Don’t let prices prevent you from using commercial green cleaning products. Learn how to get the best bargain for your buck.
If you’re not already using commercial green cleaning products, you may want to think about starting soon. A Nielson study released in 2015 showed that 72% of the Millennial population—everyone’s up-and-coming client-base—are willing to pay more for environmentally-sound products, up from 55% the year before. The same study suggests that even Baby Boomers are starting to favor green products, with 51% willing to pay more. In short, green is the new clean.
It’s understandable, too. The more we’ve learned about the potential dangers of traditional chemicals, the more people have put health over cost. Commercial green cleaning products have been known to result in fewer employee illnesses, less pollution, and more sustainable cleaning practices, all of which are good for your cleaning business, your clients, and the environment.
What’s stopped cleaning businesses from going all green? Most people will probably tell you the price. When commercial green cleaning products first came out, they were significantly more expensive than traditional cleaning products. Besides that, people have often questioned whether or not these more pricey products are even as eco-friendly as the labels would have you believe.
Fortunately, it’s now possible to find commercial green cleaning products you can trust at a cost you can afford.
4 Ways to make commercial green cleaning products work for you
1. Guaranteed green
For the best bargains on green cleaning products, you first want to make sure the products you purchase really are green! Just because a product claims to be “green” or “eco-friendly” or “safe for the environment” doesn’t mean it is. But how can you tell the difference?
As a professional in the industry, one way might be to compare ingredient lists. You may have a thorough understanding of what types of ingredients qualify as eco-friendly and which ones don’t.
The safest way, however, is to use commercial green cleaning products that carry third party certification. Organizations like Green Seal and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regularly evaluate eco-friendly products and provide a stamp of approval if they meet a minimum of conditions. You can be confident purchasing products with these seals of approval that you’re getting what you’re paying for.
2. Shop around, buy in bulk
The best bargains are usually the result of careful research. Once you’ve found some commercial green cleaning products that suit your needs, compare them with other similar products and see how the prices balance out. Some companies price high because of their internal operating costs, like branding or packaging. Some companies price low just to get a leg up on the competition. The key is to make sure that you’re confident in the product you’re buying, then go for the one that makes the most financial sense.
It’s also helpful to buy in bulk. You’ll spend less if you buy at wholesale prices. You may not want to do this until you’re pleased with a particular product since you’ll be stuck with a whole lot of whatever you buy. And buying in bulk doesn’t save you anything if you have to buy another product!
3. Use software to track inventory
This tip has less to do with the buying process and more to do with how you utilize your green cleaning products. Using janitorial management software to track inventory helps you keep up-to-date in real time on which supplies you’ve used and how many you have left. You can easily tell if you’re going through a product too quickly or if you aren’t using as much of something as you’d originally planned. This helps you control your costs, which gives you more wiggle room for purchasing new or different products.
4. Avoid overspending
It’s important to keep in mind that most commercial green cleaning products have come down drastically in price. They are typically still more expensive than traditional products, but they shouldn’t seem outrageously more expensive. If they do, you might want to do a little more digging into that particular brand, especially if it’s priced high next to competitors.
In short, price doesn’t equal performance. Paying more for something doesn’t mean you’re getting the best product, and in some cases, you could be paying more for an inferior product. Most of your green supplies should be only moderately more expensive than your traditional supplies, which means making the transition to green is easier now than it’s ever been.