Since time began (or at least the microscope was invented), humans and germs have been at war with one another, each one trying to get one up on the other and, well, the scoreboard is ever-changing, especially since the coronavirus took over our lives. From those pesky little germs that make your nose runnier than Mo Farah to those hard-hitting germs that can lead to really serious and life-threatening illnesses, we've been battling this almost invisible enemy at home and at work forever.
That's the bad news.
The good news is there are hundreds of easy-peasy ways we can all protect ourselves and halt the spread of germs, but they all boil down to one key principle: better cleanliness and a bit more consciousness.
You see, these pesky germs are what we call pathogens (better known as as viruses and bacteria and whatnot) and they are incredibly efficient at being infectious and spreading their disease, easily passing from one human to the next whether by direct contact or not. They use us as carriers, hopping about in a range of ways, especially in the office environment where people can't help but cross paths with one another.
But that ends now, and here are some helpful office cleaning tips to get you started:
Effective Hand Washing
Remember that radio advert at the beginning of lockdown that talked you through the importance of washing your hands. Well it's as important now as it was back then, so make sure you keep this habit up by washing your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds each time -- and don’t forget to include your wrists, removing any rings or bracelets you may have. Then rinse them again under running water.
Once you've finished doing this, use either a the paper towel or one of those deafening hand dryers to get the wet of your hands. And now for the important Covid cleaning information: don’t touch the sink or taps after you have washed your hands, and either use gloves or another paper towel when opening the door so that you don't have to touch the door handle (one of the most frequent and germ-ridden areas in any office). But in case that's too much to ask, or you're worried about looking weird, you can avoid this by carrying sanitiser on you and regularly using it.
Simple Hygiene Tips For Staff
We all want to prevent the spread of germs (and the germ) to those around you, so here's some easy ways to do that in your office:
When you're feeling unwell, say something, stay home and work from your couch if possible because there is no point sharing your illness with the rest of your office.
Use disposable tissues instead of cloth handkerchiefs, which just keep hold of those germs until they are washed or microwaved.
Never cough or sneeze into your hand. That's gross. Instead, use the crook of your elbow to smother your face.
Stop randomly touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Hire A Professional Cleaning Service
This may look. a shameless plug (okay, it kind of is) but it's also one of the most beneficial things you can do to stopping the spread. Fact. You see, in a public place, you're exposed to all sorts of germs, but in your office you have a lot more control over the environment and the state of cleanliness you keep it in. Basically, to stop people spreading and catching germs, hire a professional cleaning service to keep your office cleanliness levels consistently high.
Here are the most important areas of your office to keep clean and disinfected at all times:
Office Kitchen Germs
Disinfect all handles on the drawers and cupboards, as well as any door handles, light switches and frequently used appliances.
Before and after you prepare yourself some food or a drink, make sure you wash and dry your hands.
Clean every single working surface before and after you use them, and make totally sure they are dry too because germs love a damp environment.
Work Bathroom Germs
Focus your cleaning on pull cords, light switches, taps, faucets, door handles and flushers.
Always, always flush the toilet.
Get rid of any limescale for one reason: germs thrive there.
Use disinfectant to clean the rim, the seat and the toilet handle-slash-button.
Thoroughly clean the grouting between your bathroom tiles.
Use a disinfectant to clean your bathroom floors at the beginning and end of each day.
Soft Furnishing Germs
Due to the nature of germs, your soft furnishings, curtains and blinds should be steam cleaned and disinfected regularly.
All carpets should be vacuumed and steamed on a regular basis too
Any other hard furnishings (tables, chairs, surfaces, office equipment) should be wiped down after each use with disinfectant.
Office Floor Germs
Every floor is breeding ground for germs carried on the soles of our shoes, so make sure they are regularly cleaned with an eco-friendly mix of water and detergent (we use FreshClean to reduce the harm on the environment in more ways than you could believe)
Office Pet Germs
We would not recommend any office allow pets in at the moment, but if that's not possible please make sure everyone washes their hands after petting them or playing with their toys as animals are known to carry a host of germs.
Don't wash their water or food bowls in the same sink or dishwasher as your staff plates and dishes.
Wash your hands thoroughly after disposing of any litter or trays.
Waste Disposal Germs
Swap all your bins to foot pedal bins and bin liners.
Store any full bins outside for collection.
Wash your hands thoroughly after disposing of your waste.
Cleaning Equipment Germs
This may sound ironic, but when you clean you will unwittingly transfer some germs to the cloths, maps, brushes and buckets that you're using, so make sure you remember to wash and disinfect these pieces of equipment once you are done. Disinfect your cloths and brushes with wipes, have two separate buckets when mopping (one for water and detergent and the other for clean rinsing water). And make sure you dispose of everything correctly and efficiently.
No matter what we do, germs are here to stay because there is no way to completely eradicate them from the workplace, nor could anyone be productive in such a sterile environment. However, you can take the easy steps above to stop so many germs accumulating and spreading. And if you really want to keep on top of things and keep everyone that enters your premises happier than that bloke Larry, you can always call us today for a free quote that's tailored to your wants and needs.
Thanks for reading! For more information, advice or helpful hacks, come and follow us on LinkedIn. Thanks again.
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