Easy Ways to Keep an Office Clean and Tidy

Contributed by Sally Smith

A clean, organized and tidy office is essential for success and efficiency. Unkempt or dirty offices will look unprofessional if clients or vendors visit. This can affect business. Disorganized offices can affect employee performance and morale. Business owners and managers do not always know the best ways to maintain a clean workplace especially in larger companies. There are several ways to help keep an office tidy at all times.

Provide Cleaning Supplies and Bins

The reality is that small messes and disorganized areas will appear in an office every week. If there are no cleaning supplies available, then employees are less likely to maintain a tidy office. Employees should have access to general-purpose cleaners, paper towels and even tools for dusting. These supplies should be kept in a convenient area so workers can grab them quickly if a mess appears. Additionally, placing trash or recycling bins at every workstation or in every area will make cutting down on clutter and make throwing away unneeded papers easier.

Institute Policies about Tidiness

Business owners should let employees known that cleanliness is a priority in the office. The best way to do this is to institute office policies relating to tidiness. These can include basic rules like never eating at a desk and always using sealed drink containers. There could also be other policies about not storing items in walkways and not leaving stacks of papers in common areas. Just a few office policies and guidelines will encourage workers to keep the office tidy between visits from a commercial cleaning service.

Supply Organizational Tools

Cluttered and disorganized offices sometimes develop because there is simply nowhere to store papers and equipment. The way to solve this issue is to supply good organizational and filing tools. Filing cabinets should have more than enough space for all paperwork and records. There should be shelving or storage rooms for office equipment. Employees should have access to file folders, file trays and other tools. This will make it easier to keep the office organized so it appears cleaner and less cluttered.

Give Employees Time to Clean Personal Spaces

A practical way to keep an office clean and tidy throughout the year is to schedule time for employees to clean personal spaces. Providing just 15 minutes every one to two weeks will give employees time to wipe down all surfaces, throw away unneeded items and organize desks or workstations. Officially scheduling the time will make certain all employees actually do some regular cleaning. This same technique can be used to periodically assign employees to clean a common area like a lunchroom or copier room.

Schedule Professional Cleaners

The most effective way to keep an office clean and tidy is to schedule professional cleaners. Commercial cleaning services can come into the office after business hours and make sure every spill and overflowing trash bin is handled. The service will also keep surfaces clean, sanitary and looking professional. The cleaners should be scheduled for at least once a week. Larger offices with many employees might need cleaners every single day. Commercial services can take care of many of the cleaning details that employees cannot.