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Cleaning is an unavoidable and essential part of any commercial business. Whether you run a white collar office or a large industrial warehouse, maintaining a high level of cleanliness is key to the health and safety of your staff as well as your ability to be productive.
Of course, there are varying cleaning requirements across different business and industry types, but generally speaking, there are a few things every business can do to streamline their cleaning operations. So with that in mind, let’s look at five things that could save you time and money whilst also helping you to maintain impeccable cleaning standards.
1) A well thought-out schedule
Just because something has always been done a certain way, it doesn’t meant that’s the best way to get it done. Many businesses have followed the same old cleaning schedule for years without once thinking that things could be done more efficiently. In order to maximise productivity and minimise cleaning time, you need to take an objective look at your cleaning schedule and look for potential changes you can make.
For example, do you instruct your staff to clean first thing in the morning? If so, you could be wasting valuable time waiting for the floors to dry, whereas if you cleaned at the end of the day, the floors could dry overnight. Or, do you get your staff to only clean once a week or when there’s visible dirt? Although you may think that you’re saving time, you’re actually making the job a lot more difficult. By scheduling regular and proactive cleaning duties for your staff, you will end up actually saving time.
2) Regular staff training
Though dragging a mop and bucket around might seem like a simple enough task, you’d be surprised at how many people do it ineffectively and inefficiently. Taking the time to train your staff about best practices and cleaning techniques will help make sure that they are getting the job done to quickly and efficiently whilst maintaining a high standard of quality.
3) The right floor cleaning equipment
Many businesses make do with basic cleaning equipment as they think it saves them money. But the reality is that investing in the right equipment will save you lots of money as well as countless hours of manual labour. Yes, investing in a ride on floor scrubber will cost money up front, but what you spend to begin with will soon be recouped on the cost of consumables as well as the man-hours saved.
4) Industry-specific equipment
As well as investing in the appropriate cleaning equipment for your business, it’s also important to invest in the right industry-specific equipment. So for example, if you work in the food and beverage industry, having food grade enclosures (which are specifically designed to make the regular cleaning process easier) will save you time and money on cleaning. Things like sloped roofs and hidden hinges are all designed to make cleaning simpler and quicker.
5) Regular reviews
In order to keep your cleaning operations as efficient and cost-effective as possible, you must regularly review your practices as well as the equipment you use. Make a note in your diary and block out some time every few months to re-evaluate your practices and look for areas of improvement.
Conclusion
Thorough and regular cleaning is essential to every business, but naturally no two businesses have the exact same cleaning requirements. The key to maximizing productivity and reducing the cost of your cleaning operations is careful planning. Make sure you scrutinize and review your current practices and make sure you provide regular staff training. And finally, don’t be afraid to invest in proper equipment. Although the upfront cost of high quality equipment may seem counterintuitive, the long term savings and benefits will ensure they pay for themselves.
