Is your office damaging your health?

The cleanliness of your office should be a priority. Not only does it meet health and safety regulations, but a clean and tidy environment is welcoming

Studies show that employees are 94 per cent more productive when in a clean and clutter-free working environment, and 77 per cent witnessed an improvement in the quality of work.

The Cleanology team breaks down the most common unclean areas in an office that can impact your health and why deep cleaning is essential.

Their findings showed that the most common unclean areas of an office are ones where multiple people come into contact:

1. Keyboards/Mouse- Infrequent cleaning and frequent contact causes bacteria to increase.
2. Desk surfaces- Frequent contact causes bacteria to increase.
3. Kitchen appliance handles- Microwave, fridge, and general door handles can cause contamination from touching and spread other viruses, like salmonella and e-coli, due to contact with food.
4. Bathroom fixtures (toilet seats, faucets, handles)- areas susceptible to bacteria and mould due to frequent contact.
5. Light switches- frequent contact makes them easily dirty and can transfer bacteria quickly.

Studies show that keyboards can harbour around 3000-7000 bacteria per square inch, around 150 times dirtier than a toilet seat. These easily contaminated areas can negatively impact physical health as the bacteria present can put employees at risk of infections, respiratory problems, and a weakened immune system.

These health issues caused by unclean areas can also have social implications for office environments. Therefore, more employees are prone to taking more sick days, weakening companies. Sick days hit their highest in 2023, with an estimated 7.8 sick days per employee compared to the 5.8 recorded pre-COVID. Also, studies show that offices that don’t use deep cleaning services experience an estimated 3-6 more sick days yearly.

Why is deep cleaning essential?

Regularly deep cleaning your office is essential as it can prevent the above health risks from occurring. Deep cleaning provides your office with a fresh and comfortable feel and, through the following methods, can benefit your physical health. Studies show that offices with a regular deep cleaning service can reduce sick days by around 45 per cent annually.

The standard deep cleaning practices you should include for your office are:

• Schedule deep cleaning around once a month for shared spaces and surfaces like desks and carpets
• Disinfect high-contact surfaces daily like keyboards, mice, door handles, bathroom and kitchen
• Clean vents once every 6 months to improve and maintain air quality

Using a quality cleaning service to protect employees’ health is ethical when meeting health and regulation requirements. It will also give offices a safer and more welcoming feel while reaping the benefits of having healthy employees.