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What should be included in janitorial supplies?

There are many different types of cleaning products, cleaning supplies and pieces of cleaning equipment that should be included on a janitorial cleaning supplies list. The majority of these products probably won’t be a surprise because they are all pretty standard when it comes to cleaning but are all essential in one way or another. Having a thorough list of products can be helpful for janitors and custodians because keeping track of inventory and knowing what the products are used for is important. A list of janitorial supplies as well as their purposes include:

  • All-purpose/multi-purpose cleaner: Cleaners that can be used in a variety of spaces and on lots of different surfaces is essential to have on your janitorial products list. All-purpose cleaners  such as Lysol®, Mr. Clean®, and Pledge® can be a staple product when it comes to your janitorial checklist because of how versatile they are. These products come in all types of forms like wipes, sprays, and liquids, and foams, and can be used on tables, chairs, countertops, and almost every other surface where germs might become present.
  • Bathroom cleaners: Restroom cleaners such as Clorox® bleach, Lysol® disinfectant spray, and Scrubbing Bubbles® are all essential products that are mainly used inside of bathrooms and restrooms of all sizes. These products should always be included in a janitorial closet or on a janitorial cleaning cart because of the ability they all have to kill germs. Restrooms are some of the dirtiest places, especially those who generate lots of traffic such as in offices, schools, airports, or retail stores. Be sure to have these products on your janitorial supply list in order to help keep the restrooms clean.
  • Disinfectant cleaners: These types of cleaners are made and used to disinfect many surfaces like countertops, tables, and other high traffic areas that could catch germs and bacteria. Clorox® and Lysol® are high quality disinfectant brands that should be on your janitorial list when it comes to killing germs.
  • Electronic Cleaner: If you work in an office or a building where there are lots of computers, keyboards, wall phones, or technology in general, you are going to need an electronic cleaner. An electronic cleaner will catch all those germs that find their way onto the screens and into all of the nooks and crannies without damaging the technology like other cleaners might. Some examples would be End Dust®, and Misty®.
  • Floor cleaning products: Floors can get really dirty, even if it’s not visible to you. Make sure to also have a good quality floor cleaner on your janitorial supply list based on the type of floors that are in the building. Mr. Clean® makes finished floor cleaners, along with National Chemical Laboratories.
  • Glass cleaners: Windows and other areas where glass is present either in an office or another building should most likely be cleaned with glass cleaner. Glass cleaning products are specifically made to clean glass surfaces, unlike an all-purpose cleaner which can be used to clean multiple different objects and surfaces. Windex®, Glass Plus®, and Glance® are all examples of glass cleaner brands to have on your janitorial supply checklist to help keep your windows and glass objects crystal clear.
  • Gloves: Rubber gloves are an essential item to stock up on and to have on your checklist. If your janitorial supply closet is located in a medical building such as a hospital, or even in an office building, gloves will still be necessary. It’s a good idea to make sure that you load up on all different sizes depending on the janitorial staff’s glove sizes. It’s important that gloves are always handy because things can get messy and having the option to wear them to protect your hands from chemicals can be beneficial.
  • Laundry and dishwasher detergent: If your building has a breakroom, it also might have a dishwasher. The same thing goes for if your building has a laundry machine; you are going to need laundry and/or dishwashing detergent. Some buildings like hospitals, hair salons, restaurants, and office buildings either have a dishwasher, and/or a washer/dryer set for various reasons, so it’s good to have these items on hand if you have these appliances. Tide®, Cascade®, Bounce® and Finish® are all great brands to have on your janitorial supply list to help with the dishwashing and laundry needs.

What cleaning supplies should janitors use?

There is a plethora of cleaning supplies that janitors and custodians should use while at work. Alongside the products that should be on their maintenance supply list, there should also be:

  • Bathroom tissue
  • Buckets
  • Dusters
  • Facial tissue
  • Paper towels
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Soap/hand sanitizer
  • Sponges
  • Rags
  • Trash bags

General items like these help to clean surfaces and objects around all types of buildings as well as stock rooms like restrooms and breakrooms. Different buildings might require different amounts of each cleaning item, but for the majority of the time, the items listed above will most likely be needed in some capacity in addition to the supplies on the janitorial cleaning list. Buying these items in bulk from W.B. Mason can be beneficial since some of these items can run out quickly or need to be replaced every so often.

