How Clean is Your Business? Six Habits of Spotless Companies

If yours is like most businesses, your workplace appears relatively clean at first glance. Things seem tidy and uncluttered, and most surfaces are free of dirt or dust. Simply put, there is nothing conspicuously unclean about your company. But there is also nothing noticeably clean about it, either.

You might consider things clean enough. But can ‘clean enough’ ever be good enough these days?

In a pandemic-focused world, those working in or visiting your business are looking for assurances that your space is clean and sanitary. But, whereas an orderly office reflects disciplined neatness, a sparkling workspace gives a squeaky-clean, healthy impression.

With that in mind, here are six habits that the cleanest companies follow that set their work environments apart from others.

Habit 1: They keep their floors immaculately clean.

Your building’s floors are often the first thing visitors notice. Dull or discolored hard-surface flooring and stained or worn carpet can negatively influence your building’s image. On the other hand, shiny, pristine floors make a favorable initial impression.

Stopping dirt at entrances is the first step to keeping floors clean. Placing floor mats at every door, indoors and out, will help keep people from tracking in outside elements.

Routine wet mopping and vacuuming will keep dirt off your floors. But that’s not enough. Regularly scheduled professional floor care is needed to protect hard surfaces from discoloration, wax build-up, peeling, and scratches and keep carpets looking and smelling clean.

Habit 2: They clean their glass doors and windows often.

Before visitors enter your business, your building’s glass doors and windows make a statement. Grimy or fingerprint-smudged doors and dirty windows indicate that your company has little concern about its image or the comfort of its clients.

Washing glass usually involves scrubbing the surface with a wet sponge and cleaning solution and using a squeegee to remove the water. Drying the squeegee between passes will help prevent streaking, and wiping around window edges with a soft cloth will keep water spots from forming.

PRO TIP: Squeegee up and down on one side of the window and left and right on the other. Then, if any streaks form, their direction will indicate whether they’re outside or inside.

Over time, built-up dirt can etch into a window’s glass, causing permanent scratches and costly damage. Spotless companies thoroughly clean their windows—inside and out—monthly and spray-and-wipe fingerprints and smudges at least weekly.

Habit 3: They manage their trash effectively.

According to the EPA, the average American produces almost five pounds of trash each day—much of it at work. Multiply that by the number of employees in your company, and you have a lot of trash to manage.

Whether it’s discarded paperwork, cardboard packing materials, empty coffee cups, or leftover food, your business produces garbage that can quickly pile up and overrun your workspace. In many cases, you can set up a recycling program for much of your company’s trash.

While waste management companies provide outdoor dumpster rentals with regularly scheduled pickup, someone needs to collect the trash from individual work areas. Professional office cleaners typically make internal trash collection part of every scheduled visit.

Habit 4: They disinfect their buildings regularly.

There has never been a more critical time to keep businesses free of bacteria, viruses, mold, allergens, and odors. Electrostatic disinfectant spraying has been proven effective in killing germs and bacteria and is safe to use around people. The EPA has approved electrostatic disinfectant spraying for use against the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Electrostatic spraying is bleach-free, phosphate-free, free of harsh chemicals and skin irritants, and hypo-allergenic. It kills mold and mildew at the source and can prevent mold regrowth on tile and other building materials for up to seven months.

Habit 5: They set company-wide expectations.

Spotless businesses make cleanliness a part of their company cultures. As a result, they hold each other accountable for keeping their work environments clean. Everyone has a role to play, whether it’s keeping individual desks and workstations uncluttered or helping to maintain a germ-free kitchen.

Habit 6: They establish and follow a cleaning schedule.

Depending on the cleaning duty, the cleanest businesses follow regular schedules—such as vacuuming daily, cleaning windows monthly, or steam cleaning carpeting quarterly. The best professional cleaning services can customize a program that meets your company’s specific needs. What’s more, they can often provide their services for less cost than your internal staff.