Check out our office kitchen and lunchroom cleaning checklist to keep your workplace clean and healthy every day!
How to Clean Your Office Kitchen and Lunchroom
The typical office plays host to approximately 500 different kinds of bacteria, which can spread throughout more than 50% of your office, including where your food is prepared and consumed, in under 4 hours.
Adding to the concern, a recent study conducted by Initial Washroom Hygiene confirmed many office workers' worst fears.
According to Elite Daily;
The study checked the bacterial levels of standard and common office appliances like tea bag boxes, refrigerator door handles, used mugs, hot water taps, and the kitchen countertop.
To put it lightly, the results were less than ideal, showing that boxes of workplace tea bags may contain as many as 17 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, on average.
But it wasn't just boxes of tea bags that were filled with bacteria, according to the study.
A kettle handle holds 12 times as much bacteria as a toilet seat.
A fridge door holds eight times as much, and a countertop holds five times as much.
How Many Germs Are In A Kitchen? Science Says Your Office's Kitchen May Be Filthy
Creating and following an area-specific cleaning checklist will help eliminate many of the germs and bacteria that permeate high-traffic areas in offices.
The Financial Incentive for Cleaning Your Office Kitchen and Breakroom
Recent studies have proven that germs in office kitchens, lunchrooms, and breakrooms represent a significant challenge for business owners and managers--specifically the cost of worker absences, healthcare expenses, and reduced performance.
According to an article published by the University of Arizona;
[...] the percentage of the office surfaces found to have high levels of contamination (an adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, count of 300 or higher) includes:
- 75 percent of break room sink faucet handles.
- 48 percent of microwave door handles.
- 27 percent of keyboards.
- 26 percent of refrigerator door handles.
- 23 percent of water fountain buttons.
- 21 percent of vending machine buttons.
The bottom line?
Office workers are potentially being exposed to illness-causing bacteria in their own lunchrooms, as well as elsewhere around the office.
The implementation of healthy workplace programs that focus on the prevention and removal of infectious diseases has resulted in substantial returns on investment.
According to the Deb Group;
Workplace infection control programs focusing on hand hygiene have been found effective at reducing absenteeism on average by around 40 %.
Office Kitchen and Lunchroom Cleaning Checklist
Numerous studies have shown that several common surfaces located in office kitchens tend to carry more germs than the office toilet seat, including:
- Sink faucet handles.
- Refrigerator door handles.
- Microwave buttons and door handles.
- Coffee pot handles and carafes.
- Coffee mugs, and;
- Sponges.
The yogurt in the back of the refrigerator is likely none too fresh, either.
When following these tasks, make a conscientious effort to use environmentally friendly practices and products, such as non-toxic, biodegradable, safer for use cleaning and disinfection products combined with microfiber towels and mops.
For additional safety precautions, use color-coded microfiber to avoid surface cross-contamination and the two-bucket cleaning method to reduce water use and waste, as well as to further reduce the potential for cross-contamination.
Daily (Adjust for actual occupancy and use):
- Dust - Vents, fans, light fixtures, and shelves.
- Wipe Down - Walls, counters, sinks, and tables.
- Wash - Coffee mugs, pots, dishes, and utensils.
- Empty - Coffe makers and trashcans.
- Sweep - Make sure to move and get behind the furniture.
- Mop - Start at the corner furthest from the exit and work your way back.
Weekly:
- Empty - Recycling bins, cupboards, and refrigerator.
- Sanitize - Garbage disposals, trashcans, refrigerators, and microwaves.
- Scrub - Sinks and hard or tile floors.
- Wipe Down - Windows.
- Vacuum - Walkway mats.
References & Resources
Takeaway
Maintaining a sanitary location for employees to dine will net numerous advantages, such as:
- Improved workplace and employer satisfaction.
- Increased workforce engagement.
- Reduced absentee and presenteeism.
- Elevated cognitive and creative functions, and;
- Increased profits.
The most important aspect of any quality cleaning program is consistency in both execution and dedication to using safe chemicals.
Getting started can be challenging.
Fortunately, we are here to help.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of outsourcing your office cleaning needs–contact us today for a free quote!
In Bakersfield CA, call (661) 4373253
In Fresno CA, call (559) 206-1059
In Valencia CA, or Santa Clarita CA, call (661) 437-3253
