Your desk is a germaphobe’s nightmare.
Interesting, considering your home is spotless and your car is shined to the max. Yet, for some strange reason, you let the place where you spend the majority of your time go to hell. Reorganizing folders and stacking papers does not constitute cleaning. It’s time you devoted some elbow grease. You can’t rely on your company’s cleaning service. (Don’t believe me? Run your finger over the top of that cabinet.)
A clean environment comes along with many benefits, including: better organization, better health and an overall positive feeling. Respect your work environment and it will respect you. In honor of early spring, here are some quickie tips on cleaning your desk and everything on it.
Swiffer. Possibly the best household cleaning item ever invented, the ridges pick up dust, lint and other nasties that have settled on your desk.
Clorox Wipes. After all of the solid waste is eliminated, it’s time to bring in the moisture. These wet wipes, pre-moistened with cleaners and disinfectants, will kill germs and leave the smell of “clean.” Yes, clean has a scent!
Can of Lysol. Spray on items that are shared such as pens, door knobs and handles. This simple spray will help you kill what’s quickly becoming an active Petri Dish.
Febreeze. Freshen up your cloth seat with this odor eater.
Alcohol Swabs. Clean earwax and saliva from your phone, a hotbed of germ activity. Also good to use on tape dispensers, staplers and other desk supplies. Just make sure you wipe all metal parts dry in order to avoid rust.
Shake Out Your Keyboard. Especially if you eat at your desk. After you shake out all of the crumbs and dead skin (sorry!) grab a canister of canned air. Hold your keyboard over a garbage can, the force of the spray should shake loose all remaining particles.
Dust Out Your Mouse. If you haven’t gone optical, get out the tweezers and remove the buildup slowing down the ball. These contraptions accumulate lint which hinders their performance.
DustBuster the Carpet. The cleaning staff at your building has a routine, and vacuuming daily is probably not part of it. If you end up making a mess, don’t wait on the sleepy staff to come around for a cleanup; take matters into your own hands.
Vinegar. This multi-purpose liquid can be used to clean virtually anything – including most monitor screens (check the manual first!). An added bonus is that it is chemical free (it’s good to be green!) and can even help you kill gnats.
Don’t Neglect Your Chair. The chair is often overlooked when it comes to cleaning. Give it some love. How you clean it will be determined by material type. You can use a sheet of fabric softener if you start to notice and unpleasant odors. While you’re at it, wipe down the wheels and levers and give all joints a quick spray of WD40.
Dust Cube Walls. In many cases, cubicle walls are made out of a porous cloth. Be sure to reduce the amount of dust by dusting it, beating it or washing it.
After you get your corner of the office spic and span, make a notation that you’ve cleaned. This could act as an aid to remind you to do it again in the near future. It also will reveal how Felix Ungerish you really are.
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