As the old adage goes, a clear space encourages a clear mind, so it’s no surprise that productivity levels rise when our desks are clean and free of clutter. With less to worry about, our minds are able to focus on the task at hand. However, keeping your office space clean is easier said than done when a hectic work schedule means you and your workforce have little time to focus on anything else – least of all giving your keyboard a good dust down.
To help, we’ve compiled some handy tips to quickly ensure your workplace is neat and tidy, keeping you at your productive best.
Areas in your office that need a clean…
Keyboards and Telephone Keypads
Busy office workers short on time will often eat lunch at their desks, and so crumbs lodged between keys might only be the start of the problem. However, even the most conscientious of office workers will fall victim to dust build-up on their keyboard or desk phone.
Tip: Spray dusters are a great way to do away with any dust and debris. Alternatively, cotton buds can manoeuvre every which way between keys, and keep the nooks and crannies dust-free.
Monitors, Screens and Displays
Keep screens clean and free of fingerprints and grease by turning the machine off, and wiping the screen down with a good antibacterial screen cleaning wipe, or a microfibre cloth and polish.
Tip: You can spray a soft paper towel with warm water to wipe away fingerprints and other smudges.
Desks
With coffee mugs, food and piles of paper all regular features of our working day, desks can acquire a build-up of dirt rather quickly.
Tip: Get into the habit of wiping down your desk at the end of each day with antibacterial wipes. Psychologically, this will help you bring closure to your working day, and mean you return in the morning to an organised, clean desk ready to tackle the day ahead.
Microwaves
When sharing a kitchen with colleagues, chances are that not everybody will have the same clean standards. And while a few paper towels will usually clean up a mess left in the microwave after lunchtime, banishing the smell can prove a little trickier.
Tip: Invest in a small vial of lemon or orange essential oil and add a few drops to a spray bottle of water. Generously spray the inside of the microwave with the scented oil and place a wet sponge in the centre, before turning the microwave on for two minutes. When the sponge has cooled down, use it to clean up the grime.
Rubbish Bins
It’s easy to let somebody else deal with taking the rubbish out at the end of each day, but smells linger in bins, so consider giving the office bin a good clean every now and then.
Tip: If the responsibility falls to you to empty the rubbish, remove stubborn smells by taking the bin outside a couple of times a week, squirting washing-up liquid inside and hosing it down.
Whiteboards
Permanent marker on the white board in the conference room could throw a spanner in the works when it comes to that first-class presentation you’ve been working on for the last few weeks. But there is a way to get rid of it.
Tip: Invest in a good cleaner and use absorbent wipes to remove stains, or cover the permanent marker with dry erase marker and wipe away.
If you’ve found your desk space could do with a bit of a spruce up, follow these quick and easy tips to a cleaner working environment, with little interruption to your day, allowing you to keep your mind focused exactly where it should be – that mounting workload.
