Proper Use of Cleaning Carts

Many times, a standard, off-the-shelf cleaning cart won’t meet every need of a department. As a result, manufacturers have created modular cart designs that allow custodial executives to customize carts to their specific needs.

Modular units allow custodial operations to move components around within the cart’s frame; a nice feature because staff can place commonly used items at a good working height.

Carts may also come with colored lids as an option to aid in color-coded cleaning. This helps workers find the right chemicals, tools and cloths for the task at hand.

Docking systems also come in handy, allowing workers to carry a mop and bucket or vacuum on the cart, but remove it later if they’re just using the cart to deliver supplies.

“You may need a cart that carries a cleaning spray and moves trash, which would require a different setup than a cart that carries paper supplies for restocking, or one that needs a separate compartment for cleaning supplies, paper supplies, amenities, as well as a vacuum and a mop attached,” Schneringer says.

Use It Right

No matter what cart a custodial operation ultimately selects, it’s crucial to get back to basics when stocking it. A cart that’s set up the same way every time helps workers clean more efficiently.
 
Some cleaning executives develop a checklist of what workers should place on the cart before setting out to clean. These managers also train staff to always place these items in the same area on the cart.

“There is huge value in stocking the cart the same way every time,” says Schneringer. “It means workers consistently know where to find the tools they need, which increases efficiency.”

Traudt agrees, stating that you cannot underestimate the value of training workers on how to properly stock carts.

“Everything they need must be in an easy and accessible place,” he says. “It’s commonsense, but managers don’t always think about the fact that if they send staff out to clean and they don’t have glass cleaner or bowl cleaner with them, or it’s not properly labeled or in the same spot, it decreases efficiency.”

When the majority of a budget goes toward labor, it makes economic sense to select tools that can trim that spending. That includes, first, choosing the right cart for the job, and then training workers to use it the right way. 

RONNIE GARRETT is a freelance writer based in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.