Complete Guide to Workplace Cleaning Supplies

The cleaning industry is booming right now, and it requires the company in Australia to have high-quality commercial cleaning supplies. The right commercial cleaning equipment is crucial to making money and getting the job done properly. Clearly, you want the cleaners to be efficient and clean more industrial properties in less time.

With that, the customers demand that the service team offer a full range of options, and that includes having the right cleaning products for the various industries.

Generally, cleaning companies can save money when they shop online and purchase equipment that lasts a while. However, maintenance is crucial to ensure that the business spends less money on replacements.

What cleaning supplies are necessary to run a cleaning business? Should you supply the cleaning products and buckets, or should you request each business to shop for their own.

Overall, these questions weigh heavily on your mind. However, it’s important to learn about the various cleaning industries and how the supplies can affect your location.

Should the Cleaning Company Provide the Cleaning Products?

Some commercial cleaning services expect each business to supply commercial cleaning supplies. However, that often inconveniences customers who can’t go shopping at the store to purchase everything necessary.

With that, you still require a range of cleaning equipment, which can vary based on the industries in which you clean.

In general, cleaning companies should supply their own cleaning products themselves. It’s often more convenient to the customers and offers other benefits:

• The company looks more organized and professional, which impresses clients.
• It’s possible to charge more because the client pays you for the convenience of finding the right products to purchase in addition to cleaning.
• The team can clean faster because they are fully trained on how to use the cleaning products.
• You know these cleaning products do the job right because they are hand-picked by the buying professional.

However, some companies also leave open the option to use the owner’s products if they have preferred options. Businesses might want to shop for large buckets full of cleaning solutions or have specific brands they like better.

For example, offices may want cleaning companies to use Lysol sanitiser on all the desks to promote better hygiene and health.

If the owner requires a company to use specific items, it’s crucial that they:

• Provide the list of supplies to use so that the team can ensure that they have everything necessary for the job
• Present cleaning supplies to you in buckets upon arrival so that you’re not wasting time looking for them while cleaning the offices.

The Ultimate Checklist for the Service Team

Below, you can find the commercial cleaning supplies checklist that every service team in Australia should have. It includes appropriate tools and commercial cleaning equipment necessary to run a profitable and efficient cleaning company. Overall, you need a full range of options for industrial and commercial spaces, such as:

• Essential cleaning supplies
• Common products
• Commercial equipment
• Marketing supplies
• Software
• Insurance

Your cleaning company might require special tools or supplies. For example, if you focus on green cleaning or carpet cleaning, you want to buy cleaners that have no harsh chemicals and carpet cleaning equipment, such as steam cleaners. You can learn a bit about those here, too.

Essential Cleaning Business Supplies

Almost every cleaning company requires specific commercial cleaning equipment, whether they handle industrial properties or something else.

Having a wide range of cleaning supplies and cleaning equipment for commercial use can ensure that you’re ready for anything at the location. Remember, some businesses might want you to clean their machinery, which means adding another service and getting paid extra.

Here are the primary things to have:

• Vacuum cleaner with appropriate attachments for carpet and hardwood
• Buckets or containers to hold the supplies
• Mop/bucket
• Duster (long and short)
• Dustpan with broom
• Paper towels
• Microfibre cloths (use color-coded ones for the bathroom and breakroom to avoid cross-contamination
• Cloths for cleaning glass
• Rubber gloves
• Cleaning brushes (disposal toilet brushes are best or ask your customers to provide them)
• Laundry bag (to hold old rags)
• Shoe covers (to keep the client’s floors clean)
• Disinfectant wipes (ideal for breakroom and bathroom surfaces)
• Spray bottles (to store all-purpose cleaners or homemade items)
• Trash bags

Essential Cleaning Products

Now that you’ve got the right tools for the job, it’s crucial to shop around for the right cleaning products. There are various brands out there, so it’s best to go one by one and research the best options for your service. That way, you know what you’re using to clean with and can provide that information to the clients.

You should have things like:

• Disinfectant spray (required for breakroom and bathroom surfaces)
• Multi-purpose cleaners (look at labels to ensure that they’re suitable for various hard surfaces like floors, desks, counters, walls, and appliances)
• Air freshener
• Glass/window cleaner (usually a spray-and-wipe solution and ideal for windows, glass, and mirrors)
• Furniture polish
• Heavy-duty degreaser or detergent
• Stainless steel cleaner (for any stainless steel appliances in the breakroom)
• Oven cleaner (if the breakroom area has an oven)
• Dishwashing liquid (can be used on refrigerators, stovetops, and more)
• Toilet/shower cleaner (can buy as an all-in-one solution or separate versions to remove grime, mildew, and mould)
• Carpet cleaner
• Descaling agent/chemical descaler (to remove limescale in sinks, etc.)
• Stain remover
• Laundry detergent (possibly)
• Wood cleaner

Office Cleaning Supplies

Generally, you need the same commercial cleaning supplies for the office as you do for other industrial areas. This also means having the right cleaning equipment. Most people don’t realize that commercial cleaning requires a range of equipment, tools, and products to get the job done.

