When a potential client walks through the door and enters your office they will immediately judge your company based on what they see. Dirty floors, bad odor, untidy desks and counters create a bad first impression. Business owners often get so caught up in their daily schedule that they may forget that keeping the office clean can be a major benefit.

Have you ever walked into an office or a place of business and were struck by un-cleanliness of the place. A dirty office or an untidy office portrays poorly on the business and is never a good impression. If you manage an office it is also noteworthy that a clean office can also affect employee productivity and morale. Like having more light can change the mood of the employee to be more upbeat, a clean office is a great plus to improving work atmosphere.

For any visitor making his first visit to the office, a clean and tidy office goes a long way in providing a good impression to what maybe future clients. A tidy and a clean office is also easy on eyes and for starters create a favourable and professional impression.

It is often seen that in every office old or broken electronic equipment are to be found across the work space. It not only creates distractions but using them is a waste of time. Fax machines, printers and copiers that do not work correctly take up a lot of employee time as they have to struggle to get their work done. It also leads to irritation. Every asset should be given a life span and when a machine exceeds that, it should be promptly disposed of and a new one acquired in its space. An office where equipment, chairs and tables are gleaming and do not have stains goes a long way to improving its image.

Clutter in the office also causes stress. A messy office leads to people needlessly searching for things. Being surrounded by disorganization and disorder makes people upset. Everyday tasks take longer. People constantly feel on edge. Reduce the stress and increase the employee productivity by getting rid of your office junk. It’s easier to get work done in a clean, organized environment.

Ways to keep your business clean:

Organize those papers: Paper is often the biggest clutter on any desk and paper thrown around the desk causes a lot of confusion. Often it takes considerable amount of time to find relevant documents when there is heaps of paper lying around.

A system for organizing such papers should be devised. Standard stackable letter tray should be used to put documents that are lying around. This may be items like memos, print-outs, and random things placed on your desk by random people.

Use filing cabinets:

For documents which do not need to be referred on a everyday basis or is historical in nature should be filed. Use simple flat folders organized from A-Z, instead of hanging folders to provide for speedy reference in future.

Providing trash cans:

Trash can should be provided for at all workstations or cubicles. It is silly to imagine workers navigating across desks or having to find the nearest dustbin to dispose of papers. If an employee can’t find a dustbin when he needs it the most, he is more likely to dirty his workstation with useless trash. It is important to find and employ someone who can empty the trash everyday and also clean the desks at the workstations.

Eat away from your desk:

Eating at your desk encourages trash like paper bags, cups, and utensils to stick around your desk. It is also evident that crumbs would make its way to the keyboards, which in turn would stop working efficiently. It is always good to have a different dining area or a cafeteria for employees. This also encourages healthy discussions over meal and employee interactions.

Areas which need cleaning:

Lobby, Foyer and Reception Area: This is the first place that a visitor sees when he comes calling to an office. The reception may not be one which smacks of opulence or richness, but a clean area goes a long way in ensuring that the first impression is good.

Make sure windows are clean, counters free of clutter, the plants free of dust. Keep up on appearance by vacuuming, dusting, and polishing at least weekly if not daily.

Restrooms:

This is another area which needs a lot of focus. Dirty bathrooms are a big turn off and visitors using them can find it very irritating when it is dirty. Restrooms should be clean not only for the visitors but also for yourself and your employees. A dirty restroom is not only unpleasant it’s also unhealthy. Restrooms should be cleaned daily and if the volume of visitors is high it should be cleaned twice a day. Roof fresheners and anti-microbial solutions should also be used.

Cafeteria

: Visitors often find their way to the cafeteria or is invited by an employee for talks over coffee. Cafeteria should be kept clean and tidy and should be cleaned regularly specially after every meal. Empty plates, spoons, cups should not be kept lying around and should be cleaned and kept in a systematic way.

The utensils themselves should be cleaned properly to ensure food particulars are washed away. It is also important to ensure that there are no flies in cafeteria and systems like the electronic fly trap should be used to get rid of them. It is also helpful to make sure paper towels and cleaning solutions are plentiful and in an easy to access area. This will be beneficial should a spill or mess take place.