Holiday Clean Up: Starting Early Saves Time and Energy
When it comes to the holidays, things can feel like a big blur and you can forget all about a holiday clean up. Between closing up for a few days to holiday rushes for Boxing Day and New Years, it isn’t hard to lose track You may have had some pretty grand plans too, if you didn’t close your business down, such as renovating a little with some new furniture or bringing it back to life with some TLC.
The truth is, it seems like everyone experiences a bit of blur around this time of year. In all of the chaos, it is easy to forget what you have to do and what you envisioned for your business at the start of the new year.
The "December Blur": Why Proactive Cleaning is a Business Strategy
When it comes to the holidays, discovering messes (hidden or otherwise), coping with winter woes like slush and salt mixtures on your flooring, getting rid of excess packages, and trying to get ahead of colds and flus, can make running a business extra stressful.
When you wait until the week of an event or even until the start of the New Year to clean, you can accidentally trigger panic cleaning. This may mean that things aren’t as clean and that some areas are prioritized when they don't need to be, while others aren’t. Importantly, a lot of that cleaning can be superficial and exhausting for staff.
Think of how you feel when company is coming and you don’t feel ready. You rush around your home, shove things in boxes and closets, do very quick washes of high touch areas, and might even toss everything in a spare space with the hopes no one notices.
It is the same problem for your staff and yourself when you delay cleaning and rush around for your own business. Think of it as shifting your mindset from reactive to preventative. A clean base makes for less stress. The Financial Post points out that turning cleaning into a holiday self-care is a way of alleviating all of that stress, and we think it applies to businesses as well!
Phase 1: Tackling the "Winter Elements"
The first thing to do in overcoming winter woes is to acknowledge that there’s going to be some things you cannot get away from. In London, Ontario, that means salt and slush. They get tracked in with employees and clients, ground into floors, and just after you wipe it all up, it starts again. But putting up a caution sign and forgetting it is happening also is a bad idea. The problem will only get worse the longer it goes untreated.
The next step is to take stock of your floors. How much is carpeted and how much is hardwood or linoleum (or any other material)? You are going to need to hire a company to come in and clean your floor regularly with professional cleaning material (similar to what Clean Works offers). This can assure you that your floors look great every week and that the damage done to them is shorter-lived.
Next, look above yourself. Check your windows and air vents. High-traffic areas means that as artificial lighting and shorter days come, smudges on glass and storefronts can become visible. Clean these frequently to avoid unsightly marks that leave a bad impression.
What also is more noticeable is your air vents, especially as the heat kicks in and suddenly you have more dust being circulated. A deep dusting of vents and high surfaces can prevent that stuffy office feeling. It will also prevent illness amongst employees and customers!
Phase 2: Prepping the "Social Zones"
With all the festivities, it isn’t uncommon for certain areas to take more impact than others. Keeping things clean and sanitized isn’t simply something to do, it is a necessity for health and safety. So which areas should you look at when the social side to the holidays is in full swing?
Think about how your refrigerator at work, regardless of size, could be feeling the brunt of it all. With potlucks, snacks, and more, you could have spills and leftovers overflowing if you’re not careful. If you can, do a full clear out before and after every social event. At the end of the holidays, clear everything out again and give it a cleaning.
High-touch points also require much-need sanitation. With the cold and flu season at a peak during the holidays, it is important to keep your team healthy. Arrange for cleaning to be done of areas like door handles, kettles, microwave buttons, and more to help prevent the spread of germs. You could also consider distributing personal bottles of hand sanitizer to staff to help keep them safe.
As the holidays continue, you may see more foot traffic than normal, such as customers or delivery staff. Which could mean that you are having more people using your restroom. A deep scrub before it all begins should always be followed up by daily maintenance to keep staying clean easy and quick. If you don’t have time, it is the perfect time to hire a commercial cleaning business like Clean Works.
The ROI of Outsourcing: Why Clean Works is Your Secret Weapon
It may seem too easy to say that cleaning could make a holiday better but it really is that simple. With staff already stressed from year-end tasks and their own holiday plans, trying to make cleaning part of their duties can add to their stress. Let them focus on their jobs and leave cleaning to professional commercial cleaning services.
The benefit to a commercial cleaning service is that you get consistency. Clean Works is an example of a hard working crew that provides sparkling clean, which is crucial for year-end meetings and wrapups. There is no guess work to what has to be done and you can occupy your time with business, not cleaning.
This is very much a set it and forget it situation that can benefit you. You can feel and see the difference commercial cleaning makes year-round but at the holidays it is when it really makes a difference!
Holiday Rush? No Problem! New Year, New Business Goals? Make cleaning a task you can outsource
Always remember that a clean office is a productive office and a pleasure to work in. Getting ahead of tasks (or hiring a commercial cleaning service) is a great way to take the stress off of your shoulders. There’s lots of benefits to keeping all of your business cleaning up to date but there are three that you should keep in mind:
Reduced Stress
Reduced Health Risk
Reduced Operation costs
No matter which holiday it is, knowing how to handle your commercial cleaning needs is important when it comes to major holiday events. You may need some extra help around this time of year. Contact Clean Works today for a free quote and list of services.