January brings everyone back to the office at once, and washrooms that were quiet for weeks suddenly run out of toilet paper and soap by Wednesday. A simple stock system means you never have to send someone to the shops in a panic.
Know your usage
Start by working out what you actually use in a normal month. A rough guide is to count:
- Toilet rolls per washroom per week
- Hand towels (or folded towel packs) per week
- Litres of hand soap per month
- Refuse bags and bin liners per week
Check stock on the same day each week for a month and you'll have a reliable number to order against.
Set minimum levels
For each item, set a reorder point, the stock level that triggers an order. Allow for delivery time plus a safety buffer. For example, if you use one bale of 48 toilet rolls a week and delivery takes two days, reorder when you're down to about half a bale.
Buy in sensible bulk
- Paper products like 2-ply toilet paper in 48-roll bales are far cheaper per roll than retail packs.
- Hand soap in 5L refills dispensers for a fraction of the cost of small bottles.
- Folded hand towels such as Super Fold reduce waste compared to rolls that run freely.
Store it properly
Keep paper dry and off the floor, away from chemicals, and rotate stock so the oldest is used first. Keep a small top-up supply in or near each washroom so cleaners don't have to walk to the storeroom every time.
Make one person responsible
A shared responsibility is often no responsibility. Give one person ownership of the weekly stock check and ordering, with a backup for when they're on leave.
Stock up
2 Ply Toilet Paper (48 rolls), Super Fold Hand Towels and Liquid Hand Soap Foam Wash are available from maxproducts.co.za. Ask us about regular delivery for your business.
Products mentioned in this guide
Available now from our sister company Max Products at maxproducts.co.za, in trade sizes and delivered in Cape Town.
2 Ply Toilet Paper (48 Rolls)Shop now →
Super Fold Hand TowelShop now →
Liquid Hand Soap Foam WashShop now →
