 Just a few more months and we’ll be done with the cold weather for the year. The upcoming change of seasons justifies a little bit of effort on sprucing up the office and creating and exciting, clean work space. The average adult spends more time at the office than at home. A nice and welcoming workplace will thus be conductive of productivity and creativity. Maintaining a clean work space is all about selecting the right company for the job and putting a bit of individual effort in it. Here are a few simple tips that will help you get the office ready for summer. It’s Time to Go GreenMaking the switch to a more environment-friendly office is a particularly good idea for the summer. According to one study, companies that neglect sustainability risk having unhappy workers and low productivity. A few simple steps can result in a much greener work space that just about everyone will enjoy spending time in. Replace the traditional cleaning supplies and harsh chemicals with environment-friendly alternatives. Luckily, the market already has a wide array of affordable and non-hazardous options to offer. Consider going paperless. For a start, a paperless office will feature much less clutter. In addition, this decision will have a profound impact on the environment. Statistics show that the average office worker uses the mind-blowing 10,000 sheets of paper per year. What’s even sadder, about 45 percent of the paper printed in an office will end up in the trash bin. There are multiple systems for digital document storage and sharing, some of these being available free of charge. Apart from reducing clutter and waste, such solutions make it very easy to protect sensitive data, share it with clients and access it from multiple locations that feature internet access. Switching from standard to energy-efficient light bulbs is another excellent idea for going green this summer. Enjoy the ViewClean office windows will create a pleasant ambiance. It’s a great idea to do a thorough window cleaning before the start of the summer season. The spring rains are finally over and the spotless windows will reveal the beauty of the exterior (without a risk of the glass getting streaky or becoming smudged due to environmental factors). Most people would rather be outside than in the office during the summer. The hot weather and dreams of a vacation can have a detrimental impact on motivation. A beautiful view that’s the result of crystal clear windows is the closest thing to being outside and enjoying the weather. Clean office windows can also have an impact on brand image. The exterior of the office is the one thing that passers-by will notice. Dirty windows are indicative of sloppiness. Regular cleaning of the exterior gives the façade a shiny appearance. Little things matter and clean windows are one of them. Regular DustingDust is nasty, irritating and present just about everywhere in urban settings. One of the worst aspects is that dust becomes even more noticeable when the sun is shining. If you want an impeccable office during the summer, it would be a good idea to focus on dust accumulation in spots that will typically go unnoticed. The blinds are particularly tricky and sneaky when it comes to dust accumulation. Unless they’re properly cleaned on a regular basis, chances are that the blinds have a layer of dust on them that’s somewhat difficult to clean. Luckily, there are several simple options for getting rid of dust from blinds. Clean the Office Fridge, Get Rid of Perishable and Expired ItemsWhen was the last time you cleaned the office fridge? According to some reports, the office bathroom is a lot cleaner than the fridge and you’ll be better off keeping your lunch there. Many people are guilty of not throwing away perishable items, which creates the perfect conditions for the formation of germ colonies. This is why it’s not a surprise that multiple offices have had to deal with issues like food poisoning. As summer approaches and the temperatures become high, the risk linked to storing rotten food increases. Thus, you may want to do a thorough fridge cleaning. Get rid of perishable foods that have spoiled and other items past their expiry date. While some colleagues may resist the idea, getting rid of old foods will benefit just about everyone. In fact, it would be best to empty out the entire fridge and give it a thorough wiping. Remove the racks, clean the shelves and sanitize the door. Once you’ve completed the process, you can return fresh items to the fridge. Do an Exterior Damage InspectionSummer is the best time to deal with exterior damage. The weather is dry and you’ll have an option to fix leaks/other problems before it starts to rain once again.
