With COVID-19 restrictions being lifted across the country in major metropolitan areas (thanks to the necessary stay-at-home protocols), and mass distribution of the vaccine right around the corner, it’s a good time to take a look at your office’s cleaning procedures. While some industries and categories of jobs may see a more permanent transition into working remote, one can assume that many people will return to their usual place of work – the office.
While the pandemic may end, a much more heightened sanitary responsibility will remain. It’s likely that your office’s old cleaning procedures will need to change, or more may be added to the to-do list. Whatever the case is, make sure to include these 5 procedures:
Office Cleaning: Pre-Disinfection Measures
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommends the cleaning of “visibly dirty surfaces” with soap and water prior to disinfecting measures. This will reduce the amount of contaminants on the surface that’s being disinfected so that the surface being targeted will be more effectively disinfected with the right EPA-registered active ingredients.
Office Cleaning: Soap & Water for Cleaning Other Surfaces, Too
The antibacterial effects of cleaning anything with soap and water are useful for office furniture and design elements that are lined with textile. For example, lightly scrubbing office couches with soap mixed in warm water will help remove dirt and bacteria where disinfectant solutions can’t be used due to sensitive materials. If possible, remove porous materials like pillow and cushion covers, hand towels, and other textiles and run them in the laundry.
Office Cleaning: High Tech = High Traffic
When taking special care of the expensive tech that most modern offices have, make sure to schedule for those high traffic high tech areas and devices to be disinfected frequently. Individually, implement new cleaning policies that encourage employees to disinfect their offices and stations upon arrival and before leaving. Using screen covers and other barriers may help protect your tech better to accommodate for your new office cleaning needs.
Office Cleaning: Positive COVID-19 Test Protocols
In the unfortunate event of one or more of your employees getting COVID-19, or some other similar viral illness, don’t take any chances. Switch any and every employee you can to remote work while you close off the office. In this event, the CDC recommends:
- Airing the office out for 24 hours
- Wear a mask, a disposable gown, and gloves
- Disinfect all surfaces
- Vacuum all floors
Office Cleaning: Dust Often
While the pandemic has drawn our attention to COVID-19 related cleaning methods, it’s important to include dusting in your office cleaning plan. Airborne diseases can latch onto dust particles and spread that easily.
Office Cleaning: Personalize Communal Resources
There are a lot of communal resources that should be personalized to the effect of social distancing. For example, coffee mugs, water cups, plates, and other kitchenware should be split up and dedicated to each employee for their own use. Of course, with their own kitchenware comes the responsibility of washing their own dishes.
