Cleaners Join the List of COVID-19 Heroes

David Whan • Mar 11, 2021

Cleaners preparing for Coronavirus disinfection

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted and championed the role of the cleaner more than ever before. And the cleaning of workplaces and public spaces has never seemed so important. Many professional cleaning companies, such as the team here at It’s Clean, think this is due to the new levels of expectation of customers who are desperate for their premises to be safe to re-open and to be maintained as open. As a result, the previously derided word ‘housekeeping’, once met with an instantaneous rolling of the eyes, has now taken on a renewed significance.

For a long time, cleaners have been the forgotten or unseen cog in the wheels of industry. Largely working out of hours in deserted buildings, they were deemed of secondary importance as a core function by many businesses, but as the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides and people prepare to return to work, hopefully for good, housekeeping is the new buzzword, and is seen as critical in maintaining public health in the UK.

A new appreciation of the cleaning industry

Whilst cleaners themselves may lend a cynical view of proceedings, given how housekeeping has been positioned in the list of priorities over the years, the new appreciation of the cleaning discipline is certainly welcomed by the professional cleaning industry.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, cleaning was largely considered to be a convenience service, and whilst employers wanted and needed premises to be clean, it wasn’t critical to the functioning of the organisation. But now businesses face the threat of COVID-19 infection breakouts and premises being shut down again, and cleaners are now deemed to be “guardians of impeccable hygiene”, and new standards and protocols represent the difference between some organisations continuing to function, or not.

Ultimately, employers have a moral duty and employees need to feel safe and comfortable in returning to work and staying there, and many premises and procedures have had to be adapted and changed as a result of the COVID-19 threat. For cleaning companies this has required an element of re-training and researching of new materials and substances.

New COVID-19 cleaning protocols

At It’s Clean Ltd, we are commercial cleaning specialists covering Leeds, Harrogate and York and we have introduced new services such as fogging and touch point cleaning, specifically to combat the spread of the COVID-19 infection. Cleaners have also had to adapt to wearing additional PPE, and as a result are viewed now as more of a professional equal, when considered against other contractors an organisation might employ.

Naturally home working dramatically affected the professional cleaning sector, with man hours and volumes of work disappearing overnight, and continuing in some cases for a full 12 months. Some organisations have implemented bonus schemes and have paid overtime to fairly reflect the upheaval of new procedures and the importance of what is now a key function in an organisation.

Certainly, at It’s Clean we have seen this, and we can also report that work is slowly picking up as businesses prepare their premises for re-opening and put systems in place to ensure they stay open. This has involved a huge amount of cooperation between employers and cleaning contractors and certainly, there is a renewed gratitude for the critical service professional cleaning companies are providing, even if that has always been the case. For now, It’s Clean are available to discuss how intensive cleaning can assist your business in re-opening, and how our routine cleaning procedures can ensure your return to normal remains possible. Contact us for a free quote today or call It’s Clean Ltd on 01423 566785.

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How will Artificial Intelligence (AI) and innovation transform the commercial cleaning industry?

by david • 10 Sept, 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing the way we live and work in all sorts of ways and the commercial cleaning sector is no exception. However, whereas technology can improve safety, efficiency and security, professional contract cleaning is still a people business. So, how far is AI likely to impact commercial cleaning, what improvements might we see and where will human involvement remain an essential part of the job? Robots, smart systems and automation We have already seen a huge amount of innovation with the introduction of smart cleaning technology and devices. Robotic floor cleaning, air quality sensors and smart systems that create alerts when dispensers need refilling are all improvements that have enhanced quality and improved facilities management. At It’s Clean Ltd we have knowledge and experience of all the latest innovations and can incorporate the use of smart systems for customers whose premises would benefit from them. Data and management The data that can be collated through the use of smart systems, like those described above, is another aspect of the progressive innovation we are seeing in the cleaning sector. The ability to analyse how often things need cleaning and refilling leads to greater knowledge for budgeting and will in turn result in wider innovation and opportunities for artificial intelligence. Virtual training In many industries, virtual reality is used to help train engineers and operatives in a simulated setting. Whilst this may become more widely used in commercial cleaning settings, we are proud to already be using technology to enhance the knowledge and expertise of our staff. Our online training programme can be accessed anywhere by staff and keeps them updated on all the latest techniques, products and processes. You can read more about our training programme here . The human touch AI technology will evolve to support cleaner and healthier buildings in situations where it makes sense to spend time and money innovating - where there is a significant positive impact on public health, safety and efficiency, for example. This is why much of the change is coming in the form of smart sensors, data collection and the automation of repetitive and time-consuming tasks. Anyone who has ever engaged a commercial cleaning company will know that the real value comes from having people on site who know the building, understand the needs of those using it and have the ability to adapt quickly to manage the unexpected. At It’s Clean Ltd we take time to survey every building before we embark on a contract. We get to know the business so that we understand the expectations and needs of the customer. Our cleaning teams are fully aware of what is expected of them but they are also adaptable, which is extremely important. Commercial cleaning involves a lot of routine work but it also presents challenge and change. We pride ourselves in adapting, exceeding expectations and solving the many challenges that we face as a team during our day to day work. We also focus on developing strong relationships with our customers, which allows us to review, adapt and evolve so that we are always delivering the very best service possible. No matter how much technology and artificial intelligence change the machinery and processes involved in our industry, commercial cleaning is, and always will be, a people business. Contact us to arrange a site survey.