. If you find yourself having to constantly listen to your team members complain about toilet paper running out or dirty desks and have to call or email your cleaning company regularly to complain or find out what’s going on, it’s time for a change.

4. Unclear pricing structure

It’s not uncommon to find contract cleaning companies who’ll low-ball you in their original quote, only to hit you with additional fees or simply not carry out everything on your list once the work actually begins. 

An unclear pricing structure or a jaw-droppingly low quote will usually hide something murky underneath. This could be that they can’t find and maintain staff at the low wages they offer or they’ve underestimated the time that it takes to carry out everything you need to have done. 

This could be a sign of inexperience, or worse, a deliberate smokescreen. Either way, it’s a sign of unprofessionalism and that it might just be time to find a replacement.

5. High staff turnover

If you see new faces cleaning your office constantly, this could be a sign that something is off with your cleaning company. It’s true that cleaning support services as an industry has a high staff turnover, but if there are new faces cleaning your offices every month, there could be something more serious underlying the issue. A high staff turnover is especially troubling on the managerial level: this could well be a sign of a highly toxic work culture.

A constantly changing team of cleaners could well be a sign of poor training and/or management or lower wages than expected. It’s especially concerning if your entire cleaning crew is changed without the management bothering to contact you – this speaks volumes to the level of professionalism and management within your cleaning company. Not to mention that the cost of constantly recruiting new cleaners is one that’ll indirectly get passed onto you, the client.

6. Untrained/unprofessional staff

Many people consider cleaning to be a low-skilled job, but when it comes to giving offices a hygienic and thorough clean, you do need a decent level of training. If your commercial cleaning company doesn’t provide this to their staff, you could be left with a consistently inconsistent cleaning.

Usually, your cleaning services will be carried out after business hours, but on occasion, your cleaners might be in the office at the same time as your employees – or even clients. On these occasions, it’s important that your cleaners are able to put on a friendly and professional face. If they can’t do this, the reputation of your business is on the line.

If your cleaners aren’t properly trained, chances are the whole hiring process is rushed, which could mean the staff isn’t properly vetted. Problems with screening prospective employees could lead to security risks on your end, so if you get even the slightest whiff of poor hiring practices, it’s time to change cleaning companies before this becomes a liability for you.

7. Frequent illnesses

Especially in the post-COVID-19 world, proper office hygiene is hugely important. No office is immune to the occasional flu outbreak, but if the same bugs make the rounds again and again, a poor office cleaning just might be the culprit.

A good office clean isn’t just about dusting and emptying bins – proper disinfection is a key component of it. If you’re seeing an unusual spike in staff sick days, ask your cleaning company about what they’re doing and which products they’re using for disinfection. If they can’t give you a quick, clear and thorough answer, you may have just found the culprit behind the office’s sudden flu outbreak.

8. Poor tools

A good cleaning company will use different, colour-coded cloths for different tasks. Otherwise, the same cloth might just be used for cleaning your desk and the toilets – and that’s a surefire way to spread germs!

And while you don’t need the newest and most expensive equipment and cleaning solutions to get the job done, a vacuum held together with duct tape speaks volumes to the level of professionalism your cleaning company has.

What to do if you run into these problems

If the above list has you nodding your head in recognition, it’s time to have a serious chat with your cleaning provider. Explain the issues you’ve been having and ask about the underlying causes. Make sure they understand what you expect from them and what they need to change in order to keep you as a client. 

If, after giving your cleaning company ample time to deal with these issues, you’re still not seeing the results you need, it’s time for a change. Make a thorough list of what you’re after and meet with several vendors to find the best fit and price point for you.

If you’re looking for responsible and reputable office cleaning services in the South of England, you’ve come to the right place. 

At Glenn Cleaning & Support Services we take great pride in our excellent customer service and highly-trained staff. With over 20 years of experience under our belts, we’re more than able to meet your exact demands for a cleaner, more hygienic workplace. 

Our managers deal with fewer clients so that they can provide you with the highest possible levels of customer care and our cleaners receive thorough training to make sure you’re left with a clean and hygienic office every time.