FEATURE
UNLOCKING THE POWER OF CLEANING CHEMICALS Smarter chemical choices are redefining value across facility management. Words Helena Morgan
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n satisfying an increased appetite in the cleaning and facility management sectors to optimise spend without sacrificing standards, organisations would be remiss to underestimate the value of a traditionally overlooked yet vital asset: cleaning chemicals. As Bunzl Australia and New Zealand category manager, Cleaning Chemicals and Janitorial Malcolm Barclay explains, the industry is shifting away from transactional purchasing. “Across the FM sector, the conversation is steadily shifting from unit price to total cost of clean,” he says. “Smarter chemical selection is playing a key role in that shift.” As Nowchem managing director John Lamont observes, the industry shift is now firmly anchored in intent and outcomes. “The focus is shifting from what product we use and how much it will cost per litre or drum, to what problem we are solving and what success actually looks like,” he says. Agar Cleaning Systems managing director Steve Agar and Accord executive director Damian Mitsch add that ongoing training in dosing systems and prioritising sustainable choices allows organisations to select cleaning chemicals that protect equipment and extend asset durability. This approach also ensures consideration of soil and surface combinations, while reducing labour time and operational risks. Lamont reinforces this broader reframing of value across chemical selection and application. “In an industry under constant pressure to do more with less, smarter chemical choices are proving to be one of the most effective ways to redefine value, not by spending more, but by cleaning smarter,” he says.
22 INCLEAN May / June / July 2026
THE RIGHT PRODUCT, AT THE RIGHT STRENGTH, FOR THE RIGHT TASK
As cleaning chemicals determine asset condition, maintenance cycles, labour efficiency and overall cleaning outcomes, it is imperative for organisations to employ a fit for purpose product selection. “The objective is not just to use fewer chemicals. It is to use the right product, at the right strength, for the right task,” Agar says. “When product selection is treated as part of an ongoing maintenance strategy, rather than a one off purchasing decision, outcomes become more stable,” Agar adds. “The best decisions are made when product choice is discussed in the context of the asset, the task and the standard expected at the site.” To thoroughly clean surfaces, cleaning chemicals must align with both the surface and the soil type, subsequently extending the longevity of coatings, finishes and materials and avoiding restoration and ongoing maintenance. Barclay says one of the industry’s most persistent blind spots remains labour efficiency. “Chemicals that require longer dwell times, multiple applications or frequent rework can significantly erode productivity,” he says. “In a labour-constrained market like Australia, this often becomes the hidden cost that undermines overall efficiency.” Agar says thoughtful product selection also controls labour efficiency, as an appropriately matched product removes soil in fewer passes. Less rework and fewer corrective steps lends itself to a consistency that elevates overall cleaning outcomes across shifts and sites, exemplified through the use of a neutral and low residue floor cleaner on sealed floors, as Agar discusses.