Warehouses can get especially dusty, dirty and grimy, therefore, keeping a clean environment is key to quality employment. This article includes tips for keeping your warehouse clean from the experts at Janitors Supply.
Because facilities like these are large and typically have high ceilings, they are more likely to collect debris and have harder-to-reach areas making it of utmost importance to adhere to a strict cleaning schedule.
Tips for efficient warehouse cleaning from the experts
Warehouses are often large and complex spaces, making them difficult to keep clean. However, keeping your warehouse clean is important for a number of reasons. A clean warehouse is a safe warehouse, and it is also a more productive warehouse. Employees are more likely to be productive in a clean and organized environment. Additionally, a clean warehouse is a more attractive warehouse, which can help to attract and retain customers.
Tip 1: Use a cleaning checklist
A cleaning checklist is a great way to ensure that you don’t forget anything when cleaning your warehouse. Be sure to include all of the areas that need to be cleaned, as well as the frequency with which they need to be cleaned.
Tip 2: Have the right tools to reach high places
A ladder is a must-have for any warehouse cleaning crew. It will allow you to reach high shelves and other hard-to-reach areas. You may also want to invest in a step stool or other tools that can help you reach those high places.
Tip 3: Consider polishing your concrete floors
Polishing concrete floors are not only beautiful, but they are also easy to clean. A good polishing job will make it much easier to keep your floors clean and free of dirt and debris.
Tip 4: Use microfiber cloths
Microfiber cloths are great for cleaning because they are lint-free and can pick up even the smallest particles of dirt and dust. They are also reusable, which can save you money in the long run.
Tip 5: Quality air filtration
A good air filtration system is essential for keeping your warehouse clean and healthy. A quality air filtration system will remove dust, pollen, and other pollutants from the air, which can help to improve the health of your employees and customers.
Tip 6: Color coding cloths for cross contamination
Cross contamination is a major concern in any warehouse. By color coding your cleaning cloths, you can help to prevent cross contamination. For example, you could use blue cloths for cleaning surfaces that come into contact with food, and red cloths for cleaning surfaces that come into contact with chemicals.
Tip 7: Rotate inventory boxes
Rotating inventory boxes is a great way to keep your warehouse organized and clean. By rotating inventory boxes, you can ensure that the oldest boxes are at the front of the stack, and the newest boxes are at the back of the stack. This will help to prevent a buildup of dust and debris on the boxes.
Areas to clean in a warehouse
A dirty and cluttered warehouse not only takes away from efficient operations but can also pose health and safety risks for employees. Tripping hazards, liquid spills, and excess clutter are just some of the dangers that can compromise employee safety.
A clean, clutter-free warehouse increases productivity by making it easier for workers to quickly find supplies and equipment and maintain more precise inventory levels. A warehouse should be a clean and risk-free work zone.
Warehouse cleaning should focus on areas such as floors, restrooms, breakrooms, lights, equipment, office spaces, docks and receiving areas, and all high traffic areas.
Let’s discuss each area in detail.
Warehouse Floors
Facilities like warehouses see activity around the clock, making it difficult to properly maintain floors. Due to daily wear and tear, you should keep the cleaning and maintenance of floors a top priority.
Cleaning personnel should be keeping warehouse floors clean of spills, marks, and dirt by using large dust mops, scrubbers, and sweeper machines.
They should have experience and knowledge in cleaning all different floor types such as concrete, tile, carpet, and rubber.
Employee Bathrooms
Bathrooms in a warehouse facility should also be a top priority. Cleaning and sanitizing high-touch surfaces, toilets, and sinks should be performed daily and is crucial to employee health and safety and enhances overall hygiene.
Hard-to-Reach Areas
Hard-to-reach areas in a warehouse are a common challenge and extremely important as ceilings, shelving, and windows are the perfect place for dust, dirt, residue, and particles to accumulate, which can eventually fall to lower levels.
Use microfiber cloths and high-filtration vacuums to keep these areas free of grime and debris. Regular window cleaning should be performed as well.
Waste Management
Distribution and warehouse facilities operate on extended hours with high volume and high traffic making the removal of garbage, waste, and other recyclable materials critical.
When waste such as cardboard, paper, and general trash starts to pile up in bins, around equipment, or in high traffic areas, it can create a huge problem in regard to employee safety and productivity.
Paper, cardboard, and other packing materials are the preferred homes for mice, rats, cockroaches, and other pests so these areas must be cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis, otherwise this may negatively impact the company’s inventory and productivity.
Food-Grade Warehouse Storage
Food-grade warehouse facilities should be clean, well maintained, and free of any conditions that could cause health problems (i.e., bacteria, rodents, insects, fungus, etc.). Operating under strict regulations, food-grade warehouses must be well maintained in order to ensure that stored products don’t get contaminated.
Any storage facilities that house food-grade products must follow strict Food and Drug Administration standards. They require a higher level of cleanliness both inside and outside, and precautions must be taken to avoid cross-contamination. The most common types of food warehouses are dry storage, refrigerated storage, or frozen storage.
Floors, shelves, storage areas, and equipment in food-grade storage facilities must be kept clean and sanitized at all times. Fluids that leak from packaged goods, food spills, and general waste buildup can contribute to cross-contamination, health hazards, and pest infestation.
Proper care and handling of food products require a high level of sanitation and hygiene—both on the part of the facility itself and on the employees who work there. Additionally, food-grade warehouses must have a regimented sanitation schedule that includes comprehensive cleaning and housekeeping.