A clean office is a healthy, productive office. In addition, a clean office also sends the right message to both potential and existing clients.

This simply means that you have to pay extra attention to how and if your workplace is being cleaned properly. Sure the floors are gleaming and the windows are streak-free, but what about areas that are often out of sight or out of mind?

Here are some areas and items in the office that you may not realise require professional cleaning services. Many of them are also oft-forgotten areas and items at home. As such, you may also want to check your home cleaning routine to prevent dust, dirt, and grime from building up and getting in the way of your comfort and safety.

Computers and Keyboards

Nowadays, computers are practically a fixture in any and every workplace. They’re used daily for a variety of purposes, from graphic design to administrative tasks. Another common thing about office computers? They quickly get dirty!

In particular, the spaces between the keyboards can accumulate a lot of gunk because of sweat and skin oils, as well as food debris. The screen can also get smudged by fingerprints and inadvertently become a dust magnet.

Aside from becoming a hotspot for the growth of harmful germs, dirty computers may also end up not working properly. To reduce the risk of these things from happening, ask your cleaners to also take care of the screens and keyboards.

Note that cleaning the CPUs is a different matter, since this requires computer know-how so as not to damage the circuitry and other sensitive parts. Some keyboards (i.e., mechanical keyboards) may also require special care.

Areas Behind and Under Large Machinery and Furniture

It’s easy to clean around large machinery and furniture, but what about behind and under them? These spaces can quickly accumulate dust, so you need to make sure that these get cleaned every so often. Otherwise, the dust can trigger allergies or even harbour pests and other harmful insects. If possible, ask your cleaners to vacuum these hidden areas at least once a week.

The machinery and furniture themselves also need regular cleaning. For example, the glass surface of copiers have to be dust-free for high-quality scans. Meanwhile, for furniture, your cleaners should wipe, wash, shampoo, and/or vacuum them depending on the material.

Kitchen Appliances

Some kitchen appliances need more attention than others. Case in point, the microwave. It’s used daily to heat and reheat food, so it’s inevitable that it will get crusty with food bits and splatters.

Make sure your cleaners wipe down your microwave regularly; weekly is a good schedule, depending on how many people use the microwave daily. Some of the most critical parts to clean include all the inner walls, the rotating tray, as well as the handle and the knobs/buttons.

Another neglected kitchen appliance is the coffee maker; the same goes for the teakettle. Without proper cleaning, the insides of the pots can accumulate limescale and affect the taste of the coffee or tea.

Your cleaners should wash the coffee pot and tea kettle daily and deep-clean individual parts monthly.

Ducts and Vents

To be fair, you probably know that ducts and vents need to be cleaned regularly to maintain good air quality. However, you may end up forgetting about them because they’re out of sight and therefore out of mind.

For a hassle-free experience, make sure to include this service in your contract with your professional cleaners. Ideally, the schedule should be during the weekends or whenever there is no work that can be disrupted. While you can definitely stay in the premises while the ducts are being cleaned, the process can be a little noisy and affect people’s capability to focus.

Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

You may be surprised by how many people forget to clean lighting fixtures, particularly those that come with shades or covers. Over time, these can get so layered with dust that they can’t provide proper illumination.

If you have similar lighting fixtures, especially those mounted a little too high to reach, make sure to have professional cleaners dust them regularly. Aside from the shades or covers, wiping the bulbs gently can also help clear away dust.

Another fixture that suffers the same fate are ceiling fans. Owing to their height, the blades of ceiling fans usually don’t get cleaned as often as needed. This results in an accumulation of dirt that can spread inadvertently as the fan spins.

Like your lighting fixtures, make sure that ceiling fans are cleaned properly at sufficient intervals. The easiest way to do this is to use a vacuum cleaner with an extendable hose.

Other Overlooked Areas and Objects That Need Cleaning

There are many more overlooked areas that need some serious cleaning. Some of them include

  • high-touch areas, such as telephones, light switches, door knobs, and the like
  • stair rails
  • blinds or window shades
  • baseboards and cornices
  • the underside of office chairs
  • walls, especially exterior ones

 

The bottom line? There’s probably something you’re forgetting to clean, whether you’re at home or in the office. The best thing to do is make a checklist with your professional cleaner, so that you don’t miss out on anything.