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How Cleaning Pros Set Their Supplies Up For The Day

How Cleaning Pros Set Their Supplies Up For The Day

A successful day for a professional cleaner starts long before they arrive at their first job. Preparation is key, and that means having the right mindset and the right tools.

From carefully selecting the cleaning supplies to organizing their cleaning caddy, pros know that setting up efficiently can make all the difference in how smoothly the day goes.

Whether they're heading into a series of residential homes or tackling a lineup of commercial offices, the cleaning caddy becomes the heart of the operation. So let’s dive in and learn how the pros set up their cleaning supplies for the day.

Contents

Number of Properties Pros Can Clean in a Day

The number of properties a cleaning professional can clean in a day depends on several factors, including:

      • The size of the properties
      • The level of cleaning required
      • Travel times between properties
      • The type of service being provided (e.g., deep cleaning versus regular maintenance)

Here’s a general breakdown:

Standard Maintenance Cleaning (2-3 hours per home): A cleaner can typically clean 3-4 homes in a full day. This assumes each home is an average size (3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom) and doesn’t require deep cleaning.

Deep Cleaning (4-6 hours per home): A cleaner might clean 1-2 homes in a full day, especially if the home is large or requires a more intensive cleaning effort (e.g., post-renovation, move-in/move-out cleaning).

Smaller Apartments or Condos (1-2 hours per home): A cleaner could potentially clean 4-5 homes in a day if they are smaller spaces like studio apartments or one-bedroom condos.

Commercial Spaces (1-8 hours per property): Depending on the size of the property, these jobs can range drastically. For smaller offices, an hour or two is usually sufficient. For large busy commercial buildings, cleaners are often hired to work after hours and it can sometimes take them all night.

The cleaning professional’s experience, the use of tools (like microfiber mops and towels), and any additional tasks (e.g., laundry, organizing) also affect how many homes can be cleaned in a day.

Disclaimer: These times are just general averages and not meant to be used as a rule. Some regular customer's homes may only take an hour to maintain, while some deep cleanings can take upwards of eight or more hours.

Must-Have Cleaning Accessories

I asked several professional cleaners about their favorite accessories to store and carry their cleaning supplies. Here are some of the most popular options.

Caddies & Carts

Two of the most important investments a professional cleaner can make is in a high-quality cleaning caddy and a cart. The caddy is where their products live while on a job. It has to be accessible, convenient, and easy to carry.

One of Kathy from Crunchy Cleaning's favorite caddy to use is a standard one with padded straps. This is a great option for cleaning professionals who need mobility to move freely around a property, like up and down stairs. But it can be heavy to cart around a worksite.

The next option is to choose a caddy with built-in wheels and an extension handle, much like a suitcase. This gives you similar mobility as the first option, but allows you to rely on the wheels if your caddy is heavy.

And then there are carts that have removable baskets. This is another great option, as you can keep all your smaller supplies in one container on the top, and put your larger supplies, like your vacuum cleaner and dustpan in the bottom. The frame also folds up flat to easily fit inside a vehicle.

Standard Cleaning Caddy

Cleaning Caddy on Wheels

Folding Cleaning Cart

Tool Belts & Aprons

Another handy investment is to get a tool belt to have your most-used products at hand. Keeping your microfiber cloth, a scraper, a scrubbing brush, and your cleaning solution on your body makes cleaning easier and more efficient.

Shannon Miller, cleaning consultant at Klean Freaks University says that "cleaning with an apron makes you faster." It protects your clothes from soils and spills while also having pockets to hold all of your tools.

Compact Tool Belt

Half Cleaning Apron

Full Cleaning Apron

Spray & Squirt Bottles

Another important accessory cleaning professionals cannot do without are high-quality spray bottles. Ask any professional and they’ll tell you it’s hard to find a spray bottle that lasts.

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"One of the most durable spray bottles I use everyday is a Genie Sheets spray bottle. It's outlasted my Zep sprayers, and is still working like new."  

All Purpose Cleaner

Bathroom Cleaner

Glass & Mirror Cleaner

Another accessory not all cleaners use, but comes highly recommended for mopping floors that aren’t too heavily soiled or for flooring that can’t be soaked (like LVP) is a squirt bottle. You can find them anywhere from kitchen stores to Amazon.

Kathy from Crunchy Cleaning uses a squirt bottle with plant-based cleaner and pre-dampened microfiber mop pads to deep clean her customers' floors.

A favorite bottle amongst cleaners is from Method. Their Squirt and Mop bottle is great because it’s design is flat and fits into a toolbelt or apron easily. You can use Method's cleaning solution up, and then refill it with your preferred floor cleaner.

