1. Create Cleaning Schedules and Goals
Planning for efficient warehouse cleaning is one of the best ways to ensure that it actually gets done. How do you do this? Create goals and cleaning schedules to coincide with each. It’s a lot easier to keep your distribution center spotless by engaging in small projects over the course of the week rather than trying to do one massive deep clean every other week or so. Warehouses and other types of industrial facilities get dirty fast, so the more on top of things you are, the less likely you’ll need to spend an entire day dedicated to fixing things up.
To help you create schedules, break down your needs by task. Think about what you need to do daily, weekly, and monthly in order to keep things organized. Some of the items on your daily warehouse cleaning checklist should include:
- Emptying trash bins and recycling
- Putting everything back into its place
- Double checking pallets and shelves to make sure they’re safe
- Cleaning any visible spills or debris as they occur
- Disinfecting the bathroom
- Clearing the loading docks and grab bars
- Filling soap dispensers, paper towels and toilet paper in the bathroom
- Sweep and mop floors
Some of the most important items for a weekly warehouse cleaning checklist should include:
- Dusting and sanitizing blinds or window treatments
- Tackling hard-to-reach areas
- Checking overhead light fixtures
- Cleaning storage rooms
- Organizing pallets
Your monthly warehouse cleaning checklist should also include:
- Cleaning the break room
- Addressing any clogs or backed-up sink and floor drains
- Checking for signs of mold and mildew
- Securing the weather stripping around doors
- Replacing entryway mats or cleaning them
- Deep cleaning floor coatings
- Power washing loading docks and other high-traffic areas
- Inspecting fire alarms and sprinkler systems
2. Prepare the Warehouse or Distribution Center
Adhering to the above schedule may seem like a lot, but to make each item go faster it’s important to take the proper preparations. This means making sure that any signs of debris are always picked up as they’re seen, and heavy machinery is in its dedicated spot. You should also regularly check on cleaning supplies and inventory to make sure you’re prepared for the task at hand.
3. Engage in Some Preliminary Cleaning
Preliminary preparations can also help create a more expedited schedule. If you notice any large, visible signs of dirt or grime, take care of them before you do a full warehouse cleaning. This can help reduce the amount of time that’s spent on each of your checklist items throughout the month. Make sure you’re using the appropriate cleaning chemicals, especially if you’re tackling any mold or mildew.
4. Zoning Cleaning Throughout the Day
You can also create zones that each employee is responsible for. This is especially beneficial for companies that have a distribution center where employees stay in one part of the facility for the duration of their shift. Make zone cleaning a requirement for them to end their shift, as this will give the next employee a safe and healthy zone to work with. This should include sweeping, removing debris, wiping down any machinery or equipment, and making sure that the area is organized. This type of warehouse cleaning will also help reduce the transmission of germs or pathogens.
5. Include Ongoing Floor Care
One thing that’s often overlooked in distribution center cleaning is floor care. However, maintaining a clean floor is the best way to ensure that it’s safe and that the risk of workplace injury is minimized. Since the majority of warehouse-related injuries happen due to slips, falls, or trips, this is a step you don’t want to forget. You can achieve ongoing floor cleaning by keeping things picked up, mopping up any spills, and tackling stains with the appropriate cleaning materials for your floors.
6. Disinfection for Ongoing Safety
Finally, no warehouse cleaning checklist is complete without disinfection. Make sure that every employee understands the importance of disinfecting their area, especially if they’re working in close spaces. When you forego disinfection, you’re only engaging in surface-level cleaning that pushes the germs from one place to another. Although this can give off the illusion of cleanliness, it doesn’t kill illness-causing bacteria, viruses, and pathogens. As we’re still in the midst of a pandemic, disinfection is of utmost importance.
Educating your staff about the benefits of keeping your warehouse or distribution center clean is also an integral part of ongoing health and safety. Warehouse cleaning requires a team effort, especially if you’re moving a lot of inventory around every week. Consider scheduling monthly meetings to go over goals, talk about what’s working, and try to find ways to make their day-to-day distribution cleaning easier.
