With the introduction of a new year, we are forced to look back at the past year in an effort to prepare ourselves for what is to come. But many of the issues that were important in 2008 will continue to dominate the jan/san industry.

The slumping U.S. economy will certainly play a role in how the first quarter plays out for cleaning departments. Although the industry is no stranger to tight budgets, cleaning managers will certainly be forced to “trim some of the fat.” Be careful, though, and be smart about where cuts are made. Even when money is tight, cleaning expectations rarely change. Look to our cover story on page 4 for some examples on cost cutting strategies in a rough economy.

Budgets aside, safety will certainly continue to drive major sectors of the cleaning market. Standards for occupant and employee safety never falter and cleaning will continue to play a large role in guaranteeing the wellbeing of cleaning employees and building occupants.

Green initiatives will also continue to drive product development and usage in the jan/san industry. The steady push towards greening our industry will bring with it many product innovations and cleaning techniques that will reduce the facility’s carbon footprint and improve cleaning’s effect on building occupants. Turn to page 12 to learn more about green cleaning laws and how the jan/san industry will be impacted.

Looking back it is obvious that issues still linger from 2008, and those challenges will continue to shape how the cleaning industry evolves throughout 2009.




POSTED ON: 2/1/2009