Keeping The Warehouse Neat And Tidy

Constant maintenance is required to keep a warehouse looking clean and attractive. The daily flow of activity in and out of the warehouse means wear and tear on floor coverings, counters, doors and other surfaces which are walked upon leaned against pushed or pulled.

Merchandise is picked up, handled and put down again – seldom back in its proper place. The floor becomes disorganized. Dirt and grime quickly accumulate. Glass and metal surfaces get dusty and smudged. Rubbish builds up. Bathrooms become messy and unsanitary. Boxes and packing materials pile up in stockrooms and behind sales counters. From parking lots to fitting rooms, retailers must keep head of housekeeping problems that could inconvenience, or endanger staff and slow down production.

Staff should do their part in keeping the warehouse clean:

Sidewalks

Leaves, rubbish and other debris can quickly collect in front of stores. Gum, cold drink spills and other sticky patches can make walking uncomfortable. Debris must be picked up and thrown away. Pavements must be swept daily – or more often along busy city streets. If necessary, sidewalks should be hosed down to loosen bird droppings and stuck-on dirt. The gutters in front of stores should also be cleaned.

Windows, Doors And Entrances

Exterior glass windows and doors should be cleaned at least once a week or even once a day if needed. Check that doors open easily and close quietly. Doormats should be provided so mud and dirt are not tracked inside. They should be placed in such a way that people will not trip on them entering or leaving the warehouse – tape them down if necessary. These doormats should be cleaned frequently and replaced when worn. Also, keep ramps and entrances clear for handicapped staff.

Parking Areas

Parking lots must be practical and feel secure. Sweep up broken glass and pick up rubbish. Make certain that restricted parking spaces are clearly marked. Check that lights are working. If lights are out, contact maintenance to replace them (unless you are able to do this yourself).

Carpets and Floors

Floors should be swept, and if necessary, mopped, too. These and other housekeeping tasks should be done at the end of the workday or before the warehouse opens when there is low traffic. Wet surfaces, however, should be cleaned up immediately to prevent slips and falls.

Counters, Fixtures, and Other Surfaces

Dust and grime build up quickly on counters and fixtures. These surfaces should be dusted regularly. Glass cases and countertops must be cleaned daily with window cleaner to keep them smudge-free. Chrome, brass and other metallic surfaces should be polished, too. This not only keeps the warehouse looking clean, but also prevents the merchandise from getting soiled.

Rubbish Pickup

When rubbish bins are full, empty them. Place new liners or bags in the bins. Wipe spills and stains off the rubbish bin. Clean up around the rubbish bin, too. Occasionally, spray disinfectant in and around the rubbish bin. If you are not responsible for this task, contact the maintenance department and ask someone to do the job for you.

Checkouts

Keep checkouts free from clutter. Sort through papers, receipts, etc. and put each in its proper place. Place returned merchandise on a rack or in a bin to be put back out on the warehouse floor. Throw away paper cups, wrappers and any other rubbish. Keep bags, gift boxes and tissue neatly arranged behind the counter. Make sure pens are available for customers and sales assistants – and make sure that they do work!

Bathrooms

Nobody likes to clean a bathroom. Do not neglect this important duty! It is unpleasant but very necessary. Make sure toilets are clean and working. Keep sinks clean. Whether you are responsible for sanitizing or not, you should periodically check the restrooms for problems. That way, you can take care of small problems before they become big ones. Check that sinks and toilets are not blocked up. If hand dryers are used, check that they are in working order. Make certain that toilet paper, paper towels, facial tissues and soap are in supply. Call for maintenance on any problems you cannot or are not authorized to fix.

Restocking

When restocking the shelves/floor, make sure that goods are put where they belong. This may seem obvious, but when you are busy, shelves, racks and other stocking units can quickly be emptied. You must make certain that those empty spaces are filled correctly – don’t take the first space you see just because it is available. Do not arbitrarily change product locations, either. Nor should you change the distribution of different sized merchandise.

Returned Goods

Do not pile up returned merchandise. Carefully check returned merchandise. If it is not damaged, it should be returned to the bay as quickly as possible. Make certain it has the correct price tag attached. Then neatly place it back on the correct rack, shelf or table. If the merchandise is damaged, then follow company procedures for dealing with damaged merchandise. Send it to the repair department or return it to the manufacturer.