If you do the office cleaning in house or hire an office cleaning service to do it for you, here are a few tips that will help make sure it is working for you!
The office can become a second home for a lot of employees and staff, so it is especially important to keep it maintained and clean. Anyone working in an office environment appreciates the idea of scheduling tasks. Set a specific schedule for cleaning items (quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily) and stick to it. If you clean your own office space, always have the basic cleaning supplies and equipment on hand. Do not make it hard for people to pitch in and do a bit of cleaning every now and then!
Be Prepared
*Always keep your workspace clean and organized.
*Remove papers and unneeded items from your workspace and shared areas.
* Make sure no boxes or other items block doorways, hallways and fire exits. Designate an area for recycling materials.
* For refrigerator cleaning, remove uneaten food from the office fridge at the end of the day and/ or workweek.
* Throw away any food wrappers and beverage containers in the appropriate trash/ recycle bins. Use recycling and compost bins as regulated by your municipality with clearly marked containers.
*Label any items that do not fit in the regular trash containers as “trash”. Do not throw away anything not labeled or not in trash containers.
*Order essential supplies such as hand soap paper supplies before you run out! These included large trash bags to remove trash, trash can liners, toilet paper, hand towels and liquid soap.
Suggestions for Cleaning your Space
1.Be proactive
Treating spills and stains immediately is best. Carpet spills are easiest to remove when they just happen. The longer it sits, the more chance the spill will set into a carpet stain. The rare exception to this rule: Mud tracked onto your carpet is easiest to clean when you have let it dry first. Wait until it is dry and crumbly and then just vacuum it up.
Dust regularly! The build-up of dust on blinds, window seals and ceiling vents can be more difficult to remove.
2.Top to bottom cleaning.
Do not fight gravity when you clean. You will lose. Working from high to low always works better in cleaning situations.
High dust first to remove the cobwebs from the ceiling and upper molding. Then dust the ceiling fan and light fixtures, followed by window frames and wall hangings. Moving downward, conquer the furniture, baseboards, and floors. This ensures that any dust particles that may fall from higher areas do not settle on something you have already cleaned below.
Similarly, when you clean windows and mirrors, start up high and work your way down, because your cleaner obeys gravity. This saves you demanding work and time.
3.What to clean and when.
When you are cleaning a room, start with the cleaning jobs that require dry methods such as dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming. Then move on to wet methods (using an all-purpose cleaner and glass cleaner, mopping, and the like). This way, there will be less dirt floating around the space to cling to wet surfaces.
4.Maintain restrooms: regular disinfecting.
For restroom cleaning, use a disinfectant chemical that will kill the bacteria present on the fixtures and floors. A Quaternary sanitizer (Quat cleaner) is one of the most effective disinfectants for hospitals and institutional use because of its ability to kill a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungus, and viruses. Basic Quaternary cleaners are also neutral on the pH scale.
Bleach also works well as a disinfectant. But bleach is not recommended for health and safety reasons. Undiluted bleach is alkaline (pH of around 12) which can act as a “stripper” on water-based floor finishes and sealers. Over time, mopping floors with a chlorine bleach solution will strip off the protective sealer exposing the pores of the floors and grout. This will make the floors and grout susceptible to staining and bacteria growth in the pores. In addition, Chlorine bleach has toxic fumes which can compromise indoor air quality. Also, if bleach is mixed with an acid, it can generate toxic and lethal Chlorine gas.
5.Have the proper equipment and chemicals.
Commercial cleaning equipment is designed for specific needs and purposes. Using the proper equipment for a specific task and facility is important. The proper tools and equipment, along with the right chemicals, help to ensure that the facility is professionally cleaned in an efficient manner. It is critical that each cleaner in the team understand the proper use for their equipment and cleaning chemicals.
Safety Tips 101
1.Protect yourself and your team.
In addition to personal protective equipment, wet floor signs, and SDS sheets for cleaning chemicals, one of the often-missed safety steps is the proper handling of trash. When dealing with trash, it is imperative that the handler is aware of any potential problem items in the trash including sharps. This is especially important in medical office cleaning services and dental office cleaning. Also, the handler should make sure to take care to safely lift bags when handling trash. This can be done by following safe lifting and handling procedures and not trying to lift too much at once.
Normally, the weight of any trash bag should not exceed about 40 pounds. Also, it is important to not let trash liners or brute barrel bags brush up against the person’s body. Hold and handle trash away from the body to insure there are no flesh wounds in the event a sharp object is in the bag!
2.Do not mix chemicals.
It is important to read safety labels to determine the proper usage and protective gear to wear. For example, if this happens with Chlorine bleach, the Chlorine gas that is generated from this toxic cocktail can cause acute damage to the upper and lower respiratory tract. If a specific chemical is for use inside of a urinal or toilet, do not use it inside the sinks or on the restroom walls.
3.Keep SDS sheets in the same area where chemicals are stored.
Cleaning chemicals may be hazardous, which is why OSHA makes it mandatory to have SDS sheets on location and to properly label chemical bottles. Keep not only the cleaning staff but ALL building occupants safe by using cleaning supplies and chemicals only for their intended use.
When using a professional office cleaning service, any cleaning issues should always be handled immediately and proficiently by your janitorial cleaning company. If this is not the case, it might be time to look for another janitorial service. Does your cleaning service get back to you in a timely fashion if not the same day? They should be.
Square Feat is Here to Handle all your Janitorial Needs
Square Feat has been serving commercial clients in the Phoenix metropolitan area for more than two decades with basic janitorial services, carpet cleaning, floor refinishing and other specialized services. The Phoenix Business Journal and Arizona Business Magazine recognize us as a top full-service janitorial provider.
Please, visit this page to learn more about the office cleaning services they provide or to obtain a free no obligation quote for your facility. Contact Square Feat here or call us at 480-777-0605 to schedule an appointment to survey your facility.
