Cleaning Equipment and Supplies - Make the Right Choice

There are lots of cleaning equipment and supplies available to choose from but with so many choices what should one look for? One thing to remember is that the wisest choice is not always the lowest price.

Many so-called discount cleaning equipment and supplies are not what they seem on the surface. A perfect example is with cleaning chemicals. One may cost only a few dollars, but once you read the dilution ratio and compare with a well-known brand, it will end up costing much more because you have to use more of it whereas with the brand name you will use less. Therefore, it is important from a cost prospective that you consider this when choosing cleaning equipment and supplies.

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How to Clean Stainless Steel in The Kitchen

Cleaning Stainless Steel

In today’s kitchens, stainless steel appliances and even counter tops are very common and are easier to keep clean than many may think. Even with this being the case, the question remains, how to clean stainless steel.

Some will say to use nothing more than soap and water while others may suggest using vinegar. The truth of the matter is both will work to a degree depending on how much grease, grime, fingerprints and water spots are on the surface.

With seven years in the cleaning industry and after having tried several methods and products I have found what I feel is the best answer to, how to clean stainless steel.

Don’t be afraid of using commercial cleaning chemicals on your stainless appliances. As long as the one choose is designed to clean stainless steel, it should not harm the surface. Of course, as always, follow the manufacture’s directions.

The products I suggest using are first, a degreaser, preferably a citrus-based product in a ready-to-use formula. This reduces the chances of mixing a concentrate too strong. Then use an aerosol stainless steel cleaner, which will polish the surface. Using these two products will leave you appliances and stainless surfaces looking like new.

Purchase Stainless Steel Cleaner Here

Hillyard Spray Clean HD

Hillyard Quick & Clean® Spray Clean HD

Perfect choice for tackling the toughest soils. Works immediately to eliminate the toughest dirt, grease, and grime.

Removes a variety of stubborn stains and marks such as fingerprints, rubber marks, lipstick, pencil, crayon, hair and body oils, grease, shoe polish, smoke film and more.

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Choosing The Right Commercial Toilet Paper Dispenser

When it comes to the commercial toilet paper dispenser, your choices are numerous. One obvious factor is that the toilet tissue has to fit in the dispenser you do choose. For many commercial and institutional buildings, the multi-roll dispenser is the better choice.

Why Multi-Roll Dispensers Are The Best Choice

The commercial toilet paper dispenser that holds multiple rolls of toilet tissue is better for a couple of reasons. First, the more rolls, such as an oversized 3-roll dispenser, will save the building services on labor costs. With multiple rolls, they last longer and the need to add paper to the dispensers is less than that of a single roll dispenser.

Next, the multi-roll commercial toilet paper dispenser also saves the owners money. These dispensers are designed so that every sheet of paper must be used from a roll before you can index the next roll. This is also helps the environment by not having partial rolls ending up in land fills.

Before purchasing multi-roll commercial toilet paper dispensers, be sure to check the dimensions to insure it will fit into the space you have available. Insure that there is adequate space for opening and refilling the unit without it being blocked by grab pars or partition doors and walls.

Are Dispensers ADA Compliant?

Another major concern when installing a commercial toilet paper dispenser is to know if it is in fact ADA compliant. Will your dispenser meet all the codes for handicap instillation? If you are unsure, be sure to check with the supplier or manufacturer before making your purchase. Not only is the placement critical but the dispenser itself must have the approval to meet all requirements.

When following these simple tips, your choice for a commercial toilet paper dispenser will the right choice.

Select your commercial toilet paper dispenser.

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Foaming Glass Cleaner

Foaming glass cleaner is by far one of the best choices when it comes to cleaning smaller areas of glass such as mirrors, windows and doors in schools and offices.

The foaming action causes the glass cleaner to cling to the surface giving you time to wipe and clean the glass before it simply runs down leaving streaks as it goes. Foaming glass cleaner by nature is going to give you better cleaning as it traps and removes more dirt, grime and film.

The Pro-Link foaming glass cleaner is superior to many other glass cleaners and one thing that most recognize right off is the fact that it does not streak. Spary it on, wipe it off and the results are clean glass which creates a perfect reflection of your business.

