logo
logo
Sign in

How to Save Money on Your Cleaning Supplies and Equipment

avatar
Terry Ramsay
How to Save Money on Your Cleaning Supplies and Equipment

It seems a given that each year budgets for cleaning service become tighter, and expectations for perfect results increase. For office cleaning costs, it is usually thought that reducing labor expenses is the only way to go. But the cleaning pros at SanMar Building Services in New York City remind facilities and purchasing managers to be alert for supply and equipment costs. A few simple best practices followed consistently can lead to significant savings in both the short- and long-term. In the professional cleaning industry, there even are group purchasing organizations to combine orders and increase negotiating clout with large suppliers. First and most importantly, is planning. Reasonable pricing is seldom available when you're in a hurry and need something delivered immediately. If there is a new product you are unsure about, request a complimentary sample rather than purchasing an entire case before you have tried it against your needs. Higher quality products can be more expensive, but if they are more productive and smaller quantities are required, you can save money in the long run. Better products also can be easier to use, which saves time and labor costs. Best practices also include testing products against one another to find the optimal one for your need.

Better office cleaning also relies on effective equipment like high-filtration vacuums for carpeting and upholstered surfaces. Look for sharp pricing, buy quality, and choose the one best suited to all of your needs. The same holds for cleaning implements. For example, be on the lookout for multi-surface cleaning tools. They are the ones that are useful for multiple jobs, thereby reducing costs. Follow this same idea when it comes to selecting cleaning chemicals and compounds. Watch for formulations that work across various surfaces and needs. You'll be able to carry fewer inventory items, use these products across multiple surfaces, and buy in quantity. Speaking of that, purchase everything in a minimum of a five-gallon size. At this level, you begin to receive volume discounts that reduce costs and stretch your budget to more significant quantities without increasing costs. Do you also check to see if products are available in concentrated formulas? If yes these reduce shipping weight because you add water on your end, and also they last longer and go father than regular strength. If you have a tough spot cleaning area, a concentrate might power through the stain when a regular formula would not. One good idea leads to another in an area like products.

Performance is a crucial factor for office cleaning chemicals and implements. Make sure to keep it a focus as you place orders and make selections among product options. Better-performing implements likely save time, labor, and effort as they produce better results that will delight co-workers and clients. Even if some of the items carry higher costs, you'll see valuable effects in the long run. Also, ask yourself whether or not you are replacing things too soon. Many pieces of cleaning equipment such as vacuums have a useful life of five to seven years. If you've gotten into the habit of replacing them more often, be pragmatic and take a step back. If you review your assets, you may find you have more life than expected left in many items. Staff training also can play a role. If things are broken or worn out too quickly, it easily could be because of misuse. If your people are retrained in proper techniques, they can reduce wear and tear on all items. Establishing product replacement calendars can help to manage these procurement activities, and also serve as a planning tool to help you forecast what is needed now versus longer into the future.

Terry Ramsay is the author of this article. For further detail about office cleaning please visit the website.

collect
0
avatar
Terry Ramsay
guide
Zupyak is the world’s largest content marketing community, with over 400 000 members and 3 million articles. Explore and get your content discovered.
Read more