Check the roof for leaks – the time is ideal for getting those fixed before the beginning of fall rains. The snow and ice piling up on the roof during the winter can contribute to issues. The same applies to spring rainfall. If you haven’t had an issue with leaks already, you may still be dealing with a smaller issue that’s left unidentified. The driveway and the parking lot will have to be examined for issues, as well. While this isn’t a strictly cleaning and de-cluttering issue, it can contribute to a better office. Potholes occur in the winter and the spring due to ice freezing in the cracks and constantly changing temperatures. Do thorough inspections and fix such issues before they become bigger. This is it! A cleaner office isn’t that difficult to accomplish. If you focus on sustainability, de-cluttering and attention to detail, you will enjoy a much healthier and more exciting workplace.
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 Spring is a time for revival and it can definitely be used to spruce up the office and boost productivity. Yes, we’re talking about spring cleaning. It’s easy to do and a few simple steps will have a profound impact on the workspace. You don’t have to dig deep – a little bit of de-cluttering will immediately transform the office and make people more motivated to come to work in the morning. So, what does it take to do effective spring cleaning and enjoy a wonderful workspace? Here are a few simple tips to follow. Start with Your DeskTake a good look at everything found on your desk. How many of the things that you find on the surface have you used in the past month? Three months? Past year? Most of us have a tendency to simply pile things on top of each other instead of dealing with clutter right away. This is particularly true for items that we’re not certain about. Chances are that they’ll potentially be handy again in the future. Chances are that you’ve used the particular item once and you wonder whether you’re going to need it (ever) again. If you haven’t used it in the past week or month, throw it away or submit the item for recycling. Dig deep in the pile. You’ll probably come across items that you’ve long forgotten about. A little bit of work space de-cluttering will make your desk much more organized and functional. Make the Office PaperlessIt’s about time to reduce the amount of paper being used in the office. Going digital is essential for reducing the waste of paper in the typical office. Do a thorough paper purge and recycle all of the documents and sheets that are no longer required or being used. It may be impossible for you to go completely paperless but the time is just right to consider the ways in which you can reduce the use of sheets. Many old contracts can be scanned and stored in a digital format. The paper can then be recycled. Apart from being good for the environment, this decision will open up a lot of space in the office. Clean and Hi-TechWhat’s the one piece that you use the most in the office? If your answer is “the keyboard,” you should probably think about the last time you gave it a thorough cleaning. The office computer keyboard harbors numerous bacteria and it can easily get clogged with dust, food particles, lint and anything else that’s flying in the air. Disconnect (if you’re not using a wireless keyboard) and get ready to find tons of treasures stuck underneath the keys. A can of compressed air is all that you’ll need to remove the overwhelming majority of particles stuck in your keyboard. Wipe the surface, as well. If you see the remains of an old coffee spill on the edge of the keyboard, you may want to wipe it with a damp cloth. Make sure that the keyboard is completely dry before plugging it back in. The same applies your computer screen and the PC itself. Wipe the dust and if you don’t know how to check the computer for dust, you may want to call the IT support team for a bit of assistance. Improve Air QualityA few plants will contribute to a nicer atmosphere in the office and they can also be used to improve indoor air quality. NASA researchers have found out that various common houseplants can filter many of the common volatile organic compounds, as well as other impurities found in the urban air. This is the main reason why such plants are taken on space stations to clean the air. Some of the plants that will make the office cleaner and the air fresher include aloe vera (the fact that it’s incredibly easy to grow and it requires little water is an added bonus), spider plant, snake plant, English ivy, fern, eucalyptus, chrysanthemums, peace lilies and ficus. Get Rid of Digital Clutter, as WellBeing organized impacts every aspect of doing your job. Desktop clutter is very important to tackle. The same applies to digital clutter.
