Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

What Results Should You Expect When Cleaning Is Genuinely Ergonomic?

  • By Jacalyn High
  • 10/01/16

The word ergonomic gets used abundantly in regard to cleaning, but that is because the primary resource in cleaning is manual labor. When you’re working with manual labor, good ergonomics have the potential to transform just about every aspect of the work with safer, more intuitive processes and tools. Put simply, for something to be ergonomic, it must be efficient and people-friendly. That can apply to every cleaning task from vacuuming the carpet to dusting the light fixtures.

That said, there is a difference between transformative ergonomics and superficial ergonomics. An example of superficial ergonomics would be to take a heavy and unwieldy tool and put a more comfortable handle grip on it. The hand might be more comfortable, but the task is still difficult to perform. Transformative ergonomics in cleaning could come from a drastic rethinking of how a task is done or from a slight tweak, but the improvements in your cleaning program should be undeniable if you are tracking key information.

When considering a switch to a new ergonomic approach, conduct your own in-house study to compare your existing method with the new ergonomic method. First, work with a cleaner on how to use new equipment or follow a new process properly. Then time how long it takes the cleaner to do the same task in the same space with both methods, and document the quality of the results. Afterwards, give cleaners a questionnaire about how intuitive the new method is and their physical comfort doing the task. After tracking these factors, the benefits of ergonomic methods should become apparent.

This article originally appeared in the issue of .

About the Author

Jacalyn High is director of Marketing for ProTeam Vacuums. She can be reached at 866/888-2168 or through proteam.emerson.com.

Featured

  • How Proactive Maintenance Can Transform Athletic Facilities into Strategic Assets for College Sports

    College athletics is entering one of the most transformative periods in its history. With NIL reshaping financial models and competitive expectations, athletic departments across the country are being asked to do more than ever with increasingly constrained resources.

  • Houston-Area High School Breaks Ground on 117,000SF Multi-Use Facility

    North Shore Senior High School, part of Galena Park ISD in Houston, Texas, recently broke ground on a new multi-use facility for student extracurriculars, according to a news release. The North Shore Multi-Use Facility will include dedicated practice and training space for the school’s athletics and fine arts programs.

  • Designing Third Spaces That Do What AI Can't

    In 2026, education is evolving faster than ever. With AI reshaping everything from lesson planning to personalized instruction, schools and universities are turning their attention to what AI can’t replicate: spaces that foster collaboration, community, and creativity.

  • Academy of Classical Education Breaks Ground in Louisiana

    Charter Schools USA (CSUSA) recently announced the groundbreaking of a new public charter school in Covington, La., according to a news release. The Academy of Classical Education at Covington will enroll students in grades K–8 and is scheduled for completion in August 2026, just in time for the new school year.