If you own a storage facility, chief among the issues you have is storage facility cleaning. It can be an overwhelming task, especially with the size of modern facilities. Without proper maintenance, facilities become messy and unorganized.
A clean, organized storage facility can help boost your productivity. Here are the cleaning tips you need to know.
Before You Start Cleaning Your Storage Facility
Before learning new storage facility cleaning tips, you need first to understand why hygiene is essential. For starters, having a clean working environment helps add productivity and simplify your workflow.
An organized storage facility improves mobility, especially when you remove clutter. Your employees will find their jobs much easier and will likely do more work because of their more hygienic environment.
In Fredrick Herzberg’s two-factor theory, he notes how hygiene itself does not command employee satisfaction. Regardless, it prevents your employees from feeling dissatisfaction, which is a vital gauge as it is.
With that said, how do you go about with efficient storage facility cleaning techniques? Here’s how.
Start with The Prep Work
When it comes to facility cleaning, the simplest secret is to do a ton of prep work. Before you prepare, you have to have your cleaning equipment ready. You would also need to clear the floor.
Remove items or surfaces that can be obstructive to the cleaning process. Heavy machinery like forklifts and trucks should stay out in the parking lot during the cleaning process.
If possible, have your heavy machinery cleaned separately to prevent tracking dirt to your storage facility. Remove barriers that will also impede your movement, including traffic cones, traffic barriers, scissor barriers, and the like.
Do Some Preliminary Cleaning
Once you finish the prep work, start the preliminary cleaning of your storage facility. Start with removing large trash and debris, including significant dust and debris spots.
Clean off stains, including those from grease, skids, and slick. Clear your bins and separate materials that you are 100% sure you can reuse or recycle.
Remove materials and equipment that have catastrophic damage. Take whatever parts you can salvage and throw the rest, or send them to a recycling storage facility. Remove any big pieces of debris that can be dangerous to your employees.
Start Cleaning Top to Bottom
Once you do preliminary cleaning, continue storage facility cleaning from high areas first. Dust settles on any surface, and most of the time, it will accumulate in high places.
Starting high will allow the dust to fall to lower levels. Work your way from top to bottom, preventing you from cleaning the floors twice.
Some areas you would need to clean include thermal and cooling ducts, air vents, pipes, storage facility frames, windows, racks, and pallets. Make sure to use proper cleaning equipment and safety gear.
Use an extension pole when using industrial-grade vacuum cleaners. Use the same for dusters to reach hard to access tight spots. Move down a level every time you finish.
Clean the Storage Facility Floor Thoroughly
Once you finish cleaning high spots, start working on the floor. Make sure to focus on clearing as much material as possible when cleaning your storage facility’s flooring.
Remove any extensive grease, dampness, or any other materials that can cause injuries. Floors are the top culprits for unsafe work conditions that cause slips and falls.
It’s crucial to pay attention to the current condition of the floor. So, clean nooks and crannies, together with as many crevices as possible.
Use a large mop to remove dust and debris, then use a degreaser. Make sure to push off any remaining soaps and cleaning material that can cause health hazards.
Perform Specific Cleaning Tasks for Your Storage Facility
Once you finish your floors, see if there are more chores to do before putting everything back. Performing storage facility cleaning can vary from inventory to inventory. Every storage facility would have its own set of challenges during maintenance.
Some Key Takeaways After Cleaning Your Storage Facility
Now that you finish cleaning, the goal is to maintain a hygienic storage facility. There are a few best practices that you need to consider to cut down on time spent cleaning.
For one, it’s best to set a cleaning schedule for your storage facility. Choose a cleaning and maintenance routine that works best for you. You want an efficient process that does not impact work too much and allows you to plan ahead.
Set a consistent routine that gives you ample time to do prep work. If possible, hire cleaning experts instead of in-house teams who barely know the proper steps in cleaning storage facilities.
If you’re going to hire storage facility cleaning teams, coordinate what they need from your side. They will likely have the skills, workforce, and equipment you might need. They will likely discuss with you what equipment they need from you.
Like any proper storage facility, stock up on cleaning supplies, equipment, and safety gear.
Start Storage Facility Cleaning with Professionals Now
Storage facility cleaning can help with productivity when done right. The hygiene it brings can keep your employees less dissatisfied while your building stays organized.
Managing a storage facility can be a chore, and doing the maintenance yourself is unproductive. If you don’t want to waste time delegating storage facility cleaning to your crew, it’s best to hire it out instead.
Look for cleaning experts that have experience in making maintenance efficient. Talk to us today and find how you can make your storage facility a standard of cleanliness now.