Routine Cleaning for Your Business

Increase productivity with a deep clean of your workspace and processes

You clean your home, your car, even your garage. But when was the last time you gave your business the same attention? Just like tidying up your personal space, doing a routine clean of your business can bring clarity, reduce stress, and help you stay focused on what really matters. By checking in every few months, or at least once a year, you can reassess what’s working, update your goals, and realign your plans for the rest of the year.

The following steps will help you bring order, insight, and renewed energy to every corner of your business.

Clean your workspace

When you think of cleaning, you might think first about physically cleaning your workspace. And while that isn’t all your business may need, it’s a great place to get started. The truth is you’ll be more productive with a cleaner workspace. 

Do this task every quarter. You’ll be amazed at the results.

Start with your own work area. Where you get most of your work done is probably also the spot that needs the most cleaning. Clear out any old notes, stickies or coffee cups, then give your entire workspace a good, deep cleaning. Sanitize your keyboard, mouse, phone and anything you touch regularly. Make your space shine and encourage your employees to do the same.

Then move on to your office as a whole. Organize your office supplies so that your most frequently used items are closest to hand. Put anything you don’t use regularly like holiday decorations in storage. And make sure that the in-between things (like printer toner) are somewhere you can find them when you need them. You may also want to label your shelves so that you can see at-a-glance what goes where.

Next, make sure that anything occupying space on your desktop or work area is being actively used. If not, send it on its way. File any physical documents that you’re no longer actively using or shred any that are out-of-date.

Clean up your purchasing

Start your routine business clean with a hard look at how you handle purchasing. If you don’t have clear, scalable purchasing processes, you might be spending more money than you need to on inventory and supplies. Even worse, disorderly purchasing processes eat into valuable time you could spend on other aspects of your business. 

Do this task once every six months to a year.

When you consider your purchasing process, it’s important to keep in mind empowering your team to get the supplies they need without necessarily having to go through you. Signing up for a free Walmart Business account can free up your time, while still giving you the visibility you need into who’s ordering what. 

Multiuser accounts allow you to delegate ordering while still keeping tabs on the details. Shared payment options and expense management tools help you track spending, so you can make better decisions about when and where to order.

For more ideas about how to keep your team empowered and motivated, read 4 Work Party Food Ideas That Employees Actually Want.

Clean up your digital presence

Last but not least, it’s time to address your digital workspace. Clean up your digital storage, update account passwords and refresh your website. Just like you want to have a clean office or storefront, you want your website to put your business’s best foot forward. 

This task should be done every year or so.

If you’re still at a loss for where to start cleaning, it’s ok. Giving your business a deep clean can be a lot to consider. Start with the helpful checklist in our Routine Cleaning Business Guide. It will help you get started and keep track of your progress.

Clear your mind

While you’re getting your workspace in order, don’t neglect the space where you spend most of your time: your headspace. Take time for yourself to recharge and refresh so that you can be at your best.

Block off time on your calendar specifically for yourself. This will help you focus, and you’ll be more productive when you’re back “on the clock.” You can also set a 30-day goal refresh, so that every month you’re coming at your goals fresh.

Try setting aside time to do this task every month or so. Finding ways to delegate some of your responsibilities to others on your team will help you reclaim time. Invest in automation so that you can offload repetitive, dull tasks. And focus on your team makeup to see where you can invest to build a stronger, more capable organization. Then empower your team members to make decisions for themselves.

To learn more about team empowerment, read Creating a Culture of Appreciation with Walmart Business.

Download your Routine Cleaning Business Guide today

Our Routine Cleaning Business Guide was created with businesses like yours in mind. It has features like a priority matrix to help you prioritize your business goals, and a work action plan to help you keep yourself and your team on track. The Routine Cleaning Business Guide will help you give your business the refresh it deserves so you can clear away the clutter and focus on what you do best: serving your customers. 

In the next article in this series, we’ll dive deep into the guide. We’ll give you a how-to on how to use tools like a checklist and a priority matrix to really focus on where to start with your office deep clean. 

Now is also a great time to sign up for a free Walmart Business account. In addition to an ever-expanding assortment of must-have items at low prices, Walmart Business has an array of tools and tips to help you manage your business. Get even more when you join Walmart Business+. You can save over $500/year¹ and enjoy exclusive rewards for your organization. Enjoy features like free shipping, no order minimum,² free delivery from the store, with a $35 minimum³ and the ability to earn 2% in Walmart Business Rewards on orders $250 or more.⁴ Sign up today.

¹ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).

² Excludes most marketplace items. Freight & location surcharges may apply.

³ Restrictions apply. 

⁴ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.