Spring is here and office life is, in many cases, getting back to normal, so maybe now is the time to give the space a bit of revamp.
Office Space Cleaning, a specialist cleaning service that mainly focuses on clients in the West End and City, has become used to the deep cleans and fogging services that were vital when clients began to bring staff back into the workplace as pandemic restrictions eased.
The company, run by James Carver and Daisy Spain, employs over 100 staff who service almost 30 buildings, mainly multi-tenanted office space, ranging from 7,000 square feet up to 70,000 square feet. That ranges from daily office cleans, through to on-site janitorial services and deep cleans between tenants or for companies concerned about safety post-pandemic, or that want regular antimicrobial treatments to keep workers safe.
Office Space Cleaning provides a water-based antimicrobial treatment, similar to that used by Transport for London, which is food-safe and contains no harmful chemicals, but coats surfaces with a ‘kill layer’ that destroys viruses as they land on it.
Whether clients will continue to feel those measures are necessary as fears about coronavirus subside somewhat isn’t yet known, but general cleaning will, naturally, continue. On top of that, and with employers and employees having different expectations about working environments and cleanliness now, Office Space Cleaning recommends that this time of year is ideal for taking a look around the workplace and making a few refreshing changes.
One step at a time
Before you start cleaning, take a good look around. Are people keeping their desks tidy? Is there stuff falling out of cupboards and shelves? There’s no reason for clutter in the modern working office, paperless is increasingly the norm and if you can’t achieve that, at least invest in some storage to solutions to hide files and forms away. Begin by dividing the office into sections and deal with one section at a time – that way, you’ll feel like you’re getting somewhere.
Inside and out
It’s not just about what’s on top of desks. If desks are cluttered, they can’t be cleaned effectively. But, if the answer to that is to stick everything in your desk drawers, that’s not really the answer. Keep the most important items on top – your laptop or computer, phone, paper and a pen. Each individual should have drawer space for anything that is current or necessary – files that are being used, technical handbooks that are needed regularly, some additional stationery that needs to be close to hand – everything else should be either in the office storage. If it’s an unnecessary item and you don’t really need it – take it home or bin it. No one needs 20 pens.
The office cupboard
Set aside a space – whether it needs a small cupboard or a spare meeting room – for anything else your business needs. Stationery, equipment or workwear that isn’t used every day, items that are awaiting dispatch to another office or a customer… whatever it is, create an organised section of the office where they can be stored and where all members of the team can find what they are looking for.
Do you really need it?
Fix a magazine rack to a wall or have a small table in a break-out area for company literature or trade magazines. If there’s not enough space on a small table, sort them out. By keeping them together not only will people know where to find them, it’ll soon become clear when you have too many. Throw away any that are out of date and cancel subscriptions to any that don’t get read.
Keep up the good work
The best way to keep your office clean and tidy is to manage the mess. Try to get the whole team into the habit of filing and storing items, keeping clutter off desks and out of drawers.
James Carver from Office Space Cleaning said:
“As long as coronavirus is still around, it pays to keep offices as germ-free as possible and deep cleans and anti-microbial treatments should be considered on a fairly regular basis.
“But leaving that aside, general cleanliness is just as important and it is so much easier for your regular cleaning team to do a good job if they’re not tackling piles of dusty paperwork on desks every day, or manouevring around boxes or stacks of files on the floor. A clear office is easier to keep clean, looks better and at the same time, it makes everyone feel better. So take a look around and see what fairly simple things you can do to make your workplace inviting and pleasant for everyone in it.”
Find out more about the services offered by Office Space Cleaning at www.officespacecleaning.co.uk or call 020 3795 2400.