Deep cleaning is essentially the intensive cleaning of any site, domestic or commercial. It includes tile grout and cleaning floors, changing air filters, cleaning upholstery and sanitising all surfaces. Deep cleaning differs from conventional cleaning in that it involves high-end tools and machines to ensure the removal of stubborn dust reserves and stains.
Deep cleaning plays a vital role in employees’ health and safety. It helps offices get rid of mold, germs, and other dangerous materials which can contribute to employee illness and an unhealthy working environment. Unlike regular cleaning, organisations seldom do deep cleaning because it is costly and disruptive. However, offices should arrange a deep clean twice or at least once a year.
The furniture and office floors can easily get dirty. Especially with a large number of employees working under the same roof, their cubicles, the desks, floors, and upholstery become home to dirt, grime, and bacteria. That is why it is crucial to arrange a deep clean to maintain a productive and healthy work environment.
How Often Should you Deep Clean Office Floors?
The answer to how often to deep clean office floors entirely depends on the type of floor and number of employees working in the office. However, the general rule is that commercial floors should be deep cleaned twice or at least once a year. The following traffic timelines can help you identify how often you should deep clean your office:
- Moderately high-traffic spaces:The areas under this umbrella can be hallways, lobbies, and meeting rooms. These areas require deep cleaning every few months.
- High-traffic spaces:Such areas include bathrooms, entranceways, and office kitchens. They should be deep cleaned at least once a month.
- Carpeted spaces and low-traffic spaces:These areas are generally less prone to germs. Therefore, it should be deep cleaned once or twice a year.
How Often to Clean Desks and Workspaces
Clean and organised office cubicles can create a productive, healthy, and safe environment for employees. Some objects like the phone, keyboard, and mouse should be cleaned frequently after every few days because these are the most touched items, and if not cleaned, the germs can spread everywhere in the office and affect employees’ health. Generally, to prevent illness and germs, employees should sanitize and clean their desks at least once a week.
How Often to Deep Clean Upholstery
You should never neglect upholstery while deep cleaning. The fibers in upholstery are often home to debris and dirt which includes oils, sweat, allergens, dust, and dead skin cells. Upholstery should be cleaned by professionals at least once a year to remove allergens and dust. Places like waiting rooms or lobbies where contaminants which are hard to see should be deep cleaned every three or four months.
Disinfecting your Workplace
Disinfection is important at all times, but now more so than ever in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. You can disinfect any workplace using household disinfectants for COVID 19 virus recommended by the EPA. To ensure the effective and safe use of products, always follow the instructions described on the label.
Some common recommendations include:
- Ensure sufficient ventilation.
- Wear skin and eye protection for splash hazards.
- Use the amount suggested on the label.
- Avoid a mixture of chemical products.
- For dilution, use water at room temperature unless the label states otherwise.
- Label diluted cleaning solutions.
- Chemicals should be used and stored out of pets’ and children’s reach.
- Eating, drinking, breathing, or injecting these items, or applying them directly on the skin can cause serious injury.
- You can use bleach if items mentioned on the above listed products are unavailable. If properly diluted, unexpired household bleach can effectively work against viruses, including COVID-19. The instructions for bleach solutions are as followed:
- Bleach with 5.25% to 8.25% sodium hypochlorite can be used. Avoid using bleach which has an unidentified percentage or does not fall in the range above.
- For the surface, you should follow the application instructions of the manufacturer to ensure at least 1-minute contact time.
- During and after application, ensure the presence of proper ventilation.
- Mixing household bleach with cleansers like ammonia can cause fumes that can be toxic.
- Preparation of bleach solution through mixture can be through 1/3 cup or 5 tablespoons of 5.25% to 8.25% bleach per gallon of water on room temperature, OR 4 teaspoons of 5.25% to 8.25% bleach per quart of water at room temperature.
- Bleach solutions can effectively work up to 24 hours for disinfection.
- Always check the product’s expiration date.
- You can also use alcohol solutions with a minimum of 70% alcohol.
Why Frequent Deep Cleanings are More Important than Ever
Nobody can take things for granted amidst the second wave of the corona virus. Now more than ever, it is a good idea to hire top-rated professional deep cleaners to make sure your business doesn’t play a role in spreading infection, and to protect the health of your employees and visitors.
