With the end of the year upon us, you’d be excused for being a little preoccupied with meeting deadlines, Christmas shopping, and holiday planning, and the last thing you probably want to think about right now is office clean-up. It’s no secret that employees are more productive in a clean and sanitary workplace. So if you want to get a head start on the new year it’s good practice to finish off the year with a thorough clean and tidy workplace. With a little effort and planning, you can get your office in tip-top shape for 2023.
So, if you’re keen to start out 2023 with a fresh, sparkling office here’s a quick checklist to help you on your way….
Pack up Holiday Decorations
Coming back to the office for a new year can be tough enough without the immediate job of pulling down last year’s Christmas decorations. Before leaving for the holidays ask the team to work together to take down all decorations and take a quick look through them to see what can be kept for next year’s celebrations and what should be thrown away (remember to recycle where possible). After sorting the decorations, pack them away in an easy-to-identify storage box for next year.
Tidy, then Sanitise
The end-of-year office clean-up is a great opportunity to rid your desk of clutter and prepare a clear workspace for the new year. Sort through the various files, sticky notes, and miscellanea that are collected over the year and determine what can be discarded – don’t forget to reuse and recycle where possible! Remember to properly sanitise surfaces with a disinfectant and a microfibre cloth, while wiping away dirt and debris from tables, desks, and chairs.
Deep Clean Office Floors
Floors are an important element of your workplace and one of the most prone to bacterial contamination. When not properly cleaned, it can harbour harmful bacteria, germs, and debris, putting your and your employees’ health at risk. Whether your floor is carpeted, hardwood, or tiled, it can collect a lot of dirt and grime. It’s best to invest in a professional steam cleaning as part of the end-of-year clean-up to remove any grime, stains, or debris from the carpet.
Sanitising High-traffic Areas
Maintaining your communal areas, particularly the lobby, reception areas, and restrooms, is critical. Creating an effective cleaning regimen is the best way to completely eliminate dangerous bacteria. It’s the responsibility of the business to provide easy access to cleaning and hygiene products in these areas, by setting up cleaning stations, each with a packet of wipes and hand sanitiser.
Cleaning the Break Room
Breakrooms and Kitchens are the most high-traffic and frequently used rooms in any office and as such can get littered quickly. Be sure to add these areas to your end-of-year office cleaning checklist. Even if you have a regular cleaner come through the office daily, before any break it’s a good idea to have staff empty the fridge, discard food wrappers and unwanted food, as well as expired perishables. The last thing you want is to come back after the holidays to rotten fruit and expired milk.
Pest Control
Safeguard your office space from unwanted invaders! During the Christmas break when there are fewer people around is an ideal time to invest in some serious pest control. Insects like to hide in and around electrical outlets, so spraying insecticide around electrical equipment and workspaces is a good option to keep the office bug-free.
Go Green
The New Year is a great time to commit to lowering your carbon footprint and other environmental impacts. If you haven’t already made the switch, consider investing in eco-friendly cleaning products to make sustainable choices a part of your daily routine.
