When was the last time you cleaned your office desk? 

5 essential tips for cleaning your home office 

Help to keep bugs at bay this season with these handy office cleaning tips 

Hybrid working and remote working look here to stay, with more than 8 in 10 workers who had to work from home during the pandemic now doing it*. 

And with people working in home offices across the country, these must be kept clean and tidy, particularly with winter bugs on the rise.  

Experts at Furniture at Work have put together five of the best ways to tackle workplace bacteria: 

1.    How to clean your office chair  

Your office chair can become a hotbed of germs, and it’s important you feel comfortable in it, whilst keeping germs at bay.   

How to clean it will depend on its material – some chairs have a care tag on that says how to clean it so check that first. If your chair is leather, vinyl or polyurethane-covered, you can use a vacuum cleaner then washing up liquid and clean cloths. For some fabric chairs, you can’t use water-based cleaners as they may damage them, so opt for a dry cleaner instead, applying it to a cloth and gently rubbing the stain to remove it.  

For any deep cleaning on particularly stubborn stains, you can use vinegar or laundry detergent depending on the stain. 

We recommend giving your chair a refresh every two weeks, although clean it straight away if you spill on it, as the longer you leave a stain, the harder it is to get out. A clean every two weeks will not only clear away bacteria and keep your home office looking smart, but it can also increase the chair’s lifespan and save you money in the long run.   

2.    Wipe down your keyboard (don’t forget in between the keys!) 

In a study on the germiest places in the office, keyboards were in the top 10. They can get very dirty if they are not cleaned regularly, through germs from hands, food or dust.  

For a thorough clean, shut down your laptop or computer and unplug the keyboard. Then, shake it gently over a bin to get rid of crumbs and debris, followed by cotton swabs and isopropyl alcohol to clean between the keys, and finally, do a surface clean with a damp disinfectant wipe. 

3.    Clean your desk 

Your desk isn’t just where you keep your computer, keyboard, and mouse, it’s also where many eat and drink while working so it’s important to clean it. 

A regular clean can keep it free from potentially harmful bacteria, as well as keeping it fresh and tidy. The best way to clean it is to first clear it, then wipe all surfaces with a damp cloth and anti-bacterial spray. If it is hardwood, you can use bicarbonate of soda and a damp cloth to get rid of marks and stains. 

4.    Disinfect your office bin  

Bins harbour a lot of bacteria and can lead to bad smells, so try to disinfect your office bin when it’s time to empty it. Even though it’s not somewhere our hands go, bacteria from the bin can spread into the air and can collect inside, making it hard to clean if left too long. 

5.    Don’t eat at your desk  

An easy way to keep your workspace clean is to avoid eating at your desk, where germs from this area might cross-contaminate onto food, your hands and your face. Keyboards, mouses and monitors all distribute the bacteria you pick up from around the office, so make sure to have lunch away from this area, and wash your hands before enjoying food. 

For more tips on keeping your home office clean and eliminating winter bugs, visit the blog here.