What are the tips on disinfecting and cleaning an office space?
- Declutter
- Clean surfaces
- Vacuum and mop floors
- Promote good hygiene practices
- Make cleaning a routine
Cleaning may not be your company’s focus right now, but it will be when the COVID-19 community quarantine regulations are lifted and your team returns to the office. Once you’re all back, you’ll notice that people think and react differently about the equipment and surfaces around now. You might see people reaching for disinfecting wipes or hand sanitizers when before the pandemic, nobody would even notice these items. While it’s understandable to experience a little uneasiness as to when your team ventures back to the office, disinfecting your office space beforehand will ease these thoughts and keep everyone safe and healthy.
Whether engaging in routine cleaning or just following your public health official’s advice for sanitation, office cleaning practices are essential. Read on because we’ve collected some of the most useful tips to help you clean and disinfect your office!
Declutter
The atmosphere of your office will be a lot more stressful and unproductive if it’s too cluttered or if it’s too dirty. This might be partly because of the distractions that can be seen in your office space, like unorganized paperwork or leftover food crumbs.
The first step in achieving a gleaming office space is to declutter. It is a pretty straightforward process and all you need to do is to remove all unnecessary objects like extra papers, file folders, unused mugs, and office supplies from your desks. Store needed items in file boxes and cabinets to keep the office premises looking organized.
A bit of additional advice is to encourage your team to keep their desks clean and avoid eating at their desks. Ask them to keep their designated areas spotless before they clock out at the end of the day to ensure there will be no clutter build-up in the future.
Clean Surfaces
You and your team spend a lot of time at the office; some even spend more time in the office than at their own home. Hence, cleaning the office is needed. Dust, dirt, and cobweb buildup can trigger all kinds of health problems including coughs, rashes, and other respiratory problems. When other employees fall sick, germs can very easily be carried from one place to another, and manifest. With the coronavirus already threatening everyone’s health, nobody wants to catch more diseases right?
So dampen a microfiber cloth and wipe down all the surfaces in your office space. Wipe down desk spaces, computer keyboards, mouses, printers, countertops, switches, shelves, telephones, and doorknobs. Don’t forget to clean often overlooked areas like the power cords behind your desk, fan blades, window sills, or areas under your computer.
A study proved that the coronavirus can live on surfaces and air for days. The only guaranteed way to keep viruses and germs at bay is to use cleaning agents. Use a bleach solution or disinfectant spray. Remember to do this step thoroughly because your office space has high touch surfaces that can easily spread diseases.
Vacuum and Mop Floors
Regular vacuuming is incredibly important if you have carpets in your office space. Dust and dirt accumulate in carpets and allergens cling to its fibers. While if you have hard floors, you’ll need to have a mopping set for cleaning them regularly. Keeping the floors cleansed will help remove dirt and dust further, and as a result, it will keep your team breathing clean air as well.
Promote Good Hygiene Practices
In order to disinfect your office space, good hygiene practices must be observed. This includes proper and frequent handwashing and having respiratory etiquette when coughing or sneezing.
Place wipes, sanitizer, paper towels, and waste bins in easily accessible areas. Consider buying “touchless” appliances like automatic soap dispensers, motion-detecting switches, and hand-dryers as this will improve overall hygiene in the office. Moreover, discourage employees who feel ill or those who exhibit COVID-19 symptoms from coming to work to avoid the transmission of diseases.
Make Cleaning A Routine
Once you’re done disinfecting and cleaning, make it a habit to clean your office space regularly. Have general cleaning routines every month and remind your employees to keep their areas clean all the time.
When faced with the daily pressures of running a business, a major task like routine cleaning may seem like an easy thing to put off. However, one must keep in mind that a clean workplace is vital for reasons like maintaining a healthy environment and leaving a good impression on visitors when they enter a tidy office.
Key Takeaway
Even if it may be hard to maintain regular cleaning schedules, the daily practices of keeping desks organized and disinfecting high-touch surfaces can create a healthy environment year-round.
When returning to work, everyone will go through the new normal every day. It is vital that your office is prepared for these uncertain circumstances in order to maintain a healthy workforce. To disinfect your office space, follow these tips and help keep everyone on your team safe.
