When a new cleaner begins, they are often introduced by their employers to a reservoir filled with bottles, sprays and tubs, given simple guidance and assigned responsible areas. After that, they are expected to know what to use, when and how to use it. There is a general assumption that they often featured cleaning knowledge elsewhere, such as relying on grown chores, previous experiences, or simply intuition.
However, individual habits and previous experiences are not always correct. Jeffrey Madkins, marketing manager at Unilever Professional, says without proper training, many cleaners are supposed to emulate coworkers, do their jobs, and pick up bad habits that are transported from work to work. This may result in inconsistent results, dangerous shortcuts, and missed opportunities to clean more efficiently and effectively. “Cleaners are at the forefront of hygiene, and they need to be equipped like experts.
Madkins offers five reasons why clean training should be a standard practice in all professional settings.
1. Cleaning time and products without being discarded: Not only does it cost you to use the wrong product for work. With proper training, the cleaner knows exactly what products to use for grease, dirt, lime scale, or bacteria.
2. Better techniques equal better results: From knowing how long the product will take to understanding the proper dilution, adjustments of small techniques can make a big difference. Trained cleaners work faster, more effectively, and often achieve higher hygiene standards with less effort.
3. Reduces health and safety risks. Incorrect use of cleaning agents is especially dangerous in the kitchen. Training will help strengthen safety protocols and help cleaners identify which products are safe. For example, the convenient Andy Food Safe Range is ideal for cutting through the durable stains and oils of your oven, but is still safe for food preparation.
4. Cleaners feel more valuable and confident. When cleaning staff receive proper training, it shows that their work is important and that they are valued. Also, clear knowledge of the right products and techniques will allow you to function more effectively and experience greater job satisfaction.
5. Improve business outcomes: Cleanliness has a direct impact on customer satisfaction, especially in industries such as hospitality and food service. Trained cleaners can help protect your reputation, reduce complaints and improve your revenue.
“Based on this belief in training, Unilever experts launched a nationwide campaign to upskill distributors who were kicked off in a LinkedIn live session earlier this month,” explains Madkins. The goal is simple. It is about passing this knowledge on to ground cleaners and operators. ”
That same commitment came to fruition at Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa in Cape Town last week. Through the live demo, participants, many of their hospitality founding owners, saw first-hand that knowledge and proper use of the product can completely change the outcome. For many, it was a light bulb moment.
“Training allows cleaners to work smarter and less difficult,” says Madkins. “In the show, you could see a real surprise when you realise how quickly people can remove grease with the right product. In just a few minutes, you can move someone's entire approach into cleaning.”
“Unilever experts continue to invest in practical, hands-on training and in-field support to clean teams across South Africa,” he concludes. “Real Clean doesn't just happen. It's taught.”
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