Is there one room in the office where employees hate cleaning more than the break room? It is a tough call. The break room seems to be the one area that doesn’t get as much attention as it should. And unfortunately, there are plenty of ‘hidden gems’ in this particular space. Hidden gems that, if not cleaned regularly, can turn into nightmares.
Whether your company manages cleaning in-house or contracts with a commercial cleaning services provider, make sure the break room is not ignored. Be sure that every nook and cranny is cleaned regularly. Remember, you are dealing with food in the break room. Not keeping it clean could lead to unwanted consequences.
Clean Inside the Fridge
The first of our break room hidden gems is the refrigerator. The refrigerator itself is not hidden. But dirt and grime inside is. Keep the refrigerator door closed and no one is the wiser, right? It is all well and good until you decide to bring lunch from home. Then, putting your lunch in a dirty refrigerator is enough to turn your stomach.
We are not really sure why cleaning the inside of the fridge is such a big deal. You don’t know why so many people avoid it. Nonetheless, a dirty break room fridge is not good. On the other hand, cleaning the inside of the fridge is pretty easy. You just need a little bit of time (to remove all the items) and an all-purpose cleaning solution. It only takes a few minutes to wipe it down and you’re on your way.
Clean Inside the Microwave
If the inside of the fridge is the dirtiest space in the break will me, the inside of the microwave is a close second. We all know why. Microwave explosions are as commonplace as coffee spills. And unfortunately, failing to clean up a microwave explosion when it happens only allows all that food debris to dry out and get caked on.
Here is a handy tip for easy microwave cleaning: put a bowl of water in the microwave and run it on high for two minutes. The evaporating water will loosen all the caked-on grime, thereby allowing you to wipe it off fairly easily.
Don’t Forget the Coffee Machine
Do not even get us started on the coffee machine. If there is one thing commercial cleaning services know all too well is that office workers have a natural aversion to clean coffee pots and baskets. We have seen some pretty messy coffee machines in our time.
If your company is lucky enough to be able to pay for coffee service, the service provider probably cleans the machine once or twice a week. If not, it is up to your employees to do the job. Don’t neglect it. Coffee stains surfaces. An extremely dirty coffee machine can be very difficult to clean.
And Clean the Trash Cans, Too
Finally, the trash cans in your break room are another hidden gem often left neglected. Here is the problem with break room trash cans: workers have a nasty habit of dumping liquids into them. All it takes is one small hole or tear in a trash can liner to allow liquids to seep through. Then you have a noxious mess sitting in the bottom of the can.
Ah, yes. The break room offers so many opportunities to make messes. Here’s hoping you and your team can keep the break room clean. If not, perhaps it’s time to consider bringing in commercial cleaning services. Companies like All Pro Cleaning Systems can make quick work of your entire office, break room included.
