A clean office is vital for the development of a business. Cleanliness and order in the workplace contribute to increasing employees’ productivity, creativity and concentration and, at the same time, have an impact on their health. A company’s reputation is directly dependent on the environment in its offices, as each visitor, depending on what he sees, assesses how effective, organised and concerned about the comfort of its employees. So if your office is in dust and dirt, it’s time to act. Use the tips below for cleaning, and maintain a flawless look at your workplace periodically.
Although hiring a professional cleaning company is the best way to maintain a clean office environment, if you still decide to take on the task yourself (or distribute it among your colleagues), use the following tips for office cleaning and maintenance in the workplace.
- Keep the closet stocked with cleaning agents (glass cleaner, dust spray, microfibre towels, alcohol, paper towels, etc.). Also, make a list in a prominent place with cleaning tips to remind employees of the procedures they need to perform periodically.
- Put everything in the office in a specific place. If you have difficulty remembering places, put labels.
- Limit the number of items on your desk. Excess items only make it difficult for you to distribute your daily work. It would be good to move to another place with things you don’t often use (paper clips, business cards, calendars).
- Most electronics and office supply stores offer specialised keyboard cleaning towels. Take a few to your office, clean your keyboard, and monitor daily, especially if you’re eating at your desk. It is a good idea to wait for the keyboard to dry before using it again.
- Dispose of rubbish frequently and ventilate eating areas. That will help protect you from pests.
- Ask employees to write their names on each food they put in the refrigerator. If they plan to leave something for longer, it would be good to write down the date they opened the product. Determining the day of the month for kitchen cleaning is also good. Any food left in the refrigerator should be discarded that day (unless it is a product with a long shelf life).
- It is good to wash all dishes in the restroom immediately after lunch. It is advisable to require employees to collect the dried dishes on a specific day of the week to avoid unnecessary clutter in the dishwasher.
- If you get the microwave dirty during use, clean it immediately. If you wait, the problem will worsen as the food will dry out and make cleaning more difficult.
- Take care of plants in the office. Remove dry leaves, water them constantly and watch for signs of rot. If you can not keep the plants looking beautiful and healthy, choose the option – of artificial flowers (remembering dusting them often), or abandon the vegetation in the office.
- Do not forget to clean behind the furniture in the office. This streak of dust and dirt behind your desk does not speak well, although your workplace looks clean and tidy.
- Imagine that you are a customer and enter your office. Take a walk, follow the line that the client will follow, look around and explore the situation. Keep notes of any irregularities and correct them.
- Clean common and sanitary areas daily according to schedule. If you have a hygienist, this will be easy because she will do it 2-3 times a week, and the office will always be clean. If you do not have a hygienist, you can hire a professional cleaning company by subscription.
Flooring is important
More frequent cleaning will directly impact the level of cleanliness to remove the existing dirt and prevent its accumulation. It is essential in office spaces with carpets or rugs, as they often clog soil from employees’ shoes.
I work for a cleaning company and have seen all kinds of maintained and unsupported offices. Once a company called us to an office where the frequency of cleaning was sporadic. The dirt had matched the flooring fibres and was challenging to remove. Some products can attract more dirt, and here the case was that they used inappropriate products. Soap products and those with foam were not the right products, and they drew dirt to themselves many times faster.
In this particular office, a carpet on the floor was difficult to clean, caught the dirt and required more effort to achieve complete cleanliness. So the director listened to our recommendation to remove the carpets and lay a smooth surface. In this case, they preferred laminate. That makes cleaning much easier, as there is nothing to catch the dirt.
The investment is worth it because the increased comfort is significant. That reduces the cost, and over time the change in the type of flooring begins to pay for itself.
The air conditioners in the same office were in poor condition again, as they had yet to clean them soon. Accordingly, they worked at a partial capacity. The constant air circulation selects microscopic dust particles that pass through the system, enter the filter grilles and clog them. Therefore, we recommend washing it every month. Otherwise, they quickly become a dust centre. That naturally further pollutes the room.
My professional advice is to pay attention to the air, its condition and what kind of flooring you have in your office. Live plants and curtains are also related to cleanliness in an office, so it is good to pay attention to them – especially in winter.