Caddy Setup & Restock: the full procedure
The standard caddy kit and the restock routine so every cleaner rolls out fully equipped — no mid-job runs to the supply closet.
- Applies to: Cleaners and the person who preps kits.
- Frequency: Restock end of shift; verify at the start of each shift.
- Scope: Covers the standard supply kit and its restock. Chemical dilution and labeling are in the Chemical Dilution SOP.
What you need
- Caddy / tote (and apron where used)
- Restock checklist
The procedure, step by step
- Build the standard kit — Every caddy carries the same core items: trash liners (several sizes), color-coded cloths and dusters, all-purpose / glass / bathroom / kitchen cleaners and disinfectant, toilet bowl cleaner and brush, scrub pads, and gloves. The vacuum and mop travel with the kit.
- Pack for access — Load bulky/heavy items low and the most-used products and cloths on top, so the caddy is balanced and the things you reach for most are easy to grab.
- Restock from the checklist each shift — Reset the caddy against a fixed checklist — refill products, swap used cloths for clean ones, and replace consumables — so it is job-ready for the next day. A standard kit makes a missing item obvious at a glance.
- Take regular inventory counts — Count stock on a regular cadence and reorder before anything runs out, so a cleaner is never sent out short.
- Verify before departure — Do a quick start-of-shift check that the caddy matches the standard kit before leaving for the first home.
Quality check before you finish
- Caddy contains the full standard kit.
- Packed for balance and access (bulky low, used items on top).
- Restocked against the checklist; clean cloths loaded.
- Inventory counted; low items reordered.
- Start-of-shift verification done.
This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a House Cleaning business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.
Sources
- The Janitorial Store — Housekeeping Cart Basics (standard kit) (thejanitorialstore.com)
- WebstaurantStore — Stocking a Housekeeping Cart (order, checklist, inventory) (webstaurantstore.com)
About Free Cleaning Caddy Setup & Restock SOP
Free printable cleaning caddy setup and restock SOP: the standard supply kit a cleaner carries, and the end-of-shift restock so every caddy is job-ready.
How to use
- Read the full procedure top to bottom before the work — the SOP runs in order and each step builds on the last.
- Toggle Ink-saver (black & white) for a cheaper mono print for the binder; leave it off for the full-color version.
- Click Print SOP to print or save as PDF. Print one per crew, laminate it for the binder, or attach it to the job in your scheduling system.
- Train new hires on it and have staff sign off. Found something out of date? Use the feedback link — flagged SOPs are re-researched against the source list.
Frequently asked questions
What should a house cleaner carry in their caddy?
A standard caddy holds the core products (all-purpose, glass, bathroom, degreaser, disinfectant), color-coded microfiber cloths, scrub pads/brushes, a toilet brush, gloves, and trash bags, plus the vacuum and mop kept with the kit. Standardize it so any cleaner is equipped the same way.
When should the caddy be restocked?
Restock at the end of each shift, not the start — refill products, swap out used cloths for clean ones, and replace consumables so the caddy is fully job-ready before the next day. A standard kit makes a missing item obvious at a glance.
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