15 Common Office Cleaning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

15 Common Office Cleaning Mistakes

●     Untidy Workspaces:

Employees maintaining consistently cluttered desks can lead to misplaced items, mental clutter, and disorder. All of it extends to other work areas.

●     Overlooking High-Touch Spots:

Office spaces commonly ignore cleaning high-touch zones like workstations, door handles, and elevator buttons. It means germ transmission and diminishing employee morale.

●     Lack of Proper Cleaning Supplies:

Further, office cleaning demands appropriate supplies and tools to eliminate dirt, dust, and germs effectively.

●     Neglecting Spills or Stains:

Spills on patterned carpets might go unnoticed. Workers often avoid responsibility due to fear of repercussions or a reluctance to clean. However, these seemingly minor spills can accumulate, causing lasting harm to floors and upholstery.

●     Inconsistent Disinfection:

Not regularly disinfecting surfaces and equipment is a prevalent cleaning error. A truly hygienic office must be devoid of bacteria, germs, and dirt. Usually, if you have professional office cleaners, they’ll take care of this without having you say it.

●     Not Cleaning Hard-to-Reach Zones:

Cleaning these spots might demand tools or ladders and seems labor-intensive. However, these overlooked areas are vital for maintaining a sanitary workplace. Additionally, accumulated grime could cross-contaminate other surfaces, and sticky substances like cobwebs should be eliminated to prevent pest attraction and maintain productivity.

●     Not Emptying Vacuum Frequently:

Even with an office cleaning service, your vacuum is regularly utilized to eliminate filth between scheduled cleanings. Yet, people often overlook cleaning and emptying it. A full vacuum restricts airflow, hampering its effectiveness in absorbing contaminants.

●     Aggressive Stain Scrubbing:

While it might be the initial response, scrubbing a carpet stain can often cause further damage by permanently untwisting the carpet fibers.

●     Insufficient Supply Inventory:

Besides, maintaining a record of cleaning supply usage and replacing items on time is paramount. Keep tabs on the amount of cleaning products used and their replacement schedule based on your requirements.

●     Overlooking Tool Cleanliness:

Consider the numerous surfaces your sponges, mops, and clothes encounter daily. Also, dirty tools undermine effectiveness, harboring bacteria and debris when left uncleaned due to their often-overlooked status.

●     Not Cleaning The Restrooms:

While the shared office bathroom isn't exactly joyful, avoiding it won't improve the situation. Office restrooms are prime germ-breeding areas, particularly when used by multiple businesses, clients, and guests.

●     Unattended Overflowing Trash:

An overflowing trash bin loses its functionality and invites issues like rodent or insect infestation and odors.

●     Opting for Dry Dusting:

While not inherently incorrect, dry dusting can sometimes be less effective. In cases of heavy dust buildup or combining dust with oil, using a damp microfiber cloth is often better. Why? Because it captures dirt instead of merely redistributing it.

●     Unreasonable Expectations From Employees:

Requesting office cleanliness from employees is reasonable, but demanding too much can backfire. Anticipating extensive tasks like dusting or vacuuming might lead to disappointment and ineffective outcomes.

●     No Regard For Air Quality:

Yes, it is not a primary concern, BUT air quality significantly impacts a healthy office. Adequate ventilation and a well-maintained heating/cooling system are vital for a conducive workspace.

How to Avoid Office Cleaning Mistakes?

Train Your Employees With The Correct Cleaning Techniques

Make sure your office cleaner team knows the right products, tools, and methods for different office areas. Without proper training, even well-meaning workers might make more mess and be unsafe.

●     Before assigning cleaning tasks, hold training sessions or talks with them, reminding them of the right cleaning steps.

●     Show them how to clean properly each part of the office, regardless of your business's size.

●     Besides, stress the importance of using safety gear like gloves for chemicals and wipes for sanitary surfaces. Think about giving extra protective items like safety glasses and masks, especially when dealing with stronger equipment.

