There’s nothing quite like stepping into work and starting your day in a clean office space. Not only does it boost an employee’s mood instantly, but having a clean workplace can reduce harmful germs and bacteria, remove distractions and obstacles to productivity, and create a good impression of your business on customers. It’s easy to see how keeping your business clean can improve business, productivity, and health and safety, but how often do you need to clean it in order to get those benefits?
Every workplace is different, and some businesses may be cleaned regularly due to the nature of their work while others may get too hectic for cleaning to take place. While there is no magic number for how many times an office should be cleaned per year, there are some common guidelines that you can use to help determine the best cleaning schedule for your business. First, let’s talk about regular or routine cleaning versus deep cleaning, and then we will discuss how you can set the best cleaning schedule for your business.
Regular vs. Deep Office Cleaning
Regular office cleaning will look different in every workplace, but in a nutshell this means the routine cleaning practices that your employees or cleaning staff do on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. This includes activities such as:
- Wiping down tables and clearing desks
- Dusting
- Taking out garbage and recycling
- Light vacuuming
- Tidying shared kitchens or kitchenettes
Regular cleaning tasks are things that everyone can do to help keep the workplace clean and tidy, which also helps the business continue to run smoothly. Depending on the task, regular cleaning should be done as a part of your employees regular routines. Frequency is key for regular cleaning!
On the other hand, deep cleaning includes more intense or lengthy cleaning which is usually done with specialized equipment or supplies. Deep cleaning includes tasks such as:
- Cleaning flooring and shampooing carpets
- Fully sanitizing surfaces
- Removing stains
- Changing air filters
- Cleaning furniture and upholstery
Any of the cleaning tasks that need significant effort, specialized tools or knowledge, or something that you may hire a professional cleaner for is part of deep cleaning activities. Deep cleaning is not just a ‘nice to have’, it is essential to health and safety. Without performing regular deep cleans, your workplace is susceptible to bacteria, mold, and other contaminants that can threaten the health of your employees and cause an uptick in sick days. That being said, because deep cleaning requires much more effort, it does not need to be completed as often as regular cleaning. The average office space should be deep cleaned around 1-2 times per year, depending on a few factors that we will discuss below.
Considerations Before You Start
Now that you know the difference between regular and deep cleaning, think about your office and how cleaning tasks are usually handled. This will help give you a place to begin making improvements to your cleaning schedule. Next, before you set the deep cleaning schedule for your office, here are some things to consider:
- Budget: First, consider your budget. If you can afford to hire professional office cleaners to come in twice a year, go for it! But if the budget only leaves room for the supplies or a once a year visit, you may be left asking your employees to pitch in with deep cleaning.
- Office size: Larger offices that have more space and more employees will always need
more frequent cleaning than smaller and less populated offices. If your workplace is a constant flurry of employees and customers, it will likely get dirtier more quickly than a private office. Consider the number of employees, the square footage of your space, and which areas are most commonly used when determining your deep cleaning schedule.
- Features: Not only does size play a huge part in determining how often your business needs to be deep cleaned, but the office features such as furniture and finishings do too. For example, if your office space is mostly carpeted, it may require more frequent deep commercial cleaning than an office that has hardwood or tile flooring. This is because allergens, dust, and dirt build up in some finishings such as carpet more easily. You may also have furniture pieces such as bookshelves or filing cabinets where dirt piles up on the top shelf. All of these features should be taken into consideration when deciding how often to deep clean your office.
- Regular cleaning frequency: Regular cleaning is often referred to as ‘maintenance cleaning’ because it helps to maintain the level of cleanliness left by a proper office deep clean. Depending on how often your staff takes part in regular office cleaning tasks, you may need to increase or decrease your deep cleaning days.
- COVID-19: With the introduction of COVID-19 in 2020, all businesses were forced to check in on their office cleanliness and sanitation practices. Deep cleaning has become a crucial part of the fight against COVID-19 as it can help stop the spread of the virus between people in your office. The toughest part about COVID-19 prevention is that it requires regular deep cleaning and disinfecting, especially if your business is public facing. This commitment to thorough cleaning along with other safety measures such as hand sanitizing stations, touchpoint disinfecting, and using disinfecting mist can do a lot to keep your employees and customers safe.
If you’re looking for some help setting up and following through with your office deep cleaning schedule, Fantastic Cleaning is ready to help. They can help you create a clean and sanitary workspace that will keep your customers and staff healthy and happy.