Are piles of dirty dishes, a smelly microwave and a cluttered fridge part of your daily life when you are at work? Even if your office cleaning team is being paid to clean your office, it’s everyone’s responsibility to make sure the office kitchen doesn’t turn into a dump.
Follow these seven office kitchen rules and etiquette for employees:
Rule 1: Set your kitchen rules
Do you have any office kitchen rules established? If there is no policy explaining what is expected of everyone who uses the kitchen, create one. Make sure everyone is aware of the new kitchen rules, and post a sign and a few reminders where everyone will see them. If you see someone breaking the rules, act.
Rule 2: Create a kitchen cleaning schedule
Do you want each employee to be responsible to clean the dishes they use, or would you like someone to be in charge of doing each office kitchen cleaning chore? If you choose the second option, you could create a cleaning schedule so everyone will be reminded of what they have to do, and when.
Rule 3: Ask everyone to clean up their own messes
Spills are a lot easier to clean when they are fresh, than hours or days later, when they’re all dried up. Regardless of who is in charge of loading the dishwasher and cleaning the kitchen counter, remind everyone that if they spill anything on any surface, they should wipe up their mess right away.
Rule 4: Get a dishwasher
If you don’t have a dishwasher in your office kitchen, you should get one, even if it’s only a small countertop dishwasher. Of course, the dirty and smelly dishes in the sink won’t jump into the dishwasher on their own, but installing a dishwasher should help your office kitchen get cleaner as long as at least a few employees get involved.
Rule 5: Empty the fridge regularly
Is the office kitchen fridge full of rotten fruits, bad milk, and disgusting leftovers you just can’t identify anymore? If so, the best office kitchen rules dictate that you should empty it once a week, or at least once a month. Your schedule should state clearly that any leftovers or perishable food will be thrown away after a certain amount of time.
Rule 6: Get biodegradable utensils
If there is no room for a dishwasher in your office kitchen, or if people simply won’t put their dirty utensils and dishes in it, maybe you could consider buying plastic utensils that can be thrown away after use. Be sure to buy biodegradable utensils that will not harm the environment, and consider your options for eco-friendly paper or plastic plates, bowls, and cups.
Rule 7: Ask your office cleaning service to spend more time in the kitchen
If you already have an office cleaning service taking care of the cleanliness of your workspace, you could ask them to spend a bit more time in the kitchen each time they visit you. They will get rid of dirt and germs, and set a good example for everyone using the office kitchen.