How Store Cleanliness Affects Retail Sales

Explore how store cleanliness influences retail sales, including customer perception, repeat business, spending behaviour, and how investing in hygiene drives revenue.

Cleanliness in retail goes beyond looking nice. It shapes customer trust, buying decisions and long-term success.

When a store feels cared for, customers shop more, stay longer, and return. Neglected hygiene can drive customers away, shrink sales and damage reputation.

This blog explores the real ways store cleanliness affects retail performance and what businesses can do to benefit.

Cleanliness and First Impressions

Before a shopper touches a product or interacts with staff, they form an opinion. Store appearance and hygiene matter from entryway to checkout. A dirty entrance, streaky windows, or cluttered displays can immediately reduce perceived value of merchandise.

The Cleaning Matters survey by Harris Interactive on behalf of Kimberly-Clark found 99% of customers say that poor cleanliness negatively affects their opinion of a retail store. Bad odours and unclean restrooms were particularly cited as major turn-offs.
Sloane Cleaning reports 70% of shoppers who had a negative experience due to unclean shelves, windows or a messy store said they would go to a competitor next time.

Why It Matters for Sales

Clean stores make shoppers feel welcome as they raise confidence in the product quality. Shoppers are more likely to touch items, try on clothing and make decisions when surroundings are clean and orderly.

Spend Time and Purchase Behaviour

Cleanliness influences how long customers stay and how much they spend. A clean environment reduces hesitation, encourages browsing, and increases average basket size.

Key Factors That Drive Purchase Behaviour

Clean, well-maintained changing rooms and restrooms reduce friction in the shopping experience.
Clean high-touch surfaces (checkout, carts, handrails) prevent hygiene concerns that could turn customers away.
Shelf and product displays that are dust-free and well organised make items more appealing and easier to explore.

Statistical Insight

Green Machine’s report shows that stores with stronger cleaning regimes see higher customer satisfaction and recommendations, which correlate with sales growth.

The Cost of Neglect

Cutting back on cleaning may save expenses short term but creates many hidden costs that harm sales and profits.

Neglected Area	Short-Term “Savings”	Long-Term Harm to Sales
Infrequent deep cleaning	Lower cleaning invoices	Fixture & display damage; lowered product appeal
Poor hygiene in customer-accessible areas	Reduced labour or supply costs	Customer complaints; negative reviews; lost loyalty
Dirty windows or façades	Cheaper cleaning schedule	Reduced footfall; customers may skip entry
Messy visual merchandising zones	Less time spent organising	Shoppers less likely to explore; less impulse purchase

Reputation, Reviews and Repeat Business

Every noticeable aspect of cleanliness can appear in reviews and shape wider reputation. The link between reputation and sales cannot be overstated.

The Cleaning Matters survey also noted that negative hygiene experiences frequently feature in online reviews and word of mouth
Clear Choice UK highlights that cleanliness is often one of the first things customers mention when deciding whether to return.

As our own blog How Retail Store Cleanliness Impacts Customer Loyalty details, loyal customers spend more over time, and a store’s cleanliness plays a big role in building loyalty.

What Provides the Best Return on Investment?

Investing in cleaning doesn’t have to be blindly expensive. The key lies in targeting the points customers notice most and ensuring consistency.

Areas that Offer Strongest ROI

Store entrance and windows: They are extremely visible and set tone.
Customer restrooms: Hygiene here heavily affects perceptions.
Shelving and product displays: Clean arrangements make products more tempting.
Checkout and payment areas: High visibility and frequent touch points.

Best Practices List

Develop a regular schedule for daily, weekly and monthly cleaning tasks.
Use cleaning materials that both work well and leave a good impression (clean smells, streak-free glass, etc.).
Train staff in visible cleaning tasks per shift so upkeep remains consistent.
Use customer feedback and mystery shopping to catch neglected areas.

Psychological and Emotional Effects

Beyond the physical, store cleanliness impacts customer emotions—this affects spending decisions more than many realise.

Clean, fresh environments reduce anxiety, create comfort, and improve perception of safety. When customers feel relaxed, they stay longer and explore more.

According to The Psychology of Clean from WellHousekeeping, shoppers are less likely to touch products or make a purchase if they see visible dirt or mess.

Legal, Compliance and Operational Risks

Dirty stores can accidentally breach legal or safety standards. That leads not just to reputational harm but potentially fines or corrective actions.

Retail hygiene regulations require public-facing areas, especially in stores selling food, to meet specific cleanliness and safety standards. (mention your internal knowledge or partner standards as well)
Poor cleaning can create slip hazards, pest risk, or complaints which can force temporary shutdowns or remediation costs.

What Retailers Can Do Now

Here are actionable steps to improve or maintain cleanliness in a way that supports sales and reputation:

Perform a cleanliness audit across all customer areas.
Increase visible cleaning during peak hours.
Invest in high-quality cleaning supplies that leave strong visual & sensory impressions.
Train staff not just in cleaning tasks but in how to maintain presentation.
Monitor customer feedback, both online and in-store, regarding hygiene.

Get in Touch

Store cleanliness influences sales, reputation, and customer loyalty in powerful ways. Every area customers see is part of the experience they pay for.

We deliver retail cleaning services focused on high-impact areas and consistent presentation. We use trained staff, quality materials and proven schedules to support client sales and brand strength.

15th September 2025