The holidays are an empty time at most businesses. The usual buzzing office and production floor make holiday shut-downs prime for facility cleaning and maintenance.
While daily operations may be minimal, the holiday shut-down should be optimized for efficient execution of the preventative maintenance and deep cleaning tasks that can’t be completed during busy periods. Many tasks should be planned and carried out efficiently in a short period time to maximize funds and time; making costly holiday shut down mistakes can slow efforts and get in the way of accomplishing both goals.
Avoiding outsourcing
When trying to stick to a budget, it can be tempting to handle all holiday shut-down maintenance and cleaning in-house. However, spreading staff thin over the holidays can be a major expense; this is especially when factoring in overtime and holiday pay (if the company offers the latter).
Utilizing vendors for certain tasks can also be an efficient use of funds because tasks can be done simultaneously. This ensures that less funds are spent on staffing and that the scheduled tasks are completed quickly and proficiently. Determine what tasks should be done in-house versus outsourced; contact vendors for quotes to do a cost analysis of each holiday shut-down maintenance and cleaning task.
Not having a plan
A carefully scheduled effort is imperative for adequate preparation. Parts can be ordered for maintenance tasks. Vendor schedules can be coordinated so that many tasks are completed in different areas or so that one task is finalized before the next comes in.
A holiday shut-down schedule can also be helpful when selecting vendors. For example, if remodeling office space is on the list, it can be advantageous to hire one vendor for the remodeling and deep cleaning that follows. Draft a schedule and contact the vendors for quotes accordingly.
Not scheduling floor cleaning
A floor cleaning should be an obligatory task on every holiday shut-down maintenance and cleaning list. In addition to maintaining a professional facility impression, an empty facility guarantees an easier floor cleaning. Beyond that, a deep commercial floors cleaning can remove deep-ground debris and salt from carpet fibers and grout. This build-up can cause facility floors to get slippery, increasing the risk for slips, falls, and other common workplace injuries.
The build-up of grime is not only a risk to employees and visitors; it is also a costly mistake. Facility floors that are not regularly cleaned can cost more to strip and clean. Schedule floor cleaning so that areas are cleaned when maintenance is not planned in that area (and visa versa).
Ignoring a restroom sanitization
A thoroughly cleaned and disinfected restroom is necessary for employee health and productivity (especially during cold and flu season), as well as creating a favorable impression with guests and clients. Regular restroom cleaning can be done during regular office hours; a deep clean is infinitely easier when staffing is low.
During a holiday shut-down, a meticulous restroom sanitation should be scheduled (use this complete restroom sanitation checklist). When staffing is needed for other holiday shut-down maintenance and cleaning tasks, or for a more efficient use of time, contact a commercial cleaning service and schedule accordingly.
