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EXPERT ADVICE Clear As Day


Night or day, there will always have to be time for cleaning. But the benefits of daytime cleaning have never been so clear, according to Carl Robinson, Marketing Manager for Nviro.


There have been many positive changes in the cleaning industry over the last decade, including advances in professionalism, sustainability, and technology. Another trend, which is bound up with all of these and a driver for positive change in itself, is daytime cleaning.


There will always be some settings where cleaning has to be done at night, however, the shift to scheduling core cleaning activities during normal working hours is a development to be welcomed for many reasons.


To begin with, the trend was driven largely by financial pressures. During the economic crisis and recession that followed, facilities management budgets were squeezed as hard as any other business operating costs. Daytime cleaning avoids the need to pay a wage premium, while the sharp rise in energy prices has fuelled the cost-saving trend.


By obviating the need to light and heat buildings after hours, when employees and customers have gone home, daytime cleaning can keep energy bills down. And it is also spurring another environmental gain by strengthening the case for chemical-free cleaning.


Spraying cleaning solutions as you work around employees or customers concentrates clients’ attention on an unpleasant fact. Traditional cleaning methods have relied on chemicals that can be toxic and allergenic, especially when the dosing is wrong. So facilities managers have become more receptive to trialling microfibre cloths and mops, and eco-friendly cleaning products. When it becomes obvious that cleaning standards are not compromised, the benefits, in


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indoor air quality, people’s health and sustainability, are persuasive.


These advances in cleaning materials have been matched by improvements in equipment. The most relevant example is the availability of battery- powered floor-cleaning machines and vacuums. While a trailing cable poses minimal risk in a near-empty building at night, the trip hazard is high in a bustling office or leisure centre. Client cost savings or efficiency gains can cover the higher investment required in these premium models.


This is just one of the additional challenges that daytime cleaning poses for the contractor. Procedures need to be carefully drawn around the needs of a busy working environment. Tailored training is also required for the cleaning workforce. Depending on the contract, this will range from greener cleaning methods to customer service. No longer faceless phantoms working alone in an abandoned space, cleaners become our customer-facing representatives. In an office environment that may merely involve being on nodding terms with the desk-bound staff, while in a hospital or shopping mall they can enhance the visitors’ experience by answering queries, offering directions, or responding rapidly to spills and emergencies.


There are also some less tangible spin-offs from daytime cleaning that should not be under-estimated. Most cleaners find the work more satisfying. It is motivating to see the people for whom you’re providing what is an essential service, and this in turn boosts the team’s pride in their work. The extra training, skills and responsibilities reinforce this effect.


No longer faceless phantoms working alone in an abandoned space, cleaners become our customer-facing representatives.


The visibility factor works both ways. It’s human to take it for granted when the building is spick and span every morning. We tend to be more appreciative of the cleanliness of our environment when we see the people in action providing it. Both clients and contractors report that daytime cleaning tends to result in fewer complaints and higher satisfaction ratings.


We know our staff feel more valued and respected when they come into contact with the people they serve. Some feel isolated working at night or prefer not to work unsocial hours, missing out on time with family or friends. On the other hand, the higher hourly night-time rates are essential for some workers – another issue that clients need to weigh. But what’s clear is that more are following the light by switching to daytime cleaning.


www.nviro.co.uk


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