Winter makes keeping your office clean a bit tricky. No worries...a winter office cleaning checklist can make things easier! To keep your office neat and healthy during the chilly months, follow the checklist below.

Navigating Winter Cleaning Challenges

1. Keep Germs Away

Winter brings extra challenges with more germs and viruses. That's why it's crucial to disinfect daily, especially in common areas like breakrooms and bathrooms. Here are the Top 20 Hotspots where germs to spread. Make sure to clean these surfaces every day to stop infections and bacteria from spreading, especially if you plan on using these areas for holiday gatherings!

2. Tackle Dirty Floors

Winter weather brings in mud, dirt, and salt, making floors dirty and slippery. Your cleaning crew should sweep, vacuum, and mop floors regularly. Use a solution of warm water and vinegar for in-between cleanings. This helps remove salt, keeping your floors clean and safe.

Creating a mat system can add safety for inhabitants and longevity for floors. Consider 1,500 people can remove up to 42% of a floor’s finish just by entering the building and tracking in debris from their shoes, according to statistics provided by 3M.

3. Freshen Up the Air

Clean air is essential, especially during winter when viruses are more common. Clean grates, vents, and change air filters regularly. Consider using air filtration systems to enhance air quality. Work closely with your HVAC professionals to ensure that heating systems are functioning optimally. Regular maintenance, including changing filters and cleaning ducts, can improve air quality and prevent the circulation of dust and allergens.

Storms can knock out power, requiring the need for generators. Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning when using generators with this safety guide.

4. Disinfect Workspaces

Employee workstations are touchpoints for germs. Some cleaning companies may disinfect desks weekly, but you can also encourage employees to sanitize their own spaces using disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer. This helps prevent the spread of viruses in shared work environments. With 2023-2024 seasonal flu cases trending upwards, the importance of infection prevention is crucial. Cleaning frequently touched items and surfaces like keyboards, doorknobs, and phones on a regular basis can help keep germs at bay and increase worker productivity. Applying a quarterly long-lasting antimicrobial coating to community spaces is an innovative and unobtrusive solution to keep germs at a minimum.

5. Show Windows Some Love

Dirty windows not only make the office look bad but can also block heat from entering. While cleaning the exterior may not be possible every day, keep the insides clean. Focus on ground-level and street-facing windows for a more presentable office. It might take extra effort in winter, but it's worth it.

Check for any drafts or leaks around windows that may compromise the warmth of your office. Properly seal any gaps to improve energy efficiency and create a more comfortable working environment. Additionally, clean both sides of windows to maximize natural light.

6. Dust Regularly

Closed windows during winter trap dirt and dust indoors. Daily dusting of surfaces, window sills, ledges, baseboards, and doors helps maintain a clean and healthy environment. Microparticles can cause coughing and sneezing, so make dusting a regular part of your cleaning routine.

7. Entryway Extra Care

During winter, people might still feel more comfortable wearing masks. Keep a mask box and hand sanitizer at the entryway for guests and employees. A small vacuum cleaner near the entryway helps tackle dirt and debris dragged in during winter, ensuring a cleaner and more comfortable environment.

If your office has outdoor areas, coordinate with landscaping services to manage snow removal and salt application. Keeping the exterior of your office clean and safe is crucial for both employees and visitors.

Conclusion:

Winter poses unique challenges for office cleanliness. Things enter your office during winter that you don't see in other seasons. While it's always important to keep your office clean, it becomes even more crucial in winter.

By incorporating these additional tips into your winter office cleaning checklist, you can create a comprehensive strategy for ensuring a clean, organized, and healthy work environment throughout the colder months.

In Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution when it comes to maintaining all buildings and facilities – each space is unique in it’s own way. From all our historical buildings, steep entrances, and radically fluctuating weather patterns, New England is a challenging place to be a property or facility manager. Not to mention, everyone's budget, wear and tear can vary drastically.

OTHER WINTER CLEANING QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:

1. How do we prevent salt and snow from damaging our facility's floors? Click here for answer

2. When is it time to strip and wax floors or steam clean carpets? Click here for answer

3. Are there online training tools and quizzes for my janitorial staff? Click here for answer