How much does it cost? This is often the first question organizations ask when evaluating floor care equipment. In an environment where facility budgets are tighter than ever, machines with a lower upfront cost can appear to offer immediate savings. However, the well-known phrase, “You get what you pay for,” also applies to floor care machines. For facility managers, choosing equipment based primarily on initial cost can ultimately lead to higher long-term expenses, operational disruptions, inconsistent cleaning results and increased labor demands. In many cases, the least expensive machine becomes the costliest decision over the life of the equipment. Hidden high costs A lower price tag is always appealing, but the true cost of a floor care machine extends far beyond the purchase price. A low upfront cost often reflects compromises in machine durability, engineering quality, serviceability or operational efficiency. While those tradeoffs may not be immediately visible during procurement, they quickly become apparent in day-to-day operations. Floor care machines operate in healthcare facilities, schools, retail stores, warehouses and other demanding environments where equipment reliability directly impacts productivity and cleanliness standards. Low-cost machines that are not engineered for sustained commercial use often experience: More frequent breakdowns Reduced battery performance Inconsistent water or chemical usage Shorter component lifespan Increased maintenance requirements Over time, these issues compound operational costs and place additional strain on already stretched maintenance teams. Operational costs of downtime One of the most overlooked aspects of purchasing floor care equipment is higher maintenance and repair costs, paired with minimal post-sale support. Cheaper machines are often constructed with lower-grade components that wear out faster or require more frequent repairs. In some cases, replacement parts may be difficult to source quickly, further extending downtime. What initially appeared to be a cost-saving purchase can quickly result in emergency repair expenses, increased labor hours, rental equipment costs and delayed cleaning schedules. When a floor care machine is out of service, it disrupts cleaning schedules and reduces labor efficiency, which can cause the facility’s appearance to suffer. For facilities operating across multiple shifts, even minor disruptions can create significant ripple effects. In critical environments, such as healthcare and airports, delays in floor maintenance can also pose safety and compliance risks. Quality commercial floor care machines are built with durability and serviceability in mind. Machines manufactured with higher-grade components are less likely to experience frequent equipment failures. When service is needed, reputable manufacturers provide responsive support, readily available parts, and trained technicians who can minimize downtime. First-class manufacturers also offer Internet of Things (IoT) fleet management technology that enables real-time machine monitoring; tracks critical battery status, usage hours, and location; and delivers proactive uptime management with predictive maintenance. When issues arise, remote diagnostic capabilities can resolve over 50% of technical breakdowns without needing to pay for a costly in-person visit. Investing in quality equipment from a manufacturer with a strong service network can significantly extend equipment lifespan and reduce operational risk. Labor efficiency Labor remains one of the largest operational expenses for facility teams. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), labor accounts for approximately 70% of a business’s overall operating costs. Equipment that slows operators down, requires repeated passes, or needs constant adjustment ultimately increases labor costs over time. Higher-quality floor care machines are engineered for productivity. Wider cleaning paths, faster operating speeds and longer run times allow operators to cover more ground in less time, directly reducing the labor hours required per shift. Advanced features like precise water recovery, automated chemical dosing and intuitive controls minimize operator error and reduce the time spent on recleaning, refilling and troubleshooting. Advanced options like autonomous floor care machines deliver even greater measurable productivity gains. Depending on the model and its features, autonomous floor cleaning machines typically clean between 4,300 and 28,000 square feet per hour. This is substantially higher than the average manual cleaning rate of 2,000 to 2,700 square feet per hour, as estimated by The Official ISSA Cleaning Times. For multi-site operations, the cumulative labor savings across a fleet of time-saving machines represents a significant and recurring cost advantage that compounds year over year. Resource consumption costs Lower-cost machines without precision water and chemical dosing systems are more likely to consume excessive water, chemicals and energy due to less efficient system design. While these operational inefficiencies may seem minor, individually, they drive up supply costs, especially for facilities with daily cleaning requirements. The sustainability liabilities that cheaper machines bring are increasingly relevant to environment, social and governance (ESG) reporting. As ESG reporting becomes standard practice for mid-size and large organizations, excessive water consumption and chemical overuse create sustainability liabilities that can disqualify a facility from green building certifications, like the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which carry financial and reputational value. Advanced floor care systems increasingly integrate technologies that optimize water flow, chemical dosing, battery management and energy consumption to help facility managers meet environmental goals while maintaining high cleaning standards. Total cost of ownership The most effective purchasing decisions are based on total cost of ownership (TCO), not upfront price alone. TCO accounts for the full operational picture, including: Equipment lifespan Maintenance costs Downtime impact Labor efficiency Resource consumption Service and support Replacement frequency In many cases, a higher-quality machine with a slightly higher upfront investment delivers significantly lower operational costs over its lifetime, making it the smarter financial decision in the long run. Long-term performance Industrial floor care equipment is not simply a procurement decision. What you purchase today determines what you pay for—in labor, downtime, repairs and replacements—for years to come. Your choice in floor care equipment directly affects labor productivity, facility appearance, safety and long-term costs. While cheaper machines may reduce short-term spending, they often introduce hidden inefficiencies that cost organizations more over time. Facilities that prioritize durability, productivity, support and operational efficiency are better positioned to reduce risk, maximize uptime and achieve more consistent cleaning outcomes.
