A clean and organized office is more than just a pleasant place to work, it’s also a reflection of a company’s values and a key driver of productivity. A tidy workplace can help to promote focus, reduce stress, and foster a positive work environment for clients and visitors.
But we know that cleaning is not for anyone. Hence we have created this guide, to help explore the essential do’s and don’ts for maintaining a clean office easily. Hopefully, this can help you to be able to create a workspace that is not only visually appealing but also inspires you to work better.
The Do’s to Maintain a Clean Office
Practice ‘Clean As You Go
The first thing you should do is to adopt a habit of tidying up as you work. Whether it’s disposing of trash immediately or putting away files after use, maintaining cleanliness in real time prevents clutter from building up. This practice not only saves time but also ensures a consistently neat workspace.
Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces Regularly
Areas such as door handles, keyboards, phones, light switches, and communal equipment that you can find in your office are the best places for bacteria and viruses to thrive. Regularly disinfecting these surfaces reduces the spread of germs and keeps your office healthier. To make your life easier, be sure to stock up some disinfectant in your workspace. Thus, you can easily use them to wipe all the high-touch surfaces.
Clean from Top to Bottom
Cleaning systematically from the top of a space (like shelves) to the bottom (floors) prevents dirt and dust from settling onto already-cleaned surfaces. This method ensures thorough cleanliness and avoids duplicating efforts.
When tidying up your workspace, always begin by clearing and wiping down the shelves and any clutter from higher areas. Clean the shelves, desk surface, and any items on your desk. If needed, you can sweep the floor yourself, or if your office has a janitor, you can also leave the task to them.
Get Organized
An organized office reduces clutter and promotes efficiency. To be more organized in your workspace, you should use labeled storage, filing systems, and digital tools to keep documents, supplies, and equipment in their designated places. Therefore, you don’t have to worry when you need a document and can’t find it. By staying organized, you’ll always know exactly where everything is stored!
Promote Personal Desk Hygiene
Promoting personal desk hygiene and upholding it by adding it to your daily habits is the best way to ensure your workspace is always clean. Simple habits like wiping down surfaces, avoiding eating at the desk, and keeping your space tidy contribute significantly to overall office cleanliness!
Clean Spills and Mess Immediately
Addressing spills as soon as they happen prevents stains and potential hazards, such as slips or sticky surfaces. Keeping cleaning supplies like paper towels and cleaners readily available ensures quick responses to messes.
Place Hand Sanitizer Within Arm Reach
If you are a manager or business owner, it is important to note the importance of placing hand sanitizer within arm's reach. Strategically placing hand sanitizer at workstations, meeting rooms, and common areas makes it convenient for everyone to maintain hand hygiene, which reduces the spread of germs and illnesses.
Schedule Deep Cleaning Periodically
Last but not least, managers and business owners should also understand the importance of regular deep cleaning sessions for the office. Hiring a professional to do the job is essential because they have the expertise, equipment, and cleaning solutions needed to thoroughly clean areas that are often overlooked during regular cleaning.
Professionals can address tasks such as carpet cleaning, upholstery care, air vent sanitization, and many more, which often require specialized knowledge and tools. Thus, though it may incur an extra cost –it can also do wonders to improve office cleanliness and employee productivity in the long term.
The Don’ts to Maintain a Clean Office
Leaving Documents Scattered on Desk
Leaving papers and documents scattered around your desk is a big no! It can create unnecessary clutter and make it harder to stay organized. It also increases the risk of misplacing important items that you might suddenly need for work. You don’t want to lose an important document when you need them, right? If so, then you should never leave documents scattered on the desk.
Eating While Working
Eating at your desk can lead to spills, crumbs, and lingering odors, which can create a messy and unprofessional environment in your work desk. It’s better to take breaks and enjoy meals in designated areas such as this pantry. This can also help you to move away from your desk, so you don’t sit in front of the screen the whole day.
Forget to Declutter Regularly
Neglecting to declutter your desk and workspace regularly can lead to piles of unused items, papers, and trash accumulating. This not only looks untidy but also makes cleaning more difficult.
Not Properly Washing Hands After Going to The Bathroom
Failing to wash your hands thoroughly after using the restroom can spread germs and bacteria throughout the office, compromising the cleanliness of shared spaces. Always wash your hands properly to maintain hygiene in the workplace.
Not Using the Right Cleaning Products and Tools
Using the wrong cleaning products or tools can damage office furniture or surfaces. Be sure to use appropriate cleaning solutions and tools for each type of surface to avoid wear and tear and ensure effective cleaning for your workspace.
Leaving the Office with a Messy Desk
Leaving a messy desk at the end of the day creates more work for you the following morning and can contribute to a cluttered office environment. Take a few minutes to tidy up before you leave, so you can start the next day with a clean workspace.
Leaving Your Coffee Mug Overnight
Enjoying a cup of coffee before working or throughout the day, is a simple fix that most employees do to ensure they can keep up with the work deadline. But it is important to note that you should never leave your dirty coffee mugs at your desk overnight. This will create a cluttered workspace, and attract bacteria and pests!
Always clean and store your mugs and dishes as soon as you're done to maintain a sanitary environment.
Letting Thrash Overflow
Allowing trash to overflow from bins in your workspace can make the office look untidy and attract unwanted odors. Thus it is important to take time to empty the bin regularly to prevent trash clutter from accumulating.
Our Final Word
These are the essential Do’s and Don’ts that you should follow to create a productive and healthy work environment. Additionally, it is also important to hire a professional office cleaning service once in a while to ensure the job is done effectively!