Tips for Cleaning High Traffic Areas of Your Warehouse

The challenges of cleaning high traffic areas of a warehouse

As a warehouse or industrial manager, you will probably know all too well that the busiest areas of your facility can become dirty and grubby incredibly quickly. A constant flow of forklifts, pallet trucks, pickers, packers and other warehouse staff can lead to significant wear and tear. 

Unfortunately this can create a vicious cycle when it comes to cleaning, as the busy areas obviously create dirt and grime, however, at the same time you don’t want to interrupt your operations for cleaning and potentially disrupt your productivity. 

This blog explores some helpful tips for cleaning high traffic areas of your warehouse without negatively impacting your day to day operations. 

Understanding high traffic areas of a warehouse

High traffic areas in warehouses typically include the following: 

These are areas that experience heavy footfall or heavy equipment movement, and are therefore prone to building up dust, dirt and debris quite quickly. For example, torn pieces of plastic wrap and packaging can quickly litter areas, or dirty footprints and tyre marks can make the floor an eyesore. 

High traffic and high touch areas are also prime locations for the growth and spread of bacteria, making regular cleaning essential. 

Tips for cleaning high traffic areas of a warehouse

Tip 1 – Make a warehouse cleaning checklist and schedule that works for you and your site

Every warehouse has its own schedule and its own needs. You may be at full effort 24/7 to process orders, or you may have regular quieter hours at specific times. Identify the best time for your site to fit in regular cleaning, whether that’s daily, weekly, monthly or annually. You can check out our blog on how to create your ultimate warehouse cleaning checklist here.  

Tip 2 – Use the right equipment

Depending on the size of your facility, you may have very large floors that will need almost daily cleaning to keep maintained. Make sure you’re using equipment of an appropriate strength or functionality; there’s no point sending a single operative with a mop to clean an entire production shop floor! 

Consider ride on sweepers or walk behind floor scrubbers, and always ensure that there are regular cleaning stations with sweeping brushes, dustpans and brushes etc. More importantly, make sure your cleaning stations are always stocked properly – we often go to sites where cleaning stations are completely empty as the tools have been lost or misplaced. 

Tip 3 – Focus on floor maintenance

With high traffic areas, warehouse flooring is going to be the prime culprit for dirt buildup, both from heavy footfall but also forklifts, pallet trucks, palletisers and any another machinery moving through the space. 

Make sure floors are swept daily to keep on top of dirt and debris, and use a floor scrubber 2-3 times weekly depending on the size and function of the area. Clean spills immediately to prevent staining and slipping hazards. 

Tip 4 – Work around production demands

Cleaning high traffic areas without disrupting operations can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. Start by making your own warehouse cleaning schedule that works around the specific needs of your site.

Schedule major cleaning tasks during off-peak hours and implement a “clean as you go” policy to encourage all staff to contribute to maintaining a clean workplace throughout their shifts. Use clear signage and floor markings to guide footfall and traffic flow.  

Conclusion