Reopening your workplace? Five forgotten spaces to clean first

We’ve heard from many of our customers that they’re gearing up to reopen their offices. Employees will coming back full time. Guests will being allowed in. Before you throw the doors open, you might want to take some time to think about your facility. Is it ready for all of those people? Have you given it a good deep clean? We want to help you make a good impression, so we’re sharing a list of five spots that people often forget when they’re cleaning the office.

1. Printer/Copy Room

When was the last time you pulled out your printers, copiers, and shredders and cleaned behind them? If you’re like most offices, it’s been a while. It’s hard when they’re always in use. You don’t want to be the reason someone doesn’t get their printouts. Since there’s probably less traffic in your office right now, it’s the perfect time to get this done. So, pull out all of your machines and dust and sweep behind them. Vacuum the dust out of the vents. Clean the spilled toner deposits out of the inside of your printers and copiers. Clean the glass on your scanner and copier. Oil your shredder. Not only will your copy room be cleaner, but your equipment will work better, too.

2. Light fixtures

Most workplaces have the same kind of lighting: fluorescent or LED tube lights covered by a sheet of plastic. You probably don’t think much about what goes on behind that plastic, which is why it’s usually a whole pile of yuck. Without regular cleaning, dirt, dust, and even dead bugs can pile up. Before you bring everyone back into the office, give them all a deep clean. Pull the covers down, wipe off the built up dirt, and then clean then with a glass cleaner or multipurpose cleaner. When you’re done you’ll have rid yourself of a bunch of hidden grime and improved the lighting in your office.

3. Cubicle Walls

How often do you vacuum your carpets? Probably once a week or so, right? What does that have to do with your cubicle walls? Just like carpet, your cubicle walls get a lot of everyday wear and tear. They attract a lot of dust and dirt. They get scuffed. People spill coffee on them. They’re in need of some care, too. The inside of your cubicle walls are probably covered in notes and other items, but you can clean the outward facing side. Vacuum the walls to remove and dust or loose dirt. If you find any stains or scuffs, use an upholstery cleaner to remove them. The more recent stains will be easier to remove (all the more reason to do this regularly), but even older stains will be less noticeable after a good scrub. You will make all of the allergy sufferers in your office happier by getting rid of some hidden allergens and your workspace will look brighter.

4. Furniture

You probably don’t think about the furniture in your lobby or reception area very often. You don’t have much of a reason to use it. But, like all flat surfaces, it collects dirt. The same goes for the chairs in your conference and meeting rooms. Before you invite guests back into your workplace, clean the chairs they’ll be sitting in. Vacuum fabric-upholstered chairs and then use an upholstery cleaner to remove and spots or stains. For vinyl upholstery, use water and a gentle cleanser like dish soap. Make sure to rinse the soap away afterwards by wiping it down several times with clean water. Don’t use bleach or harsh disinfectants. They will damage most standard vinyls. Polish the arms with a soft cloth. Your chairs will look shiny and new, which will make them more inviting for your guests.

5. Breakroom

We could have done a whole post on the breakroom alone. There are so many potentially grimy places that no one ever wants to clean. It will be even worse if your office has been closed and the breakroom hasn’t been used in a while. So let’s break it down.

  • First, you’ll need to clean your refrigerator. Dispose of any old foods or out-of-date condiments. Clean the shelves. Wipe down the doors. Don’t forget the handles!
  • Then you’ll want to clean the microwave. Use soapy water to remove any stuck-on foods. (If it’s really bad, put half a cup of water in a bowl or glass and microwave for 3 minutes. Then let it stand for 5 minutes. The steam will loosen the more stubborn spots.) Clean the turntable with dish soap.
  • Next, clean your coffee maker. If you have a single-serve brewer (like a pod brewer or Keurig), clean the water reservoir and the drip tray. If you have a drip brewer, clean the filter holder and carafe with soapy water. Wipe down the outside. It’s probably a good idea to clean the inside of your brewer, too. Get a coffeemaker cleaner and run it through the machine according to the instructions for your machine type to get rid of any scum that may have built up inside.
  • Last, clean your trash can. We all know that trash bags leak, but does anyone clean up afterwards? It’s probably kind of stinky in there, so use some water and bleach or a disinfecting cleanser to clean out the inside before putting a fresh bag in.

As employees return to the office they’ll be looking to reconnect with people. A nice, clean breakroom will give them just the space they need to do that.

 

Need help finding the right cleaning and janitorial products for your office? Contact your account team today. We’re happy to help you find the products that you need to keep your workspace clean and germ-free.