I just finished a major clean of the shop... it amazing how fast everything collects when you let it.
We generally do a clean-up daily, but on concrete days when things often go way overtime it doesn't always happen.
Often tools tend to gather on the work benches and in hidden corners and get left there until someone notices. With the construction on the shop still happening as we are already in production on customer's work there seems to be twice the mess of normal. And extremely tight deadlines and late hours make the clean-up chore hard to face at the end of a day.
We use woodworking tools only occasionally in our work, but with the construction that isn't the case. Bits of cutoff plywood have gathered, too good to throw away, but too small to keep. And there are a lot of them around.
So during the last few days I made a special effort to finish off the woodwork, go through all the scraps ruthlessly and do a thorough cleanup. The garbage bin is full, and there's a huge stack of cardboard to go to the recycler's.
It took me much longer than I had anticipated, but after it was done it made me feel SO GOOD to reclaim my shop once more!
While I was at it I did the new studio as well.
Are you a clean freak every day or do you let things stack up until you can't stand it?
-dan
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
....Now Dan, who would let everything stack up an' be in a mess? . . .lol
At the end of every major step my goal is to clean up an' put away. If the clock-monster says I can't, the next goal in line is to do it before I lock-up that day. If I don't get it done before I lock-up, then with out a doubt, it will get done the next morning or I can not function. It's really kind of obsessive, but even if I'm gonna be usin' the same tools or be in the same mess . . .sawdust, vinyl waste, whatever it is, I simply have to get everything clean and re-organized neatly before I can go at it again. Nothin' irks me more than to need a tool and waste even 5 minutes lookin' for what should be RIGHT THERE. I have two 30 gal. garbage cans and I'm a lil' fanatical about gettin' the cram-packed full garbage out an' puttin' the new bags in . . . but first, I like to see just how much those things can actually hold. I'm obsessive about sweeping, but have been known to put a knife to a helpers throat for tryin' to push a broom when I had wet panels layin' around. HEY! They GOTTA LEARN! . . . LOL, c'mon! Posted by Donna in BC (Member # 130) on :
Basically if my office is spotless, garbage thrown out and floor vaccumed all at the same time, work has slown down! Nice when it happens on occasion, but not too often.
If I know a customer is coming to my shop, I quickly stack a pile of ? in a far corner they can't see and vaccuum. FAST. Not thorough. I slide my arm across my desk and shove it all in a drawer.
On a regular basis, after I cut and/or apply each project, I attempt to clean up after that project and work it into the time of that job. But if I'm running late, or too many things on the go at the same time (all too common), I'm usually running out the door, decals flailing behind me and I'm lucky if I get a chance to turn off the lights.
When I use to have Kari work for me, once a week she'd clean the windows, disinfect the phone, door handles, dust, organize, etc etc. Gosh I miss that!
Posted by Jereme Gauthier (Member # 4351) on :
I clean my paint guns right away-only 'cause I have to...otherwise I'm right there with Donna...
Posted by Kissymatina (Member # 2028) on :
Every once in a while I get irritated and clean everything. Only problem is I'm working in the temporary shop so not everything has a set home. When I clean, I have a habit of forgetting where I put something away cause it never had an "away" area before. If the shop or office is sorta straight, it's ok. If it's clean, I either freaked out over how bad it was or am really slow. If I vacuum the office floor, I'm way too slow.
Posted by Camille Norvaisas (Member # 501) on :
Clean?? Oh, I must say I am embarassed of my shop - the mess has taken over. I'm surprised anybody orders a sign from me. I work in my uncle's auto repair shop so everything gets dirty fast (hey but the rent's cheap). I need to de-pile too. I keep reading Donna's mini-goals and say "someday..." I need help - LOL!
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