Think about a place you often frequent where millions of bacteria lurk. We could bet that the first thing that comes to your mind is the bathroom. Well, it’s wrong! In fact, some studies have shown that a place populated by many bacteria is the office. So let’s see the truth about office cleaning and how to face it by identifying which are the places where the greatest number of bacteria lurk.
- The importance of a clean office environment
- The top 5 places bacteria hide in the office
- Office cleaning tips
- Comac equipment designed for office cleaning
- A clean office boosts productivity and well-being
The importance of a clean office environment
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have all become more aware and attentive to the hygiene and cleanliness of the environments. Here on The Comac Blog we have already talked many times about how sanitization has become the new normal, a procedure that is now fully integrated into regular cleaning operations. New habits have entered our lives, such as the use of masks and frequent hand washing. But we must not let our guard down, especially in environments where we feel safe because we have always frequented them and for many hours during the day.
Office dirt: some real data
To understand the truth about office cleaning we must analyze some real data on dirt found in this environment. To do this, we mention a study carried out in the United States according to which the typical office desk is home to more than 10 million bacteria, 400 times more than germs found on a toilet seat. Furthermore, as per the report of the Italian National Institute of Health on Covid-19, the persistence time of SARS-CoV-2 on plastic surfaces can reach up to 72 hours. It seems impossible, but if we stop for a moment to think about the typical office desk, and we take the keyboard as an example, we immediately notice its material: it is made from soft-touch porous plastic so your finger won’t slip. For this reason, we can never underestimate the importance of cleaning, even in environments that seem “safe” to us.
The top 5 places bacteria hide in the office
Before giving you some advice on how to face office cleaning, it is important to understand which are the places where the greatest number of bacteria is hidden. Being aware of which are the dirtiest spots in your office allows you to pay more attention. This is helpful both in the management of cleaning operations and in improving the life of people working in the office.
So let’s see the top 5 places where the greatest number of bacteria hide in the office:
- Desks, in particular on the keyboard, mouse and telephone. But on the chair also! These are everyday objects often made of porous plastic, and therefore a perfect environment for the proliferation of germs and bacteria.
- Carpets. They are a barrier to dirt and dust and therefore a place where a lot of bacteria are found.
- Buttons, from the one for switching on the lights, to that of the elevator or those of the photocopier. They are pressed by many people and we cannot be sure that everyone has clean and sanitized hands.
- Door and window handles. As with the buttons, the handles are also a high-contact surface and therefore with the greatest possibility of finding bacteria.
- Everyday objects such as coffee machines, refrigerators, microwaves an so on.
Some office cleaning tips
Now that we know the truth about office cleaning, it’s time for us to give you some tips to understand how to face it:
- Thoroughly clean before proceeding with sanitizing. We say it often, and we will never stop doing it: starting with a thorough cleaning is essential to make sanitizing operations effective.
- Organize cleaning operations. Make sure you have a custom calendar for your office with a daily, weekly and monthly cleaning checklist. Ask cleaning professionals to create the perfect cleaning routine for your office.
- Wash your hands frequently and try to promote this good practice within the office and the company. Furthermore, it is also important to always have a sanitizing gel nearby.
- Raise people awareness about the importance of proper cleaning and disinfection of the desk. This also helps to keep the office in order while improving the environment in which people work for many hours.
- Do not underestimate floors: from those in the office to those in archives or bathrooms without forgetting the carpets. Cleaning also starts from the floor since bags or backpacks placed on floors often end up on desks.
Essential tools for office cleaning: Comac’s offer
Using the right equipment is essential to better deal with the cleaning tasks in an office. Comac is aware of this and tries to meet the needs of each environment by offering cleaning and sanitizing solutions that always guarantee professional results.
For office cleaning, a range of small-sized floor scrubbers is available. These super compact scrubbing machines have been designed to bring the advantages of mechanized floor cleaning even in narrow spaces.
In addition, for sanitizing operations Comac has the Sanitizer range that includes professional solutions to effectively and quickly sanitize floors and vertical surfaces. Comac E-Spray sanitizing gun, for example, is the daily ally for sanitizing offices, desks and high-contact points such as doors, handles or handrails.
The range of Comac’s professional vacuum cleaners has been completely renewed. These vacuums are compact and easy to transport to offer the highest suction quality not only on walkable surfaces but also on chairs, armchairs and sofas. Some models can be equipped with a HEPA filter to capture even particles invisible to the human eye such as mites, molds, pollen, allergens, spores and bacteria.
Comac’s offer also includes Carpet, ideal for deep cleaning and removing stains and dirt on textile coverings, upholstery, padding and carpets.
A clean office boosts workplace productivity and well-being
The truth about office cleaning is that unfortunately it is sometimes underestimated. To face it in the best possible way, it is necessary to have the right knowledge and equipment. Moreover, it is important to engage people who live and work in this environment to maintain order and cleanliness. This is because a clean office brings two great benefits:
- It allows to contrast the risk of contagion, not only related to Sars-Cov virus but also for the common flu. Therefore, it helps to reduce absenteeism due to infectious illness.
- It boosts workplace productivity and therefore the well-being of people who spend a lot of time in the office. And in this sense it also improves the image of the company itself.
So, we are talking about health, which is why cleaning in offices, and in workplaces in general, is not a joke. Always rely on qualified professionals, updated on innovative cleaning and sanitizing techniques and equipped with professional machines. For any advice regarding the best cleaning solutions feel free to contact us, a worldwide network of authorized Comac distributors is waiting for you.
This post is also available in: Italian