Keeping an office or workspace clean is essential for any business, and warehouses and distribution facilities are not different. These types of workspaces can get especially dirty, dusty, and grimy pretty quickly. In this blog, we review the importance of warehouse cleaning.

Because warehouses and distribution facilities are large and typically have high ceilings, they are more likely to collect debris. They have harder-to-reach areas making it of utmost importance to adhere to a strict cleaning schedule. By maintaining a regular cleaning schedule, you can prevent the accumulation of dust and debris on machinery, equipment, and products to ensure operational efficiency and prevent unnecessary downtime. 

A dirty and cluttered warehouse takes away from efficient operations and poses health and safety risks for employees. Tripping hazards, liquid spills, and excess clutter are just some 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 services should focus on floors, restrooms, breakrooms, lights, equipment, office spaces, docks and receiving areas, and high traffic areas. Let’s discuss each area in detail.

Warehouse Floors

Facilities like warehouses see activity around the making it difficult to maintain the floors properly. Due to daily wear and tear, you should keep the cleaning and maintenance of the floors a top priority.

The cleaning service you use should be keeping your 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 different floor types such as concrete, tile, carpet, stole, 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. Perform regular window cleaning 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 employee safety and productivity problem.

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 regularly. 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.). 

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 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 facility itself and the employees who work there. Additionally, food-grade warehouses must have a regimented sanitation schedule that includes comprehensive cleaning and housekeeping. 

Warehouse Cleaning Services

Each distribution or warehouse facility has its own individual cleaning needs specific to the type of business, product, storage requirements, and hours of operation.

When choosing a cleaning service, look for one that will design a specific cleaning program that will fit your storage operations’ nature and facility type. Be sure to carefully review any flexible scheduling needs, especially if your business is open around the clock.

Integrity Janitorial Cleaning Services is a locally owned-and-operated cleaning company. We have more than 20 years of experience cleaning warehouses and other industrial buildings and understand the importance of warehouse cleaning. In that time, we have developed the most effective and efficient methods for deeply cleaning warehouses from the floor to the ceiling — and everywhere in between — making industrial spaces safer, cleaner, and more hygienic places to work.

Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and see how we can help get your warehouse cleaned, sanitized, and safer for your workers.