A tidy desk is a tidy mind and a messy mind has a huge impact on your productivity. If you want to be more efficient at work, then it’s time to rip off the bandaid and clean your office space. To help you get started, we’ve compiled 6 cleaning tips that you might find handy. Read on to be inspired to pull out the old faithful brush and broom!
1. Declutter, declutter, declutter!
I’m sure you’ve experienced the pain of moving house only to realise you have gathered so many unnecessary items over the years that you’ve lived there. The same goes for your office. If you’ve been using it for more than six months, then you’ve probably collected a whole lot of random items, including papers, unwanted mail or broken supplies.
Start decluttering by going from area to area. Look for items that you no longer use anymore and those that are broken. If you simply don’t use things – whether exercise books, appliances or furniture – take them to the secondhand store for someone else to treasure! But if you do use them and they are simply broken, take them to get repaired and reuse them. If you don’t want to do this on your own or if you want to hand the decluttering job over to a professional, consider investing in a commercial cleaner.
2. Thoroughly clean
Once you’ve completed the essential decluttering stage, then you need to go deeper with a complete office clean. This includes the floors, any surface spaces, the bathroom and the kitchen. Here are a few action items that you’ll want to check off your list:
- Vacuum the floor areas, including tiles
- Disinfect and mop all of the hard floors, including the kitchen and bathroom
- Take out rubbish
- Use glass cleaner to make your windows and mirrors shine
- Wipe down surfaces with disinfectant
- Polish all hardware
- Wipe down door handles and light switches
- Clean walls and painted surfaces
- Wipe out desks, drawers and cupboards
You can either undergo regular cleaning on your own, or you can hand over the job to a commercial cleaning professional for a sparkling finish!
3. Don’t eat at your desk
If you have a busy job where you’re continually glued to your computer, then you may be making a bad habit of eating at your desk. While this might be convenient, it could be doing horrors for your workspace. Think about the food crumbs that have fallen onto your desk, gotten lost in your computer keyboard and wedged themselves into your drawers. This food breaks down and becomes bacteria… gross, right? If you aren’t meticulously cleaning every inch of your workspace after eating, then you really shouldn’t be eating at your desk. Instead, spend your lunch break in the lunch room or in the park down the street. You’ll not only keep your workspace much more clean but you’ll also reap the mental and physical benefits that come with getting sunshine and exercise!
4. Organise your storage spaces
Drawers, cupboards and filing cabinets can become messy very quickly. Set aside a day every few months to go through these storage spaces and make sure they are clean. Get rid of old knick knacks that are simply taking up space, and move old files to cloud-based software for sustainable long-term storing.
5. Tidy at the end of the day
My guess is that just before the clock hits five, you’re rushing around trying to complete every task on your to-do list. Although you’re busy, it’s well worth prioritising five minutes at the end of your day to make sure your desk is clean when you walk into work the next day. Clear your desk of any unnecessary items, put books, pens and paper away in your drawers, and wipe down your desk. Apart from the practical aspect of having a clean space, tidying your desk will help you mentally unwind from the day and allow you to have a new start come the morning.
6. Write out your to-do list
In addition to tidying your desk, make sure you write out your key priorities for the next work day. This will help you get straight into your work when you sit down at your desk, saving you precious time and mental space!
