8 cleaning mistakes to avoid in the office
A clean work environment is more pivotal than ever before. A clean and hygienic office reduces the potential for viruses to spread. As this has a direct influence on the health of your employees, it’s a crucial part of workplace safety. Obviously, by maintaining a high standard in cleaning and hygiene, absenteeism will be reduced. Discover which cleaning mistakes you should avoid at all costs and keep your office safe and healthy.
1 Just cleaning what’s visible
When it comes to cleaning, there’s more than meets the eye. A common mistake is known as ‘spot cleaning’ – only cleaning visible (dirty) surfaces. The office may look clean at first glance, but there will be a build-up of bacteria and germs. Guaranteed. Make sure to check your cleaning, for instance with the i-know kit or by cleaning with i-scrub 26H (the integrated blacklight makes everything visible)! Regular surface disinfection in the entire office is also recommended.
2 Forgetting to disinfect
When you want to prevent the spread of germs and bacteria, it’s important to disinfect surfaces regularly. This means using the right (professional) products and equipment for disinfection. Remember, cleaning and disinfecting are not necessarily the same thing. Make sure to use the right detergent combined with microfibre and consider professional machines, such as i-cover and i-fogger.
(i-fogger for easy disinvection of surfaces)
3 Not cleaning frequently enough
While deep cleaning could be done at various moments throughout the year, regular cleaning and sanitizing should happen daily (this includes office desks!). Bathrooms should be cleaned at least two times a day (more if there is a lot of traffic in the bathrooms) and preferably deep cleaned daily, when there are no people in the office. As for kitchen surfaces, it’s best to clean those every time they’re used or touched (wipe with a sanitary spray or other disinfectant). Check the office refrigerator at least two times per week to make sure there’s no spoiled food (and to prevent nasty odors or mold). Deep cleaning the refrigerator at least once a month is a smart move. Clean floors daily (for instance with vac or i-drive) and make sure to deep clean them monthly. Tip: prevent dirt from spreading with i-matt.
4 Being unaware of touchpoints
As people move through the office, they touch many (many!) surfaces. Think of desks, phones, the computer mouse, the toilet flush button – and less obvious: the water cooker handle, buttons on the coffee machines, whiteboard markers and even the sides of doors. These areas are known as touchpoints. Make sure to identify the touchpoints in your office and not only clean, but also thoroughly disinfect these surfaces daily (preferably several times per day).
5 Not paying attention to the air
It may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about cleaning, but air is a major factor in maintaining a healthy office environment. With the rise of COVID we learned about aerosols and the dangers of poor indoor air quality. Good ventilation is essential, as is a professional (and clean!) heating and cooling system. Consider the use of professional equipment to help clean the air, such as the i-air high capacity air healer and the i-sense air quality meter.
6 A lack of prevention
Instantly reduce the chance of germs and bacteria spreading by using the right prevention. You can achieve this already for a big part with (touch-free) hand sanitizers in every office space. Preferably installed at a place where employees often walk-by, such as the office entry, kitchen, meeting room entrances, and bathroom exits. Keep things even more hygienic by using more touch-free appliances, such as touch-free trash bins, toilet flush buttons, and towel dispensers. Encourage your employees to disinfect their hands regularly (for instance with office signing).
7 Underestimating the importance of professional cleaning
Who in your office is doing the cleaning? Do you rely on your staff, or do you hire a professional cleaner? While your employees can certainly improve cleanliness (for instance, by disinfecting their hands and maintaining a clean desk), they are not professional cleaners. Cleanliness and office hygiene is a big responsibility that should not be taken lightly. It’s recommended to work with professional cleaners.
8 Assuming your cleaning tools and equipment are clean
It’s easier than you might think to cross-contaminate a space due to your cleaning tools and equipment. Make sure that your cleaning supplies themselves are cleaned regularly (for instance, clean your microfibre cloths regularly and make sure that the vacuum dustbin is emptied after every use). Consider which cleaning tools touch dirty surfaces and clean or dispose of them accordingly.
Discover more about the professional cleaning of spaces
Want to make sure that you maintain a clean and healthy work environment? Take a look at this product range or schedule a demo to discover the possibilities.