Most business owners and facility managers choose to have their property cleaning done in-house because it seems cheaper than hiring a professional cleaning company. While it might look that way on the surface, the full picture is rarely as plain as it appears. This guide compares in-house vs. outsourced cleaning to help you make an informed decision.
The Hidden Costs of DIY Cleaning
Comparing the cost of professional and DIY commercial cleaning fairly means looking beyond the obvious expenses and accounting for everything that in-house cleaning actually demands from a business. Here are the hidden costs of DIY cleaning:
Cost of Cleaning Supplies and Equipment
Commercial properties are large spaces, which means you’ll need to purchase and regularly restock detergents, wipes, disinfectants and surface-specific cleaners. You must also purchase specialized equipment, such as floor buffers and high-efficiency cleaning machines, which can cost your business a lot of money up front. On top of that, the equipment must be properly maintained and stored, which adds to the expense of cleaning your facility.
Loss of Productive Time
If your team spends 10 to 15 hours cleaning per week, it takes away from the time they would need to do actual work that benefits your clients and business. You may not see the cost on an invoice immediately, but you will notice productivity reducing with time, and that’s what usually affects a company’s bottom line.
Additional Labor Costs
Extra cleaning hours can push employees into overtime, and part-time workers who regularly take on cleaning duties may need to be reclassified as full-time. All these changes can bring benefit obligations that you never budgeted for. Even management time can get pulled in as well, because someone has to assign tasks, check that standards are being met and step in when things get missed.
The Benefits of Hiring Professional Cleaners for Your Commercial Property
Clients and customers form impressions quickly, and a neglected space might give the impression that your business is disorganized and cause them to look for similar services elsewhere. You should hire professional cleaners because they can help you avoid the hidden costs of DIY cleaning and remove risks that businesses rarely think about until something goes wrong.
For example, if an employee is injured handling cleaning chemicals or someone slips on a freshly mopped floor, your business can be held responsible. A professional cleaning company carries its own liability coverage and follows established safety protocols. Professionals also follow the best practices for your industry, ensuring higher-quality results and fewer mistakes from the start.
Be sure to ask the right questions when hiring a commercial janitorial company to ensure you get a partner who understands your business and can get the job done correctly.
Let Us Help You Keep Your Cleaning Costs Manageable
If managing cleaning in-house is pulling time and resources away from running your business, Professional Building Maintenance can help. We’ve provided commercial janitorial services to businesses throughout the Mid-Atlantic since 1976, serving a range of industries, including educational facilities, office spaces, government buildings and hotels. Our services are tailored to your facility’s specific needs, so you get reliable results without the overhead of managing cleaning in-house. Contact us today to get a free estimate and find out what we can do for your business.
