Holiday Cleaning Hacks for Your Office

The holidays are upon us. Your office may be brimming with festive cheer, but it is also likely accumulating its fair share of the festive clutter.

But don’t you worry. With these clever cleaning hacks, you can get your workplace clean and ready for the season.

Pre-Holiday Cleaning Hacks

Take some time to prepare your workspace. You can do a little pre-holiday prep to save you the stress later on. Think of it as getting your office “holiday-ready”.

Declutter and Organise

You have to purge the unnecessary. The holidays are a great time to get rid of things you no longer need.

• Old files
• Broken decorations
• Or anything that takes up valuable space

You might also want to encourage everyone in your office to adopt a “clear desk” policy. Meaning, they have to clear their desks at the end of each workday like putting away documents and disposing of desk litter. Tell them that they will be more productive when the clutter is less.

Do you already have smart storage in your office? If not, invest in some.

1. Drawer organisers
2. Shelves
3. Bins

Keep things tidy with these storage solutions. It will also make it easier for you to find what you need. And faster.

Deep Clean Key Areas

Your cleaning efforts should focus on the areas that see the most traffic and tend to get messy quickly. For example, the reception area. It is the first impression of your office. Clean glass surfaces, dust other surfaces, and vacuum/mop the floors.

The pantry can also become a disaster zone due to holiday potlucks and gatherings. Clean out the refrigerator, wipe the countertops and other appliances, and make sure the sink is sparklingly clean.

And of course, don’t forget the restrooms. Disinfect all surfaces, including toilets, sinks, and doorknobs, and replenish supplies like soap and paper towels.

Holiday-Specific Cleaning Hacks

The holidays bring their own set of cleaning challenges to your office space because of the added decorations and festive feasts. Here’s our simple guide on how to tackle the most common holiday messes.

Holiday Decorations

Do you know what can accumulate dust? Those garlands, wreaths, and artificial trees you set up. Use a feather duster or microfiber cloth to remove dust. If there are more intricate decorations, you may use a hairdryer on a cool setting to blow away dust.

For ornaments, wipe them with a soft, damp cloth to remove dust/fingerprint smudges. But be careful with delicate ornaments. Do not use harsh chemicals that could damage them.

During the holidays, you might use glitter but they can be a nightmare to clean up. A lint roller or a piece of tape can do the job of picking up stray glitter. If there’s still glitter, try a damp cloth or a vacuum with a brush attachment.

Holiday Messes

We can never avoid spills during holiday parties. Blot red wine spills immediately with a clean cloth and then sprinkle with salt to absorb the remaining liquid. For food, scrape up the solids, and then blot with a damp cloth and mild detergent.

Don’t let wrapping paper take over your office clutter. Place designated bins for recycling and encourage everyone to dispose of it responsibly. If you have leftovers from the holiday potlucks, store or dispose of them properly to avoid attracting pests.

Maintain a Clean & Festive Space

Keep your office smelling fresh. You can use essential oil diffusers with scents like cinnamon, pine, and peppermint. Or if you want to take it a step further, buy scented cleaners or disinfectant wipes.

How to Prepare for the Holidays

The best way to manage holiday cleaning is to be proactive! Take the following steps before the festivities begin to minimise the post-holiday cleanup and keep your office looking its best, if not its second best, throughout the season.

For Office Workers

1. 1. Before the holiday break, take some time to organise your digital workspace. Delete unnecessary files, organise your inbox, and back up important data.
   2. As briefly discussed above, clear your desk of items that you don’t need. File away papers, recycle old documents and put away personal belongings so that it’ll be easier to keep your workspace clean during the busy holiday period.

For Office Managers

1. 1. 1. Create a clear cleaning schedule and assign responsibilities to staff members or consider hiring Avalon Services for professional cleaning assistance.
      2. Set guidelines for the decorations, from setting them up to storing them back.
      3. There should be designated areas for recycling wrapping paper, packaging and food waste. Remind everyone from time to time to be responsible and throw away waste properly.

Preparing for Parties & Visitors

1. 1. 1. Use disposable tableware and linens.
      2. Have cleaning supplies readily available.
      3. Make sure the reception is clean and welcoming. You may provide hand sanitisers and tissues.

Always remember that a little preparation goes a long way in ensuring that everybody gets to enjoy the holiday season.

Post-Holiday Cleanup and Organisation

When the holidays are over, you will be left with a place that might resemble Santa’s workshop after a particularly busy night.

Let us help you make post-holiday cleaning a breeze with these cleaning hacks.

Be Efficient in Taking Decors Down

1. 1. 1. Pack and store the decors in labelled containers to protect them from damage and so that you can easily find them next year. Clear bins are recommended as you can see what’s inside.
      2. Recycle decors that are no longer usable. For those you will reuse, you may donate or repurpose them.
      3. Want to avoid the tangling of wires? Wrap the string lights around a piece of cardboard or a hanger.

Restore the Workspace’s Condition

1. 1. 1. Give the entire office a thorough cleaning. Mop, vacuum, dust, and disinfect. High-touch areas should be the priority (e.g., the doorknobs, light switches, telephones, etc.)
      2. If your office has carpets, engage the services of a professional carpet cleaning company.
      3. Clean all appliances in the pantry or kitchen, including the refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker.

Reorganise and Refresh

1. 1. 1. Put away things that are out of place.
      2. The new year is a great opportunity to refresh your workspace. You can try rearranging your furniture or add some indoor plants. Whatever personal touches you want to include, it’s your discretion.

Why It’s Best to Call in the Pros

Let’s admit, DIY cleaning may be fulfilling. But sometimes, it’s best to leave it to the experts, especially during the hectic holiday season. This might be the best gift you can give your office this year.

1. 1. 1. Don’t you want to enjoy the holidays without worrying about how to clean the office space? Professional cleaners have the experience and the equipment to clean as efficiently and quickly as possible.
      2. They can reach those often-neglected areas and provide a level of deep cleaning that is difficult to achieve on your own.
      3. Professional cleaners are trained to handle different types of cleaning tasks and materials.
      4. Hiring professionals takes this burden off your shoulders. You can sit back and relax.
      5. Professional cleaners use high-quality cleaning products. They ensure that the space is hygienically clean, particularly if you are worried about germs being spread uncontrollably to different people.
      6. You will also be able to maintain a positive impression on clients, visitors, and employees, that your office is regularly clean and well-maintained.

Conclusion

If you are overwhelmed with pre- and post-holiday cleanup and only able to apply some of the office cleaning hacks that we’ve talked about, you may enlist our help. We will handle the deep cleaning, even simple decluttering. Avalon Services will make sure that it is totally ready for the new year.
Consider us for:

1. 1. • Pre-holiday deep cleaning
      • Post-holiday cleanup
      • Regular cleaning services

We are always ready to be at your service!