Office Cleaning Tips

Busy Bee Office Cleaning Tips

Why is a Clean Office Important?

A clean office is; of course, much more pleasant than an unclean one, but more importantly, a clean office is a safe office. “Sick buildings” that ruin employees’ health are just buildings that desperately needed a thorough office cleaning–and didn’t get one! Lack of fresh air, inadequate ventilation, buildup of dust and dirt, exposure to chemical fumes or toxic mold can make an office space not just unpleasant, but dangerous to workers’ health. Headache, dizziness, nausea and lethargy that seem to happen only at the workplace may be a sign that a complete office building cleaning is in order. Large cities with many office buildings are in special need of cleaning services. NYC is a good example.

What Workers Can do to Keep a Clean Office

Studies have shown that the average work desk has more bacteria than a toilet seat. This is probably because so many people eat at their desks, and so few clean them. According to one survey, only slightly more than a third of respondents cleaned their work areas every week. One of the most important things workers can do to stay healthy is to clean their desk, computer keyboard and mouse at least once a week, or to hire office cleaners who will do so.

The break room is another potential danger area. Most employees have stored their food in an office refrigerator, but 1 in 5 say they don’t know if the refrigerator has ever been cleaned. In some offices, cleaning may prevent food borne illness!

Office Cleaning Tips

There are many ways that employees can keep their workspaces clean and safe. The first is to buy a good, all-around office-cleaning sanitizer and to use it often on desks and other work areas. It’s also a good idea to keep hand sanitizer on desks for those times when hand washing is inconvenient. Clean out old papers on a desk by sorting them into ‘yes,’ ‘no’ and ‘maybe’ files. If the ‘maybe’ items haven’t been used in a month, employees should toss them out of their offices. Cleaning out old papers also removes a possible fire hazard.

For shared areas such as an employee lounge or break room, set aside a work day and assign volunteer office cleaners a specific task, such as cleaning the cabinets, taking out trash or clearing out the fridge. If a professional office cleaner will not be hired, these tasks should be scheduled on a weekly or monthly basis.

When to Call in an Office Cleaning Service

Fair-sized workplaces with more than a few employees usually need an office cleaning service. No matter how conscientious they are, most employees don’t have time to do their own work plus office cleaning services as well. If your office has a “lived-in look,” but if the business isn’t ready for a full-time janitor, an office building cleaning service can be a less-expensive solution. An office building cleaning can be scheduled once a month, once a week or every night, depending on the size and needs of the business.

How to Pick an Office Building Cleaning Service

Choose an office cleaning service that can demonstrate it has experience cleaning office buildings and that it has proper client references. Check that the company has proof of insurance and be sure to read the contract carefully to see what services are included, and at what price. Clients with small work spaces might need only light office building cleaning, while large ones might need a team of office cleaners. Clients should ask if office supplies are included in the cleaning services. Office cleaning methods, and the kinds of office cleaner products the service uses, should be discussed, especially if green cleaning methods are preferred. Sometimes cleaners with strong chemicals can be irritating to breathe.

Which Office Cleaning Services to Choose

The office cleaning services a company chooses to buy will depend on the size of the workplace and the number of employees. An office cleaner may provide services that vary from emptying trash, dusting and vacuuming to sanitizing and restocking restrooms, cleaning refrigerators and microwaves, window washing, shampooing carpets and waxing floors. It’s a good idea to create a list of needed tasks before talking to a potential office building cleaning service. Be sure to share any special cleaning needs that apply to the offices. Cleaning unusual spaces or equipment, or cleaning office buildings that also need repair, will necessitate a tailored quote.

How to Choose a Cleaning Service NYC

A cleaning service, NYC and other locations alike must clean thoroughly. Since New York City, like most other large urban areas, experiences formidable pollution, cleaning office buildings in this town requires experience and knowledge of the challenges of an urban environment. The best cleaning services, NYC and elsewhere are chosen on the basis of criteria such as thoroughness, promptness, and price. When determining the best NYC cleaning services, office colleagues are often useful sources. City magazines that publish “best of” lists or paid review sites can yield helpful information about a cleaning service. NYC has many excellent cleaning services; office managers or building superintendents can also be invaluable resources.

Additional Resources:

• Desks: Dirtier Than Toilet Seats
• Spring Clean Your Workplace
• How to Choose a Cleaning Service for Your Business