Firefighters are first responders without an abundance of spare time on their hands. However, tradition holds that they should maintain a clean and presentable station house. How are these busy individuals supposed to clean their fire station while having time to respond to calls? AFBA has outlined five ways firefighters can clean quicker and more efficiently.
1. Top to bottom, left to right
Most experts recommend starting at the highest point in your house and working your way to the right and downward. This method should also be applied to the rooms you clean. By establishing this pattern in every room, you are less likely to miss areas.
2. Maintain a schedule
Staying on top of cleaning can help cut back on the time you spend keeping things tidy. Set a weekly cleaning schedule and make sure you stick to it. Post this schedule somewhere visible so the assigned individuals know when it is their turn to clean.
3. Use the proper cleaning materials
Avoid using cheap cleaning solutions and poorly made cleaning tools. Invest in a quality broom and dustpan, wet mop, duster and vacuum to save yourself the hassle of creating more work for yourself cleaning up after cheap products. Professional-grade cleaners can also help make your job easier. You will also want to invest in good cleaning gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes that are crucial for performing your job.
4. Make it fun
Cleaning may seem like an arduous process, but who said you cannot have fun doing it? Crank your favorite playlist or a new audiobook to help pass the time while you scrub away. You could also make it a challenge. Divide the station into teams and assign sections for them to clean. Reward the team that produces the cleanest area in the shortest time.
5. Get the team involved
If you tackle cleaning as a group effort, it will go much quicker than if it is left to a few people to finish. Cleaning as a team can also make the tasks more fun and will create universal respect for the cleanliness in the station house.
Though cleaning may seem tedious, it is a big part of maintaining a functional fire house. Firefighters should follow the tips above to help develop a faster, more effective cleaning method in their station house.