2 Effective Ways to Reduce Costs in Your Janitorial Program

As a manager responsible for janitorial services, you're likely balancing multiple tasks and making various purchasing decisions. While I don't know your exact situation, it’s safe to assume you often face demands to reduce spending. In today’s business climate, controlling costs is more important than ever.

When it comes to janitorial services, as with many other operational areas, cutting costs can sometimes result in lower service quality. The key challenge for facility managers is finding a way to keep services high-quality while still reducing expenses. There's an old saying in the construction world: "You can have it cheap, fast, or high-quality—choose two." This concept often holds true in the cleaning industry as well.

But is it possible to trim costs while maintaining a high standard of cleanliness? Can you save money without lowering the quality of service?

Here are two strategies to consider:

1. Reassess the Cleaning Scope

In the janitorial industry, labor accounts for roughly 60% of expenses. To reduce costs, you need to focus on cutting down labor hours. One practical approach is to reassess the cleaning scope. Frequently, cleaning schedules are followed without questioning if they’re necessary. For example, some areas in your facility might not see much traffic and may only need cleaning once a week, even though the current schedule has them cleaned daily.

Review your facility’s specific cleaning needs for each area. What tasks truly need daily attention? How often does the trash need to be taken out? Is daily vacuuming required everywhere, or just in common areas? Work with a knowledgeable cleaning contractor who can help you find the most efficient cleaning methods for your building.

2. Unbundle Project Work from Monthly Fees

Many businesses end up paying more than necessary on their cleaning contracts due to project work like floor buffing, stripping and waxing, and window cleaning. These tasks are vital to maintaining a clean environment, but some contracts include a fixed amount of project work per year, billed monthly. Often, this work isn’t needed as frequently as outlined, or it might even be skipped, which means you’re spending money unnecessarily.

Instead, consider negotiating a unit price for these extra services and scheduling them only when needed. This method can lead to significant savings over time.

By reassessing your cleaning scope and unbundling project work from your monthly fees, you can effectively reduce costs while still ensuring the quality of your janitorial services remains high. Collaborating with an experienced cleaning contractor can help you implement these cost-saving measures successfully.