Once the fun and laughter has officially ended you will need to tackle the aftermath from this year’s celebrations. This blog outlines everything you need to do to effectively clean after the office Christmas party.
DECLUTTER
The first step is to clear everything away before starting your clean up. The Christmas tree, decorations and lights will need to be packed away and stored somewhere safe until next year, one-time use items that will need to be discarded of accordingly such as cups, plates, napkins, food and drink etc. remembering of course to make sure you recycle anything that can be and reuse whenever available. By tackling the party bits and bobs, you will create a clear space to then clean thoroughly.
DISINFECT ALL SURFACES
Now the areas are clear, you can implement an intense cleaning schedule to ensure the office is brought back to safe levels of cleanliness and sense of professionalism. A standard clean will not suffice. You will need to use disinfecting cleaning products to ensure all germs and bacteria are removed, paying particular attention to those most germ ridden items.
DOOR HANDLES
It goes without saying that if germs travel through your hands then things like door handles will be germ-ridden. Think about how many different people come in and out of the office, bringing germs from all over the place. You can't ensure that everyone keeps up with good hygiene, therefore it is essential, alongside constantly washing your hands, that you wipe and disinfect the door handles which will reduce the chances of getting ill and spreading bacteria.
DESKTOP
The place you sit at every day to do your work. You may be surprised to know that the desk carries about 400 times more germs than a toilet seat! That is equivalent to around 21,000 square inches of bacteria, fungi and viruses. Your hands are a germs paradise. They travel and spread rapidly just from your hands. This is why it is vital to constantly wash your hands as your desktop will constantly be building up bacteria if not.
KEYBOARD
You’ve probably eaten at it, drunk and even sneezed on it, but hardly or never clean it! And then alongside all those risk factors, you use your hands, the biggest risk factor of all. And if you share your keyboard with other colleagues the risk is even higher. This is why wiping down your keyboard thoroughly, getting rid of all the nasty germs, is vital.
MOUSE
Linking to the last point, alongside using your keyboard, you also use your mouse. This too will be infested with germs. Working can be stressful enough and having to worry about getting ill is added stress that really isn’t needed. Therefore cleaning your bacteria-ridden mouse can really help in the long run.
TELEPHONE
Your office telephone tends to be answered by numerous people in the office. It’s very unlikely that you consider disinfecting the phone after use, but this is a step that should be incorporated into your working day. It takes less than a minute to rid these germs, compared to being ill for possibly weeks, it makes sense to take one minute out of your day to disinfect the telephone.
WATER DISPENSER
Keeping hydrated at work is a necessity however think about how many people use the water cooler a day. Numerous hands will have touched it, and then you proceed to touch your cup and drink from it. This is how illnesses get spread. Now of course the water dispenser is needed to quench your thirst throughout the day, therefore to make it safer for everyone in the office, disinfecting the tap before use is vital.
CLEAN BATHROOMS
As well as the office itself, the bathrooms will also need a thorough clean to ensure all germs and bacteria are removed and the toilets become safe to use. They will visually need a spruce up as well as require a deep clean of ALL surfaces. Items to clean include:
- Light fixtures
- Vent fans
- Sink taps
- Sinks
- Hand dryer
- Soap dispenser
- Countertops
- Walls
- Toilet and urinals
- Floor
- Fixtures
- Drain caps
- Handles & knobs
- Mirrors
EMPTY BINS
Now the office is clear and clean, ensure you empty the bins so that they are not an eyesore and produce an odour into the office. Also, by having a bin filled with waste for long periods of time they become a breeding ground for aggressive germs. Some of those germs could become a risk to staff if not properly disposed of and washed, therefore make sure you are thorough with your post-celebration cleanup schedule.
Having said all that, why not make sure the headache following seasonal celebrations is not yours. WINNS Services specialises in a variety of Cleaning Services, including post celebrations cleaning. Having been established for over 30 years, we pride ourselves on exceeding client expectations. To ask any questions about our Cleaning Services, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk for a free no obligation consultation or quotation.