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- It can pose a health and safety risk.
- It creates an unpleasant work environment for employees.
- It can leave an inadequate impression on business partners and visitors.
It is evident that keeping the kitchen clean is very important. But as the kitchen is a shared environment, often it means that people avoid taking responsibility and the hygiene of the office kitchen decreases. Let us help you avoid this problem, and check out tips on how to keep your office kitchen clean below:
Implement an office kitchen policy
Keep in mind that your workers will use the kitchen frequently. They will often be preoccupied with work and in a hurry. Add to that specific hygiene and dietary habits they all have. Therefore, it’s no wonder the office kitchen will turn into a mess in no time. Especially with no rules implemented.
When is the right time to establish rules? The moment the moving company brings your stuff into your new, spotless office. Professionals at vanexpressnj.com will make sure you have the perfect start you need. But even if you already have a problem maintaining hygiene in the kitchen, it is not too late. Make sure to display your kitchen policy in a prominent place. Rules should be firm and clear but not too rigid. Let your employees know that a healthy environment in the office is in everybody’s interest.
Put someone in charge
In companies with smaller numbers of employees, you can set a roster, assigning kitchen cleaning duties to everyone on the staff for an equal time. Ensure cleaning tasks are spread evenly across your team. You don’t want resentful workers that feel they are stuck with a worse job than others.
In companies with a more extensive number of employees, it is better to appoint a team that will be consistently responsible for maintaining hygiene in the office kitchen. You can assign supporting staff with additional tasks in the kitchen or interns with fewer responsibilities. You don’t want your workers, especially more experienced and better-paid ones, to waste too much time doing jobs for which you didn’t hire them. Perhaps, in that case, you might want to consider hiring professionals to keep your office kitchen clean. In this way, you will save time for your employees and improve productivity.
Things you must do to keep your office kitchen clean
If you want your workers to keep your office kitchen clean, you must first create the conditions that will enable and make it easier for them. Rules we have set must be feasible and do not require too much effort from your employees. Otherwise, it will be easier to push things under the carpet or quietly leave the room when no one is watching.
Have cleaning supplies on hand
In your office kitchen, you should always have the following:
- Cloths and paper towels
- Surface sprays
- Sponges
- Dish soap and brushes
- Garbage bins
- Recycling bins
- Refrigerators
- Dishwashers
Make sure that you have a sufficient supply of fresh dishcloths and sponges. Change them regularly, as they can be breeding grounds for bacteria. You will need an adequate number of garbage bins in the kitchen. Place them in easily accessible places. Be sure not to let them overflow. Have full garbage bins taken out frequently and bags inside replaced. If you recycle, make sure the bins are clearly labeled.
Spilled food or drinks are much harder to clean if you let them dry, especially on carpets. You should always have adequate detergent to treat them right away.
Sanitize and Disinfect
According to some studies, about 90% of the cups in the office kitchen carry dangerous germs. At the same time, 75% of the surfaces were home to more bacteria than the average toilet bowl. Of course, you understand how important it is to sanitize and disinfect all surfaces. We must disinfect all surfaces and appliances, using disinfectants that are not hazardous to food. Be sure to pay special attention to places that are most frequently used and usually the dirtiest.
Declutter your office kitchen
If you want to maintain the hygiene of the office kitchen more efficiently, it is best to throw out all unnecessary things from it and keep it neat and tidy. Every unnecessary appliance, piece of furniture, or carpet, is an additional place where bacteria can grow, and dust can collect.
Clean Out Refrigerator
You should clean the refrigerator in your office kitchen at least once a week and do a thorough cleaning at least once a month. In this way, you will ensure to remove any spoiled food and avoid the unpleasant smell of mixed food. Storing food in the refrigerator for a long time can eventually spoil other things inside. Disinfect the interior regularly because, regardless of the low temperature, dangerous bacteria can still appear.
Mop the kitchen floor several times daily
Clean the kitchen floor more often than any other floor in the office. Frequent spillage of food and drinks makes a kitchen floor an ideal place for bacteria to grow. Also, try to schedule the mopping at a time when there are few or no employees in the kitchen.
Final words
You and your employees will be more motivated to work in an environment that is in good condition. By keeping your office kitchen clean, you are making it easy for yourself and your coworkers. You may not know where to start with cleaning your office kitchen, or you’re confused about which part you should pay special attention to. So, we highly suggest you follow some of our tips. You and the people you’re working with will certainly find them helpful.
The office kitchen is much more than a place where employees can eat a meal or drink coffee in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, it’s a place that brings colleagues together. Place where they can exchange ideas, create a positive work environment and make the workplace much more pleasant. All of this will translate into work performance. But, the kitchen can also be a big problem in a company, especially if everyone doesn’t follow essential hygiene procedures. This is why you must keep your office kitchen clean at all times.
