Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) now requires all companies to ensure cleanliness of workplace premises as part of their Safe Management Measures Plan. Companies can choose to carry out the cleaning themselves or consider outsourcing the cleaning job to a professional cleaning company. Either ways, here are some simple guidelines on must-dos to ensure proper office cleaning is carried out.
5 Office Cleaning Must-Dos
1. Maintain Personal Hygiene
Make sure that the individual carrying out the cleaning at your office monitors their temperature regularly or at least twice a day
Wears a mask
Covers their mouth with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and dispose of the soiled tissue paper in the rubbish bin immediately. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water
Practice good toilet habits (e.g. flush toilets after use)
Practice good personal hygiene (e.g. wash hands with soap and water before and after meals, after handling refuse or other dirty items, and after visiting the toilet)
Use gloves when carrying out cleaning work and handling waste
Refrain from touching their exposed body parts such as eyes, nose, face, and arms with soiled gloves or unwashed hands
2. Vacuuming and Mopping of Floor Surfaces
The assigned individual or cleaner must pay special attention to frequently touched surfaces in the office such as door handles, switches, arm rests, table surfaces, computers etc.
Make sure these areas are disinfected frequently throughout the day. Ideally or at minimum, once in the morning on arrival at the office, once before lunch, once after lunch and once before leaving the office
Consider the chemicals that you use to clean and disinfect your office
To find out more about the Interim List of Household Products and Active Ingredients for Surface Disinfection of the COVID-19 Virus, visit the NEA website:
3. Disinfectant Frequently Touched Surfaces
Make sure you have a working vacuum cleaner that has a powerful enough suction to suck up all the dust mites and particles on carpeted floor surfaces
If your colleagues are sensitive to noise from the vacuum cleaner, consider a vacuum cleaner that is also a silent performer, or choose to carry out vacuuming at the start or end of day when people traffic at the office is light
Make sure your cleaner knows how to take care and maintain the vacuum cleaner properly, especially when it comes to timely replacement of the vacuum cleaner bag
When mopping floor surfaces, dilute the cleaning chemical according to the chemical and water ratio, as per the chemical manufacturer product guidelines
Safety comes first. So be sure to display wet floor warning signages when carrying out mopping of floor surfaces
4. Pantry Maintenance
Cleaning, and food and drinks maintenance usually work hand-in-hand when it comes to pantry maintenance
First, clean the pantry area surface tops with a separate cloth since food and drinks are involved
Then, wash and dry all food and drink utensils such as cups and bottles
Remember to replenish water, beverages and food items as required by the office
Do a monthly spot check and clean out of the refrigerator. The last thing you want is for expired food items and mold in the fridge
If there is a microwave oven, don’t forget to give it a wipe down from all the food splatters inside the microwave
5. Emptying Wastepaper Baskets
Individual wastepaper baskets should be emptied out on a daily basis, particularly if food and drink items are being disposed into them
Alternatively, if you want to reduce legwork for your cleaner, then get everyone in the office to dispose food and drink waste into a centralized bin
Tie refuse contained in plastic bags properly before disposal at the bin center. Clean up any refuse spillage immediately
Make sure your cleaner is familiar with the bin center location so that you don’t get chased down by your building management officer for improper disposal of rubbish
After completing the above 5 steps, check that all cleaning equipment and tools are returned to their proper storage places. Last but not least, wash hands thoroughly for good hygiene.
Cleaning your office may sound simpler than it really is, and can be an unnecessary distraction for companies. That is why many businesses choose to hire a professional cleaning company instead. To learn more or get a free quote, contact Complete Services at 6227 6515 or [email protected] today.
