The British Cleaning Council and members write monthly columns for both Cleaning and Maintenance and Tomorrow’s Cleaning. You can read recent columns below.
To read the columns as they originally appeared, please visit https://cleaningmag.com/columnists and https://www.tomorrowscleaning.com/back-issues
Let’s get behind Thank Your Cleaner Day
By David Garcia, Chair of the British Cleaning Council. (This column first appeared in Tomorrow’s Cleaning).
It is sad to say but many people outside of the cleaning and hygiene industry are still unaware of the vital contribution cleaning staff make, which includes keeping people safe and well and contributing to the health and wealth of the nation.
Thank Your Cleaner Day, which this year is on October 15, is a chance for the unsung heroes of the nation’s cleaning teams to finally get their share of the spotlight. 
Thank Your Cleaner Day began in 2015 in New Zealand and has since grown into a worldwide day of recognition.
The idea is simple, yet powerful: workplaces and clients who rely on cleaning professionals take a moment to express thanks, whether by a note, a small gift, or simply by saying ‘thank you’.
What makes this day important is how it reveals just how vital cleaners are – not just for appearances, but for health, safety and business and economic success.
Our staff disinfect high‑touch surfaces, bathrooms, kitchens and shared spaces in workplaces and venues across the UK. This helps reduce the spread of germs, viruses and bacteria, hampering common infections such as flu. Staff also played a vital role in combatting Covid-19 during the pandemic. In healthcare settings, clean, hygienic and safe environments are essential to protect patients and help them recover. So cleaning staff are the frontline in protecting public health.
We also keep people safe by cleaning spills, debris and clutter which can lead to slips, trips and falls. By keeping floors clean, by emptying bins, by maintaining equipment, cleaners help prevent accidents. In industrial settings, cleaning staff ensure that safety‑critical areas remain free of dust or contaminants which could interfere with machinery or even cause a fire risk.
Our staff make a vital contribution in particular sectors such as the chemical and food industry, where they play a vital role protecting colleagues and the public, and the hospitality sector, where the work sector staff keeping hotels, restaurants and bars, recreation and entertainment venues clean ensures visitors keep coming and supports our tourism industry.
The cleaning, hygiene and waste sector is worth nearly £69 billion, so it also makes a huge contribution to the UK economy.
Thank Your Cleaner Day provides a chance for staff to be acknowledged for this essential contribution.
For individual staff being thanked, it can work wonders, boosting job satisfaction and promoting well-being.
By highlighting the importance of our work, the initiative can also help attract new talent to the cleaning industry and encourage professional growth.
Thank Your Cleaner Day also raises awareness among non-cleaning staff of the important role performed by their cleaning colleagues and it shines a light on the essential role of the sector more generally.
The widespread adoption and success of Thank Your Cleaner Day in the UK would support our campaign for recognition for staff and the sector, so we are encouraging other businesses to get behind it.
There has been increased acknowledgement of our sector and staff’s contribution in recent years. Following some warm words in Parliament during the pandemic, our industry was then overlooked by the Government of the day for several years.
This current Labour Government has been much more willing to listen and has acknowledged the vital role the sector and staff play, which is very encouraging. However, there is still a feeling that the person in the street largely misunderstands or overlooks our contribution.
Thank Your Cleaner Day is a great vehicle for spreading the message about the work of staff and the sector. The more UK organisations and workplaces that adopt it, the more it will help cleaning staff earn the recognition they deserve.
Find out more here www.kaercher.com/int/thank-your-cleaner-day.html
Celebrating 50 Years of Progress – and Looking Ahead
By Karen Pryor, National Chair, Association of Healthcare Cleaning Professionals (AHCP). (This column first appeared in Cleaning and Maintenance).
As the AHCP marks its 50th anniversary this year, I’m honoured to take up the role of National Chair at such a pivotal moment in our journey.
With over 39 years in the NHS and more than two decades in senior leadership roles within healthcare facilities management, I’ve seen first-hand the evolution of our sector 
and the vital role cleaning professionals play in patient safety, infection prevention, and the overall healthcare experience.
Over the past 50 years, the AHCP has championed professional standards, supported training and development, and provided a national voice for healthcare cleaning. From shaping policy to supporting frontline teams, our members have consistently demonstrated excellence, resilience, and innovation.
Under the leadership of the previous National Chair, Alison Lane, the AHCP has undergone a significant transformation. Behind the scenes, we’ve modernised our infrastructure, centralising bank accounts, upgrading IT systems, and streamlining invoicing and communications. These changes have strengthened our foundations and enabled us to better serve our members.
The recent rebrand, including a fresh logo and a new website, reflects our renewed energy and ambition. It’s more than a visual update, it signals a new chapter for the AHCP. We’re focused on increasing visibility, growing our membership, and ensuring our voice is heard nationally.
As we look to the future, our profession faces several complex and evolving challenges:
Workforce Development and Retention
Recruiting and retaining skilled cleaning professionals remains a national concern. The AHCP must continue to advocate for recognition, fair reward, and career pathways that attract and retain talent.
Sustainability and Environmental Impact
The healthcare sector is under increasing pressure to reduce its carbon footprint. Cleaning services must adapt by embracing sustainable products, reducing waste, and supporting greener practices without compromising hygiene standards.
Technological Innovation
From robotics to smart cleaning systems, technology is reshaping how we work. We need to ensure our members are equipped with the knowledge and skills to adopt and integrate these innovations effectively.
Infection Prevention and Resilience
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the critical role of cleaning in infection control. As new threats emerge, we must remain agile, evidence-led, and prepared to respond to future public health challenges.
Equity, Inclusion and Professional Recognition
We will continue to push for greater visibility and respect for our profession, ensuring that healthcare cleaning is recognised as a vital, skilled, and inclusive workforce.
I’m excited to work with our Executive Team, members, and partners to shape the future of the AHCP. Together, we will honour our past, embrace the present, and build a stronger, more inclusive future for healthcare cleaning professionals across the UK, helping them meet the challenges of the next 50 years.