Four Steps to A Clean Warehouse

Benefits of a Clean Warehouse 

Certainly, cleanliness and organization are good things to maintain all year long. Proper sanitization prevents the build-up of bacteria, mold, and mildew. It protects your inventory (dirty environments jeopardize consumable, raw, and perishable goods) and your employees from getting sick. In addition, a clean and orderly workplace promotes:

• Safety
• Increased productivity
• Improved accuracy
• Better inventory management
• Stronger work ethic
• Higher job satisfaction

Many basic chores should be taken care of daily or weekly. However, staying on top of every nook and cranny in real-time in a working warehouse usually proves a challenge. Therefore, it’s good to consistently deep clean the whole warehouse to get back on track!

Getting Started — Four Steps! 

Have a Plan 

Think ahead and build a plan of attack. Be sure to choose a time when the work floor is quieter. Prepare a checklist of what needs to be done, when it needs to be accomplished, and who will do it. The last thing you want is for cleaning to hamper productivity.

Ensure all your tools are present and accounted for, including gloves, mops, rags, bristled brushes, cleaner solutions, sanitizers, and disinfectants.

Get Rid of Clutter 

Clutter is one of the first things you need to address. Broken pallets, scrap pieces of cardboard, broken or unused tools, empty cartons, and shipping containers can pile up in the corner unnoticed. Give it all a new home in the dumpster. Take a look at your supplies and materials — assess which help orchestrate a smooth workflow, and which are counterproductive. Throw out anything you don’t need, or relocate it where it will be more useful.

It’s Time to Clean 

Once the clutter is removed, it’s time to clean and sanitize the warehouse from top to bottom. Remember that proper sanitization is a pivotal contributor to the health of your workers and the preservation of your perishable inventory. Plus, not much feels better than a freshly scrubbed-clean environment.

• Dust and wipe off all shelves, partitions, and light fixtures — especially in high-up, hard-to-reach places.
• Check for mold and mildew and clear from premises. (Sinks and drains are common places for mold to fester.)
• Scrub down the walls.
• Hose down outdoor signage, walkways, and loading docks.
• Clean the carpets, curtains, and upholstery.
• Mop the floors.
• Sanitize high contact surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, sinks and faucets, shelving, railings, trolleys, grab bars, and keys.

Don’t Skip Machinery 

Don’t forget about your equipment and machinery. As heavily handled items, they not only need thorough sanitation but proper, year-round maintenance. Keep in mind that machinery must be in the off position when cleaning. In addition, some pieces of equipment should be cleaned by specialized service technicians.

A clean warehouse is an essential component of a successful business!

Looking to Recruit New Talent? Career Concepts Can Help.

Is it time to “clean” your team and recruit some new talent to your staff? At Career Concepts, we have over 50 years of bringing the best talent to the table. Call us today and let us help you build up your crew.