Aside from household cleaning products you will need to invest in cleaning equipment when you put up a Cleaning Service business. Although this equipment may entail some money cash out these are essential for making your tasks easier and more efficient.

Brooms, mops, rags, window cleaners, feather dusters and rubber hoses are some simple tools you will definitely need in your cleaning service business. These items are cheap, easily bought in a hardware store and are the basic necessities of your business. If you want to expand your business a little more invest in floor polishers, vacuum cleaners and extension cords. This equipment you will find in most appliance stores and hardware stores. You can also go online and search for these items. There are a lot of models and brands that you can choose from. Select a decent brand within your budget. Ask for a demonstration from the salesman on how this piece of equipment works just to check if it performs at par to your standards. Always remember to ask for a warranty on its parts and service just in case it breaks down. Most importantly ask for discounts if you are purchasing on cash. If you are planning to buy on installment, request for affordable payment terms.

As the economy suffers from recessions today, cleaning business companies must continue to think of how they can cut back on their expenses. One area where companies can save money is on what they spend for building cleaning. Some cut down on their expenses by not availing the services of cleaning companies anymore and just their internal labor. Thus, cleaning companies must stay competitive by offering the lowest price to their clients to get ahead in the game. One good way of cutting down on operations is to make use of used cleaning tools. By purchasing second- hand cleaning equipment, the company can save as much as 80 percent on major purchases on equipment. By using used equipment that are still in good condition, you get to reduce your labor costs and you can also provide a better cleaning service.

This kind of business requires you to have equipments such as auto scrubbers which can clean the floors 10 times faster than mops. Auto scrubbers also are those that continue to flush clean water to the floor thus do the job better. Another equipment which is a must- have are the burnishers which can maintain and maximize the brilliance of finished floors.

There are important reminders in buying used equipment. The criteria that is most important to remember is to ensure that at least the outside of the machine looks good. If in the outside, it already looks damaged, rusty or worn then it is more likely the case too for the internal parts.

Listen to units such as vacuum motors and brush and see if there are loud noises. For equipment with batteries, look at the battery’s installation date. Have someone perform a gravity test to ensure how long the battery can hold charge. Batteries are expensive wear and tear items. They can cost your around $1500 for replacement. Also, check the accessories when buying used janitorial equipment. Old machines can have hard- to- find or possibly irreplaceable accessories because of discontinuation.

To make sure that your are buying units still good qualities, there are three questions to raise. First, inquire about the warranty of the machine since this can make you save a lot of money. Repairs can actually cost you a thousand dollars that is why warranties are considered very useful. Second, where did the previous owner used to use to the machine. This is so you can know how wear the machines must be since most of the time, machines are traded in because of excessive wear and have been used for a long period of time. And the last, how was the cleaning equipment utilized? For example, was the floor machine or the auto scrubber used in stripping floors? Stripping floors can make the old wax block lines inside the vent holes of the motor. Generally, the best way to see if the used equipment is still okay is too look at its cosmetic condition and the noise that it creates. Also, it is advisable to ask for a second opinion from another technician.

Floor Machines Used in Cleaning

Floor machines are one indispensable machine for cleaning businesses. They are used in refinishing floors and scrubbing the floors. They are generally known as swing machines though they vary in sizes, shapes and even speeds. Floor machine units can have speeds ranging from a 100 RPM to even up to 400 RPM. To ensure the delivery of quality service, make sure that the right floor machine type is used for the appropriate job and that the speed matches its application.

The major parts of a floor machines are the pad driver, the handle and the base. The pad driver securely holds the floor pads with the machine. The handle, which is connected to the back base, houses the switch lever so you can easily switch the machine off or on. The machine operator is given two handles to ensure the security of his grip to the machine all the time. The motor housing or the base is usually connected to a pad driver but is sometimes connected to planetary gears which can increase the pad driver’s rotation or decrease it as well thus making the floor machine more suitable to be used in various cleaning tasks. Furthermore, a power cord that provides power to the machines is attached to the handle’s top. It usually can be from 50 to 70 feet long.

Floor machines have different uses and one of which is in floor scrubbing. In floor scrubbing, floor machines are used along with floor pads or scrubbing brushes. Floor pad have different colors and each color varies in its coarseness. Usually, the dark- colored ones are the more aggressive floor pads and they give deeper scrubs. On the other hand, the bristles of the scrubbing brushes have different stiffness. You adjust the type of bristles to the type of floor being cleaned. Stiffer bristles are used for tile and concrete floors while softer bristles are used for terrazzo and VCT floors.

