5 Common Workplace Cleaning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The smooth running of an office cleaning regime can sometimes be taken for granted as something that just ‘happens’ without anyone taking clear responsibility for it.
Cleaning an office is much more than running a vacuum cleaner around and dusting a few desks. There are health and safety implications and requirements and without the right knowledge and expertise mistakes can be made that could have a negative impact on a workforce.
For example, statistics show that poor hygiene and contamination in the workplace is a significant cause of ill health among employees. Clearly, this is something any employer would want to avoid and so we’ve compiled a list of the top five common cleaning mistakes, to help your company to have a clean and healthy workplace.
Not Having a Cleaning Schedule
A scheduled cleaning programme is a much more effective, efficient and sustainable means to keeping your work environment up to scratch and avoiding more expensive solutions. If you don’t have a proper cleaning schedule you might find you end up having to close your office whilst deep cleaning work is carried out. Dirt and germs won’t have the opportunity to build up and your working environment will be enhanced as a result with fewer days taken as sick leave and therefore there will be a general improvement in wellbeing.
Without a proper cleaning schedule, your cleaners may miss the areas in your workplace where dirt and dust can accumulate, such as under and to the backs of furnishings, on office blinds and on workstations. This risks the multiplication of germs and viruses that could lead to allergies and respiratory illnesses among your employees.
Using the Wrong Products
Efficiency is key when cleaning an office and without the right products, you won’t get the necessary results for a clean and healthy environment. Also, different surfaces and materials require certain types of tools and products. Without the right knowledge and expertise, this requirement may not be obvious.
Some products contain chemicals that might cause damage to certain surfaces and need careful and appropriate handling. This might not be obvious without prior knowledge and experience.
Your office cleaning team should be up to date on health and safety requirements and will know what products are suitable for different situations and environments.
Inadequate Cleaning of Restrooms
You can be sure that your employees, visitors and customers will notice when your workplace restrooms are not up to scratch. It’s one of the most important areas in your building but can be all too easy to overlook.
Their condition gives an outside insight into your values, company practices and efficiency.
We all notice when we go into a toilet and the bin is overflowing, there’s paper on the floor and the sanitary bin is stuffed full. Not pleasant. Any lack of cleanliness will reflect badly on you as an employer and business.
It’s important that not only are your restrooms checked regularly, but that there is a proper system in place to ensure they are clean, hygienic and pleasant to use. That should include the use of the correct cleaning products to prevent the spread of germs, well-stocked toilet paper, the regular emptying of bins, enough soap and properly flushing toilets. Any blockages might mean your toilets overflow and effluent could be trod through your offices.
Poorly cleaned restrooms can become an unhealthy breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria that will make your employees and anyone who uses your facilities ill.
Neglecting High-Touch Surfaces
Light switches, keyboards, workstations and door handles can often be missed if there isn’t a thorough cleaning routine and neglecting them is a common cleaning mistake.
These high-touch surfaces are areas where germs can fester and unless they are cleaned regularly, and with the right cleaning products, can lead to the spread of bacteria, resulting in illness amongst your staff.
When cleaning it’s key to ensure these areas are cleaned and disinfected thoroughly.
Cleaning With Dirty Materials & Equipment
Using the right equipment and cloths to clean your workplace makes all the difference. But it’s important to ensure they are maintained correctly.
If your office cleaner uses the same mop, cloths or sponges to clean surfaces they will only be pushing the germs around rather than removing them. By doing this it will encourage mould and harmful bacteria to multiply, especially if there is urine, blood or traces of vomit on the floor, which can sometimes be present in restrooms. These are biohazards and need to be cleaned effectively to protect your employees’ health.
Therefore it’s key that fresh cleaning equipment is used every day.
Your office is important to your visitors and employees. Ensuring high standards of hygiene are met will give the right impression and protect anyone who works with you from picking up unnecessary bugs and illnesses.
By following our tips it will help you to ensure you avoid these common cleaning mistakes and create a clean and healthy working environment for your employees and customers.
