The UK cleaning industry is heading into another year of big changes. In 2026, new rules and standards will take effect while others continue to tighten – from chemical labelling and waste to employment rights and sustainability reporting. At the same time, your clients expect more documentation, better quality, and greater transparency in how cleaning is delivered.
Here you’ll find the key points you need to stay on top of the 2026 requirements and keep your business running smoothly – and stay one step ahead of your competitors. This guide highlights the most important cleaning industry trends 2026 so you know what to prioritise.
In 2026, you will meet a number of rules which affect everything from the products you use, to the way you plan, document, and manage your team. The most significant changes involve chemicals, waste and packaging, working conditions and sustainability reporting. These are areas where you, as a business owner, will have responsibilities to meet, but also clear opportunities to strengthen your operation and improve your quality.
Before looking at the new rules for 2026, it’s worth noting what the 2025 Autumn Budget means for the cleaning industry. You can read about the Budget here.
The Budget confirms what many cleaning business owners already feel: costs are still rising, paperwork is increasing, and it’s not getting easier to keep reliable staff. With tax thresholds staying frozen and more admin expected next year, many businesses will feel more pressure on time and margins. This makes it even more important to tighten up processes and use digital tools, so you can stay organised, avoid mistakes and keep control as the new 2026 requirements come in.
In Great Britain, cleaning chemicals such as detergents and sanitisers are regulated under the Classification, Labelling and Packaging rules. The latest official hazard classifications — listed in the GB Mandatory Classification and Labelling list — must be fully applied by 15 August 2026.
This means the labels and Safety Data Sheets for the products you use must be updated to match the new requirements.
Your suppliers are responsible for classifying and labelling their products correctly. However, you must check that the chemicals you and your staff use are properly labelled and compliant.
Even if you don’t manufacture chemicals yourself, the rules still apply, because you work with these products every day.
The key date is: 15 August 2026 – substances covered by the latest Mandatory Classification and Labelling list must be classified and labelled according to the new rules.
The rules apply to all businesses that use cleaning products in Great Britain. You don’t have to write labels or fill out sheets yourself, but you must make sure that:
If you use cleaning chemicals in your business, you need to check that they are correctly labelled in 2026. It’s about safety – for you, your staff and your clients. Use the first half of 2026 to review your products, speak with suppliers and bring your staff up to speed. Then you are well-prepared when the deadline comes.
From 2025 the government began rolling out the Simpler Recycling rules for workplaces in England. From 31 March 2026, households must comply as well. If you're a business with under 10 employees, the rules will first apply by 31 march 2027. At the same time, the UK’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging moves into full-cost impact for producers and importers.
For cleaning companies, this matters in two ways:
If you sell your own branded products (for example, your own chemicals or private-label cloths and bags), you may also have direct packaging obligations and should already be talking to your suppliers or advisers about EPR.
If you do not sell any own-name products, your main responsibility is to make sure your suppliers follow the rules – and that your staff follow the right waste-sorting procedures on site.
Waste and packaging may not feel like a core cleaning issue – but for the cleaning industry in 2026 it is part of the service you deliver. If you can show that your company supports correct sorting on site and uses sensible, well-documented products, you will stand stronger with clients who are pressured to improve their own environmental performance.
The UK government is currently progressing the Employment Rights Bill, but the final details are not yet confirmed. This means businesses should keep an eye on official updates, and we will also keep you informed as the rules are finalised.
The Bill is expected to start taking effect from 2026, with the aim of giving workers more security and more predictable working lives — something that will directly affect the cleaning industry, where many roles involve variable hours, early mornings, evenings, or agency arrangements.
Although the Bill is still moving through Parliament, the expected changes include:
For cleaning businesses, this likely means being clearer about:
From 2026, working conditions are expected to become a competitive advantage in the cleaning industry. Cleaning companies that offer more transparent and predictable working patterns — and can document them — will be better placed to attract and retain staff and to align with the new rules once they are finalised.
