What Should I Check Before Placing My Next Janitorial Supply Order?
Placing a janitorial supply order seems simple until something gets missed.
Maybe your team runs out of paper towels halfway through the week. Perhaps you discover that you ordered the wrong trash liners. Or maybe your supply closet is packed with products that rarely get used while the items you need most are running low.
A few minutes of planning before placing your next order can help prevent those problems.
Reviewing your inventory, usage, equipment, and upcoming needs can reduce waste, control costs, and help keep your facility running smoothly.
Here are some of the most important things to check before placing your next janitorial supply order.
1. What Supplies Are You Using the Fastest?
Start with your highest-use products.
These often include:
- Toilet paper
- Paper towels
- Trash liners
- Hand soap
- Cleaning chemicals
- Disinfectants
- Floor pads
- Gloves
Look at what your facility has used during the past several weeks. Then compare that usage with what is currently in storage.
Your busiest products should receive the most attention because running out of them can quickly create problems.
Usage may also change throughout the year. Schools, gyms, healthcare facilities, offices, and other businesses can all experience seasonal increases in traffic.
Understanding your normal usage helps you order based on actual need instead of guesswork.
2. Are You Getting Low on Critical Items?
Not every janitorial product has the same level of importance.
Some supplies can wait a few days. Others cannot.
Running out of hand soap, restroom paper products, disinfectant, or essential cleaning chemicals can create immediate problems for employees and customers.
Identify the products your facility cannot operate without.
One good approach is to establish minimum inventory levels. For example, if your facility normally uses four cases of toilet paper per week, you might decide that two cases remaining in storage should automatically trigger a reorder.
Having a simple reorder point makes purchasing much easier.
3. Do You Have Too Much of Something Else?
Before ordering more, look at what is already sitting on your shelves.
Many facilities accumulate products over time.
You may discover several partially used chemicals that perform similar jobs. You might also find old floor pads, incorrect trash liners, outdated dispensers, or supplies that were purchased for equipment you no longer use.
Extra inventory takes up valuable space and ties up money.
Instead of automatically reordering everything from your previous order, take a quick look at your actual inventory.
You may be able to reduce your order while still having everything you need.
4. Are Your Supplies Compatible With Your Equipment and Dispensers?
Compatibility is one of the easiest things to overlook.
Paper products must match the dispensers installed in your facility. Soap refills must fit the correct dispenser system. Floor pads, brushes, batteries, squeegees, and replacement parts must match the equipment being used.
Even something as simple as a trash liner can cause problems if the size or strength is wrong for the container.
Before ordering unfamiliar products, verify the model number, size, or dispenser type.
A quick compatibility check can prevent returns, delays, and unnecessary frustration.
5. Are You Looking at Price or Total Cost?
The lowest-priced product is not always the least expensive product to use.
For example, a lower-cost paper towel may require people to use more sheets each time they dry their hands.
A cheaper trash liner may tear more often and require double bagging.
Cleaning chemicals can also become expensive when employees use too much product or mix stronger solutions than necessary.
Instead of focusing only on the case price, consider the total cost of using the product.
Ask yourself:
How long does it last?
How much product gets used each day?
Does it reduce labor?
Does it perform correctly the first time?
Sometimes spending slightly more on the right product can reduce your overall operating costs.
6. Which Products Make Sense to Buy in Bulk?
High-use products can often be good candidates for bulk purchasing.
Paper products, trash liners, hand soap, and commonly used cleaning chemicals may be worth stocking in larger quantities.
Buying larger amounts can reduce the number of emergency orders your facility places. It may also help simplify purchasing.
However, bulk purchasing only makes sense if your facility actually uses the product.
Avoid filling your storage area with slow-moving supplies simply because the case price appears attractive.
Use your purchasing history to identify the products you consistently consume.
7. Are There Upcoming Changes at Your Facility?
Think beyond this week’s needs.
Is your facility expecting an increase in traffic?
Are you preparing for a school year, event, busy season, inspection, renovation, or special cleaning project?
These changes can significantly affect your janitorial supply needs.
For example, a deep floor cleaning project may require additional floor finish, stripper, pads, and equipment.
A seasonal increase in visitors may require more restroom supplies, liners, soap, and disinfectant.
Planning ahead can prevent expensive last-minute purchases.
8. Can Your Supply List Be Simplified?
Many facilities use more products than they actually need.
If several chemicals perform similar functions, there may be an opportunity to simplify your cleaning program.
The same can apply to paper products, liners, soaps, and other supplies.
Reducing the number of products your team has to manage can make training easier, reduce ordering mistakes, and improve inventory control.
A simpler supply program can also make it easier to understand exactly what your facility is spending.
A Better Janitorial Supply Order Starts With a Quick Review
You do not need a complicated inventory system to improve your janitorial purchasing.
Start by reviewing what you use most, what you are running low on, what is sitting unused, and what your facility will need in the coming weeks.
Then make sure the products you order are compatible with your equipment and provide good overall value.
A little preparation can help reduce waste, prevent shortages, and keep your facility better prepared.
ChemSource Direct supplies commercial cleaning chemicals, paper products, restroom supplies, equipment, parts, and other janitorial products for facilities throughout North Carolina.
If you are not sure what to reorder or want help simplifying your supply program, our team can help review your current needs and recommend practical options.
What Should I Check Before Placing My Next Janitorial Supply Order?Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I check my janitorial supply inventory?
Most facilities should review high-use supplies at least once a week. Larger facilities or locations with heavy traffic may need to check critical products more often.
Which janitorial supplies should I always keep in stock?
Essential items usually include toilet paper, paper towels, trash liners, hand soap, disinfectant, general cleaning chemicals, gloves, and any supplies required for daily floor care.
The exact list will depend on your facility.
How much janitorial inventory should I keep on hand?
There is no single amount that works for every business. Your ideal inventory level depends on usage, available storage space, delivery schedules, and how quickly supplies can be replaced.
Many facilities benefit from maintaining enough critical inventory to cover normal usage plus a reasonable safety stock.
Is buying janitorial supplies in bulk always cheaper?
Not necessarily.
Bulk purchasing can save money on products you use regularly. However, buying large quantities of slow-moving products can tie up money and take up storage space.
Focus bulk purchases on products with predictable usage.
How can I reduce janitorial supply costs?
Start by tracking usage, eliminating duplicate products, improving chemical dilution, purchasing the correct product for each application, and reducing emergency orders.
It is also important to consider total usage cost instead of simply choosing the lowest-priced product.
How do I know if a janitorial product will fit my dispenser or equipment?
Check the dispenser model, equipment model number, product dimensions, or manufacturer specifications before ordering.
If you are unsure, provide that information to your janitorial supplier before purchasing.