Why I Switched from Concentrates to RTUs After 18 Years in the Cleaning Industry

As the third-generation owner of my family business, I’ve been fortunate to witness incredible growth and scale our operations. We began by servicing major airlines at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and have since branched out to a wide range of commercial spaces — including office buildings, biotech, manufacturing, schools, restaurants and retail sites.

I thought concentrates were the solution to scale our business, but they pose many significant challenges

While the facilities we service have changed, the products we use to deliver our services have always been central to our success. As we scaled, we needed solutions that could scale with us. For years we believed concentrates with dilution systems were the answer over ready-to-use products (RTUs). They offered high volume, saved shelf space, and reduced the need for frequent restocking. On paper, it made perfect sense.

Although concentrates can offer a high volume of product from one container, there were significant drawbacks that stood in the way of efficiency and safety:

1. Inconsistent Dilution Creates Confusion: Concentrates left too much room for error in mixing, even when using a dilution system. I’d regularly receive photos from employees unsure what to do when the dilution system would fill bottles inconsistently, each showing a different shade of the same color.
2. Misuse of Concentrate Raises Safety and Surface Damage Risks: I have also encountered the mentality that more concentrate will be more effective. This has led to misuse of the product, raised safety concerns, and caused damage to some surfaces.
3. Unauthorized Access to Cleaning Products Poses Risks: Lastly, the building occupants sometimes try to take matters into their own hands when it comes to cleaning. Although we secure our products and equipment, we’re not the only ones with access to them. Leaving the risk that someone who gains access to the closet could grab any product and use it without proper training, PPE or so much as reading the label.

Switching to RTUs has transformed my business for the better

Like many of my peers, I was hesitant to use RTUs in my business. All it took to change my mind was to try them out. I had the opportunity to test an RTU bundle of Clorox EcoClean products that would cover most of our daily cleaning and disinfecting needs: a ready-to-use disinfectant, glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, and disinfecting wipes. This was a pivotal moment in our operation once we put these products into play. Immediately my team saw consistent results:

1. RTUs Eliminated Time-Consuming Mixing Tasks: We saved considerable time without having to measure, fill, and label bottles. Previously, in some sites, we would have to manually mix concentrates when the storage space would not accommodate a dilution system. Now with the RTUs, rather than handling concentrates and carefully measuring, the products are ready to go.
2. RTUs Improved Safety and Comfort for Cleaning Crews: My crews no longer had to handle open bottles of potentially hazardous concentrates. This ease of use reduced prep time for teams throughout our operation. Not only did this cut out a time-consuming and tedious task for my teams but they also felt more comfortable using the RTUs. This gave me the confidence that I had made the right decision.
3. RTUs Reduced Risk of Product Misuse by Building Occupants: I was also relieved to know that if somehow a product made its way into the hands of a building occupant, the risk of that person misusing the product had significantly decreased with RTUs.

However, real proof to me came when our first emergency call came up. When the call came in, without any hesitation or direction, my team reached for the ready-to-use products. They were out the door and on to the job faster than ever before, with the confidence of knowing we’ll deliver consistent results.

Not only are we saving time and getting better results, our presentation has also been elevated. With concentrates we needed to have a roll of labels ready for each bottle we fill or reuse the same bottle. This would cause the label to look worn, damaged, hard to read–or worse, we’d end up with unlabeled bottles. Those problems are completely eliminated by using RTUs. Each bottle is perfectly labeled and branded every time. When we show up to work, or our crews roll out for their routine duties, each label is easy to read and gives an excellent presentation. Our team looks professional, organized, and ready to take on the task. This visual confidence gives the customer tremendous comfort in knowing they picked the right company for the job

For daily tasks, RTUs are the solution

I am completely convinced that for daily use products like disinfecting sprays, wipes, glass cleaners, and all-purpose cleaners, RTUs are the better choice. I believe most BSCs would benefit by giving them a try.

If you would like to learn more about our experience making the switch, check out the case study here.