Cleaning statistics that will change the way you think about your business premises

We’ve put together some cleaning statistics that will change the way you think about your business.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a light on our attitude towards hygiene. For many, it’s opened our eyes and perhaps made us realise we aren’t quite as clean as we once thought. 

But it’s not just your hands you need to worry about. Keeping your business premises clean is more important than ever, yet so many CEOs underestimate the true value professional cleaning services can have on their organisations. These cleaning statistics should help… 

Cleaning can cut sick days by a third

According to one report, sick days in the office could be cut by as much as one third if desks were properly disinfected every day. Hiring a cleaning company or facilities management firm to handle the day-to-day cleaning is the most sensible option, as you can continue to operate in your usual manner and rest easy knowing work surfaces are clean and sanitised.

Desks are dirtier than toilets

Research shows that office desks are as much as 400 times dirtier than toilet seats, with up to 25,000 germs per square inch. From keyboards and chairs to mice, floors, and the desks themselves, it’s easy to see a build-up of food crumbs, bacteria from poor personal hygiene, as well as droplets from coughing and sneezing. If you operate a hot-desking policy, it’s even more important that desks are wiped down at the end of each day to prevent transmission of colds, flu, and other viruses including COVID-19. Cleaning is the only way to protect staff. 

Millions of workdays lost due to cold

The Daily Mail reports that Britons lose 140 million workdays per year due to common colds and bad backs. Over time, this can massively eat into productivity and your margins, which makes commercial cleaning even more of a sensible investment. When cold spreads around your office, it’s vital that you hire a cleaner to keep common touchpoints clean. Though not all sniffles can be avoided by an anti-bac wipe, proper cleaning significantly cuts infections.

Indoor air quality can be bad

You might think that you’re breathing in clean air when you’re sat in your fifth-floor office, but that’s not necessarily the case. One study found that air quality inside an office can be five times worse than outside – another reason to hire a cleaning company to properly maintain your office. Poor air quality can stunt productivity and even cause serious health problems.

Employees don’t think businesses do enough

One sure-fire way to get employees on your side is to listen to them and make them feel like their contributions really matter. Only one-quarter of office workers think that their workplace is being cleaned to a satisfactory standard, so put your money where your mouth is and hire an external company that is accountable to you and your staff. If they’re not happy with the level of cleaning, they can complain to your facilities management company and get results. 

Almost every employee will contract an illness

Another cleaning statistic that you cannot overlook: 98% of office workers will contract some form of contagious illness during their working lives. That’s mostly due to poor workplace sanitisation, again demonstrating the importance of having a strict cleaning regime in place, and the tools and employees to make that happen. Outsourcing your cleaning is cheaper and more convenient than hiring in-house, as you don’t have to worry about absenteeism.

Bacteria can multiply quickly

Failing to schedule routine office cleans can lead to the bacteria count on everyday surfaces multiplying quickly. From toilet door handles to office water coolers and telephones, cleaning can kill the pathogens that carry contagious diseases. Handing over the responsibility to an experienced and professional cleaning company gives you one less thing to worry about.

Did these cleaning statistics open your eyes? If you’re looking for help maintaining your facilities, reach out to the team at Precision FM on 0116 366 6508 today for a consultation.