This survey found that 66 percent of employees think proper cleaning and sanitation methods should be a priority in the workplace.
Whether you’re always in the office or you only come in a few days a week, regular workplace cleaning should remain a priority. It’s essential for not only you but also for the health of everyone you work with. How can you know when it’s time for an office deep cleaning, though?
Luckily, we’re here to help you get started. Read on to learn five surefire signs it’s time for deep cleaning at work.
1. Employees Are Getting Sick
Employees getting sick every once in a while is normal, but if you’re starting to notice that everyone in the office is sniffling every time they walk through the door, it could point to other things. If an office hasn’t been cleaned in a while, the indoor air quality is going to begin worsening.
Symptoms of poor indoor air quality can look like headaches, fatigue, trouble concentrating, and irritated eyes, nose, or throat. Some diseases have even been linked to poor indoor air quality, like asthma in wet or damp indoor environments.
The right ventilation is important, but so is proper building care. When your office goes too long between cleanings, you’re going to begin noticing extra dust and other particles floating around that don’t really belong there. Even if people help with cleanings, they’re not likely going to clean bathrooms, countertops, or door handles during their downtime.
2. Productivity Drop
Clutter is a surefire way to zap your office’s productivity levels. Even if it’s only happening on a subconscious level, it’s still happening. Our minds simply cannot function amidst the chaos that dirt and debris can leave behind.
On the same end, dirt can also affect the equipment around your office. So, if you notice that equipment you purchased at different times starts to all shut down at the same time, that’s a surefire sign you need to take a deeper look, as it’s definitely not a coincidence.
When dust or other debris makes its way into equipment, you might notice it becoming faulty or squeaky. Even peripherals like mice and keyboards are prone to this. If a keyboard has sticky keys or a mouse begins lagging, it’s going to annoy your employees and they’re not going to want to work.
Every device has its average lifespan, but not tending to proper maintenance is only going to shorten it that much more.
3. No One Has Responsibilities
One of the biggest turnover problems that companies face is when employees start to take on responsibilities that weren’t discussed during initial interviews. So, while your original employees might have helped out with cleaning, your new ones might simply see it as someone else’s responsibility. That’s why it’s important to either discuss cleaning duties during an initial interview or hire a cleaning service to take care of them all.
4. Rise in Temperature
You and your employees may have noticed office temperatures rising, but if it isn’t the middle of summer then you should probably look into the reason behind this. It’s a common indicator of uncleaned ventilation and air conditioning, which can lead to more problems than that.
When your air conditioner is dirty, it’s going to start leaking a lot more water than it normally would, meaning higher temperatures. Your vents can also get backed up as dust builds, meaning the flow of air is going to start weakening.
It should be a habit to clean air filters on a weekly basis, and to dust the air vents on a regular basis, depending on their use. If you have to replace your air filters, make sure you’re keeping up with that task.
What you shouldn’t do, though, is trying to clean components within the HVAC unit yourself. Some are sensitive, and problems can arise if you don’t know what you’re doing. That’s why it’s best to call out a professional for this step.
5. Growing Business
Finally, is your business growing at all? It’s normal for small teams to take on multiple responsibilities, but it’s still important to ensure you’re keeping up with things. It’s easy for cleaning to fall to the wayside when things get busy or hectic, but there’s a simple way to fix it.
Set aside a cleaning budget and hire a cleaning service. No matter how busy your business gets, you’ll know your office is going to stay at its best.
6. Guests Are Beginning to Notice
When you spend a lot of time in a certain place, you’re going to get comfortable. Eventually, though, you’re going to start missing things like smells or other things that guests might find gross.
If you have a visitor in your office and even they notice a foul smell or something else, it’s important to address it as soon as possible. This is especially important if your employees have been eating in places they probably shouldn’t.
It’s easy for crumbs and other food particles to roll into places they shouldn’t be, and eventually, that smell is going to build up. Cleaning regularly is going to stop that from happening altogether.
Ready to Get Started With Office Deep Cleaning?
Does your office sound like it’s in need of a deep clean? Whether you work from home or you own a building, it’s important to care for the space around you. When your space is clean, it’s easier to think and plan things out for the long run — being overwhelmed doesn’t lead to decent results for you or your workplace.
Luckily, we can help with your next office deep cleaning. Contact us to get a quote and book your services today.