Cleaning is not the most enjoyable task and often put it off until it’s absolutely necessary. Very few people are willing to take on the task of cleaning at home and at work. It even gets tiresome for companies who provide cleaning services. Whether you’re a cleaning company trying to figure out ways to keep employees and yourself motivated or a business that requires cleaning – time is money, and it needs to be accomplished to provide a well-kept, clean and sanitized work environment.
Have Your Cleaning Tools and Products Ready
Easy access to cleaning tools and supplies can make cleaning an area much quicker and easier. A storage area can be used for bulk products and supplies. In areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, work areas and foyers, put necessary cleaning supplies in a closet or space that is not in view to make it easier for cleaning contractors or internal staff to clean messes.
In areas that require constant cleaning and sanitizing, provide the necessary products to do a simple cleaning task quickly. This can include a sponge or dish rag, disinfecting wipes, dish detergent, a dish towel and/or paper towels, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. This will allow those who make a mess or spill something to clean them immediately.
Bathrooms and kitchens should also be stocked with quick maintenance equipment, such as a plunger to address clogs before they become out of control, requiring the services of an outside maintenance contractor.
Get Everyone Involved
Although you don’t need or want to have your general staff who perform other tasks clean your facility, they should be able to clean their messes. Areas in a facility such as kitchens, work areas and trash receptacles can often get messy. Employees often leave dishes in sinks, stains and food particles on counters and tables or even drop food on the floor and don’t clean it up. Not only does it create more work for whoever cleans the facility, it can create hazards such as slippery spots on floors and bacteria that can cause sickness.
Although some employees won’t want to pitch in, approach the help required to perform small cleaning tasks in a positive light. This allows you to cut down on the number of days a contract cleaning company is required to clean the facility, lowering the cost of the services. Those savings can be used in other ways that assist the employees, such as bonuses, pay increases or other services provided to employees. Because it may assist in reducing sickness and employees taking time off, health insurance companies may consider the attendance record of employees and reduce health insurance rates.
Scheduled Cleaning
More aggressive cleaning that’s done by a cleaning staff can also be accomplished more efficiently with the same results. Although almost everyone can do basic cleaning, routine cleaning that generally covers more areas and requires additional knowledge take more time. Similar to providing clean supplies in areas for employees, the same should be available for the cleaning staff. Not only will it require less time to clean each area, it’s much less for cleaning staff to carry around in a large building.
Replenishing Supplies
Because you want cleaning supplies readily available for the cleaning staff and facility staff, assign one person to check the cleaning tools and supplies, and replenish them as needed. You can buy products concentrated and in larger quantities and dilute them according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Simply refill spray bottles with the diluted cleaner. Countertop items, such as paper towels or disinfectant wipes should be checked and replaced on a routine basis.
Schedule Certain Tasks on Certain Days
Many cleaning tasks really don’t need to be accomplished on a daily basis. Bigger tasks can be done on a routine basis, such as weekly or bi-weekly. Cleaning that requires disinfecting and high-traffic areas should be done more frequently. This can include cleaning kitchens and bathrooms, and vacuuming high-traffic areas. Other tasks, such as vacuuming all areas, dusting and mopping can be done less frequently. When those tasks aren’t done frequently, spot cleaning soiled areas of rugs and floors can be done each day the facility is cleaned.
Vacuum in Rows
Many facilities have long, carpeted hallways. After performing routine, thorough vacuuming in areas that require vacuuming around furniture, tables and other large items, vacuum carpeted areas that have nothing else on them in rows. This ensures the entire carpet it vacuumed from end to end, and makes the job easier and faster.
Dust with Clean Tools
Start your routine cleaning by dusting. Vacuum after you dust, so it picks up any dust particles not captured by a duster. Because dusting isn’t done frequently like some other cleaning tasks, always perform dusting tasks using clean tools. This can include feather dusters, electrostatic dusters or standard cloths used for dusting. Using clean dusting tools pick up the dust, rather than spreading it around for it to lay back on surfaces.
These simple steps make any work environment cleaner, safer and much more appealing. Contact worldwide janitor for a variety of cleaning products and tools to make your cleaning jobs easier.