Refillable Squirt Bottles

Method Squirt & Mop

Pro Microfiber Mop Kit

Soiled Accessory Storage

A common question I come across often is, what’s the best way to store used and dirty cloths while you’re working? It’s critical to have a system in place to prevent cross contamination.

There are several methods professionals use to keep dirty towels separate from everything else. They use either:

  • A separate compartment in their caddy. Although it’s convenient, it isn’t the most effective way to keep germs and bacteria contained.
  • A container or bucket. This keeps the soiled tools separate, but it’s bulky to carry around with you.
  • A plastic garbage bag. This is a convenient and lightweight way to keep dirty towels and such separate. But the plastic doesn’t allow for airflow, which can quickly escalate bacteria growth.
  • A barrier laundry bag. This is the best option as it’s lightweight; it has straps, so you can either wear it or hook it onto your caddy or cart; and it has a vented bottom for airflow to prevent bacteria growth until you’re ready to launder everything.

Also remember to wash your microfiber properly to extend its life, which includes using mild detergent or specific microfiber detergent, and avoiding high heat, fabric softeners, and dryer sheets.

Barrier Laundry Bag

Microfiber Detergent

Mild Detergent

What Supplies Do Pros Typically Take to Jobs

Here's a typical checklist of what professional cleaners pack to clean a property, organized by category:

General Cleaning Supplies

    1. All-Purpose Cleaner – For surfaces like countertops, walls, and appliances.
    2. Disinfectant – For high-touch areas like doorknobs, light switches, and bathrooms.
    3. Glass Cleaner – For windows, mirrors, and glass surfaces.
    4. Floor Cleaner – Specialized cleaner for hardwood, tile, or other floor types.
    5. Microfiber Towels – Highly absorbent and non-scratching, used for cleaning various surfaces.
    6. Microfiber Dusters – For dusting shelves, electronics, and décor.
    7. Scrub Brushes – For scrubbing grout, tough spots on floors, or bathtubs.
    8. Sponges – For scrubbing dishes, sinks, or hard-to-reach spots.
    9. Magic Erasers – For tough stains on walls, doors, or scuffs on floors.
    10. Mop and Mop Pads – Usually a microfiber flat mop with washable pads for cleaning floors.
    11. Vacuum Cleaner – Often a lightweight, portable vacuum for carpets and floors.
    12. Broom and Dustpan – For sweeping hard floors before mopping.

Bathroom Cleaning Supplies

    1. Toilet Bowl Cleaner – Specifically for disinfecting and cleaning toilets.
    2. Toilet Brush* – To scrub inside toilet bowls
    3. Grout Cleaner – For scrubbing tile grout in showers or on floors.
    4. Shower/Bathtub Cleaner – To remove soap scum and grime.

*Many cleaning professionals will require the customer to supply their own toilet brushes for hygiene purposes.

Kitchen Cleaning Supplies

    1. Degreaser – For cleaning stovetops, ovens, and other greasy surfaces.
    2. Oven Cleaner – If a deep clean is required inside the oven.
    3. Dish Soap – For cleaning dishes or other kitchen surfaces.
    4. Scraper – For tough spots on kitchen counters, sinks, and stoves.
    5. Stainless Steel Cleaner – For stainless steel appliances.

Specialized Tools

    1. Extendable Duster – For reaching high places like ceiling fans, lights, and tall shelves.
    2. Grout Brush – For scrubbing tile grout.
    3. Detailing Brush – For cleaning small areas like sink fixtures, corners, and crevices.
    4. Handheld Vacuum – For smaller areas like stairs, couches, and tight corners.
    5. Squeegee – For cleaning glass or shower doors.

Miscellaneous

    1. Trash Bags – For emptying household trash cans and collecting debris.
    2. Disposable Wipes – For wiping down high-risk and extra dirty surfaces.
    3. Step Stool – For reaching high shelves or tops of cabinets.

Professional cleaners may adjust this checklist based on the specific property, preferences of the customer, and the type of cleaning being performed.

Preparing Cleaning Equipment for the Day

Cleaning professionals take a strategic and methodical approach to prepare their supplies and cleaning caddy before starting a full day’s work. This process is essential to ensure both efficiency and effectiveness on the job.

Each step in their preparation is carefully planned to prevent any disruptions during the day, allowing them to maintain a seamless workflow and provide the high level of service that clients expect. Whether tackling residential homes, commercial offices, or specialty spaces, thorough preparation ensures they are equipped for any situation, no matter how big or small the task may be.

