Best Practices for Cloths & Equipment in Cleaning Businesses
When it comes to running a professional cleaning business, few things are as overlooked — but as critical — as how you manage your cloths and equipment. Recently, a member asked a fantastic question in our community:
“Do your cleaners wash their own cloths at home, or do you provide a laundering service? Also, do you provide all staff with equipment, even if they don’t work full-time hours, or do you hold everything at a central point for them to collect at the beginning of their shift?”
This is a brilliant conversation starter—and one that every cleaning business owner will face as they grow. So let’s break it down and explore your options.
1. Cleaners Washing Their Own Cloths: Ownership vs. Consistency
👍🏻 Pros:
Having cleaners launder their own cloths encourages maximum ownership and responsibility. When your team is responsible for the day-to-day upkeep of their kits, they develop a stronger understanding of what’s involved in maintaining professional standards. Cleaners who manage their own cloths are often more mindful about how they treat their tools—and more invested in the outcome.
👎🏻 Cons:
The biggest drawback is inconsistency. Unless you’ve provided clear protocols for sanitisation, washing temperatures, and cross-contamination prevention, standards can slip. Some cleaners might cut corners without realising the implications for hygiene and client safety.
💡 Pro Tip: Provide a short laminated laundry guide or checklist that explains exactly how to wash and sanitise cloths, and what products to use. This helps maintain standards even when the laundering is decentralised.
2. Centralised Laundering or Pickup Points: Ideal for Some Models
If your business operates in a tight geographic zone or you dispatch cleaners from a central hub (e.g. via company vans), it may make sense to launder cloths at a warehouse or depot. This allows more control over hygiene, reduces the risk of cross-contamination, and lets you inspect cloth quality more regularly.
However, keep this in mind:
💡 Every minute a cleaner spends at HQ is paid time, so track how long those pickups and drop-offs really take.
💡 Managing in-house laundering can become a logistical burden and cost centre, especially if you’re the one doing it.
✅ Solution: Consider outsourcing laundry to a professional service if you want consistency but don’t want it eating into your own time.
3. The Real Hidden Cost: Your Time
Whether you choose a DIY approach or a centralised system, remember that your time as a business owner is valuable. Managing laundry isn’t likely your highest ROI task—so if you’re still doing it yourself, it may be time to delegate or systemise.
4. Recommended Cloth Inventory Strategy
Here’s a solid starting point for building a self-sufficient, efficient cloth system:
150 cloths per cleaner per week:
🔵 50 x Blue (general)
🟢 50 x Green (kitchen)
🔴 50 x Red (bathroom)
You can get your cloths HERE
This gives each cleaner enough to work with while rotating dirty cloths through their wet bags. Encourage bulk washing once or twice a week, using commercial-strength detergents or disinfectants if needed.
Pair this with our wet bags (Get them HERE) to simplify the process and maintain hygiene standards without micromanaging.
Final Thoughts: Match the System to the Model
There’s no one-size-fits-all. Your laundering and equipment setup should reflect:
🤔 The geographic spread of your team
🤔 Whether cleaners travel solo or in company vehicles
🤔 How much control you want over hygiene and inventory
🤔 Your budget for time, labour, and equipment
Ultimately, giving your cleaners the tools, knowledge, and accountability they need fosters not just hygiene—but pride and professionalism.
