Holiday shopping season is no longer limited to the weeks between Black Friday and December 25. This year, nearly 50% of shoppers will have begun their holiday shopping by Halloween, meaning that the time for retailers to prepare for larger crowds (and the mess they can bring) is NOW. 

 

That’s why it’s essential for retail facilities to get ahead of cleaning and maintenance before they’re stretched thin by throngs of shoppers. After all, retail is a fiercely competitive field, and first impressions are everything. The cleanliness and hygiene of a store can significantly impact customer perception, experience and their willingness to purchase. Maintaining a clean and inviting retail space not only enhances the brand image but also ensures a safe and healthy environment for customers and employees alike. Read on for some essential commercial cleaning tips tailored specifically to retail spaces.

 

Just like at home, consistency is key when it comes to maintaining a clean retail space. If a retail facility isn’t cleaned until someone notices it’s dirty, it’s already too late. Facility managers should establish a detailed cleaning schedule that outlines daily, weekly, and monthly tasks, with responsibilities assigned to specific employees or shifts. If staffing shortages are an issue, contracting with a commercial cleaning company can be a lifesaver, as can investing in automated solutions for routine tasks such as floor cleaning and disinfection. New janitorial task management apps can also come in handy thanks to their ability to create dynamic task lists and directly assign, track and monitor cleaning. However it’s accomplished, having an airtight cleaning workflow ensures that nothing falls through the cracks, and the store always looks its best.

 

Thorough cleaning is easiest when you have the right tools for the job. Commercial cleaning suppliers can be a treasure trove of information and assistance in selecting the right tools for a retail facility. When facilities purchase or lease powerful cleaning equipment such as commercial-grade vacuum cleaners and floor scrubbers or their new automated robotic counterparts, it’s an investment that pays dividends over time in terms of cleanliness achieved vs. time spent. High-quality tools not only increase efficiency but also deliver better results, leaving retail spaces spotless and ready to impress customers.

 

High-traffic areas like entrances, cash wraps, restrooms and fitting rooms can accumulate dust, dirt and debris at a surprisingly fast rate. Floors in these zones should be cleaned frequently throughout the day with regular sweeping, vacuuming, and mopping. Nimble automated solutions like the CC1 are ideal to keep floor cleaning in high-traffic areas performed on schedule. High-touch surfaces such as cash wrap counters, self-service kiosks, and especially restrooms should also be sanitized and disinfected multiple times each day. This onerous job is made easier (70% easier) with a powerful multifunctional tool like the new SH1 scrubber-dryer. Maintaining rigorous standards not only ensures a clean appearance but also helps prevent the spread of germs, contributing to a healthier shopping environment.

 

The flooring in a retail space takes a beating, with both customers and staff tracking in dirt, creating spills, and contributing to wear and tear. Depending on climate, snow, slush and rain can make floor cleaning all the more important–and complex. It’s no wonder that floor cleaning and maintenance are some of the most time-intensive tasks that custodial workers handle. The good news is that commercial floor cleaning equipment, sized appropriately to the facility’s square footage, can help cleaners tackle the floors much faster. The bad news is that there aren’t always enough staff or custodians to handle the floors along with the regular tidying and surface disinfection that needs to happen every day. That’s why many retail businesses and other large facilities are turning to new autonomous floor cleaning solutions to keep floors spotless. Floor cleaning robots clean floors to a high standard automatically with very little in the way of human involvement. The aforementioned CC1 combines all floor cleaning tasks into one unit, including sweeping, vacuuming, mopping and scrubbing. With floor cleaning automated, valuable staff resources can be reallocated to deep cleaning, surface disinfection, building maintenance and more.

 

Dusting is an often overlooked but highly necessary component of any retail facility cleaning workflow. Not only can dust accumulate on shelves, displays, and merchandise, it also rapidly settles on high, hard-to-reach surfaces such as ceilings, rafters, light fixtures and HVAC vents. While eye-level dusting can easily be accomplished by store employees as part of scheduled cleaning duties, high dusting is best performed by trained professionals who have access to the right tools, products, and safety equipment. This type of complex dusting may only be needed a few times per year, but it pays rewards by improving indoor air quality, preventing falling debris, and eliminating the risk of overhead combustible dust. 

 

Effective waste management is crucial for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in a retail space. With today’s shoppers rarely entering a store without a beverage in hand, strategically placed trash receptacles can help ensure that those holiday-themed lattes don’t end up on the floor or stashed onto shelves. Larger retail facilities may house their own food and drink service areas, necessitating multiple trash bins throughout the space. Regular emptying of trash cans encourages the less-than-conscientious shopper to place their used coffee cups, soda bottles, and chip bags in the correct place. Implementing a facility recycling program and installing visible recycling bins also encourages proper disposal while boosting brand image. 

 

The condition of a retail store's restroom can leave a lasting impression on customers. Employees must also use the on-site restrooms, and maintaining them well for staff comfort should be a priority. Restrooms should be one of the most frequently cleaned areas of a retail facility due not only to perception, but the real hazards that exist in the form of germs, potential plumbing issues, and spilled water on the floors. Luckily, restroom cleaning just got a whole lot easier with new tools like the SH1 scrubber-dryer, which combines machine cleaning power with nimble ergonomics to reduce multi-surface cleaning time by 70%. In addition to cleaning, always ensure restrooms are well-stocked with essentials like soap, paper towels, and toilet paper. 

 

Clean, streak-free windows and glass surfaces are essential for maintaining a bright and inviting retail space. Regularly clean windows and glass displays to allow natural light to shine through, making the store look more appealing. Pay attention to fingerprints, smudges, and any accumulated dirt. Tools like the SH1 can make glass window and door cleaning much easier. Or, consider outsourcing larger jobs to a commercial window cleaning service for areas that are hard to reach. 

 

While pest issues such as rats, mice, and cockroaches are more commonly associated with restaurants and commercial kitchens, retail facilities aren’t immune to the scourge—especially if they contain a food service component. Pests can gain easy access to a retail space through loading areas and automatic doors, making comfortable homes for themselves in storerooms, walls, or behind fixtures. Investing in regular professional pest control and consulting with experts on best practices for prevention are essential to protecting merchandise and maintaining a hygienic facility. 

 

While hearing negative feedback isn’t always pleasant, having a system in place for customers to note cleanliness concerns or maintenance issues can pay off in the long run. A real-time and higher tech alternative to a comment card or survey involves simple IoT sensors placed in strategic locations like restrooms and food service areas. These sensors are designed to be touch sensitive, and customers can be encouraged via signage to touch the sensor to alert store staff of cleanliness issues. When integrated with a janitorial scheduling app like Pringle Pristine, touching the sensor will trigger an alert that assigns cleaning tasks directly to designated staff members. Enabling this type of customer-driven data and responsiveness is a win-win. When shoppers feel that their opinions matter, they’re more likely to feel loyalty towards the store and keep shopping there. And, the feedback can alert management to issues they might not have been aware of. Use customer input to make necessary improvements and adjustments to the cleaning routine to ensure the facility remains an inviting place to shop.

 

If your retail facility could use some extra muscle when it comes to cleaning, let’s start a conversation on automated solutions that could be a perfect fit. Get in touch today!