Robotic/autonomous equipment is the cleaning technology facility managers are most likely to purchase within the next year, according to CMM’s 2026 In-House/Facility Management Benchmarking Survey.

Among survey respondents, 36% chose robotic/autonomous equipment as their most likely purchase, followed by artificial intelligence-powered platforms and indoor air quality devices (both 15%), and antimicrobial surfaces or sprays (14%). The largest response (43%), however, was among facility respondents who said they had no plans to purchase cleaning technology within the next 12 months.

Cost might be a factor in the hesitation, with 42% of survey respondents reporting that the cost of technology implementation is a concern, causing them to explore cost-effective solutions.

Technology implementation costs are a significant barrier for 17% of survey participants, who revealed the purchase is currently beyond their budget. However, 19% reported that the cost of technology implementation is manageable and they are actively investing in technology.

When choosing cleaning products and equipment, effectiveness is by far the most important consideration, chosen by 62% of survey respondents. Other considerations are price (chosen by 21%) and sustainability (11%).

According to 40% of survey participants, 21% to 40% of their operating budget goes to purchasing cleaning equipment and supplies (including equipment maintenance costs). The next largest group, 34%, spend 20% to 1% of their operating budget on these expenses. 

Survey respondents are responsible for purchasing a wide variety of cleaning products, from hand soap/sanitizers (purchased by 91% of survey participants) and cleaners/disinfectants (91%) to toilet paper/paper towels (87%) and hard floor/carpet care chemicals and equipment (85%). The least commonly purchased items were measurement equipment, including devices to measure moisture, indoor air quality, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which was purchased by 21% of survey participants.

Most survey respondents (73%) pinpointed industry publications as their top source of information about cleaning products and equipment, followed by distributors (72%), trade shows (59%), and colleagues (50%).

Explore the purchasing habits of CMM’s survey participants to determine how your facility purchases compare. Access the complete CMM 2026 In-House/Facility Management Benchmarking Survey.

A developing El Niño will be one of the greatest forces shaping the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, according to AccuWeather. El Niño typically suppresses Atlantic hurricane activity by increasing wind shear, which can limit storm development. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1. AccuWeather is predicting 11 to 16 named storms, including four to seven hurricanes and two to four major hurricanes, which are Category 3 or higher. Forecasters also predict three to five direct impacts on the United States during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season.

Historically, the Atlantic hurricane season averages 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes.

The 2025 hurricane season was close to the historical average in terms of the number of storms. It featured three Category 5 hurricanes, just one shy of the all-time record of four. Furthermore, most of the tropical activity occurred after Sept. 10, the climatological peak of the hurricane season.

Although AccuWeather is predicting a near- to below-average number of tropical storms and hurricanes this year, 2026 could still be more active than other El Niño years. Additionally, very warm Atlantic water could still allow storms to intensify quickly, including before the season officially begins on June 1. AccuWeather said the U.S. regions at greatest risk of direct impacts from a tropical storm or hurricane in 2026 are the northern and northeastern Gulf Coast and the Carolinas.

Since the start of the satellite era in the 1960s, El Niño years have averaged about 10 named storms and five hurricanes. By contrast, La Niña years typically produce around 15 named storms and eight hurricanes. When neither El Niño nor La Niña is present, the average falls between those two extremes at 13 named storms and seven hurricanes.