Which Part Of Office Do I Need To Disinfect every day? Are you worried about the hygiene and cleanliness of your office? Do you think that food and beverages can cause diseases and spread germs in offices?
Of course, we know that we should keep our office clean, but many of us do not know what part of the office we need to disinfect every day.
4 Kinds Of Germs In-Office which Can Cause Diseases:
1. Bacteria such as E-coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes can be found on telephones, doorknobs, or keyboards.
These are mostly transmitted through direct contact with infected objects. So if somebody is coughing at one end of the office and you are using the same telephone at the other end, you have a high chance of being infected.
Therefore it is important to disinfect telephones, doorknobs, or keyboards every day.
2. Viruses such as Influenza virus, Rhinovirus, Rotavirus can be found on computer mice, toilet flushes, or faucets.
So if your colleague who takes care of the plants in your company often sneezes around or touches plants before returning to his workstation where he works with computers every day, there will be an increased risk of transmission.
Therefore it is important to disinfect computer mice, toilet flushes, or faucets every day too.
3 Kinds Of Germs That Can Be Found In Food:
- Bacteria such as E-coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes can be found on food contact surfaces such as counters, cutting boards, knives, and sponges.
These bacteria are usually transmitted through cross-contamination from raw meat or poultry juices. So it is important to disinfect counters, cutting boards, knives, and sponges every day.
- Viruses such as Norovirus can be found in food particles. It is one of the most common causes of food poisoning and it is highly contagious. It can survive for hours to days on environmental surfaces.
So it is important to keep your office clean and free from any food particles.
4. Fungi such as Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Penicillium can be found on office surfaces such as carpets, furniture, and air-conditioning vents.
These fungi are usually transmitted through contact with spores in the environment. So it is important to keep your office clean and free from any dust particles.
So what can you do to disinfect different parts of your office every day?
1. To disinfect telephones, doorknobs or keyboards:
- Keep a container of alcohol-based hand rub near your computer and use it at least once after you’ve used the telephone or touched the keyboard.
- Wipe them with antiseptic wipes once a day. If you have been using public telephones, wipe them down thoroughly before returning to your workstation.
- Wash hands immediately after touching germ-prone objects such as floor buttons or railings in lifts/escalators.
2. To disinfect counters, cutting boards, knives, and spongers:
- Wash the chopping board with soap and water after use and leave it to air dry before reusing it next time round to prevent the growth of bacteria.
- Sanitize counters and cutting boards with a sanitizer or bleach solution regularly, at least once a day.
- Rinse knives thoroughly with hot water after each use and towel dry. Do not put them back in the knife block until they are completely dry to prevent the growth of bacteria.
- Soak sponges in a bleach solution for five to 10 minutes before rinsing and air drying.
3. To disinfect computer mice, toilet flushes, or faucets:
- Wipe down computer mice with disinfectant wipes daily.
- Flush toilet bowls and sinks with a disinfectant cleaner at least once a day.
- Sanitize faucets with disinfectant cleaner daily.
4. To keep your office clean and free from any food particles:
- Clean up spills on the floor immediately and mop the floor with a disinfectant cleaner at least once a day.
- Immediately place all waste in proper containers and dispose of them properly. Carry wet tissue only when necessary and use it to wipe off surfaces before throwing it away directly into bin bags.
5. To keep your office as dust-free as possible:
If you wish, you can buy an air purifier to help reduce the number of airborne bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microbes floating around in your office environment through regular maintenance such as replacing filters every 2-3 months, just like what we often do for our air-conditioners or vacuum cleaners
6. To disinfect telephones, doorknobs or keyboards:
- Keep a container of alcohol-based hand rub near your computer and use it at least once after you’ve used the telephone or touched the keyboard.
- Wipe them with antiseptic wipes once a day. If you have been using public telephones, wipe them down thoroughly before returning to your workstation.
7 Other Important Tips for a Hygienic Office Environment:
- Ensure that all office doors remain closed during working hours to conserve air conditioning and prevent dust from entering our office environment.
- Ensure that rubbish bins are covered whenever they are not in use to prevent any microbial contamination from occurring when uncovered waste is left out in the open for prolonged periods.
- Try to avoid eating at your desk as this can lead to the accumulation of food particles and bacteria on your work surface. Instead, take a break and eat in the pantry or common areas where it is easier to clean up any messes made.
- Regularly disinfect all office equipment such as printers, fax machines, and photocopiers with a disinfectant cleaner every month.
- If someone in your office is unwell, ask them to stay at home until they have fully recovered to prevent them from spreading their illness to other colleagues.
8. To disinfect doorknobs, elevator buttons, or railings:
- Carry an alcohol-based hand rub with you at all times and use it after touching germ-prone objects such as floor buttons or railings in lifts/escalators before returning to your workstation.
- Wipe them with antiseptic wipes once a day. If you have been using public telephones, wipe them down thoroughly before returning to your workstation.
- Routine Disinfection And How To Do It Daily
Which Part Of Office Do I Need To Disinfect every day? – Conclusion:
The above 8-step guide should serve as a good reference point for improving the hygiene and cleanliness of your office environment. With an occasional top-up of disinfectant cleaner every week, you should be able to maintain a clean and healthy office environment free from any germs or bacteria.