Steve Hanson

If you want to accurately estimate the time it takes to clean a building then you need to know how to workload. Workloading helps you estimate how much work can be done by a worker in a specified time period. For example, how many square feet can be vacuumed in an hour when using a back pack vacuum?

One way to break down this down is to categorize the different types of tasks required for the job. First you will list the daily tasks such as emptying trash, cleaning restrooms and vacuuming. Next you'll list the periodic tasks like detail vacuuming, high/low dusting or wiping down trash cans. Finally you'll list the project work like carpet cleaning or floor buffing.

Next you will take each of the tasks from your list and estimate how much time it will take to complete. You might want to use a chart that lists various cleaning times like the one published by ISSA. (The Janitorial Store also has a Production Cleaning Rates Calculator available online for members).

Some of the tasks you'll be estimating will be based on the number of items to clean such as toilets or sinks. Other tasks will be based on square feet per hour. It's important when walking through the facility that you count the number of restroom fixtures and measure up the square footage by type of floor surface (carpet, VCT tile, ceramic tile, etc.)

Once you have times assigned to each task, multiply it by the frequency. If you'll be emptying trash five times a week, then you need to multiply your time per task by 260 (5 times/wk x 52 wks/yr). Then you'll divide that number by 12 months to get a monthly estimate. If you'll be detail vacuuming once a week then you'll multiply your time by 52 wks/yr and then divide by 12 to get your monthly estimate. When you have totals for each task, add up the times to get a total time estimate.

Keep in mind that these are time estimates. Your employees need to work at the same pace as the time and motion studies that these figures were based on in order for your cleaning times to match your estimate. However using this as a guide to estimate your cleaning times will help you put together a realistic proposal based on research provided by the industry.

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Steve Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through his online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com, and sign up for weekly cleaning tips at http://www.TheJanitorialStore.com.