Ever heard the phrase, “the bigger the mess, the greater the stress”? It’s definitely true, and not just when it comes to a cluttered home. If your office space isn’t clean, tidy and well-organized, it can negatively impact employee morale and productivity, leading to increased stress, illness, and more. Read on to learn the top 4 benefits of having your office professionally cleaned.
- Less Illness - It’s no secret that your keyboard makes a prime breeding ground for bacteria. What you may not realize, however, is just how much bacteria can be found on your keyboard at any given time. One study tested office items and found that keyboards contain, on average, over 3.5 million CFU (colony-forming units, the standard measurement for bacteria) per square inch. That’s over 20,000 times more bacteria than a toilet seat (which clocks in at a mere 172 CFU per square inch)! What’s worse, the particular bacteria commonly found on keyboards is more likely to make you sick than other types of bacteria. Making sure that keyboards, door knobs, and other commonly-used surfaces are disinfected regularly can keep your entire staff healthier and more productive.
- Improved Air Quality - Dust, dirt, and allergens trapped in carpets and other soft surfaces (as well as surface dust on furniture) can contribute to poor air quality in an office. Over time, air quality will worsen, and may contribute to employee illness, allergies, and asthma issues. Having your office cleaned regularly, or creating a schedule for employees to share cleaning tasks will help keep your office air clean and irritant-free.
- Boost Productivity - Yes, we’ve established that a clean office is a healthy office, but a clean office is also a productive office. Cluttered desks can increase levels of stress, and environments free of clutter have been found to improve mental health and lower levels of stress and anxiety. When employees are free from the mental burden of a cluttered work space (and they don’t have to dig through a stack of papers on their desks to find things they need), they’re able to fully focus on their work and tackling those to do lists!
- Professional Reputation - You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression, and having a dirty, disorganized, or cluttered office looks unprofessional. Visitors, clients, and prospects may question your ability to conduct business if it looks as if you don’t care about and prioritize your office’s appearance and cleanliness.
No matter the size of your office, it makes sense to have your space professionally cleaned on a regular basis. The benefits far outweigh the costs, and having a happy, healthy, productive staff is priceless!