Keeping the office clean and tidy is crucial to maintain a productive work environment and happy employees. Cleaning experts from JAN-PRO Cleaning in Silicon Valley have outlined ten effective tips that can help keep your office space germ-free and organized.
A clean office is energizing and inspiring, and it’s no different in Silicon Valley. When an office is tidy, employees are most focused, and more work gets done.
According to a 2011 OfficeMax survey, 77 percent of Americans believe that disarray in the office has a negative influence on their productivity, while 53 percent believe it negatively impacts their motivation.
This is why most organizations spend huge amounts of money on commercial cleaning services to keep their offices clean and organized.
But a clean and germ-free office doesn’t always have to be expensive.
The commercial cleaning experts at JAN-PRO Cleaning in Silicon Valley have outlined the following tips to keep your office tidy and productive between professional cleans without breaking the bank.
1. Organize Your Workspace
The places where you spend most of your working time require the most maintenance. If you find it difficult to keep up with your cleaning, consider adopting an "out of sight, out of mind" strategy.
To the extent possible, this involves clearing off the desk of anything that doesn't belong there and, to the extent possible, reducing the amount of paper and other materials around the workspace. You also have to arrange the files in the right cabinet, clean your computer, and more.
If you don’t have the time, you can just clear your desk and stack the files in a box. This will only take a few minutes of your time, after which you can go about your business.
Just remember to get to the other areas when you have the chance.
2. Keep Everything in Its Right Place
Clutter occurs when you don't have a designated storage area for objects such as files, pens, calculators, and more. While a desk with drawers is a good start, filing cabinets, shelving, and even storage cabinets can help you keep all of the minor stuff you need for your work organized.
Keep work items in a closet with shelves, and label everything so it’s easier to find whenever necessary. Each shelf can be set aside for specific items, such as binders, pens, pencils, or other tiny office supplies.
3. Get Rid of Anything You Don't Need
It’s not uncommon for your desk to revert to its previous state of chaos a day or two after cleaning. To avoid this, come up with a plan to keep your desk clean and free of clutter.
Put any document or item that you usually have on, in, or around your desk in a box. Remove items from the box as needed and return them to your desk.
Whatever remains in the box after a week should be moved to another storage location or recycled. Anything in your workstation that hasn't been used in a week should be hidden.
Ensuring your office is always clean entails deciding which furniture, paperwork, and office supplies are not needed.
4. Vacuum the Office Carpets
Even though you vacuum the carpet daily, you could become ill if you don't use a steamer to clean it. To ensure the carpet and tile are clean, remove any debris lodged in them.
This is best done using the encapsulation method, which involves applying the encapsulation fluid to the carpet with a pump sprayer; then working the fluid into the carpet using a rotary brush or equivalent machine after 10 to 15 minutes. Then vacuum the encapsulated debris when the carpet dries.
However, due to how intensive the process can be, this is best left to expert office cleaning services like JAN-PRO Cleaning in Silicon Valley.
5. Keep the Common Areas Clean
Shared spaces are critical to the smooth operation of a business. This could be a conference room, a café where employees can take a break, or an open office where a group of people works. Because people avoid meeting in unclean or sloppy-looking areas in the office, if these areas are not properly maintained, you may accidentally reduce your company's productivity.
So, if you want to improve staff performance and morale, make sure your office is clean, if not all over, then at least where it matters.
6. Ensure the Kitchen is kept Clean
Since employees spend a significant amount of time in the kitchen, it must be completely cleaned daily for their health and safety. The office kitchen is one of the most popular places for bacteria and germs to thrive and if left uncleaned can cause an illness outbreak.
Dishes should be washed immediately rather than leaving them in the sink; old takeouts and unfinished foods should be discarded; and tabletops, sinks, chairs, shelves, and countertops should all be properly sanitized.
- The microwave should be free of spills and messes.
- The refrigerator should be clean and organized.
- Hand towels should be washed regularly.
- Dish sponges should be replaced frequently to prevent germ accumulation.
7. Make Use of the Proper Cleaning Supplies and Equipment
Your choice of cleaning supplies will largely affect how clean your office is and whether germs are eliminated. Use non-toxic, hypoallergenic products that are safe for your employees.
