How To Clean Your Office

Those growing stacks of books and papers may help you think, but they aren't cleaning your office. When it comes to office cleaning, the best defense is offense--and a really good vacuum.

Step 1: declutter and organize

No matter how disinfected and dust-free your office, it won't be clean until those stacks of papers and that abandoned field of office supplies are decluttered and organized, revealing that desktop surface that surrendered to the stacks so long ago. If this step seems too overwhelming or time consuming to tackle yourself--so much so that you are avoiding cleaning your office--enlist the help of a professional cleaning and organization service. Such services take your work style and lifestyle into account, while systematically sorting items with your input.

Tip: Outsource your stacks of shredding to a professional, secure shredding service or a family member angling for a few bucks.

Step 2: the three tools of dusting

You'll need three tools to tackle the office dust: compressed air, a vacuum with a wand and brush attachment, and something to dust with that attracts and traps dust. Swiffer® dusters or a damp microfiber cloth are good dust trappers.

First, use carefully directed, compressed air to free dust from computer keyboards, nooks and crannies. Keep in mind that you're distributing dust that you'll need to clean up.

Next, vacuum everything you possibly can from the top of the room down to the baseboards: light fixtures and fans; drapery and blinds; books and bookcases. You want to suck away that dust and follow right behind with the duster.

When you get to the floors, be sure to move the furniture while vacuuming. Don't forget to vacuum your office chair.

Tip: To catch dust bunnies, suspend an upside down umbrella, when cleaning fans and lights.

Step 3: clean and disinfect

Use the correct product for the surface you're cleaning. The same cleaning product may be used to clean the windows and glass surfaces, to disinfectant the doorknobs, light switches, telephone handsets and keypads. Don't use disinfectant on wood furniture. Wood furniture, if properly finished sealed, doesn't require wax or polish, either.

Tip: Don't use that disinfectant on your computer's digital screen! Use only digital screen cleaner and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

With a little bit of elbow grease--yours or a professional cleaning service's--you can get your office clean and pristine in no time. A clean office means better focus.