Make the Most of Every Motion When Cleaning
We'd all like to make more money in our cleaning business, but you can't always keep raising your prices to make it happen. But if you were able to work more productively and maximize every motion you make while cleaning, just think of the time you'll save. And every minute saved means more money saved.
Make the most of every motion when cleaning
You need to make sure you're working smarter, not harder. The first thing to consider is whether or not you're making the most of every motion when cleaning and using the correct motions. Check out the examples below:
- When mopping you should use a figure-eight motion.
- When cleaning walls or countertops, use circular motions.
- When dusting, use vertical and horizontal motions and dust high to low.
- When vacuuming use straight motions.
- When buffing, use overlapping arc motions.
- When emptying trash, move counter-clockwise and circle around the room.
Improving and implementing better cleaning motions will increase productivity and energy while eliminating needless motions which can cause unnecessary fatigue and tiredness. Make every motion count!
Here are some practical tips to improve your performance:
- Make sure your janitor cart or caddy is fully stocked with everything you need so you're not running back for supplies.
- Keep your cleaning supplies organized and within reach, with each item always located in the same place. That way, when you reach for something like a spray bottle, you don't waste time looking through all the bottles for the right one.
- Keep your equipment and supplies stored as close as possible to your work area. This will alleviate wasted time retrieving or returning them. Also, combine trips to storage, if possible, instead of making numerous trips back and forth throughout the day.
- Try to relax. Being too tense at work can cause physical and emotional tension. A relaxed worker will perform at a higher level than a worker who is tense and feels stressed.
- Work in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction around the room, always making your way back to the door. This will help to eliminate extra steps.
- Try to avoid constant starting, stopping, or direction changes during your cleaning routine. Complete one task before moving onto another.
- Know your time and task requirements. You should know now how long you have to clean and approximately how long each task should take you to complete. This way you will not feel rushed, which can result in poor quality. Avoid distractions. They will take time out of your day.
- Use the same cleaning pattern each visit so you're less likely to miss cleaning something. Once you have a pattern down you'll flow through the job faster.
- Use gravity to your advantage. For example, clean and dust from the top down, so you don't have to re-clean any areas.
- Circular motions are usually less tiring than straight motions when scrubbing by hand.
- When cleaning, get into a rhythm with your motions. Developing an efficient flow to your motions rather than repetitive or jerky motions will require less effort.
- Apply correct posture - it's less stressful on your body. This means using different parts of your body for assistance, such as your legs for lifting and arms for support when leaning over or crouching.
By simply improving your cleaning motions, you will not only improve on your productivity and performance, but you will be able to complete cleaning tasks with less effort. Like the phrase implies; work smarter, not harder.
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