It is another New Year, and perhaps the oddest many of us have ever experienced with the ongoing threat from COVID-19. Every new year is the chance to get things right, whether by resolving to achieve goals, live dreams or simply get our lives organised, and getting the office into a good cleansing routine is no different. After all, office hygiene is more important than ever now we know how very quickly coronavirus can spread and how tenacious it is in doing so.
How to Go About Your New Year Cleaning Resolution
When it comes to New Year cleaning there are two factors to take into account: the first is a regular cleaning schedule and the second involves periodically deep cleaning the office. Let us take a look at these in turn.
A regular office cleaning schedule is best done by a team of cleaning professionals who have the uninterrupted time and training to thoroughly and properly clean not just the superficial dirt, but all the invisible dirt and grime that can be responsible for the incidence of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).
What is Sick Building Syndrome?
Sick Building Syndrome sounds as though the building becomes ill – this is not quite correct! Instead, with SBS, fungi, mould, bacteria and other pathogens (disease-causing organisms) build-up on surfaces, in air vents and circulation systems (which can often be part of the problem – poor air circulation is believed to be a major cause of SBS) which then cause illness: allergies, asthma, rashes and other conditions, in the people working or spending time in the building. To avoid SBS becoming a major cause for concern in your workplace, you can invest in our office cleaning services. We will not only provide you with high-quality cleaning services but also the peace of mind that your office is completely safe.
What Does a Good Cleaning Routine Look Like?
First of all, as soon as you call Cleanology we will undertake a thorough Risk Assessment of your premises, noting areas of especial concern for contamination and in need of frequent and regular cleaning. This will allow you to immediately take steps to monitor high-risk areas, reducing the risk of illness or contamination to your employees.
Using the risk assessment details, we will work out an ideal system in which the whole office can be kept not only fragrantly fresh and clean but also disinfected and sanitised to prevent the spread of any illness that might be unwittingly brought onto the premises by a worker, customer or delivery person.
The cleaning routine can take place during times that the office is closed, allowing the cleaners to tackle areas in heavy use during the day, such as phones, keyboards – general desk surfaces, in short – and communal break rooms or kitchens. The carpets will be vacuumed, all tactile surfaces wiped down and sanitised and the disease hot spots, such as phones and computer mice, will be disinfected as standard.
At this time, every office should have a good supply of disinfectant wipes and hand sanitiser on hand for staff to use as needed to maintain the basic cleanliness of their working area throughout the day.
What About Deep Cleaning?
Deep cleaning is a specialised type of clean, with much more work done by the cleaners. Having a deep clean done is especially useful at this time of year: Picture the scene. It is the day of the annual shut down and everyone is hurrying to wind up their current projects before enjoying an hour or two of Christmassy conviviality. Mince pies are eaten, perhaps a bottle of bubbly is opened, perhaps a round of fancy hot chocolates is sprung for by management. And then it is going home time, and everyone heads for the door, eager to begin their downtime. Regular routines and daily tidying up are ignored in the bustle to get through the door.
And then… A week or so later everyone trails in, miserable that the holiday is over and not at all looking forward to getting back to the grind, only to find food wrappings, remnants, cups of cold coffee skinned over, and a week or more’s worth of dust and grime on the carpets, curtains, desks and equipment. Not the most attractive prospect for anyone!
Having Cleanology come in to undertake a deep clean before your workforce returns prevent this dispiriting return to work and a deep clean is, as the name implies, so much more than a simple wipe around and vacuuming it includes:
- Shampooing the carpets, not simply vacuuming them
- Kitchen and bathrooms areas are disinfected and sanitised, sometimes they are steam cleaned
- Hard floors are scrubbed and disinfected
- All office equipment is wiped with anti-bacterial wipes and other appropriate cleaning materials
- Reception areas are thoroughly gutted, cleaned and put back together
- Entrance mats are scrubbed, washed or beaten clean, depending on what they are made from. If necessary, they are replaced
- Entrances are gritted to prevent slippage when coming in with iced up soles
Deep cleaning is like a breath of fresh air to the office, often literally involving having the windows flung open to allow clean air to circulate during the deep clean, and incidentally flushing your pipes through, whisking away the risk of Legionnaire’s Disease which can occur when water is allowed to stand for some time, even in urban plumbing.
Recently, you may have seen Cleanology appear on Sky News as an acknowledged hygiene and cleaning expert within the industry. Cleanology takes a great deal of pride in its successes during this most unusual year, keeping businesses clean, safe and hygienic even under the most trying conditions. Cleanology does not only cater to offices though: schools, retail areas (both shop front and behind the scenes, TV studios and so many more types of premises can be counted amongst our satisfied customers. No matter what your premises are designed for, Cleanology can help you to keep it clean and safe for all. Get in touch with a member of our team today.
