Warehouses and storage facilities can get very messy. In a high-traffic space like a warehouse, any clutter and mess has a direct and instant effect on efficiency. Maintaining an organized warehouse is essential for preserving efficient and smooth operation. Clutter and debris in a warehouse puts the general safety and well-being of employees at risk. These are just a couple of the many unique challenges that warehouses face. In this article, we’ll share some of the best warehouse cleaning tips that you can implement to keep your facility spotless, and how our specialized warehouse cleaning services can assist you in achieving these goals.
1. Planning
The first and most important step is planning. Developing a comprehensive cleaning plan is the first step toward real-world results. This plan should detail the specific areas that need cleaning, how often they need to be cleaned, and to what standard. Certain areas may require more attention than others. All this information should be included in the plan.
Identifying Key Areas
Break down the warehouse into sections and determine the importance of each section. Anywhere cargo is being handled takes priority over any other area.
Cleaning Frequency
You need to determine how often each section needs to be cleaned. High-traffic areas may need daily cleaning while less important areas may be fine with weekly or monthly cleaning.
Having a structured plan ensures that all areas of your warehouse are consistently maintained and no spot is overlooked. Consulting a commercial cleaning company can be a good option if this planning becomes too big of a challenge.
2. Equipment And Expertise
Having the correct equipment for the job is crucial for achieving results. This equipment may include:
Pressure Washers
A pressure washer comes to the rescue when there is a big spill or a large area that needs to be cleaned. When handling chemicals or liquids a spill may stain the ground and these stains will become a hassle to clean. A pressure washer makes quick work of almost any stain.
Industrial Vacuum Cleaners
A normal vacuum will get damaged in an industrial space. Household consumer electronics are not designed to take on the abuse of industrial areas, such equipment will break quickly and hinder the cleaning process.
Cleaning Solutions
Depending on what materials surround you different cleaning solutions are required. Some cleaning solutions may be too harsh for your flooring or damaging to the cargo in the warehouse.
Another reason why a commercial cleaning company is a great option for warehouse cleaning is equipment. Commercial cleaning services have all the necessary equipment for the job. They also have teams of professional cleaners who are experienced and experts at their job.
3. Prioritize Safety
It is important to remember that safety is one of the main reasons why warehouse cleaning is done.
Use Signs
Display “Wet Floor” signs to alert employees and avoid accidents. The last thing you want is an employee accidentally walking onto a wet floor and slipping. An accident like this is very common and very damaging to your operations.
Ventilation
Many cleaning products give off toxic fumes that can be a major health hazard. Ensuring the space is properly ventilated prevents breathing in such fumes and potential health risks.
Supervision
Have supervisors check for any spills, obstructions, and debris before things gets out of hand. By focusing on safety and prioritizing safety in daily operations, you ensure a more efficient and happier workspace.
4. Routine Schedule
Sticking to a routine schedule is very important if you want to ensure your warehouse stays in tip-top shape. A schedule is the heart of any organized operation. Keeping this schedule on track can become challenging the bigger your facility is. Warehouse cleaning services will show up at your door on a strict schedule whenever you instruct them to. Commercial cleaners will help you develop a schedule that works around your downtime allowing smooth operations.
5. Address High-Traffic Areas Quickly
High-traffic areas are much more sensitive to small problems which is why they should take priority over low-traffic and less important areas. As mentioned previously these areas need to be detected and accounted for in the planning phase. Areas such as loading docks, entrances, break rooms, and restrooms are typically high-traffic areas that require extra attention. Focusing on these areas aids in maintaining a safe and hygienic environment for warehouse employees.
6. Storage and Organization
An organized area is much easier to clean. Whether you attempt to handle it yourself or you opt for a warehouse cleaning service, having an organized area to work with makes the process much easier.
Decluttering
To achieve an organized and optimized warehouse you need to remove any clutter that gets in the way as soon as possible. Don’t let new cargo just sit in walkways and take up space.
Labeling
Having clear labels on shelves and racks allows employees to sort items faster and easier. It also ensures no item is placed in the wrong place, causing confusion and hindering performance.
Inventory Management Systems
Utilizing an inventory management system allows you to quickly check for stock when making sales or new purchases. Keeping up with a large amount of stock without the use of such technologies is downright impossible and unnecessary.
A well-organized facility is an efficient and optimized facility, this organization makes completing tasks easier and faster.
7. Perform Deep Cleans As Needed
Having a schedule on when to deep clean certain areas is a very good idea. Deep cleaning an area achieves a higher level of hygiene compared to normal cleaning. Deep cleaning is recommended for high-use areas that may have accumulated a lot of dirt, germs, and bacteria. Routine cleaning gets rid of most contaminants and deep cleaning aims to get closer to sterilization. Sterilization eliminates 100% of bacteria on a surface, but this process is not efficient enough for commercial use, deep cleaning services and disinfection services aim to get as close as possible to sterilization without compromising time and cost.
8. Green Practices
In today’s day and age, it is vital that we do everything we can to lower carbon emissions and produce as little waste as possible. This goal goes beyond simple day-to-day tasks and falls into what products we use are green and eco-friendly. Interworld Cleaning has made the commitment to using all Green-Certified cleaning products, we are taking every step possible to reduce waste and emissions. Aside from the use of eco-friendly products, it is also important to conserve water and reduce waste as much as possible.
Conclusion
Running and maintaining a clean, organized warehouse is a hard task. Ensuring every part of the operation is running smoothly without any hiccups takes enough of a toll on any person, a commercial cleaning service can alleviate some of this pressure. By consulting with commercial cleaners you can develop a cleaning schedule and plan every step of the way. This planning allows you to leave it to the professionals to do their job and you will only need to check in on them from time to time. Employing a commercial cleaning service gives you more time to work on other, bigger problems.
Contact Us Today
Our team of expert professional cleaners will take the hygiene and cleanliness of your warehouse to the next level. We offer you a flexible plan that will be tailored to your needs, be it time, location, specific challenges like sensitive cargo, and more. With our 15+ years of experience, there is nothing we haven’t handled before. Contact us today for consultation or scheduling.
Meta: Warehouse cleaning is a massive challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. Level up the hygiene of your warehouse with these warehouse cleaning tips.
