With offices across the Chicagoland area beginning to reopen, the focus shifts to how each workplace will handle their cleaning and disinfecting protocols. As we navigate through this ongoing pandemic, having a thorough and effective office cleaning plan in place is essential for the safety and well-being of employees and visitors alike. While taking necessary precautions during this time is crucial, it’s also important to recognize the additional benefits that come with regular office cleaning. In this article, we will delve into those advantages and provide guidance on creating an optimal office cleaning plan for your specific needs and environment.
The top 3 benefits of cleaning your office daily
1. Aesthetics
First impressions are everything. Walking into a clean and organized office can immediately put clients at ease and create a welcoming environment for employees. The gleaming floors, dust-free surfaces, and fresh scent of a well-maintained office are sure to impress anyone who steps through the doors. This attention to cleanliness not only showcases professionalism, but it also reflects a sense of pride in one’s work space. By making regular office cleaning a priority, you are creating an inviting and desirable location where people want to spend their time. It is the perfect balance of function and beauty, leaving a lasting impression on all who enter.
2. Stress-Trigger Reduction
A cluttered workspace can be a breeding ground for distractions and stress, creating a chaotic atmosphere that hinders productivity. Countless studies have delved into the long-term impacts of stress on the human body, revealing a multitude of mental and medical issues that arise, such as depression, fatigue, and insomnia. By neglecting to maintain an organized environment, one not only risks hindering their current work but also their overall well-being.
3. Increased Productivity
A groundbreaking study conducted at the prestigious Princeton University Neuroscience Institute revealed that individuals who meticulously organized their work environment experienced a significant boost in concentration and productivity. Conversely, those who were constantly confronted with visual reminders of clutter and disarray struggled to maintain focus. This groundbreaking research provides strong evidence that a tidy workspace can greatly enhance an employee’s overall efficiency and output.
Your Office Cleaning Plan
Following a Cleaning Checklist will allow you and your cleaning team (in-house or professional cleaning company) to be on the same page on the tasks that need to be done to achieve your cleaning goals.
For Reception, Workspaces, Conference Rooms & Private Offices
The reception area is often the first thing someone sees when they enter the office. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to make a great first impression!
- Begin by dusting the general reception area and spot clean glass surfaces
- Clean and disinfect areas frequently touched surfaces such as electronics, light switches, and door knobs
- Straighten up chairs and accessories / decor
- Empty, clean trash cans and replace liners
- Sweep or vacuum all floors and rugs, mop hard wood or tile floors.
Kitchenette
If you have kitchenette in your office, this area is one that is frequently used and gets dirty throughout the day. Ideally, you would want everyone to clean up after themselves to keep the area clean throughout the day. However, with the hustle and bustle of the workday, that is not always possible. With that being said, the kitchenette should be cleaned at least once daily at the end of the day.
- Start by loading up the dishwasher or clearing up the sink
- Clean and disinfect the countertops, microwave, small appliances, outside of the refrigerator, and the sink area
- Vacuum or sweep and mop the floors
- Lastly, restocks the community items, take out the trash, and replace the garbage bag
- Clean inside the refrigerator on Fridays (tossing out expired food)
Bathrooms
This is another heavily frequented area that needs daily cleaning and disinfection
- Start by washing the sink and countertops, clean glass surfaces and mirrors, and disinfect all surfaces
- Next, clean and disinfect the entire toilet bowl
- Finally, mop the floors, replenish toiletries, and change the garbage bags
What cleaning supplies do you need to clean your office?
Investing in high-quality and efficient cleaning supplies and equipment will save you pain and money in the long run. Not all cleaners and equipment are created equal so it’s important to educate yourself about the options available in the market and what will be the best fit for your cleanliness goals.
When hiring a Cleaning Company, ask if they will provide the cleaning supplies or equipment or if you need to buy them.
Cleaners
Store-bought traditional cleaners- Most of them contain toxic ingredients and perfumes that will decrease your air quality, may hurt your skin and eyes and leave streaks. You can find them in the grocery or home improvement stores.
Janitorial cleaners- Difficult to use since they need to be diluted in specific ratios, may decrease your air quality and hurt your skin. Unless you’re a professional cleaner trained in dilution and application, you risk damaging your surfaces. You can order them online or through a Janitorial Store.
Non-Toxic Professional Cleaners- Versatile cleaning products with high-quality natural ingredients that will maintain your indoor air quality and work efficiently without hurting your skin or eyes.
Disinfectants
- Select and EPA approved disinfectant for extra protection.
- Lean towards biodegradable and odor-free disinfectants vs traditional ones or bleach.
- Read throughly their use instructions making sure that it’s safe to use in all surfaces to avoid any issues
- Check on the suggested contact time that the product needs to disinfect the surface.
Equipment
Microfiber Cloths- Premium microfiber cleaning cloths will do a more efficient job and have a longer life than cheap cloths. There are specialized cloths for each type of tasks, color-coded and labeled. You can get them in bulk here and wash them once a week.
Paper Towels- Get tree-free paper towels to reduce your carbon footprint (mostly used to clean the toilet).
Gloves- Choose reusable gloves over disposable ones for better protection and longer life. Get at least 2 colors of gloves, one color to clean the kitchenette and the other for the bathrooms (you don’t want to mix them).
Toilet brush- Basic staple in every bathroom
Duster- Microfiber dusters with washable covers for a more sustainable cleaning that will save you hundreds of dollars per year.
Mop- Avoid string mops (they’re extremely dirty and messy) or mops that only work with single-use pads. Invest in a professional flat mop with a 18″ head (minimum) that fits microfiber pads. It’s not only sustainable but the most efficient way to really clean your floors.