The best way you can find out how good it really is, is simply to try it. Fore more details on the Pro-Link foaming glass cleaner click here.

Biodegradable Toilet Tissue

There seems to be a misconception concerning biodegradable toilet tissue or as some call it, bath tissue. Whether you are referring to 1-ply or 2-ply, all bath tissue is biodegradable.

Some may argue that this is not the case, but unless fillers are used that are not, all toilet tissue is biodegradable.

Biodegradable by definition is: capable of being decomposed by biological agents, especially bacteria. Since there are varying degrees of this and depending on how fast the paper disperses, dictates the level of biodegradability. Biodegradable toilet tissue comes in various softness, composition, and levels of grades of decomposition. There are more definitions, which are technical in nature, but when it comes right down to it, you now know the answer.

The next time someone tells you that you have to have a “special” biodegradable toilet tissue, you can smile and know that the tissue you already have meets the criteria.

Purchase Toilet Tissue Here

Easy Fresh Room Deodorizer

It's all about the smell or in this case, the fragrance. Baxter Sales now has in stock the Easy Fresh Room Deodorizer, the world's only air freshener dispenser that uses the fragranced cover of the dispenser as the air freshener refill itself.

This unique design makes it easy to deodorize your restrooms or any other room you choose. It continuously freshens for 30 days therefore there are no peaks or valleys like those of the metered deodorizers.

Easy Fresh is perfect for schools, churches, daycares as well as your home. Take a look at the detalis of the Easy Fresh.

Hand Sanitizer In High Demand

The H1N1 virus has put a strain on the manufacturers of hand sanitizer putting it in high demand. Many companies are allocating this product making it hard for distributors to fill customer orders.

While hand sanitizer is hard to come by, the best thing one can do is to be sure you practice good hygene and wash your hands often. Using plenty of soap and water is actually the first thing one should do to help prvent the spreding of the H1N1 virus.

For more information on hand sanitizers visit: http://www.baxtersales.com/sanitizer/purellfloorstand.html

Making Eco-Conscious Choices

One of the basic principles of green cleaning is that cleaning is to protect the health of the people that live, work, visit or study in the buildings we maintain, not just to make the buildings shiny.

Green cleaning gives us the opportunity to create a truly clean environment while taking into consideration all of the impact our methods and products might have on human health and the planet, both short and long term.

Since we don't always know what those consequences are, it is a good idea to make conservative, eco-conscious choices.

Are You Ready For The H1N1 Virus

The buzz going around now, if you have not heard, is all about H1N1 virus. We remember this from last year and now is the time you should be doing everything you can to prevent this years infections.

Hand washing is still the best defence and next to that is sanitizer. To help you in fighting the H1N1 we have added the new "Visitor Wellness Center" to our list of weapons. One of the unique features is that it is portable. For special events you can place them at strategic locations to let your visitors know you are doing your part against the spread of H1N1 and other virsus.

For more information on the Visitor Wellness Center, click here.

Green Cleaning is becoming the standard and more and more people are looking for green cleaning products. Though many still have concerns about how well the green products will clean, there are those products which we have relied on for years that are now becoming green seal certified.

Hillyard has introduced that now their popular cleaner "Top Clean" is now green seal certified. This means that a reliable product that does the job is now among the green family.

More specs on Top Clean.

Clean Restrooms - A Two Step Process

Clean Restrooms – A Two Step Process

Clean restrooms reflect positively on your employees, customers, and visitors. To reach this goal you need to use the right chemicals in the right way. Look for restroom cleaning products that:

• Easily remove soil from counters, floors, walls, and fixtures.
• Eliminate bacteria, germs, and viruses.
• Make the restroom appear and smell clean.
• Are safe to both the user and building occupants.
• Have minimal environmental impact

You can maintain clean and sanitary restrooms by following a two-level cleaning schedule - a combination of regular daily cleaning and weekly deep cleaning.
Regular Daily Cleaning

Trash removal, surface cleaning, disinfection, and restocking supplies needs to be done daily for most commercial or office restrooms.
Facilities in airports, restaurants, and other high traffic sites may need more frequent touch-up cleaning and restocking of soap and paper supplies to insure clean restrooms.

