When new cleaners start, they’re often introduced by their employers to a storeroom full
of bottles, sprays, and tubs, given a brief induction, and assigned areas of responsibility.
They're then expected to know what to use, when, and how. There’s often a common
assumption that they’ve picked up cleaning knowledge elsewhere, such as helping out
with chores growing up, previous experience, or simply relying on intuition.
But personal habits and prior experience aren’t always correct – or safe. Jeffery
Madkins, Marketing Manager for Unilever Professional, says that without proper
training, many cleaners end up emulating coworkers or guessing their way through
tasks, often picking up bad habits that get carried from job to job. This can lead to
inconsistent results, risky shortcuts, and missed opportunities to clean more efficiently
and effectively. “Cleaners are on the frontlines of hygiene, and we have to equip them
like professionals, because that’s exactly what they are,” he notes.
Madkins provides five reasons why cleaner training should be standard practice
in every professional environment:
1. Cleaning without understanding wastes time and product: Using the wrong
product for the job isn’t just ineffective, it’s costly. With the right training, cleaners
know exactly which product to use for grease, grime, limescale, or bacteria –
reducing guesswork, rework, and unnecessary overuse.
2. Better technique equals better results: From knowing how long to let a product sit
to understanding proper dilution, small technique tweaks can make a big difference.
Trained cleaners work faster and more effectively, often achieving higher hygiene
standards with less effort.
3. Health and safety risks are reduced: The incorrect use of cleaning agents,
especially in kitchens, can be dangerous. Training reinforces safety protocols and
helps cleaners identify which products are safe for which environments. For
example, the Handy Andy Food Safe range is ideal for cutting through tough dirt and
oil in ovens, yet still safe for food-prep surfaces.
4. Cleaners feel more valued and confident: When cleaning staff receive proper
training, it shows them that their work is important and that they are valued. And with
clear knowledge of the right products and techniques, they can perform more
effectively and experience greater job satisfaction.
5. It drives better business outcomes: Cleanliness has a direct impact on customer
satisfaction, especially in industries such as hospitality and food service. Trained
cleaners help protect reputations, reduce complaints and improve the bottom line.
“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."
That same commitment came to life at the Hotel & Hospitality Expo Africa in Cape Town
last week. Through live demos, attendees, many of them hospitality establishment
owners, saw firsthand how product knowledge and proper usage techniques can
completely transform results. For many, it was a lightbulb moment.
“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.”
“Unilever Professional continues to invest in practical, hands-on training and in-field
support for cleaning teams across South Africa,” he concludes. “Because real clean
doesn’t just happen. It’s taught.”
ENDS
WORD COUNT: 575
Press Release On Behalf of:
Jeffery Madkins
Marketing Manager: Unilever Professional
About Unilever Professional
Unilever Professional is a trusted partner for businesses in South Africa, offering innovative and
effective cleaning and hygiene solutions. As part of the global Unilever family, Unilever
Professional leverages well-known brands like OMO, Sunlight, Domestos, and Handy Andy to
meet the needs of South African businesses across diverse industries. From hotels and
restaurants to healthcare facilities and office spaces, our products are designed to deliver
superior cleaning power, ensuring a better clean, better business.
Maintaining a safe and clean environment is crucial for a business’s success. Unilever
Professional provides tailored solutions that are not only effective but also sustainable. With a
strong commitment to environmentally friendly practices, our products help businesses reduce
their ecological footprint while upholding top-tier hygiene standards.
Unilever Professional goes beyond just providing products; we offer expert support to ensure
your business can maximise efficiency, reduce operational costs, and maintain an exceptional
level of cleanliness. Whether it’s ensuring spotless surfaces or a monthly deep clean, Unilever
Professional is dedicated to supporting South African businesses with reliable, sustainable
solutions that meet the highest standards.