The Importance of Office Cleanliness for Employee Health
Walking into a clean office each day has many proven benefits. Health, productivity, brand image, and overall employee well-being can be directly affected by the cleanliness or lack thereof in the work environment. Not to mention that an unclean office can be a breeding ground for germs and harmful bacteria that can literally make employees sick.
Office worker hands will typically come into contact with 10 million bacteria every day. Did you know that the average desk has about 400 times more bacteria on it than the average toilet seat? And office phones have been found to harbor around 25,127 germs per square inch.
It’s a fact of life that most office employees don’t wash their hands enough throughout the day and one in four office workers don’t even wash their hands after using the bathroom. This is one of the many reasons that make workplaces the ideal environment for people and germs to interact. Unfortunately, this also has the potential to impact the health of staff and the day-to-day operations of a business, especially when it causes absenteeism and loss of productivity.
Hiring a professional cleaning and janitorial service provider like Cleanstart, that understands the key areas that need regular cleaning and disinfecting as well as the best methods for getting the job done right, is key for maintaining a healthy, productive, and safe work environment.
Areas in the office workplace that need regular cleaning and sanitizing include:
- Restrooms – Keeping workplace restrooms clean is not only for appearances but for the health and well-being of everyone in the workplace. If bathrooms are not routinely and thoroughly cleaned, illness-causing germs and bacteria can easily spread.
- Break rooms, common areas, and kitchens – Locations in your office where employees gather, especially when handling food, need to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis.
- Ceilings, walls, windows, carpet, upholstery, etc. – Anywhere that dust, pollutants, or allergens can accumulate in your space need to be removed properly.
Office Cleaning and Janitorial Services – Greater Puget Sound. Contact the cleaning experts at Cleanstart today (253) 921-2593.
Germs in the Workplace
A common way for germs to traverse the workplace is through direct skin contact, most commonly, shaking hands. Germs are also easily transferred by simply touching objects or surfaces. Bacteria and viruses can survive on surfaces such as desks and keyboards, and objects like phones, fridges, microwaves and other shared appliances for up to 24 hours. Below are some surprising statistics about germs in the office workplace.
A survey of 1,000 office workers found that over two-thirds of workers put themselves at risk by not following recommended guidelines for how to properly clean and how often to clean the workplace. One in ten employees admits to only cleaning their desks once a month and 9% said their workstation never gets disinfected. With 67% of workers having lunch at their desk, that’s a lot of germs lurking around that could potentially make them sick.
Office Phones
Phones are in every office and happen to be one of the biggest harbourers of germs. We’re talking 25,127 germs per square inch and everything from Helicobacter pylori to E. Coli. To avoid the spread of germs, office phones should be cleaned with antibacterial wipes or spray at least once a week. They should also be deep-cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis to get rid of hard to reach germs.
Office Kitchens & Break Rooms
Office kitchens and break rooms can be the worst germ offenders. Cabinet surfaces, refrigerator & microwave handles, sink faucets, vending machines, water coolers and the like can host up to 2.7 million germs per square inch. That’s a lot of germs and potential risk of getting sick, and cold and flu season can greatly increase that risk.
Office Chairs
Did you know that the average office chair, including both the seat and arms, has around 21,000 germs per square inch? Office chairs get a lot of use and should be vacuumed and wiped down at least once a week and given a deeper clean at least once a month. This will reduce the build-up of bacteria and the spread of germs.
Office Desks
With 20,961 germs on average per square inch, your desk can turn into a major source of bacteria and germs. As employees are likely to place items such as mobile phones, handbags, briefcases, pens, and even food, it becomes a potential breeding ground for germs and bacteria. To avoid the spread of germs, desktops should be cleaned on a regular basis and disinfected at least twice a week.
Office Computers & Keyboards
A computer keyboard has on average 3,295 germs per square inch and a mouse has about 1,676 germs per square inch. Your hands will be at your keyboard for the majority of the day, passing germs such as E-Coli onto the keys, where they can linger and breed.
Alongside your keyboard, your mouse is one of your desktop items that will also get the most use throughout the day. To prevent the spread of germs, you should clean your keyboard and mouse once a week and also every time you eat at your desk. Disconnect the keyboard and mouse from your computer and wipe them down with a damp microfiber cloth or anti-bacterial wipe.
Hiring a professional cleaning and janitorial service provider that sanitizes and disinfects the workplace is worth the investment if it helps keep your employees healthy. Regular office deep cleaning has the potential to prevent the spread of germs and infections, reducing employee sick days, and increasing productivity.
Cleanstart Office Cleaning Specialists – Greater Puget Sound
Cleanstart is a trusted office cleaning company serving the greater Puget Sound region. We have over 25 years of experience cleaning offices in most industries and settings. At Cleanstart, we understand that every business and every industry has its own unique cleaning needs.
We will create a custom cleaning program according to your exact specifications and industry guidelines. We also provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If for whatever reason, our quality cleaning standard is not met, we will make it right by correcting the issue within one business day.
- Local, Licensed, Bonded & Insured
- 24/7 Cleaning Service & Support
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
- OSHA, HIPAA, EPA, CDC, AORN Compliant
Request a cleaning service proposal or additional information about our services by calling the professionals at Cleanstart today at 253-921-2593. Get a Free Quote!
Auburn, Bellevue, Bremerton, Factoria, Fife, Gig Harbor, Kent, Lakewood, Olympia, Puyallup, Renton, Seattle, Tacoma, Tukwila, King County, Kitsap County, Pierce County, and Thurston County
5009 Pacific Hwy E unit 17 Fife, WA 98424 • Phone: 253.921.2593 • Email:cferling@thecleanstart.com