5 Tips Sanitizing Your Desk Or Office

Amidst all the chaos and uncertainties of the coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic, one of the first things to open back up is office
buildings. We’ve managed to keep our homes clean and protect ourselves within
comfortable environments, but many are wondering how to do this at their very
own desk upon returning to work. What was once a familiar setting can now
feel foreign as the pandemic rages on. This is why we have listed the top
five tips for sanitizing your desk and office space.

Make Sure You Come
Prepared

Before you return to your office or desk space, think of all the
cleaning supplies you’ll want to use for sanitizing the space. It is
important you bring EPA-registered disinfectants to keep at your desk for
daily use. This furthers your chances of killing any germs that may touch
your space.

Consistency is Key

Just because you cleaned your desk upon returning to the office
does not mean it will stay free of germs. Make
sure you sanitize your desk daily. Wipe down the surface in one direction and
don’t go back over it in the opposite direction because it will deposit germs
that were just cleaned up.

Think of setting a reminder to clean either in the morning or
before you leave work. You are in charge of your own space and maintaining
its sanitization. Don’t hesitate to ask your employer if they are taking any
other necessary steps to sanitize the office apart from what you’re doing.
This is helpful to know as part of your precautionary cleaning
routines.

On trash days, you can leave your bin near the door of your office
or desk, minimizing the time someone else enters your space. When using the
bathroom, communal or single, it’s a smart idea to come prepared with
disinfectant wipes for the toilet and sink to make sure you are only touching
clean surfaces.

Know What Your High Touch Surfaces
Are

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines high touch surfaces
as: “tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones,
keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.” Take yourself through a regular day
at the office, and make note of all the things you have to touch in order to
go through your workday efficiently. This includes electronics, writing
utensils such as pens and pencils, folders, keyboards, monitors and chairs.
Remember, when it comes to sanitizing, it is better to clean too much than
too little. Using proper precautions, such as gloves, helps eliminate your
risk of exposure while cleaning.

Remember to Wear Your Mask

Your workplace most likely has its own guidelines as to when you
should be wearing masks to protect against the pandemic. Make sure you have
more than one mask, so if you forget one in the car or leave one at the
office, you are minimizing the exposure you have while without
one.

Attitude is Still Everything

The workspaces of the world will have to wait a long time before
they are anything like we remember them. However, one thing that hasn’t
changed is the need for a positive and safe work environment. Your desk may
have a new cleaning routine, but knowing that your space at work is clean and
not a haven for germs will make you feel better and more positive about going
back in.