JAN-PRO Commercial Cleaning in Silicon Valley highlights areas in your office that should be given extra attention to ensure a safer workplace.
The most overlooked spots in your office are typically the ones most people wouldn't think of. If you ask a coworker which sections of the office they believe are the least tidy, most will mention the restroom or lavatory.
However, there are other areas in the office that might surprise you with their lack of cleanliness. Neglecting regular maintenance of your San Jose office can lead to reduced well-being and decreased productivity, as more employees might be absent.
Keeping this in consideration, JAN-PRO Commercial Cleaning in Silicon Valley has compiled a list of the five areas in the office that might require more attention. This list will highlight parts of the office that should be focused on to ensure a comfortable environment for employees and visitors.
1. Kitchen/Break Room
You might be surprised to learn that the break room, which often doubles as the kitchen, ranks as one of the filthiest places in the office.
Many assume the break room, where they dine, is spotless, but findings suggest otherwise. Kimberly-Clark Professional did a study by swabbing over 4500 surfaces across all types of workspaces and office buildings using technology to assess the amount of ATP, a chemical found in all living cells, yeast, mold, and bacteria. In 75% of the break rooms examined, these surfaces had a lot of ATP molecules on them.
- The sink: Given how many hands and foods come into contact with the sink, it's understandable that it can accumulate unwanted residue. It's vital for your janitorial services provider to pay special attention to the sink area, including the faucet knobs.
- Sponges and towels: Warm, moist environments can lead to rapid bacterial growth. When everyone in the office uses the same towel or sponge, it can swiftly accumulate these microorganisms.
- Office mugs: It might be startling to discover that up to 20% of office mugs, even ones perceived as clean, tested positive for coliform bacteria and E. coli in a University of Arizona study.
- The coffee maker: The office coffee maker can often be neglected in cleaning routines. Yet, it's crucial to maintain it, especially since the University of Arizona study discovered 108 thousand CFU for every square inch on the coffee pot handle.
- Microwaves and refrigerator handles: As many individuals might neglect to wash their hands before using these appliances, they can become areas of concern. Regularly wiping down the handles can help keep them clean.
2. The Bathroom/Toilet
The office bathroom can have a multitude of contaminants. But Kimberly-Clark Professional believes it ranks low on the list of dirtiest areas in the office because employees are aware of the hazardous bacteria prevalent in the restroom. This, together with comprehensive restroom cleaning every day, decreases the likelihood of germ transmission.
This doesn't imply the bathroom is free from contaminants. It means that since your office cleaning services provider meticulously cleans the restrooms thoroughly daily, they're cleaner than the often overlooked parts.
3. Your Workstation
This is where you spend most of your time. Approximately 10 million contaminants live on the surface of your desk at any given time. The keyboards, computer mice, and office phones ranked as the largest germ-hoarders in the Kimberly-Clark Professional study.
These spots increase the number of sick days since people worry about or clean their personal space.
Particles travel most often on our hands, traveling from items when you touch them. As you move around the office, you collect particles from everything you come into contact with. So when you get to your desk and touch your keyboard and other stuff, you transfer these particles to your surfaces and gadgets, including the following.
- Mouse and keyboard: According to a study by the Canadian Safety Council, keyboards contain 3,295 bacteria per square inch, while mice contain 1,676 bacteria per square inch, which is higher than what’s found on a regular toilet seat.
Since you use them for hours at a time, they're both covered in dead skin cells, food particles, and dust. Even bacteria that only live for a few hours on hard surfaces will be reapplied every day you use them if you don't keep them and your hands clean.
- Telephone: With an average of 25,000 residues per square inch (University of Arizona study), your workplace phone could be much worse than your desktop. Clean the phone with sanitizer a few times a day, especially if other people use it.
Keep cleaning wipes that are safe for electronics on hand for everyday use. Wipe down the keypad and phone several times, especially if others are using it. Cotton swabs are also useful for cleaning the intricate parts of the keyboard. Also, think about having these items out and about so that people will see them and want to use them.
4. Door Handles
Everyone in the office uses door handles to get around. CBS News conducted a test in which a non-harmful tracer virus was placed on a single doorknob in an office. In terms of contagiousness and antiseptic resistance, the virus was similar to the typical norovirus. After only four hours, 60% of the office surfaces including door knobs, computers, phones, light switches, and workstations, were contaminated.
