Warehouses receive heavy traffic from machinery, vehicles and workers. This constant use causes dirt, dust and grime to quickly build up on your storage racking, as do any spills, leaks and impressions left by products.

Consistent and effective warehouse rack cleaning lets you protect your products against dirt and damage. That means you can ensure your products leave the warehouse in excellent condition, giving your customers a great experience and reducing complaints about faulty stock. And since dirty warehouses also increase the risk of accidents, knowing how to clean warehouse racking also helps you keep your workforce safe.

Warehouse rack cleaning isn’t difficult. But you need to do it right and do it often for the best results. Follow our 5 top tips for warehouse cleaning to keep all your warehouse storage solutions in great condition.

5 top warehouse rack cleaning tips

Use the right cleaning materials

You can clean most warehouse storage systems with a damp cloth and household cleaning products. But depending on the material your racks are made from, they could be damaged by harsh chemicals and cleaners. Be sure to check the cleaning requirements on your storage racks to keep them safe during warehouse cleaning.

Inspect your racks for damage

Improper stacking and collisions with forklifts can damage your warehouse racks. So as you clean, check their structural integrity so you can spot and repair damage before it causes your racks to collapse. This is also a good time to look for mould, mildew and signs of leaking products, all of which should be cleaned quickly.

Start from the floor

Common wisdom says you should clean from the cleanest area to the dirtiest. But so much dust and dirt gathers on warehouse flooring that cleaning can kick it back up onto your racks. That’s why you should start by cleaning under warehouse racking for the best results.

Remove all obstructions from your walkways, then sweep and vacuum the entire floor. Once you’ve removed the loose dirt, use warm soapy water and a hard industrial mop to scrub away any stubborn grime. Remember, the cleaner your warehouse floor, the cleaner your racks and shelving.

Sanitise and dust frequently

Most warehouses require light cleaning on a daily basis. After cleaning under warehouse racking, wipe down all equipment, pull pallets and rotate your shelved goods. By turning warehouse cleaning into a daily habit, you don’t give dust and dirt time to build up.

Remember health and safety

Even simple tasks like warehouse rack cleaning should be done with health and safety in mind. While ground-level warehouse cleaning is a one-person job, have another person support you when you’re working at height. If your company has a mobile elevated platform (MEP) or cherry picker, use it to clean higher areas.

Get quality warehouse racking at Racking + Shelving Ltd.

For more than 20 years, Racking + Shelving Ltd. has been designing, supplying, delivering and installing quality racking and other warehouse storage solutions throughout Northern Ireland and the UK. See our wide range of intelligent storage solutions to streamline your workspace today.