Here are a few products and equipment to consider for the office:

• Multi-purpose cleaner (for floors, desks, counters, walls)
• Disinfecting wipes
• Glass cleaner
• Sponges
• Stainless steel cleaner
• Magic erasers (for spot-washing)
• Steel wool (for stubborn stains, but use with care)
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Oven cleaner (possibly)
• Paper towels and toilet paper
• Dish soap for the kitchen
• Hand soap for the restrooms and break areas
• Garbage bags
• Degreaser (break areas)
• Laundry detergent if linen service is provided
• Carpet cleaning solution
• Vinegar (for descaling and all-purpose cleaning)
• Wood/leather furniture polish
• Disposable toilet brushes (or ask clients to provide)
• Disposable shoe covers

If the office manager handles the cleaning supply purchase, talk to them regularly about things that you’re running low on. That way, they can ensure that they’re available when you need them.

Essential Cleaning Equipment List

You need appropriate cleaning equipment along with the cleaning products you use each time you clean. With that, businesses in Australia often ask for a cleaning service to provide a range of services, such as cleaning equipment in the office or space.

Therefore, you might wipe down machinery (keyboards, mice, computer towers, etc.) and need gentle cleaning products and supplies.

Commercial cleaning requires you to invest in appropriate commercial equipment and supplies. Some items may have to get replaced more often, depending on how much they’re used and their quality. It’s a good idea to shop around and get the best deals and brands.

Some equipment you might need include:

• Squeegee
• Indoor window washing kits
• Feather duster (long and short)
• Broom/dustpan
• Supply cart (if the supplies don’t fit in a bucket)
• Floor scrubbing brush
• Mop/bucket (this bucket can also hold supplies!)
• Laundry bag (if offering linen service and can also be used to hold soiled rags)
• Carpet steam cleaner
• Floor machine (for buffing and waxing large spaces)
• Handheld vacuum (for curtains and other quick tasks)
• Industrial vacuum cleaner (with carpet and hardwood attachments)
• Work apron (protect your clothes)
• Branded company uniform
• Comfortable shoes
• Knee pads
• Rubber gloves
• Respirator (when working with heavy chemicals or for teammates who are sensitive)
• Spray bottles (for cleaning products that don’t come with one)
• Microfibre cloths (color-coded for breakrooms and bathrooms)
• Company vehicle (if applicable)

Alternative Cleaning Supplies for Offices

Then, there is another kind of commercial cleaning supply. These you’ll not generally find in the bucket of a commercial cleaner but can be very useful in keeping your workplace clean and tidy.

For example, sticky notes that we all use in our offices to take quick notes can double as a tissue to pick food crumbs and dust particles. Other useful alternative commercial cleaning supplies for offices and any other type of commercial premises include a duster, microfibre cloths, hand sanitizer (for hand-cleaning), disinfection chemical, detergent, baking soda, white vinegar, etc.

Keeping your personal work desk clean and tidy using these commercial cleaning supplies is also a good way to maintain overall cleanliness in the workplace.

A Note on Steam Cleaners

Steam cleaners are a crucial piece of cleaning equipment for carpeted areas. While some industrial locations might not have carpets, they can also spot-treat hard stains.

If you’re trying to build a list of cleaning supplies for commercial use and offer a range of commercial services, then this piece of equipment is crucial.

Water gets heated to the boiling point within the machine and is forced out as steam through a brush or nozzle. The vapour can loosen dirt and kill mould, dust mites, staph, and other bacteria. It doesn’t require suction because the high-heat moisture dries very fast.

Though steam works well on carpets, it can also be used on bathroom fixtures, countertops, and polyurethane wood, laminate, tile, and vinyl flooring. Sometimes, models can clean curtains and upholstery, as well.

Generally, you want to get a machine with a fast warm-up time; 30 seconds is great. Handheld units often work for 10 minutes before requiring a water refill. Large canisters can last 45 minutes but can be hard to manoeuver and bring into the building.

Some machines require the steam to be held there for 15 seconds to ensure sanitisation, and this leads to long cleaning sessions. Others only take a few seconds.

