Cleaning And Disinfecting Your Retail Space

disinfecting retail space

Cleaning And Disinfecting Your Retail Space

disinfecting retail space

With the Covid-19 pandemic still gripping the nation, operating a retail store can be quite challenging. It is difficult enough with occupancy restrictions and many people avoiding public spaces altogether. One thing is certain, providing a clean and safe environment for both staff and customers is of paramount importance. Here are some tips for cleaning and disinfecting your retail space:

Train Your Staff

Cleaning and disinfecting are two steps in a process that is designed to help reduce or eliminate germs and viruses on surfaces in your retail space. Your staff needs to be trained in how to properly clean and disinfect surfaces. It is no longer enough to just send them out with a rag and a bottle of Windex.

Staff members should know how to don appropriate PPE and should be required to wear gloves and masks when cleaning. In addition, they should understand that surfaces must be cleaned before they can be disinfected. They should be well-versed in the chemicals being used and know their efficacy and dwell time. They should be conscious of high-touch surfaces that require more frequent cleaning. Furthermore, they should understand what cross-contamination is and how to avoid it through proper cleaning protocols.

In the midst of a pandemic, the spread of germs and viruses is of great concern. A well-trained cleaning crew can be the difference between a germ-free retail space and a dangerous one. Conversely, a poorly trained cleaning crew can actually do more harm than good. Using dirty cleaning cloths and mops in multiple rooms and on multiple surfaces can literally spread germs throughout your retail space. This puts you, your staff, and your customers at risk.

Clean Continually

Retail spaces (especially those with a lot of foot traffic) require constant cleaning. High-touch surfaces should be cleaned and sanitized continually throughout the day.  Door handles, cash registers, credit card machines, shopping carts, and checkout counters are just some of the surfaces that are constantly in contact with people.  Consequently, these are the surfaces most likely to harbor germs and viruses.

For high-traffic retail spaces, there should be dedicated cleaners that work diligently to ensure cleanliness throughout your store. While this will require additional staff and payroll, it is the best way to ensure that your store is safe. In the long run, you may find that hiring a day porter or commercial cleaning company is a less expensive and more efficient solution. This ensures effective cleaning and disinfecting and instills trust from a customer’s perspective. Your patrons will appreciate the fact that you take their health and safety seriously and are actively promoting a safer shopping environment.

Encourage Good Hygiene

Not only should your staff be required to follow good hygiene practices like wearing face masks and regular hand washing. You should also encourage customers to do the same. Providing fresh face masks for those who do not have one and placing hand sanitizers throughout your store promotes good hygiene amongst your patrons. With the current health threat on everyone’s mind, most patrons will appreciate the fact that you are providing the resources that they need to stay safe.

Perform Daily Deep Cleanings

This is where a commercial cleaning company can really help to keep your retail environment safe. Daily, after-hours deep cleanings should be a part of any effective cleaning and disinfecting program. A qualified commercial cleaning company will have the tools and know-how to thoroughly clean and disinfect your retail space. You can begin each workday knowing that your environment is clean and germ-free.

Demanding times such as these require that we go above and beyond our normal routine and while it adds an additional burden for the retailer, in the long run, it builds customer confidence and can be the difference between a busy retail store and an empty one.