All facility managers understand the importance of maintaining a good standard of cleanliness.  Providing a clean, healthy workplace environment improves employee well-being, productivity, and performance. It’s also important to give the right impression to visitors with a clean and hygienic environment.

However, maintaining good standards of cleanliness means implementing good habits and policies in your facility to make sure that your cleaning routine is effective. Here are some of our top tips for creating good cleaning habits in facilities.

1. Develop an effective cleaning routine 

A cleaning routine ensures that staff work methodically and efficiently, and also means that all areas and surfaces receive regular cleaning. By mapping out all areas of your facility and creating a routine that covers each area thoroughly, you can be confident that your facility will be consistently clean and tidy throughout. Employee effectiveness is improved in almost every industry by having clear and efficient processes in place, and cleaning is no exception.

2. Inspect the risk before starting to clean

For janitorial companies, safety is a top priority. Your work environment should be a place of safety first. Before beginning a task, a janitor will first observe the work area and make sure it is free of any hazards.  For example, if you see a spill, identify what substance has been spilled so that you can clean it safely and effectively. If the area is busy, it may not be safe to clean it at that specific time, so you may opt to put a sign up warning others to be cautious, for example, a “floor slippery when wet” sign.

Spills are not the only risk that needs to be assessed. Some cleaning products contain harsh chemical compounds or have strong odors. The smells or fumes from these products can cause headaches and other problems for people in the area being cleaned. Impacts other than health and safety also need consideration; for example, loud cleaning machinery can be disruptive to workers in the vicinity.

3. Keep sanitizers throughout your facilities 

Sanitizers kill 99.9% of germs and reduce the spread of bacteria. Having sanitizer available at appropriate points in your facility helps prevent your employees from getting sick, and reduces employee absenteeism. Hand sanitizers are a quick and convenient way to keep people’s hands clean when they are at work and reduce the spread of germs.

Place hand sanitizers and wipes in high-traffic areas like kitchens and meeting rooms rather than in the restrooms. Proper handwashing is more effective than sanitizer, so keep the sanitizer for areas where people either can’t or won’t wash their hands.

4. Use a ph neutral floor cleaner (PH of 6 – 8)

Some floor surfaces can be damaged by harsh cleaning products. Using a neutral-ph floor cleaner reduces the risk of stripping any polished coatings or sealer from your flooring and damaging the floor.

To keep your floors sparkling, you also want to avoid floor cleaners that leave a residue. Not only does this reduce streaking and dullness, but it means there is nothing for dirt to stick to, and so your floors will remain cleaner for longer. Neutral cleaners rinse off surfaces thoroughly and leave little residue. Ph-neutral cleaners are all around safer when you stay within the recommended ph scale of 6-8.

5.     Change the mop heads and water consistently

It’s important not to forget to keep your cleaning tools clean; otherwise, you risk simply spreading dirt around instead of removing it properly. For example, using the same water and mop heads to clean a large facility with mean you are cleaning for most of the time with dirty water and dirty mop heads. This not only fails to clean the floor effectively but will also leave bad odors in the workplace.

6.     Finishing floors requires a detailed eye 

Floors should always be streak, dirt, and residue-free. Sweeping and mopping alone are not enough to create the right finish. There’s an art and craft to good cleaning that takes a detailed eye. Take time when finishing the floor you are working and avoid rushing as this will create small, unnecessary mistakes.

7.     Manage the basic things around the office

The saying “the littlest things can make the biggest difference” is not just a life lesson; it also applies to keeping the workplace clean and tidy. Small things like keeping magazines together in neat stacks, keeping an extra set of trash can liners in the trashcan, and not allowing paper clips to be miscellaneously placed around the office make a big difference. Maintaining these basics will help consistency, routine, and organization flow in your workspace.

8.     Give things a designated area

Make supplies accessible for employees and customers by giving them their own area. Make sure that the area you choose is neatly put together and regularly organized. Messy shelves, cupboards, or supply areas make it difficult to find what you need and can make an otherwise tidy workplace look messy and disorganized.

9.     Deodorize

Deodorizers can eliminate unpleasant odors and make your workplace feel more welcoming. However, it’s important to choose deodorizers with a neutral scent. Strongly scented deodorizers can be disturbing to some people who are sensitive to smells, and may even cause headaches or nausea. Aiming for a pleasant, subtle, neutral smell will keep employees and visitors comfortable while still eliminating unpleasant odors.

Implementing these suggestions allows you to maintain a clean, healthy working environment. Of course, to ensure your facility is always presented in the best possible manner, employing a professional cleaning service is preferred.  Team Clean provides office cleaning services across the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Our eleven-point Office Check System ensures a clean and clutter-free office environment, and our Spotless Restrooms program is used to eradicate harmful microorganisms that can contaminate a building