This is a guide on “How to clean and disinfect your office space” based on our decade of experience with providing commercial janitorial services in Charlotte NC. We hope our guidance on office cleaning and disinfection can be of help you ensure the health and safety of your employees and your business’ continued operation. It’s important for our community.
Table of Contents
- What Is Disinfection?
- Clean & Disinfect Regularly
- What Are the Best Surfaces to Disinfect?
- How To Disinfect Your Chair
- How To Disinfect Your Desk
- When to Clean and When to Disinfect?
- How Often Should You Disinfect Your Office?
- What Disinfectants Should I Use?
- Establish Good Employee Hygiene Standards
- Need Help With Cleaning & Disinfecting?
What Is Disinfection?
Disinfection is the process of using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. This is different from cleaning, which just removes dirt and grime. Disinfecting should be done regularly, especially in high-traffic areas or if someone in the office is sick.
Clean & Disinfect Regularly
Keeping your office clean and disinfected is crucial for protecting the health of your employees and preventing the spread of infection. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips on how to clean and disinfect your office space effectively.
One of the most important things you can do to keep your office clean and disinfected is to regularly clean all surfaces.
What Are the Best Surfaces to Disinfect?
In general, you should disinfect any surfaces that are frequently touched, such as door handles, light switches, countertops, keyboards, phones, and faucets. If someone in the office is sick, you may also want to disinfect other surfaces like doorknobs, elevator buttons, and handrails.
You should also regularly disinfect common areas like kitchens and bathrooms. In the kitchen, make sure to clean and disinfect sink areas, countertops, microwaves, and refrigerators. In bathrooms, disinfect toilet handles, faucet handles, and doorknobs.
Office kitchen
- Kitchen sink
- Kitchen countertops
- Microwave oven
- Refrigerator
Office bathroom
- Toilets
- Toilet handles
- Faucet handles
- Doorknobs
Office areas
- Desks
- Chairs
- Door handles
- Light switches
- Electronics
- Phones
- Keyboards
- Mousepads
Use a mild soap or detergent and water to clean these surfaces, then use a disinfectant approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to kill any remaining germs. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using any cleaning products.
How To Disinfect Your Chair
Your office chair is one of the places you are most likely to come into contact with germs, so it’s important to clean and disinfect it regularly. Here’s how:
- Start by removing any dust or debris from the surface of the chair with a vacuum cleaner or microfiber cloth.
- Next, clean the chair with a mild soap and water solution.
- Once the chair is clean, disinfect it with a household cleaner or diluted bleach solution.
- Finally, dry the chair thoroughly with a clean towel or cloth.
Repeat this process once a week to help keep your office chair germ-free. In addition, be sure to wash your hands regularly and practice good hygiene to help prevent the spread of infection.
How To Disinfect Your Desk
To clean you office desk, here’s what you’ll need:
- Disinfectant wipes
- A clean, soft cloth
- Paper towels
First, start by wiping down your entire desk with disinfectant wipes. Be sure to get all the nooks and crannies, as well as any surfaces that you frequently touch, like your keyboard and mouse. Once you’ve wiped down the entire desk, throw away the used wipes.
Next, take your clean, soft cloth and give the surface of your desk a final once-over. This will remove any residual dirt or dust that might be left behind.
Finally, use paper towels to dry your desk. Once it’s completely dry, you’re all done!
And that’s it! In just a few minutes, you’ve successfully disinfected your office desk. Now you can rest assured knowing that your workspace is clean and germ-free.
When to Clean and When to Disinfect?
Cleaning refers to the removal of dirt and grime, usually using soap and water. Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces. While both are important, there are certain circumstances where one is more necessary than the other.
Generally speaking, you should clean surfaces first and then disinfect them. This is because cleaning with soap and water first removes the dirt and grime that can interfere with the disinfectant’s ability to kill germs.
However, there are some circumstances where you may need to disinfect first and then clean. This might be the case if there is a lot of visible dirt and grime on a surface, or if someone in the office is sick and you want to disinfect surfaces as quickly as possible.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cleaning and then disinfecting surfaces in the following circumstances:
- If someone is sick in the office
- If there is a lot of visible dirt and grime on surfaces
- If surfaces have been exposed to blood or other bodily fluids
The CDC also recommends that you disinfect surfaces daily in high-touch areas such as door handles, light switches, countertops, and phones.
How Often Should You Disinfect Your Office?
The level of cleaning and disinfecting required in an office environment will depend on the type of business, the number of employees and customers, and the amount of foot traffic. However, as a general rule of thumb, you should aim to clean and disinfect your office space at least once a week.
For a more thorough clean, you can also hire a professional cleaning company to deep clean your office on a monthly basis. This will help to ensure that your office space is clean and free of dirt, dust, and germs.
When it comes to disinfecting your office space, be sure to use a product that is EPA-approved for use against the coronavirus. Some common household cleaning products that meet this criteria include Clorox wipes, Lysol spray, and rubbing alcohol.
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What Disinfectants Should I Use?
There are many different types of disinfectants available on the market. The most effective ones are those that are registered with the EPA and have been proven to be effective against the type of germs you are trying to kill.
Some common EPA-registered disinfectants include alcohol, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide. When using any of these disinfectants, make sure to follow the instructions on the label for proper use and safety.
There are many commercial products available that can be used for office disinfecting, but you can also make your own disinfectant solution. To do this, mix one cup of water with one tablespoon of bleach and one tablespoon of dish soap. This will give you a strong enough solution to kill most bacteria and viruses.
Once you have your solution mixed, put it into a spray bottle and label it clearly. Then, when you need to disinfect a surface, just spray it down and wipe it off with a clean cloth. Make sure to let the solution sit on the surface for at least two minutes before wiping it away.
Establish Good Employee Hygiene Standards
Another important tip is to encourage good hygiene habits among your employees. This includes washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching their face, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue or their elbow. You should also provide hand sanitizer and tissues in your office for employees to use.
By following these tips, you can help keep your office clean and disinfected for maximum effectiveness. protecting the health of your employees and preventing the spread of infection.
Need Help With Cleaning & Disinfecting?
We will help you with office cleaning and disinfection services, both preventive cleaning and disinfection as well as urgent in case of a confirmed or suspected covid case. Give us a call or schedule a cleaning and disinfection service now.