As with nearly all industries, professional cleaning has been impacted by the downturn in the economy. Many manufacturers and distributors have seen sales of some products, from chemicals to high-end equipment, slow or come to a halt.

The downturn has also affected building service contractors (BSCs). Although few are reporting that they have lost customers specifically because of the economy, many indicate they have been pressured to find ways to reduce their monthly service charges. This means they are being forced to look for even more ways to improve worker productivity.

Although the economic downturn has increased pressure to speed-up work, this is actually part of a trend that has been evolving for decades. Thirty years ago, many BSCs were expected to clean about 2,500 be as high as 10,000 square feet per hour.

Improving worker productivity is a special challenge when it comes to restroom cleaning. Restrooms are the “complaint centers” of most facilities. Improperly cleaned restrooms can also be breeding grounds for contamination, potentially causing serious health concerns. And with concerns mounting about H1N1 and other diseases no BSC wants to take any shortcuts when it comes to restroom maintenance.

However, except for a relatively few new technologies, restrooms are cleaned today— with mops, buckets, sprayers and cleaning cloths—much the same way they were cleaned 50 years ago when labor costs were low and cleaning workers were not expected to be as productive.

Fortunately, there are options and technologies now available that can help expedite restroom cleaning times and improve the overall health and effectiveness of a restroom cleaning program. These systems can help BSCs and facility managers improve worker productivity, especially now, during this difficult economic time.

Study and Analyze

According to Peter Sheldon, vice president of Operations for Coverall, a leading janitorial franchise, BSCs must evaluate and re-evaluate the tools they are using in restrooms because these products can make a major difference in how quickly and effectively restrooms are cleaned. “Many cleaning professionals develop restroom cleaning procedures and use certain tools and products for years without inquiring what new methods or products may be available,” he says. “This is an unfortunate and often a costly mistake.”

Instead, he recommends BSCs read about new tools and technologies in trade publications, discuss new products with their jansan distributors, and attend tradeshows and conferences. “This is how our industry professionals get their ongoing education,” he says, “something [that] professionals in every industry need to do.”

For instance, Sheldon suggests cleaning professionals find out about new restroom cleaning chemicals that are designed to multitask—clean and disinfect counter surfaces and fixtures as well as mirrors, glass, and metal areas. “This is actually a small item, but it saves steps, means fewer chemicals and sprayers must be carried on the [janitorial] cart, and, according to our time studies, can be surprisingly effective at cutting cleaning times.”