Thinking About Switching Cleaning Providers? Here’s What to Consider First

1. Are Cleaning Standards Staying Consistent, or Slipping Over Time?

Most commercial cleaning companies start strong. But over time, the attention to detail often fades.

Ask yourself:

• Are the same areas getting missed again and again?

• Do things look great on day one and less-than-average by week three?

• Have your staff or customers started noticing issues?

This decline is one of the most common complaints we hear. A consistent clean isn’t just a nice-to-have — it sets the tone for your workplace and directly impacts staff satisfaction and visitor impressions.

Take a look at this typical satisfaction curve:

In many cases, standards drop as providers stretch their teams too thin or cut corners to maintain margins. But that doesn’t have to be your norm. At Cleancorp, we use proactive systems and regular audits to make sure standards don’t just start strong, they stay that way.

2. Are You Seeing Familiar Faces, or is the Cleaning Team Always Changing?

A stable team builds trust.

If you're seeing different cleaners every week, it's a sign the company may be struggling with turnover or doesn’t prioritise consistency. That can lead to:

• Security concerns (especially in sensitive or high-access environments)

• Poor knowledge of site-specific requirements

• No accountability for results

One of our hospitality clients shared that before Cleancorp, they "never knew who was going to walk through the door." Now, they have the same trusted team every time, and communication is seamless.

What you want is a small, dedicated team who knows your site inside-out, not a rotating door of contractors.

3. Are You Having to Micromanage the Cleaning Service?

You shouldn’t be in the role of 'Quality Control Officer'. If you’re constantly following up on missed tasks, unclear scopes, or communication black holes, something’s not right.

Reliable providers:

• Carry out regular quality checks

• Report transparently on what was done and when

• Raise issues before you have to ask

Our clients often comment on how refreshing it is to receive a weekly report outlining exactly what was cleaned, when, and by whom, and to be notified proactively if anything needs attention. At Cleancorp, we use tried and tested systems and technology to make sure we get it right every time. Read our blog on the enhancing accountability and efficiency through the power of technology in commercial cleaning.

If you’re spending more time managing your cleaners than your own team, it might be time to re-evaluate.

4. Does Your Cleaning Partner Align With Your Bigger Goals?

Cleaning isn’t just about dust and bins; it should support your broader business objectives. That includes:

• ESG and sustainability targets

• Ethical sourcing policies

• DE&I and supplier diversity commitments

• Safety and compliance requirements

At Cleancorp, we help clients meet their goals through:

• B Corp Certification: Demonstrating transparency, ethics, and social responsibility

• Triple ISO (9001, 14001, 45001): Ensuring quality, sustainability, and safety standards

• Sedex Certification & Modern Slavery Compliance: Supporting ethical supply chains

In industries like finance, healthcare, and education, our certifications have helped clients meet procurement criteria and improve internal audits.

5. Do You Have Clear Visibility Into the Cleaning Work Being Done?

"Trust us, it’s done" isn’t good enough anymore.

You deserve a clear view into:

• When cleaners are onsite

• What they’re doing

• Whether service levels are being met

That’s why Cleancorp uses an exclusive site management app for tracked check-ins, real-time reporting, and total transparency. Our dashboard even integrates with client systems for easy access to service logs and inspection reports.

6. Are You Locked Into Your Cleaning Contract?

Long-term contracts can feel like a trap, especially if things aren’t going well. Before renewing or signing something new, take a step back.

You deserve to feel confident about your provider, not just locked in by paperwork. Some questions to ask:

• Can I scale services up or down?

• Is there flexibility if our needs change?

• What’s the exit process if things don’t work out?

At Cleancorp, we offer flexible service agreements and a smooth handover process to take the stress out of switching. We’ll work alongside your team to create a tailored transition plan that fits your timelines. Read our blog on what to look for in a commercial cleaning contract.

Additional Red Flags to Watch Out For

Even if the surface-level clean looks okay, there are other red flags that often go unnoticed:

• Cleaners arriving without uniforms or IDs

• No documented training or safety certifications

• Limited access to eco-friendly or hospital-grade products

• Staff who can’t answer basic site-specific questions

If these are happening regularly, it's time to ask whether you're really getting what you're paying for.

Real Clients, Real Results

Black Star Pastry came to us after struggling with a national provider who kept sending different cleaners every week. They now have a dedicated team that knows their venue inside and out, and they haven’t looked back.

An Iconic Global Fashion Brand switched to Cleancorp when their local sites weren’t getting the attention promised in their corporate contract. We now clean over 20 of their Australian stores, with consistent quality and proactive reporting.

NDIS and aged care clients often tell us we’re the first company that made their participants feel safe during a clean. That’s not just training, it’s culture.

A well-known media agency in Sydney shared that Cleancorp helped reduce sick leave among their staff after introducing a more targeted hygiene program and switching to eco-certified disinfectants.

So, Should You Make the Switch?

Only you can answer that. But if any of this feels familiar, it might be time to explore your options.

To help you get started, we created this simple pricing calculator that gives you a tailored estimate in under a minute. No follow-ups, no pushy sales calls — just clear info when you're ready.

We also wrote a companion guide on "Making the Switch to a New Cleaning Provider", covering the step-by-step process, what to ask during handover, and how to onboard your new team without disrupting your day-to-day.

Or if you want to talk it through? Just reach out. We’ll walk you through what switching would really look like — and how we make it seamless.

Frequently Asked Questions on Switching Cleaning Providers

1. How hard is it to switch cleaning providers mid-contract?

It depends on your current agreement, but many businesses find that transitioning is easier than they expected. If your provider isn’t delivering, it's worth reviewing your contract for exit clauses. At Cleancorp, we help clients manage the entire handover process, including coordinating start dates and onboarding.

2. What should I look for in a new cleaning contract?

Look for flexibility, transparency, and service-level guarantees. A good contract should outline exactly what’s included (and what’s not), how performance is measured, and how issues are resolved. Bonus points if it includes proactive quality checks and sustainability reporting.

3. How soon can Cleancorp start if I decide to make the switch?

Depending on your location and requirements, we can often start within 1–2 weeks. We’ll work with your timeline to ensure a smooth, disruption-free transition, with site walkthroughs and training built in.

4. Do I need to supply equipment or cleaning products?

Nope - we bring our own professional-grade equipment and eco-friendly products. Everything we use is certified, safe, and suited to your specific industry needs.

5. What types of businesses do you work with?

We work with offices, schools, retail stores, aged care, NDIS facilities, industrial sites, and more. Whether you manage a single location or 20, we can scale our service to fit your site and your standards.

Not all cleaning companies are created equal. If your current one isn’t delivering, you don’t have to settle.

We’re here when you’re ready to expect more from your clean.