Start the New Year with a Clean Workplace
Start the New Year with a Clean Workplace
Now your Christmas decorations are down, it is the perfect opportunity to have a clean workplace. to start the New Year fresh. In fact, January cleaning is just as important as the pre-Christmas cleaning. For some businesses who had that rush of busyness over the festive period, getting everything back in order is even more important.
We’ve put together a helpful guide for businesses to follow to get their buildings sparkling in January.
Why is a clean workplace important in January?
Whether you were open or closed over Christmas, it is important that you have a clean workspace as you enter the New Year.
If your workplace is shut over the festive season then you might be returning to your space having a layer of dust over it. Due to the cold weather this time of year, you could be looking at condensation or mould build-up, meaning you are requiring a deeper clean.
If you were open and likely very busy, your environment will need help to recover from the rush and mess of December!
Often people are feeling a little disheartened returning to work after the Christmas holidays. You should also consider how a cleaner workplace can benefit the employee’s mental health– After all a tidy space helps to create a tidy mind.
Our January cleaning guide to get your business sparkling clean:
1. Removing Dust is a Must!
If you are one of the business owners that closed over Christmas, this should be one of your first priorities with January cleaning.
Cleaning that dust layer that built up while everybody was off is key. Not only do dusty surfaces look off-putting to your staff, but they can also affect allergies.
The secret to effective dusting is using the right equipment. You’ll find many cleaning tools on the market, but it is important to make sure that they are made for dusting and are suitable for the type of surface you are cleaning.
2. Organise the workplace
With a New Year comes new goals and organisation is a good one to focus on. Whether you are rearranging the room layout or your own personal desk, it is a nice opportunity to freshen up your work area.
It is likely that office desks and production workplaces probably got neglected during the busy Christmas period. So now’s the time to get your staff to take 20 minutes to organise their desks again.
It’s a great way to get staff back into the swing of things and to get into a more motivated mindset so they are ready to tackle the New Year. Furthermore, an organised and clean workplace boosts productivity, efficiency and reduces potential mistakes caused by disorganisation.
Here is a helpful checklist for cleaning your office desk!

3. Take out the bins ready for collection
Depending how much you cleaned pre-Christmas, this is either a quick win or it may require a little more effort! If you made sure that your rubbish was all sorted and the bins were collected before the New Year then you definitely have a head start!
Make sure your rubbish is in the correct bins, and put them out on the right days, ready to be collected!
4. Check the fridge for items that have gone off
One of the most important items in our customers’ January cleaning schedules is checking the food for expired food and drink.
There really is nothing worse than opening a fridge to a nasty smell. Even if this was on your pre-Christmas cleaning list, things can easily be missed, or may have turned since.
So make sure to give the fridges and cupboards some attention to make sure there aren’t any nasty surprises lurking.
5. Make sure there are no signs of mould!
This is a problem many people in the UK are dealing with, not just businesses. With the temperature dropping, you’ll need to inspect your property for signs of mould.
Make this a priority in your January workplace cleaning, as it is important that any mould is found and sorted out. If not it can negatively impact people’s health, the actual building and it is not aesthetically pleasing!
If you’re using a commercial cleaning service then they’ll be able to advise you further. But when tackling this yourself then make sure you’re using appropriate cleaning products and equipment so it is done safely.
Remember there is a difference between being clean and sanitised!
6. Don’t Forget the Floors!
Cleaning the floors are often neglected or put off, but they are one of the dirtiest areas of the workplace. With everyone constantly walking around, you want to make sure that they are clean both for hygiene and safety.
It will also help to maintain your floors so that they are long-lasting and look nice. From mopping to vacuuming, it is not a lot of effort to keep your floors shining!
Here are some business floor cleaning tips!
7. Restock Supplies!
January and the start of the year is a good time to check your current stock. Go and check that everything is restocked, from bathroom products to cleaning supplies. This will prevent running out of anything and it will keep it convenient for all of the staff!
Whether you work in a warehouse or keep your supplies and stock in one, here is our ultimate warehouse cleaning checklist.
8. Deep Clean When Quiet
For many businesses, January is notoriously quiet, making it the perfect opportunity to have a deep clean. With less work for the staff, everyone can help to chip in and tidy up, ensuring a clean environment for everyone without impacting staff productivity. This is especially crucial for industries such as hospitality as workplace sanitation is key for areas where food is manufactured, prepared and served.
9. Say Goodbye to Christmas!
Hopefully, all of your festive decorations are already away and out of sight. But if you’re only just returning, your first step should be to pack away the tinsel and fairy lights.
Pack away any rogue Santas or Snowmen who somehow escaped your post-Christmas clean-up! This is especially important for customer-facing businesses, as outdated decorations may give customers the impression that the business is neglected and the staff are not proactive.
10. Set up workplace cleaning schedules
With it being the start of a year, it is the perfect time to get planning. This makes January the optimal time to get cleaning contracts booked and cleaning schedules set up.
>Even if you don’t have a full calendar for the year booked in, it can help you plan big cleans around key moments in the year. For example, the Summer cleaning for schools.

11. Get a reliable commercial cleaning contract!
This is our number one tip: Having a professional commercial cleaning contract will make a world of difference to not only you but your customers too.
The difference will be evident as your internal staff cleaning around their duties wont be needed. Our cleaning professionals will be dedicating their time to maintaining the building.
Why is ServiceMaster Swansea your number one local cleaning service?
Contact us today to take the first step towards a clean workplace!
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