The holiday season brings excitement and cheer but also unique challenges for facility managers. Increased foot traffic, more events, and the need to maintain impeccable cleanliness can strain operations. Proactive planning is essential to ensure safety, hygiene, and efficiency while preventing accidents, minimizing cross-contamination, and reducing wear and tear. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you prepare for the busy holiday season.
1. Enhance Entrance Safety and Cleanliness
Heavy foot traffic during the holidays can bring in water, dirt, and snow, increasing the risk of slips and falls.
- Invest in heavy-duty matting: Mats like Waterhog™ Classic Mats are designed to trap dirt and moisture, keeping floors clean, dry, and safe. Place them strategically at all entrances.
- Use wet floor signs: Be prepared for snowy or rainy days by keeping signage visiblenear entryways.
- Advanced tip: For added protection, install elegant absorbent mats further into the facility to manage salt and moisture from ice melt, minimizing floor damage.
2. Minimize Cross-Contamination in Food and Surface Areas
Holiday events often involve food, increasing the risk of cross-contamination if cleaning protocols aren’t followed.
- Disinfect high-touch surfaces: Sanitize areas such as door handles, counters, and tables with hospital-grade disinfectants like Swish MiracleDisinfectant.
- Colour-code cleaning tools: Prevent cross-use by dedicating specific tools to food prep areas and restrooms.
- Promote proper hand hygiene: Stock up on hand soaps like Enviro-Solutions® ES45 Fresh Scented Foaming Hand Soap, placing dispensers near kitchens and restrooms.
For dishwashing, use Swish Foodservice 2000 Sanitizer in the final rinse. Its specialized formula ensures food-safe surfaces while meeting regulatory standards. Offer training to staff on correct usage to optimize its effectiveness.
3. Prevent Wear and Tear on Flooring
High foot traffic can damage floors if not properly protected.
- Daily maintenance: Use cleaners like Swish® Sunbeam Neutral Floor Cleaner for routine cleaning to maintain a polished appearance without damaging finishes.
- Protect floor finishes: Apply products like Swish Clean & Green® High Traction Gloss Restorer to reduce wear and improve slip resistance.
- Advanced tip: Schedule periodic deep cleaning with compact scrubbers such as the Tennant T290 or Kärcher BD 35/15 C for heavy-use areas like lobbies or hallways.
4. Optimize Employee Efficiency and Safety
Your team is the backbone of your operations, especially during the busy holiday period.
- Pre-season equipment checks: Inspect and service floor scrubbers, vacuums, and ice-melt dispensers to ensure peak performance.
- Evaluate cleaning practices: Use services like Swish Clean Checkup™ to assess cleaning protocols, manage workloads, and boost productivity.
- Advanced tip: Rotate cleaning schedules and staff shifts to prevent fatigue, especially during back-to-back events.
5. Manage Seasonal Inventory
Running out of essential supplies during the holidays can disrupt operations.
- Stock up early: Ensure you have adequate supplies of ice melt, hand hygiene products, and cleaning chemicals.
- Go green: Choose eco-friendly solutions like Swish Clean & Green® Garbage Bags, made from Social Plastic®, which supports community development while reducing ocean plastic pollution.
- Advanced tip: Use inventory management software to set reorder thresholds and track supplies in real-time.
6. Think Beyond the Obvious
Facility managers often overlook these crucial aspects:
- HVAC maintenance: Replace air filters and ensure proper ventilation to improve indoor air quality during crowded events.
- Seasonal safety briefings: Provide staff and visitors with guidelines on fire safety, emergency exits, and safe navigation during winter conditions.
- Advanced tip: Schedule a deep clean after the holiday season to restore floors, surfaces, and equipment for the new year.
7. Prioritize Hand Hygiene
Proper hand hygiene is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness and maintain a healthy environment.
- Ensure accessible handwashing stations: Equip restrooms and kitchens with quality soaps like Enviro-Solutions® ES45 Fresh Scented Foaming Hand Soap, which is gentle on hands while providing effective cleaning.
- Promote proper hand hygiene practices: Post clear signage in key areas, such as kitchens, restrooms, and employee break rooms, encouraging regular handwashing. Include reminders for the recommended 20-second wash time.
- Offer sanitizing options: To complement handwashing practices, provide alcohol-based hand sanitizers in high-traffic areas, meeting rooms, and entrances.
- Advanced tip: Incorporate touch-free dispensers for soap and sanitizer to minimize cross-contamination and improve user convenience.
Hand hygiene not only keeps staff and visitors safe but also demonstrates your facility's commitment to health and cleanliness during the busy holiday season.
The holiday season is a time to shine, and with proper preparation, your facility can handle the increased demands while maintaining safety and cleanliness. Focus on key areas like entrance safety, cross-contamination prevention, floor care, and staff readiness to ensure smooth operations.
Let Swish Help You Prepare
At Swish, we offer the tools and expertise to meet your holiday needs. Visit one of our Swish Clean-It® Centres for personalized recommendations, quality cleaning products, and hands-on demonstrations. Browse our Swish Essentials Guide for more solutions, including matting, sanitizers, and eco-friendly supplies.
Prepare now for a seamless holiday season!
