Keep Your Facility Clean

A clean and well-maintained facility is essential if you want to attract new patrons and keep existing ones coming back. From day to day, your staff can do a lot to make sure things are looking their best, but you need to make sure you're well-supplied.

Q: What should we know about keeping facility clean?

A: First off, ensure your maintenance staff and cleaning staff have all of the supplies they need readily available to do the work of keeping your facility clean. Make sure you're well-stocked with cleaning supplies, as well as all of the toiletries that need to be replaced on a regular basis in your restrooms and locker rooms.

When you're open for business, staff members should keep an eye on areas that tend to get messy and address problems right away. You should be making regular sweeps through your restrooms and locker rooms, restocking toilet paper, paper towels and soap as needed.

In addition, make sure your waste and recycling receptacles are placed where visitors will use them, such as near entrances and exits. Keep a close eye on these receptacles, and note if any are filling up quickly. By paying attention to how often you're emptying the trash and recycling, you'll be able to adjust with larger or smaller receptacles, or by moving them to a site where they'll be more likely to be used.

Cleaning staff should have a daily checklist, with a focus on the areas that need cleaning more often, such as restrooms, entryways and locker rooms. There are also tasks that should be addressed less often. Lighting fixtures, windows, walls and baseboards all need attention from time to time.

Q: What else should we consider?

A: After more than a year of social distancing and mask-wearing, facilities are beginning to return to more normal operations. But that doesn't mean you should be lax about cleanliness and hygiene. Consider using disinfecting products when you clean, and provide antibacterial soaps and hand sanitizers for your guests.