Managing a clean workplace while sticking to a budget can be a tricky task. You don’t want to overspend, but you also don’t want to deal with a poorly cleaned building. Too often, reducing your janitorial costs leads to a drop in service quality—exactly what you’re trying to avoid.
So how do you save money and still keep your facility looking sharp? It comes down to using smarter strategies, not just slashing prices. Here are two effective ways to lower your janitorial costs without settling for less.
1. Fine-Tune Your Cleaning Plan
Since labor makes up the majority of a cleaning company’s expenses—about 60%—reducing labor hours is one of the most impactful ways to cut costs. That doesn’t mean you need to clean less overall. It means you should take a closer look at what’s being cleaned and how often.
A lot of businesses use cleaning schedules that were put in place years ago and haven’t been reviewed since. You might be cleaning areas every day that don’t need it. For example, an office space with low foot traffic might only need to be vacuumed once a week instead of daily. Meanwhile, high-use areas like lobbies or kitchens can continue to receive regular attention.
What You Can Do: Reevaluate your building’s layout and usage. Could some tasks be done less often? Could some areas be skipped on certain days? Making these small adjustments can lead to big savings over time. A good janitorial contractor can walk through your facility with you and help spot opportunities to optimize the cleaning routine.
2. Only Schedule Extra Services When Necessary
Specialty services like window washing, carpet cleaning, and floor refinishing are important—but they’re not always needed as often as your contract might suggest. Many janitorial agreements include a set number of these services each year, with the cost spread across monthly payments. If those services aren’t used when scheduled, or they’re done more often than needed, that’s wasted money.
A better approach is to request a set price for each of these “project” services and only schedule them when the need arises. This way, you’re not paying for them on a regular basis regardless of whether they’re performed.
What You Can Do: Talk to your cleaning provider about switching to on-demand pricing for extra services. When you only pay for what you actually use, it becomes easier to stay within your budget while keeping your space looking great.
Trying to save on cleaning costs doesn’t mean you have to accept lower standards. With a few simple adjustments—like reviewing your cleaning schedule and paying for extras only when needed—you can control expenses and still enjoy a well-maintained facility.
If you’re unsure where to start, we’re here to help. Reach out for a free consultation, and let us show you how to improve your janitorial services while reducing unnecessary spending.