Vacuum- Invest in a highly-rated commercial backpack vacuum with HEPA filtration to get rid of allergens and viruses (recommended by CDC). Household vacuums don’t do the best job cleaning office spaces and you’ll take double the time vacuuming with a huge back pain compared to using an ergonomic backpack vacuum.
How much does an Office Cleaning Service cost?
Most cleaning services offer a fixed price by square footage and only a few offer a tiered pricing structure. This typically means you can choose between their basic, standard, and premium packages. The more premium the package, the more services are included.
Every company will have different pricing models with some companies being cheaper than others. Although everyone loves a good deal, many customers have reported to receiving lower quality service when making decisions based on affordability. As a customer, you must ask yourself what is more important to you and your business: cheaper service or a job well-done?
Pricing Structure
Square Footage Pricing
Traditional commercial cleaning companies price their services based only on square footage and offer a one-size fits all kind of model. This does not consider the needs of each individual office including the number of workstations or bathrooms each office has.
These companies offer very low rates which can result in employees rushing services and sacrificing quality for speed as they are cleaning several office spaces during one shift. The rushed service often only include a quick wipe down of common surfaces, and taking out the garbage.
The average cost of these services ranges between $0.10 – 0.20/sq. ft. and their typical cleaning tasks look like these:
- Quick vacuum
- Quick wipe common surfaces (kitchenette and bathrooms)
- Take out the garbage
Since it’s a low-cost service, the supplies used to clean your office will be on the toxic side (Pinesol, Fabuloso, Windex, Bleach) with lots of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) floating on the air that your team will breath the next morning. Some of those products can even damage your surfaces, so don’t be surprised by finding streaky floors or a ruined monitor wiped with window cleaner.
If that’s not all, after some time, you’ll notice an accumulation of dust since the short time of service doesn’t allow the crew to be detailed (remember, the same team cleans multiple offices on the same night) so expect to invest in a supplementary cleaning service that comes to Deep Clean on a monthly basis.
Tiered Pricing (recommended)
Contrary to traditional cleaning services, modern office cleaning companies take into account various factors when pricing their services. They understand that each space is unique and requires a tailored approach. Factors such as square footage, number of workstations, bathrooms, kitchenette size, conference rooms and private offices are all considered as they directly impact the time and cost of the service. These details are crucial to providing an accurate and fair price for their clients’ specific needs. No longer a one-size-fits-all approach, these companies value the importance of customization and attention to detail in their services.
There are great things about having a tiered pricing structure:
You can start with a high-quality basic plan and escalate into more complete plans as you grow.
The best feature is the benefit of having rotating schedules where high-traffic areas are cleaned on every service and low-traffic areas are cleaned on a rotating basis (3x/week, 2x/week or 1x/week)
Includes a defined amount of hours per week.
Their tiered pricing structure starts at $30/hr per cleaner and looks like these:
Basic Plan
- Vacuuming every day
- Mopping 2x/week
- Cleaning workstations 2x/week
- Spot Cleaning glass doors every day
- Full Cleaning of bathrooms and kitchenette every day
- Cleaning inside the refrigerator on Fridays
- Take of trash and recycle every day
Standard Plan
- Vacuuming every day
- Mopping 3x/week
- Cleaning workstations 3x/week
- Spot Cleaning glass doors every day
- Full Cleaning of bathrooms and kitchenette every day
- Cleaning inside the refrigerator on Fridays
- Take of trash and recycle every day
Pro Plan
- Vacuuming every day
- Mopping every day
- Full Cleaning of workstations every day
- Full Cleaning of glass doors every day
- Full Cleaning of bathrooms and kitchenette every day
- Cleaning inside the refrigerator on Fridays
- Take of trash and recycle every day
- What are some of the pricing variables?
With the guidance of a skilled Cleaning Expert, you can craft a personalized Checklist tailored to your office’s specific needs. This versatile tool allows for the addition and removal of Cleaning Tasks based on the unique events and activities taking place in your workspace. No matter what comes your way, you’ll be prepared with a perfectly suited cleaning plan at your disposal.
Here are some examples of add-ons to your service:
- Post-Construction or Renovation Cleaning
- Moving-in or Moving-out Cleaning
- COVID-19 Disinfection Cleaning
- After Party or Event Cleaning
- Deep Cleaning- Seasonal, after a major repair in the office or a deep cleaning of storage room, cabinets, closets, etc.
- Window Cleaning
- Decluttering
Why should I hire an Office Cleaning Service?
As an employer, it is your responsibility to create a comprehensive plan for regular office cleaning. The health and safety of your employees should be a top priority. In these uncertain times, it is crucial to follow regulations and guidelines to ensure a clean and safe workplace for those returning to the office during the pandemic. Don’t underestimate the importance of maintaining a sanitary environment – it can make all the difference in keeping your team healthy and productive. Remember, cleanliness is not just about appearances, but about creating a space that promotes well-being and productivity.
Neglecting to adhere to these regulations can result in substantial penalties. If handling this responsibility internally makes you uncomfortable, there are reputable local office cleaning companies that are equipped to handle it for you.
Detail Cleaning M&M offers a wide range of services including Regular Office Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, Moving Cleaning, Post-Construction Office Cleaning, and thorough COVID-19 Sanitization Services. Our services are available in Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, and Plainfield. We take pride in using our specially formulated and 100% Natural Cleaning Products which are infused with pure essential oils. In addition to our extensive detoxifying office cleaning services, we are also a certified COVID-19 Disinfection Office Cleaning Company.
Imagine partnering with a Professional Office Cleaning Service that is reliable and trustworthy. Take the first step by requesting an Office Cleaning Quote today!