The special tools your customers need to scratch this seasonal itch
Gone is winter’s gloom. Spring is here and spring cleaning time is upon us.
Drapes are thrown open only to reveal dust and dirt. Accumulated piles of stuff emerge from dark corners and cry out for reorganizing and decluttering. And don’t forget that seasonal allergies are in full bloom, not to mention everyone’s favorite unwelcome guest—COVID-19—is still around, making it even more important to get a handle on air quality.
Here are five areas that are often overlooked when it comes to spring cleaning yet are essential for clean living and working spaces.
1. Flooring
Carpet, hardwood, vinyl, and tile flooring all have different cleaning and maintenance needs.
ChemDry makes a wide variety of carpet deodorizers, stain and pet odor extinguishers, and grease and oil spot removers.
For more aggressive cleaning of floor surfaces, there are carpet cleaners, shampooers, floor cleaners, steamers, and polishers.
Vacuums range from manual sweepers to canister and upright vacuums. There are even robotic vacuums—no human required!
Hand vacs let your customers tackle hard-to-clean nooks and crannies in homes, offices, and vehicles.
2. Appliances
After all the holiday frenzy, kitchen appliances in particular need a lot of TLC. Cerama Bryte has an amazing array of cleaners designed specifically for cooktops, dishwashers, and refrigerators. They also have specific surface cleaners for granite and stainless steel. Plus, their Appliance Cleaner works inside microwaves and fridges as well as on counter surfaces.
Spring cleaning time is also a great time to optimize the efficiency of dryers. It’s easy to clean out dryer ducts with duct-cleaning kits from Deflecto and LintEater.
3. Surfaces
Homes and offices have a wide variety of surfaces that get grubby over time. From window and glass squeegees and adhesive removers to vinyl and leather cleaners, Goof Off, and Goo Gone, Petra has those specialty cleaners your customers demand.
Spring cleaning also demands a deeper clean—especially on products that are frequently handled. COVID-19 made this abundantly clear. So, Petra also carries a wide arsenal of sanitizing products for use with smartphones, keyboards, headphones, and more. These include:
- UV sanitizer wands and boxes
- Dust mite bed and fabric sanitizer
- Sanitizer stands
- Combination smartphone charger and sanitizers
- Combination wireless power banks with UV-C cleaning
- Protective masks
- Screen wipes and sprays
- UV-C lamps
There is also a protectant from Steri-Fab. It both protects and decontaminates items with its robust coating that is effective against bed bugs, lice, fleas, ticks, and dust mites. This product is designed for use on mattresses, bedding, furniture, carpets, and most inanimate surfaces.
Furniture and appliance touchup
Once all the scrubbing and cleaning is done, scratches become more prominent. Rather than your customers spending big bucks to replace marred items, carry wood touch-up markers as well as appliance touch-up paint.
4. Air Quality
Spring cleaning for homes and offices needs to include the air we breathe. Between COVID-19, allergies, and general pollutants like dust and smoke, clean air is more important than ever. That’s why air purifiers—especially those with Pure HEPA filtration which can trap viruses, bacteria, and more—are popular with your customers.
Dehumidifiers are also a useful weapon in the fight against indoor air pollution. They can make indoor air less humid, reducing moisture which can lead to mold and mildew. Less humidity also makes the air less inviting to dust mites and other allergens. Plus, no one likes to feel sticky due to high indoor humidity.
5. Clutter
Clutter is an enormous spring cleaning challenge. But take heart! Whether the clutter is physical or digital, there are decluttering solutions. The trick is to tackle just one area (or device) at a time to avoid being overwhelmed.
With tax season coinciding with spring cleaning, paper shredders are a great way to get a handle on all those unwanted paper piles.
Decluttering computer space is a must. Many of your customers may choose to back up to the Cloud. But savvy tech experts also suggest a physical backup in case there’s a problem with Internet access or the Cloud. Petra has USB flash drives as well as external hard drives.
One thing many of us are guilty of is using the wrong length of extension cords. So, spring cleaning is a great time to address the problem. Ideally, cords should go around the perimeter of the room, so they are not a trip hazard. Nor should they be put under rugs because that can lead to premature wear and become a fire hazard. Besides longer cabling, one option that is ideal for office and industrial use is cord covers. These provide a safe way protect cabling, eliminating trip hazards. Cable clamps and split loom tubing keep wiring out of harm’s way.
The kitchen is another area that often needs organizational help. Pots can be moved out of cabinets and up onto the ceiling using pot racks. Racks, carts, and wine/bar cabinets can easily hold many objects in a small footprint and are customizable with accessories. Baskets and bins are also good solutions for consolidating things together.
And when it comes to the office, there are many organizing solutions including bins and storage carts.
Spring cleaning frenzy
Whether your customers choose to tackle whole house cleaning or take a targeted approach (especially appropriate for offices), they are looking to you for the tools and supplies they need. So don’t hesitate to supply them with what they need as well as matching accessories. And if you’re a brick and mortar store, be sure to post a spring cleaning checklist like this one.
If you’re not already a retail or etail customer of Petra, go to petra.com to find out how we can help you increase sales. It’s easy to sign up directly from our website!