Posts Tagged ‘office sanitation’

Secrets to an Efficient Office Cleaning

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Cleaning a workplace efficiently is one of the most important aspects to a productive business. A clean and tidy workplace is one of the keys to keeping staff motivated and high-spirited. A clean and sanitized office influences workers to do things in a tidy fashion, keep their paperwork properly filed, and everything running in an organized way.

Another fact that must be considered is the overall image of the company. It is important to show a clean office and reception area when customers’ visits are frequent. It all adds up to the general way customers and providers regard the company, and we know for sure this is a factor that helps close many deals.

Office cleaning must be kept on a daily basis. Whether it is more convenient to do a daytime cleaning or at night is something that must be pondered taking into consideration what type of activity the company runs. Some voices are raised to support daytime cleaning, because it is more environmentally friendly, due to the fact that once the lights are out, and the personnel has gone, there is no need to turn the lights on again to clean the place. However, cleaning when regular staff has gone does not interrupt the normal workflow, and does not distract workers. Probably, the company can save electricity in other ways, such as instructing personnel to turn off their computers before going home, or rationalizing air conditioning.

Efficient office cleaning must not be considered a waste, but an investment. It helps reduce employees’ sick days due to colds and other infectious diseases, allergies, and the effects of pollution. That is why it is important not to conduct a cosmetic cleaning, but rather a thorough deep cleaning. We will highlight some points that must not be overlooked.

•    Carpets are usually the favorite place for microorganisms to proliferate. They need to be vacuumed on a daily basis and deeply cleaned once a month, with the use of ecological products and avoiding chemicals that may be harmful. In this regard, there are certain steam carpet cleaners that do a wonderful job just by applying water steam. High levels of sanitation  are achieved this way because hot steam kills most microorganisms.

•    Telephone mouths and headphones, as well as every mouse and keyboard must be cleaned with a cloth embedded in a soft disinfectant.

•    Books and folders must be removed from shelves and cleaned one by one. Frames (photos, diplomas, etc) must be also wiped with a damp cloth. This is the only way to catch all dust. Just vacuuming them usually takes the filth back to the air, hence to the floor and other objects.

•    Desks must be cleaned also, not just polished, but disinfected as well, especially where clerks usually lay their hands and elbows.

•    An important action that is sometimes forgotten is the disinfection of wastebaskets, as this is bacteria’s favorite place to grow, and also a source of odor.

•    Bathrooms must also be deeply cleaned every day, as they are one of the sources of infections most commonly present in workplaces. Also, cleaning personnel must make sure that all consumable materials are replaced (liquid soap, toilet paper, etc.)

It is unlikely that employees will exclaim every morning, “Boy, is this office clean!”, but rather will complain when they find something filthy, and the same goes for customers. As professional business people, we must make sure that this never happens.

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to post it to your site or blog and forward this link to your friends. Have a great day!

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Cleaning is Also a Sensual Matter

Wednesday, August 19th, 2009

Commercial cleaning is nowadays one of the services no company can do without. Professional office cleaning has become a matter of providing a service which is indispensable to carry on day to day activities. There is funny thing about cleanliness. When it is properly performed, no one seems to notice it, but when some aspects of cleaning are neglected, and filth becomes obvious, cleanliness, or rather the lack of it, gets under the spotlight.

There are certain aspects about professional office cleaning that cannot be neglected, in order to provide healthy visibility to the matter. Cleaning is also a sensual matter, in the sense that it must appeal to all senses. We can all think about places we have been that, although impeccably clean, they did not strike as a clean place, either because they did not look or smell like a clean, healthy place.

•    Cleanliness strikes through the eyes.
Tidying up is a fundamental aspect of cleanliness. Even though cleaning staff is not expected to file clerical papers, they can also help de-clutter offices just by a more efficient arrangement of objects. If books are lying around, they must be put in shelves, the same as newspapers and magazines in reception areas. Chairs must also be correctly placed in meeting rooms, similarly with ashtrays, glasses, or office items –staplers, pencils- which are left lying around. Waste management is also important. Waste must be disposed of properly and in timely fashion. All elements that can be recycled can be donated to organizations that will greatly appreciate them.
A special note must be made about cleaning items. The wardrobe or small office where cleaning supplies are stored must also remain spotless. If a substitute janitor shows up the next day, he must be able to find all supplies with no difficulty.

•    The ears are also important.
In the case of offices that are cleaned during the day, while the staff is at work, the cleaning staff must be trained to clean causing the least noise pollution as possible. In fact, it would be ideal for them to go unnoticed. Thus, if areas to be polished are not too big, polishing can be done by hand instead of using a noisy machine that will disturb everyone.

•    The smell of health.
Fragrances and deodorants are a double-edged weapon when cleaning offices. They must never be used to mask filth or stale odor. If there is a distinct foul smell when entering an office, the source of such a smell must be sought until discovered. Some clues: wastebaskets not properly sanitized, rotten food in the employees’ fridge, bathrooms.
Scents are a sensitive topic. The room must be left with a soft gentle smell, not too disturbing –remember that fragrances are a very personal matter. While somebody might adore a particular smell, somebody else might loathe it. Nevertheless, scent is an important factor that conveys the idea of a clean place. Thus, a soft deodorant and air perfume must be used.

If you enjoyed this article, please feel free to post it to your site or blog and forward this link to your friends. Have a great day!

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