When you hear the term ‘spring cleaning’, what automatically comes to mind is the home. While spring cleaning (for the most part) is considered a home affair, it is essential not to forget to extend the refreshing cleanup to your office space as well. This is the perfect time to spring clean your office!

After your home, the next place you spend the most time is at the office. It is inevitable that dirt, grime, and clutter accumulate there. This will, in turn, affect your performance and general well-being. Decluttering and organizing your office space is important as it will help eliminate germs that could lead to illness while significantly impacting your workplace satisfaction, productivity, and aesthetic appeal.

You are probably already dreading your annual home spring cleaning, and adding your office space to the list might be the last thing on your mind. However, we have very simple office spring cleaning tips that will help you do the job in no time.

Planning Your Spring Cleaning

If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail. Proper planning before embarking on any venture increases your chance of success. Your office organization for spring is no different. Here are a few tips to help you with planning your office spring cleaning:

1. Schedule Time

You need to plan ahead and schedule when you are going to be able to do your office spring cleaning. Look at your calendar and pen down when you will be free to tackle your office space. This way, you don’t have to worry about how to juggle your spring cleaning with any office deadlines. And also, you can be able to be adequately prepared.

2. Choose the Best Time

There are two things to consider while determining the exact time to carry out your spring cleaning.

1. If you would have enough time on your hands to really get down to it.
2. If there would be any interruptions from coworkers or employers.

Considering these two things, the best time to spring clean your office is early in the morning before people start coming in. Any downtime in between should also be maximized. 

3. Break Down Tasks

In the office, you definitely have a lot to juggle. Your to-do list is definitely not empty, and you’re wishing for the universe to increase the number of hours in the day. Office deadlines and spring cleaning might seem like a lot to handle simultaneously. Therefore you need to break down your tasks.

You mustn’t do everything in one day (unless you happen to have a very slow day). You could set aside 2 or 3 days to handle everything. Or you could dedicate 30 minutes every day for a few days until you’re done. This will help prevent you from feeling overwhelmed in any way.

4. Gather Supplies

This is why planning is essential. Once you have your set time to tackle your spring cleaning, you need to gather supplies in advance. It would be a bummer if, midway through your cleaning, you realize that you’re missing cleaning cloths. Some supplies you might need include; microfiber cloths, glass cleaner, multipurpose cleaner, vacuum for your desk and drawers, a can of compressed air, disinfectant wipes etc.

5. Set Goals

Set a spring cleaning goal for yourself. This way, you won’t be tempted to procrastinate. Setting a goal will help you tackle it once and for all so you can focus on other important things. Make sure that, looking at your schedule and deadlines, you set realistic goals for yourself. 

Creating A Spring Cleaning Checklist

This is a critical step. You absolutely need a checklist. Writing a checklist days in advance will ensure you don’t forget anything important. There are a few essential tasks, such as decluttering, cleaning, and disinfecting, that should be on your checklist.

Here is an example of a simple office spring cleaning checklist;

• Organize your items into three piles;
  • To go
  • To keep
  • To put away
• Purge
  • Shred unnecessary paperwork
  • Discard unnecessary or useless items
  • Donate useful items that you no longer need
• Essential cleaning
  • Dust all surfaces
  • Vacuum your drawers
  • Wipe down your computer
  • Dust your light fixtures
  • Vacuum your office space, including beneath your desk
  • Untangle cords
  • Disinfect everything 
• Organize your immediate work area
  • Use a file organizer to organize files neatly
  • Use desk and drawer accessories to keep things organized
  • Keep frequently used items within easy reach
  • Decorate your space 
• Organize your computer
  • Sort and organize your email
  • Delete unnecessary files on your desktop
  • Create a good filing system on your computer

Decluttering And Organizing

This could be a bit hard if you’re a hoarder. If you need help deciding what has to go and what needs to stay, this is a simple strategy;

1. If you haven’t used it in months or years
2. If it is broken.
3. If it is redundant, e.g.,  if you have a digital copy of the same paperwork or you have several pieces of the same item, e.g., three coffee mugs
4. If you simply do not need it, e.g., obsolete files, used sticky notes.

