While this list is not by any means exhaustive, it is important to note that these are pitfalls and issues other people have brought up in conversation. The list itself is endless when it comes to doing due diligence on who comes through your doors and who you give access to your personal space.
Especially with domestic cleaning, we find that that is an area of vulnerability as anything can happen if you are sent a cleaner of ill repute. This is because you can be stuck for hours with a discourteous and rude sort of person who minds no manners and tramples over not only your carpets, but your right to peace in your home.
So here are some things we consider sensible in the pursuit of a problem free experience when it comes to selecting the company who you work with to clean your home or business setting.
This article will serve as a guide in selecting a reputable cleaning company. How to spot good practices red flags as well as how to keep the right company accountable every time. Taking on a long term cleaner is definitely not easy. Cleaners are unregulated and standards depend on the company you work with. Here are few tips to help you navigate
There has been an effort to make governance tight on the use of hazardous substances and cleaning products. However there is a lot less regulation on the users themselves. Cleaners tend to make judgments based on their own experiences. For some , training is an unnecessary expense and use of resources.
The health and safety executive provides some guidance on good practice on product regulations. In our view, a lot has to be done on the cleaner’s part for it to all work effectively.
There are many good companies who offer training to reliable cleaning companies. This is a way to help curb bad practices. It might be a good idea to know whether your cleaners are receiving any standard training before they are sent out.
Areas like health and safety, moving and handling, risk assessment and sensitivity are all essential training. A well trained cleaner is less likely to cause accidents in the workplace if they have sat through some of these and been certified as competent.
All these red flags are quite easy to see while a cleaner works because they are signs of bad practice. Some of these have the potential to cause accidents as they work. Companies like Citation help cleaning companies get the right information for their cleaners. We have created a series of videos where we cover the scenarios above as part of how we train our own cleaning team. Feel free to check them out.
At this point you may have answered some or all the questions above.You might want to assess at this point what do with what you now have in focus. Do you like the answers you got or are now reconsidering your cleaning relationship?
Whatever the case may be, you at least now have a good starting point to create a framework to work. You can now set boundaries and expectations regardless of their competency level. This becomes the line that cannot be crossed irrespective of what they have implemented beforehand.At Everyday cleaners our focus is on creating a sustainable culture within our cleaning teams. This makes it so that our expectation is always based on the client’s requirement . I say this to show that we are geared for what the client may or may not ask for. This is something that comes from years of experience and knowing that the best way to win is in giving.
Our approach is simple. Give the client what they have asked and paid for. If you are going to fail, we say fail while trying to please the client. But be honest and transparent about the challenge from the beginning. Managing client expectations helps them gear up or prepare for the possibility that what they are asking for might not be realistic. A good cleaning company should always tell you up front what they can do, while also showing what they are prepared to do for you in spite of the predicted outcome.
A reliable and diligent cleaner knows what their regular clients require just by looking at an intake form. A truly perceptive cleaner knows just by the tone of voice of the request being presented, and this comes from implementing sensitivity training. We have written about this when we wrote about how to create a good cleaning alliance between a client and a cleaner.
Nowadays companies can also get in touch with cleaning training providers like cleaningmasterclass who offer reliable training to companies online and in person to help instill standards and ethos which will help improve cleaners’ etiquette as well. A good , reliable cleaning company will endeavor to train their staff so that the service they provide is always improving.
One of the most useful things to look for when hiring a company to clean is transparent feedback. Asking for feedback over the phone or online as a survey shows a willingness to accept correction. A culture of correction creates a culture of adaptability and accountability.
No company would invest time and resources to get feedback unless to use it to win. At Everyday Cleaners, we have our own feedback loop which helps us stay in touch with our client expectations.We typically ask for feedback when we feel we have implemented something new or different. This is to ensure that the client is still comfortable with us despite the new introduction.
Asking for feedback could reveal a pattern of discomfort when you aggregate results for multiple clients. This can help a good company pivot or stick with changes that are too abrupt or implemented too soon.
Everyday Cleaners have developed quite a symbiotic relationship with our clients in that we evolve in their direction of travel. Our team make cleaning recommendations simply because our clients ask for them. We also rate and assess cleaning products because they have shown this to be important to them. A good cleaning company listens to their client base and makes changes to try and accommodate them. Their need should be our focus!
Our growth can be tracked to our ability to cater for the people we serve. Over time it has made us better and more approachable. Throughout the process we have still held to our principles and identity of being a reliable, sustainable cleaning company.
So look for a cleaning company who listens and adapts. They are worth considering solely because they will most likely transmit this from the top all the way down. A good cleaning company can also utilise external feedback and reviewing like Google reviews, facebook reviews and Trustpilot.
Whichever method they use, pick a company unafraid to be better because they ask for your feedback. So here are a few questions to summarise and keeping us accountable
To identify a reliable cleaning company, check if they are knowledgeable about current standards and regulations. Pay attention to their use of hazardous substances, health and safety, and training. A reputable company often provides training to its staff and maintains proper protocols to ensure safety and compliance.
Observe if your cleaners appear to lack an understanding of health and safety practices. If they seem accident-prone and distracted that is bad too. When they ignore hazards like wet floors, or fail to communicate about safety issues it’s normally a red flag. Additionally, check if they leave equipment and products around or do not use labeled or safe cleaning agents.
Create a framework based on clear boundaries and expectations, regardless of the cleaner’s skill level. Communicate your needs and ensure they understand your requirements. A good cleaning company focuses on satisfying client needs and building a sustainable, trustworthy relationship through transparency and responsiveness.
Ensure the cleaning company is honest about what they can deliver. A good company manages your expectations from the start, and is transparent about challenges. A diligent company understands your specific needs and strives to improve service quality continuously.
Client feedback fosters transparency and accountability. This is because it allows the cleaning company to adjust and enhance their services. A company that solicits and acts on feedback demonstrates maturity. It shows a willingness to improve, adapt to client needs, and maintain high standards. Ultimately this leads to better service and stronger client relationships.
I hope this article highlighted some practical ways to help find a good cleaning company who will meet your requirements. A reliable company can only do justice to the thousands of hard working cleaning professionals. There are many good cleaning companies in the UK who provide a great cleaning service. They provide much more than we have covered, but we hope our guide helps you in making a decision.
It’s crucial to select a cleaning company that understands standards, regulations, and provides proper training, ensuring safety and quality in cleaning services.
Watch out for signs of bad practice such as lack of safety awareness, ignoring hazards, and cluttered equipment, which can indicate unprofessionalism and risk.
Create clear boundaries and expectations with your cleaner to foster transparency and trust, focusing on communication and mutual understanding.
Choose a company that is honest about their capabilities, manages your expectations, and continuously strives to improve service quality.
Soliciting and acting on feedback helps companies stay accountable, adapt to client needs, and deliver better, more tailored cleaning services.
