A workplace should look and feel clean. Well getting a visually cleaned space is very easy. But is it really clean. We need to know the difference between visually clean and sanitized workplace. This comes to great importance in facilities like hospitals and clinics. Having your workplace deep cleaned is vital, it can prevent many diseases and boost office productivity too. We do provide deep cleaning services, however this post is about having a responsible culture of cleanliness.
Here are some tips which will take your office hygiene to the next level.
Wash Your Hands
One of the most important tips to keeping a sanitary space is to keep your hands clean. Germs are most commonly spread through touch. If you are not able to wash your hands frequently, make sure you are not rubbing your eyes or touching your face. By not touching your face, you are less likely to spread germs and get sick. Another good tip if you cannot wash your hands as much as you would like is to keep anti-bacterial hand sanitizers all over the office for employees and visitors to use. Especially while at work, your hands are in contact with many different surfaces, objects and people which can often carry germs. By washing your hands frequently, with anti-bacterial hand soap, you lower your risk of getting sick and spreading germs to different surfaces and people. Posting signs around the office and especially in the restroom are a good reminder for employees and patients. Washing your hands is one of the best ways you can avoid bacteria and illness.
Office Sanitation: Equipment and Supplies
We don’t really think about how often we use the things at our desk or in our office and we definitely do not think about sanitizing them. This is a huge problem because a good amount of the bacteria in an office can be found on our desks and right at our fingertips. Phones can harbor a large number of bacteria because our mouth is so close to it and it rarely gets cleaned after using it. Keyboards and mice are also a breeding ground from germs because they are being touched all day long. Coffee cups and reusable water bottles that are used in the office should be taken home regularly for a proper and thorough cleaning. Many people will leave cups at the office after rinsing them out but this increases bacteria because it is not being disinfected on a regular basis.
Then there are the more communal supplies like a fax machine that are even dirtier. Be sure to wipe down your desk with disinfectant at least once a week to maintain a healthy work space. An employee or multiple can be assigned to disinfecting shared supplies as well as counters, tables, doorknobs, chairs and other objects in the office. Cleaning protocols and checklists are also a smart idea to implement in order to ensure the cleanliness of the entire office.
Read Labels
Even if it is common for you to sanitize and clean with a product, are you sure you are using it correctly? Many people spray product and wipe it off the surface immediately after but this is not actually disinfecting the surface because the product isn’t given enough time to work. It is important to read the labels on cleaning supplies so they will work as effectively as possible. Many products will direct you to leave the solution on the surface for a certain amount of time so it can soak and kill the germs that are present.
There is a difference between cleaning and disinfecting. You want to make sure you are doing both but most importantly disinfecting a surface to prevent growth of bacteria and kill germs which are present. Many cleaning products are multipurpose and will do both to leave you a sanitized and healthy work space.
A general training in office sanitation is helpful so everyone is on the same page about the overall cleanliness of the work space. Many people may not be using cleaning supplies correctly and therefore leaving areas not properly disinfected. By giving everyone in the office space a better understanding of office sanitation standards, people are less likely to get sick and spread germs to each other.
Clean Your Cleaning Tools
It is important to remember to disinfect your cleaning tools after you have used them. This will help to prevent cross contamination especially in areas like the restroom. These tools include mops, scouring pads, and brushes. The best time to clean them is when you are done with a room before you move on to the next.
With these tips, it will be easy to implement sanitation standards and practices to give your employees and patients a clean and healthy environment to keep coming back to.
Source: Internet Curation