What Is Facility Cleaning Checklist?

Facility cleaning is done with the aim to keep the property clean and fresh for long and also to preserve its value and make the building last for many years to come. Facility cleaning includes everything from regular cleaning of the place to the maintenance of the property, management, etc. The checklist helps you to remember exactly what you will be cleaning each and every time you clean a facility.

Facility cleaning is the process of increasing the utility of a building by regularly servicing capital assets, commercial appliances, and areas inside or around a building. Capital assets include machinery, robotics, research equipment, and medical devices; commercial appliances include boilers and HVAC units; and areas include rooms, hallways, parking lots, and garages.

This way of safe cleaning is a key part of any residential or commercial property, irrespective of the purpose and how frequently the property is being used. Regular cleaning of your facility will ensure that the place remains clean and beautiful-looking, is safe for workers, families and/or residents and does not contribute to spreading bacteria and viruses. In addition, regular cleaning means the basic cleaning of the important areas such as surfaces, windows, walls, furniture, toilet/bathroom, kitchens, cleanroom, etc. on a regular (daily/weekly) basis.

While, deep cleaning involves an in-depth cleaning of the entire property, including carpets, walls, furniture, vents, electronics, and more, it still depends on the property type if it should be done on a monthly or yearly basis.

Besides regular cleaning, other maintenance work involves occasional safety checks and repairs across the facility, paintwork, renovation, etc.

Why Is Facility Cleaning Important?

The main purpose of facility cleaning is to keep the facility or property clean, fresh, and good-looking for both the residents or workers and the visitors.

A clean and well-managed office facility will not only motivate your employees to work harder but also it will help impress everyone, including potential clients, who visit your premises. In other words, regular cleaning of your facilities will help improve efficiency, increase productivity and may even get you, new clients.

Similarly, the regular cleaning of residential properties such as houses is important not just to make the place look nice and tidy but also to ensure a healthy life for the residents.

A clean facility will keep the property and residents/staff safe from unwanted allergies, germs, and diseases.

Facility Cleaning is the act of cleaning a facility of any type. Depending on the type of the facility or property, facility cleaning can itself be a very broad term, which may further be divided into categories such as office cleaning, warehouse cleaning, residential cleaning, after builders cleaning, hospital cleaning, childcare cleaning, and more.

A facility can refer to any place or property that is being used for a particular purpose. For example, a hospital facility is used to house and treat patients. On the other hand, the main purpose of a residential facility is to provide a secure and comfortable way of living to residents. Likewise, an office or work facility is intended to be used for commercial purposes.

Parts of a Facility That Needs to Be Cleaned:

General Maintenance. The general area needs to be cleaned at all times. By following a list, all you need to do is follow the items included in it and cross out the ones you have finished.  General upkeep includes the following:

Empty the trash. Clean and reline the trash bins.

Sweep, vacuum, and/or mop the floors (depending on the type of floor).

Wipe down the countertops. Sanitize the surfaces.

Wipe the chairs and tables.

Wipe the front doors. Wash them if needed.

Wipe and sanitize the desks and cabinets. Include the keyboards, computer equipment, and phone.

Dust the file cabinets, desks, and other hard surfaces.

Clean the windows and sills.

Always tidy up the personal area.

Dust the wall hangings, frames, and other decors.

Exterior. You need to clean the exterior as well because maintaining a facility does not only mean the building or establishment itself. When cleaning the exterior, focus on the walkways and keep the front space clutter-free and debris-free. Remove any loose stones, cracks, debris, and other litter in the pavement.  Follow the list below:

Keep the personal area tidy.

Remove any debris or hazards that are blocking the walkways.

Clear the surrounding area and remove all leaves, litter, and other debris.

Check whether the shrubs and trees need trimming.

Check if power washing is needed. In a year, pavement needs to be power washed at least twice.

Check if roof inspection is needed.  Schedule maintenance when needed, especially after or before a storm.

