Industries evolve over time. So do the businesses within those industries. Commercial cleaning services are no exception. The way we approach professional business and office cleaning looks quite a bit different from how things were done 10, 20, and even 30 years ago. Fortunately, our industry has evolved for the better.
Companies offering industrial and business cleaning in the 2020s are much more adept at ensuring proper hygiene. We are more cognizant of how cleaning services affect general health and safety. And of course, better technologies and cleaning techniques have made for cleaner and more sanitary facilities.
Office Cleaning 50 Years Ago
Back in the late 1960s and early 70s, commercial cleaning services were mostly focused on office cleaning. Cleaning crews would go into large offices where they would empty the trash, vacuum the carpets, and give the breakroom a cursory cleaning. There wasn’t much to it. The services were adequate for the day and commensurate to the understanding businesses had about how clean facilities affected the bottom line.
As office and business cleaning was so basic back then, companies could get away with skeleton crews. It didn’t take many employees to clean even the largest office buildings. A single person could clean a small office building alone. Back then, cleaning companies got a lot of bang for the buck.
Industrial and Business Cleaning Were Added
Beginning in the early 1980s, commercial cleaning services began to expand into industry and general business. Industries ranging from medical delivery to financial services started contracting out their cleaning. Companies found it more efficient and cost-effective to outsource rather than maintaining in-house cleaning crews.
Cleaning companies had to adapt to new environments. They had to learn the ins and outs of cleaning industrial spaces. They had to adapt to the hazards associated with cleaning medical facilities. Even the basic concept of office cleaning was evolving.
Cleaning and Janitorial Services
The next evolution in our industry involved combining cleaning services with janitorial. Companies were no longer content to outsource overnight cleaning. Instead, they preferred full-service facility management companies capable of providing daily janitorial and maintenance services.
Getting into janitorial functions gave cleaning companies an opportunity to really delve into more of the maintenance aspects of building management. It also gave service providers an opportunity to expand into sourcing janitorial and maintenance supplies.
Then Came COVID
Commercial cleaning services remained fairly static through the 2000s and 2010s. The big game-changer was COVID. When it came to our shores in 2020, we weren’t prepared for it. Nobody was. Suddenly, commercial cleaning services were faced with an entirely new situation. Not only that, but the urgency to get it right was tremendous.
What we have learned since then has completely changed the way commercial cleaning services are provided. Today, we do so much more than vacuum carpets and empty trash cans. Commercial cleaning is heavily focused on hygiene and sanitation. It must now be that we are so collectively concerned about stopping the spread of germs.
A Service for Every Need
Needless to say that modern commercial cleaning services are adaptable to just about any need. From basic office cleaning to full-scale industrial cleaning, there is a service package for every need. The key for companies looking to outsource their cleaning is to find a partner they can work with, a partner who shares their vision of cleanliness, sanitation, and hygiene.
Our industry has evolved quite a bit over the years. We like to think that it has evolved for the better. If you’d like to know more about how commercial cleaning services can benefit your company, contact us at your earliest convenience.