Consider washing your hands often to help reduce the transfer of unwanted elements from door handles.
5. The Photocopier Machine Start Button
The photocopier machine start button is one of the most frequently touched areas in the office. According to a study undertaken by Hloom, the average photocopier start button shows significant amounts of residue. Surprisingly, this is notably more than what is found on a typical school toilet seat.
The good news is that there are methods available in San Jose to maintain the cleanliness of your office equipment, such as using a high-quality cleaning solution or placing a protective screen on its surface.
What Can You Do?
If you're astonished and a bit disturbed by the fact that many of the most common office areas are also the dirtiest, don't worry. Even when there is heavy traffic, you can make certain efforts to ensure that these unclean places are significantly cleaner.
The sink, coffee maker, and other surfaces should be cleaned every day, with a thorough cleaning once a week to avoid the spread of unwanted elements and reduce staff sick days.
Also, make it a practice to use hand sanitizer and keep it on your desk for others. You may even put some in the office kitchen and bathrooms. Instead of washcloths and sponges, use paper towels, and if possible, invest in a dishwasher. It's also crucial to wash your hands to keep bacteria at bay and avoid aggravating the situation.
Hire Commercial Cleaning Services
There's no way to entirely avoid unwanted elements at the time, and you wouldn't want to. Employee exposure to the stomach flu can be reduced by as much as 80% in a clean workplace.
The easiest method to ensure that your office stays clean throughout the week is to enlist a commercial cleaning service like the ones JAN-PRO Commercial Cleaning in Silicon Valley specializes in. They can set you up on a cleaning schedule that meets your demands in terms of time and frequency.
Hiring janitorial services for businesses almost pays for itself in terms of increased productivity and employee morale. Employees in environments with reduced exposure to contaminants are less likely to become ill and miss fewer days of work. Also, employees who work in a clean atmosphere tend to feel better, have fewer allergies, and are thus more productive.
On the other hand, if your office is filthy and your staff isn't feeling well, productivity will decrease.
Get Professional Office Cleaning Services in San Jose
When considering office cleaning in San Jose and the surrounding areas, JAN-PRO Commercial Cleaning in Silicon Valley stands out as a premier choice. They are the leading provider of exceptional commercial cleaning services that maintain a pristine office environment.
Their Independent Certified Business Owners bring years of experience in cleaning a range of offices and facilities. They are familiar with spots that frequently gather residues and employ top-tier products to keep every surface spotless.
TESTIMONIALS FROM SATISFIED CUSTOMERS
"Great company to work with. Excellent service." - Juan C.
"Great service for the right price. I told the salesperson what I wanted and they delivered with a customized plan." - Justin B.
"We have been working with Jan-Pro for few months now, and they do a great job. One of my favorite things about them is that I am in direct contact with the person who manages the cleaning crew. They address any issues or concerns right away." - Patti S.
Reach out to JAN-PRO Commercial Cleaning in Silicon Valley today at (408) 539-7132 for a complimentary office cleaning quote.
About the City, San Jose, CA
San Jose, California is a bustling city known for its diverse population and thriving technology industry; it is a popular destination for business travelers and tourists alike. Some of the most notable landmarks in the area include the Winchester Mystery House, an extravagant mansion with an eccentric history, and the San Jose Museum of Art, which features a vast collection of contemporary works.
For those looking to explore the great outdoors, San Jose offers a range of options, including the Alum Rock Park, with its hiking trails and mineral springs, and the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains, which provide ample opportunities for camping and outdoor recreation. Sports fans can catch a game at the SAP Center, home to the NHL's San Jose Sharks, or take a trip to Levi's Stadium, where the NFL's San Francisco 49ers play.
Given its status as a bustling commercial hub, San Jose has a significant need for commercial cleaning services. Many local businesses rely on professional cleaning companies to keep their premises clean and presentable, from small offices to large corporate headquarters. With so much activity in the area, businesses need to maintain a high standard of cleanliness, and the demand for reliable and efficient commercial cleaning services remains strong in San Jose.
