A healthy and clean office environment is essential for employee productivity and retention. Creating an air of cleanliness in your workplace benefits everyone from CEOs to administrative assistants through increased focus, clarity and collaboration. An unclean office also poses health risks. These risks can affect anyone from office workers to cleaning staff, and can cause headaches, sore throats, and even eye and skin irritations.To maintain a clean and healthy office environment, there are various things office managers can do on a daily basis. From using eco-friendly cleaning products and keeping floors dust-free to having designated cleaning days and times – there is plenty you can do on a regular basis to keep your workplace clean and uncluttered. Here are some tips and tricks for creating a healthy and clean office environment:

Turn off unused lights

Office lighting accounts for about 30% of the total electricity used by commercial buildings. Unused lights not only use energy unnecessarily but can also lead to increased operational costs from an increase in energy bills.When lighting is required, keep the brightness as low as possible to reduce the amount of electricity used. If you are using artificial light, consider adjusting the brightness of the light bulbs and installing dimmers. Dimmer switches not only reduce the amount of energy used, but also help create a relaxing and soothing atmosphere.

Use a dehumidifier

Humidity in the workplace can lead to a variety of issues. A high level of humidity can cause skin and eye irritations, and damage fabrics and other materials. It can also encourage the growth of mold and mildew.Mold and mildew can be particularly problematic in areas with high humidity, such as basements, kitchens and bathrooms. Keeping the humidity in your office between 35 and 50 percent can help prevent these issues.There are a number of different kinds of dehumidifiers on the market. But, if you want to use a dehumidifier in your office, it’s best to hire a professional to install it correctly. This will help prevent issues like humidity build-up and mold growth.

Keep kitchen appliances clean

Kitchen appliances can be both a source of unwanted germs and a breeding ground for pests.Germs and bacteria can be transferred from kitchen appliances to other areas of your office, including food preparation areas. This can cause increased illness and spread of harmful bacteria, such as E. coli.Keeping kitchen appliances clean will help prevent these issues and make it easier to keep the rest of the office clean.Wiping down appliances with a mild cleaning solution can help remove food and grease build-up, as well as reduce the spread of germs.

Eliminate clutter

Too many unnecessary items in your office can cause clutter and make it more difficult for workers to find what they need. This can also make cleaning more difficult. If there’s too much clutter, it’s more likely for items to be dropped and broken, or left out in the open, making them more of a hazard for visitors and clients.To declutter your office, start by removing unnecessary items. This can include trash, old supplies, broken items, and items that are no longer being used. It’s also important to regularly clean up clutter. If you create a designated area for things like paperwork and supplies, it will make it easier to keep it organized.

Install good flooring

Depending on the type of flooring in an office, it can have a huge impact on the health and cleanliness of the space. For example, hard flooring, such as concrete or tiles, can increase dust and dirt. This can make it more difficult to keep an office clean.To create a healthier office space, consider installing better flooring. This can include soft carpeting, linoleum, or even wood flooring. These types of flooring can help reduce dust and dirt, making it easier to keep an office clean.

Schedule regular deep cleaning days

As with any other office, it’s important to have a regular cleaning schedule in place. However, as an added benefit, it can also help you stay on top of any issues with the cleaning schedule.For example, if you have a cleaning service, you can help keep them on schedule by scheduling regular cleaning days. If you are doing the cleaning yourself, you can also create a daily checklist to help keep up with the cleaning. This will make it easier to keep the office clean.