When new cleaners arrive on the job, the standard welcome is all too familiar: a storeroom filled with bottles, sprays, and tubs, a brief induction, and a quick rundown of which areas they’re responsible for.
From there, it’s often assumed they’ll figure it out—drawing from childhood chores, previous roles, or gut instinct.
But relying on personal habits or prior experience isn’t always effective—or safe.
According to Jeffery Madkins, Marketing Manager for Unilever Professional, the lack of proper onboarding means many cleaners end up copying coworkers or simply guessing their way through daily tasks. “Cleaners are on the frontlines of hygiene, and we have to equip them like professionals, because that’s exactly what they are,” he stresses. Without structured training, bad habits form and spread from one job to the next—leading to inefficiency, safety risks, and subpar results.
Madkins outlines five compelling reasons why comprehensive cleaner training should be non-negotiable in any professional setting:
1. Cleaning Blindly Wastes Time and Product
Using the wrong product isn’t just unproductive—it’s expensive. With proper training, cleaners understand exactly which product is suited to grease, grime, limescale, or bacteria. This reduces waste, rework, and confusion, saving both time and money.
2. Better Technique Means Cleaner Results
Even small technique changes—like knowing how long a product needs to sit or getting the dilution ratio right—can significantly improve outcomes. Trained cleaners are not only faster but more effective, often hitting higher hygiene standards with less effort.
3. Training Reduces Health and Safety Risks
Incorrect product use, especially in sensitive areas like kitchens, can be dangerous. Training helps staff identify the right products for the right environments and reinforces safety protocols. “For example,” notes Madkins, “the Handy Andy Food Safe range is ideal for cutting through tough dirt and oil in ovens, while still being safe for food-prep surfaces.”
4. Trained Staff Feel Valued and More Confident
Equipping cleaners with the knowledge to do their jobs well communicates respect for their role. It boosts confidence and improves job satisfaction. When cleaners know they’re making a real impact, they take more pride in their work.
5. It Leads to Better Business Outcomes
From spotless guest rooms to gleaming restaurant kitchens, cleanliness directly impacts customer experience—especially in hospitality and food service. Well-trained staff help protect your reputation, reduce complaints, and enhance your bottom line.
In line with this philosophy, Unilever Professional recently launched a nationwide training initiative aimed at upskilling its distributors. “Based on this belief in training, Unilever Professional has launched a nationwide campaign to upskill its distributors, which kicked off with a LinkedIn Live session earlier this month,” explains Madkins. “The goal is simple: to pass on this knowledge to cleaners and operators on the ground.”
This commitment was showcased at the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa in Cape Town, where live demonstrations allowed hospitality professionals to see the results for themselves. “Training empowers cleaners to work smarter, not harder,” says Madkins. “At the show, you could see the genuine surprise when people realised how quickly grease could be removed with the right product. In just a few minutes, you can shift someone’s entire approach to cleaning.”
Madkins concludes: “Unilever Professional continues to invest in practical, hands-on training and in-field support for cleaning teams across South Africa. Because real clean doesn’t just happen. It’s taught.”
