Warehouses and distribution centers thrive on productivity and efficiency. Finding time for cleaning can be difficult. On top of that, the logistics of cleaning a warehouse are often very complicated. Most warehouses have high ceilings, extremely high volumes of inventory, and rows of shelves and other surfaces. Properly cleaning everything without disrupting productivity is not straightforward, but it is essential.
A clean warehouse is a better work environment in terms of both productivity and worker morale. When done properly, frequent cleaning keeps warehouses safer and more organized. To make this a possibility, most warehouses turn to commercial cleaning services. Professional cleaners have the tools and knowledge required to clean warehouses correctly every time.
To learn how it’s done, follow this guide on how to clean a warehouse like a professional.
The Usual Process When Cleaning Warehouses
The processes for maintaining a clean warehouse are much different than those for other commercial settings, like an office building. Warehouses are typically open spaces with high ceilings, hard floors, and smooth surfaces that are notorious for collecting dust. Warehouses are also very active, with inventory regularly being moved around. This can cause dust to circulate more heavily throughout the warehouse and lead to disorganization.
Safe warehouse cleaning tasks typically involve ladders, lifts, and safety equipment to clean high surfaces and ceilings. To clean floors, workers typically need industrial scrubbers and sweepers. Most warehouse floors are made of hard materials like concrete or metal, which require specialized cleaning supplies.
Why Clean Warehouses Are Good For Business
Warehouse productivity thrives on organization. And regular cleaning is one of the best ways to ensure productivity. Part of cleaning involves removing garbage and debris, which provides an immediate efficiency boost. Warehouse cleaning also involves reorganization, which can make it much easier to move around and locate items.
But regular cleaning in a warehouse is more than just a matter of worker efficiency. A clean warehouse is also a safe warehouse. Removing debris and clutter reduces the likelihood of workplace accidents and injuries. High volumes of dust can also circulate throughout a warehouse or get lodged in the HVAC system. This can decrease air quality and increase the presence of allergens in the air, which is simply unpleasant for warehouse workers to deal with. Simply put, a clean warehouse is better for worker morale, safety, and performance. Hiring commercial cleaning services offers a tremendous return on investment for warehouse managers.
So what is the appropriate cleaning process for a warehouse? Next, we will look at the steps required for a professional warehouse cleaning program.
5 Tips on How to Clean Warehouses
Regular cleaning is important for warehouses, but it is no simple task. Here are some of the most important steps to follow when cleaning warehouses and distribution centers.
Clean From Top to Bottom
As you clean a warehouse, you will dislodge a lot of dust and debris. Most of the debris will end up on lower surfaces. Trying to clean from the bottom upward will just lead to newer messes once you’ve “finished” cleaning everything. But working from the top down allows you to clean up those new messes as you go. Because of this, it’s best to start from the ceiling or top-level shelves, and eventually work your way to the warehouse floor.
Additionally, warehouse ceilings should also be cleaned regularly. The process for how to clean a warehouse ceiling requires a ladder or lift, goggles (to protect your eyes from dust particles), and a duster. It also helps to have a microfiber cloth to wipe off vents or other surfaces.
Sweep Off All the Dust and Debris
Most warehouse surfaces only have to worry about accumulating dust, rather than more difficult stains and messes. Cleaning off the dust, especially in high volumes, can take a lot of time, however. The first step in the cleaning process for warehouses is to sweep dust off of all surfaces, from shelves to boxes to the floors. Knowing how to clean warehouse dust thoroughly and effectively is extremely important. Dust can cause damage to the ventilation system, and is a general nuisance in the workplace.
Deep Scrub the Floors
After the ceiling and shelves have been cleaned, it’s time to clean the floors. The process for how to clean warehouse concrete floors is different from other surfaces, however. Warehouse floors do not require dusting. Rather, the warehouse floor should be scrubbed vigorously for deep cleaning.
Of course, the warehouse floor should still be swept up before scrubbing. Most of the dust and soil in warehouses, roughly 80% of it, is dry particulate soil. This means that the soil will cause streaks and damage to surfaces if it is not swept away before scrubbing. This has the opposite effect of cleaning, causing scratches and dirty appearances across the floors.
Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces
Worker safety should be a top priority for any business. When it comes to a clean warehouse, sanitization is an essential step to ensuring safety for everyone. Cleaning staff should be sure to disinfect any high-touch surfaces in the warehouse. These include railings, door handles, light switches, and more. These simple steps slow the spread of germs and communicable diseases in the warehouse.
Change Your Inventory Frequently
The longer items sit on the shelves, the more time they have to collect dust, dirt, and debris. Constant inventory circulation decreases clutter, improves organization, and prevents the warehouse from collecting too much dust. Lack of circulation can dramatically slow down productivity and efficiency at all times, especially during cleaning.
What Equipment Do You Need For Warehouse Cleaning?
Warehouse cleaning supplies are fairly unique when compared to the cleaning equipment required in other industries. Very few warehouses need a carpet cleaner, for instance, but mechanical scrubbers are a necessity.
Luckily, when you hire commercial cleaning services, the team comes fully equipped with everything they need. This is one of many reasons why Dallas Janitorial is trustworthy and reliable according to our clients.
Lifts or Ladders
Lifts and ladders are absolutely essential due to all of the high warehouse surfaces in need of cleaning. For safe warehouse cleaning practices, workers should also have safety equipment and understand safety practices when operating ladders and lifts.
High-Filtration Vacuums
Regular vacuum cleaners are not a good option for warehouses. Instead, professional cleaners use high-filtration vacuum cleaners to clean warehouse floors and surfaces. High-filtration vacuums can handle both wet and dry materials and also do a much better job of reducing particle circulation. This makes them more efficient for warehouse cleaning, and also safer because fewer dust and dirt particles will be dispersed.
Mechanical Scrubbers
Most warehouse floors are too large to clean by hand. To make cleaning the floors possible, most warehouses use mechanical scrubbers. Mechanical scrubbers provide fast and efficient deep cleaning of hard surface floors. However, they require a careful and proper operation, meaning it’s essential to let a professional handle this task.
Sweeper Machines
As is the case with mechanical scrubbers, warehouse floors also require sweeper machines for proper cleaning. Cleaners should first go over the entire floor with the sweeper before scrubbing for the best results. Sweepers remove large soil, dust, and debris, while scrubbers remove difficult stains and provide deep cleaning.
How Can You Maintain Cleanliness in Warehouses?
Cleaning a warehouse comes with many challenges. But maintaining a clean warehouse is also a difficult task. However, organization and regular cleanings are major ways to keep productivity and worker morale high.
Here are some good habits to get into to maintain warehouse cleanliness.
Have Routine Cleaning Schedules
First and foremost, identifying the right times to clean certain areas is key. High-traffic areas should not be cleaned during peak business hours, for instance. High-clutter areas also require the most constant surveillance and organization. The best way to keep your warehouse clean is to know how to prioritize cleaning tasks and schedules.
Delegate and Assign Tasks In Each Area
Most warehouse workers are typically assigned to designated areas. Delegating routine cleaning tasks to workers in their designated zones is a great way to keep things organized. This ensures that basic cleaning tasks don’t get overlooked, meaning less clutter in the long term.
Restock Cleaning Supplies For Regular Use
Things like trash bags, brooms and dustpans, and protective equipment should always be accessible. Keeping these items well-stocked and easy to reach is essential when it comes to maintaining a clean warehouse. The more access workers have to basic cleaning supplies, the less work they need to do to keep things clean.
Reporting Safety Hazards
Lastly, all warehouse workers should be trained on how to spot potential safety hazards in the workplace. This can be as simple as cluttered shelves or aisles. Other common safety hazards in warehouses include spills, faulty equipment, or filtration issues. Workers should understand the risks associated with these hazards, and have a clear understanding of how to report them.
Are Your Warehouse Cleaning Processes Effective Enough?
A clean warehouse is a safe warehouse. If you have concerns about your warehouse cleaning program, it may be time to hire commercial cleaning services.
At Dallas Janitorial Services, our professional cleaners have the expertise and equipment required to clean every warehouse surface.
To learn more about the value of professional warehouse cleaning services or request a quote, contact us today. Dallas Janitorial is the Dallas-Fort Worth area’s most trusted cleaning company for businesses across all industries.
