A janitor

Building service contractors and facility cleaning operations across the United States have recently been expressing their belief that janitors and custodial staff are finally getting noticed by the public due to all they have done during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, a new group advocating for commercial cleaning operations has shared its own opinions as to why this is true.

Cleaning Coalition of America President Josh Feinberg says that the group believes COVID-19 is doing for the cleaning industry what the 9/11 attacks did for the security industry, reports WTOP in Washington.

As many in the cleaning industry know, janitors and custodians have been traditionally relegated to the shadows because the evening or overnight shifts they work occur when most office workers are done for the day. But that's changed due to COVID-19 as the average business in the United States has increased the frequency of the professional cleaning it has done in its offices by 20 to 30 percent, according to Feinberg. 

Launched this past spring, The Cleaning Coalition of America represents companies that clean, disinfect and sanitize hospitals, healthcare facilities, airports, airplanes, public transit systems, warehouses and commercial properties. Its founding members include some of the largest cleaning companies in the United States.