Routine cleaning involves the following tasks:

• Removing trash & replacing can liners;
• Refilling dispensers;
• Dusting high surfaces;
• Cleaning toilets & urinals with a non-acid bowl cleaner;
• Cleaning showers with a non-acid soap remover;
• Cleaning mirrors and other class surfaces;
• Cleaning walls, ceiling, partitions, doors, & light switches;
• Disinfecting all surfaces and fixtures; and
• Vacuuming floor and wet mopping with a cleaner/disinfectant.

Some products combine cleaning and disinfecting ingredients into one container. These combined products work well only on surfaces that are already relatively clean. For dirty surfaces, it is important to clean first, and then apply a separate disinfectant. To work well, this disinfectant must remain in place for at least 10 minutes.

Fairly mild products are available for daily restroom cleaning. Such products are reasonably safe to use, and have little environmental impact. Check the supplier’s directions, and mix the cleaning product with the correct amount of water. A diluted product is usually safer to use than a concentrated one.

Deep Cleaning

Deep restroom cleaning needs to be done weekly in most cases. However, a deep cleaning may also be required when you clean a restroom for the first time, or when you encounter particularly dirty situations. High traffic restrooms may need a deep cleaning once a day, even if routine cleaning is done more frequently.

Most deep cleaning can be done with your regular chemicals, again diluted according to the directions on the label. In addition, it may be necessary to spend more time removing soils with brushes and scrub pads. Some deep cleaning tasks may require stronger chemical products to remove stubborn deposits or stains.

Remember clean restrooms reflect positively on your employees, customers, and visitors. To make the job of cleaning your restroom easier take a look at the Cleaning Companion Machine.

EcoSoft Paper Is Green

When someone speaks of green or going green, they are often speaking of chemicals that are non-toxic and environmetal friendly. But did you know that paper too can be "green" and safer for the environment?

Take toilet tissue as an example. Most want a tissue that is soft and that's all they are concerned with when they go to select thier paper. There is, however, paper that can be soft and environmental friendly too.

Bay West Paper has thier line of EcoSoft paper that is 100% recycled and exceeds EPA guidelines for post-consumer waste. The EcoSoft paper has environmentally preferable packaging and is made with de-inking & bleaching processes free of chlorine.

Do your part to help environment and go green when you use EcoSoft paper.

Baxter Sales Summer Seminar

Have you registered for the Baxter Sales Summer Seminar and Training yet? If not, you may want to hurry and reserve your spot.

The date is August 11, 2009 which is just over 4 weeks away.

We have lots of vendors lined up bringing all their new products and we want you to be a part of the fun.

This year's topics are: Earth Friendly Products, Green Equipment, Green Cleaning, Cleaning for Health, Disease Prevention and MRSA.

Get more of the details here: http://www.baxtersales.com/seminar09.html

Download your registration form here: Registration Form

We look forward to seeing you there.

Equipment Service and Repair

When your cleaning equipment needs servicing and repair you can turn to Baxter Sales and we will take care of it for you.

Baxter Sales has maintained a repair and service shop for many years. We feel in order to service our customers, it is necessary to maintain and service the equipment we sell.

We also offer scheduled and preventative maintenance to insure your equipment is always in good condition.

Let Baxter Sales take care of your equipment so you can take care of your business.

Free Pass to the Baxter Sales Seminar

You read it right! A Free Pass to the Baxter Sales Summer Custodial Seminar and Training. This year's theme is "Cleaning for Health and the Environment" and all you have to do inorder to win the Free Pass is post your best suggestion or experience on "Green Cleaning".

The winner will be determined by the Baxter Sales Seminar Staff.

So let's here what you have to say. Start posting!

