Rapid urbanization, rising disposable incomes, changing lifestyles and growing awareness about hygiene and cleanliness is witnessing an annual increase in revenues between 10-15% for the home cleaning service segment. However, while the growth is encouraging with business booming, it is all the more uncertain compared to the organised professional housekeeping segment. Why is this unorganised booming segment facing lashes?
“Despite operating in an unorganized sector, the home cleaning business is growing across India. A common challenge is a lack of respect for workers, which often drives experienced staff to seek better opportunities in more prestigious jobs,” says Pramod Kumar, CEO, Hygienic Home.
And so do many others in this segment!
But is this limited to the home cleaning segment only or is the whole cleaning service segment experiencing the same?
Let us first look at how the home cleaning segment is shaping up. Largely a market catering to the upper middle class and upper class, consumer preferences are now shifting toward specialised cleaning solutions suitable for a range of surfaces, such as glass, stainless steel, wood, and concrete. There is also a rising demand for environment-friendly cleaners composed of natural ingredients contributing to market expansion. Health consciousness too is encouraging sanitized living. Professional cleaning not only addresses aesthetic concerns but also plays a vital role in reducing allergens, bacteria, and viruses that can compromise indoor air quality and overall health.
From adopting the right cleaning solutions & processes to efficient time management strategies, builds the success stories of home cleaning professionals. In many cases, home cleaning requires anywhere from four to 10 or more working member team depending on the size of the flat, apartment, bungalow…
Besides the concern voiced by Pramod, competition, costs and quality cleaning are additional factors influencing the success of a service provider. Speaking of a small city of Guntur, Pramod explains that home cleaning also extends to heritage homes and independent villas. Further, “we have the advantage of engaging with local workers, which works in our favor when it comes to servicing homes”. They get trained and deployed as per requirement.
There are a number of solutions put to use in home cleaning. Multi-purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, tiles cleaners, floor cleaners, and wood maintainers for cupboards… The investments made are high and so are the returns, which is on a daily basis. “We also get into annual maintenance with some homes.”
If home cleaners are uniformed, use professional knowhow of cleaning services, implement right methods and products of cleaning, provide quality results, then why does this profession lack respect. Why are the workers forced to look for a “dignified” alternative?
As Pramod put it, “They think home cleaning is a cheap job.”
A country where cleaning & hygiene is the national agenda and we have been working toward a clean India for over a decade and yet there is no dignity given to the people working in the cleaning profession?