Cleaning Plan in Facility Management: What is it and what does it look like?

What is a Cleaning Plan?

A cleaning plan is an important tool in the facility management industry. It serves to organize and ensure the regular cleaning and maintenance of buildings. A well-thought-out cleaning plan helps maintain cleanliness and hygiene in a building and contributes to the longevity of the facilities.

A cleaning plan lists all tasks and activities that must be performed when cleaning a building. These include, among others, the cleaning of floors, windows, furniture, sanitary facilities, and kitchens. The plan also contains information about the frequency of cleaning, the type of cleaning agents and tools required to perform the tasks, as well as the responsibilities and schedules for the various activities.

A well-structured cleaning plan offers many advantages. For example, it allows cleaning to be carried out more efficiently and thoroughly by ensuring that all necessary tasks are performed regularly and reliably. It also helps reduce the risk of accidents and injuries by ensuring that cleaning agents and tools are used correctly and safely. Creating a cleaning plan can also lead to cost savings, as only truly necessary tasks are performed, avoiding unnecessary expenses.

Especially in the facility management industry, cleaning plans are typically revised at regular intervals to ensure they meet current requirements and needs. A well-thought-out and effective cleaning plan is essential for successful and efficient building cleaning.

Who can benefit from a cleaning plan?

A cleaning plan is suitable for all companies and organizations responsible for the cleanliness and hygiene of their premises. These include, for example, companies in the facility management industry, as well as schools, hospitals, offices, and public institutions such as libraries or museums. In short: Anyone responsible for the cleaning and maintenance of premises can benefit from a cleaning plan.

Who Benefits from a Cleaning Plan

A cleaning plan is beneficial for all parties involved in building cleaning. For cleaning staff, the plan provides a clear structure and overview, as all necessary cleaning tasks and areas are listed in detail. This allows them to complete their work more effectively and quickly, as they can adhere to the plan and not forget any tasks. Furthermore, they can better adapt to the individual needs of each cleaning area and plan and execute the work accordingly.

For facility managers, a cleaning plan is an important guide to ensure that all necessary cleaning tasks are performed regularly and no areas are overlooked. Furthermore, the plan can serve as proof of completed cleaning work, which is particularly advantageous in the event of complaints or disputes.

For management, a cleaning plan offers transparency and control over the cleaning work performed and allows for better planning and budgeting of cleaning efforts and requirements.

In short, cleaning staff, facility managers, and management all benefit equally from a well-thought-out cleaning plan.

What Types of Cleaning Plans Are There?

There are various types of cleaning plans, which can vary depending on the requirements and needs of the building or facility. Here are some common types of cleaning plans:

1. Daily Cleaning Plan: This is the basic cleaning plan that covers the daily cleaning and maintenance of a building or facility. It includes tasks such as vacuuming, wiping, and disinfecting surfaces, as well as emptying waste bins, which are to be completed daily.
2. Weekly Cleaning Plan: This plan includes tasks performed once a week, such as cleaning floors, removing stains, or cleaning windows.
3. Monthly cleaning schedule: These are tasks performed once a month, such as cleaning carpets or polishing furniture.
4. Seasonal cleaning schedule: This plan includes tasks that vary by season, such as removing leaves and dirt in autumn, cleaning air conditioning filters in summer, or shoveling snow in outdoor areas in winter.

The type of cleaning schedule depends on various factors, such as the type of building, the conditions of the premises, the required type of cleaning, and other specific requirements. For example, a cleaning schedule for a stairwell should look quite different from one for a supermarket, because both jobs have different cleaning requirements and different tasks to be completed.

What exactly does a cleaning schedule look like?

Generally, a cleaning schedule should always provide a structured and detailed overview of the cleaning activities that need to be carried out in a building over a specific period. It is usually divided by rooms or areas and includes all necessary steps to ensure effective and thorough cleaning. However, as described above, the exact structure and content of the cleaning schedule can vary depending on the type of building and the area to be cleaned. In general, it contains the following information:

1. Room or Area Designation: The cleaning schedule should include a clear designation for each room or area that needs to be cleaned.
2. Cleaning Tasks: For each room or area, the specific cleaning tasks that need to be performed must be listed. These typically include vacuuming, mopping, dusting, window cleaning, disinfection, and waste disposal.
3. Timeframe: The cleaning schedule should also specify a timeframe within which the cleaning tasks must be completed. This can be daily, weekly, monthly, or even annually, depending on the type of room and the required cleaning frequency.
4. Responsibility: Every cleaning schedule should also specify the person or team responsible for carrying out the cleaning tasks. This could be an in-house cleaner or an external cleaning company.
5. Quality Control: A cleaning schedule should also include mechanisms for quality control of the cleaning, for example, through regular inspections by the facility manager or the cleaning company.

The exact structure and content of the cleaning schedule can vary depending on the specific requirements of the building and the area to be cleaned, but it is important that the plan is detailed and clearly structured to ensure effective cleaning.

Digital Rosters and Performance Records with PlanD

With PlanD, you can easily create digital rosters and share them with all relevant employees via the PlanD app, so they always have their assignments with them on their smartphone. In case of changes to the roster, a push notification is also sent immediately. If a cleaner is unavailable at short notice, the most suitable replacements, based on capacity and qualifications, are automatically suggested to you and then informed via PlanD.

With PlanD's building cleaning software, your cleaning staff can also document the cleaning services provided to clients directly on-site via the PlanD app, including pictures, comments, and ratings. The responsible facility managers then immediately receive a notification that the work has been completed, and potentially the client as well.