Janitorial cleaning supplies

The range of janitorial cleaning supplies is wide and extremely varied in this day and age. Nowadays, janitors are tasked with cleaning a very wide range of areas, and in some of these areas special equipment may be required. Therefore these supplies run the gamut from air filters to mops and buckets and equipment used to clean windows - and, of course, everything between those extremes. 

Many might wonder why such a list is so extensive. Of course, at least some of what is included in this extensive list of supplies has to do with the machinery or equipment that janitors are tasked to operate. A modern-day janitor has many sorts of cleaning equipment at his or her disposal, especially those that are tasked with cleaning and maintenance of large buildings such as office buildings, schools, and the like. In addition, those janitors who work in or for hospitals, restaurants, and other such areas where extreme cleanliness is given high importance may also be tasked to use more specialized or powerful cleaners and equipment as part of their cleaning jobs. 

Let’s take a bit of a closer look at these janitorial cleaning supplies and see what comprises this list. The various cleaning fluids - detergents, bleaches, and other chemicals and solutions, including specialized ones for windows, floors, glass, or other such applications - occupy pride of place. Some of these are mild enough for application using hand rags or cloths; others can only be used with safety equipment such as gloves or are intended to be poured into cleaning machines like floor cleaners, for example. Then there are the various cleaning cloths, brushes, mops, microfiber cloths, squeegees, and so on and so forth. 

Containers for liquids such as buckets and pails are also on the list, of course, as it would be impossible for janitors to clean without these. Waste cans and trash bins are also on many of these lists, as it is not inconceivable that new ones will be needed during the course of cleaning - old ones might need replacement, and certain areas might be discovered to be without them. Soap dispensers and extra plastic bottles of various sizes are also there for the same reason. 

Then there are replenishment supplies such as toilet and tissue paper, HVAC and air filters, waste can linings, trash bags in many sizes, soap - detergent, solid and liquid - and hand sanitizers for those offices that make use of such supplies. And of course there are important disinfectants and deodorizers such as Lysol (especially in high-risk environments such as hospitals and areas where cleanliness is particularly important such as restaurants), and personal-care and safety equipment such as rubber gloves, face masks, hair nets and so on, as the health and safety of janitorial staff also needs particular care and attention and should never be neglected.

Leather Cleaning Products

When it comes to leather goods, the rule of thumb is to make use of leather cleaning products in order to keep them in tip-top shape. This is because it really is true that these goods can be so delicate that the use of a cleaner that is not gentle can ruin them beyond repair - or, at the very least, leave a stain or mark that can be almost impossible to get rid of. However, in a pinch, other very gentle cleansers can be utilized.

You’ll have to take note that before you start to clean leather, you need to do three things. The first is to determine what type of leather the object is made of. There are two basic types and these are finished and unfinished. Finished leather has been treated to make it somewhat more durable, so that it can resist damage and staining by water, soap, or dry rubbing, for example. Examples of items made from this sort of material are some garments, furniture, and bags. Conversely, unfinished leather has not been treated in this manner. Some examples of items made of this material are gloves and saddles.

The next thing you would need to do before you use leather cleaning products is to find out what kind of stain needs to be removed. Now this is extremely important, as using the wrong sorts of cleaners for a particular stain might only serve to set the stain - to ‘lock’ it in and make it even harder or even impossible to remove. If you are unsure in any way, it may be best to bring the item to a specialist and allow them to take over, just to ensure that your item does not get damaged.

Lastly, it’s always save to do a spot test. Select an area that is not very visible or not visible at all, and perform the procedure there first to make sure that the item will not be damaged or discolored by your treatment.

For general cleaning, or cleaning of items that are not badly stained, you can try these steps.

For cleaning finished leather, you can do the following. Select a clean cloth and a very mild soap and moisturizer combination (such as Dove or Ivory for example). Moisten the cloth and squirt a little of the cleaner on it. Work up a light lather by rubbing the cloth together. After you have done that, you can rub the cloth on the stained area until the stain is removed. Remove the lather with another cloth, or another part of the cloth that isn’t saturated with it. Don’t rinse with water.

To clean unfinished leather, you can use a specialty cleaning soap such as saddle soap. Follow the same procedure as for finished leather, although you can elect to use a sponge as it is gentler. Afterwards, hang the item up somewhere where it can air dry. Lastly, you may want to use a leather preservative to give your item more stain and damage resistance.

Eco-friendly house cleaning products

The majority of the world’s leading manufacturers of household cleaning supplies today, offer customers so called eco-friendly products. The use of eco-friendly detergents and cleaning supplies significantly reduce the risk of allergic reactions for people with skin diseases and various allergies. Make sure that when you are purchasing an eco-friendly product that it has been regulated. Be skeptical of products that give vague claims such as “non-toxic”, “environmentally-friendly” or “ecologically-safe”. A seal from a governing body MUST back these terms or else they don’t mean anything. Unfortunately, companies are permitted to label their products in this manner leaving it up to the consumer to be knowledgeable about what they are buying.

The main thing to look for is not only statements such as “biodegradable” and “non-toxic” but also if the product has been certified by a third party such as the EcoLogoM Program or the Design for the Environment Program (DfE) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which has specific requirements that need to be met.

Certified eco-friendly or organic products:

· are produced from substances made up of plant and mineral origins;

· do not contain mineral oil and synthetic fragrances;

· do not contain ingredients that are harmful to the skin;

· are biodegradable and thus do not cause damage to the environment and water sources;

· are very concentrated and economical;

· do not contain chemicals (chlorine, dioxin, etc.);

· do not contain dyes;

· do not contain petrochemical components;

· are not tested on animals;

· are granted numerous awards.