●     Give clear written instructions on what things need cleaning and how often. This helps everyone understand their cleaning duties.

●     When using chemicals, staff should know how much to use and where to use them. Incorrect mixing or concentrations can be dangerous. Also, wrong dilution can make cleaners less effective, causing bad smells or staining carpets.

●     Lastly, offer feedback regularly. This helps staff keep up a high cleaning standard in their workspace.

Establish a Deep Cleaning Protocol

Make deep cleaning an ongoing process, not just a one-time thing. To create an effective protocol, figure out which parts need the most attention and develop a plan to address these areas regularly. The frequency of these cleanings will depend on how much the office gets used, but generally, deep cleanings should happen at least every one to two months.

●     Moreover, regular cleanings should involve simple tasks like dusting and mopping.

●     Deep cleanings should cover more intensive jobs such as steam cleaning carpets, polishing furniture, washing windows, scrubbing walls and ceilings, and sanitizing light fixtures and door handles.

One must have a checklist that lays out all the steps for deep cleaning. It guarantees that no tasks are missed. Also, the checklist can help keep everyone accountable. It makes sure that everyone involved completes their assigned tasks on time.

Create a Cleaning Schedule

Maintaining a successful office involves having a well-organized cleaning schedule. Adhering to a carefully planned maintenance routine can reduce the time required to keep your office clean and orderly. Further, the advantages of scheduling regular cleaning sessions include:

●     Minimizing the waste of cleaning supplies

●     Streamlining your workflow

●     Enhancing safety within the premises

●     Establishing realistic goals

Neglecting a structured cleaning schedule can have serious repercussions for the health of your staff and clients. Poor hygiene heightens the risk of spreading viruses and illnesses through seldom-cleaned surfaces. Or it can be due to the use of inadequate disinfectants that don't eliminate harmful bacteria. This is particularly problematic in densely populated areas. Hence, it's crucial to institute a daily or weekly routine for cleaning all areas of your office.

●     Prioritize high-traffic spots like restrooms, kitchens/break rooms, reception desks, meeting rooms, and offices.

●     Also, pay special attention to shared equipment like keyboards and mice accumulating dust particles over time.

●     Keep acknowledging the efforts of professionals who excel in cleaning tasks and take extra precautions (like wearing masks during outbreaks). It promotes a healthy environment for everyone present, offering peace of mind during meetings or daily activities within the office premises.

Consider Hiring Professionals for Office Cleaning Instead of Relying on Employees

One of the key issues that could lead to workplace cleaning mistakes is the decision not to seek professional office cleaning services. While expecting employees to maintain their workstations is reasonable, envisioning them to handle laborious office cleaning tasks can be impractical and counterproductive. Relying on inexperienced or insufficient cleaning approaches can negatively impact your business and workplace hygiene.

Moreover, depending on employees for cleaning responsibilities comes with several risks.

●     Firstly, improper handling of cleaning chemicals and equipment can jeopardize employee safety.

●     Cleaning performed by employees tends to be less thorough and of lower quality compared to the standards achieved by expert office cleaners.

●     Besides, the time and effort spent by employees on cleaning duties can divert their attention from their main job tasks, leading to decreased productivity and increased labor expenses.

For the sake of a clean and sanitary office space, it's advisable to leverage the expertise of a reputable commercial cleaning service. Professional cleaning services offer numerous advantages, including:

●     Specialized knowledge

●     Efficient cleaning methods

●     Access to appropriate equipment and cleaning supplies

Let DLL Cleaning Services Keep Your Office Shining

No room for these errors anymore!

Bear in mind that if a mess becomes too overwhelming to handle, reaching out to professionals is the wisest course of action.

At DLL Cleaning Services, our skilled team is dedicated to meticulously addressing all facets of your office establishment. Also, we guarantee that your building maintains a clean and hygienic environment, ideal for your employees' productivity and customers' visits.