What is the 1% rule of cleaning?

Professional commercial cleaning is more than just making your space visibly clean. Rather than simply categorising a place as clean or dirty, professionals use incremental values to establish exactly how clean a space is. This is what the 1% Rule of Cleaning is all about.

So, when inspecting an office for cleanliness, we do not say that it looks clean; rather, we state that it’s about 59% clean, indicating a significant area for improvement.

Derived from the principle of marginal gains, a concept introduced by Sir Dave Brailsford in professional cycling, the 1% Rule suggests that massive long-term differences are often the result of smaller, 1% improvements across different areas of an operation. In the cleaning, it implies that consistent 1% progress in one area at a time leads to the overall transformation of a facility.

At CG, we apply this methodology to transform a visibly tidy space into a clinically and operationally safe environment.

1% Gains in Cleaning

The math behind the 1% Rule is simple yet impressive. If you improve something by just 1% in a day, it gets 365% better by the end of the year. Moreover, compounding leads to a nearly 37 times improvement during the period.

In the context of commercial cleaning, the 1% rule can do wonders if applied correctly. Benefits include:

1. Increased Time Efficiency
2. Improved Chemical Efficacy
3. Pathogen Reduction
4. Asset Preservation
5. Better Occupant Health

1. The 1% Rule in Cleaning Time and Speed

Labor accounts for about 80% to 85% of the total cost of any commercial cleaning project. Integrating the 1% Rule can significantly reduce cost by optimising movement.

For instance, a 1% improvement (re-organising) in a janitorial closet can ensure that frequently used items such as microfiber cloths and multi-surface cleaners are at eye level. This ensures cleaners spend more time on the floor and less time hunting, significantly increasing overall efficiency.

Similarly, switching to backpack vacuums and using pre-mixed solutions increases overall cleaning pace. Reduction in even a few grams of manual load can prevent the drop in performance that usually happens during the later hours of a shift. Workers feel more productive and the quality of the cleaning improves substantially.

2. Minor Improvements in Chemical Management

Professional cleaners understand that more soap doesn’t necessarily mean more clean. In fact, overusing certain products can cause floor degradation and respiratory irritation due to chemical residue.

The 1% Rule suggests that by focusing on achieving the exact dilution ratio recommended by the manufacturer, cleaners can reduce the overall costs and environmental impact and improve the chemical’s efficiency, even by just 1%.

Similarly, allowing disinfectants to work properly on a surface or letting it complete its dwell time, rather than wiping it off immediately, can increase the kill efficiency by up to 40%.

3. High-Touch Point Density

While anyone can clean the visible areas, such as the desk surface, focusing on hidden spaces like the underside of the desk edge can lead to 1% more improvement.

In an average office, there are hundreds of touchpoints, many of which even an expert eye might miss. While a standard cleaning crew targets only the major spots, including door handles, light switches and elevator buttons, professionals at CG focus on hidden spots, such as vending machine buttons, the handles of shared microwave ovens, the adjustment levers on chairs, and the buttons on water dispensers.

Even 1% improvement can lead to a significant climb in the overall infection-fighting capability of a building, decreasing employee absenteeism and improving ROI.

4. Hardware and Asset Preservation

Cleaning is not just about maintaining an impressive workplace; it also protects the business assets.

The shift from regular cleaning cloths to high-quality microfiber might seem a minor change, almost 1%, but it leads to considerable improvements. Microfiber traps dust and bacteria almost 70% more effectively than a cotton cloth, which simply moves dirt around. This marginal improvement prevents dirt from scratching high-gloss surfaces, protecting the finish of marble or wood flooring for years.

Once the vacuum bag reaches 100% capacity, it starts losing suction, leaving dirt behind. By ensuring that bags are changed when they are 75% full, you maintain consistently high airflow. This ensures that deep-seated grit is completely removed, preventing it from scratching carpet fibres like sandpaper.

5. The Psychology of the 1% Gain

The 1% rule suggests that visible signs of cleanliness lead to further cleanliness.

When an employee walks into an office with spotless floors, dust-free baseboards and white tiles rather than grey, they subconsciously try to keep it clean. This 1% psychological gain leads to long-term change in habits among the staff. Workers in a spotless office are more likely to clear their desks and contribute to an overall healthier office.

How to Apply the 1% Rule in Your Office

Whether you manage a commercial building or own a small business in Sydney, you can easily implement these 1% improvements in your cleaning routine to start seeing massive impacts:

• Audit Your Entryways: 80% of the dirt in a commercial building enters through the front door. Adding an extra 3-foot walk-off mat (a merely 1% change) can lead to up to 10% less dirt hitting your carpets.
• Color-Coded Tools: Using color-coded supplies, such as red cloths for restrooms, blue for the office, and green for kitchens, can reduce the cross-contamination risk.
• Upgrade Your Lighting: Switching to brighter lighting can help cleaners identify and clean missed spots more effectively.
• Review Your Products: Ensure your chemicals and equipment are in line with the latest industry trends, including eco-friendly, pH-neutral cleaners that protect surfaces.

Conclusion: The Power of 1% Rule in Cleaning

The idea behind the 1% Rule in Cleaning is simple. A series of small (1%) but consistent changes in your cleaning habits or routine can compound into major, long-term impacts, including more efficient cleaning, reduced time and costs, and improved health and asset protection.

At CG, we believe that a workspace isn’t really clean until every minor detail is addressed. By focusing on the seemingly insignificant 1%, the dwell times, the microfiber cloth, the hidden touchpoints, and early preparation, we deliver an overall high-quality result that far exceeds client expectations.

Now is the best time to reconsider your cleaning strategy. Look for the 1% changes you can integrate into your cleaning routine today to boost your operational efficiency and results tomorrow.