Take a look at your desktop. How many files and shortcuts do you see there? How many of those do you use? The rules for cleaning digital clutter are the same as the ones for organizing your desk – if you haven’t used it recently, let it go. A hard drive can be used to save a digital copy of important older documents and files. Everything else that’s not important (drafts, plans and proposals that you no longer need, images and even software that isn’t being used anymore) has to go. Cleaner and more functional offices don’t require major changes. Starting small and having the right cleaning/organization team can lead to major improvements. It’s all about using the space that you have available in the best possible way. Spring is the perfect time to transform offices. Take a day or two and get everybody involved. The results will be observable almost immediately.  There are often times two stereotypical approaches to the holidays that are represented to varying degrees by different people in our lives. On the one hand is “the Scrooge,” who wants nothing to do with Christmas or the holidays and has no interest in investing any time and money into the events therein. On the other side of the spectrum lies the abundantly joyful, cheery “holiday elf,” who’s so excited that they even those people who are genuinely excited about the holidays get annoyed. Every person is different, and inside the comfort of your home you are able to approach the holiday season however you want. But what happens in public places when people with disparate levels of interest in the holidays are required to share space? What happens when you have to work together with people who might share different viewpoints than you? Something as innocuous as a wreath on your door or an office Christmas tree has the potential to offend or annoy someone. But at the same time, it’s important to invest time and energy into those holiday traditions that bring you a feeling of joy and satisfaction. Let’s consider what the best course of action is when faced with the problem of how to navigate the holiday season in the office. The Problem with Holiday Cheer in the OfficeUnderlying many of the issues with holiday cheer in the office is a fundamental lack of understanding and interpersonal awareness. The fact of the matter is that unfortunately, many of us work in environments where we lack any great sense of connection to our coworkers. Of course this is not the case across the board, but it’s very common to feel disconnected from the other people at work, and to feel that you are not truly known by your fellow employees. This can sometimes lead to misunderstandings when people who have conflicting viewpoints are forced to share space. For example, for someone who does not celebrate Christmas, having a garish Christmas decoration may be bothersome or offensive. However, with the prevalence of Christmas this is not altogether very common, and workplaces generally have policies in place to regulate the type of decorations that are allowed. Nonetheless problematic, however, is the fact that the holidays are supposed to be a time of spreading joy and excitement, and with a lack of interpersonal connection this can often be lost. Consider the oft dreaded holiday party. In many workplaces, it can be awkward to attend events that prompt you to spend time with coworkers outside of the work environment. Perhaps you feel that you don't have anything in common with them other than work, and so there is not much to talk about. Questions like whether to bring a spouse or significant other, whether to engage in conversation with superiors, how much alcohol to imbibe, and other matters of decorum can place an unwanted amount of strain on what is supposed to be a happy event. The Purpose of Spreading CheerDespite these challenges, however, it's nonetheless true that the items we include in our homes or habitual spaces have a very real impact on us, and that the holidays should be a time for investing in community. Office decorations and bright colors can serve as a helpful reminder that the holiday season is intended to be a time to bring people together around a common human experience. Even in situations like the office, in which fixed patterns of action have been set and relationships are often inadequately developed, simply making the effort to reach out can go a long way. We can never know what other people are going through and what their personal struggle may be. With a little extra effort put into office decoration or party conversations, we just might have the opportunity to help someone else have a happy holiday. Because regardless of religious creed or specific holiday traditions, the purpose of the holiday season is to invest time and energy into family, community, and reflection on the year that has passed. If, through our actions, we can help someone else participate in the meaningfulness of the season, then we have the obligation to try. Make It MeaningfulAnd in fact, this other-centered orientation is the very remedy that is required in order to avoid all of the various snafus involved in trying to spread holiday cheer at the office.
