How You Can Change Cleaning Habits in the Office

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

Does your Office Staff Need to Make some Changes?

One of the most important contributors to office productivity is cleanliness. Indeed, a dirty, disorganized workplace can negatively affect one’s mental focus, emotions, and behavior. All of this is not to mention how clutter and grime can easily become hazards when left unchecked.

The problem is that different people have different cleaning and tidying habits. One person may be more conscientious about keeping their workspace neat, while another can be a little more haphazard. This makes keeping your office spick-and-span a little tricky.

Fortunately, there are simple solutions that can help change cleaning habits in the office. Here are some tips to follow so you and your colleagues can maintain an environment that’s conducive to efficiency and effectivity:

Clean More Often

One of the best things to do to inspire and cultivate a culture of cleanliness in the office is to simply clean more often. If you have a pre-opening and post-closing cleaning schedule, you may want to insert a midday or afternoon session.

It’s also a good idea to have your office deep-cleaned every so often. Get in touch with your hired professional cleaners to see what kind of arrangements can be made.

As everyone in the office gets used to a cleaner environment, they will become more averse to dirt and mess. Ultimately, this can trigger a change in their cleaning habits.

Present Facts

Sometimes, only cold, hard facts can convince people to make a move. Present scientific facts related to office cleanliness, such as that an office desk can harbor more germs than a toilet seat. This can definitely discourage some bad habits such as eating at one’s work desk!

Minimize the Paper Trail

When it comes to office clutter, one of the biggest culprits is paper. From envelopes and sticky notes to folders and printed emails, there’s no shortage of paper waste in the workplace.

Fortunately, paper waste can be recycled. Unfortunately, not all paper waste goes into the trash bin. Some of them get stuck on top of desks or inside of filing cabinets, completely forgotten and taking up valuable space.

To prevent the accumulation of paper waste, it’s best to minimize paper use in the first place. For example, there’s usually no need for a hard copy of an email. If you need to refer to its contents, then just bring it up on your computer or even your phone.

Certain documents such as employee handbooks should be made digital. This reduces the need for printing, which reduces your expenses in this regard. Having digital files also makes revisions and updates so much easier.

Keep Cords Out of Sight

There are times when things are actually quite organized in the office but things still look messy. The likely culprit? Visible and tangled wires and cords.

To keep things looking sleek, get used to using wireless keyboards, mice and other peripherals. For accessories and appliances that can’t be used without cables, invest in wire organizers or holders.  With wires and cords out of the way, things will look much neater. It’s also much safer, since there are fewer tripping hazards.

Lead by Example

Last but certainly not the least, to change everyone’s cleaning habits in the office, you need to lead by example. As the famous quote goes, be the change you want to see.

If people have been used to eating at their desks, make it a point to not eat at your desk. When meal times come, invite everyone to the assigned eating areas. If there are those who don’t follow the rules on recycling, be more demonstrative of your efforts. You can even assign a recycling day, where you gather and sort all recyclables to send to the correct facilities.

It can be difficult to change deeply ingrained cleaning habits, but it’s well worth the effort if you consider the kind and quality of change it can bring about. The key is to be patient. Studies have shown that it takes at least 66 days and at most 254 days to develop a new habit. Just keep at it and you’ll be able to instill a culture of cleanliness at work!

Let SERVPRO take care of your upholstery, carpet, ceramic tile and duct cleaning when it is time.   We are located in Lake City, Fl. and cover 8 counties to include Columbia, Suwannee, Lafayette, Hamilton, Union, Levy , Baker & Taylor.  Our 2nd franchise located in Orange Park, Florida covers Clay, Duval and Baker counties.  You can reach us at 386-754-0261 or 904-861-8870.