Cleaning an office takes more than a dust rag, spray bottle, and vacuum cleaner. Often, dirt and dust can get trapped in hard-to-reach places that are easily ignored, such as behind big pieces of office equipment. Having a few tips on how to clean behind, under, and around the following tricky places in the office can help make your daily, weekly, or monthly cleaning routine simple, leaving your office feeling bright and refreshed.
Behind the Desk and Office Machinery
Some cleaning crews don’t move furniture, like your desk or copy machine, on their regular cleaning schedule, as it’s bulky and heavy. Most of the cords from your computer, monitor, telephone, and chargers go behind the desk or other office equipment and collect dirt, dust, hair, and other contaminants. Certain toner cartridges used for the copy machine can emit harmful dust particles that your staff may breathe in.
It’s important that the cleaning company wipes the area behind office machinery and desks, including the cords and cables, to reduce the collection of particulates. However, this collection of cords and cables is often tangled, making cleaning behind the desk a challenge.
Bonus Tip: One way to make it easier for the cleaning crew to clean behind the desk and around the copier or printer is to organize the cords and cables. You can use Velcro straps or cable ties to keep the cords in one place.
You’ll want to start by unplugging all the cords from your power strip. Then, straighten the cords out and wipe them with a damp cloth to get them clean. Next, label them for easy future identification, collect them together in a loop, and wrap them with cable ties or Velcro straps. This method will help keep the cable mess easier to manage and make cleaning the area easier.
Leather and Upholstery Furniture
Most offices have chairs for the staff to sit on while working and for customers to lounge on while waiting for service or consultation. We may not think of cleaning these surfaces, but having the furniture cleaned periodically can help extend the life of the fabric, whether it’s upholstered or leather.
Bonus Tip: When cleaning your leather furniture, make a 50/50 mix of white wine vinegar and water. Take a microfiber cloth, dip it into the solution, and wring any excess moisture out. Next, gently clean the surface of the furniture, being careful not to saturate the leather. When finished, dry with a new cloth and apply a leather furniture conditioner.
Carpets
We may not realize how much dirt carpets can pick up, especially in high-traffic areas. Regular vacuuming helps pull surface dirt out of the carpet, but an occasional deep-cleaning will help restore the carpet so it looks and feels fresher. In addition to having your carpet look better, having them professionally cleaned will help extend their life span and protect your carpet investment.
Air Vents, Ducts, and Ceiling Fans
Having an HVAC system and ceiling fans is essential for the comfort of your employees and customers. However, these areas collect massive amounts of dirt, dust, and contaminants that can trigger allergic reactions for those sensitive to pollens, dust mites, and bacterial growth.
When cleaning the air vents, the cleaning professionals will turn the HVAC system off, take the vent covers down, and vacuum the inside of the opening. They’ll wash the vent covers with hot soapy water and replace them. With ceiling fans, they’ll turn them off and carefully clean the blades and the glass dome that houses the ceiling fans’ lights.
The ducting that’s part of your HVAC system can get filled with all sorts of allergy-producing components, such as pet dander, smoke, mold, and pollen. Consider hiring a professional HVAC company to inspect your HVAC’s ducting, make necessary repairs, and clean them. Doing this project every couple of years will help improve the air quality of your commercial office.
Desktop Equipment
Computer keyboards and the computer mouse are notorious for collecting germs and bacteria. If multiple people use the keyboard, these germs can get passed on, potentially causing an outbreak of sickness. Employees should wipe down shared office equipment like the glass on copy machines, buttons of scanners, and public telephones, after each use. When using a cleaning company, prepare the desk for a deep weekly cleaning that includes under the computer monitor, the base of lamps and their shades, and baskets that hold paperwork.
Light Switches, Doorknobs, and Handles
People touch doorknobs, handles, and light switches throughout the day. If someone hasn’t properly washed their hands and touched these items, they could spread germs. These obvious places can easily get overlooked. Wiping them down regularly with a cleaning solution and clean rag can help prevent the spread of germs and give your office a polished and professional appearance.
Cleaning these frequently ignored places can help keep you, your staff, and your customers healthy and happy. In addition, your office will look and feel better, impressing customers so they’ll return again for your services. If you’d like help cleaning your commercial office, contact us. We look forward to helping you clean your office, including those ignored places.