Once you start to consider your office primary goal during the holiday season as investing the time and energy necessary to understand and develop relationships with the people around you, then all of the issues that arise magically change into amazing opportunities. When a co-worker with a different perspective and a different background takes offense at a particular greeting or piece of holiday decoration, you get the opportunity to speak with them in humility and try to learn something from another person. When you end up stuck in an awkward conversation at the holiday office party with someone who might have difficulties reaching out and socializing with people, you get the opportunity to try and reach them and find that thing that they are passionate about. Or on the other hand, if you are someone who doesn't understand why people get so excited about the holiday season, because you come from a different cultural background or simply because you are not interested, you get the opportunity to try and learn from people who are invested in holiday traditions what they do to make the holidays an enjoyable time. In summary, everyone has a different way of understanding and handling the holiday season. Some people like to invest in the season a lot, some people don’t like to invest in it at all. Particularly at the office, this can provide some challenges when trying to navigate things like putting up decorations or interacting with people at holiday parties. However, in the end, with an other-centered orientation aimed towards helping others remember the joy of the season, these challenges come to be perceived as opportunities, and spreading holiday cheer at the office becomes a joy.  Using dehumidifiers in offices and industrial facilities is very important but for different reasons. In one of the cases, a dehumidifier can have a profound impact on the health and wellbeing of employees. In the other instance, it’s required to make sure that materials, supplies and products are kept in the best possible condition. Moisture can be detrimental and it will impact the activities of companies that represent numerous industries. The investment in dehumidifying technology isn’t that big and the benefits could be numerous. The Importance of Controlling Humidity in Commercial/Industrial BuildingsDehumidifiers are needed in numerous commercial buildings – from schools to hospital and restaurants. Industrial facilities that are used to hold inventory or to carry out production processes require specific atmospheric conditions, as well. As already mentioned, humidity control creates a healthy environment by reducing the spread of air-borne bacteria and helping allergy sufferers breathe easily. Mildew and mold in hotels and industrial facilities can leave a bad impression on customers or render production unusable altogether. You probably already have a pretty good idea about humidity control and the various implications that it has for businesses. Humidity control can reduce operational costs and decrease the need for facility maintenance. Product loss and downtime can both be brought down significantly, if a company decides to invest in effective humidity control and buying the equipment that will ensure the optimal atmospheric conditions. This is particularly true for facilities that can be impacted by mildew and places that work with metal (where corrosion is a significant threat). There are numerous types of dehumidification options for commercial facilities:
The Benefits of Using Dehumidifiers in Offices and Shared Work SpacesCommercial systems that remove moisture from the air can help owners of industrial facilities optimize numerous processes and save thousands of dollars. But dehumidifiers can be used in other companies, as well. The purchase of a basic dehumidifier for an office will produce a range of wonderful benefits. Some of the most important advantages include:
Signs You Need a DehumidifierDehumidifiers are needed in warmer clients and by companies operating in certain conditions. You’ll need to get a dehumidifier for the office or your commercial facility in the case of:
Creating the best work and production conditions will require conscious effort and investment in the right equipment. Depending on your business and the type of facility, the purchase of a dehumidifier could be somewhat expensive. Such equipment, however, can help you save a lot of money in the long run. Take some time to assess the conditions and if necessary, start looking for the most adequate dehumidification technology  Every business, regardless of size and industry, has only seconds to impress clients and business partners. This is why the appearance of the lobby and the reception area matter. The reception is the first thing that people see when coming for a meeting or a purchase. The cleanliness, the furniture and even the demeanor of the receptionist are all so important. If you have a lobby or a waiting area, you’ll have to think about their appearance, as well. Don’t know whether your reception area is up to par? Worry not, we’re here to help! Get InspirationYou don’t have to buy or create something incredibly innovative and unexpected in order to make the reception great. Getting design inspiration from other companies that have the perfect reception or lobby can help you create the ambiance that your clients will love. A reception area could be minimalist, featuring warm natural materials like wood, modernistic or even rustic. Just choose the style that will contribute to enhancing the corporate image you’d like to