Traditionally people clean and prepare their homes for the arrival of the new year. But what about your workplace? There is nothing more motivating than returning to a fresh and spotless office to give you the boost you need in the first days of January. Here are some fun and useful ideas from our Oxford experts which will both save you money and keep your staff’s holiday spirit.
Organise a Cleaning Day
In the last working days of the old year, everybody is feeling festive and let’s be honest the productivity levels are quite low. Why don’t you use this time smart and organise a couple of cleaning events? Let your employees do their most urgent tasks until noon and use the rest of the day to prepare the office spaces for the next year. This technique is especially useful for small companies with fewer employees. You don’t have to hire a professional cleaning company and at the same time, you keep your staff occupied. It is definitely a win-win strategy.
Remember to Throw the Trash
Do not leave anything bad, and negative from the old year transfer to the new one. This includes office litter as well. Aside from the superstitious believes leaving your rubbish bin full during the holidays can result in a smelly situation once you get back to work. You need to speak with your employees and inform them that everybody must empty their bins at the end of the last working day. Don’t forget to check the common and kitchen areas for leftover food or other waste.
Last Minute Disinfection
According to our commercial cleaning experts, one of the biggest mistakes people make during the winter season in Oxford is to be negligent when it comes to disinfection. There may be snow outside but this doesn’t mean germs can’t infest your office. Before you lock the place for one last time this year make sure the following surfaces are properly wiped and sanitised:
- Desk phones
- Computer accessories – monitor, mouse, keyboard
- Office laptops
- Coffee machines
- Water dispensers
Clean the Kitchen Area
It is vital to properly clean your community kitchen as here is where mould and mildew can grow the fastest. It is advisable to properly wash and sanitise all appliances like fridges and microwaves. Leave no food behind as everything will go bad by the time you return to the office. Make a public announcement and inform your employees to remove any other food items from their desks and drawers. You don’t want to end up with a pest infestation in the first week of the new year.
Rely on Professional Help
If you own a bigger business, it will be smarter to hire a local Oxford commercial cleaning company instead of making your employees clean. Why pay extra hours when you can get the job done by professionals? However, be very careful when you pick your cleaners as the holidays are the perfect time for scammers to attack. If you want to be sure you are booking the correct company follow these rules:
- Check their website and Facebook page.
- See if they are registered in Yelp or Trustpilot.
- Read customer reviews.
- Search for pictures of their previous jobs.
- Do not be too trusting and always try to gather as much information as you can before hiring professional commercial cleaners.
Additional Preparations
Depending on how long you are planning to celebrate, you might want to make some additional arrangements to keep your office tidy and organised.
- Water your office plants.
- Clean the air vents and put the AC on low but don’t switch it off completely.
- Dust your IT storage room and check if everything is working properly.
- If you don’t have a security guard, make sure to do a final check of your office before you lock it up.
Now leave your worries behind and go celebrate!