Which cleaning methodology does your cleaning service provider utilize? Do they follow the Team Cleaning approach or are they still using the Zone Cleaning method? What are the differences between the two? What is Team Cleaning and what advantages does it provide?

The Basic’s

Zone Cleaning:  In traditional zone cleaning an individual cleaning operator is responsible for all cleaning tasks within a designated area.  For example: an individual cleaner would be responsible for all cleaning tasks on a given floor within an office building, school, etc. That could include restroom cleaning, vacuuming, emptying trash, dusting, etc.

Team Cleaning:  In the team cleaning approach individual cleaners are assigned specialized tasks. In this approach one individual cleaner is responsible for cleaning restrooms, another cleaner works on trash and dusting, while another has vacuuming, etc….

The Advantages of Team Cleaning

Over the past few years team cleaning has become the method of choice for an increasing number of cleaning services providers. Why is that? Why have so many cleaning operations abandoned the traditional zone method in favor of the team approach? The principle advantages of team cleaning:

• Specialization:  Specialization in a specific cleaning task usually leads to higher proficiency in that task. A cleaning operator that is specialized in vacuuming is likely to be more proficient than an operator that has to mix in vacuuming with several other cleaning activities.
• Reduction in Equipment Cost:  Zone cleaning typically requires a heavier investment in equipment due to the fact that there is little/no specialization (e.g. the zone approach would require several vacuum cleaners to cover a multi-story facility in which one zone cleaner is responsible for all cleaning duties on an individual floor). In the team method one or two vacuum specialists would cover the entire building with fewer vacuums.
• Streamlined Training:  In zone cleaning all cleaners must be trained in all cleaning tasks. In team cleaning the cleaner will be trained in his or her area of specialty. This results in training that is more focused, less time-consuming, and less costly.
• Improved Teamwork and Morale:  Cleaning operators working in a team environment typically report higher levels of morale and job satisfaction. This can lead to lower employee turnover rates for the cleaning operation.
• Improved Cleaning Performance and Efficiency: A few studies have shown that, when properly implemented, the team cleaning approach produces better results, in less time, than the traditional zone method. This leads to higher levels of client satisfaction and reduced operator costs.

Summary

While zone cleaning still has its place (in certain circumstances) the team cleaning method incorporates much of what is considered best practice within today’s cleaning industry. Cleaning operations that follow the team method can often provide services that are superior, and more cost effective, as compared to operations utilizing the zone approach. So, again, which method does your cleaning service provider use and is it the best solution for your facility?

Tell us about the method that works best for you. Let us know in the section for comments below.

And if you need a customized, cost-effective Service Solution for your business, let SMO help. Request a Customized Service Solution today.