Those of us that work in smaller office settings don’t always have the luxury of hiring professional cleaning services to maintain our offices. Or, maybe your cleaning person comes in every other week and things start to fall apart in between appointments. In either case, it’s up to the professionals working within the office on a daily basis to keep things in order.
“I don’t get paid to clean around here,” is an attitude that many people have. That may be true but it is a matter of personal responsibility to maintain our workplaces to avoid the spread of disease and pests. It only takes a few minutes every day and it’s really easy to keep the office clean. Let’s explore a few areas that can be done in less than an hour.
Empty Waste Baskets
This is a small but crucial tip. To keep ants and other unwanted critters out of your office space, make sure to empty the waste baskets on a regular basis. If you eat at your desk, try to empty out your bin daily. That way, you can avoid the possibility of awful odors coming from your cubicle. This will go a long way towards improving employee morale and keeping your team’s mental health balanced. Make a healthy habit out of throwing away your trash regularly.
Do Dishes
Some of us like to drink coffee in the morning. Or afternoon. Or perhaps all day long. Some of us use styrofoam cups, but that is wasteful. The rest of us utilize reusable cups, like office mugs or thermoses. Be courteous to your coworkers by cleaning your dishes after use. That way, the sink in the kitchenette doesn’t become a breeding ground for bacteria. If you use glass or plastic dishes during your lunchtime, make sure to clean them up before taking them home. You will thank yourself later when the dish is much easier to clean.
Clean Up Your Desk
Treat yourself well by maintaining the cleanliness of your work desk. You’ll need to clean the desktop regularly to keep the dust and crumbs from building up. Also, make sure to clean your keyboard and monitor regularly. For your keyboard, you may use an aerosol can to dry dust in between the keys, or you may pick up a handheld vacuum cleaner with brush attachment. When you clean your computer screen, avoid using watery products because they can stain the screen. Pick up a microfiber cloth to dust the screen down and a specialized LCD cleaning solution for spots and smudges.
Sweep and Mop Regularly
Unless you hire a cleaning service, chances are your floors are in rough shape. Sweeping the office floor daily will help with keeping ants away. It will also help make the mopping go much smoother. You will want to mop the office floor at least twice a week; perhaps more if the weather outside is bad. Keeping the floors clean is very important; if your floors are wet from tracking snow and mud in, they can be considered a hazardous work environment.
You don’t have to be a professional cleaner to keep your office tidy. Just practice good daily habits and challenge yourself to be personally responsible; your coworkers and guests will be much happier for it.
