We office workers spend countless hours at desks. We eat over them, drink tea, touch up our makeup, moisturise our hands, blow our noses – and do all of that while beavering away at our jobs. But how often do we give them a proper, thoughtful clean?
Despite looking at it all day, it’s so easy to overlook the surface that props up our workday. But we really shouldn’t be ignoring our desks when it comes to cleaning. Why? Because a clean desk is more than just nice to look at – it’s essential to hygiene, and a surprising contributor to focus and wellbeing.
But how are you supposed to do it? Just give it a wipe and call it a day? Scrub it down, or use a set of cleaning products? Well, it all depends on the surface in front of you. Thankfully, learning how to clean an office desk properly is straightforward once you know the right method for your desk.
Why a clean desk matters
Your desk is the stage for your working day. A clean, fresh desk sets a calm, capable tone. It looks good to you, your colleagues, clients – and to your boss.
A sticky, dusty, manky looking desk does the opposite. It looks unprofessional, sure – but it also adds “mental clutter” without you even noticing. It can sap your will to work, and just make the most basic of tasks seem more unpleasant.
Worst of all, our office desks are landing pads for all sorts of gross stuff. Over a single day, a desk can accumulate skin flakes and oils, food crumbs, makeup residue, dried coffee rings, and a fine layer of dust from paper and files. This is a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria, which can set off an office-wide outbreak of illness.
Cleaning office desks should be seen as a health issue – not as some fussy, nitpicky, box-ticking exercise.
What exactly are we cleaning off our desks?
The typical office desk is a gathering place for a surprisingly varied mix of stuff: biscuit crumbs, coffee drips, ink, and paper fibres form the bulk of the “macro” pollutants that gunk up our desks – but there are so many more…
Read more: The DIRTIEST Area in the Office is YOUR DESK!
The natural oils from our skin transfer onto the desk edge where we rest our forearms. Hairs from beards, eyebrows and eyelashes can fall out when we rub our tired faces. Foundation and concealer leave pale, waxy smudges on our desks. Dead skin settles into every nook.
And let’s not forget the mysterious sticky patches that appear from nowhere – the ghost of a long-evaporated juice spill or the glue from a label that was half peeled off and then forgotten.
It’s all kind of gross, and all kinds of nasty microorganisms will happily multiply under these conditions. And this is why we need to clean office desks regularly.
Your desk cleaning ritual
Aim to do this weekly if you can, it won’t take more than a few minutes.
First, clear the decks – lift off your monitor, keyboard, phone, all your accumulated post it notes and pens… The lot! Keep them safe to one side.
Read more: How to Clean Office Equipment (Keyboards, Phones, and More)
Begin with a dry dusting. Use a microfibre cloth to sweep every inch of the surface, collecting loose dust and crumbs as you go. Pay attention to the corners and where cables go, as dust can pile up here.
This dry dusting keeps you from pushing wet dirt around in the next step!
Matching the cleaner to the desk
So, all you’ve got to do now is reach for the nearest antibacterial spray, give the whole surface a vigorous squirt, and wipe – right?
Well sure, if your desk is a hardy, modern laminate design, that might be absolutely fine. But for a beautiful old mahogany desk, or a finely crafted piece with a delicate veneer, that same anti-bac spray could be a disaster.
You have to respect the material, and here’s a quick guide to getting it right.
Modern laminate and fibreboard desks
Most contemporary office desks are made from laminate, MDF with a melamine coating, or the ubiquitous fibreboard from that good old Swedish flat-pack company.
These surfaces are designed to be tough, stain resistant, and easy to maintain. They’re also the most forgiving to clean, and for daily or weekly cleaning, a mild antibacterial surface spray is perfectly suitable.
Spray it onto a soft cloth (never directly onto the desk, as moisture can seep into edges or seams) and wipe the surface clean in gentle, overlapping strokes.
Follow with a dry cloth to buff away any streaks, and you’re done!
For stubborn marks like dried tea rings or pen ink, a tiny drop of washing up liquid in warm water can work wonders.
Dampen your cloth in the mixture, wring it out until just about dry, then wipe the mark.
Dry any water off immediately, because while these surfaces are tough, they really don’t like standing water!
Wooden desks and fine veneers
A solid wood desk or a quality veneer has warmth and character, and a high end feel. It also has vulnerabilities – so harsh chemicals, bleach, undiluted alcohol, and abrasive scrubbers are its enemies.
They can strip the finish, dull the grain, or leave permanent cloudy patches.
For a genuine antique or a cherished wooden surface, treat it as you would any fine piece of furniture. Dust it first with a dry, soft microfibre cloth to lift loose particles, then use a dedicated wood cleaner or a very mild soap solution.
Apply it sparingly to your cloth, and wipe with the grain, not against it. Dry immediately and thoroughly.
An occasional polish with beeswax or wood balm (maybe once every few months) will feed the wood and can even restore shallow marks and cuts.
Glass desktops
Glass… It looks great and doesn’t scratch up, but it’s a relentless fingerprint magnet. It also shows every single streak if you clean it carelessly.
You don’t find them in offices often, but if you do have glass desks, the secret to cleaning them is simple. Mix up a 50/50 vinegar and water solution, and apply it with a microfibre cloth followed by a buff with a dry cloth. Sparkling results, every time!
Metal and chrome parts
Most desks feature metal legs, trim, or drawer knobs. Chrome and metal parts are easy to refresh with a quick dry wipe – and to go further, a soft, damp cloth with a dab of mild detergent will remove most stubborn smudges.
For a brilliant shine on chrome parts, a tiny amount of WD40 on a soft rag will buff away fingerprints and leave a protective, gleaming finish.
Use it sparingly though, and wipe away any excess.
Office Cleaning for Busy Professions
If your office team is stretched thin and their desks are starting to miss their wipe downs, then professional office cleaning is what you need. A scheduled cleaning service can lift the burden, giving every surface from the reception desk to the cubicle in the farthest corner office a thorough, regular, hygienic clean.
Get your office cleaning from The Abbey Cleaning Service. Call 029 2067 9323 today for a quote.
