Keep Your Office Clean & Professional (10 Tips)

In any business office, it is important to keep the area clean and looking professional. This can certainly be difficult without a strategy in place, but there are a number of tips that can be followed to assist in keeping the office looking great.

1. Filing System

– Having things placed in the correct location will ensure that clutter is kept to a minimum. Since a lot of work is normally done on the computer, paper documents can easily be scanned, which limits the amount of space needed for these documents.

2. Storage of Documents

– If you have archived paper documents, consider storing them off-site to reduce clutter. Even better, go paper-less. You can store your documents online for easy access. Make sure they are backed-up so that the files are never lost.

3. Don’t Eat at the Desk

– While taking a lunch break at the desk may be efficient in some circumstances, it can be quite messy and unprofessional if clients come in and see loose crumbs or wrappers laying around the office. (Office Desks: 400 Times Dirtier Than Toilet Seats)

4. Keep Desks and Counters Clean

– Keep spray bottles of wood and glass cleaner in the office to wipe down dirty and smudge-covered desks and tables. (Office Desks: 400 Times Dirtier Than Toilet Seats)

5. Garbage and Recycling Bins

– There may be different guidelines for recycling and waste disposal. Having the proper trash and recycling containers will help to make this process go smoothly.

6. Cleaning Common Areas

– These areas can become dirty fast. If all employees are responsible for participating in office cleaning, a schedule of when these different areas is cleaned may be useful.

7. Office Plants

– Plants can help liven up an office, but if the plant is shedding leaves, it can look unprofessional to guests. Make sure to water the plants often and pick up fallen leaves. An artificial plant is ideal for people who are looking for something that is maintenance free.

8. Clean Behind Furniture

– Don’t forget to clean around and behind desks and other furniture. Consider a cheap floor vacuum or sweeper to make cleanup quick and easy.

9. Reorganize Work Stations

– Many times, the layout of an office is not efficient. Even in a small office, rearranging furniture and workstations could prove to be more efficient and more visually appealing. Creating more space can make cleaning much easier as well.

10. Put Yourself in the Client’s Shoes

– Walk through the front door and look at your surroundings. Sit in the waiting area. Sit in the chair across from your desk where the client would normally sit. If you view the office as a potential client does, you are sure to see areas that need cleaning or improvement.