6 Challenges and Solutions in Warehouse Cleaning
Maintaining a clean and safe facility is crucial for businesses dealing with storage. However, the unique challenges posed by warehouses may require specialized cleaning solutions.
Warehouses are essential for businesses that store goods and materials. This type of workspace usually includes towering shelves, vast floor space, and hazardous materials, which present unique cleaning challenges.
Need to keep your warehouse in pristine condition? Here are a few challenges and solutions in warehouse cleaning.
High Ceilings and Hard-to-Reach Areas
Warehouses usually have towering ceilings, multiple light fixtures, and exposed beams. When not cleaned properly, they can attract dust, dirt and hold smoke in certain areas. Moisture can also build up, causing mold and mildew that harm your products and staff.
Solution: Use specialized equipment such as high-reaching extendable tools and elevated platforms to clean high ceilings and hard-to-reach areas. Do this once every three months or more often if you store sensitive or hazardous materials.
Large Floor Areas and Heavy Traffic
For safety and to check inventory, warehouse floorspace must be clear to manage foot and machinery traffic. Also, having open floor space makes it easier to spot leaks and damaged goods.
Solution: Create a routine cleaning schedule for high-traffic areas. Use industrial floor scrubbers and sweepers for large floor spaces. Monitor spills and leaks of products and follow proper cleaning procedures.
Storage and Inventory Obstacles
Warehouses usually have large and tall shelves that hold a variety of materials and inventory. This type of storage can make it easy to overlook dust and dirt between boxes, on the back of shelves, and around storage containers.
Solution: Add a deep cleaning schedule to your routine. Create the schedule based on low inventory periods or slower times when you can rearrange your storage layout.
Handling Hazardous Materials and Spills
Hazardous materials pose immediate risks when handled improperly or accidentally. When hazardous materials spill or leak in a warehouse, they require immediate and specialized cleaning protocols.
Solution: Equip your staff with proper training for hazardous materials in your warehouse. Ensure you have an emergency response plan to clean spills quickly and adequately. Ensure your cleaning team knows the proper procedures and has the right equipment to handle hazardous materials and spills.
Maintenance of Outdoor Areas
It is essential to maintain the safety and cleanliness in the external areas of your warehouse. Loading docks and parking lots accumulate dust, grease, and debris from staff, visitors, and shipments.
Solution: Schedule power washing for outdoor spaces and loading areas every few months. Use mats at entrances to minimize tracking outdoor debris into your facility. Have trash bins near the front door and eating areas so visitors and staff can properly dump trash.
Adhere to Safety Standards
Following safety regulations and precautions protect your business and staff. From hazardous materials to advanced equipment, there is great potential for your staff to severely injure themselves if they are unaware of how to safely navigate your warehouse.
Solution: Prioritize safety through staff training, providing personal protective equipment (PPE), and adhering to industry-specific safety guidelines. Have safety signs throughout your warehouse as needed. Maintain regular inspections and practice preventative maintenance to ensure everyone’s safety.
While warehouses provide functional space for a business, they also pose significant challenges for cleaning and maintaining safety. By addressing these challenges with strategic planning, suitable equipment, and a commitment to proper cleaning routines, your warehouse will be a safe environment for all operations.
ServiceMaster Clean is ready to assist you with your warehouse cleaning needs. Our trained professionals are trained to handle hazardous materials and use the right equipment to ensure a thorough cleaning you can trust. Find a location near you for a free quote.
