It's Wednesday afternoon, the hand soap has run out, and someone pops down to the corner shop for a small bottle at three times the price. Sound familiar? Running out of cleaning supplies costs more than the emergency purchase: dirty washrooms, unhappy staff and visitors who notice. A simple ordering routine fixes it.
1. Know what you actually use
Before you order anything, take stock. Walk through your premises and write down every cleaning product you use, where it's used and roughly how much goes in a month.
| Product | Where it's used | Monthly use |
|---|---|---|
| Hand soap | Washrooms, kitchen | e.g. 10 L |
| Floor cleaner | Reception, passages | e.g. 5 L |
| Dishwashing liquid | Staff kitchen | e.g. 5 L |
| Sanitiser | Desks, door handles | e.g. 5 L |
After one month you'll have real numbers instead of guesses, and you'll often find two products doing the same job.
2. Buy concentrates in 5 L and 25 L
Small retail bottles are mostly packaging and transport. Professional products in 5 L and 25 L containers cost far less per litre, and a concentrate goes further again: one litre used at 1:20 makes about 20 litres of ready-to-use solution. Always follow the dilution on the label, because stronger isn't cleaner. It just wastes product and can leave residue.
3. Set a reorder point
Decide on a simple rule for each product, for example: "When we open the last 5 L, we reorder." Write it on the cupboard door. Nobody has to remember, and you never run dry.
4. Order on a schedule, not in a panic
One planned order a month is cheaper and easier than five small ones. Combine everything into a single order so you reach the free-delivery threshold, and pick a fixed day, such as the first Monday of the month, so it becomes routine.
5. Decant and label safely
Decant from bulk into clearly labelled trigger sprayers and pump bottles, so the right product goes on the right surface every time (see our guide to trigger sprayers and pumps). Store chemicals off the floor, away from food, and never mix products, especially bleach and ammonia-based cleaners.
Ordering from Max Products online
Our online shop at maxproducts.co.za has our range in 5 L and 25 L sizes, made in Cape Town at factory-direct prices:
- Free delivery on orders over R500 within 20 km of our factory, with further areas priced at checkout. Or collect from us in Montague Gardens.
- Pay your way: Visa, Mastercard, Instant EFT, PayFast or bank EFT. Prices include VAT.
- Compare products side by side, and sign in to see your past orders when it's time to reorder.
Behind the scenes: our online shop runs on SaleCart, online store software made in South Africa. If you run a business and you've thought about selling online yourself, it's worth a look: you buy it once instead of paying a monthly fee.
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.
Liquid Hand Soap Foam WashShop now →
Laminated Floor CleanerShop now →
Dishwashing Liquid EconoShop now →
