With the holiday period now over and the New Year in full swing, many businesses will be returning to capacity. However, with many running at reduced operations over the past month and some shutting down completely, complacency could likely take place across cleaning checklists. Fortunately, at Rubbermaid, we are passionate about ensuring that all businesses can sustain the highest level of cleaning, no matter the circumstances.
The elements you must include on your 2023 cleaning checklist include:
For Foodservice: Clean all stoves, fittings and appliances
In commercial kitchens, appliances may be used hundreds of times within one shift. For example, rice cookers or dishwashers may be in constant use to guarantee that guests receive food quickly, on time and to the highest level of cleanliness. Therefore, a regular cleaning checklist for each end of the shift must guarantee these appliances are all cleaned, sanitised and free from harmful bacteria.
The Rubbermaid HYGEN Microfibre range can guarantee that all pathogens are picked up from these surfaces. This includes pathogens that may be caused by potential cross-contamination or those left behind from food scraps and waste. Launderable microfibre is appropriate for most tasks on a cleaning checklist. Though, disposable alternatives must be used for hazardous waste.
For all businesses: Make sure all corners are cleaned
Corners on the floor, in cupboards and on the roof can be difficult to clean. These corners can, therefore, become a hub for bacteria to build up and spread amongst a room, office, hotel or other commercial premises. Unfortunately, though a cleaning checklist may include cleaning specific corners and roof fittings, if they are inaccessible, they may be avoided by business staff or cleaning staff for safety.
To guarantee all hard-to-reach corners remain bacteria-free; the Rubbermaid range has a selection of cleaning accessories that can provide support. This includes a range of HYGEN quick-connect handles which can clip onto mop heads to improve accessibility.
For Hospitals, Aged Care & Hospitality: Ensure all bedding is cleaned regularly
Regardless of the quality or antimicrobial properties of bedding material, linen, cotton, bamboo or other textiles will all eventually become infected. Within a few days, this can increase the risk of infection among those using the bedding and other people that may come into contact with it, including staff and guests.
When the same guests or patients are using a bed, bedding should be changed, as per a cleaning checklist, at least once per week. However, if a new patient were to move to a bed or a new customer moved to a hotel room, linen must be rotated immediately.
Bedding materials are best changed using a Rubbermaid Cleaning Cart, as it can store clean and dirty sheets independently. This prevents cross-contamination and ensures the premise remains as bacteria-free as possible. For large-scale hotels, hospitals and aged care facilities, cleaning staff can use multiple cleaning carts to improve efficiency. This will also reduce trips back to the storeroom, which can present a contamination risk.
All commercial premises: Guarantee all high touch points are disinfected
High touch-point areas are by far one of the most important aspects to consider in a cleaning checklist. Mainly, this is because they are the most responsible (aside from human contact) for transmitting infections. Mostly, this is because people will touch these surfaces, not realising they’re infected, and then go on to touch their face, eyes or ears, causing the harmful bacteria to enter their bodies. For this reason, business owners must become conscious of what fixtures and fittings are the most touched. Cleaning these regularly with Rubbermaid HYGEN and a chosen detergent can guarantee that bacteria is kept as minimal as possible.
Some of the most common areas where bacteria can build up include:
All Businesses: Change cleaning resources with each shift cycle
Though many businesses adhere well to their provided cleaning checklist, one element is commonly missed, which can cause bacteria to spread rapidly across a business. This includes changing or sanitising the cleaning resources in use, such as cleaning carts, microfibre mops and waste bins. Neglecting to do this may mean those bacteria-free substances, such as clean linen, plates or utensils, become infectious and potentially harmful to those using them.
A cleaning checklist must include when each cleaning resource must be cleaned. Using timer stickers or noting when the materials were first used can guarantee that they don’t become beacons for bacteria. Though some materials, such as cleaning cloths, may be good for a few hours, cleaning staff must also pay attention to their physical condition. Those resources that look soiled before the end of a shift should be removed from contaminable areas immediately.
Rubbermaid Commercial Products is here to help in 2023
When devising your cleaning checklist for 2023, the team at Rubbermaid Commercial Products is happy to help. Contact the team today to find out which commercial cleaning products are best suited to your cleaning checklist.
