You might choose a bargain commercial cleaning company that could make your most expensive mistake.
A cheap cleaning company or in-house staff might make your office look tidy at first glance… but over time, your surroundings can look messy again within a few days.
You may assume that you have opted for the right cleaning company or in-house staff because you think you are saving money.
But the reality is, you have cut the cleaning budget to “save money,” and the costs show up in ways that are hard to track.
In this post, we will show how cheap cleaning drains money through sick days, rework, damage and lost business and how to stop it without raising your budget.
We will also talk about the average price of commercial cleaning in the UK.
Let’s start!
What “Poor Cleaning” In A Workplace Really Looks Like
Rushed Jobs & Missed Areas
Kitchens, toilets and areas that people often touch most (handles, switches, lifts) get only a quick wipe that soon looks untidy again. Keeping high-touch surfaces clean for sustained hygiene is key to reducing germ transfer between people and surfaces. NHS guidance is very clear on this. (NHS England)
No Quality Management
Maybe the cleaning team you hired just mops or just moves dirt around. They don’t set predefined standards in documented form. No site inspection before cleaning takes place. Maybe there is no supervision. No proof that the staff cleans professionally.
No Plan for Deep Cleans
From the company’s side, carpets, vents and upholstery don’t get cleaned monthly or at least quarterly; the company either won’t hire capable specialists or relies on someone who only vacuums or mops these office assets. These office assets build dirt and microbes quickly. Regular, planned deep cleaning supports health and extends the assets of life.
The Hidden Costs that Take Place
More Sick Days
When cleaning is done without prioritising hygiene, minor illnesses spread faster and affect staff health. Regarding this matter, UK data shows two key points:
Official ONS statistics show 148.9 million working days lost to sickness in 2024 (about 4.4 days per worker). (Office for National Statistics)
The CIPD’s survey shows that, on average, workers are off sick about nine days each year in the latest data. This is higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The reason it is higher than some other estimates is that the CIPD counts more types of sickness (not just short colds or flu) and includes longer absences.
For example, people are taking time off for stress, recovery from surgery, or long-term conditions. Poor workplace hygiene and the environment can contribute to these absences. (CIPD)
Lost Work Time Even When People Show Up
Coming to the office while sick kills productivity and spreads illnesses.
The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) estimates the UK’s hidden cost of workplace sickness rose to approximately £103bn in 2023, with most of the cost coming from productivity loss, not just absence. (The Guardian)
Imagine, with a clean space, you can reduce workplace sickness and boost staff productivity.
Bad first impressions
Clients judge the moment they enter your space.
A well-run business links cleanliness with trust and buying decisions.
Therefore, you should treat the clean reception area and the washrooms as your front page.
If these spaces are unclean, you lose visitors and eventually lose them.
Damage to assets
You have equipment such as HVAC systems, ovens, laptops and maybe servers. You have carpets of quality fibres. And you have upholstery and surfaces that require the same level of cleaning as carpets. Poor cleaning can also create plumbing issues.
If these areas are not cleaned at the desired time, gritty dirt particles cause abrasion and wear on the couch or carpet fibres and surfaces over time.
This causes frequent replacement of entire assets or their components, which can be costly over time; inflation or economic instability makes it worse.
Pests & Oduors
Kitchens, whether in restaurants, workplaces, or industrial spaces, poor cleaning can lead to pests and odours; musty odours often point to mould.
These can cause respiratory issues and other health problems; dehydration risk may also increase.
Staff and visitors might complain and be affected. UK Health rules are clear about it and say that places where food is handled or high-touch areas need planned, frequent cleaning, especially in fridges, worktops and bin stations. (NHS England)
Compliance Risks
Poor cleaning means weak cleaning processes with no follow-up and poor compliance with UK health and safety regulations, such as the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 (HSWA 1974) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), even though there are many more.
Failing to have clear procedures in place, failure to follow the safety protocols and failure to meet FSA standards can lead to issuance of the improvement/prohibition notices, seizure of unsafe food, or being shut down until hazards are fixed.
You might get criminal penalties. With unlimited fines and possible custody for serious or repeated breaches, HSE may also charge a Fee for Intervention.
The entire business is damaged. This means losing trading days, higher insurance risk, civil claims and low Food Hygiene Ratings that tank reputation and revenue.
Why “Cheap” Cleaning in a Workplace Often Means “Costly”
You can imagine yourself charging low hourly or fixed rates; it usually means cutting corners. The team might have undertrained staff, weak or no supervision, and minimal quality checks.
As discussed above, if there is no plan for workplace cleanliness or deep-clean scheduling (carpets, windows), you give competitors an edge and clients may go elsewhere and face surprise extras, as discussed above.
