Whatever your schedule may be, you most likely spend a great deal of time at your workspace during a typical work week. Most of us don’t think about the number of germs that we might leave behind in this environment. With the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) around the world, people are more concerned than ever about staying germ-free, and one way to achieve this is by keeping our workspace clean. Keeping your office space and equipment clean is your first line of defense against germs and other harmful entities. Here are a few best practices on how you can disinfect your office and keep it sanitized.
Continuously Disinfect Your Office Equipment
From your office phone to your digital whiteboard to your multifunction printer (MFP), you’re constantly touching certain areas of your workspace. To help keep yourself and your coworkers healthy you must make sure to disinfect these items frequently. Make a habit of regularly disinfecting areas you touch with your hands or mouth.
Wipe it Down Frequently and At the End of the Day
Keep rubbing alcohol and disinfectant wipes on hand and wipe down surfaces and pieces of office technology devices after each use. Do not spray devices with amonia based chemicals. The best way to clean your MFP screens is to first power down your device, moisten a microfiber cloth with a mixture of 70% isopropyl alcohol and 30% water (do not spray). Additionally, before clocking out at night and leaving for the day, make time to wipe down items such as your phone, mouse, and MFP keypad with disinfectant wipes so germs don’t settle in overnight and you can start the next day germ-free without having to sanitize the office first thing in the morning. Also, regularly wipe down shared spaces like kitchens and meeting rooms after each use to help decrease spreading germs. You can find a more detailed description of recommended cleaning protocols on the CDC website.
Clean Your Keyboard
Your computer keyboard can hold numerous germs for an extended period because it’s harder to clean, making them particularly hostile environments. Unlike your other office equipment, the best way to keep your keyboard clean isn’t with wipes but a combination of items like canned air and cleaning gum. Canned air can help remove debris like food crumbs from inside your keyboard, similar to a leaf blower. Cleaning gum is a gelatin adhesive that is designed to remove the dust and dirt from your keyboard.
Utilize Mobile Apps When Possible
With a rise in mobile apps, many printers, copiers, and MFPs can now be accessed via your smartphone rather than at the device itself. You can upload, print, and scan documents and photos with these devices through the app on your phone. This eliminates the need for employees to repeatedly touch office technology devices, thus helping eliminate germs on these essential pieces of equipment.
While workspace hygiene and sanitation are always a good idea, in times like this it’s more important than ever for us to take the time to be diligent for the safety of ourselves and our coworkers.
Get Your Office Equipment Cleaning Guide
As Covid-19 continues to emerge and spread, we want to ensure that companies and employees have the information they need to properly clean the surfaces of their office equipment and help control the spread of illness. For more information, download our cleaning guide.
