The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning in Retail

Cleanliness is absolutely essential within the retail industry. It not only enhances the overall shopping experience for customers, but it also plays a pivotal role in shaping a brand's image and reputation. 

When it comes to maintaining high standards of cleanliness, nothing beats the expertise of a dedicated retail store cleaner. As a retail store cleaner, you would be responsible for upholding these standards by efficiently cleaning areas such as aisles, restrooms, and fitting rooms.

If you're thinking about a cleaning job in retail, you've come to the right place. 

The Importance of Cleanliness in Retail Stores

Cleanliness in retail shops is not just about the visual appeal. It's about creating a healthier environment for both the customers and employees. 

How many times have you been into a busy supermarket and been put off by dirty floors, sticky fridge handles or messy checkout conveyor belts? Do you remember shopping at your local retail park and being put off by how dirty the clothes or homeware shops were? It's unlikely that you were. Large UK retailers pay in-house cleaners or outsource to large cleaning agencies to ensure that they stay ahead of the game when it comes to a tidy store.

A clean store can significantly impact customer perception, employee morale, and ultimately, the bottom line of the business.

Understanding the Role

Cleaning a retail store effectively is crucial for creating a welcoming environment that encourages customers to stay longer and make purchases. Most retailers want to keep their premises clean when it matters most, during opening hours, and this means “daytime” cleaning.

A retail store cleaner is an integral part of the retail operation.  Here's a guide on how to clean a retail store effectively:

Start with Decluttering: Remove any unnecessary items, such as litter from floors or under displays, leaves or dirt from the street which may have blown in through the doors and anything else that may be out of place before you start the cleaning process.

Dust and Wipe Surfaces: Dust all surfaces, including shelves, display cases, countertops, and merchandise. Use microfiber cloths or dusting wands to capture dust effectively without spreading it around.

Clean Floors Regularly: Sweep, mop and vacuum floors to remove dirt, dust, and debris. Pay special attention to high-traffic areas and deal with any spills as soon as possible adhering to health and safety protocol - especially if the store is open to the public. 

Maintain Changing and Restrooms: If the store has changing rooms or restrooms, keep them clean as well. Toilets should be well-stocked with toilet paper, soap, and paper towels. Regularly disinfect surfaces, including sinks, toilets, and door handles.

Organise Merchandise: Depending on the brand that you work for this may or may not be part of your cleaning duties. If it is, ensure that merchandise is neatly organised and properly displayed. 

Straighten shelves, fold clothes, and arrange products in an appealing manner. Avoid overcrowding shelves, as it can make the store feel cluttered.

Clean Display Windows: Keep display windows clean and free of smudges or fingerprints. Use glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth to achieve a streak-free shine.

Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces: Regularly disinfect high-touch surfaces such as the till point, door handles, cash registers, credit card machines, and doors in fitting room areas. Use disinfectant wipes or sprays approved for use against viruses and bacteria.

Address Odours: Identify and eliminate any unpleasant odours in the store. 

Inspect Regularly: Conduct regular inspections to identify areas that need attention. Address any maintenance issues promptly, such as burned-out lightbulbs, broken fixtures, or damaged flooring with your manager.

Refilling hygiene stations: Store cleaners refill hand sanitiser dispensers and other hygiene stations for customer and employee use.

Monitoring and ordering cleaning supplies: Store cleaners keep track of cleaning supplies and order more when necessary, this may or may not be a part of your role depending on the size of the retail brand you work for.

These tasks can vary from brand to brand, but the ultimate goal is to ensure a clean and inviting environment for everyone.

Required Skills and Training

While prior experience in cleaning jobs is desirable, it's not always necessary. Most employers provide on-the-job training to help new cleaners understand their duties and learn how to use cleaning equipment and supplies effectively.

Some skills and traits can help you succeed in this role:

Reliability and responsibility: As a store cleaner, you should be reliable and responsible, able to work without supervision and complete tasks within the required timeframe.

Organisational skills: You should be able to organise your tasks efficiently to ensure all duties are completed within the required timeframe.

Understanding of basic health and safety: You should have a basic understanding of health and safety principles to ensure safe and effective cleaning practices.

Physical stamina: The job can be physically demanding, involving bending, lifting, and standing for long periods. Thus, physical fitness is a key requirement.

Which Retailers Hire Cleaners

Businesses in the commercial sector that interact with customers on a daily basis can benefit from employing in house cleaners. This includes but is not limited to:

• Retail stores (clothing, electronics, home goods, etc.)
• Supermarkets and grocery stores
• Shopping malls and department stores
• Boutiques and specialty shops
• Restaurants and cafes
• Banks 
• Pharmacies 
• Convenience stores

Making the Switch: Retail Cleaner

The routine of a retail cleaner involves various tasks throughout the day. In addition to the regular cleaning duties, a store cleaner may be responsible for completing cleaning schedule paperwork and working as part of the store team to create and maintain a friendly environment.

Flexibility is key in this role, as work hours can include early mornings, evenings, nights and weekends depending on the store's operating hours. For this reason it may also be desirable to have access to your own transport.

Advancing Your Career

While a retail cleaning job is often seen as an entry-level position, it can pave the way for career advancement within the retail industry. With experience and the right skills, retail cleaners can progress to supervisory or managerial roles, such as cleaning supervisor or facilities manager.

The skills gained in a retail cleaning job – such as attention to detail, organisation, and customer service – can be highly transferable, opening up opportunities in various other sectors.

A retail cleaning job may not seem glamorous, but it is undeniably vital to the success of any retail store. The role offers a rewarding and varied career with opportunities for growth and progression. If you pride yourself in maintaining the highest standards and enjoy working in a dynamic environment, a retail cleaning job could be the perfect fit for you.

As a job board that truly cares about the well-being and success of job seekers, we strongly believe in providing all the necessary information for them to make informed decisions. Explore the latest retail jobs at Switch Roles today.