Best Methods for Cleaning Breakrooms

Most companies have a breakroom where employees can sit down, eat lunch, and take care of other personal matters while on the job. Since this is a communal space used by multiple people every day, it needs regular cleaning to keep germs and dirt to a minimum so your employees stay healthy.

Most breakrooms contain a fridge and smaller appliances like a microwave and coffee maker. Food storage and preparation devices such as these make cleaning even more imperative. The best approach is to develop a cleaning routine specific to this area. Here are some tips from Phoenix Service to make your breakroom cleaning most effective.

Cleaning Appliances – How

So how do you go about cleaning these breakroom appliances? First, you’ll need the right supplies. Fortunately, they aren’t hard to come by; the average office likely already has them on hand. You will need towels, old rags, and/or paper towels, plus a disinfectant. As a suggestion, Clorox disinfecting wipes are a good product to get you started.

Begin by giving the entire room a general sweep – figuratively, but literally too. Sweep the floor, starting at the far end of the room and making your way toward the door. This way you won’t work your way into a corner. Also clean top to bottom: dust higher areas like shelves and ceiling cobwebs so that dirt falls to the floor, where you will sweep and mop it up as your last task.

Cleaning Break Room | Best Methods

Now it’s time for the appliances. Dust them first to get dirt and other debris like dried-on food off them. Then use a liquid cleaner to wipe the outside and inside of the refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker. When tackling the fridge, take all contents out shelf by shelf and wipe up any spilled food or stains.

Then spray the shelf with a disinfectant and let it sit, or use the aforementioned Clorox wipe. Dry it with a paper towel or clean cloth towel, and let it air out for a few minutes. Don’t forget the back inside wall and sides of the fridge as well. You can use the same approach for the freezer section of the fridge too if it has one.

The coffee maker serving carafe always needs a good clean too. Used coffee grounds and stains have a way of building up! Fill the serving pot halfway with equal parts white vinegar and water. Run a brew cycle, then halfway through the cycle, turn it off and let it sit for an hour. Turn back on, finish the cycle, and dump out the vinegar water. Run three more freshwater cycles to completely rinse.

Finally, if your breakroom has a toaster, make sure to clean the crumb tray. Wipe the outside of the toaster to get stuck food and stains off.

Cleaning Appliances – Why?

There are several important reasons why you should routinely clean your breakroom. First of all, it is your employees’ retreat and personal space away from the public work areas. Everyone needs a safe place to rest for a few minutes so that they can continue to be at their best throughout the day. Your employees deserve respect for the work they do, and that respect includes a clean and healthy environment in which to take a break.

Health is a big reason to maintain a clean breakroom. You don’t want your staff getting sick because they are coming into contact with germs in what is supposed to be their safe space. A dirty breakroom is not safe. Sick employees means sick days, and that will cost your business in productivity. You could even lose good employees if they feel that their work environment is not safe because it is the source of their illness.

Along with physical health comes mental health and employee morale. A clean breakroom will foster pride and reciprocate that respect for the company by the employees themselves. People who take pride in their work and/or company they work for are better positioned to be successful and stay with the business.

Cleaning Break Room | Best Methods

A company that has high employee turnover may not be fulfilling some of these psychological/emotional needs for its employees. Clean breakrooms are easier to navigate and reduce the risk of injuries such as trips, falls, and burns. They are also more enjoyable in which to spend time. This will improve employee mood, which in turn benefits the public side of your business.

Also note, at some places the public has access to break areas, perhaps as lounges or because it is connected to public restrooms. In this case it is very important to create a good impression on customers or clients by maintaining clean community spaces.

Your place of business likely has a breakroom of some sort. This area needs to be cleaned regularly for many important reasons. Since it is probably a high-traffic area used as a retreat for workers throughout the day, it necessitates a proper cleaning regimen. Phoenix Service has you covered on all the bases. Just follow the above steps for a breakroom worthy of your company’s most valuable asset – your employees.