Bottom line: Cleaning is part of your brand’s reputation. You want to attract clients not only with the products or services you offer but with a place that is attractive, clean and calm. It’s part of your risk management and brand strategy.
What Good Cleaning Delivers
- Fewer sick days & steadier staffing: Healthy staff working in a serene space means staff can focus on business projects completed with dedication and attention to detail.
- Delight visitors: Likewise, visitors will be delighted when they experience fantastic customer service. (Rising UK absence underscores why prevention pays.) (Office for National Statistics)
- Longer life for assets: Routine and periodic cleaning of electronics, upholstery, carpets and plumbing components helps maintain these components well, reducing frequent replacements.
- Safer surfaces & air: when high-touch and shared areas are cleaned frequently, less germ transmission occurs. (NHS England)
- Predictable budget: A proper workplace cleaning plan (daily + weekly + monthly + yearly) helps avoid emergency callouts and “surprise” replacements.
What is the Average Price of Commercial Cleaning in the UK?
If you’re comparing quotes, it helps you to know the going rates:
Across the country, the average price of office cleaning in the UK is commonly reported around £15–£20 per hour, with deep office cleaning ranging roughly £25–£45+, depending on region, size and scope. Fixed-basis pricing might be £300 to £1,500 per month. London often runs higher.
Special office cleaning, like out-of-office hours or before or after event cleaning, has a cost range of £25 to £45 per hour or £0.16 to £0.28 per square foot.
London office cleaning companies frequently quote £15–£30+ per hour; some guides cite £16–£32 for central areas.
These costs are estimated and may change over time due to economic or political factors. This pricing can also be lower or higher depending on the commercial cleaning company’s level of experience and staff quality.
For details, read our blog: Office Cleaning Cost
How To Spot a Professional Cleaning Service Provider in the UK
Finding a reputable cleaning service provider might be challenging, but if you follow these guidelines, you can find an affordable, reputable service in the UK. Check the following factors:
First, skim the website and carefully review their portfolio. Check out the testimonials, case studies, pricing structure and qualifications of the staff.
Of course, you will go through some eight to ten serious commercial cleaners and after reviewing their website, you will narrow it to two or three.
After doing this, you can make a call and ask the following questions:
- Can you tell us about your trained, vetted staff qualifications?
- Do you provide a written scope and a room-by-room checklist?
- What is the cleaning cycle for the premises?
- What tools and cleaning agents do you use and do you use eco-responsible products?
- Do you have insurance and safety policies?
- What is your transparent pricing (what’s included/excluded) and are there any hidden fees?
- Do you have an FSA to ensure fees are disclosed and not buried in lengthy documents?
- What types of cleaning do you do most (carpets, upholstery, vents, windows)?
- Do you have any KPIs for past clients, such as inspections per month, issue response time, photos and monthly reports?
- What is your pricing model? (hourly rate, fixed rate or both or per square foot)
Quick Self-Audit of a Commercial Cleaning Company
For further clarification, you can also ask them to come to the site and do some cleaning tasks as a free trial.
- Walkthrough: How have they performed the cleaning tasks? Note missed areas, smells, sticky spots and dusty edges.
- Check supplies: What kind of cleaning agents are they using? Are soap, paper and bins always stocked and emptied?
- Ask for proof: Check whether they are making a checklist, or start cleaning right away or do any site inspection. Please review the cleaning checklist and last inspection report.
- Track issues for one week: During the inspection process, make short notes + photos + times.
FAQs
How often should we deep clean?
Plan light daily work for high-touch and shared areas, weekly for low-use spaces and monthly or quarterly for deeper carpet, upholstery, vents and blinds adjusted to your traffic and risk.
What’s the difference between standard and deep cleaning?
Standard = daily hygiene and presentation (desks, bins, floors, washrooms, kitchens). Deep = periodic work for build-up and hard-to-reach areas (carpets, upholstery, vents, under/behind equipment).
How do I compare quotes fairly?
Ask for a written scope, frequencies, what’s included/excluded and proof of quality control. Compare total annual costs including consumables and periodic tasks, not just the hourly rate.
What is the average price of commercial cleaning in the UK?
Guides put the average around £18 per hour nationally, with ranges of £12–£20+ and higher in London (£15–£30+, sometimes £16–£32 in central areas). Your exact price depends on size, risk and scope.
Final takeaways
When you get trapped by cheap cleaning, you might suffer consequences that can cost you more than your profit, more sick days, slower work, damaged assets and lost deals.
While affordable yet quality cleaning saves money and time, fewer problems and more sales
To get the best one, conduct market research, create a budget, and opt for a commercial cleaning service.
You can use market ranges to check quotes or average prices of commercial cleaning in the UK, but focus on total value, scope, quality, and risk reduction, rather than the lowest hourly rate.