The machine speed has to be considered when you are tasked to do different jobs and when you deal with various types of floors. For example, if you are working with striping floors, then use a machine with a lower speed. If you are working with floors that are gently polished or burnished, then use a machine with a higher speed together with floor pads that are light in color.

See: How to start a cleaning business

Since the economy continues to be very tough at present, it has become ever more necessary for cleaning business owners to think of ways on how they can cut down on their costs and various expenses. With companies cutting back, building cleaning costs are one of the first areas to be looked at for saving money. Some companies are trying to cut out their cleaning company and replace them with internal labor. It is important for cleaning companies to stay competitive and offer the lowest contract price possible to build or retain there clients. A great way to cut operating costs is to but used cleaning equipment. By purchasing cleaning equipment used, the cleaning company can save up to eighty percent on major equipment purchases. Another reward to using good used equipment is the reduction in labor costs and better cleaning performance.

There are several cleaning equipments your cleaning business is required to have like auto scrubbers, burnishers, floor machines and vacuum cleaners. Auto scrubbers can clean floors ten times faster than utilizing a mop and do a much better job by constantly flushing the floor with clean water. Burnishers are a necessity for maintaining finished floors and maximizing their brilliance.

When purchasing used equipment there are a few things to look for. The most important criteria to look for when purchasing equipment is to make sure it is good repair and in cosmetically good condition. If a machine looks worn, damaged or rusty on the outside then chances are this is a reflection of its internal parts.

When testing the unit listen for any loud noises especially around brush and vacuum motors. If you are purchasing cleaning equipment that contains batteries, check the installation date and have a specific gravity test performed to make sure they will hold a charge. Batteries are the most expensive wear item on an auto scrubber and can cost up to $1500 dollars to replace. A common area people overlook when purchasing janitorial equipment are the accessories. On older machines common accessories can be hard to find due to discontinuation and can be costly if not impossible to replace.

When buying cleaning equipment there are three important questions to ask that will insure that you are purchasing a quality unit. What type of warranty does the machine have? Repairs on equipment can be costly and a good warranty can go a long way and could save you hundreds if not thousands of dollars in repairs. Where was the machine previously used?

These machines are typically used for extended periods of time and are usually traded in for excessive wear. What type of application was the piece of cleaning equipment used for? A good example of extreme use is utilizing an auto scrubber or floor machine for stripping floors. Striping floors is a messy task and old floor wax can block internal lines and build up on motor vent holes. Overall the best indication of a good machine is good cosmetic condition and low operating noise but it is also good to get a second opinion by a third party technician.

Floor Machines for your Cleaning Equipment

One of the most important machines when it comes to cleaning businesses include floor machines. Floor machines are mainly used for scrubbing floors, refinishing floors and low speed buffing. When operating a cleaning company it is important to use the right cleaning equipment for every application. Floor machines come in many shapes and sizes but are generally known as swing machines. These units range in speeds from one hundred RPM to larger units that can spin as high as four hundred RPM. It is important to use the right type of floor machine for the job you are doing and match the speed to the application in order to ensure quality of work and service to your clients and customers.

Floor machines consist of three major parts, the pad driver, the motor housing or base, and the handle. The pad driver is a round disc that holds floor pads securely to the machine. The base of the unit houses a motor usually ranging from one to three horsepower. The motor usually connects directly to the pad driver but in some instances is connected by a belt of planetary gear systems. Planetary gear systems are sometimes used to increase or decrease the rotation of the pad driver making the machine suitable for a wide variety of cleaning tasks. The handle on the floor machine connects to the back of the base and houses a switch lever at the top so that the user can turn the machine on and off easily. Two handles are provided for the machine operator so that a secure grip can be kept on the machine at all times. The power cord attaches to the top of the handle to provide power to the unit. Power cords usually range in length from fifty to seventy five feet.

The floor machine is an important piece of cleaning equipment because it can be used for many jobs. The first and most common use for this type of unit is floor scrubbing. When scrubbing floors the floor machine is used in conjunction with either a floor pad or scrubbing brush. Floor pads come in many colors which vary in coarseness with the color of the pad. Generally the darker colored floor pads are more aggressive and will provide a deeper scrub. Floor machine cleaning brushes can vary in the stiffness of the bristles and can be changed depending on the floor it is being used on. A stiffer bristled brush is suited for concrete and tile floors whereas a soft bristle brush is more commonly used on VCT and terrazzo floors.

