5 Ways to Maintain a Clean & Organized Work Environment At Home

At this point, it’s clear remote work is here to stay. In fact, 45 percent of full-time U.S. employees work from home at least part-time. Following new Covid-19 outbreak figures, most companies have put their return-to-office plans on hold for another few months—if not a full year.

As people settle into the age of remote work, they’re starting to realize just how important it is to maintain a clean and organized office environment to sustain productivity.

In a traditional office, you’re typically free from the clutter and distractions of home. No tripping over children’s toys, no barking dogs, no junk mail piling up on the corner of your desk.

In a home office, everything changes. If you’re having a difficult time working remotely, it may be because your space is in need of some sprucing up. In this blog post, Gem City Cleaning Solutions, your go-to team of professional cleaning, has curated a list of five actionable steps you can take to keep your home office spick and span.

1. Use Proper Storage

Storage is essential to making the most of your workspace. If you don’t have enough storage space available, your desk and the area around it can become cluttered—and clutter is a killer of concentration.

Plus, clutter can slow you down. That’s why it’s key to find a place for everything in your office, from your pens to your paperwork to your planner. Knowing where everything is will help minimize downtime and maximize productivity.

A good place to start when it comes to storage is getting yourself a basic filing cabinet. Place your documents into labeled folders, organize them alphabetically, and remember to file them regularly.

Also, consider investing in drawer organizers. Set your pens, pencils, staplers, and other office supplies into the desk drawers or in a designated container.

Lastly, hide any electrical wires. While they are unsightly, wires may also pose a trip and fall hazard. To organize your wiring—whether it’s connected to lamps, computers, or other equipment—consider purchasing:

• Gear ties
• Cable stations
• Power strips
• Surge protectors
• Management sleeves and kits
• Cord boxes
• Cord labels

Quick note: Don’t go wild with buying new storage. Buy it as you need it. You may find that as remote continues to increase in popularity, less paperwork and equipment will come with it. 

2. Organize As You Go

Eliminating clutter and organizing your workspace as you go is a great way to maintain a clean work environment. Routinely eliminating clutter and organizing your workspace will help maintain a sense of order. For instance, keep a few stacking baskets on your desk for paperwork, each of which you'll assign a different priority level. At the end of each week, ensure each basket is empty.

By staying organized, you will ensure that you have ample room for new items. When it comes to managing your workspace:

• Limit personal belongings
• Use colored labels
• Clean your desk at the end of the workday
• Purge old items and documents
• Divide your office into zones (e.g., your computer space and non-computer space)
• Refrain from making new unnecessary purchases

3. Go Paperless

According to the University of Southern Indiana, “the average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. This amounts to about 2,000,000,000 trees per year!” So, not only does going paperless help limit the number of documents crowding your desk, but it also helps to save the environment, as a great deal of printer paper accounts for both landfill and municipal waste.

You may find that by going paperless, it's even easier to find what you need. Whether you're looking through your inbox or your hard drive, you can always use the search feature. Just be sure to give your documents accurate names so they're easy to find. Further, consider investing in a scanner and filing all of it digitally when it comes to filing paperwork.

4. Follow a Cleaning Schedule

Adhering to a cleaning schedule is a guaranteed way to keep your workspace clean and organized. What’s most important is determining a plan that works best for you and your lifestyle. Maybe you can get your office cleaned in a day, or maybe you need to divide it into sections according to different days of the week. No matter the case, it’s best to create a cleaning schedule that you can stick to.

5. Hire the Professionals

If you’re having difficulty following a cleaning schedule or find that you don’t have the free time to keep your home and office clean, call a professional cleaning service! These professionals know how to get the job done quickly and efficiently, and some may even provide you with tips on upkeep in between cleanings. So, when in doubt, leave it to the pros.

Why You Should Keep Your Office Clean

Inc. asserts that disorganization leads to increases in levels of stress, anxiety, and self-consciousness. Not only may you start to misplace and lose paperwork, but you may also exert unnecessary amounts of emotional, mental, and physical energy. A clean workspace also reduces your chances of being exposed to bacteria, which may lower your chances of getting sick.

If you would like to further boost your productivity after following these steps, consider:

• Purchasing new lighting: Cooler blue light is typically better for staying alert and productive (adjusting light intensity and color)
• Adding plants: Plants help improve perceptions of air quality, concentration, and workplace satisfaction
• Using diffusers or candle warmers: Certain scents such as lemon, citrus, and cinnamon can help you concentrate

Another One Fights the Dust

Keeping up with cleaning your home office can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By following these steps, you can make the most of your office space and ensure it stays well-organized while you continue to work remotely. If you need help with the organization and cleaning processes, call Gem City Cleaning Solutions at (814) 520-6025 or book an appointment with us today.