The Scale of Warehouse Cleaning
Warehouses and distribution centres are the largest commercial premises in Ireland by floor area. A typical logistics facility ranges from 2,000 to 50,000+ square metres. At this scale, manual cleaning is impractical. A single operative with a mop cannot meaningfully clean a 10,000 sqm warehouse floor in a reasonable time. The only effective approach is mechanised cleaning using ride-on scrubber-dryers, industrial sweepers, and powered access equipment for high-level work.
Warehouse cleaning is also a safety issue. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) requires employers to maintain clean, safe working environments. Dust accumulation on racking and overhead structures is a fire risk. Spillages on warehouse floors are a slip hazard. Debris in loading bays creates trip hazards. Bird droppings on stored product is a contamination and health risk. And poor housekeeping attracts pests, which in turn create regulatory and reputational problems.
Optus Glean provides industrial-scale cleaning for warehouses, distribution centres, logistics hubs, cold stores, and fulfilment centres across Ireland. We deploy ride-on scrubber-dryers, industrial sweepers, powered access platforms, and pressure washing equipment to deliver the standard of cleanliness that your operation demands.
Floor Cleaning: Ride-On Scrubber Technology
Warehouse floors take enormous punishment from forklift traffic, pallet jacks, foot traffic, and product spillages. Concrete floors develop tyre marks, oil stains, and embedded dirt that standard mopping cannot remove. Our ride-on scrubber-dryers solve this problem at scale.
A ride-on scrubber applies cleaning solution, scrubs the floor with rotating brushes or pads, and vacuum-dries the surface in a single pass. The floor is walk-safe and forklift-safe within minutes. Our machines clean 3,000 to 5,000 square metres per hour, which means a 10,000 sqm warehouse floor can be completed in 2–3 hours. For comparison, the same area would take a team of 4 operatives with mops approximately 12–16 hours.
We provide scheduled floor cleaning (weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on usage) and one-off deep cleans for warehouse moves, audits, and lease returns. Our machines handle concrete, resin-coated, polished concrete, and painted floor surfaces.
High-Level Cleaning
Dust accumulates on racking, overhead structures, lighting, sprinkler systems, and roof trusses. In a warehouse with 10-metre-high racking, the upper levels can accumulate centimetres of dust over months. This dust is a fire accelerant, a respiratory hazard for workers, and a product contamination risk for stored goods.
- Racking uprights and horizontal beams: industrial HEPA-vacuumed
- Mesh decking and pallet supports: vacuumed and wiped
- Lighting fixtures and diffusers: cleaned and dedusted
- Sprinkler heads and fire detection equipment: carefully cleaned without activation
- Roof trusses, purlins, and overhead cable trays: vacuumed with extended reach
- Extraction fans and ventilation louvres: cleaned and degreased
For heights up to 6 metres, we use industrial HEPA-filtered vacuums with telescopic wands. Above 6 metres, we deploy scissor lifts or cherry pickers operated by trained, IPAF-certified operatives. High-level cleaning is typically scheduled quarterly or bi-annually outside of operational hours.
Loading Bay and Dock Door Cleaning
Loading bays are the interface between the warehouse and the external environment. They are exposed to weather, vehicle exhaust, pallet debris, shrink-wrap waste, and external contamination. Dirty loading bays create slip hazards, attract pests, and give a poor impression to delivery drivers and visiting customers.
- Loading bay floors: swept and scrubbed with ride-on or walk-behind machines
- Dock doors and seals: cleaned and checked for damage
- Dock levellers: debris cleared from pits and hinge points
- External aprons and yard areas: pressure washed to remove oil, tyre marks, and debris
- Waste compactor areas: cleaned and deodorised
- Drainage channels: cleared and flushed
Office and Welfare Area Cleaning
Warehouses contain office areas, canteens, washrooms, and welfare facilities that require standard commercial cleaning. We provide daily or scheduled cleaning of offices, meeting rooms, canteens and kitchen areas, washrooms (including shower facilities for warehouse operatives), corridors and stairways, and reception and visitor areas. This is bundled with the warehouse cleaning contract for a single, all-inclusive monthly price.
