Businesses across all industries must make the important choice of which commercial cleaning tools to buy. The tools you choose can affect how clean and safe the workplace is, how productive employees are, and how much it costs in the long run. Unfortunately, many businesses make costly mistakes that lead to inefficient operations and cause inconsistent results. Here are five mistakes to avoid when choosing commercial cleaning equipment for your business:
1. Choosing Equipment Based on Price Alone
Some businesses make the mistake of choosing commercial cleaning equipment based only on how much it costs upfront. It’s important to think about your budget, but the cheapest options usually end up costing more later on because they often require more frequent repairs and replacements. Low-quality equipment may break down more frequently or become unable to handle daily cleaning tasks over time. This can lead to increased maintenance costs and downtime. When choosing commercial cleaning equipment, regard it as a long-term investment, and prioritize quality.
2. Neglecting the Needs of the Facility
Not all businesses have the same cleaning needs. For example, healthcare facilities require different cleaning regimens than schools, office buildings or warehouses. Neglecting to consider factors like square footage, flooring types, traffic volume and sanitation needs when choosing equipment often results in inefficient operations. Choosing a floor scrubber that’s too small for a large facility, for instance, can make cleaning take more time. Before buying equipment, it’s a good idea to do a facility assessment to make sure it will work well for the space.
3. Not Considering Training
Even the best commercial cleaning tools won’t work effectively if your staff doesn’t know how to use them. If the controls are too complicated or the instructions aren’t clear, co-workers might not use the equipment correctly, which can lower productivity and raise the risk of injury. Training is an important factor to consider, as easy-to-use equipment with clear instructions helps employees stay safe, feel confident and remain productive.
4. Ignoring Maintenance
Ignoring ongoing maintenance needs is another expensive mistake. Businesses need to keep commercial cleaning equipment in good shape, which means practicing routine maintenance and making any repairs when needed. When choosing equipment, it’s important to keep these factors in mind, as they will impact costs and operational efficiency down the line. Businesses should ask about maintenance requirements and support before making a purchase to avoid issues that could disrupt operations.
5. Not Taking Your Overall Cleaning Program into Account
Some businesses buy commercial cleaning equipment without considering how it will fit into their overall cleaning program. When you buy equipment reactively instead of strategically, you could end up with tools that don’t work well together, unused machines and inefficient workflows. When making your choice, keep your cleaning program in mind, considering how the equipment will support cleaning schedules and overall sanitation goals.
How the Right Solutions Partner Can Help
Being aware of the common mistakes businesses make when choosing commercial cleaning products is the first step to avoiding them. Working with an experienced solutions partner is the second step. When it comes to commercial cleaning, Veritiv Pollock helps businesses figure out what tools they need and puts cleaning systems in place that streamline operations. Learn more about our commercial cleaning solutions here or contact us online to partner with us.
