Being a facility manager comes with significant responsibility. For one, you've got to manage and maintain every inch of the facility. However, the biggest challenge when it comes to cleaning the facility is knowing how best to go about it. There's an endless array of items you can use for proper warehouse cleaning, but the items on today’s list are the fundamentals you can't do without.

Six Cleaning Supplies Every Facility Manager Needs

1. High-Quality Vacuum Cleaner

A vacuum cleaner is an electronic device that sucks in dust and other particles from surfaces like wood, tiles, concrete, upholstery, carpet, and more. While these devices may be popular and available in most homes, the emphasis here is "high-quality." As a facility manager, you need a vacuum cleaner that can handle the tough demands of a warehouse environment.

There are different types of vacuum cleaners that are categorized based on their mode of operation, capacity, technology, and size. For easy categorization, we can group them under the stick, handheld, robot, upright, and canister vacuum categories. There is no best option among them; the right choice depends on your facility's specifics. It's advisable to consult a reputable commercial cleaning company before buying.

2. Mop and Bucket Set

Although they are not electronic devices like vacuum cleaners, mops and buckets are essential for ensuring your floors are neat and dust-free. In fact, cleaning facility management at every company needs more than one mop. Depending on how large the facility is, you may have two or more people cleaning the floor simultaneously at different parts of the property. 

After mopping the floor, dry the mop under direct sunlight or fresh air to avoid the build-up of bacteria and foul odors. Also, warehouse facility management needs to prioritize safety. Display warning signs so people know the floor is wet to avoid trips and falls.

3. Disinfectant Wipes, Sprays, Detergents, and Sanitizers

When it comes to cleaning tabletops, cabinets, and similar surfaces, you can't go wrong with this category of cleaning supplies:

  • Disinfectant Wipes: These are pre-moistened towelettes containing active ingredients for removing dust, dirt, bacteria, and viruses from surfaces. The active ingredient in a disinfectant wipe differs according to the manufacturer. However, they typically contain chlorine solutions, which are tough on pathogens but may cause irritation to the skin.
  • Cleaning Sprays: Also known as spray cleaners, these are bottled or canned liquids containing active ingredients for removing tough stains from the floor and other surfaces. Warehouse cleaning services use it to combat many types of stains. After applying the spray, wait for the ingredient to react with the stain before wiping it off.
  • Detergents: These are soapy pellets, powder, or liquid substances that form lather and suds when mixed with water. When you want to mop the floor, mix water and detergent into your bucket and use the mop dipped in the mixture to clean the floor. You can still use the combination for cleaning tabletops and other surfaces.
  • Sanitizers: They work the same way as disinfecting wipes. The major difference is that sanitizers are bottled liquids that kill only bacteria, while disinfecting wipes are towelettes with powerful chemicals that can also kill viruses. To use a sanitizer, apply it on the target surface and use a piece of cloth to spread it evenly across the area.

Several facilities, like educational institutions and healthcare complexes, have standard cleaning protocols to ensure adequate safety for all. A professional commercial cleaning company understands this and sticks with the approved disinfectant wipes, sprays, detergents, and sanitizers to help maintain a safe and healthy environment for everyone.

4. Dusting Tools and Supplies

As the name suggests, commercial cleaning services use these tools to remove dust from different parts of the warehouse. Common dusting tools include (but are not limited to) compressed air dusters, lint rollers, microfiber hand dusters, dust brushes, feather dusters, cotton swabs, and electrostatic dusters.

Each of these tools has its own unique use cases. Instead of buying all of them, hiring a standard commercial cleaning service will help you save money because they already have these, so you won't have to pay extra to acquire them.

5. Glass Cleaner & Microfiber Cloths

Microfiber cloths are super-fine synthetic cloths for cleaning windows and glass surfaces. You typically use them in combination with a glass cleaner product to achieve great results. However, it's noteworthy that windows are very sensitive parts of every facility and require special attention.

Not doing it right may leave you with a smeared or streaky window, which can be quite embarrassing. The root cause of smeared windows is using the wrong products to clean them. Moreover, the wrong chemicals can permanently damage the window frames and seals. That's why it's advisable to consult a commercial cleaning service to know the right products to buy.

6. Carpet Spot Cleaners & Extractors

Spills and stains on carpets can cause health challenges in addition to slip and fall hazards. Regular carpet cleaning using the appropriate equipment, like spot cleansers and extractors, can drastically reduce the risk of allergies, respiratory issues, and illnesses among employees, customers, or residents. This equipment can penetrate a carpet's fibers regardless of size to eliminate hard-to-reach substances.

Equip Your Facility for Cleanliness

The role of a facility manager is tough, especially as it pertains to maintaining the cleanliness of the entire warehouse. While doing this project yourself is great, it can be daunting and may not guarantee the best results. That's why facility managers trust renowned commercial cleaning companies like Georgia Facility Services to handle all their cleaning needs.

This approach saves you money and allows you to focus on other things you're skilled at. Request more info from Georgia Facility Services today to get a checklist of the best cleaning products and create a schedule suitable for your facility.