4 Tips for Making Job Site Cleanup Quicker and Easier

Post-work cleanup is necessary, but you don’t want it to become an overly time-consuming task. Here’s some advice.

4 Tips for Making Job Site Cleanup Quicker and Easier

Shelby Gerl

Job site cleanup is a necessary part of every trade professional’s day, but it can also slow you down when it comes to moving on to the next project. How can you leave a job site better than you found it without letting cleanup become a burden that brings down overall efficiency? 

A few simple steps can help you maintain a cleaner job site and minimize the time you put in at the end of a project:

  • Start the day with cleaning in mind: Take the time each morning to make sure your work trucks are stocked with supplies to keep dirt and grime contained on the job site. These include shoe covers, tarps and paper towels. It not only goes a long way in containing a potential mess but also demonstrate to customers your commitment to keeping things clean. For example, wearing shoe covers prevents dirt from work boots being dispersed throughout the job site; tarps put down in the main work area keep messes contained in one space; and paper towels let you clean unexpected spills as needed.
  • Don’t underestimate the power of a wet/dry vac and air mover: Two essential cleaning tools are a wet/dry vac and air mover. For each, look for models that are built with durability and the professional in mind. The vac should provide enough suction for messes you typically need to clean up, and the air mover should have enough power to quickly dry any space or surface you’re working in. Both can be used throughout a project to maintain a cleaner job site and reduce needed cleanup at the end of the project.
  • Seek out enclosed machines: Advances in drain cleaning machines have made enclosed cables more common. It’s a simple upgrade that has a big impact on job site cleanliness. For example, with RIDGID FlexShaft Drain Cleaning Machines, the cable spins inside a durable nylon sheath that is housed within a fully contained drum. This helps to contain messes and keep them off of the job site floor. The nylon sheath also allows for the cable to be easily wiped clean as it is pulled from the line.
  • End the day with cleaning in mind: Taking a few minutes at the end of the workday to wipe down tools and equipment can go a long way in keeping unnecessary dirt and grime from being brought to the next day’s job sites. Each new project brings its own mess; no need to clean up the previous project’s mess at the next one.

About the author: Shelby Gerl is a global product manager, Underground Technologies for RIDGID, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio that also includes the Greenlee brand. RIDGID is a global manufacturer of more than 300 dependable and innovative tools, trusted by professional trades in over 100 countries. Learn more at RIDGID.com.



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