Office Areas. The office area is where most people, employees and clients alike, stay and interact. Hence, it needs extra care and attention. Make sure that you sanitize the areas where bacteria may thrive, such as computer keyboards and mice. Here is what you can follow:

Empty the trash cans. Reline them after cleaning.

Sanitize the desk surfaces and cabinets.

Dust the desks, file cabinets, and hard surfaces.

Wipe down chairs, tables, and other surfaces.

Clean and sanitize keyboards, computer mouse, equipment, phone, and other things that are frequently touched.

Dust wall hangings, decors, and frames.

Wipe and clean the windows and sills.

Organize and declutter the personal area.

Bathrooms and Restrooms. Bathrooms take more time to clean. These areas need to be sanitized often to prevent bacteria build-up. This should be a priority for those offering facility cleaning services. The key areas are door handles, sink spout handles, and toilet handles. These are often touched, so make sure to sanitize them regularly. Here’s the full checklist for bathrooms:

Empty the trash and sanitize the receptacle.

Sanitize and wipe down sinks, countertops, bathroom fixtures, and toilets.

Refill soap dispensers and toilet paper.

Wipe and shine the mirrors and glass surfaces.

Clean the partition walls.

Break Rooms and Kitchens. These areas are shared by employees and management. It can easily become disorganized and dirty. When cleaning these areas, focus on the areas that are often touched, such as handles, vending machine buttons, water fountain buttons, and spouts. Sanitize these daily. Here’s a cleaning template you can follow:

Wipe down and sanitize the fixtures.

Clean and sanitize tabletops, refrigerator, microwave, sink area, vending machines, and water coolers.

Wipe down the chairs and tables.

Clean the fridge and remove old and unclaimed food.

Regularly empty the trash cans. Reline them after.

Sweep, mop, or vacuum the floors.

Fire and Electrical Safety Assessment. This may not be cleaning per se; but it is part of your responsibility. Make sure to do the following:

Regularly check the emergency sprinklers. Take note of any wear or damage.

Keep your fire safety protocols up to date.

Elevator Safety. For buildings with elevators, make sure that you regularly check if there are any scheduled inspections.

Lighting Assessment. Check if there are any expired bulbs. Schedule a regular maintenance for the lighting.

Dust the light fixtures.

AC Vent Assessment. Always make sure that the air conditioning units are in great shape.

Examine the air vents regularly. Check for mold and dust. Clean accordingly. Check if the filters need replacement. Typically, the filters must be replaced once every 1 to 6 months, depending on your assessment.

Maintain the cleanliness of the establishment. Make your job easier by following the facility cleaning checklist. Get cleaning facility services from a professional company to keep the facility you are managing clean and fresh.

Tips In Cleaning A Facility:

Use Floor Mats. Use floor mats in front of doors and under office chairs/desks. These high traffic areas will often accumulate dirt faster than other areas simply because of where they are located. Long runners can be used down hallways as a personal choice, but if your carpets are well maintained and cleaned regularly, you may not need them.Cleaning Tips for the Bathrooms. Firstly, clean the partition walls. Then, wipe down countertops and sinks. Thereafter, sanitize and wipe down bathroom fixtures and make the mirrors shine. Refill toilet paper and the soap dispensers. Sanitize the toilets, and lastly, empty the trash.Cleaning Tips for the Kitchens. First, clean the sink. Then wipe and sanitize the countertops. Sanitize and wipe the fixtures, and lastly, empty the trash.Schedule Regular Cleanings with a Professional Service. Hire a professional cleaning service to clean your office once or twice a week. Most cleaning companies will perform one or two cleanings every week and finish off the month with a thorough, deep clean that involves cleaning the carpets and washing the windows. Regularly scheduled cleanings keep your office smelling fresh and clean.Keep the Right Cleaning Supplies on Hand. Always have appropriate cleaning supplies on hand. Even if you hire a professional cleaning company to come in once or twice a week, having the supplies on hand will allow you to clean up any messes that might occur. Promptly cleaning up spills will prevent staining and keep your office area looking fresh and well-maintained.

