One of the dirtiest places in your daily routine is the office.  Unless you work at home or run a small business out of your garage, you are not the only one touching equipment or utilizing common space.  While the Covid-19 pandemic has everyone more aware of how to share spaces more safely, germs and bacteria still find ways to accumulate in one way or another.  In fact, some common areas seem to be a magnet for germs.

During the course of a hectic work day, it’s easy to forget which areas are more likely to be contaminated.  Items such as entrance doorknobs or water dispenser handles should be regularly cleaned or you can use a glove or tissue.  A research study done by Hloom, an office resource provider, has compared common items in the office and how they stack up against typical bacteria gathering in the out-of-office world.  Below is the visual chart that Hloom has put together of the research that they conducted.

Even hard surfaces that may only be touched once or twice a day can harbor cold and flu viruses for up to 18 hours.  Since they aren’t considered “common areas”, it can be easy to overlook them during routine cleaning.  Items that you may be the only one using, such as keyboards and desks, are still a breeding ground for everyday germs that attach to you.

While pandemic precautions may have you more diligently cleaning than usual, it can be stressful to think that you missed something while your mind is focused more on that big account and less on exacting proper disinfection methods throughout your space.  Instead of worrying, make a back up plan.

You can create a checklist of every available surface or appliance/electronic that should be cleansed.  In fact, break it down into times – how many items need to only be cleaned once daily?  Are there items that can be cleaned twice a day or after each use?  Having a visual to-do list can help ease your mind.  Perhaps make them on a wipe-able surface so you can check them off as you go.  Make a note that items should be disinfected first and then cleaned.

It’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with where cleaning products are located in your office space and what you have access to.  Worst case scenario, bring your own and stash them in or near your desk if there are no cleaning supplies or you may not have regular access to them.

Another option is to hire a regular office cleaning company, or janitorial service.  These are professionals who understand how to battle germs and make disinfecting and sanitizing their main priority each and every day.  This might be a beneficial option to take the stress off of employees having to worry about tackling a deep clean to maintain safety measures each day.

Many companies are extremely flexible to work when you need it – say after-hours or on odd days – and use eco-friendly products to keep the air quality in your work environment safe and clean.  They are also trained to handle different industries and the specific cleaning procedures and standards associated with them, such as hospitality, medical, industrial, etc.  This is a great option to keep productivity levels up and ensure peace of mind for employees that they are working in a safe space.

While offices may be some of the dirtiest areas in our day-to-day, there are definite options in how to curb the germs.  With pandemic practices reducing the amount of bacteria floating around and office cleaning services focused on containing and eliminating anything troublesome, offices may just serve to be the cleanest they have ever been before.  As we enter into a new year and unexpected adventures awaiting us, it may be something to shift into a larger priority.

Find out for yourself why our customers keep coming back!  You can fill out an estimate request HERE or give our DM Industrial Janitorial Service specialists a call at 708.458.2330 and finally see the difference between clean and industrial clean!