As we go into a much more relaxed phase of the pandemic, it’s still vitally important to keep any accessible part of your business clean and tidy. With the risk of spreading and contracting any type of virus, not least Covid-19, this poses separate challenges for cleaning operatives and demands extra attention to that of an individual office workstation.
Communal areas within a business are such places as reception areas, corridors and stairwells, toilets and washing facilities, and kitchens, canteens, and staffrooms. These areas differ greatly according to the type of business, but common considerations are:
- The amount of footfall; there is likely to be far more traffic than individual areas.
- Lack of responsibility; these areas are often overlooked when assigning responsibility for cleanliness and cleaning.
- The germ factor; with more people using communal areas, the risks of infection are far higher and are hotspots for breeding germs.
So how can communal cleaning be streamlined to ensure a smooth and safe process? Here are some considerations to bear in mind when cleaning communal areas within any type of premises:
Tackling Touch Points
As stated already, communal areas are a breeding ground for all kinds of germs, viruses, and bacteria simply because of the amount of people passing through every day. But toilets and washrooms really do need regular cleaning; daily, if possible, because they are probably the most frequently used in the entire building. Although reception areas have their fair share of visitors, most staff will use the bathrooms at least twice a day, if not more.
Touch point cleaning isn’t restricted to the loos though! These are the places that are touched frequently although you wouldn’t necessarily think they’re unclean, and can include:
- Keys
- Doorknobs and handles
- Remote controls
- Phones
- Keyboards and other IT equipment
- Light switches
- Plugs and electric sockets
- Counter tops and desks
- Kitchen appliance handles
- Bannisters and handrails
- Lift buttons
All of these need regular cleaning and disinfecting to avoid spreading germs and bacteria around your premises.
Systemise
There needs to be a system in place to ensure the cleanliness and hygiene standards needed within a business are met. The simplest way to achieve this would be to engage the services of a professional cleaning contractor; they will have expert knowledge in cleaning as well as access to professional grade equipment and products.
However, if you employ a cleaning service who only visit once or twice a week, then there need to be guidelines about the level of cleanliness in between visits, and processes in place where employees can report issues when they see them.
Delegate Responsibility
Communal areas can often fall into ‘no man’s land’ with no one person being responsible for their upkeep. Standards can slip, issues can go unreported, and supplies can run out with nobody overseeing them.
Most employees are happy to take responsibility for keeping their own personal office space clean and tidy, but when so many people use communal areas, there needs to be a nominated person that will undertake daily monitoring. Furthermore, a reporting system enables issues to be dealt with, ensuring standards are maintained.
This doesn’t mean that the maintenance of communal areas should fall solely on that person’s shoulders though. You may have many areas which could be delegated to staff, putting one person in charge of each. This will ensure the monitoring of every part of your premises by several different staff members.
But when all is said and done, when it comes to keeping your workplace clean and sanitary, our best advice is to hire the professionals. If you are looking for a trusted cleaning company who offer a consistently high quality service, contact us for a free no obligation quotation.
