The Business Case for Commercial Cleaning in 2025: Health, Productivity, and ROI

Commercial cleaning isn’t just about appearances—it’s a strategic lever for health, productivity, and profitability. With hybrid work reshaping occupancy and employee expectations rising, organizations that invest in professional cleaning are seeing measurable returns.

In 2025, 57% of commercial cleaning businesses expect revenue growth—a signal that companies are recognizing cleaning’s role in keeping operations running smoothly (Aspire, 2025). And the data backs it up: poor indoor air quality (IAQ) alone can cut employee productivity by up to 11% (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2024). When workplace illnesses already cost U.S. businesses more than $225 billion annually (CDC, 2024), the link between cleaning and performance becomes hard to ignore.

Below, we unpack the research, real-world results, and actionable steps to optimize your cleaning program for maximum ROI.

Why Cleaning Is a Strategic Business Function

Cleaning is often treated as a cost center. In reality, it directly affects workforce health, utilization, and customer perception—areas that drive revenue and reduce risk.

– Productivity: Subpar IAQ and hygiene correlate with concentration issues, fatigue, and higher error rates. Harvard’s 2024 findings quantify this loss at up to 11% (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2024).
– Absenteeism: 68% of facility managers reported increased absenteeism in poorly cleaned buildings (ISSA, 2023).
– Risk management: The CDC estimates over $225 billion in annual business costs from workplace illnesses—costs that robust cleaning and hygiene can help mitigate (CDC, 2024).
– Market validation: The global cleaning services market is projected to hit $616.98 billion by 2030, reflecting sustained demand tied to health and productivity concerns (AMRA & ELMA, 2025).

Bottom line: Smart cleaning is an operational strategy, not a commodity.

What the Latest Research Is Telling Facility Leaders

– 57% of commercial cleaning providers expect higher revenue in 2025, signaling sustained investment in cleaning as a business essential (Aspire, 2025).
– Poor IAQ can reduce productivity by up to 11% (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2024).
– Workplace illnesses cost U.S. businesses $225B+ annually (CDC, 2024).
– 68% of facility managers saw higher absenteeism with subpar cleaning (ISSA, 2023).
– The cleaning market is projected to reach $616.98B by 2030 (AMRA & ELMA, 2025).

Real-World Results You Can Replicate

– A California tech company reduced sick days by 20% after upgrading cleaning protocols—targeted disinfection and improved IAQ management were key drivers (2024).
– A retail chain saw a 15% bump in customer satisfaction scores after investing in professional cleaning—cleanliness correlated with loyalty and repeat visits (2023).

These outcomes reflect a broader trend: as hybrid work creates unpredictable occupancy, consistent and adaptable cleaning is essential to prevent illness spread and keep facilities ready (Mero, 2025).

The ROI of Better Cleaning: How to Make the Case

You don’t need to guess the value of cleaning. Tie it to measurable business metrics.

– Reduced absenteeism
– Track pre/post sick days, PTO usage, and HR-reported illness-related absences.
– Multiply recovered workdays by average fully loaded labor cost to estimate savings.
– Productivity lift from IAQ
– If your IAQ improvements reduce cognitive drag, even a modest gain across knowledge workers compounds. Use Harvard’s 11% as an upper bound and model a conservative scenario.
– Customer experience and revenue
– Correlate cleanliness scores (from surveys or NPS verbatims) with sales, dwell time, or conversion rates in retail and hospitality environments.
– Risk and liability reduction
– Fewer incidents tied to hygiene and fewer outbreaks mean avoided costs and operational continuity.
– Asset longevity
– Proper floor care and surface maintenance extend asset life—reducing capex refresh cycles.

Pro tip: Pilot changes on one floor or site for 60–90 days, then compare HR, occupant feedback, IAQ readings, and incident logs to create a credible ROI narrative for stakeholders.

