The Top 6 Dirtiest Areas in Your Office

Posted on January 23, 2024

It’s no secret that a clean office is crucial for both employee health and productivity. However, even the most diligent office managers and business owners can overlook the grime lurking in the corners of their workplace. Moreover, certain areas in the office tend to harbor more germs than others. 

If you’ve been struggling with a consistently dirty office and don’t know where to begin, this guide highlights the top six dirtiest areas in an office that require a keen eye and regular cleaning. 

1. Entrance and Reception Areas 

Your entrance and reception areas are the first touchpoints for employees, clients, and visitors entering your office. Despite their welcoming appearance, these spaces often harbor more germs than meets the eye.  Carpets and rugs by your entrances are prime locations where dirt brought in on shoes, wheels, and even carried through the air. Meanwhile, door handles, reception desks, and even corridors can keep spreading dirt and germs throughout your office.  Given the amount of debris and dirt tracked into the entrance area, floors must be vacuumed and mopped regularly. Frequently touched surfaces must also be sanitized several times a day. 

2. The Office Kitchen and Break Rooms 

Office kitchens and break rooms can become a hub for grime and germs more quickly than other areas because they’re communal spaces where food is handled and stored. Surfaces like the microwave keypad, the refrigerator handle, coffee makers, and the water cooler buttons are touched by numerous hands throughout the day. Besides this, crumbs can also make their way into the crevices of chairs and tables, while spills can go unattended on countertops. Having professional office cleaners who can deep clean your kitchen and break rooms regularly ensures all surfaces that might be overlooked during daily upkeep are thoroughly cleaned. 

3. Restrooms

The restrooms in your workplace are used by multiple people throughout the day, which means that every surface, from doorknobs to faucet handles, can become a transfer point for germs. Moreover, waste bins that are not emptied regularly can cause odors and attract pests. Encouraging good hygiene among your team not only promotes a healthier work environment but also contributes to the overall cleanliness of your restrooms. It also helps to keep these places stocked with soap, hand sanitizer, and paper towels. Ultimately, establish a regular and thorough cleaning routine to ensure all surfaces are cleaned and sanitized. 

4. Personal Workspaces 

Personal workspaces, where your employees spend most of their time, can be among the dirtiest parts of your office. Desks can harbor more bacteria than an average office toilet seat due to food consumption at workstations and infrequent cleaning habits. Keyboards and mice, which receive constant contact with your employees’ hands, can also quickly accumulate dirt and grime.  Mandating a clean-desk policy and making employees responsible for keeping their workspaces tidy and clutter-free are ways to facilitate more manageable and thorough cleaning. However, this may not be enough. Hiring professional office cleaning services to perform deep cleaning regularly ensures that all areas, including personal desks, are cleaned effectively. 

5. Conference Rooms 

Regular meetings can leave behind more than just paperwork. Surfaces like table tops and presentation remotes see a variety of hands, while different individuals touch chairs and doorknobs throughout the day.  Besides encouraging personal responsibility for cleanliness among your employees, implement a daily cleaning routine to address dirt and grime buildup as soon as possible. Surfaces that come into frequent contact with hands should be wiped down at the end of each day.  

6. Office Equipment 

Office phones and headsets are high-touch items that rarely see a thorough cleaning. Over time, they collect oils from our skin, dust particles, and germs from every cough and sneeze. Meanwhile, printers and copiers are devices shared by everyone and touched frequently throughout the day. Implementing a regular cleaning schedule is one of the simplest yet most effective strategies to ensure a hygienic office. This should include daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to keep your office equipment clean and functioning correctly. 

Keep Your Workplace Looking Sharp With the Expertise of Professional Office Cleaners

While these areas are notoriously dirty, maintaining a clean and healthy office is achievable. By recognizing the problem zones in your workplace and cleaning them with smart strategies, you can say goodbye to a dirty office and keep your Upstate New York business looking fresh. 

However, standard cleaning routines performed by in-house cleaning staff may not be enough. That’s where professional office cleaners come in. Companies like JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting specialize in business office cleaning and have the supplies, expertise, equipment, techniques, and dedication to handle the intricate task of keeping your workplace impeccably clean and hygienic. 

Let JAN-PRO Cleaning & Disinfecting, a trusted name for business office cleaning in Upstate NY, make it easier for you to keep your workplace looking its best. Call (585) 678-8332 to speak with a certified cleaning franchisee near you or schedule your free estimate today!.