A clean work space equals a productive work space. Clutter has two negative impacts on employees. Disorganization directly impacts productivity. Loose papers make important documents harder to find and important documents might accidently be discarded as meaningless clutter. Clutter also has a negative impact on employee health. Clutter creates dust, making your workspace a stuffy environment as well as encourages bacteria growth. Here is a step by step guide to help you and your employees organize your workspaces.

Step One: Collect all loose papers. Stack papers in a pile and review each page. If an item is old or of little importance you can throw it out. To eliminate paper entirely, scan each page and make digit copies of any important documents. Once papers are collected, removed and properly filed you may notice that you have a lot more desk space than before.

Step Two: Clean electronic devices. Items like your keyboard, telephone and computer mouse are bacteria hotspots because we touch them with our hands. Use disinfectant whips to clean each item. To remove crumbs and debris from inside your keyboard shake it upside down over a trashcan.

Step Three: Clean your desk. Now that the top of your desk is clear use a disinfecting wipe and wipe the entire top of your desk. Make sure any paper clips or reusable stationary supplies are recycled instead of thrown out to save money and reduce waste. Next use a microfiber cloth or duster and remove dust from behind and underneath your desk. Microfiber cloths create an electrostatic charge that instantly removes dust.

Step Four: Reorganize. When reorganizing your desk you will want to try to find a place for everything. For example, use a cup to hold pencils and pens or buy a paper stand to make a new home for loose papers. Another way to create space is by finding a computer stand for your pc’s monitor. Computer monitors are generally the largest item on a desk, and when lifted, you will end up with more horizontal space.

Step Five: Stay clean and organized. Once you have cleaned and reorganized your desk it is important to keep it that way. You can keep disinfecting wipes at your desk for regular disinfecting. Staying organized however requires a more conscience effort. Motivate employees to keep their desks clean by holding a monthly clean desk contest. Winner gets a free lunch!