What should be included in janitorial cleaning equipment?

Cleaning equipment is used differently compared to cleaning supplies due to the purposes and methods of cleaning. Pieces of cleaning equipment are used for assisting in the cleaning process and are typically known as much larger tools compared to cleaning supplies, which are normally smaller in size. The equipment that a janitor uses would consist of both manual and electronic pieces, such as a mop, a broom, and a dustpan, commercial or regular sized vacuum cleaners, a floor polisher, and a floor scrubber.

How often should you clean as a janitor?

How often a janitor or a custodian should clean different spaces within the building can depend on a few different factors such as:

  • How often the area is used
  • How large the area or room is
  • Where the room or area is located within the building
  • The preferences of the building owner/people in charge

Some of the main duties of a janitor or a custodian is to clean, disinfect, maintain inventory, and assess the cleanliness of spaces and rooms throughout their shift. Having a schedule or a routine for how a janitor goes about cleaning the building or floor they are in charge of can help them stay organized and consistent. For an example, cleaning the restrooms once a day can be one of the tasks they complete regularly, but the breakroom can be done every other day depending on how many people use it. Another example would be that the waiting area of a medical office can be vacuumed twice a week while the exam rooms need to be mopped and cleaned each night.

What areas of a business needs the most attention when it comes to cleaning?

The process of cleaning a building no matter the size can be hard to keep up with, especially the spaces that are used most often. Restrooms, breakrooms, the kitchen, common areas and waiting areas are most likely some of the areas that might need the most attention when it comes to cleaning. Since people tend to use these rooms or spaces more often, they are more likely to become dirty and catch germs quicker. Here are some tips for keeping spaces like these clean:

  • Pay attention to the areas that people see, smell, and touch as soon as they walk into the room. This can be countertops, floors, sinks, toilets, windows, and appliances. Making sure these surfaces are visibly clean and free of dust appeals to customers, students, employees, patients, and anyone who walks into the building.
  • Keep up with wiping down and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces to help keep everyone healthy. Things like door handles, light switches and computer mouses should be disinfected properly and regularly to ensure overall cleanliness. Objects in rooms such as chair arms, tables, reception desks, countertops, and anything else that people tend to touch in rooms such as the breakroom, restrooms, lobby, and common areas should also be wiped down regularly.
  • Use all-purpose cleaners as much as possible and cut down on products that aren’t used as often. Using a bunch of different products in one or multiple spaces can take up too much time and energy. If possible, use a multipurpose cleaner to simplify your tasks, especially if you have a lot to get done in a short amount of time.
  • Keep a tight cleaning schedule. Making and sticking to a schedule can help you stay on top of your tasks and get them done faster and more efficiently. Having a routine cleaning schedule that you follow every day can help to shave minutes off your regular tasks, which can leave more time for tasks that might not get done as often.
  • Keep your janitorial closet organized. Being stocked on janitorial supplies and keeping your closet neat and organized is a great way to ensure that the spaces and rooms that need the most cleaning gets done. Without the proper supplies and equipment, completing every task can become difficult.

The Best Janitorial Supplies List for Your Business

Having a stocked supply closet and an up-to-date janitor supplies list can help janitors, custodians, and cleaners of all kinds no matter what field of work you are in. All-purpose cleaner, glass cleaner, floor cleaner, gloves, and many other supplies are widely used among janitors in many types of buildings every day. Learning the purposes of these supplies as well as the different pieces of janitorial equipment is important for everyone to know, as the information is helpful for most people.

It’s important to stock up on the items that will be used the most by your janitors and custodians so that they don’t run out too quickly. W.B. Mason offers a delivery schedule service where instead of leaving your order at the reception desk or outside the building, we will bring the items directly into the janitorial closet for you.

Thank you Facilities’ Maintenance Professionals

W.B. Mason would like to sincerely thank all janitors, custodians, and cleaning staff for all their hard work and dedication. If you see your janitor or custodian at some point during the workday, be sure to thank them for everything they do. Sometimes, their work goes unnoticed since it usually gets done behind the scenes or after hours.

References

Interclean. What is Cleaning Equipment? (https://www.intercleanshow.com/news/sustainability/cleaning-equipment/) Accessed December 13, 2022.  

Woodard. Office Cleaning Supplies List. (https://woodard247.com/office-cleaning-supplies-checklist/) Accessed December 12, 2022.