Certified eco-friendly detergents almost ultimately decompose in the environment. There are many commercial formulas claiming to be eco-friendly however, their ingredients contain chlorine, nonylphenol ethoxylate, phosphates and other toxic ingredients, which are not very eco-friendly. Make sure to read the label when buying eco-friendly, environmental or organic to ensure that the product is made from natural ingredients only.

There are certain American companies whose products meet the requirements of U.S. law. However, Americans demand that only surface-active ingredients be subjected to biodegradation. As a rule, these ingredients make up 2-20% of some detergents. No other components in the U.S. are required to biodegrade. In Europe, this requirement extends over the entire product, concerning all its ingredients.

Another caution is that it is better not to trust companies whose salespeople use Greenpeace as one of the key elements of promoting the products. Some company’s distributors inform potential customers that they have a certificate of Greenpeace, confirming environmental safety of their products. It is absurd by definition, as Greenpeace, has never issued any certificates to anyone.

Be sure to carefully read the label when purchasing eco-friendly products. This will save you and your family from spending extra money on a product you may think is safe when in fact it could in turn harm your family and the environment. Remember that the main thing to look for is that a third governing party has certified the product because they have specific requirements that need to be met.

Cleaning with Vinegar

Who wants their house full of stains and dirt? Of course no one in their right mind would want a house that is unsanitary. Cleaning is just a natural process we do for our house. If we don’t clean our house then this will also present health problems for us. But another factor to consider when in the process of cleaning is the cleaning products that we are going to use. And because more and more people are becoming aware of the threat in using chemically-based antibacterial cleaners, searching for a much better alternative is on the rise.

One natural way to do house cleaning is cleaning with vinegar. Vinegar is safe for people to use and when combined with even a pinch of baking soda, vinegar becomes an effective natural tool in cleaning the house. Because vinegar is purely acid, the effect of vinegar on household items is just like a miracle. Cleaning with vinegar will allow you to save more cash since you don’t have to buy commercial cleaning products. Just learn the power of vinegar, how to properly utilize it and you can save more and clean more.

Here are some ways to clean your house with vinegar:

If you are going to clean your pots and pans, and even your floor, you can make your own homemade cleaner. Mix baking soda, vinegar and liquid detergent together to create a thick and creamy paste texture. This mixture will allow you to clean and scrub difficult areas, and your pots and pans as well.

If you want to create a cleaning solution to clean your tiles, glass and ceramics just mix equal parts vinegar and water. You can use this solution on carpet stains by soaking up the stained area.  Spray a mixture that has ½ vinegar and water on the affected area and leave it for 2 or 4 minutes. Carefully dab the affected are with a towel. Repeat the procedure until you see the desired effect.

Undiluted white vinegar can also be used when getting rid of mold, dust and mildew in the house. As you can see, vinegar has many uses.  The only thing you cannot clean with vinegar is marble. Because the acidity level of vinegar is high, it can tarnish its color and thus vinegar is not safe for marbles use.

In case you are still in doubt about using vinegar to clean, search it’s effectiveness and even ideas on the Internet.  Give it a try, I guarantee you’ll be very happy with its effectiveness.

Essential Cleaning Supplies

It’s very important to use the proper cleaning supplies to get the job done appropriately.  You wouldn’t want to use window cleaner to clean your wood table or furniture cleaner on your window, would you?  Using the proper cleaner will save you time, energy and frustration. 

A steamer is a very good investment because you could use it to clean the entire kitchen, bathroom and even windows and mirrors…and when you’re done, you can use it to steam your clothes!  If however, you are using cleaning products be sure to read the labels and take all necessary precautions.  For example, if a product is labeled “all purpose” that doesn’t mean that you could actually use it everywhere.  Products that contain strong chemical like ammonia may permanently damage laminates or other plastic surfaces.  Sometimes strong cleaners are not necessary to get the job done.  The only thing you might need is mild soap and warm water.

Divide your products up by what you will need daily and weekly and what you will need for a large “spring” cleaning.  Keep the daily and weekly cleaning supplies all together ready to go in one location and in one convenient bucket, pail or other easy to carry container. 

Start from the ceiling and work your way down to the floor.  An essential cleaning supply would be rags to dust cobwebs in the corners, ceiling fan blades, and the tops of shelves and ledges.  There are a lot of products out recently that advertise “a better way to dust”.  The truth is that an old rag will work just as well as these new products.  Plus, they are more cost effective because the rag is probably an old shirt or sock that has lost it’s mate and can therefore be washed and used again rather then thrown out adding to the planet’s waste.  Rags work well with cobwebs on their own but, to dust shelves and some ledges, use a little bit of furniture polish.  So in addition to rags in your cleaning kit, make sure to tow along furniture polish.

Another important cleaning supply is window cleaner, unless of course you’ll be using your steamer.  Even though a product advertises “streak free” you don’t have to pay extra, just use newspaper to clean your windows with the cheaper window cleaner and you won’t have any streaking.  Keep a paper bag with your cleaning supplies to throw away the newspapers when you’re done, then you can just throw the paper bag into the recycle bin.

Other essential cleaning supplies include anti-bacterial spray.  There are a lot of products out there that work well and are specifically made for cleaning different parts of the house.  Most are okay to use on an array of surfaces.  So, include in your cleaning kit, a spray that is specifically designed hard to clean soap scum and mildew for the bathroom and then a spray that can be used on their kitchen or bathroom surfaces.   

The last thing to clean in a room is the floor.  Besides the vacuum and mop, you will need some other supplies.  You will need a bucket of HOT water for the mop as well as a floor cleaner.  You don’t need to keep these products in your cleaning kit because they are much too big to lug around from room to room.  Just keep them handy close to the location they are needed. 

When your cleaning supplies are organized and easily accessible, the job of household cleaning can be fast, easy and efficient on a regular basis.