Keeping your business clean is a monumental challenge. What cleaning tools do you need? How much time should you allot for deep cleaning or disinfection? There are no uniform answers.
However, you can leave those concerns to an independent contractor that specializes in commercial cleaning services. Not only do they already possess the cleaning supplies needed to keep your space spic and span, but they can also create a customized approach to maintaining your business.
The page below explains how commercial cleaners use unique supplies to do their jobs and then details some of the most common tools and cleaning formulas.
If you need commercial cleaning in Kansas City, Missouri, contact JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting to connect with a certified franchisee.
Commercial Cleaners Don’t Use Your Average Supplies
There are a few things to know about commercial cleaning efforts. First, in-house cleaning services can significantly limit you. You might think it’s easier to choose people from within your business.
However, even with cleaning experience, having access to the supplies needed to handle each task takes a lot of work. That responsibility falls squarely on your shoulders as the business. You will budget enough money to purchase commercial-grade machinery, wholesale cleaning formulas, and tools to cover all cleaning to-dos in the entire building.
That is why a commercial cleaning franchisee frees you up; they bring their supplies and equipment to each service. Plus, you can delegate your in-house hours and efforts to other productive duties. You’ll find a closer glimpse at what comprehensive commercial cleaning requires below.
A Checklist of Professional Cleaning Tools
Let’s start with material and mechanical supplies, like vacuums, mops, and brooms. You can only see some of the following items from manufacturers who produce commercial-grade products for professional cleaners. Cleaning contractors use these items more frequently for more extensive projects than basic housekeeping. Explore what certified franchisees offer below.
Pressure Washer
A pressure washer produces a powerful stream of water from a jet to cleanse hard surfaces. You know it better as a pressure washer. This machine helps tidy outdoor spaces, such as:
- Parking lots
- Sidewalks
- Exterior walls
- Patio Furniture
- Fencing
While all businesses can benefit from occasional outdoor scrubbing, restaurants, playgrounds, and cafes reap specific advantages. Any company with an outdoor social space needs regular pressure cleaning to keep its property appealing and welcoming.
Wet-Dry Vacuum
A wet-dry vacuum isn’t your average vacuum cleaner. Most household vacuums can only handle dry debris. If you use them in wet areas, you might accidentally break them.
Meanwhile, a wet-dry vacuum can suck up dry and wet waste. It comes in handy for:
- Car and pet washes
- Daycares and public schools
- Animal care facilities
- Movie theaters
- Restaurants and other food establishments
Any business that uses water, moist substances, and liquids throughout the average business day needs a wet-dry vacuum.
Floor Scrubber
Even hard flooring materials can collect a layer of grime. This is particularly true for porous materials like concrete. However, you can’t use carpet extraction to scrub and lift dirt from these surfaces.
It would be best if you had a floor scrubber to tackle the task. If you own one of the following business types, you will benefit from a floor scrubber’s impeccable shine:
- Warehouses
- Retailers
- Medical facilities
- Foodservice establish
Basically, any space with hard floors, high foot traffic, and consistent exposure to spills needs floor scrubbing sessions.
Cleaning Cloths
Not all cloth cleaning tools work the same. A commercial cleaning franchisee might keep the following inventory on hand:
- Rough rags: These reusable cloth scraps have rough, cotton fibers — perfect for scrubbing tough, sticky spots off tabletops, floors, and desks.
- Microfiber cloths: Microfiber fabrics work well for more delicate surfaces, like wood or stone. They seamlessly collect dust from surfaces and attract grime like a magnet.
- Glass cloths: Glass cloths are even gentler than microfiber. You can polish windows and glass furniture to a shine without leaving a streak or a scratch.
- Sponges: Sponges work similarly to rough rags. The main difference between the two is that sponges absorb more water. You can scrub stubborn stains and dirty spots with a sponge to loosen the debris.
If you use a sponge or rough rag on a glass surface, you could leave micro-scratches. Thus, understanding how different fabrics work and which surfaces they clean can make furniture and other accents look nicer for longer.
Typical Cleaning Supplies
Finally, you’ll probably recognize some commonly used cleaning supplies in a commercial cleaning contractor’s supply closet. Some items you might have at home include:
- A broom and dustpan to collect dust and other dry particles scattered about the floor.
- A mop and bucket for contained spills and general floor cleaning.
- Disinfectant wipes to quickly kill microbes on hard surfaces.
- Dusters are used to access and remove dry dirt and dust on surfaces positioned above the floor.
- Trash bags are used to collect and dispose of various waste substances.
- Personal protection equipment, such as gloves, goggles, and face masks, is used to protect personnel from splashing chemicals, flying particles, and reaction-inducing formulas.
A commercial cleaning franchisee doesn’t just keep one or two of these items. They keep a rotating stock available in case some tools break or stop working due to wear and tear.
What About Cleaning Formulas?
Commercial cleaning tools barely scratch the surface of commercial cleaning needs. A business should have a readily available inventory of spray bottles and refill jugs filled with various cleaning formulas. You’ll learn more about some of the products a commercial cleaning contractor might use below.
Extraction and Encapsulation
Carpet, upholstery, and rugs need different ingredients than hard surfaces. For example, extraction, or steam cleaning, injects hot water and cleaning agents into carpets or fabric to loosen and extract dirt, providing a deep clean. Meanwhile, encapsulation applies a solution that crystallizes dirt as it dries, allowing it to be easily vacuumed away for quick maintenance.
Disinfectants and Sanitizers
No matter how stringent your cleaning habits are, germs will still transfer from one surface to another in your commercial space. Unfortunately, not all cleaning formulas can kill bacteria, mold, and viruses with one wipe. Therefore, a steady supply of disinfecting and sanitizing products is handy, especially during cold and flu season.
Green Cleaning Products
If you prioritize eco-friendly cleaning, whether you manage a daycare, nursing home, or vet clinic with sensitive occupants, green cleaning products are a great choice. They avoid the harsh ingredients found in mainstream options yet still deliver effective cleaning when used correctly and consistently.
Degreasers
Cafeterias, restaurants, and break rooms are hubs for food spills. Many people use oils and grease to make meals for customers or themselves. Spilling greasy food or drops of oil on a surface can encourage bacteria growth.
Plus, grease can only be completely cleaned with a product formulated to tackle it. Degreasers make quick work of greasy stains. Modern formulations feature non-toxic ingredients that won’t invoke potentially dangerous chemical reactions.
Detergents
Detergents, along with surfactants, are among the most commonly used cleaning formulas. Detergent ingredients break down and lift dirt particles from almost any surface or material. Certified franchisees purchase or mix formulas based on strength.
For example, one fabric might handle a stronger detergent than another. Therefore, it can withstand more concentrated products. However, delicate materials might break down from constant exposure to high-strength mixtures.
Contact JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Kansas City to Connect With a Franchisee Near You
Do outsourced janitorial services look more appealing to you? We can connect you to an independent contractor in our network who specializes in your industry needs.
Certified franchisees with JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting in Kansas City have the cleaning tools, experience, and education to tackle commercial cleaning projects of all sizes. Complete this contact form for a free estimate, or call us at (913) 469-4060.