What To Do Before and During Cleaning:

Before cleaning and disinfecting, close off areas used by the person who is sick and do not use those areas until after cleaning and disinfecting. Then, wait as long as possible (at least several hours) before you clean and disinfect.

While cleaning and disinfecting, open doors and windows and use fans or HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) settings to increase air circulation in the area. Choose products that are?EPA-approved and use it according to the instructions on the product label. Do not forget to wear a mask and gloves while cleaning and disinfecting. Vacuum the space if needed. Use a vacuum equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter and bags, if available. While vacuuming, temporarily turn off in-room, window-mounted, or on-wall recirculation heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to avoid contamination of HVAC units. Do NOT deactivate central HVAC systems. These systems provide better filtration capabilities and introduce outdoor air into the areas that they serve.

FAQs

Do I need to prepare any equipment and cleaning products?

There is no need to provide the cleaning tools and supplies, since the facility cleaners will bring their own. Still, you can talk to the cleaners before the first cleaning session and get all the details. For example, you can ask the cleaners about the type of cleaning products they plan on using. You can also take the opportunity to let them know if green products are your preferred choice. Not only do green cleaning products make your home a healthier environment, free of any harsh, aggressive chemicals that put your health at risk, but also contribute to the protection of our community. It’s high time we all joined forces with the Alaskan Department of Environmental Protection and keep Alaska’s breathtaking natural environment for generations to come.

How often should a facility be cleaned?

Preferably, a commercial facility such as an office or factory must be cleaned on a daily basis, which should cover the basic cleaning of everything and every area within the property. Moreover, residential properties must also be cleaned on a daily or weekly basis, with deep cleaning once in every few months. For dirt-sensitive facilities such as restaurant kitchens and hospitals, daily basic cleaning along with deep cleaning at least once a month is important to maintain proper cleanliness and safety.

How do I prepare the place for cleaning?

There are really very few things you are supposed to do in preparation for the arrival of cleaning experts. The main thing to have in mind is that there is no reason to do any pre-cleaning, so do not worry about the mess, no matter how terrible it may look like. Professionals have it all planned out and they are sure to stay on top of things from the get-go. However, it is a good idea to remove any clutter, such as toys, clothes, books and magazines, dishes, before the cleaners arrive. This will make the thorough and efficient cleaning of all the surfaces easier. Also, if you want the bed linen and towels changed, be sure to indicate where the clean ones are. Last but not least, make sure your pets are in a safe location so the cleaners could go about their work without being distracted by your fluffy little ones. Of course, you can make special requests, and design your own cleaning checklist, depending on the needs, type and size of your household. You can also ask your cleaners to pay special attention to certain areas of your place and clean them more thoroughly or more frequently. Other than that, you’re all set! Sincere cleaning professionals always provide premium quality, no questions asked.

This checklist is applicable to businesses of all types. From plants and aviation spaces to schools to offices, this handy facility cleaning list will serve as a great reminder of what a space needs to look its best.

Having an effective cleaning process, you must prepare a good checklist and an effective plan. You must be able to prepare a good schedule to be applied that specifies the frequency of the cleaning process, the persons who will be responsible in cleaning, the manner or method of cleaning, and the amount or type of chemicals to be used as a part of the total cleaning process.

Few of the objectives in following a cleaning schedule is to have an extreme effect out of the minimum effort that you give. Doing a regular cleaning will help you in preventing a dirt build-up mostly on the surface, equipment, and facility structure. This will also help you save money because you won’t be taking a hard time making some necessary replacement and repairs. Cleaning is already considered as a responsibility that you have to do to evaluate the efficiency of the schedule.

Bear in mind that visual clutter leads to mental clutter. You might think you have learned to live with various piles, but they are most likely affecting you more intensely than you realize. Your stress levels are linked to your space. Tackling these outstanding to-dos and getting your working area in order will help you manage stress and get more productive.