Best Practices for 2025 Cleaning Programs

– Align frequency with risk and occupancy
– Audit protocols quarterly. Scale cleaning in high-touch, high-traffic zones and during flu season.
– Focus on IAQ
– Pair surface disinfection with air strategies: ventilation checks, filter upgrades, and maintenance schedules.
– Go green (without compromising efficacy)
– Choose certified green products and equipment to reduce chemical exposure and environmental impact.
– Use data to drive decisions
– Deploy IoT counters, occupancy sensors, or cleaning management software to allocate labor where it’s needed most and to substantiate performance with reports.
– Standardize training and quality control
– Implement checklists, site-specific SOPs, and periodic inspections with clear pass/fail criteria.
– Communicate visibly
– Share cleaning schedules and IAQ metrics on digital signage or tenant portals to boost confidence and satisfaction.

Selecting the Right Commercial Cleaning Partner

Your provider should be a performance partner, not just a vendor.

– Relevant certifications and standards
– Ask about adherence to recognized industry standards and any green cleaning credentials.
– Transparent KPIs and SLAs
– Response times, quality scores, IAQ targets, and audit cadence should be clearly defined.
– Technology-enabled reporting
– Look for time-stamped task verification, issue tracking, and dashboards that tie to your KPIs.
– Workforce quality
– Screening, training, and retention programs reduce churn and improve consistency.
– Flexibility for hybrid occupancy
– The provider should adjust frequencies dynamically and offer day porter or event-based services.
– Health-first approach
– Evidence-based protocols for disinfection, IAQ support, and outbreak response.

Ask for a short pilot with a baseline and clear success metrics.

A 90-Day Action Plan to Elevate Cleaning and Prove ROI

– Weeks 1–2: Assess and baseline
– Map risk zones, traffic patterns, and current tasks; collect IAQ readings; pull absence and satisfaction data from the last six months.
– Weeks 3–4: Redesign protocols
– Right-size frequencies, add IAQ-focused measures, and define measurable KPIs (e.g., cleanliness scores, response times, IAQ thresholds).
– Weeks 5–8: Pilot and instrument
– Run a pilot on one floor/site with green products and data-driven scheduling; implement checklists and digital verification.
– Weeks 9–10: Review and refine
– Compare pilot vs. baseline on absenteeism, IAQ, occupant feedback, and incident rates. Adjust scope and schedules.
– Weeks 11–12: Scale and communicate
– Roll out across locations; share results with stakeholders to secure budget and buy-in.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

– Treating every area the same
– High-touch zones need more attention than low-traffic areas; adapt to occupancy.
– Over-relying on surface cleaning
– Air quality strategies must complement surface hygiene.
– Lack of measurement
– Without data, you can’t prove value or improve performance.
– Chemical overuse
– More isn’t better; it can harm IAQ and surfaces. Follow dwell times and dilution ratios.
– Invisible programs
– Occupants trust what they can see—communicate schedules and outcomes.

FAQs

– How often should offices be cleaned in hybrid environments?
– Start with daily high-touch disinfection and restroom service; scale common areas and meeting rooms based on actual use. Audit quarterly and flex during high-risk seasons.

– Are green cleaning products effective?
– Yes—when certified and used correctly. They reduce exposure risks and environmental impact without sacrificing performance.

– What is IAQ and why does it matter?
– Indoor Air Quality describes the condition of air inside buildings. Poor IAQ can reduce productivity by up to 11% and increase absenteeism (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 2024).

– How can I show ROI to leadership?
– Track absenteeism, IAQ metrics, occupant satisfaction, and incident rates before and after program changes. Tie improvements to labor costs, revenue proxies, and risk reduction.

The Takeaway

In 2025, cleaning is a business performance strategy. The strongest programs blend smart protocols, IAQ management, green products, and data-backed execution. With evidence of reduced sick days, higher customer satisfaction, and clear cost savings, the case for investing in commercial cleaning is stronger than ever.

Citations: Aspire (2025); Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2024); CDC (2024); ISSA (2023); AMRA & ELMA (2025); Mero (2025).