The speed of the machine is of great importance when working with different types of flooring and performing different tasks. For stripping floors or removing old floor finish or wax a lower speed machine is generally used. Some higher speed floor machines can be used to gently polish or burnish floors when used in conjunction with a lighter colored floor pad.

See: How to start a cleaning business

Insurance coverage is one of the most overlooked items in one’s business. The policy is to cover instances that may occur in the future, such as lost items, negligence in the use of chemicals, theft, damage to equipment and the like. The right coverage would be able to keep one’s risk and thus one’s premiums to a manageable level.

The basic coverage for a business includes general liability insurance, auto insurance if the business has vehicles, worker’s compensatory insurance and breakdown insurance. These coverages are most often bundled into one policy but one needs to verify with one’s agent as to the actual coverages. But the industry where one has chosen to be part of has specific risks which may not fall under the basic policy package. So in order for one to be able to perform the job engaged for, one needs to cover the following risks inherent in the cleaner business.

1) For keys. Keys are important in the business as most of the activity is done after work hours. If one the employees loses one or any of the keys provided the business, one would need to pay for the actual key, lock adjustment or even replacement of these locks. By having insurance for this, one need not worry about this.

2) For property left in one’s care and supervision. This type of insurance covers property given to the cleaner for use or left in their care and supervision. This includes rented or leased property or equipment like vacuum cleaners or industrial grade floor machines.

3) Thievery. This coverage is not the same as the insurance against the cleaner’s own employee’s theft, but if the cleaner’s employee’s negligence allows the occasion that the criminal act of theft be realized. An example would be leaving the back door unlocked and thus allowing thieves to gain unlawful entry.

4) Against pollution. As a cleaning company, one works with an array of chemicals used to clean the work site. Pollution may occur when there is accidental spillage or mishandling of these volatile chemicals.

5) Business losses. The risk insured against in this type of coverage is sudden business loss or downturns that were unforeseen. A prime example is the sudden closure of business or bankruptcy of the cleaner’s biggest client making the bottom line go to the red. Having this insurance allows one to be financially supported until the business income returns to normal.

6) Non-cleaning materials. This coverage is for the office equipment of the cleaners. This may just be a rider if one works out of one’s home.

So there are some risks associated with the cleaning business which is not included in a typical business insurance policy coverage. The risks may be a lot more since one performs a highly specialized service, one small act may ruin a small business such as this one financially. It would be best to discuss these risks with an insurance expert or specialist so one may be able to adequately prepare for them.

See: How to start a cleaning service

As consumer cleaning service owner, you need to understand that your clients are mostly home owners and they very much value their homes. Most home owners would look for maid services that have bonds and are insured. And they of course expect quality housekeepers that are well trained to meet the tasks they require done in their houses.

Aside from that, you have to ensure that your teams of house cleaners are very polite and respectful of the homeowner’s privacy. They need to know how to make the people who live in the house they are tasked to clean would be comfortable with them moving around the house and cleaning and dusting every nook and cranny.

The services you provide should be detailed and outlined for the client to see and choose from.

If the client wants all the rooms of the house to be cleaned, this would include cleaning, dusting and vacuuming everywhere including window sills and ledges. You also should be aware beforehand of the kind of material the house is built with so you know what chemicals to bring and what not to bring. Your cleaners will also need to ensure dust free and cobweb free furniture, frames, lamps, light fixtures, doors, blinds, shelves, and baseboards, and seats and cushions. You will need to know if the house is carpeted, or if you need to wash the floor.

For kitchen cleaning services, you house cleaners will need to clean all kitchen appliances, counters, cabinets, cupboards, tables and chairs. You will also have to make sure that sinks are scrubbed and sanitized. Range tops should be sparkling, ovens should be scrubbed free of any baking debris, countertops and backsplashes of oil and any sauce are to be scrubbed and sanitized. Refrigerators, if need be, can be defrosted and cleaned inside and out, and the floor should be washed and sanitized.

Toilets and baths should be cleaned, sanitized and deodorized, including showers and bathtubs. Vanities and sinks should be spotless, including mirrors. Toilets should be scrubbed and sanitized. Chrome fixtures, if any, should be polished, and the floors and tile walls should be washed, scrubbed, sanitized, and dried.

Typically, housekeeping services need a minimal amount of equipment since agreements with the house owner varies. They are the ones who provide the cleaning material, including rags, detergents, and sanitizers. If this is the case, your house cleaners should just show up on time, in neat and proper attires. Normally too, there is an agreement on how many hours the cleaning will last for , depending on the necessary clean up to be done. Most cleaning services would average around three or four hours for each client.

