Melbourne Office Cleaning Case Study: How a Local Retailer Cut Sick Days in Half with Professional Commercial Cleaning Service Melbourne
- Ashwin M
- Aug 13
- 5 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Why Cleanliness Is a Profit Issue — Not Just an Image Issue
If you run a retail business in Melbourne, you already know that a clean store is essential for customer impressions. But what about your staff?
A local fashion retailer in the Melbourne CBD learned the hard way that office and retail cleaning isn’t only about appearances. Their team was struggling with high sick leave rates, low morale, and constant disruptions to store operations. The culprit? Poor hygiene standards in staff areas, change rooms, and workstations.
When they partnered with Perfectly Clean, a trusted provider of commercial cleaning services in Melbourne, the change was immediate and measurable, sick days were cut in half within three months.
This is their story.
The Client: A Mid-Sized Retail Brand in Melbourne CBD
The retailer had two floors in a busy Melbourne shopping district, a ground floor for customers and an upstairs office area for admin, inventory, and staff amenities.
Key facts before Perfectly Clean stepped in:
24 staff members on rotating shifts.
Average of 7–8 sick days per employee per year.
Frequent complaints about unclean bathrooms and dusty workstations.
A previous cleaning company that only focused on “visible areas” without attention to hygiene-sensitive zones
The management team knew they needed professional cleaners Melbourne who could go beyond a “surface tidy-up” and create a genuinely healthier workplace.
The Problem: Hidden Germ Hotspots Were Hurting Productivity
The retailer’s store looked fine to customers, clean floors, polished counters, and organised shelves. But the real issues were happening behind the scenes:
Staff Bathrooms – Poorly sanitised, leading to unpleasant odours and bacterial growth.
Break Rooms & Kitchens – Grease buildup on surfaces, dirty microwaves, and food residue attracting pests.
Workstations & Computers – Dust and germs on keyboards, phones, and POS terminals.
Air Quality – Carpets trapping allergens and dust, affecting staff with respiratory issues.
The old cleaning routine was simply not enough. The store’s leadership suspected these hygiene lapses were linked to the higher rate of staff illness.
The Search for the Right Commercial cleaning service
The retailer didn’t just want another cleaner, they wanted a commercial office cleaning services partner who understood health and safety compliance, had a proven track record, and could deliver a structured, accountable cleaning schedule.
Their selection criteria:
Experience in both office cleaning services Melbourne and retail cleaning.
Use of eco-friendly but highly effective cleaning products.
Trained staff who follow a detailed checklist, not a “quick once-over.”
Flexibility to work outside retail hours.
That’s when they discovered Perfectly Clean, a local cleaning company Melbourne with decades of experience in delivering professional commercial cleaning service Melbourne to offices, retail spaces, and industrial sites.
The Perfectly Clean Approach: More Than Just Cleaning
Perfectly Clean started with a full site inspection and hygiene audit, identifying exactly where germs were spreading and where cleaning standards were falling short.
Step 1: Hygiene Audit
Swab testing on high-touch surfaces like keyboards, door handles, and cash registers.
Carpet inspection for dust mites and allergens.
Air quality checks in staff-only areas.
Step 2: Custom Cleaning Plan
Perfectly Clean designed a tailored cleaning schedule combining daily, weekly, and monthly tasks, including:
Daily sanitising of all high-touch surfaces.
Deep cleaning of bathrooms with hospital-grade disinfectants.
Weekly carpet vacuuming with HEPA filters and quarterly steam cleaning.
Monthly kitchen deep-clean including appliance sanitisation.
Step 3: Dedicated Team & Accountability
Assigned two experienced cleaners to the location.
Digital checklists for quality assurance.
Regular communication with the retailer’s management.
The Results: Productivity and Morale Up, Sick Days Down
Within three months, the changes were evident:
Sick days reduced by 52% compared to the same quarter last year.
Staff reported a noticeable improvement in air quality and cleanliness.
Break room usage increased, as employees felt more comfortable in shared spaces.
Customer service improved, fewer last-minute staff shortages.
One store manager commented:
We didn’t realise how much the behind-the-scenes hygiene was affecting our team until Perfectly Clean stepped in. Now our staff are healthier, happier, and more focused.
Why This Worked: The Science Behind Cleaner Workplaces
Clean offices and retail environments reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria. According to industry studies, regular deep cleaning combined with daily surface disinfection can cut workplace illnesses by up to 80%.
Perfectly Clean’s commercial office cleaning services addressed both visible dirt and invisible pathogens, the real culprits behind lost productivity.
Lessons for Other Melbourne Businesses
If you’re still treating cleaning as an afterthought, you’re leaving money on the table. The right cleaning partner doesn’t just “make it look nice”, they protect your team, reduce downtime, and support compliance with workplace health regulations.
Here’s what you can do:
Audit Your Current Cleaning Standards – Don’t rely on what looks clean; test and inspect.
Focus on Staff-Only Zones – Kitchens, bathrooms, and break rooms often need the most attention.
Choose Professional Cleaners Melbourne – Experience and process matter more than price alone.
Monitor Results – Track sick leave and staff feedback before and after switching providers.
Why Choose Perfectly Clean for Your Office Cleaning Services Melbourne
Perfectly Clean brings more than mops and buckets. They bring:
Specialised expertise in retail, office, and commercial cleaning.
Trained and vetted staff who take hygiene seriously.
Eco-friendly, high-performance cleaning products safe for staff and customers.
Flexible schedules to minimise business disruption.
Transparent reporting so you know exactly what’s been done.
Whether you operate a retail store, corporate office, or mixed-use facility, Perfectly Clean has the systems and dedication to keep your workplace hygienic, compliant, and inviting.
FAQs
Q: Can professional commercial cleaning really reduce sick days? Yes. As seen in our Melbourne CBD retailer case study, regular deep cleaning and sanitisation reduced staff sick leave by 52% in just three months. Proper hygiene limits the spread of viruses, bacteria, and allergens, helping your team stay healthy and productive.
Q: What’s the difference between regular cleaning and professional commercial cleaning? Regular cleaning focuses on visible areas, while professional commercial cleaning targets both visible dirt and hidden germs, using hospital grade disinfectants, detailed checklists, and methods that improve air quality and workplace hygiene.
Q: How do I know if my current cleaner is doing enough? Warning signs include recurring odours, visible dust, staff complaints about cleanliness, and higher than usual sick leave. A hygiene audit can reveal problem areas your current service might be missing.
Final Takeaway: Cleanliness Is a Business Strategy
This Melbourne retailer’s experience proves that professional commercial cleaning service Melbourne is an investment, not a cost. By choosing the right partner, in this case, Perfectly Clean, they turned hygiene into a competitive advantage, improved staff wellbeing, and boosted operational consistency.
So, if your current office cleaning Melbourne provider is simply doing the bare minimum, it might be time to rethink your approach. With the right team, you’re not just getting a clean space, you’re getting a healthier, more productive workplace.
Perfectly Clean is ready to help your Melbourne business achieve the same results. Visit www.perfectlyclean.com.au to arrange your free site assessment.
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