Looking for a new way to procrastinate? Do so in a productive way by cleaning your office! Fresh air and a cleared and clean desk will lead to productive work days. To make the most out of your time cut out for cleaning, here is a list of the nine best practices for effective office cleaning.
Keep Cleaning Supplies Readily Available
The first step to practicing effective office cleaning is to make sure you have appropriate cleaning supplies available. The most important items to have on hand are disinfecting cleaner and paper towels, or disinfecting wipes.
Disinfecting cleaners and wipes are made to eliminate dangerous bacteria, viruses, or other pathogens. Do not get it confused with sanitary cleaners and wipes, which removes most contamination of these harmful pathogens. Also, paper towels are more effective in removing pathogens than cloth towels due to their disposal nature. Cloth towels are used on a multitude of surfaces, which allows bacteria and viruses to be simply transferred from one surface to another. With that, make sure to throw away a used paper towel before moving to the next surface.
Store these items in a drawer, cabinet, a little box under your desk, or any other discreet place day that is out of the way, yet easily accessible. The right placement of these supplies will encourage you to take on the task of cleaning your office.
Clean Electronic Devices and Surfaces
Our hands are the number one transportation system of dirt, grime and pathogens. Making contact with numerous objects everyday, our hands are bound to create dirty environments in the places where they most make contact. We use our hands in the office every second, whether it be holding the phone, typing on the keyboard, gripping onto the desk, or even touching the computer monitor.
With that, the office is a hotbed of dirt and harmful bacteria and viruses. To combat this, use a disinfecting cleaner and paper towel to wipe down your devices or surfaces. Simply spray the cleaning solution onto the towel and wipe down the device or surface until the smears and specks are gone and the area is shiny.
Doing this each day will make the screens sparkle, the keyboard easier to use, and overall, keep your desk free from 99.9% of viruses and bacteria.
Wash Your Hands
In addition to cleaning the surfaces your hands make contact with, it is only logical to clean your hands as well. The best practice to effectively keep your hands clean is by washing them. Wash them before you eat, after you eat, after you use the restroom, and after you cough or sneeze on them.
Wash your hands with warm water and soap to gain the best results. Just wet your hands in the water, pump soap on them, and rub them against each other for twenty seconds. While rubbing, make sure to clean in between the fingers and under the nails as well. Then, rinse the soap off and dry your hands with a paper towel. After using a paper towel, dispose of it properly in a trash can. Avoid using air dryers, for they recycle the restroom air, which is filled with bacteria, and blow it directly onto your hands.
Clean The Air
An easily overlooked place to clean is the air in the office.
One method of cleaning is by using disinfectant aerosol spray. The amount needed depends on the potency of the disinfectant aerosol spray and the size of the room. Consult the disinfectant aerosol spray’s container for directions of usage. Keep in mind that aerosol sprays may irritate those with allergies or asthma, so it might be best to use in the evenings after everyone has gone home for the day.
Another way to clean the air is by installing air purifiers. Air purifiers clear the air from pollutants trapped inside the office space. Simply purchase one online or at your local store and plug it in. It can be placed at your desk or a shelf.
Plants are a natural way to also clean the air. Plus, they give the office space a fresh, green touch. Small plants such as cacti, bamboo, aloe vera, and succulents are recommended for their low maintenance and minimal space they take up.
Practice Spot Cleaning
Spot cleaning is the practice of cleaning during the day when necessary. An example is when you throw away a piece of trash you find laying on the floor. A numerous amount of actions fall under spot cleaning including:
- Taking out the trash and recycling when necessary
- Filing papers immediately after possession
- Disposing unnecessary items
- Cleaning up spilled items, whether it be water or a cup of pens
- Wiping a distracting streak off from the computer screen
- Putting items in their place once you are done using them
Making this practice a habit will not only make your office cleaner daily, but it will also minimize the task of office cleaning itself.
Declutter
One of the contributing factors to a messy environment is clutter. Clutter is the mess of unnecessary items in one confined area. Such a mess welcomes dust, bugs, and other uncleanly components into your office.
Decluttering is a process of sorting according to significance and storing in the appropriate place. The time it takes to declutter depends on the amount of clutter the area holds. Some items that are considered clutter include:
- Expired or irrelevant papers, files, folders
- Unnecessary decorations and accessories such as picture frames and figurines
- Unused or a surplus of office supplies
- Non-office supplies such as beauty supplies, eating utensils, extra clothes
- All non-office supplies that will be used during the work day should be stored in the break room, locker room, or under the desk, depending on the office space.
Decluttering will reveal your beautiful desk, ready to help you complete your work tasks to their fullest potential.
Keep Your Office Space As An Office Space
The office space is set aside solely for office work. Other activities such as eating and doing your hair and makeup will not only alter the environment of the office space but also create a filthy environment.
Eating gives the easy opportunity for crumbs to be left on surfaces and floors, even after cleaning. These fragments of food will then attract bugs into your office, adding to the dirty environment. Also, unattended crumbs can create mold, spores, and other harmful pathogens that will contaminate the air. Consume your snack, lunch, or other meal in a cafeteria, outside, or another place designated for eating.
Changing your office space into a quick beauty parlor isn’t a good idea, either. The beauty supplies add to the clutter and mix with your office supplies. Strands of hair, bits of skin, and makeup will scatter across the surface and items on the desk, creating a dirty environment. Doing your hair and makeup is best done in the restroom or at home.
Clean At The End Of The Day
The best time of the day to clean your office space is at the end of the work day. That is when the mess is mostly visible and all your work-related tasks have been completed. With that, you can effectively clean with a visible goal and no distractions. Then, when you arrive at your office the following day, you will be greeted by a fresh and clean working environment.
Hire A Cleaning Service
If you have absolutely no time to clean your office, leave it to the professionals by hiring a cleaning service. Utilize crowd-sourced review websites such as Yelp to read the most recent reviews of cleaning service companies. Request a custom quote and take cost, specific services, time, and location into consideration when finding the right company for you. Using a cleaning service will allow you to focus fully on your work while still enjoying a fresh, clean office space.
These nine tips will sure help you prioritize how, where and when to clean your office space. When applying these tips, you will not only improve your office space but also your own physical and mental health, leading to higher productivity. It is a win-win-win-win practice for both your office space, your work, yourself, and others.