Choosing The Right Cleaning Cart Or Caddy

Beyond safe handling and storage requirements, facility cleaning managers need to consider cleaning procedures and training processes before purchasing cleaning carts for the department. In many companies, training will include step-by-step instructions on how to maintain areas of responsibility, as well as the products required to do so.

Cart and caddy design and functionality will play a large role in the success of these cleaning procedures. It is important that managers consider them before purchasing.

For some facilities, the available storage space will make a difference in choosing and organizing carts. If there is only a small space available to store carts, every bit of space on the cart needs to be maximized.

The type of facility will also dictate the type of cart that may be needed. For instance, carts for lodging and hospitality generally need to be a great deal larger than standard janitor carts. They often have a variety of shelves and cubbies to hold the different amenities offered in each guest room.

“For that type of environment, you need room for all the linens and the amenities that have to be restocked,” says Davis.

Healthcare facilities — whether they are short- or long-term care operations — require carts that have lockable compartments. There isn’t always space to pull carts into the patient rooms, but residents, patients and visitors cannot have access to any dangerous items left out in the open.

The type of medical facility can also determine the materials the cart is made of. For example, many carts used in acute care settings are built of stainless steel so the carts themselves can be easily disinfected. On the carts, double-sided bucket mopping systems are often also required in hospitals to allow one bucket for the germicide or other cleaning solutions, and another bucket for rinsing the floors.

An Eye On The Future

Among other things, carts are designed to carry everything staff needs to tackle floor cleaning. That’s why it is important to know what cleaning is being planned for the organization before purchasing or creating policies and procedures regarding carts and caddies.

Is the current floor cleaning system working? If not, it might be time to consider moving to another system — such as microfiber. If that is in the cards, it makes no sense to spend money on more traditional carts when microfiber requires an entirely different set up.

Microfiber systems are a current favorite among cleaning departments, but it’s inefficient to try to repurpose a standard cart for a microfiber system. Rather than traditional mopping buckets, staff will need a charging bucket and, depending on the area they are maintaining, multiple charging buckets on one cart may not be a bad idea. In addition, carts generally need a net or vinyl bag to hold the used microfiber pads.

Microfiber has proven to be more efficient on the logistics side, as well as being an efficient way to clean.

“If you look at the carts of the past, they were lugging around a full-sized mop bucket and wringer. Microfiber is absolutely more efficient to move around,” says Keith Schneringer, director of channel marketing and sustainability at San Diago-based Waxie Sanitary Supply. “And that’s even before you start looking at how much more effective microfiber is at cleaning.”