Sometimes the desktops, work surfaces and tools we use during the day can be just as unpleasant, even if we don’t realise it.
This week, we’ve some tips on how to keep your working environment clean and sanitary – keeping your environment and your tech clean can often stave off many problems like dust or dirt accumulating, and thus prolong its service life.
Since the pandemic, there has been an increase in awareness of exactly how grimy and dirty our commonly-used surfaces can be, as well as things like desktops, monitors, mice and keyboards. Sanitising these surfaces regularly with appropriate cleaning wipes can help keep them in clean, working order and offer a more hygienic environment for everyone.
Screens and other surfaces can catch crumbs and splashes of food and drink, especially if you or your colleagues have snacks or lunch while working – this is something many people often find themselves doing much more when they work remotely, too. As well as food and drink, dust and dirt, along with things like saliva or mucus from coughs or sneezes can collect on screen surfaces.
Antimicrobial screen cleaning wipes can be found in many places, such as office supply stores, tech retailers, on Amazon or even in some supermarkets. You can also find sprays to use with your own reusable cloth, if you are more environmentally conscious.
Antimicrobial general surface wipes along with hand sanitiser can be found cheaply in many general stores and even corner shops now. While not a substitute for keeping a clean working environment, it’s good practice to keep some hand sanitiser nearby, just in case.
Cleaning keyboards and mice regularly will also help to prevent malfunctions caused by dust, dirt and debris getting underneath the keys or accumulating in other hidden areas (like underneath the scroll wheel and around the buttons on a mouse).
They are some quite ingenious products available to help with this, too. Keyboard cleaning putty is available and is a low-cost option. Essentially it is a pliable “goo” that you can press onto your keyboard and roll along it, and it will extract crumbs, dirt, hair, and dust without leaving any residue. Items like this can really help with cleaning in awkward or tight spaces, such as between keys.
Last but not least, seating and similar surfaces deserve a mention. Refreshing other furnishings like chairs and footrests with antimicrobial sprays or cleaners can help to keep the dirt and grime in your environment to a minimum, and have the bonus effect of helping to remove any unpleasant odours that may linger.
