How life was lived prior to March 2020 will never be the same. Nor should it.

COVID-19, the changing economy, and our new way of life is not something that people should look to survive, but understand how to embrace to continue to grow beyond it.

In this new era, there are a lot of good and positive things that are going to come from this. Personally, I hope a bit more human compassion and empathy will spread. Of course, I am also on a mission to show why professional cleaning services are considered an essential service and this is only going to continue. 

I’m excited about the changes the industry will see, raising the standard of professionalism as a whole. Cleaning is a very honourable career and I believe that the fall-out of COVID will be a bright future for the cleaning industry.

Commercial Cleaning Services and the Business Community

Unsurprisingly, Clean Club Calgary has had an increase in the frequency of commercial cleaning service requests since COVID-19 broke. Businesses are starting to view cleaning as an investment in both their business and the health of their employees and clients.

That said, surprisingly, a number of our commercial clients changed how they previously viewed their services. For instance, one of our corporate clients increased their cleaning package with key sanitation procedures specifically to mitigate risk for their staff. Another client, previously cost-concerned with cleaning as an expense, has now increased the frequency of cleaning from weekly to two times per week, recognizing that they are investing in the health of their people, not only cleaning and sanitizing a space.

From show homes to studios, offices and cafes full of entrepreneurs, the business community is changing their relationship with cleaning, beginning to invest in it as they do their employee benefits programs.

Residential Cleaning Services and Improved Processes

First thing’s first — residential cleaners are ALSO considered essential workers! Why? Cleaning is as much about one’s overall health as it is about removing debris and dust from their home.

To ensure both families and cleaning teams remain safe, many companies have enhanced their processes for everyone’s safety. Clean Club Calgary has developed boundaries for social distancing, invested in quality face masks for our staff, and trained on additional sanitization techniques, among other steps to limit health risks. In addition, to reduce the time that we’re in a client’s home, we’ve developed firm processes so we can proactively clean and properly disinfect. While residential clients have always expected clean in their services (as they should), they are now growing to expect quality deep cleans every single time. It’s important that we further develop processes and procedures that provide greater relaxation and peace of mind for people in their homes, while meeting their expectations of clean and sanitized.  

Cleaning Regulations Implemented Industry-Wide

I have always been committed to raising the standards of the cleaning industry. In fact, I am an active member of the ISSA Canada Residential Council. As part of this counsel, we are looking to develop regulations that all professional cleaning companies must follow. I believe that this is what all cleaning business owners should be doing as we have now entered an era where simple wipe downs do not bring the peace of mind EXPECTED by our clients.

Here, we continue to:

• Educate: There are key pieces of knowledge and support that come with being a professional cleaning company, such as having properly trained staff; proper coverage in terms of insurance, WCB, and staff; and what cleaning actually does in terms of transforming a space AND an individual’s physical and mental health.

  It’s also important that we educate on the types of products being used in the industry, particularly those laying claim to being “natural.” I am often approached by companies selling their “natural” cleaning product that has not (yet) been approved by Health Canada, does not have a DIN attached to it, nor does it have a safety data sheet. Natural may be a worthwhile trend to follow in cleaning products, however, if there is no safety data attached, then there is no guarantee that it is actually cleaning.

  Finally, while many products clean, they do not SANITIZE. In our post-COVID era, sanitization is crucial for businesses to ensure the safety of their people and clients. Professional cleaners must know the difference.

• Train: Did you know that there are eight ways you can fold a cloth to re-use it WITHOUT cross-contaminating? Not many untrained cleaners — including retail employees tasked with cleaning — know this either.

  This is just one tiny example of how easily and innocently cross-contamination happens. This is why cleaners who invest in their training are so valuable. They understand these tiny details that are about HEALTH.

  I personally invested in training and received certification as an House Cleaner Technician. All of our cleaners must go through similar onboarding training that we’ve developed to ensure that they are properly cleaning. By investing in proper training, both of our leaders AND of our cleaning team, our clients receive a true quality clean that supports their lifestyle.   

• Improve systems: Systems and processes are crucial to properly regulating the industry. Our customers work with us because of the processes we have developed (not to mention our fun service). Our training involves going through our systems for how to properly clean, communicate with clients, work with special client requests, communicate with team members, and so forth.

  For the industry to raise its standards as a whole, showing the honour and pride that comes with this career, companies must implement processes and systems that support their clients and their cleaners. Having these systems in place, such as how to cover an employee who is sick, ensures the client work still gets done. These systems provide options for both the cleaning company AND the client themselves. The professionalism behind these systems raises the reputation of a company as better service is the long-term result.

Personally, I am excited to see people and businesses changing how they view cleaning services and professionals. Cleaning is no longer a nicety, but an investment that benefits people’s overall well-being. The future of the cleaning industry is going to sparkle and shine bright as more and more people expect higher standards for their new definition of clean.

Have you started to view cleaning in a new light since COVID? How has this impacted you/your business/your home life? I would love to hear how you’re using cleaning in your post-COVID world! Contact me today!