While the work-from-home life was the norm in a 2020 reality, many of us are returning to the workplace at least a few days a week. With COVID protocols still in place, it’s been a reminder that daily and weekly cleaning, along with personal hand hygiene, must be a top priority, especially in shared spaces.
With so much out of our control around us, there is one thing we can control: the cleanliness of our workspaces. Check out this list of the dirtiest shared spaces in an office to ensure you and your company are keeping everyone safe and healthy and learn about the importance of commercial cleaning.
Workspaces and Items
Whether you have your own office, an open floor plan of desks, or a shared counterspace, dirt, germs, and bacteria are always looking for a place to hang out and do their work while you do yours.
- Countertops: Desks, tables in common spaces, and conference rooms are used frequently and by many in the office. Every time someone uses that space, they transfer their germs and whatever else may be on their hands and office items.
- Electronics: From shared iPads to keyboards and everything in between, these items love to house dirt and bacteria. When’s the last time you cleaned your mouse? And are you the only person who uses it? Even if you are the only person using your desktop electronics, do you wash your hands in between use?
- Office Equipment: Does your office have shared staplers, copy machines, or paper supplies? Just like the electronics, even if you are the only person using them, how often are they cleaned, and what are you and your coworkers doing in between uses?
Even if you are the only person using the above-mentioned items, we need to get in the habit of thinking about how often these items are cleaned. Do you type on your computer while eating lunch? Do you use the copy machine then use your mouse directly after? We are constantly transferring our germs to items around us, and in today’s world, the gaps in between can make all the difference.
The Office Kitchen
We want to think of our kitchen space as clean and disinfected, and while that may be the case most of the time, there are several areas to watch that can be a hotbed of germs and bacteria.
- Kitchen Supplies: Items such as cutting boards and coffee makers are used by many, and the more use means the more we need to clean.
- Sink: While you may tell yourself that the sink looks clean, this is the area where dishes and other items are left to sit and soak, giving the icky stuff time to make a home.
- Sponge: Sponges are literal germ magnets. We use them to ensure we are keeping everyone safe and healthy, but the sponge itself can become problematic if it’s not disinfected and swapped out regularly.
- Handles: From the fridge to the microwave, to drawers and cabinet pulls, these objects literally call out for our hands to touch them, and if we are sharing a kitchen with others, that’s a lot of hands to consider.
Whether you have a commercial cleaning service or a chore board in the office, it’s important to make sure this space is cleaned after each use.
Restrooms
When it comes to dirty spaces, most of us think about the bathroom as a prime spot for germs and bacteria, and while it’s definitely a space germs can reside, you may be surprised to hear which spaces connected to the restroom are the dirtiest.
- Countertops: While the countertop may not be inherently dirty, touching this space and setting down any purses or work items in the bathroom area can transfer those germs to the rest of the workplace.
- Handles: Door handles, stall handles, and sink fixtures can collect germs and bacteria from the moment you walk in. Cleaning these small fixtures can help keep everyone safe in just a few minutes of work!
While most offices have nightly cleaners or folks checking in on the bathrooms throughout the day, be sure to consider the counters and handles in your trips to and from the restroom.
Other Things to Consider
While these shared spaces can become problematic without daily and weekly cleaning routines, there are other parts of the office that are shared and love to house icky things. When considering a cleaning routine, be sure to remember the following:
- Buttons on items such as vending machines and elevators
- Water Fountains
- Door Handles
- Light Switches
- Handrails
Commercial Cleaning
In these strange times, it’s important to get it right when it comes to cleaning, which is why you should consider using a commercial cleaning company to ensure your office is disinfected and safe for all. For quality help, reach out to Advanced Cleaning Service. A commercial cleaner in Cookeville, they know their stuff and can offer daily, weekly, and monthly options to ensure everything from your bathrooms to your flooring are disinfected and clean for employees and customers alike.
