To many people, cleaning products are interchangeable and indistinguishable. But when it comes to commercial cleaning supplies, there are some staples that we just can’t live without. At the Wilburn Company, we do our best to use green cleaning supplies that are good for our employees, clients, and the environment. This allows us to offer high-quality cleaning services while reducing the presence of harmful toxins. Because of this, you’ll notice that our list of commercial cleaning supplies incorporates green or reusable versions of the most common tools.
With that in mind, here are a few of the most common commercial cleaning supplies.
Disinfectant Cleaners
A disinfectant is crucial to have in any commercial building. This is how we’re able to limit the spread of disease, protect against the flu, and provide employees with sanitary working conditions. Disinfectants can range from 409 to Mr. Fantastic to straight bleach. However, more environmentally friendly products are Simple Green or PureGreen24. Both of these products limit the spread of volatile organic compounds while still killing off unhealthy bacteria.
Reusable Mop Heads
Many companies use one-time use mop heads that are made of a highly absorbent fibrous material. While these are an excellent choice for emergency situations that involve biohazardous fluids, we prefer to have reusable mop heads on our list of commercial cleaning supplies. Our mop heads are washed after every use, either in an industrial washing machine, or soaked in a disinfectant. This allows us to provide sanitary floors without creating excess waste.
Rubber Gloves
Rubber gloves are an essential part of every cleaning toolkit. Gloves protect our employees from exposure to harsh chemicals or unsanitary conditions. Depending on the weight of the glove, they’re also used when cleaning up emergency situations. A great pair of rubber gloves keeps our employees safe when handling hazards like blood.
Long-Lasting Sponges
Our environmental hygienists use a wide variety of sponges and scouring pads on a daily basis. These pads are used in every situation, from cleaning kitchens to doorknobs, to work areas. While your average sponge is made from an oil-based plastic, we strive to use ones that are sustainably sourced. Some examples of these include cellulose and hemp fiber sponges, as well as natural loofahs. Natural loofahs are actually made from a plant, known as luffa, and can be composted after use.
Rags
The rag should be an essential part of every commercial cleaning supply list. Rags can be used for many of the same things that sponges can be, but they are much easier to keep clean. Sponges have a shorter lifespan as they’re difficult to sanitize. A rag can be thrown into the wash and be sanitized for use on another day.
Glass Cleaner
Glass is a tricky material to clean. The slightest streak can make an entire window appear dirty and a building seem unkempt. Commercial cleaning companies use a squeegee and a window cleaning solution for the best result. These solutions are diluted at a high ratio to ensure a streak-free clean at a low concentration of chemicals.
Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner
Carpets are one of the most important things to clean in your office. They trap dust and allergen particles deep within the fibers, potentially causing allergic reactions. Many commercial cleaning teams work with harsh chemicals to strip the material. This approach, though, uses a lot of toxins that don’t just clean but actively break down the carpet’s fibers. This shortens the lifespan of your carpet and causes it to look dirtier faster.
At the Wilburn Company, we use green carpet cleaning machines that require less water and a lower concentration of cleaning solution. These fabric cleaners are free of volatile organic compounds and do not cause respiratory or air quality issues.
Non-Chlorinated Bleach
Bleach is one of the most powerful sanitizers on the planet. Unfortunately, it also leaves behind toxic fumes that are bad for both janitors and employees walking through your office. The manufacturing process of bleach produces dioxin, a chemical that can remain in the environment for many years. High concentrations of dioxins can lead to cancer, infertility, hormone problems, and possibly diabetes.
Non-chlorinated bleach gives you all of the benefits of true bleach without any of the harmful side effects. Due to its solution of 5.25% sodium hypochlorite in water, non-chlorinated bleach does not harm the environment. But it still whitens clothing, kills germs, and works nearly as effectively as traditional bleach.
Commercial Vacuums
Your average household vacuum wouldn’t be able to handle the intense workload that comes with cleaning hundreds of thousands of square feet a day. Unfortunately, the vacuums that can handle this workload traditionally haven’t been the most energy-efficient. That’s where LEED-certified vacuums come in. These vacuums must operate below a 70-dBA noise decibel to reduce the impact on user fatigue. They must also operate using environmentally preferable batteries, such as lithium-ion.
You could have all of the cleaning supplies on this list and still have a dirty office.
So, those are the most common commercial cleaning supplies – but service is just as important. The critical question is: who is doing the cleaning?
Far more than premiere cleaning supplies, our employees are the most important and irreplaceable part of our company. They ensure that our clients receive the great customer service and clean facilities that we’re known for. Each and every one of our team members goes through the standard janitorial training program. On top of this, they learn how to clean in an environmentally friendly manner through the GS-42 program.
Our employees are held accountable to our high standards thanks to our Quality Assurance program. This system ensures that inspection sheets are completed after every clean and eventually work their way up to the Vice President. The Wilburn Company has seen excellent results over the last several years of this program implementation, and we continue to enhance the process using life cycle improvement.
After all, you can use common cleaning supplies, but you can’t get a Wilburn quality clean without the expertise that makes us who we are. Talk to us today to find out why our clients trust us with the health of their employees.