Guide to Cleaning Supplies News and Trends

Stay on top of cleaning supplies news and trends

By Denise Brown

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Study cleaning supplies websites for news and trends

Trade organizations and special interest websites are good places to find out what's new in the cleaning supply industry. Since restaurants come under special scrutiny by local health departments for their cleanliness, restaurant-specific trade websites are another good place to find out what's new in janitorial cleaning supplies.

I recommend: The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) offers a number of articles on current trends in the cleaning supplies industry. NetWorld Alliance offers news and trends in commercial cleaning supplies for fast food chains on its quick service restaurant website.

Sign up for newsletters that offer the latest cleaning supplies news and trends

Many companies offer free newsletters that promote their products. Or, you can sign up for newsletters from independent resources. Either type of newsletter is a good way to stay current on new industrial cleaning products.

I recommend: Brandweek offers free newsletters to help you stay on top of trends in brand name industrial cleaning supplies. You can subscribe to the Mary Moppins newsletter as well. It’s free. This newsletter includes information on the commercial cleaning equipment it sells, as well as its commercial cleaning products.

Read blogs dedicated to cleaning supplies news and trends

You can either sign up via RSS feeds, or some blogs also offer free newsletters. Either way, you can gather information to help make choosing cleaning suppliers easier for you.

I recommend: Consumers Union provides unbiased information on cleaning supplies news and trends at ConsumerReports.org. WordPress.com offers a number of blogs that discuss professional cleaning supplies, as well as cleaning products designed for home use.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  As you read about new cleaning supplies, keep the author's point of view in mind. Some reviewers only want to make a sale, while others are writing the articles to provide a service. The latter are more likely to give unbiased reviews.

Guide to Cleaning and Maintenance Services and Supplies

Sell all you want, but you still to have clean and maintain your business

By Daniel Kehrer, Editor, Business.com & Work.com

1. An online supplies vendor that has the type of supplies you need and a Web site where you can order easily and have items delivered quickly.
2. An experienced, reputable commercial cleaning service that can handle the amount of space you have, and is fully insured.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Locate everything you need online to keep things running smoothly

If you don't already know about Grainger and Uline, you soon will.

I recommend: Grainger is the top provider of maintenance, repair and operating supplies to businesses (1.7 million of them) in North America. And since there are a gazillion products and parts you might need (well, Grainger actually carries 800,000), their online product search is super helpful. Order online or find a Grainger branch in your area. Uline is known more for shipping supplies, but carries janitorial supplies as well.

Compare prices and dig deeper at maintenance and cleaning superstores

These suppliers can help you buy smart and save big.

I recommend: Interstate products has a full line of industrial maintenance supplies, or as they say, "Everything to clean everything."Spectrum Pharma-Quip has supplies geared to the medical industry. J&R Supply carries a complete line of janitorial, cleaning and maintenance supplies. The Betty Mills Company is one of America's major suppliers of cleaning and facility supplies. Parish Maintenance Supply specializes in floor care and has helpful cleaning tips.

Click to the cleaning services you need for your business

Outside cleaning and maintenance services can keep your biz in tip-top shape.

I recommend: Get free price quotes from commercial cleaning companies at BuyerZone. The National Association of Professional Cleaners can help you locate a cleaning service in your area through its National Cleaning Directory. They also offer helpful tips on hiring a cleaning company. Vanguard Cleaning Systems provides commercial cleaning services through an organization of approximately 700 franchise owners.

Sign up for full-service maintenance solutions

Total facilities management companies will do it all so you can concentrate on other matters.

I recommend: USI Building Services, Inc. is a single provider for all maintenance needs. They take care of supplies, equipment management, scheduling and reporting.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider extremely low cleaning services bids carefully. A cleaner may be bidding low because of inexperience or a lack of insurance coverage. If they destroy your desks, floors or other facilities, you'll have bigger problems.
• •  Evaluate franchised cleaning services just as carefully as you would any other service. Although they may carry a familiar name, they are still independently owned and may or may not have cleaning industry expertise and experience.
• •  According to BuyerZone, prices vary by size and frequency of cleaning services. Nightly janitorial service for a company in a 20,000 sq ft office in a major city may cost 5-10 cents per square foot ($2,000-$4,000/month). More services, additional workers, or pricey cleaning supplies and equipment can increase the cost as much as 10-35 cents per square foot.

Guide to Making the Most of Cleaning Supplies

Stretch your industrial cleaning supplies budget

By Denise Brown

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Buy cleaning supplies in bulk quantities

This is the most obvious way to make the most of your cleaning budget. Buy only the products you need. Consider buying multi-purpose products to save even more money.

I recommend: Buy bulk commercial cleaning products from Uline. While you can find many of its janitorial cleaning supplies in local stores, Uline offers custodial cleaning supplies in bulk packaging to help save you money. Grainger offers all types of industrial cleaning supplies on its website. It not only offer industrial cleaning products, it also has commercial cleaning equipment as well.

Look at 'green' cleaning supplies

Since many environmentally friendly products are coming down in price, you can find good deals on bulk cleaning supplies. Look for reputable cleaning supply providers who also care about their product's impact on the environment.

I recommend: When making the most of cleaning supplies means buying in bulk, consider that JanSanSupplies.com offers biodegradable professional cleaning supplies in bulk quantities. The Betty Mills Company features biodegradable wholesale cleaning supplies to help you save money on your cleaning supply budget.

Use common household ingredients to make your cleaning supplies

Take the time to create inexpensive cleaners that are non-toxic as well. Purchase the ingredients in advance and mix them as needed to make the appropriate cleaner.

I recommend: Care2.com offers simple ways to make your own non-toxic cleaning supplies from inexpensive ingredients such as baking soda, dish soap, vinegar and water. This can save quite a bit of money over the cost of commercial cleaning supplies. Worldwatch Institute also has a number of simple concoctions to use for almost every cleaning situation. These solutions are made from safe, inexpensive, everyday household items.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  No matter what type cleaning supplies you choose for your business, be sure your staff knows how to handle the cleaning products properly. Any cleaning product can cause a problem if the person responsible uses it off-label.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Microfiber

Microfiber refers to fiber size, which is below 1.0 denier. The lower the number, the finer the fiber, giving you a more effective cleaning tool.

I recommend: Learn more about microfiber as a cleaning product from Starfibers. Simply Good Stuff also gives an explanation of microfiber.

Green cleaning supplies

Green cleaning supplies are deemed environmentally friendly. Most are biodegradable and plant-based, and come in recyclable packaging.

I recommend: Look at the green cleaning line from Nature's Source.

Burnisher

A burnisher is a machine used to dry-polish a floor at high speed. It hardens the finish on the floor to give it its original shine.

I recommend: Learn about floor burnishing from Aztec Products.

Buffer

A buffer uses liquids to polish a floor. Generally, a floor-cleaner/restoration product is used with a buffer.

I recommend: Learn more about floor buffing from Mrs. Clean House Cleaning Services and Maid Service. Look at the restoring solution available from Parish Maintenance Supply.

Wringer

A wringer is attached to a mop bucket to draw excess water out of the mop so too much water doesn't get on the floor.

I recommend: Find out more about wringers and wet mop safety from MopBucketandWringer.com.

Carpet extractor

A carpet extractor is a carpet cleaner for areas of carpet that see heavier wear.

I recommend: Learn more about using a carpet extractor from Monster Janitorial Supplies and Cleaning Products. Advance also offers information on carpet extractors.