Office cleaning can be a dangerous business.
It’s true.
Working with highly flammable chemicals as well as using industrial cleaning equipment, there is risk and danger in every clean.
It’s vital that you and your teams know what you’re doing to avoid disaster, damaging furniture, negatively affecting people’s health, and more.
A clean office is a compliant with health and safety legislation office; it is also a place that will boost productivity and staff morale. (To learn more about our specialist cleaning services, please go to our service page or call us for further details; we’d be happy to help.)
However, ill health can be caused by contamination and pollutants found in the workplace; making it essential to introduce good cleaning habits into your office environment and avoid frequent cleaning mistakes that cost you time, money, and energy.
Office cleaning mistakes to avoid.
Not knowing your cleaning chemicals.
Using the wrong office cleaning chemicals can be highly detrimental, ruining fabrics and surfaces the more you clean.
In addition, it can also negatively affect people’s health and well-being.
At Clear Choice, we would always recommend that you never mix your chemical products and that you always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for use.
Chemical mixes to avoid include:
- Bleach and vinegar – these two chemicals combined will create a chlorine gas that can cause breathing difficulties and eye irritation when used in poorly ventilated areas.
- Bleach and glass cleaner – a potent mix but highly toxic. These chemicals can cause chest pains, breathing problems, and sickness when inhaled.
- Bleach and alcohol, when combined, create chloroform!
- Hydrogen peroxide and vinegar are highly corrosive and will cause extreme damage to surfaces.
Using the wrong cleaning equipment.
Different surfaces throughout your office environment will require you to use different cleaning equipment. Using the wrong tools can lead to extreme damage, inefficiencies, and unsightly final results.
Office cleaning equipment can range and vary in size and strength, with several instructions and working regulations.
Working with professional teams can give you confidence that all of these areas are taken care of, and you don’t have to find anywhere to store industrial cleaning equipment on your premises!
Dry Dusting.
Dry dusting is one of the worst cleaning habits we have ever come across; it simply moves the dust and dirt around and can cause damage to hardwood surfaces such as tables, chairs, and cupboards.
Instead, opting for a damp cloth can be more effective, especially if you’re dealing with a thick layer of dust or even oil spillages.
Dirty Floors.
Dirty floors give the wrong impression and can lead to an unpleasant atmosphere and even infections.
You need to regularly clean carpets and flooring to remove all contaminants and offensive odours.
Scrubbing carpets.
When something is spilled on a carpet, and let’s face it, it inevitably will be at some point, avoid the temptation to scrub it clean. Scrubbing will only untwist and damage the carpet’s
fibres, making the stain delve further into the carpet and quickly make your carpet look extremely worn.
Instead, blot the stains away, soaking up as much of the spillage as possible before applying a suitable carpet cleaner.
Cleaning visible areas only.
You need to be as thorough and meticulous as possible in your cleans to be both effective and efficient. This means office cleaners must clean every nook, cranny, and hidden area, such as underneath furniture, blinds, etc., leaving no corner unturned. Look to create an office cleaning checklist to help you on your mission.
Not emptying the vacuum regularly.
Ideally, your office cleaning equipment, such as vacuums, should be emptied after every use. Letting dust and dirt accumulate will eventually block the airflow, so the vacuum won’t work as intended.
Avoiding window cleaning.
Dirt, grime, and stains can build up quickly on windowsills and on window panes, and let’s face it, no one wants people looking in or out of a dirty window; it looks bad and negatively affects people’s moods and behaviour.
Cleaning during office hours.
Cleaning during office hours can be a distraction to employees and completely unproductive.
Make sure for larger cleans that this takes place outside of regular working hours, and for more information on how office cleaning companies are adjusting to hybrid working setups, check out our post HERE.
Not emptying the bins regularly.
Avoid nasty smells, pests, and harmful pollutants getting into the air and causing health problems by emptying all bins on a daily basis.
We also recommend sprinkling baking soda into certain bins, i.e., kitchen bins, to help control any odours.
The good news is professional office cleaning services can handle all these areas and more.
Office cleaning service in Leeds
The best way to avoid damaging office furniture, surfaces, and equipment is to hire and work with a professional team: a team who are experienced and specialists in their field.
A team like Clear Choice.
Saving you time, money, and stress, call 01132 711 432 or email info@clearchoiceuk.com.
