Expert Cleaning Procurement | Reduce Cleaning Costs

Welcome to the Vendor Solutions guide for procurement of cleaning contracts

Please see our home page for more details on Vendor Solutions and how we can help you significantly reduce your indirect and overhead spend.

This guide will help you understand what is good practice in the procurement of cleaning services, it will also help you reduce your costs and ensure you are saving on cleaning services.

Before we begin we need to understand a few principles.

Why is cleaning an important service?

The standard of cleaning in commercial premises can speak volumes about the occupier and their values. Clean and well maintained buildings signal to both employees and customers that the occupier is efficient and innovative. The quality of the work environment is the first impression given to customers, suppliers and employees. A good clean office is part of a good working environment and has been proven to help both the productivity and attitude of employees.

What are cleaning services?

Good professional cleaning services are always in demand, providing many daily services including janitorial duties, waste disposal, vacuuming and sweeping etc. Experienced and well trained staff are key to good performance of a cleaning service. When you are outsourcing this service you need to be dealing with a reputable company who is fully insured and competent to carry out the work you require.

Dependant on where you are cleaning a different level of service will need to be met, for example;

Food Premises – Cleaning must satisfy the requirement of the Environmental Health Office, EHO.

Hospital / Healthcare Premises – Cleaning must comply with infection control procedures laid down by medical staff

Industrial Premises – Often contain hazardous working conditions
Retail Premises – Due to long operational hours cleaning is often carried out during unseal hours

Accommodation buildings – 7 days a week, 24 hours a day usage

Office buildings – High standards needed as image is critical
Educational buildings – periodic deep clean carried out of term time

In addition to standard day to day cleaning there are specialist cleaning services. These include one off yearly deep cleans. These are often more involved and completed out of hours to avoid disruption.

Specialist cleaning could include, pressure washing of external areas, graffiti removal, deep cleans of catering kitchens, carpet deep cleans, upholstery deep cleans including curtains and blinds etc.

Remember in all of these areas using a correct procurement process and following the right procedure, savings can be made, often with an increase in output or an increase in service levels. It isn’t always the case “what you pay is what you get” it is more what you measure that you pay for is what you get. If you do not check you are getting value for money we can guarantee you will not be.

Often a fairly simple review of the services you are currently receiving will generate ways to save on cleaning and saving money reducing your costs