Sort your items into three piles; to go, to keep, and to put away. The put-away pile is for important things that don’t have any immediate use. You could put them in a bin and keep them in your office storage area.

Deep Cleaning Surfaces And Fixtures

This is the main part of your spring cleaning. Your office might be cleaned regularly, but a deep clean will go a long way. If you need a guide on how to clean office space, here are some step-by-step Instructions;

1. Dust every surface with a microfiber towel. This includes your table, chair, bookshelf, filing cabinet, cords, computer, etc.
2. Get in between your computer keyboards and get rid of crumbs and dust with a can of compressed air.
3. Vacuum the floors and your drawers.
4. Clean any glass surfaces with a window or glass cleaner and a clean microfiber towel. Be careful so as to avoid scuffing them.
5. Arrange your cords by using clips.
6. Wipe down all surfaces with a multipurpose cleaner.
7. Mop the floor.

Disinfecting And Sanitizing

The workplace houses a plethora of disease-causing microorganisms. The average office desk houses 400 times more germs than a toilet seat.

It is, therefore, important that you disinfect all surfaces with a disinfectant spray or disinfectant wipes. The major focus of your disinfecting exercise should be high-touch surfaces such as your desk, door knobs, keyboards, mouse, phones, etc. 

Refreshing The Workspace

Refreshing your workspace increases your productivity, comfort, and workplace satisfaction. This is because creating a warm, welcoming, and inspiring environment keeps you relaxed and focused and gets your creative juices flowing. This looks different for everyone. You decide what makes a happy workspace.

Here are a few tips for adding fresh touches to your workspace;

1. Post motivating and inspiring quotes where you can easily see and reflect on them.
2. Add a few more lights to brighten your workspace.
3. Get a plant or two to decorate.
4. A few personal touches, such as pictures or souvenirs.

While personalizing and refreshing your workspace, be careful so that you don’t end up creating clutter.

Maintenance And Ongoing Organization

When you’re done with your office spring cleaning, it is easy to give yourself a pat on the back and revert to the habits that left your office a mess in the first place. This would just end up in a vicious cycle of deep cleaning and then disorganizing again. Spring cleaning is a necessary evil, but it can get easy if your workspace is tidy and manageable.

Importance of Regular Office Maintenance Routines

1. It keeps your office space tidy and organized all year round.
2. It boosts your general space appearance and appeal.
3. It lessens the load during your annual office spring cleaning.

Tips for Establishing Organization Systems and Habits

You could decide to add maintaining an organized office space to your already long list of resolutions. However, it won’t last long if you don’t establish organizational systems and habits. 

Here are a few that might help you along the way;

1. Keep a few cleaning supplies, such as a clean microfiber cloth, paper towels, all-purpose spray, and disinfectant wipes handy. This way, you can easily wipe down your entire space occasionally and wipe up spills once they occur.
2. Immediately return any used item to its home. If it doesn’t have a home in your space, then maybe it shouldn’t be there.
3. Every Friday, before you go home for the weekend, quickly sort through the week’s paperwork. Discard anything that is redundant or not needed. This allows you to start each week on a clean slate.
4. Create digital copies of any paperwork that doesn’t need to be physical.

Conclusion

It is essential to spring clean your office. It has a lot of benefits, such as improving your productivity and workplace satisfaction. It might seem like a lot to handle, but it is quite easy once you get to it. Plan ahead, prepare your supplies, break down tasks over time to avoid feeling overwhelmed, and set goals to prevent procrastination.

These tips will guarantee a smooth and hitch-free office spring cleaning experience. Remember that a good cleaning exercise will leave you with a clean office, but regular maintenance will ensure your office stays clean all year round.

Happy spring cleaning 😉