Five Areas in Your Office That Need Regular Cleaning

When people think of office cleaning, they usually picture empty bins and mopped floors. Those matter, but the areas that most affect hygiene are often the ones that get overlooked. Here are five places in your workplace that deserve regular attention.

1. The kitchenette

The office kitchen sees a lot of traffic and not much ownership. Fridges fill up with forgotten lunches, microwave interiors get splattered, and the sponge by the sink can harbour bacteria.

Clean the sink, counters and tap handles daily. Wipe the kettle and the microwave handle, and clear out the fridge weekly. Set a simple rule, such as removing everything from the fridge every Friday afternoon.

2. Desks and shared equipment

Desks collect dust, crumbs and germs. Keyboards, mice, phones and shared printers are touched constantly, but they rarely get cleaned.

Encourage a clear-desk routine, so that surfaces can be wiped properly. Check with your cleaning team about how electronics will be handled, as liquids and harsh products can damage them.

3. Door handles, switches and lift buttons

These small surfaces are touched by almost everyone. If someone comes in with a cold, this is where it can spread. High-touch points should be wiped at least once a day, and more often during flu season. Our disinfection and sanitization service focuses on them.

4. Washrooms

A washroom shapes how clients and staff feel about your business. Beyond the obvious, pay attention to:

• Taps, flush handles and door locks
• Soap dispensers and hand dryers
• Grout, floor drains and bins
• Ceiling vents, which gather dust

Busy washrooms may need checking more than once a day. Keep hygiene supplies stocked, as empty soap dispensers defeat the purpose.

5. Carpets, chairs and reception seating

Fabric surfaces trap dust, skin flakes and smells. Even when they look clean, they may not be. Vacuum carpets frequently and schedule professional carpet and upholstery cleaning at least once or twice a year. Do not forget your reception seating, because that is where your clients sit.

Honourable mentions

• Air vents and fan blades
• Meeting room tables and whiteboard trays
• Window sills and blinds
• Stairwell handrails
• Bin interiors

A simple checklist

Build these areas into your routine:

• Daily: washrooms, kitchenette, handles, switches and bins
• Weekly: desks, meeting rooms, fridges and glass
• Monthly: vents, blinds, skirting and furniture legs
• Twice a year: carpets, chairs and high-level dusting

Make cleaning everyone's business

Your cleaners cannot do it all. Provide bins and sanitizer in the right places, and give staff clear responsibilities for their desks. Choose one person to liaise with your cleaning team.

Do not forget shared technology

Meeting room screens, conference phones, remote controls and shared tablets are touched by many people, and they are rarely cleaned. Wipe them with a suitable screen cloth or an electronics-safe product. Turn the devices off first, and never spray liquid directly onto them. Printer buttons and access card readers should also be part of the plan.

Think about what visitors see

Take the route that a client takes, from the car park to your meeting room. Look at the entrance mat, the lift, the reception desk and the washroom. Sit in the visitor's chair and notice what you can see from there. Marked walls, dying plants, full bins and dusty blinds tend to stand out from this angle. A short monthly walk-through is one of the simplest ways to improve how your office looks.

Frequently asked questions

How often should office washrooms be cleaned?

At least once a day, and more often in busy offices. Busy washrooms benefit from a check during the day to refill soap and paper and to handle any problems.

Who should clean personal desks?

Agree this with your staff. Cleaners can wipe clear surfaces, but staff should keep their desks tidy and lock away their documents.

Are disinfectant wipes safe for keyboards?

Check the manufacturer's advice. Generally, wipes should only be slightly damp, and the device should be switched off first.

How can we reduce smells in the office kitchen?

Empty the bin daily, clean the microwave after use, clear the fridge weekly and open a window where possible.

How do we start a cleaning plan?

List your areas, decide how often each needs attention and ask a cleaning company to walk through the office with you.

Need a cleaning routine that covers it all? Macky Group offers office cleaning and contract cleaning in Nairobi and Thika. Request a quote today.