The UK government has confirmed that new UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UK SRS) will be introduced, but the final start date has not yet been announced. You can keep an eye on official updates, and we will also keep you informed as the rules are finalised.
These standards are designed to make large companies report more clearly on climate, environmental and social impacts — including the impact of their suppliers. This means that even if cleaning firms are not directly covered at first, your larger clients will need more information from you to complete their own reports.
They may ask for:
Even if you are not a listed company, sustainability reporting still reaches you through your clients. If you can deliver simple, reliable data when they ask, you become a more attractive partner than competitors who can’t.
Digitalisation keeps changing the way cleaning businesses work. IoT sensors, robotics, AI-driven tools and digital platforms make it easier to plan, document and deliver the quality your clients are looking for.
In 2026, digital tools become even more important. New regulatory requirements — including updated chemical labelling rules (GB CLP), workplace recycling duties (Simpler Recycling & Packaging EPR) and new sustainability reporting standards (UK SRS) — all increase the need for clear documentation and reliable data. At the same time, clients expect greater transparency around quality, chemicals, and resource use.
Cleaning robots are becoming more common and easier to integrate into daily operations. Better navigation, longer battery life and real-time reporting mean robots are a realistic part of the cleaning team, especially on large floor areas in offices, retail, healthcare, and industry.
Automation also makes it easier to handle labour shortages. Robots take care of repetitive, physical tasks, while your staff can focus on:
With digital planning systems such as CleanManager, it becomes easier to coordinate human and robotic tasks, so you get a clear overview and less day-to-day stress in the business.
Digital tools are becoming a central part of running a cleaning business. With platforms like CleanManager you can:
Automatic task registration, digital checklists and real-time reporting make it easier to demonstrate quality and give clients the documentation they ask for – whether it’s on cleaning frequency, chemical use or resolved issues.
New technologies such as occupancy sensors, smart dispensers and IoT devices make it possible to base cleaning on actual use instead of fixed schedules. That means:
If you combine sensor data with your planning system, you can offer clients a more flexible and transparent service – with clear documentation of how you use time, chemicals, and equipment.
Sustainability is still a key theme in the cleaning industry. In 2026, regulations and client demands come together: rules on chemicals, waste and reporting push in the same direction as tenders and procurement requirements.
Clients increasingly expect their cleaning partner to:
Small changes – such as using microfibre, dosing equipment, concentrated products or refillable systems – can make a measurable difference and are worth highlighting to clients.
When you can explain why you have chosen certain products and methods – and can back it up with data from your system – sustainability becomes more than a buzzword. It becomes a concrete advantage in tenders and renewals.
Labour shortages are not disappearing in 2026. That’s why wellbeing, training, and good working conditions are becoming even more important competitive factors.
Cleaning companies that invest in…
… will find it easier to attract and retain skilled staff.
Automation and technology can relieve some physical load, but they don’t remove the need for people. Instead, they change the role: cleaners become more of quality controllers, coordinators and trusted faces on site.
Digital tools and training platforms make it easier to:
The cleaning industry in 2026 will make the difference between cleaning companies that “get by” and those that stand strong even more visible. New rules mean more focus on documentation, quality, and transparency – especially from clients under their own regulatory pressure.
If you understand the new requirements and cleaning industry trends and can show that your products, processes, and systems are up-to-date, you become a more attractive partner. It’s about compliance – but just as much about trust. Clients would rather choose a supplier who already has control of chemicals, waste, working conditions and technology than one who reacts only when problems arise.
Technology also plays a bigger strategic role in the cleaning industry for 2026. Systems that can document work automatically, provide a clear overview and create consistent quality are not just operational tools – they are a way to demonstrate professionalism and stability.
By acting on these areas, your business can both meet the requirements of 2026 and strengthen its position in a cleaning industry that is changing quickly. With digital tools like CleanManager and a focused approach, it becomes easier to document quality, maintain an overview and deliver the service your clients expect.