Keeping your office clean can feel like a significant challenge. It becomes even more difficult when things get busy, with multiple people passing through the space each day – that’s why it’s important to take a structured approach to the issue. If you’re looking to optimise your approach to deep cleaning, you’ve come to the right place. A big thanks to the SMC Premier Cleaning team in helping to put this article together.
Make a plan
Before you get going, you’ll want to make a plan of action. Consider everything that will need cleaning and the kinds of cleaning materials that you’ll need. Then think about how regularly each space will need cleaning – some things will need tackling daily, while others can be done weekly or fortnightly.
Get rid of clutter
You can make the deep cleaning process a lot easier by getting rid of any unnecessary items. For example, if there’s a printer in the corner that hasn’t been used in over a year, maybe it’s time to get rid of it. Be ruthless, as it’ll make cleaning a lot easier in the long run as well.
Dust then sanitise
When deep cleaning, you’ll want to dust all surfaces first, then sanitise those that people might have touched. This means spraying and wiping doorknobs, keyboards, light switches, and furniture in meeting rooms and other communal spaces.
Deep cleaning floors
While you can get away with just hoovering and mopping for a while, every now and then you’ll need to deep clean the floors. With carpets, you’ll need to hire a team of carpet cleaners with special equipment to do the job. With hard floors, you may need to invest in a steam cleaner.
Fabric chairs and curtains
Leather and plastic chairs are relatively easy to keep clean, but fabric chairs and other fabric items in the office, such as curtains, will need deep cleaning every now and then. For chairs, you can use special fabric cleaning hoovers, that can apply soapy water and then suck out the dirt and water afterwards.
Kitchen areas
Kitchen areas can become quite dirty very quickly, and it’s important that you give them a deep clean either weekly or fortnightly. Make sure that you empty cupboards and fridges, cleaning up any leftover food residue to ensure that the environment is appropriate for food preparation and consumption.
Electronics
Most office spaces have a wide range of electronic items, from computers to scanning devices, that see regular usage. Make sure that they’re included in your deep cleaning plan – as well as wiping down any visible dirt, it may be necessary to get these items professionally cleaned as well, to avoid any electrical fires and keep the space safe.
Set a schedule
Finally, deep cleaning is much easier if you do it before your space has become visibly dirty. Set a schedule that either you or a professional cleaning company can keep to. This will ensure that your office space remains hygienic in the long run, with positive effects on both the health and motivation of your employees.
Deep cleaning isn’t something you can avoid – it’s got to be done sooner or later. By being thorough and taking a proactive approach, you can help keep your employees happy in the long run, contributing to a positive work environment.
