As the year draws to a close, most of us are wrapped up in year-end tasks and setting goals for the coming year. One often overlooked but crucial task is the annual spring cleaning!
What is Spring Cleaning?
Spring cleaning actually involves many facets, but one of the most important is comprehensive deep cleaning, which isn’t covered in daily maintenance. Deep cleaning should ideally be carried out semi-annually or annually, and it includes carpet and upholstery deep cleaning to remove accumulated dirt and allergens, cleaning of dust and cobweb at high shelves, areas behind the shelves and furniture, centralised air-conditioning vents, light diffusers, and all the corners and edges.
Other common spring-cleaning services include cleaning of external glass panels and facade, scrubbing and polishing the floors, removing hard stains in the toilets, cleaning air conditioners, pressure jet wash surrounding the drains and parking lots.
The Importance of Year-End Spring Cleaning
Here are the top five reasons why business owners and managers of office buildings, retail spaces, and more, should include spring cleaning into the year-end checklist.
- Declutter to free up more space: Clearing out broken office equipment, and outdated files and documents in the storeroom or at the back of office, and getting the rest organised and labelled increase efficiency in finding the things in the storeroom when needed.
- Boosting morale and productivity: A clean and clutter-free environment has been found to increase employee productivity and efficiency.1 Beyond that, year-end spring cleaning is also a great way to show employees that you appreciate their hard work and that you're committed to creating a positive work environment. Furthermore, a thorough spring cleaning helps eliminate accumulated dirt, dust, and allergens that can negatively impact indoor air quality.
- Enhancing safety and health: A dirty and cluttered office can be a safety hazard. Slippery floors, tripping hazards, and obstructed walkways can all lead to accidents. So, year-end spring cleaning is a good opportunity to identify and remove these hazards. Research also showed that office clutter causes emotional exhaustion and occupational stress.2 Thus, decluttering the workplace could reduce job tension, and improve employees’ mental health and well-being.
- Good first impression: A clean and well-maintained office speaks volume of your company’s professionalism and attention to detail. It also shows that your company cares about your employees and customers by providing a clean, safe and healthy environment. In turn, this can positively influence customer perception and trust.
- Preventive maintenance: By performing preventive maintenance, you can extend the life of your assets, reduce repair costs down the road, and ensure a more sustainable operational approach.
7 Tips to Ensure a Successful Spring-Cleaning Process
- Plan ahead: Allocate specific tasks to different areas of your offices to ensure that each area receives the right attention. Assign responsibilities to designated employees, or consider hiring professional cleaning companies with the expertise and equipment to ensure a deep and thorough clean.
- Declutter and organise: Encourage tenants and employees to declutter workstations and communal areas. Be sure to dispose of unnecessary documents, files, and broken or outdated equipment. Consider implementing an organisational system so that your offices remain clutter-free throughout the year.
- Pay attention to high-traffic areas: Give special attention to high-traffic areas such as entryways, the reception, and communal spaces. These areas tend to accumulate dust, dirt, and grime more quickly, and can leave a not-so-stellar impression on clients and visitors.
- Promote sustainability: Prioritise the use of eco-friendly cleaning products to minimise the environmental impact and maintain a sustainable operation within your office space.
- Review and restock cleaning supplies: Take inventory of cleaning supplies and restock as necessary. From the pandemic, we all now know that personal hygiene is of utmost importance. So, it’s imperative to ensure that employees have continuous access to soap, hand sanitisers, paper towels, and other cleaning essentials for proper hygiene.
- Update aesthetics: Consider refreshing your office’s aesthetic with a fresh coat of paint, and refurbish the floors and fixtures.
- Communicate with tenants: Keep tenants and occupants informed about the cleaning schedule and pre-empt them on any possible disruptions. Clear communications help manage expectations and minimise inconveniences for everyone.
The Benefits of Hiring a Professional Cleaning Company
A clean and organised workspace sets the stage for success in the coming year. While it may be tempting to assign spring cleaning duties to employees, having Maclean’s spring cleaning services offer several advantages.
Maclean has the expertise, tools, and resources to ensure a more thorough and efficient cleaning process. We can also handle tasks that may require specialised equipment or knowledge, such as carpet and upholstery cleaning.
WhatsApp us at 019-292 1105 or email us at enquire@maclean.com.my to discover how Maclean can help you get your office space fresh and clean for the new year.
References:
1. Horrevorts, M., Van Ophem, J., & Terpstra, P. (2018). Impact of cleanliness on the productivityof employees. Facilities, 36(9/10), 442-459.
2. Dao, T. N., & Ferrari, J. R. (2020). The negative side of office clutter: Impact on work-related well-being and job satisfaction. North American Journal of Psychology, 22(3), 397-410.