March and April have always been the perfect time to Spring clean – both at home or at the office. And this year, as more people return to work after a year of staying at home, it’s more important than ever.
Below are several things to remember during this year’s Spring clean, so you can offer your staff the best welcome back.
Fresh Air
As we open the doors and windows to let in the new Spring air, it becomes apparent that a year of neglect has left the office filled with dust and is long overdue for a clean.
And this Spring air isn’t just good for making the place feel brighter. Better air quality has been proven to make staff more productive and provide a higher level of job satisfaction. So push open the shutters and let the airflow.
Clutter
When clutter is allowed to pile up, sanitation levels can quickly deplete. If you’re struggling to get things cleaned before everyone comes back, it might be time to discuss a paperless, clean desk policy. This will help cleaners maintain a better level of hygiene when cleaning the office and lead staff to higher productivity, motivation, and better mental health while at work.
Being paperless will also equate to a lower carbon footprint for the office as a whole.
In a study by OfficeMax, published by Forbes, a huge 77% of Americans said that clutter impacts their productivity, while more than half suggested clutter impairs their motivation and ability to think clearly.
If that’s not enough to get your staff to think more about their desk area, it’s been revealed that executives spend around six weeks a year looking for lost documents and information due to clutter within the workplace.
As the workforce will return with a heightened awareness for bacteria and cleanliness, it might be worth calling in cleaning professionals to make sure everything is clean and tidy before people start to arrive.
Office Spring Cleaning Checklist
Pandemic or no pandemic, this checklist highlights several steps you – or your cleaning team – should be taking during an office Spring Clean.
- The first is to make sure all clutter from surfaces is removed so the space can be properly dusted and cleaned. They should then be sanitized and disinfected.
- In terms of sequence, clean the dirtiest areas first and work your way up to the easiest spaces.
- Floors should be vacuumed and swept to remove the visible dust.
- Surfaces should then be cleaned with detergent to remove grease and non-visible dirt, and grime.
- During cleaning, make sure to keep airflow within the space fresh to avoid health hazards.
A little decluttering and fresh air can go a long way. Not only does it look great and prevent the build-up of bacteria, but it’s also been proven to provide staff with more motivation. This new, clean and tidy office will be a welcome break from the struggles of working from the dining table at home. To give your team the best chance of a productive and positive return to work, make sure to call in the professionals and leave the office feeling as good as new.