When cleaning your carpet and flooring, select a neutral solution that won't leave a lingering odor or alter the color.
Green cleaning, a sort of cleaning that uses professional cleaning procedures and supplies that aren't harmful to the environment, has proved to be successful for many businesses.
Look for cleaning solutions that are free of chlorine, dyes, artificial scents, and other chemicals.
In addition, to keep germs from spreading, you should change your cleaning tools often and use the most up-to-date equipment and products.
8. Make Use of the Garbage Cans
Place trash cans in crowded areas and at convenient locations throughout the office so that employees can easily dispose of their waste. This not only allows for appropriate cleaning but also keeps your workplace from smelling.
Develop the practice of tossing paper cups, shredded paper, food wrappers, tissues, and other garbage in the trash can under your desk or public spaces. Don't leave trash on your desk for the office cleaners to pick up, and don't litter near the trash.
Remember to take out the trash every night or every other night to prevent the trash from stacking up and developing odors and bacteria. This can also be done as a collective effort, with different staff members assigned to different days to pick up the trash.
9. Organize Your Wires and Cords
Wireless keyboards, mice, displays, and other gadgets featuring Bluetooth technology can help you avoid the clutter caused by wires and cords. If using wireless equipment isn't an option, neatly group wires and cords with clips or holders.
To prevent injury from tripping, keep the wires and cords untangled and away from paths.
Additionally, get devices that will keep the wires safe and hidden from view. You can experiment with decorative boxes from discount stores.
Cut holes in the backs of these boxes and feed the cables through them, with the plugs exiting out the rear hole.
When you hide your cords, you give the impression that your workplace is free of clutter and wireless.
10. Hire a Professional Office Cleaning Company
If keeping your office tidy is causing you problems, don't be afraid to get help. JAN-PRO Cleaning in Silicon Valley specializes in cleaning commercial areas so that everyone is productive and healthy.
Aside from relieving your staff of the responsibility, hiring office cleaning in Silicon Valley has the following advantages:
- Convenience: Rather than taking time out of your day to establish a cleaning routine, hire someone to do it for you. A professional cleaning service will take care of all the hiring, training, and supervision of cleaners, allowing you to focus on your business.
- Cutting-edge equipment: Professional janitorial services have the equipment to clean exterior and interior windows up to four stories high. They have everything they need to clean and ensure your space is spotless, so you won’t have to spend money on any equipment.
- Effectiveness: Professional cleaning equipment cleans deeper than what the naked eye can see. Expert office cleaning services know where germs tend to hide and will focus on the areas with the most germs, ensuring the safety of your personnel.
Get Professional Office Cleaning Services in Silicon Valley
JAN-PRO Cleaning is the premier choice when it comes to commercial cleaning services in Silicon Valley. They use the most advanced products, equipment, eco-friendly cleaning solutions, hospital-standard products, high-performance cloths, mops, HEPA-rated vacuums, and a rigorous inspection checklist to monitor the job.
When you hire JAN-PRO Cleaning in Silicon Valley, you can be sure you’re getting the right people for the job. Their certified franchisees go through the most thorough certification process in the industry.
Contact us at (408) 260-3200 to speak to an expert about your cleaning needs.
About Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley, California is a region that encompasses several cities, including Palo Alto, Mountain View, and Cupertino, among others. Known for being the epicenter of the technology industry, it is home to numerous tech giants, such as Apple, Google, and Facebook. Visitors to the area can explore the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, which showcases the evolution of computing technology or take a stroll through the scenic Stanford University campus in Palo Alto.
Silicon Valley offers plenty of options for outdoor recreation, including the San Francisco Bay Trail, which offers stunning views of the Bay Area, and the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains, which feature numerous hiking trails and parks. Visitors can also catch a San Francisco 49ers game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara or enjoy a round of golf at the world-renowned Pebble Beach Golf Links in nearby Monterey.
Given the area's status as a global technology hub, Silicon Valley has a significant need for commercial cleaning services. Many local businesses, from startups to established tech giants, rely on professional cleaning companies to keep their facilities clean and sanitary, from corporate offices to manufacturing plants. With so many businesses operating in the area, maintaining a high level of cleanliness is essential, and the demand for reliable and efficient commercial cleaning services remains strong in Silicon Valley.