enforce. Branding, Branding, BrandingWhether your business is just getting established or you’ve been around for decades, you should use every opportunity to make your brand identity more recognizable. Branded furniture is fun and cool. You can also feature decorative elements on the wall that highlight the company’s logo. Keep the interior design in the same color scheme as your marketing materials (like your logo and your company website). Such stylistic choices create consistency and help set your identity apart. Keep it Clean and CozyThe reception area, lobby or waiting room can all be ranked as high traffic areas. There will be dozens of people passing through these parts of the office on a daily basis. As a result, your lobby can quickly get dirty. It will get particularly bad on rainy and snowy days. Make sure that the lobby is cleaned thoroughly at least once per day. If it’s raining outside, you’ll probably have to get the floor cleaned a couple of times. The simple placement of welcome mats in front of the entryway can reduce the amount of mud and moisture that guests bring inside. Another simple trick that will enable you to keep the lobby clean involves a minimalist design. Having fewer accessories and decorations means having fewer items to wipe from dust. PlantsA bit of greenery in the waiting areas will quickly improve the atmosphere. Plants are particularly great for minimalist receptions and the waiting areas that are decorated in neutral colors (white, black, grey and beige). They will provide a natural contrast and a couple of interest points. Multimedia in the LobbyIf you want to make your reception area even more innovative, you’ll definitely benefit from multimedia presentations. Relax, they’re very easy to do. All you need is a flat screen TV. Record videos of your employees speaking about their job and why they love it. Alternatively, you can create slideshows that present work process pictures, diagrams and other information visitors could potentially find interesting. While waiting for a meeting, visitors have nothing to do. This means you have a captive audience. Why not acquaint this audience with your business? The investment in such multimedia presentations is minimal and they can be quite impressive. Have Beverages AvailableEven if they don’t have to wait a lot for a meeting or to make a purchase, people love getting something extra. This something extra could come in the form of a beverage or even candies. Water and tea don’t cost a lot but they’ll keep visitors refreshed. Quite often, these little signs of attention are the ones that matter the most. De-Clutter PeriodicallyIn many offices, the reception turns sooner or later into a storage area. This is a big no-no, even if you’re pressed for space. If things tend to accumulate in areas like the lobby, you’ll have to get in the habit of periodical de-cluttering.
Such activities can happen once per month. Look for boxes and office supplies that don’t belong in the reception area. Throw out old magazines and promotional materials, replace those with fresh media. Files and documents should also be kept out of sight, creating a nice place for the people that are there to interact with your employees. A cool reception area doesn’t demand a major investment. You simply have to think about comfort and a good presentation. Keeping the lobby clean at all times will also be sufficient to please visitors and create the right first impression. Next time you enter the office, reconsider the importance and the appearance of the reception. Chances are that you can do at least a couple of things to make it better.  If you own a commercial building or a facility, you may think that maintenance is narrowed down to cleaning and occasional repairs. If you hold such beliefs, chances are that you’ve never worked a facility maintenance plan in the past. A facility maintenance plan can be quite beneficial and it encompasses a lot more than regular cleaning. Here’s an overview of what a facility maintenance plan is and how to come up with one. What’s a Facility Maintenance Plan?A facility maintenance plan is a long-term strategy for maintaining the corporate facilities in the best possible condition. An intelligently-crafted facility maintenance plan can help you save a lot of money in the long run and it will also ensure smooth corporate operations. The typical facility maintenance plan should focus on activities and operations like cleaning, general building maintenance, regular inspections for facility problems, HVAC maintenance, electrical maintenance, landscaping, plumbing and maintenance of all corporate/production equipment. As you can see, the maintenance plan is all-encompassing and it should feature provisions that cover a period of at least one year. You probably know that professional inspections and proper maintenance require spending but they can save you a lot of money by preventing major disasters. This is why the maintenance plan has to take into consideration all business specifics and the most common issues that companies like yours seem to run into. Steps to Building an Effective Facility Maintenance PlanThe document is very important but coming up with a sound facility maintenance plan isn’t the easiest task in the world. When creating a plan, you’ll need to keep several important things in mind. The most crucial components of the facility maintenance plan are:
Five of the Most Common Facility Maintenance Planning MistakesIf you’re building a facility maintenance plan for the first time, you may find out that it’s somewhat ineffective or impractical with the passage of time. The program can easily be modified on the go but avoiding common mistakes altogether will definitely be better. Here are some of the most common facility maintenance planning mistakes you should try to avoid:
Taking the time to come up with a facility maintenance plan and being prepared for all kinds of situations is one of the keys to effective business operations. You may need to hire professionals that will help you through the process or you should simply do a bit of research and decide on the most important components to include in the plan. Whichever approach you opt for, the results will definitely justify the efforts.  What comes to your mind in terms of shared spaces with coworkers? Most people don’t have an issue when it comes to sharing a kitchen or relaxation facilities. When the office or a commercial restroom is taken in consideration, however, things happen to be a little bit different (and slightly more paranoia-inducing). Though the bathroom isn’t the dirtiest place in the office, most people are concerned about germs and the potential for infections spreading in the bathroom. There are many bacteria found in the bathroom but few of them pose an actual health concern. The common cold virus and the hepatitis A virus can both spread through contact with infected surfaces, which is why bathroom cleaning should never be left to chance. Professional restroom cleaning is imperative, especially when it comes to facilities that are shared by numerous employees or that service customers. There are several reasons (beyond germs) why hiring a professional team to complete the task is one of the best choices. How People Perceive your BusinessIf you run a business like a restaurant or a night club, for example, you know well enough that the restroom will be used by thousands of people. Even if a small portion of these people doesn’t stick to keeping cleanliness, you’ll end up with the restroom from hell. Unfortunately, other customers will form an opinion about your business on the basis of bathroom cleanliness. Numerous studies point out that restroom hygiene impacts business reputation. If restrooms aren’t maintained in an ideal condition, customers start thinking about negligence and the management’s lack of commitment to providing a stellar service. How do clients rate restroom cleanliness? An interesting study was carried out to determine which factors had the biggest impact. The factors that had the biggest impact on client perception included:
Restroom Hygeine and Employee MoraleJust like it has the impact to influence your customers, the condition of the restroom also affects employees. Good restroom hygiene indicates that an employer is interested in the wellbeing of workers. Something as simple as proper cleaning can have a positive impact on employee morale and motivation. Restroom hygiene, the proper cleaning of touch points and the availability of soap are also crucial for reducing the risk of infection spreading in the office. It’s one of the ways to bring down absenteeism, especially during flu season. Good Practices: A Few Tips and SuggestionsNeedless to say, frequent professional cleaning is the best way to go. This is particularly true for larger commercial facilities and offices that are shared by a big number of employees.
There are, however, a few things that you can do between cleaning days to make sure that the bathrooms remain in a relatively good condition. Here are some of the essentials to stick to, whether it comes to a commercial or an office restroom:
 In the past decades, cleaning products have become increasingly efficient and accessible. Nowadays, a good cleaning product that will remove that stubborn stain or sanitize your kitchen properly is available at any supermarket, and professional products used by janitorial services deliver excellent results. However, efficiency is not the only criterion that people take into account when choosing cleaning products; an increasing number of clients have become environmentally aware and prefer using green solutions instead of chemicals that harm our health and aggravate pollution. And it’s not without a reason that the popularity of green cleaning products has surged; here are 5 main benefits of calling to the services of a cleaning company that uses this type of products: 1. Protecting human health The chemicals contained by traditional cleaning products are known to cause various health issues, such as allergies, asthma, rashes, and hormonal imbalances just to start with. Furthermore, these aggressive cleaning agents create an overly-sanitized environment, where our bodies don’t come in contact with germs anymore so our immunity is put to work. As a result, our immune systems turn their attention to inoffensive substances and start considering these dangerous instead – this is how many allergies appear. Green cleaning products are also better because they don’t contain antibacterial agents, which are no longer recommended by health experts. Antibacterial substances promote bacterial resistance to antibiotics and also kill “good” germs that our bodies need to come in contact with. 2. Reducing occupational hazard Using green cleaning products does not protect just the health of people living or working in a space maintained with these products, but is also beneficial for the cleaning personnel. These people no longer have to deal with long-term exposure to chemicals that can cause chronic conditions like cancer, neurological or reproductive disorders. 