A 12 Step Winter Cleaning Checklist: Retail Cleaning Part 2

The holidays are just around the corner, and Americans are ready to shop. Consulting firm Deloitte predicts retail holiday sales will top $1 trillion this year. Use the winter cleaning checklist below to ensure your retail store looks its best for holiday shoppers.

Give Your Entryway Some Holiday TLC

The entryway is the customer’s first glimpse of your business. Take special care to ensure it reflects your commitment to cleanliness.

1. If you don’t have an entry mat, or the one you own is showing its age, purchase a new anti-fatigue mat. Entryway mats go a long way toward reducing the dirt tracked into your store.
2. Throughout the holiday season, wash doors and windows frequently to keep them free of handprints, streaks and dirt.
3. Entryways need lots of cleaning during the holidays. Save time by building a mobile cleaning station that can live near the entrance. Many versatile tools, like the i-mop XL^®, are compact enough to tuck behind a counter or in a freestanding cabinet.
   

Survey Outdoor Space

Snow and dirt don’t materialize in your aisles. They come from slushy sidewalks, snow-covered curbs and unplowed parking spaces. Luckily, when it comes to the mess left by snow, a few minutes of prevention can save hours of retail store cleaning.

4. Place a sign outside the entrance asking customers to wipe their shoes on the entry mat before coming inside.
5. Make sure you have an adequate supply of your preferred anti-slip substance. Many cold-weather cities offer free sand to residents and businesses. 
6. If you have multiple parking spaces, designate areas for snow piles. Piles shouldn’t block parking spaces or walkways or affect visibility.

Go Beyond the Sales Floor

Your sales floor isn’t the only place that needs cleaning. Even if customers never set foot in them, all visible spaces in your retail store should stay in tip-top shape.

7. Keep the space behind your cash register neat and uncluttered. If you don’t have drawers or cabinet space, collapsible storage bins are a quick and inexpensive way to corral small items.  
8. If you have fitting rooms, make sure all mirrors are polished and replace any burned out lightbulbs or missing hooks.
9. In play areas, clearly mark places to store toys, books or games when not in use. Regularly disinfect anything children might handle, like plastic toys or chairs.

Plan Duties and Rewards

When establishing your winter cleaning plan, don’t forget the human element. Your employees are your best asset when it comes to holding dirt at bay.

10. Well before the holiday season, make sure all employees are trained in all cleaning tasks, and that everyone knows how to use cleaning equipment. This doesn’t just go for new or temporary workers — even longstanding employees can benefit from a refresher in winter cleaning.
11. If your sales floor employees handle cleaning duties, plan carefully for your store’s high-traffic times. During these rush periods, employees can get so busy helping customers that it becomes difficult to keep up with cleaning.
12. Set up a reward system for employees to motivate them to follow cleaning guidelines. Give them the ability to reward coworkers “caught in the act” of putting a focus on cleanliness.

Use the 12 Step Winter Cleaning Checklist to clean smarter, not harder, this holiday season, and discover how a clean store can impact your bottom line.