A Note on Floor Machines

Floor machines are great for waxing and buffing floors that you normally mop. Many clients like it because preventative maintenance is cheaper than restorations. Depending on the amount of traffic the area sees, you might want to promote the use of floor machines to reduce the degradation of floor finishes.

Overall, you want to ensure that you get the right size. Generally, this machinery is used for large spaces, but you can find small ones that fit into bathroom stalls. The most common is the 20-inch version.

It’s also important to think about the horsepower necessary. Large is often always better here. The 2-HP version is heavy-duty and can handle carpets and hard floors. In general, a 1-HP machine is great for normal cleaning, while a 1.5-HP is ideal for stripping and cleaning floors.

Along with all of that, your floor machine has a specified speed. Usually, you only need 1500 RPMs, though the larger models have dust control options and can work well in hospital settings.

Green Cleaning Supplies

Sometimes, customers in Australia prefer that you use green cleaning supplies. For example, hospitality and aged-care facilities may not like the idea of harsh chemicals all around in an environment where many people move around all day.

There is a range of equipment you can use that requires no chemicals and makes for a safer environment. For instance, floor machines and steam cleaners sanitise and clean without chemicals!

Commercial cleaning that’s eco-friendly requires you to use green cleaning products. You can often shop for them by searching for ‘green cleaners.’

Another way to protect the environment is to use commercial cleaning equipment that reduces the amount of water used. In these cases, steam cleaning or floor machines might not be ideal.

It’s best to talk to your clients and find out what they think “green cleaning” means. That way, you know what tools and supplies to use to protect the environment and ensure that the space is thoroughly cleaned and sanitary.

Marketing Supplies

Commercial cleaning doesn’t just focus on the supplies used to clean each location. As a commercial or industrial cleaner in Australia, you need a range of equipment to help you market your services.

Remember, the industry is full of competitors, so you must ensure that you have the right equipment and supplies and ways to inventory them. Overall, you want a printer, business phone line, business cards, laptop, insurance, and software.

What Is Cleaning Software?

Cleaning software helps you manage and run your operations as a commercial cleaning company. Typically, it lets you list the cleaning equipment you have, when it should be maintained, and all the rest.

You can also use the software to focus on your customers in Australia and mark whether they are industrial or commercial. For example, if you help hospitality and aged-care facilities, you can schedule clients, create/send invoices, schedule employees, send quotes, track the time worked, and much more.

Overall, this industry is full of many companies doing the same things. You can offer a range of services, but you don’t want to be rushing to the store all the time to get more cleaning supplies, and the right software can help you keep inventory and much more.

Does a Cleaning Business Require Software?

Many commercial cleaning companies in Australia don’t think about the software. However, just as you need a reliable mop and vacuum, business software can save you time, help you look professional, and ensure that your customers are happy.

Management and scheduling software ensures that you can send quotes and invoices to the clients. It helps you look bigger and plan for profitable days without information slipping through the cracks.

With it, you might double-book or charge extra. These errors can cost you.

On top of that, the software can be used to make notes of the cleaning equipment and when to service or maintain the machinery. You can also store information about the cleaning supplies, creating an inventory to tell you when you need to order more.

How Cleaning Software Helps a Cleaning Company

Commercial cleaning businesses must be accessible all the time. When you store information within the software, you can access it whenever you need it. It’s also easier to keep backups through the software upgrades.

Usually, the software is compatible with various devices. You can download it to your laptop or headquarter computers, but you can also access information on the go. When you’re already at the store, it’s easier to see which cleaning supplies you’re running low on and grab some.

Customers may not know that your business in Australia uses software, but they are confident in your ability when you offer a full range of industrial services and never run out of cleaning supplies.

With that, you can ensure that your cleaning equipment is always ready for action by noting maintenance procedures and when they should be completed.

Insurance

Cleaning insurance isn’t often discussed when it comes to cleaning supplies, but it’s crucial to protect your employees and business from accidents and lawsuits. If you run a cleaning business and have employees working elsewhere, you require insurance.

In most cases, you only need general liability insurance. It covers you and the other workers in case of property damage or accidents.

However, you can also find insurance for your tools and equipment. This can come in handy for big machinery, such as floor machines, steam cleaners, and vacuums.

Conclusion

Overall, the right cleaning supplies and equipment are crucial to having a successful business in Australia. Whether you serve hospitality or aged care facilities, your customers want you to use safe equipment.

There are industry standards to consider, as well. Overall, commercial cleaning supplies in Australia are used by the entire service team. If you prefer to offer a full range of commercial or industrial options, it’s crucial to find the right brands and shop for the best products.

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