Hygiene standards make employees feel safe and at ease. Most office workers expect clean spaces. Nobody wants to be exposed to bacteria. Offices can spread sickness, so they were closed during the pandemic. Whether you hire a cleaning service or do it yourself, here’s how to keep your office clean and hygienic.
Focus On Hand Hygiene
Bacteria are transferred throughout an office through our hands. To combat this, sanitizers should be strategically placed throughout the workplace. Ensure every washroom is equipped with soap and signage to promote hand washing.
Be Aware of High-Traffic Areas
Your office may have areas that receive more traffic than others, such as the entrance, kitchen, and guest area. Clean and disinfect these areas every day to the extent of your abilities. Be uncompromising with your cleaning regimen here.
Hire Commercial Cleaning Services
A commercial cleaning service can come in and maintain high standards of office hygiene with routine cleaning. They are experts in office cleaning and can do everything from nightly cleans to deep cleans on a monthly, quarterly, biannual, or annual basis.
Clean the Washroom Every Day
Germs and bacteria can transfer to a washroom. Ensure every office restroom is cleaned at least once a day. Tackle toilets, urinals, sinks, countertops, door handles, and every touchpoint likely to harbor germs.
Complete a Nightly Clean of the Kitchen
The kitchen is a communal area where office hygiene is tested. To maintain a clean kitchen, spraying and wiping down fridges and microwaves is important. It’s also important to remove overflowing trash bins, tidy grimy sinks, and toss any moldy food hanging around.
Keep Desks Clean and Clear
Save the work floor for work and limit eating in the kitchen. This will minimize the risk of messes appearing on the work floor. While at it, adopt a clean desk policy, ensuring employees recognize the responsibility to clean and tidy their common surfaces.
Keep Washroom Supplies Fully Stacked
A major complaint about some office buildings is the lack of hygiene in the washrooms, which often relates to a lack of supplies. Paper towels should be fully stocked, soap dispensers filled, and toilet paper abundant.
Make Necessary Repairs to Faucets and Dispensers
Faucets and dispensers can break, as can any device used to maintain office hygiene. Ensure a repairer is called without delay and that these fixes are implemented so that employees have the resources they need to keep the workplace hygienic.
Empty Trash Cans Every Day
Every night, ensure every garbage can is emptied and that a fresh liner is put in. This minimizes foul odors while removing waste. It also sets up the next day with a clean slate.
Address Spills And Messes As They Happen
If there is water on the floor, a spill, or a mess, don’t wait to address it. If not cleaned immediately, a spill could stain the floor in the near future. Always grab a broom or mop and tidy up any messes that come up.
Open the Windows to Let In Some Fresh Air
When possible, open the windows. This will allow fresh air to blow in and stale air to leave. If you can’t open the windows, consider other ways of freshening the air, such as with plants or air purifiers.
Stick to a Comprehensive Cleaning Schedule
Do you want to do office cleaning yourself and avoid hiring a commercial cleaner? Comprehensive cleaning schedules are necessary. Designate your responsibilities and set a time to complete them. Maintaining hygiene is not a job to be neglected or improvised.
Address Problematic Behaviour
If employees are not following hygienic standards—such as sneezing without covering up, leaving dirty dishes in the kitchen, or making messes and not cleaning them up—address problematic behavior.
Tackle Insects and Pests Quickly
Ants, insects, mice, rats, and other pests are issues that need to be managed quickly and not permeated. Modern office buildings typically do not have this issue, but if any issue is tied to pests, it’s key to handle it quickly.
If You’re Ill? Stay Home
Staying home when sick is professional and considerate and creates a healthier environment. Sickness spreads when sick people continue working, reducing attendance and productivity.
Increase Efforts During Cold and Flu Season
During winter, increase your cleaning efforts. High-touch and high-traffic areas risk becoming major sources of germ spreading. Provide antibacterial wipes, sanitizers, tissues, and more for your staff. They are more likely to use an item or resource if it is readily available.