Warehouse Cleaning Pricing
| Service | Price Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled floor cleaning (small warehouse) | €800 – €1,500/month | Under 1,000 sqm, weekly |
| Scheduled floor cleaning (medium warehouse) | €1,500 – €3,000/month | 1,000-5,000 sqm, weekly |
| Scheduled floor cleaning (large facility) | €3,000 – €5,000+/month | 5,000+ sqm, weekly |
| High-level racking clean | €1,500 – €5,000 | Quarterly or bi-annual, IPAF access |
| Loading bay deep clean | €500 – €1,500 | Monthly or quarterly |
| Office/welfare area cleaning | €300 – €800/month | Daily or 3x/week, bundled with warehouse |
Note: Prices exclusive of VAT. All pricing includes machine hire, chemicals, and operator costs. One-off deep cleans for warehouse moves, audits, or lease returns are priced individually.
Food-Grade and Pharmaceutical Warehouses
Warehouses storing food, beverages, or pharmaceutical products face additional hygiene requirements under HACCP, FSAI, BRC, and HPRA regulations. Optus Glean provides food-grade and pharmaceutical-grade warehouse cleaning with appropriate chemicals, documented schedules, and audit-ready records. We clean to BRC and FSAI standards, using non-taint, food-safe products throughout. Our cleaning schedule forms part of your facility's HACCP or GMP documentation.
Pest Prevention Through Cleaning
Professional warehouse cleaning is a critical component of integrated pest management. Pests (rodents, birds, insects) are attracted by food debris, packaging waste, standing water, and undisturbed harbourage points. Our cleaning removes these attractants systematically. We coordinate with your pest control provider to ensure our schedule supports their baiting and monitoring programme. Regular high-level cleaning removes bird nesting materials. Perimeter cleaning keeps vegetation and debris away from building walls. Loading bay cleaning eliminates food residues that attract rodents.
Serving Warehouses Across Ireland
Ireland's warehouse and logistics sector has grown significantly, driven by e-commerce, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and food distribution. Optus Glean serves third-party logistics providers (3PLs), e-commerce fulfilment centres, food and beverage distributors, pharmaceutical warehouses, manufacturing facilities, retail distribution centres, and cold storage operators across all 26 counties. Our fleet of ride-on scrubbers and powered access equipment allows us to service facilities from 500 sqm to 50,000+ sqm.
Frequently Asked Questions About Warehouse Cleaning
How much does warehouse cleaning cost in Ireland?
Warehouse cleaning costs €800–€5,000+ per month in 2026. A small warehouse (under 1,000 sqm) is €800–€1,500/month. A medium warehouse (1,000–5,000 sqm) is €1,500–€3,000/month. A large facility (5,000+ sqm) is €3,000–€5,000+/month. High-level racking cleans are additional at €1,500–€5,000 per visit.
Do you use ride-on scrubbers for warehouse floors?
Yes. Ride-on scrubber-dryers clean 3,000–5,000 sqm per hour, making them the only practical option for large warehouse floors. They apply solution, scrub, and vacuum-dry in one pass. The floor is walk-safe within minutes. We deploy ride-on machines for all contracts over 1,000 sqm.
How do you clean high-level racking?
We use industrial HEPA vacuums with telescopic wands up to 6 metres, and powered access platforms (scissor lifts, cherry pickers) above that. All operators are IPAF-certified. We clean racking, lighting, sprinklers, and overhead structures. Typically scheduled quarterly or bi-annually outside operational hours.
Do you clean food-grade warehouses?
Yes. We provide HACCP/BRC/FSAI-compliant cleaning for food and pharmaceutical warehouses using non-taint, food-safe chemicals. Documented cleaning schedules form part of your facility's HACCP or GMP file. We clean cold stores, ambient storage, and temperature-controlled areas.
How does warehouse cleaning help with pest prevention?
Professional cleaning removes food debris, packaging waste, and harbourage points that attract pests. High-level cleaning removes bird nesting materials. Perimeter cleaning deters rodents. We coordinate with your pest control provider to ensure our schedule supports their monitoring programme.
