Dust is a common air pollutant that comes from natural soil erosion, microscopic organisms and human-made activities. Dust particles vary in size and can be quite dangerous to human health when inhaled. It causes coughing, eye irritation, sneezing and asthma attacks. In particularly dusty environments, you could even develop serious lung diseases such as asbestosis and silicosis.
Dust is often found in many retail stores. It has a way of entering the store spaces, sneaking onto the surfaces, and spreading across its surroundings over time. You may find dust around the store floors, nearby the windowsills, or quietly piling up on the merchandise displays. The only way to protect yourself and your customers from the dangers of dust is to conduct regular cleaning.
Below are seven tips on how to get rid of dust in a store:
1. Wipe the doors and windows.
Most of the dust in your store enters through the windows and doors. You can reduce the amount of dust in your store simply by closing the windows. You should also invest in doormats for both inside and outside of the entrance. Doormats are great for keeping dust from moving further into the store. To be effective, the doormats should be heavy-duty and brittle at the top. Over time you may also notice wear and tear and possible damage to your doorways or entry windows, these could leave cracks and drafts that can amount to more dirt and dust within your store. If you have noticed any damage, you may want to look into entryway repairs such as this Industrial Door Company website and similar services can provide.
Over time, dust tends to accumulate on the glass doors and windows. This will look visually unappealing to customers, so you should perform cleaning and washing on a regular basis. Start by cleaning the glass from top to bottom, so that the dirt and dust won’t spread to areas you have cleaned. A squeegee is perfect for giving your glass windows a polished clean look.
You can also use cotton swabs to clean areas that are hard to reach and to get rid of residue dust buildup lodged in the glass corners. For wiping, sponges and regular towels are not ideal, because they can hold a lot of dust and transfer it from one glass to another. Instead, you should be using paper towels for wiping the glass doors and windows.
2. Vacuum the carpets.
A carpet adds beauty, comfort, and warmth to a store, but only if it is in pristine condition. A dusty carpet will reflect poorly on your store’s image, not to mention that it brings a health hazard to you and your customers. Even though it might be difficult to see the dust on the carpet, there should be some buildup and residue accumulated over time. For this reason, it is critical that you vacuum your store’s carpets regularly. Regular carpet cleaning, especially that done by professionals, is sure to make the place look as good as new in no time.
3. Mop the store floors.
Similarly, dust tends to accumulate on floors of your store, so you will need to mop on a consistent basis. Your cleaning supplies should include a string mop, a bucket, a mild cleanser, rubber gloves, and a nylons scrub pad. Start by sweeping the area to clear large particles of dirt. If there are wet areas, such as footprints, wipe these away.
You should begin mopping at the far corner towards the store exit. This allows you to avoid walking on newly cleaned surfaces. If you come across scuff marks, use the nylon pad to remove them. Clean each area of the store using back-and-forth strokes, making sure to cover each area at least twice. If the water gets dirty, refresh it to avoid reapplying dust on the store floors.
4. Clean the rugs.
Rugs are a huge dust reservoir since they absorb dust quickly. Whenever customers walk over the rugs, they are likely to leave dust behind, which can be messy if it was left to accumulate. Sometimes, vacuuming may not be enough to get rid of the dirt in the rugs. For more effective results, you should routinely take the rugs outside and shake them thoroughly. You can also beat the dust particles out of the rugs with a tennis bat or a broom. You might also want to look into getting your carpets and rugs cleaned professionally using companies like this carpet cleaning in Chicago, IL or other locations that you’re local to.
5. Use sealed storage containers.
The merchandise in your store can contribute to the dust buildup. You may want to purchase storage containers with lids to keep these items safely sealed. The sealed storage containers will reduce the dust accumulation and circulation in your store. If your storage containers are made with clear plastic or other transparent materials, the customers should still be able to browse the merchandise without too much obstruction.
For larger merchandise, such as furniture and electronic appliances, you should consider covering these items when they are not on display. You can use plastic tarps, which are cheaper, although they wear out with time and leave holes that dust can penetrate. Cloth tarps are often used on soft surfaces, since they don’t scratch or damage easily.
6. Upgrade your furnace filters.
Furnace filters are ventilation devices that can help you to control the dust movement. It filters the air and removes the amount of dust particles circulating in your store. Using an electrostatic filter that connects to your ductwork is quite effective in getting rid of dust. Even though the filter won’t eliminate the dust entirely, it can at least reduce the dust buildup.
7. Use air purifiers.
Dust is known to be persistent. It consists of dead skin flakes, dirt, dander, and other particles that cleaning alone cannot eliminate. For an added layer of protection, air purifiers are ideal for reducing the dust particles in your store. These devices are considered safe, clean, and practical. Place the air purifiers in discrete locations and you will notice a positive difference around the store.