Global Industrial Cleaning Market, By Ingredient Type (Chelating Agents, Solubilizers/Hydrotropes, and Others), By Application (Healthcare, Food Processing and Others), By Product Type (Metal Cleaners, Disinfectants, Dishwashing, and Others), By Company and By Geography, Forecast & Opportunities, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 78.14 Billion
CAGR (2026-2031)	6.75%
Fastest Growing Segment	Healthcare
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 115.63 Billion

Market Overview

The Global Industrial Cleaning Market will grow from USD 78.14 Billion in 2025 to USD 115.63 Billion by 2031 at a 6.75% CAGR. The Global Industrial Cleaning Market comprises the specialized removal of contaminants from manufacturing facilities, warehouses, and heavy machinery using industrial-grade chemicals and equipment. Primary drivers fueling expansion include the rapid industrialization of developing economies, rigorous occupational health and safety regulations, and the critical need for equipment maintenance to prevent costly downtime. This robust demand is substantiated by recent industry data. According to the Building Service Contractors Association International, in 2025, approximately 82 percent of surveyed contractors anticipated sales growth for the year, underscoring the resilience of the sector across commercial and industrial verticals.

Despite these favorable conditions, the industry encounters a substantial challenge regarding labor availability and retention. The scarcity of skilled workers required to operate complex cleaning systems, combined with rising wage costs, hinders the capacity of service providers to meet growing client requirements. This workforce deficit restricts operational scalability and imposes significant financial pressure on market participants, potentially stalling broader market development.

Key Market Drivers

Strict regulatory frameworks concerning industrial hygiene and safety compel manufacturers to adopt rigorous sanitation protocols to mitigate hazardous risks in production environments. Compliance with mandates from agencies necessitates the utilization of specialized industrial cleaning agents and automated machinery to effectively manage toxic residues. These regulations act as a critical enforcement mechanism, pushing companies to prioritize facility maintenance to avoid punitive measures and operational shutdowns. The financial risk associated with non-compliance drives significant expenditure on professional cleaning services and advanced safety equipment. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, January 2024, in the 'Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Annual Adjustments for 2024', the maximum penalty for willful or repeated workplace safety violations increased to $161,323 per violation, creating a strong financial imperative for maintaining compliant hygiene standards.

The growth in global manufacturing and automotive production activities directly correlates with an increased requirement for heavy-duty cleaning services to manage assembly line waste and machinery upkeep. As industrial output expands, facilities face higher accumulation rates of lubricants, metal shavings, and chemical residues that must be removed to ensure product quality and equipment longevity. This upward trend in production volume drives substantial investment in cleaning equipment to support continuous operations. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association, March 2024, in the 'World Motor Vehicle Production' report, global vehicle manufacturing increased by 10.3 percent to 93.5 million units in 2023, necessitating enhanced maintenance operations. Reflecting this broader industrial demand, according to Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG, in 2024, the company achieved a record turnover of 3.294 billion euros for the preceding fiscal year, driven significantly by sales to professional clients.

Download Free Sample Report

Key Market Challenges

The scarcity of skilled labor and high workforce turnover currently presents a formidable barrier to the growth of the Global Industrial Cleaning Market. Since industrial cleaning entails the handling of hazardous chemicals and the operation of heavy machinery, the requisite training significantly narrows the pool of qualified candidates. This deficit restricts the operational capacity of service providers, frequently compelling them to decline new contracts or delay critical maintenance schedules. Consequently, the inability to scale the workforce in alignment with rising client demand directly impedes broader market expansion and limits revenue potential.

Furthermore, the financial pressure exerted by rising wages and continuous recruitment costs creates a volatile business environment. Service providers must often divert capital from innovation and equipment upgrades to fund retention strategies, thereby stagnating efficiency gains. This trend is substantiated by recent industry data. According to the Building Service Contractors Association International, in 2025, 40 percent of surveyed contractors expected recruitment challenges to intensify over the upcoming year. This persistent workforce instability not only limits operational scalability but also threatens the continuity of essential industrial maintenance services.

Key Market Trends

The accelerated deployment of autonomous industrial cleaning robots is fundamentally reshaping operational workflows by enabling continuous, high-precision sanitation without direct human intervention. This technology allows facilities to maintain consistent hygiene standards during off-hours, effectively decoupling cleaning frequency from shift schedules and reducing the reliance on manual oversight for repetitive tasks. Advanced navigation systems now permit these machines to operate safely in dynamic environments, ensuring comprehensive coverage in complex manufacturing and logistics sites. According to the International Federation of Robotics, October 2024, in the 'World Robotics 2024 Service Robots' report, the sales of professional cleaning robots grew by 4 percent to approximately 12,000 units in 2023, reflecting this steady integration of automated solutions into professional maintenance strategies.