3. Protecting the environment Wastewater containing chemical cleaning agents is released into the nature, affecting entire ecosystems and both vegetal and animal life forms; this eventually has a negative impact on climate and human life as well. By contrast, green cleaning products are biodegradable, bio-based, and fragrance free, and do not cause harm to the environment. 4. Saving money Many green cleaning products have a higher cleaning efficacy and can be used with cold water which is cheaper. This helps cutting cleaning costs, aside from the fact that their accurate dilution ratios leads to using fewer products. Another way that green products help you save money is slowing down the deterioration process of furniture, floors, and other surfaces, since these products are less aggressive. 5. Enjoying a more pleasant smell Houses and working spaces maintained with natural cleaning products are less toxic and also smell better. Why use synthetic air fresheners that can cause allergies and asthma when there are so many natural solutions within reach? Green cleaning products don’t irritate your eyes or airways and give a natural feel to your home or office. Add some houseplants as well and you’ll enjoy clean and fresh air that you can breathe without any worries! References:
Miller, Sarka-Jonae. Benefits of using green cleaning products and making homemade cleaners. Retrieved from the Natural News website: http://www.naturalnews.com/035981_cleaning_products_green_home_formulas.html Health and Environmental Benefits of Green Cleaning Products. Retrieved from the Green Schools website: http://www.greenschools.net/downloads/Green%20Cleaning%20Benefits%20112009.pdf Getting Offices and Commercial Facilities Ready for Spring: Five Professional Cleaning Tips4/19/2016  Spring is a time for revival and it can definitely be used to spruce up the office and boost productivity. Yes, we’re talking about spring cleaning. It’s easy to do and a few simple steps will have a profound impact on the workspace. You don’t have to dig deep – a little bit of de-cluttering will immediately transform the office and make people more motivated to come to work in the morning. So, what does it take to do effective spring cleaning and enjoy a wonderful workspace? Here are a few simple tips to follow. Start with Your DeskTake a good look at everything found on your desk. How many of the things that you find on the surface have you used in the past month? Three months? Past year? Most of us have a tendency to simply pile things on top of each other instead of dealing with clutter right away. This is particularly true for items that we’re not certain about. Chances are that they’ll potentially be handy again in the future. Chances are that you’ve used the particular item once and you wonder whether you’re going to need it (ever) again. If you haven’t used it in the past week or month, throw it away or submit the item for recycling. Dig deep in the pile. You’ll probably come across items that you’ve long forgotten about. A little bit of work space de-cluttering will make your desk much more organized and functional. Make the Office PaperlessIt’s about time to reduce the amount of paper being used in the office. Going digital is essential for reducing the waste of paper in the typical office. Do a thorough paper purge and recycle all of the documents and sheets that are no longer required or being used. It may be impossible for you to go completely paperless but the time is just right to consider the ways in which you can reduce the use of sheets. Many old contracts can be scanned and stored in a digital format. The paper can then be recycled. Apart from being good for the environment, this decision will open up a lot of space in the office. Clean and Hi-TechWhat’s the one piece that you use the most in the office? If your answer is “the keyboard,” you should probably think about the last time you gave it a thorough cleaning. The office computer keyboard harbors numerous bacteria and it can easily get clogged with dust, food particles, lint and anything else that’s flying in the air. Disconnect (if you’re not using a wireless keyboard) and get ready to find tons of treasures stuck underneath the keys. A can of compressed air is all that you’ll need to remove the overwhelming majority of particles stuck in your keyboard. Wipe the surface, as well. If you see the remains of an old coffee spill on the edge of the keyboard, you may want to wipe it with a damp cloth. Make sure that the keyboard is completely dry before plugging it back in. The same applies your computer screen and the PC itself. Wipe the dust and if you don’t know how to check the computer for dust, you may want to call the IT support team for a bit of assistance. Improve Air QualityA few plants will contribute to a nicer atmosphere in the office and they can also be used to improve indoor air quality. NASA researchers have found out that various common houseplants can filter many of the common volatile organic compounds, as well as other impurities found in the urban air. This is the main reason why such plants are taken on space stations to clean the air. Some of the plants that will make the office cleaner and the air fresher include aloe vera (the fact that it’s incredibly easy to grow and it requires little water is an added bonus), spider plant, snake plant, English ivy, fern, eucalyptus, chrysanthemums, peace lilies and ficus. Get Rid of Digital Clutter, as WellBeing organized impacts every aspect of doing your job. Desktop clutter is very important to tackle. The same applies to digital clutter.
