While it’s a sad fact, it’s an undeniable truth that only 7% of employees feel like they go home having done anything productive during work hours. In large part, this is likely due to their working environment. When offices and cubicles are disorganized or have grime in people’s workspace, employees are likely to be distracted and unproductive.
If you’re one of these workers who wishes you could go home feeling like you did a good day’s work, cleaning up may just be the boost you need to get your productivity up. No one likes a dirty office, but fortunately there are ways to make sure that your workspace is in tip-top shape for work.
Read on to learn some of the best tips and tricks for organizing and cleaning up your workspace!
Get Motivated
Before you can start cleaning, it’s important to remember why you’re doing so in the first place. If you remember why you’re tidying up, you’re sure to do a better job since you’ll have a significant goal in mind.
A 2010 study proved that people with clean homes have a higher level of mental health and overall wellness. Those with de-cluttered and de-grimed houses have less stress hormones in their bodies. In 2011, researchers took it a step further and concluded that cleanliness has a positive impact on people’s ability to focus on a given task.
If you want to be a healthier person, it’s crucial to remember that there is a very real scientific tie between cleanliness and stress. This is especially important in the workplace, where stress levels may already be at their peak. Making sure that your workspace is in good shape ensures that you can focus on what’s important without disgusting distractions and lost items.
Organize, Organize, Organize
Before cleaning can happen, it’s crucial that you organize the things around your office. Doing this may not be a part of a deep cleaning, but it’s a good first step to making sure that your space is free of clutter.
Any and all papers should be organized in a way that makes sense to you. Doing this and placing them in a folder or drawer according to date or topic will make them more easily accessible to you. You should also consider getting file folders for papers that you access often.
Office tools also need to be organized. Many of these tools can go in containers that you put on the wall or in a closet. The items that you access more often, such as pens and tape, should be placed on your desk in a position that’s within reach. Make sure that everything is put together in a way that you know where things are.
Have the Right Cleaning Tools
Beginning to clean, of course, necessitates some preparation. Getting the cleaning tools that are needed for a preliminary cleaning is crucial. Don’t spend too much on these materials- after all, there’s only so much you can do without bringing in the professional cleaners. Your de-griming of your office is only something that should happen in interims between professional cleanings. If it’s time for a deeper cleaning, it’s a preliminary measure and nothing more.
For larger office spaces, you’ll need a broom, vacuum, and mop. You’ll also want a bucket of soapy water to make the cleaning of floors go more smoothly.
If that’s left to a janitor (as it usually is) and you just want to get your desk area clean, you’ll just need a simple dish rag and some bleach and goo-gone. Make sure that whatever cleaner you select isn’t going to stain the wood of your desk! You may also want a sponge and some soap handy for less vigorous cleaning.
Do a Preliminary Cleaning
Now that you have the right materials, it’s easy to do a simple cleaning of your desk and the area around it. Your preliminary cleaning entails pretty much exactly what you imagine it to: a little dusting and a lot of scrubbing.
If applicable, vacuum or mop the floor to get any stains off it. Dust before you use the household cleaner like goo-gone to scrub your desk and any cabinets around your workspace. You can use a simple dishrag to get the grime off your items. Also, make sure that you don’t neglect the insides of drawers and cabinets!
Bring in the Pros
Of course, no matter how good your cleaning job is, nothing is a substitute for a professional cleaning service. Professionals have more resources than you can possibly buy at the store. Besides that, they’ve usually been cleaning for a long time and know all the best techniques for making an office spotless.
The people you hire will follow a professional office cleaning checklist that ensures they don’t miss any spots of dirt. They also will talk with you to make sure that they’ve done the job in a way that’s pleasing to you. Bringing in the pros isn’t just a good idea- it’s more than necessary if you want the cleanest possible office space.
Fix Up Your Dirty Office
While keeping a clean workspace can be a challenge, it’s more than possible when you stay organized and use the appropriate cleaning techniques. Once your workspace is shining, your mental health will improve and your productivity will go through the roof!
Now that you know the best ways to clean your dirty office and make it a sparklingly pleasant place to work, it’s time to get more lifestyle tips that will enhance your happiness and productivity. Check out the ‘lifestyle’ tab on our page to learn how to enhance your life not only through cleaning but also through ideas like diet, social events, and mindful wellness.
Have fun cleaning!
