Why Cleaning Prices Should Match the Service: The Cost of Cutting Corners
When choosing a commercial cleaning provider, one of the first questions businesses ask is, “What’s the price?” While cost is an important factor, it’s equally important to understand how pricing is tied to the actual work being performed—and the time it takes to do it right.
At System4, we believe in transparency. We build our pricing around the services requested, the square footage being cleaned, and the time standards outlined by ISSA—the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association. These standards provide time guidelines for tasks such as vacuuming, restroom cleaning, dusting, and floor care, ensuring there’s a realistic framework for how long a professional cleaning should take.
The Role of ISSA Cleaning Times
ISSA publishes standardized cleaning times for hundreds of tasks, ranging from emptying trash cans to disinfecting restrooms. For example:
• Vacuuming 1,000 square feet of carpet takes approximately 15–20 minutes.
• Cleaning a standard office restroom can take 30–40 minutes depending on fixture count.
• Dusting a desk may take 2–3 minutes, while high dusting adds additional time.
These benchmarks allow both the customer and the cleaning provider to understand the true labor hours required for a clean facility.
What Happens When Services Are Underbid
In today’s competitive market, some providers win contracts by undercutting on price. On paper, it looks like savings. In reality, it creates a serious problem:
• If a contract only budgets 2 hours of labor, but the ISSA standards show it requires 3, the cleaner is faced with a choice:
◦ Spend the extra time and lose money.
◦ Or cut corners to stay within the allotted hours.
When that happens, vacuuming may be skipped, restrooms may not be disinfected fully, and dusting may be ignored. The result? A facility that looks okay at first glance but builds up dirt, germs, and wear-and-tear over time.
Why “Cheaper” Ends Up Costing More
While a low bid might save money in the short term, underpriced cleaning often leads to:
• Employee complaints about dirty restrooms or workspaces.
• Faster wear on carpets and flooring due to insufficient vacuuming or mopping.
• Higher long-term costs from premature replacement of furnishings, flooring, or HVAC strain from excess dust.
• Re-bidding contracts when the cleaning company inevitably can’t keep up.
In other words, paying less upfront often means paying more down the line.
How to Ensure You’re Getting Value
When reviewing cleaning proposals, ask providers:
1 How many labor hours are included in this proposal?
2 Are your times based on ISSA cleaning standards?
3 What happens if tasks consistently take longer than budgeted?
By tying pricing to proven cleaning timelines, you ensure your facility receives quality, consistent service without corner-cutting.
Final Thought
Commercial cleaning is not just about appearance—it’s about health, safety, and long-term asset protection. A price that doesn’t reflect the actual cost of providing those services is a red flag. At [Your Company Name], we believe in fair, transparent pricing that’s aligned with industry standards, so you get what you pay for: a cleaner, healthier workplace.