CLEANING IT’S NOT JUST WHAT THE CLEANING CONTRACTOR DOES!

Is it only the Cleaning Contractor who is responsible for cleaning, or should we all take an active role in keeping our workplace clean? To have a clean office, the whole team needs to be involved.

From a psychological standpoint, we have only a few seconds to make the first impression on people. Judgements are made on-premises or an organisation based on these initial observations of staff and visitors alike. This is likely rooted in our DNA from our early evolutionary need to establish risks and dangers specific environments could pose quickly. These initial observations can make or break a business and can determine if the experience will be a positive or negative one. Clients with a great first impression will, in all likelihood, have a positive experience which could lead to a fruitful business relationship. 

Perception of clean?

Have you ever walked into a room with a fresh citrus scent and had the thought, “wow this smells clean”. The smell is undoubtedly one of the critical senses we use to identify danger.

However, we should not judge a book by its cover. Is it spotless, or is it just perception. There are a number other visual clues we can rely on to assist with making this judgement such as

• Overflowing Bins
• Dirty desks
• Muddy washrooms
• And bad odours

As businesses, we should be aware of these areas, primarily where the cleaning team only work outside of office hours. Doesn’t it make you feel great to come into the office first thing in the morning and find the office all clean, bins emptied and washrooms are sparkling. It gives you a sense of comfort, knowing that your office has cleaned by professionals.

However, during the day, an office with dirty and disorganised desks, an overflowing trash can, washrooms with no soap and paper towels and wetness around the sink are all visual signs that suggest a dirty restroom and office. On the contrary, neat and tidy offices with bins emptied, well-stocked hand washing supplies heighten the sense that an area is being properly cleaned and taken care of. Also, a cleaning checklist showing the last time the restroom was cleaned can reassure users about ongoing cleaning activities. These are all easy to manage tasks quickly performed during the workday.

What might seem clean, may not be cleaned, take a look at the stats on your desk. You might think your desk is pretty clean, but take a look at what’s lurking:

• Keyboards contain 70% more bacteria than a toilet seat.
• Office phones host around 100,000 germs.
• Office desks are more than 400 times dirtier than a toilet seat.
• The area on your desk where your hand’s rest has approximately 10,000 bacteria.

Pleasant smells are also associated with the perception that a space is clean. Nobody wants just an excellent smelling dirty room, but a hint of deodorant can be the difference between a good first impression or a negative one. 

Cleaning its not just what the cleaning contractor does, habits to practise in the office.

Reality is that we don’t treat the office as we would our own home even though we spend so much of our time at the office. At home, if we make a mess, we will clean it up, the same cannot be said for most offices. How many time have you found the washroom in a terrible state during the day? One of the colleagues left it that way, would this be the same at home? How would a client or potential client feel about walking into the same washroom?

Companies have realised Cleaning it’s not just what the cleaning contractor does and working in a clean environment can help employees work to the best of their abilities, reducing stress and giving them a sense of pride. So what can we all do to make a difference? We can start with our desks. Our place of work is our home away from home, and we spend a significant amount of time here. Organise your office daily, and keep it as tidy as possible. As a general rule, try to have a clear desk policy, mainly so that the cleaning team can get to all the areas of your desk to clean it effectively. 

Common areas, like kitchen and canteen, are the areas where all the colleagues meet and congregate for breaks and downtime at the office. The simple rule for these areas is to leave the area as you would like to find it. Some goods tips are the following:

• Wipe the table or space using an antibacterial wipe when you are done using it.
• Sweep up any crumbs and wipe up spillages.
• Was your dishes, dry and pack away or place in the dishwasher.
• Dispose of rubbish into the correct recycling bin.

Washrooms are a natural area where dirt accumulates, and germs can spread. Once again follow the general rule of leaving the restroom as you would like to find it. Nobody enjoys finding a wet toilet seat or a dirty toilet. Some useful tips are the following:

• Check the stall before leaving to ensure it is as you would like to find it.
• Use the facilities as they intended to be.
• Wash hands carefully so as not to spill water on the floor.
• Dispose of hand towels in the bin.
• Report any problem to facilities management.

Why is this cleaning necessary, When Cleaning it’s not just what the cleaning contractor does?

In clean environments where sound cleaning systems are performed correctly, they can ensure general health. Cleaning must reduce risks and guarantee a permanent safe and low level of bacteria and viruses. Environments must be cleaned regularly to keep it under control. Your cleaning contractor will have a sound cleaning system in place, which should include the following five basic requirements:

1. Cleaning Schedule for the environment and equipment in the school.
2. Staff plan detailing the staff requirements.
3. Staff Training.
4. Health and safety information for the site
5. COSSH details for any substances used on site.

Cleaning it’s not just what the cleaning contractor does and thus to ensure the environment is kept clean during the day through a few basic steps the overall effectiveness in terms of cost and results can be greatly improved when the clean is at the forefront of everyone mind in the office. And most of all, this can be useful for staff morale and the all-important first impression.

At BRCT Supply Services, we can assist you in developing a holistic cleaning program, contact us.