Collection: Pails & Buckets

Pails and buckets for sanitizer, detergent and general-purpose water in commercial kitchens, bars and facilities. The range runs from 3 qt sanitation pails at each station to 5 gal utility buckets with lids and 22 qt to 23 qt pails for bulk work, from San Jamar, Globe Commercial Products, Rubbermaid, Cambro and Vollrath.

This collection is part of Cleaning Tools & Supplies. If you're mopping floors, look at mop buckets with wringers instead; these pails are sized for wiping cloths, hand cleaning and carrying solutions.

What's in this collection

• Sanitation pails: San Jamar Kleen-Pail in 3, 6 and 8 qt (red and green) and Globe Hygiene-Pail in 3 and 6 qt (red, green, blue and yellow) for wiping-cloth stations.
• Caddy system: the San Jamar Kleen-Pail caddy with pail and spray bottle for carrying sanitizer and a sprayer together.
• Utility pails and buckets: Rubbermaid BRUTE round buckets in 10 and 14 qt, the Globe Easy Pour 11 qt pail and the Cambro 22 qt pail with bail.
• Stainless steel pail: the Vollrath 23 qt tapered utility pail with a matching hook-on stainless cover, for heavy use and hot water.
• 5 and 6 gallon buckets: Berry Plastics 5 gal buckets with lids, the Uline 5 gal plastic pail and the Trimark 6 gal sanitizer bucket.

What to consider when choosing pails and buckets

• Colour system: pick one colour for sanitizer and another for detergent, label them, and keep it consistent across every station.
• Capacity: 3 to 8 qt pails suit wiping-cloth stations; 10 to 23 qt and 5 gal sizes are for carrying water, chemicals or bulk ingredients.
• Material: plastic is light and won't dent; stainless steel handles hot water and heavy daily use and is easy to inspect.
• Lids and covers: lids or hook-on covers reduce spills and keep debris out when pails are stored or moved.
• Pouring and carrying: bail handles, pour spouts and caddies make it easier to fill sinks and move solutions without spills.
• Solution checks: sanitizer strength drifts as cloths load the water; test regularly and change solutions as your procedures require.

Related categories

• Mop Buckets
• Spray Bottles
• Cleaning Cloths, Sponges & Scrubbers
• Cleaning Chemicals
• Test Strips, Meters & Thermometers
• Colour-Coded Tools
• Food Safety Supplies

Buying guides

• Commercial Mops, Wringers and Buckets Buying Guide
• Cambro Buying Guide Hub
• Vollrath Buying Guide Hub
• Globe Commercial Products Buying Guide Hub

FAQ

What size sanitizer pail do I need?

Most stations use 3 to 6 qt pails, which hold enough solution for wiping cloths without taking up much counter or shelf space. Larger 8 qt pails suit busier stations.

Why do sanitation pails come in different colours?

Colour lets staff see at a glance which pail holds sanitizer and which holds detergent, reducing mix-ups. Choose a scheme, label the pails and train to it.

Is a mop bucket the same as a pail?

No. Mop buckets are larger, usually on casters and paired with a wringer. Pails are for cloths, carrying water and general cleaning.

When should I use a stainless steel pail?

When you need hot water, heavy daily handling or a pail that is easy to inspect and sanitize, such as the Vollrath tapered utility pail.