Employee turnover in the commercial cleaning industry makes consistency a challenge for building service contractors (BSCs) and in-house providers alike. In this Q&A, I provide the answers to some common questions on how standardized processes and technology can help cleaning organizations maintain quality, improve onboarding, and support frontline teams despite ongoing workforce challenges. Why is standardization so important in high-turnover cleaning environments? When employees leave, they often take years of knowledge about a facility, client preferences, and daily routines with them. Without standardized processes, every new employee must start from scratch. That disadvantage creates inconsistency and increases the amount of time managers spend training new hires. When organizations document their processes, ideally within a digital system, new employees can step into a role with clear instructions instead of relying on guesswork or institutional knowledge. Standardization helps ensure that service quality remains consistent regardless of who is performing the work. What challenges do cleaning organizations face when onboarding new employees? One of the biggest challenges is communicating the scope of work. Many cleaners work independently during evening or overnight shifts, so after an initial walkthrough with a supervisor, they're often responsible for completing tasks on their own. If questions arise while they're in the field, they may not have immediate access to someone who can help. That uncertainty can lead to missed steps, inconsistent service, or frustration for both employees and clients. Having clear documentation, accessible work instructions, and reliable communication channels helps new employees feel supported while shortening the learning curve. How can technology help create consistency across multiple facilities and shifts? Technology brings the standard of work directly to the employee instead of leaving it in a binder or in someone's memory. Whether it's a checklist, QR code, timekeeping tool, or mobile work instructions, employees have immediate access to exactly what needs to be done, including the products, equipment, and procedures required for each location. That consistency is especially valuable when employees are assigned to facilities they've never serviced before. Technology also improves communication. Commercial cleaning is a highly bilingual industry, and tools that offer multilingual support or real-time translation help employees ask questions and receive guidance in their preferred language. That removes uncertainty and helps ensure work is completed according to company standards. What role do inspections and quality checks play in maintaining standards? Inspections establish the benchmark for what success looks like. They allow supervisors to measure performance against client expectations and identify areas that need attention before they cause larger problems. More importantly, inspections create consistency across an organization. Managers can compare performance between locations, identify recurring issues, and ensure every facility meets the same service standards. Rather than relying solely on customer feedback, inspections provide objective data that helps organizations proactively manage quality. How can managers use performance data to improve training and accountability? Performance data is valuable because it supports both coaching and recognition. Too often, employees only hear from management when something goes wrong. Inspection results and task data allow managers to recognize employees for work done well while also providing targeted coaching where improvements are needed. Over time, that data reveals trends. Managers can identify their highest-performing locations, their lowest-performing sites, and the tasks that fail most frequently. Instead of delivering broad training sessions, they can focus on the specific areas where employees need additional support. This specification creates a more efficient training process and helps organizations continuously improve service quality. What advice would you give cleaning organizations struggling with consistency due to turnover? Don't try to hire your way out of the problem. Many organizations respond to turnover by focusing only on recruiting more employees. While hiring is important, it doesn't solve the underlying issue if every new employee must learn processes differently. Instead, focus on building repeatable systems. Clearly define the scope of work, document your processes, and provide employees with the tools they need to succeed from day one. Even if you need to start with written procedures before moving to a digital platform, creating consistent processes will have a much greater long-term impact than simply adding more staff. Don’t try to change everything at once. Start by documenting your core processes, then implement improvements in manageable stages. Organizations that take a thoughtful, step-by-step approach are more likely to achieve lasting consistency than those that try to overhaul every process overnight.
