Focus on your sales! Here’s a quick guide to retail store cleaning. Not enough time or staff? Hire a janitorial service to do it right.
While rewarding and satisfying, owning or managing a retail store is a huge job with significant responsibilities. To run a successful business your focus is almost entirely on moving product, keeping a well-stocked inventory, and managing employees.
The added responsibility of retail store cleaning often falls to the bottom of the priority list, not to mention a task that no one wants to do. But, it’s integral to the success of your retail business. A store that doesn’t appear clean is not an inviting one and will work against your ability to sell product, no matter the quality of your inventory. A clean store, on the other hand, welcomes visitors and encourages them not only to stay and browse, but it promotes a sense of health and safety that will help increase sales.
Yes, it’s a seemingly thankless job. But when you prioritize your retail store cleaning and do it well, it’s only going to benefit your bottom line as well as your customer and employee satisfaction. Below is a brief yet comprehensive list of essential retail store cleaning tasks to ensure the cleanest safest experience in your facilities possible:
Retail store cleaning tasks – the basics!
There are only about a handful of absolute musts that should be included in your daily retail store cleaning schedule. Whether you do it yourself or assign an employee, it’s important that each of these gets completed thoroughly and consistently to present your very best each and every day.
Dust displays, counters, and shelving. Sanitize countertops, door handles and knobs and any other high-touch surfaces. Empty all of the trash receptacles. Sweep and vacuum floors and carpets, customer spaces but also those areas of your store only frequented by staff. Mop areas that have hardwood, tile, or linoleum.
Do you provide mirrors to your customers. Ensure they are kept clean from dust, streaks, and smears.
Sound like a lot? Unless your shop is very small, it is! Consider hiring a professional janitorial service to ensure it’s done right!
Retail restroom cleaning – essential!
If your store has restrooms, make no mistake, people will absolutely form a judgement about your business based entirely on their cleanliness. They must not be overlooked.
Surfaces, sinks, and fixtures should be clean and sanitized. Check toilets and urinals throughout the day and keep them clean. If your restrooms have carpets, vacuum them daily. Sweep and mop hard floor surfaces. Empty trash receptacles and keep toilet paper and paper towel dispensers clean, disinfected and full.
Break room and storage areas
Consider your cleaning schedule for the restrooms and duplicate the list for your retail store break room. Staff should feel as safe and secure spending time in the break room as they do elsewhere in the store. Certainly, your customer experience is the priority, but happy employees are more productive and loyal employees who want to be at your retail workplace. Cleanliness and sanitization applies to any storage spaces you have, as well.
Again, keep the floors cleaned, vacuumed, swept, and mopped. Surfaces, sink, and fixtures should be clean and sanitized. The same goes for any appliances such as the coffee maker and microwave. Keep soap, hand sanitizer and paper towels stocked and readily available. Trash cans should be emptied every day and cleaned when necessary.
A clean exterior is important, too
A clean, tidy, and inviting exterior, particularly if yours is a business that faces the street, is very important. Keep all of your glass clean – windows and doors. Wipe them clean with glass cleaner every day. Clean and sanitize high-touch areas such as door knobs and handles, surfaces, countertops, etc. Keep the floors clean, swept and vacuumed, clear of dirt, grime, and debris. Wash the floors daily. And, of course, any trash receptacles outside your retail store need emptied consistently – overflowing trash is a turnoff to many shoppers!
We’ve covered the essentials for most retail operations. Of course, every store is different with unique cleaning needs depending on the size and number of shoppers you host every day and the volume of inventory you present and store.
We know that even the basics for retail store cleaning are overwhelming for business owners and managers. That’s why we provide retail janitorial services. Let us help you keep your retail operations as clean, safe, and sanitized as possible so you can focus on the tasks critical to the operation and success of your business.
Let us develop a cleaning protocol and schedule that works best for your store. CONTACT US to discuss your needs for retail store janitorial services.
