Spring is expected to come early this year, and with it, early spring cleaning to improve the health of facilities through the removal of winter germs, viruses, and bacteria must follow.
Improving Facility Health Through Spring Cleaning
Spring cleaning, especially after tax season, provides numerous benefits to businesses and building occupants, including:
- The removal of clutter, which will alleviate stress and distractions.
- The elimination of germs, viruses, and bacteria from the winter cold and flu season, and;
- The cleanup of dirt, deicing, and other chemicals that tend to buildup indoors and out over the winter months.
Deep cleaning now and establishing a hygienic office or classroom as a standard will improve occupant health, wellness, and performance.
Office and Classroom Spring Cleaning Tips
Regardless of whether you work in an office or classroom, there are several common tips that will benefit any facility.
- Conduct a walkthrough - Conducting a walkthrough of your office, classroom, or facility as a whole will allow you to formulate a clear plan of attack and ensure no unfortunate surprises await you while you're cleaning up and decluttering.
- Look for damage - A pre-cleaning inspection of areas prone to damage during the winter, such as doors, pipes, and windows will allow you to plan for and make needed repairs before cleaning commences.
- Inspect and refresh your supplies and equipment - Starting fresh with modern equipment and safer choice chemicals will ensure that your space is clean and hygienic, free of toxic chemicals, and that your tools are not wasting vital natural resources or are responsible for spreading germs and bacteria due to overuse and degradation.
- Clean and disinfect from top to bottom - With the exception of walls, which should be cleaned from bottom to top to avoid streaking, cleaning and disinfecting your office or classroom from top to bottom, starting with high dust, vents, lights, and ceiling fixtures, then working your way down to the floor will help prevent cross-contamination.
- Floors, rugs, and carpets - Spring is one of the best times of year to service heavily trafficked floors and carpets and swap out walkway mats and rugs. Key areas to keep in mind are lobby and customer-facing spaces, as well as all high traffic areas.
- Move equipment - If you're going to declutter--you need to declutter--you might as well move that monitor and printer out of the way and give the space under them a good wipe down to remove potentially toxic dust, allergens, germs, and hidden bacteria.
- Do windows - Once the raining season has passed you by, clean your facilities' windows inside and out, making certain to remove any buildup in slides and grooves. Dinge-free windows allow maximum sunlight to enter your building and increase occupant wellbeing and productivity.
- Green it up - Consider going green in your space with fresh, live plants, as well as biodegradable cleaning products. While you're at it, consider upgrading your entire janitorial closet with environmentally-preferable cleaning products and equipment.
- Touchpoints - If your office or classroom does not currently employ a routine touchpoint disinfection program, now is the perfect time to start one. In lieu of a professional assessment and evaluation, take a look at your workspace and ask yourself --'what have I touched today?' Disinfect those spots every day to keep the germs at bay.
- Take a step back - Finally, take a step back and consider your work area with the critical eye of a first time visitor. Would this view and smell impress or repel you? If the answer leans towards the latter, additional effort and some professional assistance are likely called for.
References & Resources
- Spring Cleaning Is Healthy Cleaning
- Encouraging Spring Cleaning In Offices
- Six Tips To Spring Cleaning In Facilities
- Five Tips To Spring Cleaning Facilities
- Areas To Focus On When Spring Cleaning In Facilities
Takeaway
A thorough spring cleaning program helps you and your employees or students get over and past the challenges of the previous cold and flu season.
Getting an early start with a professionally assisted walkthrough will help identify critical areas that are in need of repair or major services, such as completely stripping, waxing, or resealing a hard floor.
Spring is also the perfect time to commit yourself and your facility to a healthier and safer workplace by going green with live plants and environmentally-preferable cleaning and disinfection products and services that are better for you, your children, and the planet.
Contact us today and discover why Vanguard Cleaning Systems® is the Standard of Clean® for businesses throughout Northwest Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
In Oklahoma, dial 918-960-4450
In Arkansas, dial 479-717-2410
In Missouri, dial 417-812-9777
You must be logged in to post a comment.