By organizing their supplies in advance and ensuring they have all the necessary tools on hand, cleaning professionals save valuable time, eliminate unnecessary back-and-forth trips, and reduce the risk of forgetting important items. It also helps them stay flexible and ready to handle unexpected challenges that may arise throughout the day.

Here’s a closer look at the routine that ensures cleaning pros are ready to deliver spotless results from start to finish.

1. Assess the Day’s Schedule

Before preparing the cleaning supplies, professionals will review their schedule for the day. Knowing whether they will be cleaning homes, offices, or more specialized spaces, such as medical facilities, helps them plan the specific tools and products they will need.

They also take into account the size of the spaces, the level of cleaning required (regular maintenance versus deep cleaning), and any special requests from clients.

Pro Tip: Use Google Calendar or Outlook for cloud-based scheduling, or specific software such as Jobber or Zenmaid.

2. Restock, Clean, and Organize Supplies

Cleaning professionals ensure their caddy and vehicle are fully stocked with the essential supplies for the day. It’s also important for them to maintain their tools by cleaning and disinfecting them before and in between jobs.

They’ll typically check off a list of items, ensuring they have enough quantities to avoid running out mid-task:

  • Cleaning Solutions: Refill any cleaning solutions that are kept in bulk, and restock any low or wmpty specialized products like degreasers and stainless steel cleaners.

  • Microfiber Towels: They make sure to have a variety of microfiber cloths (for dusting, glass cleaning, etc.), organized by color to avoid cross-contamination.

  • Mop Pads and Dusters: Several mop pads and dusters for floors and surfaces are prepared and packed.

  • Trash Bags: Extra trash bags are packed for emptying bins and collecting debris.

Presentation is important when customers see cleaning professionals at work. So they'll typically wipe over equipment, such as the vacuum cleaner and dustpan, using a microfiber cloth or disposable wipe with disinfectant solution to keep their supplies looking presentable and to also prevent cross contamination.

Stop Paying to Ship Water

While most professional cleaners will invest in bulk concentrates for their cleaning solutions, they typically come in enormous containers — the main ingredient being water — that are heavy to handle and expensive to ship. We’ve solved this issue with our Genie Sheets.

  • Detergent-style sheets
  • Dissolve in water
  • Lightweight & fits in caddy or apron
  • Professional-strength concentrate
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  • Minimizes waste
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3. Inspect Tools and Equipment

Professional cleaners will inspect their cleaning tools prior to starting their day to ensure everything is in good working order:

  • Vacuum Cleaner: Clean or replace vacuum bags or filters and ensure the cord and attachments are ready.

  • Scrub Brushes and Sponges: Check for wear and tear, replacing any damaged brushes or sponges that won’t perform effectively.

  • Extendable Duster and Step Stool: If needed for high-reach areas, they ensure these tools are available.

Pro Tip: Look for any signs of wear, damage, or malfunction, such as frayed cords, loose parts, or missing components. Test electrical equipment to ensure it's powering up correctly and inspect cleaning tools (like microfiber cloths, mops, and vacuums) for cleanliness and readiness.

4. Organize the Cleaning Caddy

Efficiency is key, so cleaning professionals organize their caddy in a way that makes tools easy to grab and use:

  • Most Accessible: Frequently used items like microfiber cloths, all-purpose cleaner, and disinfectant should be positioned front and center, such as in toolbelt or apron for easy access.

  • Less Used: Specialized tools like grout brushes, sponges, and glass cleaner can be kept in the middle pocket of the caddy or behind the most-used items.

  • Bulky Items: Larger items like scrub brushes, mop heads, or extra towels can go in the back of the caddy or in the bottom of the cart.

The Key to Success is How Well You Prepare

A successful day for professional cleaners is built on thorough preparation, from reviewing the day's schedule to organizing tools and supplies. By carefully planning and setting up their cleaning caddy, restocking necessary items, and inspecting equipment, cleaners ensure they are ready to tackle any job efficiently and effectively.

This level of preparation not only saves time and minimizes disruptions but also enables cleaners to provide high-quality service, meet client expectations, and stay flexible for any challenges that arise throughout the day. The key to a seamless and productive day in the cleaning industry lies in strategic organization and meticulous preparation.

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Written by

Em Rey

Content Contributor at

Microfiber Wholesale

Em is an experienced content writer with a proven track record of creating engaging and informative content for publications and brands over the past seven years.

Her passion for eco-friendly cleaning aligns with the growing demand for sustainable solutions, and she’s a strong advocate for microfiber products due to their efficiency and environmental benefits.

Em’s in-depth knowledge of the cleaning industry and commitment to promoting green initiatives make her an ideal partner for crafting content that resonates with professional cleaners.

When she’s not writing, she enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, and being with her family.

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