When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it closed down a majority of offices and businesses, leading many people to work from home. As America continues to head back to the office, companies are putting protocols in place to keep employees and customers healthy. 

Cleaning frequently is more important than ever. While some tasks can be performed weekly or every couple of weeks, cleaning should be done in some capacity every day. 

We put together a list of five things you should be cleaning in your office daily to create a safe and healthy work environment. 

Daily office cleaning checklist 

Whether you have returned to the office or are still working from home, having an office space that’s tidy, neat, and germ-free has many benefits. While a few of these tips may apply to a business setting, many can be used in a home office as well!

Declutter your desk at the end of every day

Put items back in their designated spots at the end of each workday—pens in holders, file papers, throw away things no longer needed, and put other items back in drawers or on shelves. 

Clutter can feel chaotic and stressful, leading to lower productivity. Decluttering every day can help shift your mindset and job performance, plus it doesn’t give dust and dirt a place to hang out. 

Wipe down technological equipment

Phones, headsets, laptops, keyboards, and other equipment are necessities in most businesses. We bet you most likely use at least one or more every day. Therefore, it’s essential to be cleaning technical equipment daily.  

Certain items may need to be cleaned a certain way. For example, your tech device may need to be cleaned with an alcohol-free solution or use little to no water. Others may be fine with using disinfecting spray or wipes. We advise following the guidelines recommended by the manufacturer. 

Disinfect desktop and other surfaces

A study done by the University of Arizona found that desks are one of the dirtiest and germy surfaces. Take a few minutes to wipe down your desk and any other surfaces you may have used that day. 

It may help to note everything you touch during your workday on and around your desk. This includes items like:

• folders
• electronics
• writing utensils
• binders
• keyboards
• monitors
• a mouse
• staplers
• chairs

 Be sure to use an alcohol-based disinfecting solution; either spray or wipes will work. 

Clean all shared spaces
Common areas that see a lot of traffic can be a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. While you don’t need to deep clean each area every day, wiping surfaces down with an appropriate disinfectant, taking out the trash, and removing clutter, should be done every day. (The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, recommends disinfecting with  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ‘s List N disinfectants)
Shared spaces that should be on your office’s daily cleaning checklist include the kitchen and/or break room, lobby and waiting areas, and office restrooms. 

Kitchen/ break room

People use this area frequently to prepare and eat, so crumbs, spills, and dirt are expected. It’s critical to disinfect all countertops, tables, chairs, shelves and sinks with a disinfectant spray at the end of each day.

Don’t forget about the refrigerator, microwave, and water cooler! (especially the handles!)

Lobby/waiting areas
Vacuuming, sweeping, or mopping is essential if your waiting spaces have many visitors or staff throughout the day. In these areas, you should also wipe down all surfaces, like door handles, glass doors, and the arms of chairs. 
You also want to wipe down items that people may handle often such as clipboards, pens, tabletops, etc. Be sure to use disinfecting sprays and wipes to get rid of germs. 

Bathrooms

If your office restrooms don’t get a lot of use, a thorough wipe down with disinfecting spray/wipes should be on your cleaning click list. 

However, complete cleaning is necessary every day if the bathroom is a high-traffic area during a workday. These items should include:

• Wiping down all hard surfaces (toilets, sinks, door handles, etc.) with sanitizing cleaners. 
• Cleaning the mirrors
• Sweeping and mopping the floors
• Emptying the trash 

Wipe down touchless sanitizers 

Many businesses have put in touchless sanitizers as an added layer of protection against COVID-19. They provide employees, guests, and customers with a convenient and easy-to-use way of applying hand sanitizer while decreasing the risk of cross-contamination.

However, we still recommend wiping them down every day to kill any germs or bacteria on the surface from airborne viruses or someone accidentally touching the device. Using a disinfectant spray or wipe is the best option to keep them clean daily. 

Final thoughts

Deep cleanings are critical to keeping your office space in top shape, but you should also aim to clean and sanitize high-touch points and declutter at least once a day. Not only will this make deep cleaning more manageable, but it will also reduce the chances of spreading germs. 

COVID-19 has redefined the workplace, from office layouts to frequency of cleaning. By working together to complete these daily cleaning habits, we can adjust for the workplace of tomorrow, putting health, safety, and comfort at the forefront. Here at SkinDfense, we understand the importance of providing high-quality yet affordable hand sanitizers, hand sanitizing dispensers, and other products that will help keep businesses as safe as possible. Reach out to us for more information on using our products as part of your company’s fight against COVID-19.