Baxter Sales

MRSA - Understanding The Bug

MRSA - Athletes need to practice more than just their sport. Practicing simple hand and surface sanitizing can limit antibiotic-resistant infections at the gym. Athletes and coaches should know that you have a better chance than average of contracting a skin infection that resists most antibiotics and can prove fatal under certain circumstances. Simple practices such as wiping down equipment and using disinfecting wipes between workouts can wipe out most super-bugs effectively and it is convenient.

Though MRSA is not new, it is still something that everyone, especially those in contact sports shoud be aware of due to the potential risks. Understanding the symptoms can help one to know if they may have this nasty bug. If you even suspect that you may, be sure to consult with a medical professional.

There is a great video on the MRSA Virus that you need to see. Click here.

Stop The Dirt At The Door

Did you know up to 24 pounds of dirt can be tracked into a building in only 20 days? That's a pile of dirt. So why do you allow it to be tracked all over your facility? Now here's something that will grab your attention if that doesn't. It is estimated that the cost to remove just one pound of dirt can cost up to $600!

So, if so much dirt can get tracked in and the cost so much to remove it, my question is why not stop it at the door? With the propper matting the dirt can stay on the outside, where it belongs, and the cost of cleaning will drop!

Many facilities do have matting but for the most part it is inadequate. There should be enough matting, outdoors and inside, to remove and capture the dirt. How much is enough? The rule of thumb is there should be 15' of wiper matting for optimal performance. (source: Crown Mats) Do you have enough of the correct matting to keep the dirt out of your facility?

Dirt that gets tracked into your facility and spread across your floors is eating away at your cleaning budget. Why not invest in the propre matting and stop the dirt at the door?

Green Cleaning More Than Hype

Recently I found this post about green cleaning and whether it is just hype or is it real. My opinion has always been that this is a real method of not just cleaning better but will in fact help reduce health issues and improve the environment.

I guess people have their own ideas, some are for it and others not so much as you can see in this post. There seems to me that there is simply too much information supporting green cleaning that not.

So is green cleaning just hype? I think not.

Baxter Sales

Baxter Sales Online Catalog

Just about anything you can think of can be ordered online. At Baxter Sales we keep trying to make it as easy as possible for our customers to place their orders with us so we too have online ordering.

Setting up the online order process is easy, and you can customize your lists for the products you use all the time. If you have not already done so, you may want to get your online account set up today. This process is easy and you will be up and running in no time.

Take a look at our catalog and get started today.

Save - The - Date

Baxter Sales Summer Show -- Save - The - Date

We are excited to anounce the Baxter Sales custodial training seminar will be coming back again this year. You need to mark your calenders for Tuesday, August 11, 2009 for a day of education, training, fun and fellowship.

This year the focus is on "Cleaning for Health and the Environment" and will packed with lots of activities to help you focus on this topic in your facilities. There will be lots of vendors to show their new items and discuss with you any issues you may have concerning this year's topic.

We would like for you to take an interactive part in this year's training seminar by posting your best idea, suggestion or experience on "Green Cleaning. All you have to do is post your thoughts or comments and let us know.

The customer who posts the most interesting and useful suggestion will receive a **FREE SHOW PASS** (a $10.00 value) to the Baxter Sales Summer Seminar. Please include your name and business name. You must be registered and present at the show in order to win.

The winner will be determined by the staff of Baxter Sales.

Post your comments now.

Guidelines For Green Cleaning

When we talk of Green Cleaning, there are basicly eight steps or guidelines for a program that will result in a healthier environment.

It is important for success to develop, plan and execute. When you apply this principle to your green cleaning and follow the eight guidelines set forth you can have a successfull green cleaning program.

Choosing environmentally responsible products is a powerful way to make your spending make a difference. Caring for a commercial or insitutional facility is a huge task. Developing and implementing a green cleaning program that effectively protects occupants' health, while minimizing cleaning's impact on the environment is equally significant.

You can find out what the Eight Simple Guidelines are as well as other Green Cleaning News when you visit Baxter Sales.

Swine Influenza

It has been all in the news, recent outbreaks of Swine Influenza and Mexico has resulted in a number of concerns. The following information is gathered from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines.

