When it comes to your office communal areas, many businesses overlook the break room. From the fridge to the microwave, your office break room is a germ and bacteria hotspot, that deserves as much cleaning attention as your reception and meeting rooms.
Your office break room should be a clean and welcoming space where employees can take a break, enjoy a cup of coffee, or eat their lunch in comfort. That being said, there are areas within your break room that may be overlooked:
It's not uncommon for spills and splatters in the microwave to be ignored. Over time, these spills and platters lead to bad odours and bacteria growth, making it an unhygienic piece of equipment, increasing the risk of spreading illness. Microwaves should be cleaned regularly, focusing on the interior and door handle, along with selector buttons.
It's also not uncommon for employees to bring their lunch from home, placing it in the fridge and forgetting about it. Expired food items, left overs, and spills inside the fridge pose serious health risks. The fridge should be thoroughly cleaned weekly, this involves deep cleaning the drawers, and shelves, while disposing of any outdated and forgotten food items.
If you have sinks in your break room, they can also accumulate bacteria and food waste. You should be disinfecting your taps, sinks, microwave handle, fridge handle, coffee machine, and other high touch surfaces numerous times daily. Ensure the sinks and taps are clean and hygienic, enabling employees to use them with confidence without the risk of spreading disease.
Coffee machines and kettles can create a warm and moist area that encourages mould growth. It's important that the coffee machine, kettle, and surrounding area is cleaned and sanitised regularly.
Crumbs and spills are bound to happen in the break room environment, often accumulating under tables and chairs, increasing the risk of attracting pests. Regular cleaning of all furnishings, along with under the furniture, prevents the risk of dirt and grime build up.
Every break room should have bins or recycling bins, but they are often not cleaned as regularly as they should be, which can also attract pests. Bin lids should be disinfected, along with the bin interior to reduce odours and germs.
Break room hygiene is essential, yet there are important areas that are often overlooked. These are high traffic areas with lots of high touch points, which need to be cleaned and sanitised to reduce the spread of germs and illness. When your break room is clean and healthy, it improves employee comfort and satisfaction, providing them with a place to relax and chat with their colleagues, improving teamwork, morale, and productivity. If you need help keeping your office break room clean and hygienic, the Sloane Cleaning Services team are on hand to assist. Contact us now to find out more.