Even if you think that you keep a spotless office, odds are there are some high-touch areas and forgotten details that aren’t getting cleaned as much as they should be. There are a lot of unsuspecting areas in your average workplace that never get any attention but harbour a lot of bacteria. Here are some sneaky spots that you should be cleaning but probably aren’t.
Door Handles
Doorknobs and handles are touched by every employee multiple times every day, often right after they’ve been on crowded public transit on their commute to work. All of the germs from those crowds of people can transfer to the hands of your employees, who then touch the door handles as they enter the building. This happens every single day over and over again, but how often do you clean those handles?
Kitchen Details
Sure, we’re all very mindful of cleaning up after ourselves in the breakroom or kitchen by washing our dishes after use and wiping down counters, but there are a lot of little details in office kitchens that don’t get much—or any—attention when it comes to cleaning. For example, when is the last time you cleaned the handle of the fridge? We’re betting it’s been awhile. Other high-touch areas in the kitchen that usually go forgotten include coffee-pot handles, kitchen taps, dish drying racks, and microwaves.
Vents and Fans
Vents and fans are important for air circulation, but they can actually contribute to poor air quality if they are not properly cleaned regularly. Dust and allergens collect on fan blades and vents, clogging them up. This makes for less airflow and blows allergens and particles into the air, leading to worse air quality, which in turn leads to health problems such as asthma flare-ups, allergic reactions, and respiratory illness.
Buttons
That’s right, buttons. Specifically, buttons that multiple people around your workplace push every day, such as the floor buttons in the elevator and the “start” button on your printer or copier. These types of buttons are one of the most highly touched objects in a given office. When is the last time yours were cleaned? Wipe them down regularly and you’ll likely see less spread of germs during cold and flu season.
Light Switches
Light switches are another thing that many people touch every single day but that often go without being cleaned for ages. A quick swipe with a disinfectant wipe every few days is all you need.
Computers
Computers get grimy. We touch them probably the most of anything in our office, plus we tend to get crumbs on them while eating lunch, dust accumulates in between keys on the keyboard, and we usually neglect cleaning them as much as they deserve. It’s not surprising that they get a bit filthy. Okay, “a bit” is an understatement. The average office keyboard harbours five times more bacteria than a toilet seat. Maybe you want to clean your computer a little more often now?
Telephones
Telephone handsets are exposed to germs from both hands and mouths. In fact, the average office phone is home to 25,000 germs per square inch. And some of those square inches touch your mouth. Yuck. Need we say more?
Houseplants
Yes, you have to clean your plants. We’re not suggesting you spray them down with bleach (please don’t do that), but houseplants do accumulate a lot of dust, especially those with large, broad leaves. Just give them a quick dust every week or so and your air quality (not to mention your lungs!) will benefit.
It’s tough to remember to clean every little thing, so why not let us do it for you? Hiring a professional cleaning company like Anago is the best way to ensure that your workplace is clean and shiny all over, from the big stuff to the tiny details.