What is Swine Influenza?
This is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by Type A influenza virus that regularly causes outbreaks of influenza in pigs. Swine flu viruses cause high levels of illness and low death rates in pigs. While Swine influenza viruses may circulate among swine throughout the year, most outbreaks occur during the late fall and winter months similar to outbreaks in humans. The classical swine flu virus was first isolated from a pig in 1930.

How does swine flu spread?
Influenza viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are mostly likely to occur when people are in close proximity to invected pigs. It is also important to note that human-to-human transmission of the swine flu can occur. This is thought to occur in the same way as seasonal flu occurs in people. Coughing, sneezing and touching items with flu viruses on it then touching one's mouth or noze can infect a person.

What to do to keep from getting the flu?
The first line of defense is to wash your hands. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress and drink plenty of fluids as well as eat nutritious food and you can help your chances of getting the flu to a minimum. When possible, try to avoid contact with people who are sick.

Surfaces that are most likely to be sources of contamination.
Germs are spread when one person touches something that is contaminated and then touches the eyes, nose or mouth. These same germs are also spread through the air in the dropletts from a cough or sneeze.

Preventing the spread of Swine Flu.
1. If you have flu like symptoms, stay home.
2. Wash your hands. This is the single most important preventive measure.
3. If soap or water is not available, use alcohol-based sanitizers.
4. Swine influenza can only live outside a host body for about two hours. Disnifect hard surfaces which are common high touch regularly.

Baxter Sales has several disinfectants that are EPA registered with a claim for effective disinfection of Influenza A. We offer the following from Hillyard: Shower Room Cleaner, Re-Juv-Nal, Q.T. , Vindicator as well as a few other products.

Floor Cleaning Equipment For Higher Efficiency

Labor represents 90 percent or more of your total cost of floor cleaning?* This is why a cost-effecient cleaning program should employ the most productive equipment available to that the workers can be more productive.

The automated floor cleaning equipment of today is manufactured with efficiency features built in that can lead to greater productivity. Things such as longer cleaning times between dump-and-fill cycles, faster ride-on and self-propelled equipment as well as wider cleaning paths. Determining which floor cleaning equipment that will deliver the highest productivity per application, which decreases overall cleaning time and costs, requires caraeful consideration.

Choosing the right cleaning path widths - You can minimize your investment while maximizing productivity with the best suited width. The difference between a 17" and 20" walk-behind floor machine can be minimal therefore the wider cleaning path would result in greater productivity which will out weigh the small cost difference.

The size of the recovery tank can make a big difference in the time the workers stay on the floor cleaning. By reducing the number of dump and refill cycles your production is increased.

These are only a couple of things to consider when choosing floor cleaning equipment. To find the right machine for your facility take a look at what Baxter Sales has to offer.
Floor Cleaning Equipment - Click here

*International Sanitary Supply Association

Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Vacuum cleaners are abused and taken for granted which makes it more important to select the right one for your cleaning needs.

The vacuum cleaner reviews here will help you to better understand what you should consider before purchasing. You want a machine that will deliver superior results and performance where it matters the most: dirt pick up and filtration.

A good upright machine will not only have superior dirt pick up but will have excellent filtration. You may want to look for one that has the CRI (Carpet and Rug Institute) seal of approval which signifies it meets the industries newest dirt pick up and filtration standards for vacuum performance.

And in case you didn't know, these standards are more strengient than those for Green Label certification. Only the best can pass the CRI Seal of Approval testing and certification program.

One such vacuum cleaner which does pass the testing methods of CRI is the Spectrum by Advance. This machine is proving to be one of the best of it's kind in the industry.

You can see this vacuum cleaner and more cleaning equipment by Advace at Baxter Sales.

Green Cleaning News

Green Cleaning is more than just a fad or a passing trend. This is something that everybody is doing and more schools, companies and orginizations are getting on board every day.

Any discussion of green cleaning should start with a working definition of the subject. It means the use of those products and services that have a lessor or reduced impact on human health and the environment when compaired with competing products or services that serve the same purpose.

Three aspects of green cleaning are: Human Health, Comparative in Nature and Performance. To read more on this subject you can click here.

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