From the reception desk to goods in: general cleaning tasks in industry

In industrial companies, there are cleaning tasks in production that are directly related to the actual business. Cleanliness is a prerequisite for keeping processes flowing smoothly, for maintaining a high quality of products and for preserving the value of the infrastructure. There are also those cleaning tasks that ensure the surroundings are pleasant and inviting for employees and visitors. These include maintaining outside areas, cleaning offices and meeting rooms, tea kitchens, canteens and sanitary facilities, as well as goods in, cold storage rooms, warehouses and production halls. This work need not be time-consuming if standardised processes and suitable equipment are used.

General cleaning tasks in industry: A person cleans the floor in the facility

The benefits of standardisation: a fast track to the cleaning concept

A look at an industrial company shows that there are many different types of room that need to be cleaned – from foyers to warehouses and everything in between. Cleaning concepts can be developed quickly by using a system that outlines cleaning tasks, available machinery, manual equipment, detergents and suitable methods for every category of room. This results in efficient processes, high, consistent quality of cleaning and economical use of resources.

A man cleans the floor with a Kärcher walk-behind scrubber-dryer

Specialist infrastructure: from the canteen kitchen to logistics

Firstly, industrial companies have specialist infrastructure. Large companies have canteens with suitably large kitchens that must be cleaned in accordance with the applicable hygiene guidelines such as HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point). There are also production-related areas, such as intralogistics, between goods in, production and goods out. To ensure work is safe and processes are smooth, the cleaning concepts must be customised to the industry in question. For example, crisp production in the food industry involves a lot of grease, whereas in the field of electronics production, dust is the main contaminant that needs to be removed.

From the outside in: stopping dirt from entering

The importance of cleaning outside areas is often underestimated, but if the outside is kept clean, there will be far less cleaning to do inside. It is particularly important to ensure that dirt is not trodden in at the entrances. To this end, driveways and paths should be regularly cleared of loose dirt. The dirt collection system before, in and beyond goods in should also be cleaned several times a day to ensure that it fulfils its function at all times. Keeping the outside area clean not only reduces the amount of work involved in interior cleaning; in summer, it makes for an attractive appearance, and in wet, cold weather, paths are best swept and even gritted for extra safety.

A man cleans the floor with a Kärcher industrial sweeper

The container of a vacuum sweeper is being emptied

An overview of floors and surfaces: offices, meeting rooms and more besides

Whether in reception, a meeting room or the offices, company employees and visitors alike appreciate a well-maintained, clean environment. Cleaning floors is therefore a major talking point, and robotic vacuum cleaners and scrubber dryer robots can now make work much easier if the conditions are suitable for them. There is also the matter of cleaning surfaces, especially surfaces with frequent hand and skin contact. The colour-coding system can be used to avoid the transfer of germs when cleaning sanitary facilities: different coloured microfibre cloths or mop covers represent the different areas of use for added safety and control.