8 Ways to Reduce Costs in the Contract Cleaning Industry

In today’s economic climate, businesses are under pressure to reduce costs and stay competitive in the market. For businesses in the contract cleaning industry, this pressure is especially heightened due to a highly saturated market, rising customer expectations for higher cleaning standards, and increasing costs for labour, equipment, and cleaning supplies. 

With so many cleaning businesses vying for contracts, companies need to offer competitive pricing while still providing high-quality services that meet or exceed their customers’ expectations.

In this blog, we will explore how cleaning businesses can reduce operational costs, without sacrificing on the quality of the services. From optimising cleaning schedules to implementing efficient cleaning practices, we will provide practical tips and strategies that can help cleaning businesses improve their bottom line and stay competitive in today’s challenging economic climate.

1: Swap Diluted Cleaning Chemicals for Concentrated Chemicals

When it comes to purchasing cleaning chemicals, one option to consider is concentrated chemicals. 

Unlike pre-diluted products that contain around 70% water, concentrated chemicals are a high-strength concentration that can be self-diluted by staff when the product is needed. This can save large amounts on shipping costs, as businesses will not be paying to have water shipped to their warehouses.

This also means companies can get more for their money. Since these products are not diluted, a smaller amount of concentrated chemicals can be purchased to still get the same amount of active ingredients as a larger volume of pre-diluted product.

Concentrated chemicals often come in bulk containers of 1 litre – 5 litres which are then self-diluted into reusable spray bottles. This means businesses can save on storage and shipping space, which is expensive, and reduce the use of single-use plastics.

Take our Triple 8 Dose range for example. At Castle (EU), our concentrated Triple 8 Dose range eliminates the need for multiple single-use trigger bottles which gives a reduction in waste, and costs. One 1L bottle of Triple 8 Dose concentrated chemicals can refill one of our reusable spray bottles over 100 times!

2: Update to Modern or Motorised Cleaning Supplies

Outdated cleaning methods such as traditional mopping consumes a lot of water and time, and also frequently need replacing. Instead, businesses should consider investing in water-saving floor cleaning machines that provide a more effective clean in less time, presenting a good ROI.

For example, the MotorScrubber Limited JET3 mop is designed for lifting the toughest of dirt in record time, allowing staff to save time spent on each contract and eliminate the need for replacement manual mops.

3: Partner with Innovative and Well-Stocked Suppliers

Seeing cleaning and hygiene suppliers as partners for success rather than just a supplier is a great way to save on costs. By establishing a good rapport with suppliers, businesses can leverage their expertise to gain valuable insights and innovations that can help them streamline their operations, reduce waste, and ultimately save on costs. 

Additionally, by building a strong relationship with their suppliers, businesses may be able to negotiate better prices and hold those prices down for longer periods, reducing the impact of price fluctuations in the market.

This collaborative approach can lead to innovative solutions that help businesses reduce costs, increase efficiency, and improve their overall operations.

4: Don’t Compromise on Quality

Often, businesses will buy cheaper products thinking it is saving them money. However, it is important not to be tempted to compromise on product quality, especially when it comes to cleaning.

This is because cheaper cleaning products are often less reliable, less durable, and less sustainable – actually costing businesses more money in the long run on buying replacement stock. Instead, invest in high quality cleaning supplies that will provide more efficient and durable solutions, and won’t need to be replaced as often (or in some cases at all).

For example, instead of buying cheap disposable cloths, invest in reusable eco-cloths which can be used up to 200 times before being disposed of, allowing for a more affordable and sustainable cleaning solution.

These products may seem expensive at first, but when the overall costs are compared to that of cheaper products, it is clear to see that they are much more cost-effective in the long run.

5: Invest in Ongoing Cleaner Training and Development

In a competitive market, ongoing cleaner training and development can provide a significant advantage to businesses by enabling them to deliver high-quality cleaning services at a lower cost. 

With a well-trained cleaning staff, businesses can offer more efficient and effective cleaning solutions, which can improve their reputation and attract more clients. Moreover, a cleaner who has undergone continuous training and development is more likely to be knowledgeable about the latest cleaning technologies and methodologies, which can result in increased productivity and cost savings.

These factors can help businesses stand out in a competitive market, where clients are often looking for reliable and cost-effective solutions. In this sense, ongoing cleaner training and development is not only a way to reduce costs but also a key strategy for staying competitive and thriving in a crowded marketplace.

Castle’s product training recommendation: MyTraining

MyTraining is a simple way to deliver bite-size training to cleaning staff! This platform offers:

–          Industry-leading recognised practices to uphold standards.

–          Ways to keep staff motivated and following the latest good practices.

–          Automated record keeping.

–          A simple and easy-to-use portal.

–          An easy-to-manage monthly subscription.

With MyTraining, businesses can save money on their processes, ensure all staff are proficiently trained according to the latest industry and product usage standards, and encourage a more sustainable work culture.

6: Streamline Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is a vital component in cleaning product procurement, especially for large businesses with a large employee and client base.

For many large cleaning and hygiene contractors, inventory management can be difficult to keep on top of. With buildings across various locations needing to be cleaned, costs spiralling, and sporadic orders for products being placed by employees throughout the day, it can be hard for operations managers to efficiently control inventory. This can lead to excess products being ordered, and money being wasted – having a knock-on effect on budget controls and profitability. 

By taking a strategic approach to supply chain management and continuously looking for ways to improve processes and eliminate waste, businesses can create a more efficient, cost-effective, and profitable business. 

Castle’s inventory management recommendation: MySupply

MySupply is a simple way to manage cleaning supplies with a range of helpful inventory management features including:

–          Online ordering portal that is easy to use.

–          Budget controls and spending limit tracker.

–          Order approval functionality.

–          Personalised, pre-set order lists.

With MySupply, businesses can save money and time on their supply chain management processes and stay ahead of the busy world of cleaning contracts.

7: Embrace New Technologies

Smart technology has entered the cleaning industry and is providing data on consumable levels, traffic count, and more. In addition to this, new innovations such as Cobotics are making their way into the market, designed to help save time on menial cleaning tasks and allow staff to focus on more specialist tasks. 

Utilising these new technologies can help facilities allocate resources, increase efficiency, and save on labour costs.

8: Plan, Plan, Plan!

This may seem pretty obvious, but many businesses still fall short when it comes to planning. With so many different factors to consider when running a contract cleaning business, it can be hard to stay on top of all of it and plan ahead effectively.

However, without a plan, time and resources will not be properly allocated and could end up being wasted – resulting in a loss of money.

For More Industry Tips, or to Buy Cleaning and Hygiene Supplies, Talk to Castle (EU)

At Castle (EU), everything we do revolves around making your lives easier. Our sustainable cleaning products, staff training, and product supply facilities are designed to help you run your cleaning contracts safely and efficiently – without it costing you the earth!

Whether you’re just starting out in the cleaning industry or looking to take your business to the next level, we’re here to help. Contact our team today for more information on how we can support your needs.