How to Maintain Cleanliness in the Office

If you are a manager or a business owner, then the overall cleanliness of your office is unlikely to be at the top of your list of priorities and is probably far from the number of things that run through your mind most days.

Cleanliness issues in the office only tend to become noticeable when they get out of hand and, at this point, a big job is at hand which will likely cost time and money.

Unfortunately, you can’t run or manage a successful business if you don’t pay close attention to having a clean and sanitary workplace for you and your employees.

The office environment has a huge impact on the well-being, productivity, and performance of your employees, so it is in your best interest to make sure you are doing all you can.

It is important, now more than ever, that your office is cleaned and sanitized regularly so that, if your employees are back in the office, they have a healthy and productive workspace.

With that in mind, here are five ways to improve cleanliness in your office.

Top Tips for Cleanliness in the Office

Set up a cleaning rota

Depending on your workplace and the number of employees you have, it might be more optimal for you to set up a cleaning rota so that everyone is playing a role in keeping the office clean.

For example, if you have a small office space with 6-8 employees, then it will likely only need cleaning twice a week. However, as we are still in a pandemic, it is recommended that you disinfect high touch surfaces and workstations multiple times during the day.

By establishing a cleaning rota, you not only keep your office clean and tidy, but everyone becomes accountable for ensuring it stays clean.

If you have a larger office or workforce, then it might be best to get the help from a specialist cleaning service or company, as they will have better insight in how to keep large areas clean and hygienic and have the equipment you may need.

De-clutter

Depending on the setup of your office, you’ll likely find that most desks are cluttered spaces. Encourage your employees to maintain a clean and tidy desk – their desk is their responsibility.

Provide proper filing arrangements and solutions for paperwork as this will not only help contribute to the cleanliness of the office, but also the smooth running and maintenance of potentially important business paperwork.

The average desk has around 400 times more germs and bacteria than a toilet seat, so ask your employees to regularly clean their desks, keyboards, mouse and work phones to minimize the spread of germs and illnesses.

Wash hands regularly

In these times, many of us are washing our hands much more frequently in a bid to minimize the spread of illnesses and germs and this should be replicated in the office, too.

Even though your employees are working at a desk for most of their day, having clean hands is important to stop the spread of illnesses around the workplace.

As well as regular and frequent hand washing, it’s a good idea to place sanitizer dispensers around the workplace too, so that employees have quick and easy access to clean hands. These should also be placed in common areas, which may be used by one employee at a time, such as meeting rooms, and by the entrance and exit points so that you are making sure employees can clean their hands as they enter and leave.

Embrace proper hygiene practices

General housekeeping should be carried out regularly in an office environment – it is a space shared by numerous people for days on end. By maintaining proper and regular cleaning and inspections, you can easily maintain a high standard of cleanliness and hygiene without the need to spend time and money on lengthy cleaning processes and procedures.

Education and training on proper hygiene practices is a great way to learn more about what is needed to keep your workplace and employees safe and protected.

As far as education and training is concerned, learning about things such as high-touch points (areas around the office which are touched more than most: desk, light switches, door handles etc.), proper cleaning procedures and waste disposal means you can tackle any specific cleaning tasks and ensure a proper cleaning schedule is adhered to.

Set areas for eating and drinking

Office workers and those who spend their day at a desk are notoriously bad when it comes to staying sat at their desk for lunch and break times. Not only is eating your lunch at your desk a way of potentially picking up germs and bugs easier, but it doesn’t allow you a chance to have a break away from your workstation and reset your brain for the remainder of your workday.

Set up a dedicated area or breakroom where employees can spend their lunch and break times instead. Try to make it relaxing and welcoming – no one wants to eat their lunch or spend their break in a cold and uncomfortable room.

If your employees want to continue eating at their desk, then encourage them to wipe down their desk or workstation both before and after their lunch and to spend some time away from their screen to help them reset.