If in case the housekeeping agreement is different, like in cases of newly purchased houses, then you might have to provide the equipment down to the sanitizers and disinfectants. This would mean that you can charge the client for all the cleaning equipment you bring in and use up.

See: How to start a maid cleaning service

The types of supplies that you need for your cleaning business are based on various factors. Are you going full time or part time? Does your business advertise a total clean? Are you cleaning offices or residences? The type of cleaning that you do will determine the type of equipment that you will need to keep on hand or purchase.

One thing that I recommend is that you should always bring your equipment with you. If your customers want you to use a certain type of polish, you can either put it in your own supply cart or ask them to provide it. Having your own equipment always saves you valuable time. Instead of hunting in their closets for their cleaning stuff, you can easily have your own at hand and save fifteen minutes that you could easily use for the next job.

This checklist should help you out when you decide to purchase your equipment:
Normal cleaning supplies include rags, micro fiber rags, solvents and cleaning solutions. This category includes daily cleaning supplies like furniture polish, wax, and glass cleaning supplies, brooms, squeegees and dust pans. This can also include mops and buckets, as well as disinfectants.

Heavy duty cleaning supplies are those supplies that are used to combat heavy duty stains. Gutter cleaners can be considered under this category. A good vacuum, deep soak cleaning solutions, bathroom cleaners and other heavy duty and dangerous chemicals also fall under this category.

Big equipment is the equipment that you don’t normally find in homes. Items like steam cleaners, heavy duty vacuums, carpet vacuums and floor polishers fall under this category. This is usually needed if you have a commercial cleaning company or include carpet cleaning as part of your office cleaning services.

If you own a commercial or carpet cleaning company you might want to begin by renting or leasing equipment. It is much less of an investment than purchasing your own. You can easily lease big equipment for less than $10. Once your business gets off the ground, then you might want to consider purchasing your own equipment.

Miscellaneous equipment is the equipment that doesn’t necessarily clean but are needed to clean properly. A good sturdy ladder can be a great help and a great investment. If you have a lot of capital, why not buy a van that can double as storage and a way to get around? This is also a great source of advertising if you paint the side with your company name. Miscellaneous equipment also includes the things you need to bring on the job with you, like the receipt or voucher. A good clipboard would also be a great investment. You can use it to note down jobs or any client specifications for your employees and for yourself. It will certainly come in useful.

This article covers the basic equipment that you will need for your very own cleaning business. Most of these you don’t even have to buy because they’re just lying around your own home!

See: Start a cleaning service

Are you a bit over budget with your cleaning service? Worried about spending too much on supplies for your cleaning business? If you’re trying to stick to a budget and are dismayed by the price of cleaning equipment and solvents out on the market, there are easy ways to save money on supplies for your cleaning business.

Supplies are only half the battle. Even if you have the most expensive vacuum available on the market, it does not guarantee that you will do a standout job. Although cleaning solvents and solutions may make the job easier, they do not guarantee the even clean that some customers may be looking for. You guarantee that.

The first and easiest way to save money on supplies for your cleaning business is to use the stuff you find in your home. You can use your very own brooms, cleaning supplies, solutions and waxes. After all, you’ve already spent for them and you can easily bring them along with you for cleaning gigs. It’s not that hard and a customer will normally tell you if they want certain polish used and may be able to provide it for you. They usually will be happy to.

Remember that most cleaning supplies are not expensive at all, especially in large amounts. You can buy them in bulk at your local Costco or Wal-Mart for a very good price. A one time investment in large items that you will use is not a waste of money. Keep in mind though that it’s better sometimes to buy smaller amounts, that way you can determine what you use the most and stock up on that instead of letting a big barrel of Drain-O go to waste.

If you don’t want to spend that much, why don’t you consider using homemade materials? Some of the best cleaning solutions come from things that you can easily find around your home. Use a vinegar and water mix to clean windows or a simple detergent and water solution for carpets. These can work as well as other cleaning materials, sometimes even better than expensive solutions.

If you’re concerned about the environment or exposing children to toxic chemicals, natural materials can be used easily to clean. You can recycle old newspapers or clothing as rags (they work as well as expensive ones) and use different natural materials around your home.

One of the many concerns about starting a business is purchasing heavy duty equipment. YOU DON’T HAVE TO PURCHASE. Renting or leasing is a great way to save some money and a way to become familiar with the best products out there. Rent or lease now, purchase when you’ve got the cash.

You don’t have to break the bank to supply your cleaning service. In fact the most important piece of equipment that you need is your own two hands. The rest is just gravy.

See: How to start a cleaning service