Cleaning the Office: How to Keep Flu Bugs at Bay

Cleaning the office during flu season will probably reduce absenteeism in the work place. Simple cleaning tasks for all the workers can keep germs away and productivity up!

If you have turned the door handle, switched the light on or used the microwave in the break room, chances are you have come into contact with more germs than found on an average toilet seat….sounds gross, I know…some of the most germ ridden places can be found in the office in places you would not expect…and most are easy to clean in minutes a day to keep the germs at bay. So educate your employees to do some of these things on a regular basis to keep the office healthy.

Here are eight cleaning tips for the office during flu season.

1. Keep your desk clean.

Cleaning the surface of the desk, the telephone and the computer equipment with a Clorox disinfecting wipe at the end of the day can help reduce germs. Clean the keyboard by turning upside down and shaking the crumbs and dust out, then wipe with a Clorox wipe. If you are suffering from a cold make sure you put all the tissues in the trash can, not littering the desk, and be kind to your fellow employees and dispose of them each night before you leave.

2. Wash your hands

Whilst hand sanitizer can be effective for a quick clean, there is nothing like good old soap and water. If your hands becoming greasy, hand sanitizer will be ineffective.  Wash with soap and water, then use hand sanitizer if you need to.

3. Try not to eat at your desk

Now days most people do eat at their desks due to work pressures or so they can get their work done quicker. Research has shown that a short break at lunchtime can be counterproductive, plus eating at the desk can also increase the bacteria on desks and keyboards….you are also less likely to properly wash your hands after you eat so keyboards, phones and the desk can become greasy and bacteria laden.

If you have to eat at your desk, wipe down the desk afterwards with a disinfecting wipe and then take a minute to wash your hands!!

4. Regularly Disinfect Communal Areas

Viruses and respiratory bugs can scatter throughout a workplace in as few as four hours and hide in the most unexpected areas. Harmful bacteria thrive in refrigerators, microwaves, faucet handles, water fountains, light switches, vending machine buttons. If you have a cleaning service make sure they are extra vigilant cleaning and disinfecting these areas. If not a community effort is needed to help cut down the number of cold and flu germs spreading from one coworker to another. Cleaning these shared areas can help cut down contamination.

5. Clean Carpets Regularly

A business should probably have their carpets cleaned at least every 4 – 6 months to ensure a healthy working environment. Carpets harbor all sorts of allergens, dirt, and dust mites. Regular professional carpet cleaning will kill bacteria and remove trapped pollutants. Not only will clean carpets make the work environment more attractive, but help with better indoor air quality. Regular cleaning will also help prolong the life of the carpet….so a good investment!

6. Avoid the Kitchen Sponge

A shared kitchen sponge is probably one of the worst germ catches in a communal kitchen. Using paper towels to dry your lunch utensils is a much healthier option. Using an antibacterial or bleach spray and paper towel to clean sink and surfaces will keep the germs at bay.

7. Sneeze Vampire-Style

If you have a cold or are starting with flu, be careful how you sneeze. An unprotected sneeze can infect people 6 foot away. So like we teach our kids, sneeze vampire style….. into your elbow, covering your nose and mouth.

8. Stay at home if you are sick

If you wake up with a fever, sore throat and sneezes you should really ask yourself if you should be at work. It may seem heroic to be there even when you are sick, but if half the office comes down with the flu because of you, you may not be the hero for long!

The Royal Maid Service offers residential and office cleaning in Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, Clearwater, Safety Harbor and Dunedin.  When cleaning your office we take the same care and time as we do as if we were cleaning your home.

Call for a free no obligation on site estimate, 727 773 0400