Concurrently, the market is witnessing a decisive transition towards bio-based and enzymatic cleaning formulations driven by corporate sustainability mandates and the need to reduce the ecological footprint of industrial maintenance. Manufacturers are increasingly replacing petroleum-based solvents with renewable ingredients derived from plant extracts and agricultural byproducts, which offer comparable efficacy while minimizing toxicity and water pollution risks. This shift is further accelerated by voluntary industry pledges to secure responsible supply chains for chemical ingredients. According to the American Cleaning Institute, October 2024, in the '2024 Sustainability Report', 60 percent of member companies have committed to sourcing RSPO-certified sustainable palm oil, underscoring the sector's strategic pivot toward environmentally viable raw materials for cleaning agents.

Segmental Insights

The Healthcare segment is currently registering the fastest growth in the Global Industrial Cleaning Market due to the heightened imperative for maintaining sterile environments. This trend is substantially driven by the need to combat hospital-acquired infections, prompting medical facilities to enforce rigorous hygiene protocols. Institutions like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mandate comprehensive sanitation standards to minimize contamination risks. As a result, hospitals are significantly increasing their investment in specialized industrial cleaning products to ensure operational compliance and protect patient health.

Regional Insights

North America holds a leading position in the Global Industrial Cleaning Market, primarily due to rigorous regulatory frameworks and extensive industrial activity. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandate strict compliance regarding workplace safety and environmental impact, driving the adoption of specialized cleaning solutions. This enforcement creates sustained demand across key sectors like healthcare, food processing, and manufacturing. Additionally, the region prioritizes advanced hygiene standards and sustainable practices, ensuring that industrial facilities maintain high levels of cleanliness to operationalize safety protocols and meet statutory requirements.

Recent Developments

• In November 2024, Ecolab completed the acquisition of Barclay Water Management, a provider of water safety and digital monitoring solutions for industrial and institutional clients. This strategic transaction allowed Ecolab to integrate Barclay’s proprietary technologies, such as the iChlor Monochloramine System for Legionella treatment, into its existing water hygiene portfolio. The acquisition was designed to enhance water safety programs and improve operational performance for customers by reducing water and energy consumption. The move further solidified Ecolab's position in providing science-based cleaning and hygiene solutions across North America.
• In October 2024, Kärcher expanded its presence in the Asian market by launching the KIRA B 50 autonomous scrubber-dryer in India. This robotic cleaning machine was introduced alongside the KIRA CV 50 cordless vacuum to address the increasing demand for automated solutions in high-traffic areas such as airports, shopping malls, and hotels. The KIRA B 50 featured a docking station that enabled fully autonomous operations, including battery charging, fresh water refilling, and dirty water disposal. The launch aimed to provide consistent cleaning performance while helping businesses manage labor challenges in the professional cleaning sector.
• In May 2024, Nilfisk collaborated with Singapore-based LionsBot to unveil the SC25, a new autonomous mobile robot for professional cleaning, at the Interclean Amsterdam trade show. This robotic scrubber was developed to support cleaning staff in small to medium-sized commercial environments by handling repetitive tasks. The partnership combined Nilfisk’s extensive experience in cleaning equipment with LionsBot’s robotics technology to create a solution that ensures high standards of hygiene. The launch marked a significant step in the company's strategy to expand its portfolio of intelligent cleaning solutions for the global market.
• In January 2024, Tennant Company launched the T1581 Ride-on Scrubber, a medium-sized floor cleaning machine designed for light industrial applications in logistics, retail, and manufacturing sectors. The new equipment was engineered to improve cleaning efficiency and safety with user-friendly controls and a three-stage vacuum motor for consistent water pick-up. It offered two scrub head variations, a disk and a cylindrical option, to accommodate different floor surface requirements. The machine also featured a self-leveling brush system and preset cleaning programs to simplify operation for facility maintenance teams.

Key Market Players

• Evonik Industries AG
• BASF SE
• Pilot Chemical Corp.
• Novozymes
• Solvay
• The DOW Chemical Company
• Stepan Company
• Clariant
• Spartan Chemical Company Inc.
• Ecolab

By Ingredient Type	By Application	By Product Type	By Region
Chelating Agents Solubilizers/Hydrotropes and Others	Healthcare Food Processing and Others	Metal Cleaners Disinfectants Dishwashing and Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Industrial Cleaning Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Industrial Cleaning Market, By Ingredient Type:

• Chelating Agents
• Solubilizers/Hydrotropes
• and Others

• Industrial Cleaning Market, By Application:

• Healthcare
• Food Processing and Others

• Industrial Cleaning Market, By Product Type:

• Metal Cleaners
• Disinfectants
• Dishwashing
• and Others

• Industrial Cleaning Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE