How to Keep Shopping Malls Clean: Essential Tips for Maintenance

A clean and well-maintained shopping mall creates a positive impression, enhances the shopping experience, and ensures the safety and comfort of visitors.

In Dubai, where high temperatures and dust can make cleanliness challenging, maintaining a spotless shopping environment is crucial. Cleanliness not only attracts more customers but also helps reduce the risk of infections and allergens.

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to keep a shopping mall clean and inviting.

What Are the Key Areas to Focus on for Mall Cleaning?

Effective cleaning requires identifying the key areas that need regular attention. These include:

• Entrances and Exits: These high-traffic areas often see a lot of dirt and debris. Keeping them clean sets the tone for the rest of the mall.
• Restrooms: A top priority, as they need to be cleaned and restocked throughout the day.
• Food Courts: Food spills, crumbs, and garbage can quickly accumulate, requiring frequent cleaning.
• Retail Store Entrances: Keeping store entrances clean encourages customers to visit.
• Escalators, Elevators, and Stairways: These areas see constant foot traffic and need regular cleaning to maintain safety.
• Common Areas and Seating Spaces: These need to be dust-free and hygienic for visitors to relax comfortably.

How to Establish a Daily Cleaning Schedule for Malls?

A shopping mall’s cleaning schedule should be comprehensive, covering every part of the property throughout the day:

• Morning Preparation: Start by cleaning the mall before opening. Sweep and mop floors, dust shelves and fixtures, empty trash bins, clean restrooms, and sanitize high-touch areas.
• Regular Touch-Ups During the Day: Throughout the day, have cleaning staff perform touch-ups, focusing on areas with high traffic like restrooms, food courts, and entrances.
• End-of-Day Deep Cleaning: After the mall closes, conduct a thorough cleaning of the entire facility, including scrubbing floors, sanitizing surfaces, and restocking supplies.

How Can You Ensure Floors Are Always Clean and Safe?

The mall floors are the most visible part of the facility and can get dirty quickly, especially in a busy city like Dubai:

• Use Entryway Mats: Place mats at entrances to catch dust, sand, and dirt from visitors’ shoes. Regularly clean these mats to prevent the spread of debris inside.
• Frequent Sweeping and Mopping: Clean floors at regular intervals throughout the day to prevent dirt accumulation and reduce the risk of slips and falls.
• Deep Clean Different Flooring Types: Use the right cleaning products for different floor materials (tile, marble, wood, etc.). Deep clean the floors at least once a week to maintain their shine and remove any tough stains.

What Are the Best Practices for Keeping Restrooms Hygienic?

Restrooms require special attention, as cleanliness directly affects visitor satisfaction:

• Frequent Cleaning: Restrooms should be cleaned multiple times a day, especially during peak hours. Ensure that toilets, sinks, and floors are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected.
• Well-Stocked Supplies: Keep soap, toilet paper, and hand sanitizers well-stocked. Consider installing touchless dispensers to minimize contact and reduce the spread of germs.
• Air Fresheners and Odor Control: Use air fresheners and ensure proper ventilation to keep restrooms smelling fresh. Regularly check and clean air vents to prevent mold and mildew buildup.

How to Maintain Cleanliness in the Food Court?

Food courts can quickly become messy, especially during meal times. Here’s how to keep them clean:

• Prompt Clean-Up of Spills: Assign staff to monitor the area and promptly clean up any spills or food debris. This not only maintains cleanliness but also prevents accidents.
• Frequent Table and Chair Wiping: Regularly wipe down tables, chairs, and trays to keep them free from food stains and sticky residue.
• Effective Waste Management: Ensure there are enough trash bins around the food court, and that they are emptied regularly. Consider implementing a recycling program for waste segregation.

How to Keep Escalators, Elevators, and Stairways Clean?

These high-touch, high-traffic areas need regular cleaning to ensure safety and hygiene:

• Regular Sweeping and Wiping: Escalators and stairways should be swept frequently to remove dirt and debris. Use specialized tools to clean the grooves in escalator steps.
• Sanitize High-Touch Areas: Wipe down elevator buttons, handrails, and escalator belts with disinfectant regularly throughout the day.
• Deep Cleaning: Schedule a deep cleaning for escalators and elevators weekly, including polishing of metal surfaces and checking for any wear or damage.

How Can Mall Management Implement Effective Waste Management?

Proper waste management is crucial for maintaining a clean environment and promoting sustainability:

• Strategic Placement of Bins: Place bins at strategic locations throughout the mall, including entrances, food courts, and exits. Ensure bins are labeled for different types of waste (recyclables, non-recyclables, organic waste).
• Frequent Emptying of Bins: Regularly empty trash bins to prevent overflow, unpleasant odors, and pests.
• Recycling Programs: Encourage recycling by educating visitors and retailers about the importance of waste segregation. Implement a recycling program that includes separate bins for paper, plastic, and metal.

How to Ensure Clean Air Quality in Malls?

Maintaining good air quality is important, especially in a climate like Dubai’s where dust can be an issue:

• Regular HVAC Maintenance: Ensure that air conditioning units are cleaned and serviced regularly to prevent dust, mold, and allergens from circulating. In Dubai, this might need to be done more frequently due to the weather conditions.
• Install Air Purifiers: Consider installing air purifiers in busy areas to improve air quality, reduce odors, and eliminate harmful particles.
• Keep Air Vents Clean: Regularly check and clean air vents to ensure they are free from dust and debris, which can affect the overall air quality in the mall.

What Role Does Professional Cleaning Play in Mall Maintenance?

Given the size and complexity of shopping malls, professional cleaning services can be a valuable asset:

• Deep Cleaning Services: Professional cleaners can provide deep cleaning for areas that regular staff may not have the tools or time to handle, such as carpet cleaning, high window washing, and polishing large floor areas.
• Specialized Equipment: Professionals use specialized equipment to ensure thorough cleaning, like power washers for floors, steam cleaners for restrooms, and high-powered vacuums for carpets.
• Customized Cleaning Plans: Cleaning companies like Exel Deep Cleaning offer tailored solutions that can address the specific needs of your shopping mall, ensuring that every area gets the attention it requires.

Conclusion

A clean shopping mall environment creates a positive shopping experience, reduces health risks, and ensures that visitors feel comfortable and safe. With a well-planned cleaning schedule, effective waste management, and regular maintenance of high-touch areas, mall management can maintain high standards of cleanliness.

Utilizing professional cleaning services can further enhance the appearance and hygiene of the mall, helping to attract more visitors and retain tenants.

Contact Us

For professional shopping mall cleaning services, reach out to Exel Deep Cleaning:

• Address: Al Quoz 3, Dubai, UAE
• Email: info@exeldeepcleaning.ae
• Phone: +971 56 930 6079

Let Exel Deep Cleaning keep your shopping mall sparkling clean, so your visitors can enjoy a pleasant and hygienic shopping experience every day!