Of all the places and things in offices that can get dirty, electrical outlets are probably the most challenging to clean. Why? Well, for one, everything we clean with tends to be water-based – and water and electricity don’t mix.

For two, plug sockets are everywhere: in office kitchens (where they can get greasy), at workstations (where they get dusty), and along floors (where they can get muddy, dirty, and covered in scuffs). For anyone wondering how to clean plug sockets safely, we’ve got the answers here – so make sure you read this guide through before you attempt scrubbing down your power outlets!

Rule number one: safety first!

UK plug sockets might just be the safest in the world. They use a shuttered design that blocks the live elements off, until the third prong of the plug pushes them out of the way. But this design isn’t foolproof, or immune to misuse. UK plug sockets are high voltage, high output, and can cause deadly electrocution or electrical fires if they aren’t treated properly – so be sure to keep liquids, dust, and flammable materials well out of the way of them.

⚠️ DO NOT spray them with cleaning agents.
⚠️ DO NOT attempt to poke them open to clean them on the inside, even if they are off.
⚠️ DO NOT remove the housing, unless all power is OFF at the circuit breaker.

Thankfully, all your plug sockets will need most of the time is a light dusting.

Dry dust your main plug sockets

The sockets by desks, powering your computer and workstation electronics, will get away with a dry dusting and nothing more. Even the ones under desks and by doorways will do well with a dry dusting.

To be safe, turn the switches off – and unplug any devices from them, to get a thorough clean going.

If you find yourself with a more stubborn, grime-laden, scuff-marked socket, then simply turning the rocker switch off isn’t good enough – you’ll need to go further. This is especially true in office kitchens, where grime, sauce splashes, and caked in dust can make a dry wipe-down totally insufficient.

How to clean dirty, greasy, grimy plug sockets

Now, this can be tricky to do right, and can impact a workday – so consider doing any major plug socket maintenance out of hours. And just as a reminder, domestic UK power outlets might be safe in normal use – but they provide 230 volts up to 3,000 watts, and a current of 13 amps.

That is a lot of power.

⚠️ So, if you’re not confident with any of the following, then get an electrician to help!

You’ll need:

• Access to the circuit breaker
• Something wired to test the plug is off – like a desk lamp or fan
• A dampened cloth or scrubber (not soaking wet!) or a mild cleaning agent
• A dry, lint-free cloth
• A non-mains light source, if working out of daylight hours

And you’ll also need to work in a specific order:

1. Disconnect the mains circuit breaker – non-negotiable!
2. Cycle the plug on and off, to fully discharge it.
3. Don’t just trust that if the lights are out, then the outlets are, too – they can often run on different circuits, so this is an important step! Test the socket is free of voltage by:
   • Plugging something like a lamp or a fan in, turning the outlet on, and attempting to run the device. If it doesn’t work, then the power is off.
4. Remove the plugged-in device, and scrub the plug socket housing – but don’t use a soaking wet cloth or scrubber, only dampen it as necessary. Use a mild cleaner, like hot soapy water, if needed – but don’t spray it directly onto the socket.
5. Use a dry, lint-free cloth to thoroughly dry and polish the plug socket housing.
6. Reconnect the circuit breaker, and test the power again.

If cleaning doesn’t work (plastic outlet housings can become stained by strongly coloured, oily foods), then it may be better to replace the plug socket. While this can be a small and cheap DIY job, you’ll need to be confident in not only disconnecting the mains power, but sourcing, matching, and wiring up a replacement socket.

⚠️ So, once again, if you’re not confident with this, then get an electrician to help!

You might be wondering why cleaning plug sockets is so important, as it’s such a faff – and that’s a fair observation. The answer isn’t just that they’ll look clean – there’s also a risk of failure from corrosion, contaminants, and the potential for fires that can arise from these.

It’s good, common sense practice to keep your sockets clean and dust-free.

How to clean multi socket extension cords

These things are everywhere in offices nowadays, and it’s easy to see why. We’ve all got so much we have to plug in at work – but your laptop charger, phone charger, second screen, and your desk fan can all be run from a single outlet, with one of those four-way extension sockets.

But how are you supposed to clean them?

Well, a light dry dusting will suffice nine times out of ten, using a feather duster or a dry, lint-free cloth.

For anything more than that, use the same steps above (except this time, you won’t have to find the circuit breaker!).

Unplug the extension cord fully, and give it a wipe down with a cloth or scrubber, lightly dampened with hot soapy water. Give it a thorough dry with a lint-free cloth – and away you go!

Power up your office cleaning

Keep your office clean – with regular, professional office cleaning from The Abbey Cleaning Service. Call 029 2067 9323 today, and find out how we’ll help get your office clean, without disrupting your work day.