“How much does it cost to maintain a clean and tidy facility?”
This is a question we encounter often when we present our janitorial service proposals. Clients
are typically eager to find the section where we've outlined the pricing details. For facility
managers, understanding where these costs come from is key. When you know the factors that
influence the price, you’re better equipped to choose the right contractor for your needs.
Here are the main elements that impact the cost of cleaning your building:
1. Number of people using the facility
2. Type of business
3. Characteristics of the facility
4. Type and frequency of services requested
5. Quality expectations
Before we explore these factors, it's essential to highlight the obvious: the largest expense in
cleaning your facility is labor. Specifically, it’s the number of labor hours needed to keep the
facility in top shape. Each of the following factors plays a significant role in determining those
labor hours.
1. The Number of People in Your Facility
The number of people occupying your building is the most significant factor affecting cost.
More people generally lead to more messes that need to be addressed. These individuals might
be employees, students, customers, or patients. For example, a 30,000 sq. ft. call center with
400 employees working across three shifts will incur higher cleaning costs than a 300,000 sq. ft.
warehouse with just 60 employees. More people mean more trash, more dirt on floors, more
frequent restocking of restroom supplies, and generally more cleaning tasks.
2. The Type of Business You Run
Different types of businesses come with different cleaning requirements. For instance,
manufacturing facilities often produce a lot of dirt, dust, and grime, making them harder to
clean than a typical office building. Schools, healthcare facilities, and public areas usually
require more frequent surface cleaning to ensure proper disinfection. The nature of your
business heavily influences how much time will be needed to clean your space.
3. Characteristics of the Facility
The time it takes to clean a building can vary widely based on factors such as the cleanable
square footage, number of restrooms, types of flooring, building density, age of the facility, and
other considerations. These characteristics dictate the type of cleaning needed, the supplies
and equipment required, and the labor hours necessary to do a thorough job. For example, an
older building with hard surface floors and tightly packed workspaces will take longer to clean
than a newer building with large offices and carpeted floors.
4. Types and Frequency of Services
Most janitorial contracts cover the “big four” core services: trash collection and removal,
dusting and wiping surfaces, floor care (vacuuming and mopping), and restroom maintenance.
However, the frequency of these services can significantly affect the amount of time required.
For instance, a medical facility might need floors mopped daily, while a corporate office might
only need this done twice a week.
5. Cleanliness Standards and Expectations
Different people have different ideas about what constitutes a clean environment. What one
person considers clean might seem dirty to someone else. These varying expectations can
greatly influence cleaning time. It’s important for facility owners and janitorial teams to clearly
understand the desired level of cleanliness. For instance, one facility owner wanted to ensure
there was never any dust on the top of door frames, which required additional labor hours to
meet this standard.
So, What Will It Cost to Clean Your Building?
The answer to this question is, “it depends.” Labor costs make up the bulk of the expense to
keep your facility clean. The amount of labor needed will vary depending on how many people
use the facility, the type of business, the characteristics of the facility, the frequency of services
requested, and the cleanliness standards expected.
If you’re interested in discussing your facility’s janitorial needs and would like a free estimate,
please don’t hesitate to contact us.
