We would all agree that the health of our employees is of paramount importance.  Not only is employee health important for ensuring an efficient and effective workplace, but employee satisfaction is going to be significantly impacted by said employee’s health.  As such, many managers and business owners make efforts to ensure their workers’ health through benefits, gym memberships, and other practices aimed at improving or maintaining health.  Yet many of us overlook the importance of office cleaning in terms of the health of our employees and clients.

Nevertheless, much like our homes, offices can become dirty and subject to the effects of bacteria and viruses.  In a very short period of time, offices can go from immaculate to disastrous which is why it is important to take cleaning seriously.  Regular office cleaning services ensure that the working environment is free from dust, bacteria, and other health hazards while also creating a comfortable and motivating workplace.

Computers and Phones

Especially when shared, computers and phones should be disinfected regularly to prevent the spread of germs, bacteria, and related infections.  It might be surprising to hear that a quick wipe with an antibiotic solution can remove nearly 99.9% of bacteria that may accumulate around workstations.

Furniture and Upholstery

Office cleaning extends beyond a workstation, computer, or phone.  During influenza outbreaks, nasty germs can live in furniture and upholstery making it almost certain that other workers or clients will become infected.  Moreover, indoor air quality is significantly impacted by the cleanliness of fabrics and upholstery located throughout your office.  Regular steam cleanings will remove allergens from upholstery and furniture, while also preventing the spread of infection.

Carpets

As is the case with furniture and upholstery, carpets can be the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and viruses while also harbouring allergens.  In fact, carpets are a known source of both chemical and biological pollution in offices as airborne pollutants and other substances can easily settle in carpets.  Moreover, dirt, bacteria, mites, and fungi can be tracked via shoes onto office carpets meaning that carpets are often the source of chemical and biological emissions that cause a variety of adverse health effects from eye, ear, and throat irritation to allergies, flus, and even fatigue.  To this end, office carpets should receive regular professional cleanings in order to maintain a sanitary office environment.

A regularly scheduled office cleaning plan helps to ensure that bacteria and germs are removed from the work environment without risking exposure to harsh chemicals or cleaning agents.  Moreover, in order to improve the air quality in offices, carpets, furniture, and upholstery should be vacuumed and cleaned regularly.  Ultimately, it is in the best interest of any business manager or owner to meet with professional cleaners and determine the best cleaning methods for that particular office.

For many of us, we spend about the same amount of time in the office as we spend at home.  Certainly from Monday to Friday, the majority of our waking hours are spent at the office, which is why working in a clean and hygienic environment is important.  Still, we usually give much less consideration to a clean working space as to a clean home, even though cleanliness at work often translates directly to efficiency and productivity.  These office cleaning tips will ensure that your work space is organized and hygienic so you can get the most from your staff.

Get Organized

For efficient office cleaning, desks, files, and supplies must be organized.  As paper builds up on staff members’ desks, it becomes harder to clean and sanitize the space.  Office staff need to keep their work space organized so cleaning staff can do their job properly.  Office managers can improve worker organization by providing the proper storage for office equipment and files.  Indeed, proper organization reduces office clutter and may even improve focus.  Management should encourage staff to make organization a habit, rather than an afterthought.

Encourage Cleanliness

Whether or not work spaces are shared, it is important for management to encourage workers to be hygienic.  Taking a moment at the end of the work day to wipe down desks, keyboards, phones, and other areas of a workstation will help to prevent the spread of infection thereby keeping staff healthy and productive.  Moreover, in offices where workspaces are shared, this simple act of keeping the desk clean shows respect and consideration for colleagues, an added benefit of cleanliness.

Get Professional Help

Even though encouraging staff to maintain their workspace will help to keep the office clean, there are still tasks that professionals will need to tackle.  It simply does not make sense to expect office staff to clean floors, windows, and bathrooms.  As such, most offices hire professional cleaning staff to maintain other areas of the office.  Research local cleaning companies and speak to references before hiring professional cleaners.  You want to find a company that can provide the cleaning services you require at a price you can afford.

Make a Plan

All office cleaning tasks cannot necessarily be achieved in a single day.  To ensure that your offices are well-maintained, make a cleaning schedule and coordinate with cleaning staff to keep up on all office cleaning staff.  For example, recycling and garbage can be removed weekly based on your office needs, whereas windows may only need cleaning monthly.

Remember, a clean office is a healthy and productive office; it is also an office that impresses potential customers.  Keeping things clean allows staff to better focus on their job while supporting and respecting their overall wellbeing.

We all understand the importance of protecting the environment.  In recent years, we have witnessed the emergence of many “green” technologies aimed at reducing our impact on our natural surroundings.  From electric cars to energy-saving light bulbs, the environmental movement continues to push for progress when it comes to products, activities, and attitudes that damage our environment.  Green cleaning is just one example of how an entire industry can change to meet the needs of the environment.  Simply put, green cleaning involves using cleaning products and practices that protect our health without harming the environment.

Fifty years ago, the concept of “green cleaning” may have seemed like a radical idea; but as the idea of living green has come to dominate the way we do business, more and more home and business owners are looking for environmentally-friendly ways of keeping clean.  Indeed, environmentalism today drives how we spend money and potentially influences billions of dollars worth of purchasing.  Green cleaning involves not only choosing environmentally safe cleaning products, but also encourages us to conserve water and energy used during cleaning.  Fortunately, green cleaning programs are not only good for the environment, but they’re good for our health as well.  Through green cleaning we can limit our exposure to toxic chemicals thereby protecting our long-term health along with the environment.

