When you think about industrial settings like warehouses and factories, cleanliness might not be the first thing that springs to mind. Being high traffic environments, dust, dirt and debris can blow inside every time the doors are opened. But in actual fact cleanliness in these places is really important to maintain safety, efficiency, and compliance. Having your facility in a well maintained condition reduces the risk of accidents, equipment and machinery breakdowns, and product contamination. But the question business owners and site managers need to know is, how often should a warehouse or factory be professionally cleaned?
We can use the old adage ‘How long is a piece of string?’ as there is no specific answer to this question. It depends on the type of facility, the type of business, and regulatory requirements.
But we can all follow guidelines and practices, and these can help to determine a cleaning schedule that works for your business.
The Importance of Regular Industrial Cleaning
Why is cleaning so important for factories and warehouses? After all, they’re often full of dirty machines and piled with stock which is all protected by its packaging. Well, here’s the lowdown:
- Health and Safety Compliance – Clean facilities reduce hazards like slips, trips and exposure to harmful substances.
- Equipment maintenance – Dust and debris can damage machinery over time, so cleaning it regularly keeps it in better condition.
- Product quality – Cleanliness prevents contamination, especially in food production, pharmaceuticals, and electronics manufacturing.
- Regulatory standards – If you fail to meet hygiene standards then you could be fined, or worse still, shut down.
- Worker Productivity – A clean and well maintained premises improves employee morale, which is good for productivity.
The frequency of your clean should take these factors into mind.
General Cleaning Frequency
While each factory or warehouse is different, some general guidelines help to find a starting point. We can break down tasks into different categories – areas that need daily cleaning, weekly cleaning and monthly or bimonthly cleaning.
Daily cleaning
High traffic and usage areas need daily cleaning to keep on top of hygiene.
- Toilets and staff/break rooms – These should be cleaned at least once a day, more if there are several shifts of workers passing through them.
- Entrances and walkways – This reduces dirt transfer into the workspace.
- High touch surfaces – Door handles, control panels, hand and stair rails, and light switches should be disinfected regularly, especially in cold and flu season.
- Spill and waste management – General waste should be collected daily to avoid pest infestations, while spills need immediate attention.
Weekly cleaning
Cleaning tasks that are carried out weekly need a deeper clean that the ones done daily.
- Floors – Although floors should be swept or vacuumed daily, industrial floors need a deeper clean weekly to cut through grime build up. This may involve scrubbing, polishing, or pressure washing.
- Machinery exteriors – Cleaning down external parts of equipment can help prevent the build up of dirt that can interfere with performance.
- Shelving and racking – Dust and debris can accumulate. This not only looks unsightly, but can also be a fire risk.
Monthly or bimonthly cleaning
Larger areas often need monthly or bimonthly cleaning, often needing a professional contractor.
- Ceilings, beams, and light fittings – These areas are renowned for collecting dust and cobwebs. If left uncleaned, they can fall onto products or machinery.
- Walls and hard to reach areas – Regular deep cleaning helps maintain overall hygiene and appearance.
- Air vents and HVAC systems – Air systems should be cleaned regularly to maintain air quality and energy efficiency.
Quarterly to bi-annual deep cleaning
Most factories and warehouses need a comprehensive deep clean every 3 to 6 months. This clean could include:
- Production lines and equipment
- Steam cleaning or degreasing industrial surfaces
- Warehouse shelving, loading docks, and storage areas
- Sanitising areas where bacteria can form
These kinds of services are generally carried out by professional contractors who have certification and equipment specifically for the use of industrial grade products and chemicals.
What can influence cleaning frequency?
Your business’ cleaning schedule in not just about industry dependence, it can be affected by different factors specific to your site:
- Footfall and machinery use – Busy warehouses with heavy footfall or machinery that is constantly running will naturally accumulate more dust, dirt and hazards.
- Type of product – Warehouses which store food, chemicals, or sensitive electricals need more frequent cleaning that those storing durable goods like furniture or tools.
- The size of the workforce – More workers means more mess! Communal areas get high usage, which increases the chances of spills or contamination.
- Seasonal changes – Colder months bring mud and moisture! Warmer months bring more dry dust. Adjusting your cleaning schedule to suit the seasons can help maintain year round high standards.
- Regulatory inspections – If your factory or warehouse has regular health and safety inspections, frequent cleaning makes sure you are ready for audits and keeps your business compliant with regulations.
The benefits of using a professional cleaning contractor
Your employees will undoubtedly manage daily tidying, a professional cleaning contractor has expertise and will bring industrial grade equipment and products the deliver safe results.
Benefits include:
- Access to high performance and efficient cleaning tools and products.
- Staff who are trained in health and safety regulations.
- Disruption free services through out of hours options.
- Tailored schedules based on assessment.
One of Brightr’s specialities is warehouse and factory cleaning. We provide an expert level of industrial cleaning utilising the correct cleaning machinery, most effective chemicals and highly trained operatives.
Our standard processes include monthly photo audits, reviewing cleaners’ standards and objective setting, and time attendance software. Regularly providing high quality Industrial Cleaning for businesses in Northampton, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Leicestershire, Kettering and Wellingborough and all surrounding areas.
You can get a quote here.
