So here it is, 2023 and it’s the first new year for a while where the cloud of pandemic has not either been looming on the horizon or hanging over us.
It’s almost hard to believe now what we went through and the measures we had to take to make workplaces safe and healthy for staff and visitors. Although many are still reasonably cautious, the approach doesn’t have to be quite so extreme – but that doesn’t mean you can lose sight of what makes an office or workspace clean, fresh and pleasant to work in.
Office environments have undergone some changes since the beginning of 2020. Remote working, hybrid working, and hot desking, are still a key factor in a way we’d barely have imagine possible a few years ago, with many employees preferring the home office simply for the work-life balance it offers.
At the same time, interaction between colleagues should be a positive aspect, and there’s a social side to being at work that many don’t want to miss out on. So, creating a comfortable and welcoming space, whether it’s for someone coming in five days a week or just a few days a month, is something employers need to take seriously.
Cleanliness and tidiness in the space where you work is important in improving concentration, which leads to increased productivity and, of course, reduces absence through illness, which helps keep the business running smoothly.
So, what measures can you take to make the hub of your business more attractive to both your teams and your visitors?
Keep it simple
Take a look around the office and what do you see? Are the desks modern and fit for purpose? Does someone always end up with that one wonky chair? Is there an alternative to those boxes stacked untidily in the far corner? The modern office space doesn’t have to be cluttered. Most ‘paperwork’ is digital now so there’s rarely a need for teetering piles of paper on desks, or banks of filing cabinets taking up too much room. A lack of clutter makes the place look better and, naturally, makes cleaning a whole lot easier. If you have the resources, think about investing in new furniture – a colour scheme that works from the carpets through to the fabric on the chairs, the shelving on the walls and the lighting doesn’t have to be expensive but makes all the difference.
Working with what you’ve got
If there’s no reason to replace or renovate furniture and equipment, there’s no doubt it’ll benefit from a thorough clean.
Start at the bottom and give the floors some care and attention, particular if you have carpet tiles that are likely to be harbouring all kinds of dirt and germs. Give surfaces, including window ledges and doors, door frames and handles, a thorough clean and check corners of the rooms for dust and cobwebs.
Computer screens need careful attention, using products specifically designed for the job. Use a microfibre cloth to remove dust and then a screen cleaning spray and wipe gently.
Keyboards are even more like to be unhygienic and cleaning them regularly is important. A specialist keycap tool allows the keys to be taken off and then dust and grime removed from the space underneath.
If you have landlines, shared handsets and headsets should be carefully wiped with a cleaning spray and then regularly treated with antibacterial spray or wipes to avoid the spread of germs.
Storing up trouble
Do people need desk drawers that inevitably become a receptacle for loose paper clips, packets of mints and, inevitably, dust and germs? A room, or space in a room, for files and a central stationery cupboard that is managed and kept stocked and tidy are far easier to manage and keep clean.
If you need it, make space available for parcels that have been delivered but not yet unpacked, or goods that are awaiting collection for delivery to customers.
In the kitchen, try to encourage good hygiene and fridge ‘discipline’. No one wants to deal with someone else’s dirty plates and cups or, worse still, mouldy leftovers that have been long forgotten.
The fact is that a surface – on a desk, the floor, kitchen worktop or units in the toilets – is easier to keep clean if there’s minimum clutter, and inevitably looks better, too.
Regular cleaning – from top to bottom
A facilities management company will advise on the best approach for you and your offices and what areas might need additional attention.
Until everyone feels completely at ease in the office, it might be reassuring to use something like a fogging service every few months to make sure the room is as clean as it can be. Water-based antimicrobial treatments that are food-safe and contain no harmful chemicals coat surfaces with a ‘kill layer’ that destroys any viruses that land on it. It might be something to think about in environments where there are a lot of visitors coming in and out, or where the regular workplace users are particularly vulnerable.
Office Space Cleaning has clients across London and offers so much more than a traditional cleaning service. Its teams service almost 30 buildings, ranging from 7,000 square feet up to 70,000 square feet – providing a comprehensive range of services from daily serviced office cleans, through to on-site janitorial services and deep cleans.
Find out more about the services offered by Office Space Cleaning Facilities Management at www.officespacecleaning.co.uk or call 020 3795 2400.