Do Cheap Cleaning Prices Translate to Poor Quality?

The answer is both yes and no.

Cleaning prices have stayed fairly level despite increasing labor and materials costs because the economic climate demands it. There continues to be tremendous pressure for businesses to control and push down their operating costs .

One area where this pressure is felt acutely is in facilities’ maintenance. So, in spite of ever-increasing costs over the last fifteen years, commercial cleaning prices have remained about the same.

How Can Cleaning Prices Stay Level While Labor and Materials Rise?

Remember the old adage, “you get what you pay for”? Well, it’s true.

But sometimes what you’re really paying for is the experience and know-how of a company that understands how to customize their work specification to match what you need and what you can afford.

There have also been major improvements in cleaning techniques, supplies, and equipment. For example, backpack vacuums have significantly increased productivity while improving indoor air quality.

Companies are also using smart cleaning approaches that focus time and effort on the areas of the building used most. However, this kind of focused cleaning requires special training and daily planning to make sure nothing gets missed.

Two Companies, Two Different Approaches to Cleaning Services

Let’s use two hypothetical janitorial companies to demonstrate the difference.

Company A: Solutions-Based and Innovative

Company A is led by Al. Al understands that razor-thin facility maintenance budgets aren’t likely to change anytime soon.

It’s tough, but Al and Company A focus on being responsive to customers. They invest in better products, equipment, training, and systems that help them deliver better service efficiently.

These upgrades cost more up front with little immediate return, but Al understands this is the reality of the business environment right now. Those advances are what keep customers long-term.

Company B: Reactive and Resistant to Change

Bob runs Company B in stark contrast. Bob complains that it isn’t fair that facility managers demand lower prices. He sees customers as trying to “bleed him dry” instead of recognizing that they’re under the same cost pressures.

When asked about improvements in techniques or equipment, Bob says there’s no money for anything. So they cut back. Maybe managers are reduced, supervisors are overloaded, and equipment isn’t replaced until customers complain.

A lack of supplies and functioning equipment can make employees work harder for less money, which increases turnover.

If Company A and Company B submit similar bids, which one do you think will do a better job?

Flexible, responsive, innovative companies are the type big businesses want on their side when problems happen. Forward-looking leaders don’t complain about how it “should” be, they work with how it is.

They build long-term relationships that allow flexibility on both sides and make it possible (and even pleasant) to work together.

Change-averse companies spend too much energy complaining instead of improving. Reactive companies fail to turn challenges into problem-solving.

Over time, service slips, and so does their commitment and enthusiasm for the customers they serve.

Companies with documented training programs and the ability to evolve with market demands will deliver strong results year after year. Businesses that stay solution-focused tend to rise to the top.

Meanwhile, companies that refuse to adapt often gain and lose business quickly. That cycle usually ends with frustrated customers leaving, or the business owner leaving the industry entirely.

How Do You Find a Company That’s Both Affordable and High-Quality?

It isn’t impossible to find a commercial cleaning company that delivers great service at a price you can live with.

Finding them might feel like looking for a diamond in a pile of cut glass, but there are a few shortcuts that can make choosing a provider more clear.

One of the easiest ways to identify companies that innovate and fine-tune operations is to look for providers that are ISSA CIMS certified.

ISSA CIMS Certified companies receive their certification from the International Cleaning Industry Association. This certification requires stringent best practices and demonstrates a commitment to high performance and quality.

Cleaning companies that have achieved ISSA CIMS certification have documented processes that help them adapt to changing facility needs.

To adapt properly, a cleaning service must have documented procedures in place as a starting point. From there, a strong provider can make sustainable changes to improve your facility’s cleaning program.

Without training and documentation, changes often become temporary due to staff turnover or lack of motivation.

You can ask for referrals, ask questions, and check references. But starting with ISSA CIMS certified companies is a strong way to separate the A’s from the B’s.

It gives you the best chance at finding a proactive, innovative janitorial partner you can work with to keep your facilities running smoothly.