How Many People Have Touched That Table Since It Was Cleaned?

The pandemic continues to influence and shape the office environment, even with COVID-19 now considered “endemic” in the U.S. Most workplaces have been back in the office for a year or more, but new cleaning regimens, like disinfecting and cleaning conference rooms and other common areas, seem to be here to stay.

 

One reason is that a growing number of offices have moved to a hybrid work schedule, where employees work in the office some days and remotely other days. In response, many companies have been able to downsize their office space and save money by having employees share workspace on alternating days to fit more workers into a smaller office. With fewer desks needed, companies have been able to expand their meeting or collaborative areas to encourage workers to take full advantage of face-to-face time in the office.

 

Of course, any time people congregate in a conference room or meeting space there is the possibility that they could spill or drop something or forget papers and other items – and unintentionally leave a distracting mess that the next group will either have to clean up or ignore so they can focus on their own meeting.

 

Additionally, the more people who use the room, the more hands will be touching the table – the very table where you and a few colleagues might be planning to have a working lunch. And germs plus food equals sickness!

 

More People Sharing Smaller Spaces

 

The combination of more people in smaller spaces is why the demand for professional cleaners like Office Pride Commercial Cleaning Services remains at an all-time high. Conference rooms, office kitchens, restrooms and other common areas are the front lines for waging war on all kinds of viruses that could make a good chunk of your staff sick. Janitorial services, commercial cleaning and disinfecting services are the keys to keeping your team healthy and productive.

 

Exactly which services you need, and how often you need them, depends largely on your office schedule. If you have two teams that work in the office two days per week, for example, you may want to contract with a professional cleaning team to at least clean and disinfect the office between those groups coming into the office to prevent one group sharing germs with the other.

 

In the conference or meeting rooms, your professional cleaning crew will empty trash cans, wipe down tables, vacuum or mop floors and rugs, dust furniture, ensure chairs are free of debris or crumbs and wipe down any large screens or whiteboards. (Make sure you take photos of any notes that you may have left on the board before the cleaners come.)

 

Keeping Rooms Tidy Between Cleanings

 

If your conference rooms are used frequently throughout the day, even daily cleanings may not be enough. Between visits from your cleaning crew, here are some simple tips to keep high-traffic rooms tidy.

 

Ask teams using the conference rooms to follow this checklist:

• Remove any clutter.
• Return electronic devices, remote controls, keyboards, coasters and other items to where they belong.
• Clean up any spilled food or drinks.
• Empty the trash can if it contains any food or food containers that may invite ants or other pests to move in.
• Wipe down the table as a courtesy to the next group. Household sanitizing wipes are safe to use on any hard surfaces and most finished wood surfaces.

 

A clean and neat meeting or conference room can help your team focus on the work at hand and stay healthy. To learn more about all of the cleaning services Office Pride offers in your area, please check out our franchise locations and call your nearest franchise location to request a free custom quote for all your cleaning, sanitizing and disinfecting needs.