Easy Tips to Keep Cleaning Supplies Organized at the Office

April 23, 2017

Your office cleaning arsenal helps keep your workplace looking its best, but without proper storage and organization, cleanliness can quickly fall to the wayside. How do you store cleaning supplies to encourage their regular use? Invest in some smart office storage solutions while avoiding common pitfalls to keep your cleaning supplies as tidy as the areas they clean.

Office Storage Ideas for Your Cleaning Arsenal

Cleaning supplies scattered throughout the workplace aren't doing anyone any favors. Whether or not you have a storage room, think of investing in a vertical storage cabinet to keep all your rags, cleaning solutions and other supplies in one easy-to-find spot. Try to place bottles of cleaning solutions in bins so you can easily pull them out and sort through them, and consider installing cabinet racks on the doors for sponges, scrubbing brushes and other small supplies.

Need to sweep up a cereal spill in the breakroom? Keep your broom within easy grabbing distance. Use rows of wall hooks and broom holders installed at eye height near the cleaning cabinet to keep long-handled cleaning tools including brooms and mops organized. You can also hang tools that have holes in their handles, such as dustpans, brushes and other supplies. The vacuum cleaner is bulky, and the hose is always in the way. Real Simple magazine has a solution: Position your vacuum cleaner front and center, so it's easy in, easy out. You may also hang the hose on a hook to free up floor space and to keep from tripping over it. [1]

Get Organized With Clever Labels

Digging through cleaning supplies wastes precious time, so you can use clear labels to find the right products in seconds. Consider using ready-made or print-out labels with a large font to categorize shelves, bins and tools based on where you most often use them. For instance, you may have one bin that reads "Bathroom," one that reads "Office Area" and another that reads "Breakroom." This office storage solution also helps workers put products back in the right spot so window cleaners don't end up next to dish washing supplies.

Rags may be an essential part of any office cleaning cabinet, but if you want to keep good glass-cleaning rags from becoming greasy floor rags, you may need to dig out the labels. Buy separate bins for each type of rag, including ones for office furniture, glass and mirrors, breakroom counters and floors. Buy rags with a different color for each category, and use name labels alongside a color sticker on each bin. This helps with quick identification when choosing rags or refilling bins with laundered rags. Don't forget to provide two storage bins or buckets for used rags. Label one for semi-clean rags and another for soiled ones.

Avoid Common Cleaning Storage Pitfalls

Always keep your office storage space safe and efficient. One critical way to protect employees is to keep cleaning chemicals separate from food preparation areas or food cleanup supplies.  Be certain to also store all cleaning chemicals in secure labeled bins with tight-fitting lids to avoid spills.

Second, try not to hide the key cleaning supplies in the back. While organizing, identify the products your office uses most frequently and designate a place for them at the front of the cabinet. Keep the most-used products at or near eye level, saving the highest shelves for stocking up on spare supplies. If your office uses certain supplies multiple times a day, consider placing them in a portable caddie or rolling storage basket near the door of the storage area for easy access.

Once you've assembled and organized the storage area, take time to order plenty of spare paper towels, sponges, mop heads and other items to ensure the workplace always has what’s needed to get the job done. Clean up any cleaning product spills as soon as they happen, and take a few minutes every few days to put away any misplaced items. That way, your cleaning supply closet can stay tidy for weeks to come.

1. http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/organizing/organizing-tips-techniques/organize-broom-closet