Ahead of Thank Your Cleaner Day (Oct. 14), new data reveals a disconnect between public appreciation and cleaner burnout, reinforcing the need to support the front-line workforce. While most (56%) of restroom users agree that cleaning is hard work and that cleaning teams deserve more recognition, 21% admit they mean to thank cleaners when they see them but rarely do, according to a new survey from Tork, an Essity brand. At the same time, research on cleaning staff highlights significant workforce strain: 38% of cleaners surveyed have left their jobs because of lack of recognition and burnout—factors unrelated to pay that contribute to recruitment and retention challenges across the cleaning industry. Additionally, 70% of cleaners report inadequate employer support, and 80% have experienced mental health challenges because of their work. “The gap between good intentions and actual appreciation, combined with widespread cleaner burnout, represents an urgent business challenge,” said Amy Bellcourt, vice president of communications at Essity. “When cleaning staff feel unsupported and invisible, it directly impacts facility cleanliness, the restroom user experience and ultimately, business reputation and revenue." Of restroom users surveyed, four in five said hygiene issues in the restroom make them feel worse about the business as a whole. In fact, many actively avoid a venue or business because of hygiene or privacy issues. Poor restroom experiences may also lead customers to leave negative reviews, avoid purchases or, for employees, spend less time at work and work from home more often. To address these workforce challenges, Tork partnered with ISSA, The Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions, to offer Frontline Excellence: Delivering Clean, Safe, and Welcoming Spaces via the Inclusive Hygiene Framework—a new online training course, available in English and Spanish, designed specifically for front-line cleaning professionals in North America. As a limited-time thank you, Tork is covering the cost of training for nonmembers. The 30-minute, self-paced course equips cleaning professionals with practical skills, knowledge, and confidence to deliver hygiene services that go beyond appearance, helping create environments that are clean, safe, accessible, and welcoming for everyone. By investing in professional development and training, facility managers can help cleaners build new skills while strengthening their connection to the purpose and value of their work —driving engagement, improving retention and supporting more consistent, high-quality hygiene outcomes. "Thank Your Cleaner Day is an opportunity for us to demonstrate that commitment in a meaningful way,” Bellcourt continued. “By launching this comprehensive training in partnership with ISSA, we're equipping frontline teams with the tools and knowledge to succeed, removing barriers they face every day and ultimately improving both their experience and the experience of facility users. That's inclusive hygiene in action." The course is available through the ISSA Academy and is free for both ISSA members and nonmembers. Nonmembers can register for free with the promotional code NMFREE (to access, first create a free account; after checkout, training will appear in your MYISSA account under “My Activity”). For more information or to enroll, visit the ISSA Academy.
The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) released ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026, the updated American National Standard for Industrial Head Protection, approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). As jobsite risks evolve, more employers are reevaluating head protection and adopting solutions that go beyond minimum requirements to help reduce serious injuries, including traumatic brain injuries. "This isn't a routine update—it's the roadmap for an industry transformation," said Cam Mackey, ISEA president and CEO. "With head injuries accounting for nearly 700 worker fatalities in the last year, and major employers now mandating enhanced protection, this standard provides the technical framework the industry has been waiting for." ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 is referenced in Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and remains the primary benchmark for industrial head protection. The 2026 revision does not replace existing requirements or make current compliant head protection obsolete. ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 maintains the familiar type and class classifications used throughout the industry. Type I and II designations address impact and penetration protection, while Class designations address electrical protection performance. The 2026 revision establishes optional testing criteria for features that are increasingly being considered by safety professionals and employers across a wide range of industries. “This update is important because it helps everyone speak the same language: manufacturers, safety teams and workers in the field,” said Tim Gallant, chair of the ISEA Head Protection Product Group and vice president of product at Ergodyne. “ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 keeps the trusted foundation in place, but it also adds new optional testing criteria that reflect what safety professionals are asking for and what workers are relying on every day.” Key updates include: New Designation “+” indicates enhanced performance: Identifies head protection tested beyond the base standard for retention, chin strap performance, and (for Type I+) expanded impact protection. Type I+: chin strap, enhanced retention, and multi-directional impact protection Type II+: chin strap and enhanced retention (with Type II impact protection) Enhanced tests tied to the “+” marking: Chin strap retention: keeps head protection secured during impact/falls Helmet retention: stays properly positioned during slips/trips Multi-point impact: front/rear/side protection (Type I+) Guidance for reverse wearing: Adds new checks for “+” head protection to ensure it stays securely on the head when worn in reverse. Environmental/visibility markings: Maintains HT (high temp) and LT (low temp) markings, and updates “High Visibility (HV)” to “Enhanced Visibility (EV)” to reflect that head protection falls outside the ANSI/ISEA 107 standard for high visibility apparel. No change to visibility performance. These updates standardize features already widely available in head protection today, making it easier for safety professionals to evaluate options and match protection to specific jobsite hazards. “Safety teams are seeing more head protection options than ever before, and workers deserve confidence in what those markings mean,” said Stacey Simmons, vice chair of the ISEA Head Protection Product Group and strategic account executive at Bullard. “This revision helps make head protection selection more straightforward by defining consistent test methods for features many employers are already looking for.” ISEA emphasizes that head protection should always be selected based on actual jobsite hazards. While enhanced options such as Type I+ and Type II+ provide additional protection, not every job requires the same approach. “ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026 helps safety professionals make more informed decisions by adding clarity and consistency to features they’re already evaluating,” Mackey said. For a copy of ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2026, click here. To learn more about industrial head protection, click here.
Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration boosted the odds to 83% that the intensity of this El Niño will exceed the intensity of all others since at least 1950, up from 75% last month. This season has already become a super El Niño, and current trends suggest it will likely become the strongest El Niño on record. In turn, last month California Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency, mobilizing state resources ahead of potential winter storms and other impacts. The emergency proclamation streamlines measures to help California prepare for this historic El Niño, as the state is likely to bear the worst impacts. The proclamation directs state agencies to protect vulnerable communities, prepare roads and critical infrastructure, stage emergency supplies and help local partners reduce flood, landslide and coastal risks. El Niño is a natural climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average ocean temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific, which can shift weather patterns and bring wetter, more intense winters to California. Climate change can supercharge this natural climate pattern. A study published in the journal Science last month found that El Niño events are now more than 36% stronger than before the industrial era, and this trend has accelerated over the last 40 years as the planet warms. “We are not waiting for this season’s storms to be on our doorstep,” said California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) Director Caroline Thomas Jacobs. “Cal OES is leading California’s statewide efforts by bringing state and local partners together, conducting advance planning efforts and identifying potential needs before impacts occur. By planning early and coordinating resources ahead of El Niño, we are working to ensure communities and first responders have the personnel, equipment and support they need to prepare for severe weather, respond quickly when conditions change and protect lives and property across California.” El Niño does not guarantee a wet winter or any storm, but it heightens the risk of strong storms in California. The state said Californians should prepare now for the possibility of heavy rain, snow and flooding by: Signing up for alerts. Get local emergency alerts here and follow trusted sources. Knowing your flood risk. Find out whether your home or workplace is in a flood-prone area or downslope of an area recently affected by wildfire, where heavy rain can increase the risk of flooding, debris flows and mudslides. Staying informed. Watch weather forecasts and sign up for emergency alerts from your city or county. Conditions can change quickly during major storms, so follow instructions from local emergency officials. Having an evacuation plan. Know where you would go and how you would get there if you need to leave quickly. Keep an emergency kit ready, including plans, medications and supplies for pets and other animals. Never driving through floodwater. Water on flooded roads can be deeper and faster-moving than it appears, and roadways may be damaged or washed out beneath the water. Turn around and find another route. Additionally, Governor Newsom recently opened the modernized State Operations Center and announced new disaster intelligence satellites to deliver near-real-time information on flood impacts and other hazards statewide. Through an agreement with ICEYE, a satellite-imaging company that helps governments assess disaster damage from space, Cal OES is expanding its ability to receive near-real-time information on floods, wildfires and other disasters, even through clouds, smoke or darkness. The technology can help emergency managers identify where flooding is occurring, estimate water depths and assess potential damage to homes, roads and critical infrastructure, even under heavy cloud cover or severe weather. The information will integrate into California’s statewide emergency operations and be shared with state agencies and local emergency managers to establish a common operating picture during significant storms. These capabilities can help officials more rapidly identify impacted communities, prioritize response resources, and begin assessing damage and recovery needs.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s new budget plans to allocate US$1.4 million annually to install 10 high-tech, modular public restrooms in busy areas across the city, according to a local NPR station. The proposal follows the city’s pilot project with tech startup Throne Labs earlier this year, which placed four solar-powered public restrooms in Seattle’s Pioneer Square ahead of the World Cup. Each Throne restroom costs the city about $116,000 annually, covering the restroom, maintenance and regular cleaning by Throne’s support team, NPR said. To access the sleek and modern Throne restrooms, users need to scan a QR code with their phone or use an entry card distributed by Downtown Seattle Association ambassadors. A disembodied voice greets the user with “Welcome to Throne” as the doors open automatically and elevator music plays. The room features bright wallpaper, a baby changing station, a sharps disposal container and a flowery scent. Each visit has a ten-minute time limit, with several warnings before the door opens. After the user finishes, Throne texts the participant to rate the experience. More than 30,000 people have used the Pioneer Square restrooms so far, NPR reported. The median visit time is two minutes, and users have given the restrooms an average cleanliness rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars. Only five people have been restricted from using Thrones. The Seattle mayor’s budget also proposes spending $1.8 million in Seattle Park District funds and King County Parks Levy funds to install two new permanent restrooms: One in Cheryl Chow Park in Rainier Valley, and another in a yet-to-be-determined site in Northeast Seattle, NPR reported. As CMM previously reported, Atlanta partnered with Throne Labs to install 12 smart restrooms near park entrances across Atlanta to help address a long-standing shortage of public restrooms.