Take a look at your desktop. How many files and shortcuts do you see there? How many of those do you use? The rules for cleaning digital clutter are the same as the ones for organizing your desk – if you haven’t used it recently, let it go. A hard drive can be used to save a digital copy of important older documents and files. Everything else that’s not important (drafts, plans and proposals that you no longer need, images and even software that isn’t being used anymore) has to go. Cleaner and more functional offices don’t require major changes. Starting small and having the right cleaning/organization team can lead to major improvements. It’s all about using the space that you have available in the best possible way. Spring is the perfect time to transform offices. Take a day or two and get everybody involved. The results will be observable almost immediately.  Besides calling to the services of a commercial cleaning contractor, you should also train your employees and implement a series of office cleaning good practices. This way, you’ll call the janitors less often and also make employees at your office more responsible about the environment where they work every day. It doesn’t mean you’ll ask them to handle the entire cleaning, but instead you’ll determine them to keep the working space in good condition and improve their productivity. Being OrganizedIf important pieces of paper seem to disappear when you need them the most, the desks at your office are probably filled with scattered piles that are difficult to index. Use cabinets, archive older folders, and keep just critical documents within reach. Label items and use a reliable filing method. Eliminate the Catch-All DrawerMany people throw various items into a desk drawer just to get rid of them and eventually lose track of what’s inside that drawer. Soon they become anxious at the idea of opening it, not to mention cleaning it up. As long as you have a place for each item in your office, you’ll never need a catch-all drawer. However, if you do keep one, try organizing it every month and discarding unnecessary items. Don't Eat In Front Of The ComputerYou may want your employees to work more, but working through lunch is not a good idea. Not being able to enjoy breaks and relax actually decreases productivity, and moreover, monitors will be splashed with food and keywords will be full of crumbles. It’s no wonder that the keyboard is one of the places most loaded with germs in an office. If you care about the way your office looks and your employees’ well-being, encourage them to give up eating lunch in front of the computer. Maintaining ElectronicsBecause electronic devices are nowadays being used almost all the time in office environments, they attract dirt and bacteria. These items should be cleaned on a regular basis instead of waiting for the janitors to remove the dirt every once in a while. Provide your employees with microfiber cloths and special vacuum cleaners or compressed air cans to clean electronic devices. Keeping The Break Room CleanHaving a clean break room improves the employees’ morale and keeps them motivated. Some ideas to achieve this include cleaning the refrigerator regularly, sanitizing tables and sinks after each lunch break, washing dishes after use and emptying waste baskets every day. Reducing Hard CopyMost of the papers that you save are never used or needed again. When in doubt, throw it out – or even better, don’t even print it at all. However, if you really need hard copy, implement an efficient filing system. Cleaning Desk Before LeavingProcrastination is the enemy of both productivity and cleanliness. Encourage staff to clean working stations at the end of the day instead of leaving it for the next morning. You are a lot more effective when you bring closure to each working day and enjoy a clean start every morning.
References Roberts, Jason. Definitive guide to office cleaning. Retrieved from the Vacuums Guide website: http://www.vacuumsguide.com/office-cleaning/ Top 10 Tricks To De-Clutter Your Office. Retrieved from the Forbes website: http://www.forbes.com/pictures/lmj45iljd/10-tricks-to-spring-clean-your-office/ |
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