Copyright 2006 The Janitorial Store
From cleaning chemicals to microfiber cloths to mop buckets, you need supplies and equipment to clean your buildings. But is there a "one-stop shop" that will best suit the needs of your cleaning company?
You can buy supplies from janitorial distributors, big box stores like Home Depot, on-line stores, e-bay, and in a pinch, you can even buy from your local grocery store. Following are a few highlights of what each of these sources has to offer:
A janitorial supplies distributor has working knowledge of the chemicals and equipment that you need to successfully run your cleaning business. They can provide MSDS sheets, offer suggestions and advice, rent equipment, and even provide training to you and your employees.
Janitorial distributors keep records of your purchases. So if you forget the name of a particular chemical that worked well for you, they will be able to track down that information. Distributors have higher quality products and can offer volume discounts and let you know when manufacturers are offering specials. In addition, if a piece of equipment breaks down your distributor may be able to fix it.
Big box stores sell an assortment of chemicals, supplies and some equipment. However, they more than likely will not provide you with MSDS sheets or keep track of your purchases. Prices may be lower, but you will not get any training or support from the employees at a big box store. If you buy equipment from a big box store you will have to send it back to the manufacturer for repairs or service.
On-line stores sell almost everything. There are many specialized janitorial supply stores that will no doubt have everything you need for your cleaning business. You can easily shop and compare prices with just a few clicks of your mouse. Make sure that you read all the fine print and know what the exact charges are for your product. Some sites will charge extra for shipping, or they may claim "free shipping" yet have increased their prices to cover those charges. There may be some items, such as large pieces of equipment that have added shipping charges.
Buyers and sellers are flocking to Ebay to either get bargains or get rid of overstocks. Sellers on ebay are not likely to provide you with MSDS sheets (you can ask), guarantees or information on how to use the product. Ebay does have some built in protections for the buyer and the seller. But that does not mean that Ebay will guarantee the quality of the product that you are buying. For some items on Ebay you submit a "bid" and others you can buy outright. You also have to watch the shipping charges that you will have to pay.
In a pinch, your local grocery store has wood cleaner, toilet bowl cleaners, basic cleaning supplies, and trash can liners. These are not industrial-strength products, but if an employee runs out of a chemical while cleaning a building, it might be your only choice.
No matter where you buy from, it's always best to plan ahead and make sure that you have all the cleaning supplies and equipment that you need on hand. The choice of where you buy supplies will not "make or break" your cleaning company. However, knowing that you have a dependable source for your equipment and supplies and having a good working relationship with that company will mean one less headache for you as you grow your cleaning business!
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Steve Hanson is co-founding member of The Janitorial Store (TM), an online community that offers weekly tips, articles, downloads, discussion forums, and more for anyone who would like to learn how to start a cleaning business. Visit The Janitorial Store's blog and get inspired by reading cleaning success stories from owners of cleaning companies.
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