An effective green cleaning program is one that uses environmentally-friendly and biodegradable products, as well as choosing more efficient cleaning equipment.  Moreover, true green cleaning involves creating policies, procedures, and training in order to minimize the impact of cleaning on our health and the environment.  Green cleaning can sometimes even save money.  With reduced energy and water costs, green equipment is cost saving, and many environmentally-friendly cleaning products are even cheaper than their toxic counterparts.  Certainly, competition in the green cleaning industry ensures that there are effective cleaning products that are cost-competitive with traditional cleaning supplies.

Still, green cleaning is about more than just changing the way we clean, but also about changing the way we think about cleaning.  It involves a global shift in our attitudes about how we use products and supplies, so the policies surrounding green cleaning should encourage conservation practices as well.  We need to use fewer paper products, utilize products that are free of dyes, inks, and fragrances, and even design offices with efficiency in mind.  As we develop better cleaning technologies and better attitudes about how we clean, green cleaning practices will develop as well.

Finally, green cleaning is most effectively adopted in offices where the involvement of all staff and stakeholders is promoted.  Managers need to communicate about green cleaning efforts and why they are important to the business, to the staff member, and to the environment.

So you have decided that hiring a professional office cleaning company is a more reliable, effective, and efficient manner of maintaining the cleanliness and sanitation of your offices.  You are not alone.  Property management companies, facilities directors, and office managers for large and small companies depend on professional office cleaners to maintain a clean and sanitary office.  Unfortunately, in any given city there are likely several reputable companies that offer first class cleaning services, so how do you go about picking a professional office cleaning company that meets your needs?  After all, you want to make sure that you hire a company that has the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain your offices so that you can present the best first impression to potential clients and even employees.

Understand your Needs

Before you start contacting different cleaning companies, you want to make sure you fully understand  your own needs.  Do you require only basic cleaning services?  Do you have a kitchen that needs cleaning?  How often do you need garbage and recycling removed?  To get ready to meet with potential cleaners, you should first prepare an exhaustive list of all your cleaning needs.  Not all professional office cleaning companies will offer the same services, so you want to choose a company that will address your needs effectively.

You also want to consider whether you have specialized cleaning needs.  You may have floors that need to be waxed and polished; you may require biohazard disposal; or you may have employees with allergies requiring the use of specialized cleaning products.  The more information you can provide cleaning contractors, the more likely you will be to find the right cleaner for your company.

Consider your Budget

Obviously, budget is going to have a significant impact on the cleaning company you hire.  While it is not generally recommended to go with the cheapest cleaner simply by virtue of being cheapest, you also need to ensure that your cleaning needs are met within your budget.

Always ask for Estimates

Not only do you need to consider your budget, but you also want to compare estimates from various companies.  Ideally, you want to compose a list of suitable professional cleaning companies and contact each for an estimate.  Most of the time, you’ll want to meet with each of these companies to discuss your needs and budget to determine if they can provide the services you want at a reasonable price.

Seek Recommendations and References

Before hiring a particular cleaning company, it is always best to get recommendations from associates or business partners.  Hiring a cleaning company will only save you time, money, and effort if they are professional and trustworthy.  By getting references, you can check the track record of potential cleaners and choose one that has an impeccable reputation.

Hiring a reputable and professional office cleaning company is not exactly rocket science, but you should still take some time to carefully vet potential cleaners so that you know your offices are in trustworthy hands.

The overall condition of your office is important for making a positive first impression for clients and staff members alike.  Moreover, a clean and well-organized office is much more conducive to productivity as employees can focus on the important tasks at hand rather than maintaining the cleanliness of their workspaces.  A professional office cleaning company is contracted to provide customized cleaning services so that  your offices are always clean, comfortable, and presentable.  Yet, many business owners choose not to hire professionals and instead rely on current employees to maintain the office.  But while some business owners may feel the savings offered by not hiring a professional cleaner is reason enough to leave the task to current employees, the fact remains that there are many benefits of working with a professional office cleaning company.

Customized Cleaning

One of the main benefits of hiring a professional office cleaning company is the fact that you can customize your cleaning needs.  Some offices are much busier than others and may need garbage and recycling removal on a daily basis, while small business owners may prefer this service less frequently.  Do you have floors that need to be washed and buffered, or are your offices carpeted?  Do you have a shared kitchen that requires daily or weekly cleaning?  Do your offices have many windows that require internal and external cleaning?  Whatever your cleaning needs, you can surely find a professional office cleaning company that can meet your needs.

Equipment

Another benefit of hiring professional office cleaners is that they already have all the necessary equipment and supplies to complete your cleaning job efficiently and effectively.  Cleaning services are important for ensuring that your business and offices appear professional, but they are not often the focus of your day-to-day operations.  This means that you probably have not spent the time or energy to invest in the right cleaning supplies and equipment.  Professional office cleaning companies will have everything they need to keep your offices in tip-top condition.

Consistency

When you hire professionals, you have the opportunity to set and amend a cleaning schedule that makes sure your offices are always presentable.  Without staffing professional cleaners, business owners are at the whim of employees who may or may not take cleaning duties seriously.  Professionals will come to your office every night or every weekend to provide agreed-upon services that keep your offices looking great.

Productivity

If your employees are not concerned with cleaning their own workspaces, they free up time and energy to focus on more high-level tasks.  Moreover, a clean office is a productive office as employees are more comfortable, less likely to become ill, and generally more focused on their specific duties.

Skill

Finally, professional cleaners are trained to clean.  They have the skills required to ensure all aspects of your office, from the bathroom to the boardroom are kept in excellent condition.  They’ll know how to address more difficult cleaning tasks professionally and effectively.

Remember, your office says more about your company than you realize.  Maintaining a tidy, sanitary, and comfortable office impression tells your clients and your staff that you care about them and the success of your business.