Tips for cleaning your factory or warehouse during winter

By Jared Sarbit

As the temperature outside starts to drop, it’s important to take some extra steps to make sure your factory or warehouse is clean and winter-ready.

The colder months bring a unique set of cleaning challenges in the factory and warehouse industries. Dirt and dust become harder to remove, and surfaces can become icy and hazardous. So, it’s important to take the necessary precautions or professional cleaning services to protect your factory or warehouse from the cold weather.

The winter months tend to be a slower time for many businesses. As the cold weather settles in, it’s important to take some time to prepare your factory or warehouse for the season ahead. Here are some tips for cleaning your factory or warehouse during winter.

Keep the Entrances and Exits Clear of Snow and Ice

One way to keep the entrances and exits of your factory or warehouse clear during winter is to shovel snow and spread salt or sand on icy patches. In addition, you can install a heated driveway or sidewalk to keep them clear. Ensure to keep the entrances and exits clear so that employees and delivery drivers can safely access the building.

Another important task during winter is to remove snow from the roof. This will help prevent the weight of the snow from causing damage to the roof.

Clean All the Windows to Allow Natural Light in

Window cleaning is a critical part of winter cleaning in a factory or warehouse. Ensure to clean all the windows to allow natural light in and help brighten up the space, making it easier to spot any potential hazards. This will also help improve the overall air quality in the building.

You may also want to consider investing in a window cleaner that can help speed up the process. Be sure to wipe down the window sills and tracks as well to remove any build-up of dirt and debris.

Check the Heating Systems

Check the heating systems to ensure that they are properly working and functioning to keep the building warm during winter. If the heating systems are not working properly, have them fixed or replaced as soon as possible.

Proper heating systems will help maintain a comfortable working environment for the employees.

Dust All the Surfaces, Including Rafters and Beams

To dust all the surfaces, including rafters and beams, use a broom to get all the dirt and dust off. Then, use a damp cloth to wipe down the surface. Make sure to dry the surface off afterward. Don’t forget to remove all the dirt, dust, and leaves so that your factory or warehouse is clean and ready for the winter months.

Vacuum Any Areas That Are Difficult to Reach

If there are any areas in your factory or warehouse that are difficult to reach, be sure to vacuum them regularly. This will help remove any dirt and dust that may have been collected in those areas.

This will also help reduce the amount of dust in the air, which can help to improve indoor air quality. You can use a crevice tool or an upholstery brush to clean these areas.

Inspect the Roof for Damage or Leaks

It’s important to inspect the roof for damage or leaks. If you notice any damage, make sure to repair it as soon as possible. Leaks can cause severe damage to your property, so it’s important to address them quickly. If you don’t take care of the damage, it could lead to water infiltration and further damage to your building.

Winter weather can be harsh on factories and warehouses. Make sure to take the necessary precautions to keep your facility clean and safe this winter. Contact picture perfect cleaning today to learn more about our winter cleaning services. Our team of experts is here to help you get ready for the colder months.

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Estimates are based on average commercial cleaning rates across Alberta and typical management and coverage costs. Your actual quote depends on square footage, service frequency, facility type, and scope of work. Request a custom quote above for an exact number.

The Hidden Cost of In-House Cleaning

A wage comparison only tells part of the story. Here’s what usually gets left out:

Wages and Benefits

Payroll is usually the first number people look at when they think about cleaning costs, but it rarely tells the whole story. Supplies, equipment, manager oversight, scheduling headaches, and the inevitable sick days all add up over time. By the time you account for everything, the true cost of keeping cleaning in-house can look very different from what’s on the payroll report. That’s exactly what our cost comparison tool is designed to help you see, along with what outsourcing might save.

Supplies and Equipment

Cleaning products, paper goods, vacuums, floor machines, and the replacement parts that keep them running all add up over the course of a year. Businesses that clean in-house often buy retail-grade supplies at retail prices because they don’t have access to the commercial pricing that a cleaning company gets from its suppliers. Equipment also breaks down, and replacing a vacuum or floor buffer every few years is a cost that rarely gets planned for in advance.

Management Time

Somebody has to schedule shifts, check the quality of the work, order more supplies when they run low, and step in when something gets missed. That’s real time pulled from a manager’s actual job, and it rarely gets assigned a dollar value, even though it should. If a facilities manager or office lead spends even a few hours a week on cleaning oversight, that’s time not spent on the parts of their role that actually move the business forward.

Absenteeism and Coverage Gaps

Sick days and missed shifts are part of running any team. When they happen, the work still has to get done, which usually means paying someone else to cover the shift or accepting that some tasks will have to wait. Over the course of a year, those extra costs can become surprisingly significant. There’s another effect that’s harder to measure, too. When cleaning is inconsistent, people notice. Employees notice it, clients notice it, and visitors notice it, even if they couldn’t tell you exactly why the space feels different.

Cost Category	What It Covers
Wages & Benefits	Annual pay for in-house cleaning staff
Supplies & Equipment	Products, tools, and machine upkeep
Management Time	Hours spent scheduling and supervising
Absenteeism	Missed shifts and last-minute coverage

Why Outsourcing Often Comes Out Ahead

Once you’ve seen your own numbers, the reasons behind the gap start to make sense.

Predictable Pricing

A cleaning company quote covers labor, supplies, and equipment on a single line. You know what you’re paying before the work starts, and that number doesn’t shift because someone called in sick or a vacuum broke down. Budgeting gets easier when the cost of cleaning is a single line item rather than four separate ones scattered across payroll, supplies, and management time.

No Coverage Gaps

When a member of an in-house cleaning team calls in sick, someone on your staff has to figure out what happens next. With a professional cleaning service, that responsibility shifts to the provider. If a cleaner is unavailable, arranging a replacement is part of the service, so your team isn’t left scrambling to fill the gap.

Accountability Built In

Picture Perfect Cleaning holds COR certification and provides regular service reporting, so you can see what’s being done and when, without spending your own hours checking on it. That’s the management time most in-house teams never get back. Our team also uses EcoLogo- and Green Seal-certified products, so you’re not trading cost savings for a lower cleaning standard.

Get Your Custom Quote

Wages are only one line in what in-house cleaning actually costs. Once you add in supplies, the hours a manager spends overseeing the crew, and the gaps left by sick days, the real number is usually higher than what shows up on a payroll report and often higher than what a professional service would charge for the same work. That’s the gap the tool above is built to show you, along with what outsourcing could put back in your budget.

Our cost comparison tool gives you a reasonable estimate of what you could save by switching to a professional cleaning service, not a final number. Every building is different, and factors like your cleaning schedule, the size of your facility, and the services you need will affect the actual cost. If you’d like a more accurate quote based on your space, contact Picture Perfect Cleaning, and we’ll walk you through the options.