Whether it’s a bustling design firm, a production studio, or an advertising agency – creative workspaces (and people!) run at their best when things are in order.
But, for anyone who’s worked in a creative environment, you’ll know that creatives and cleanliness are often a total mismatch – even if focus and inspiration are at stake. Productivity and morale can quickly take a nosedive in a messy, dirty workspace, but when deadlines are tight, cleaning and tidying are rarely priority items on the to-do list.
Maintaining cleanliness without disrupting the creative process can be a delicate balancing act – even if you have a commercial cleaning team on hand. And of course, there’s all the sensitive equipment and creative tools to think about, too.
Creative spaces have their challenges when it comes to cleaning. It’s not just cluttered desks covered in storyboards or design sketches, or the sensitive studio gear – they’re often 24/7, always-on places, where deadlines are everything.
Balancing the need for cleanliness with the need for uninterrupted creative work isn’t easy to manage alone – but with the right commercial cleaning partner on your side, you can find a solution that works for you.
Focus on what matters
Why is cleaning so important for typically “messy” creative professions?
Well for one thing, a cluttered environment can lead to mental clutter – and not to generalise, but many creatives are non-neurotypical people with ADHD or autism (or both!). Clutter can become seriously distracting, to the point that work suffers completely and all focus disappears.
Over time, this can impact mental health and self-image – just like a dirty creative office space can impact physical health.
Regular cleaning boosts wellbeing all round, reducing sick days, increasing morale, and helping creative minds find their focus. So, it’s definitely a must-have. But it’s not without its challenges… Particularly when you consider that one person’s mess is another’s idea of order!
The top challenges of cleaning creative spaces
Creative studios and workspaces usually have specialised requirements that need careful attention, setting them apart from typical 9-5 offices.
Shifting gear
Most creative industries rely on expensive, sensitive equipment: cameras, lighting, mixing consoles, microphones, non-consumer monitoring screens, and high-powered computers to name but a few.
These items can’t get the usual “spit and polish” treatment, and care needs to be taken with their maintenance and cleaning.
Commercial cleaners working in creative spaces should know this, and avoid moving or cleaning any professional equipment before speaking with the Studio Lead, Technical, or Creative Director first.
Organised chaos
Creative pros often work in a state of organised chaos. Desks covered with sketches, materials littered around the place, post-its on everything – stuff that looks like junk, but is actually a vital creative asset – you get the picture!
Office cleaners have to walk this fine line between tidying up and disrupting the flow of work. Communication is super important for clarifying this, but most of the time, leaving the chaos untouched and cleaning around it is the smartest approach.
Open-plan, high ceilings
Most creative agencies and studios are open-plan – it makes collaboration easier, and gives teams enough space to work through bigger problems. But open-plan offices make it difficult to clean without disturbing everyone all at once.
Scheduling cleaning in phases and zones is one way of dealing with this, or booking it in at times when fewer people are present.
Also, film and photography studios can be cavernous spaces with extraordinarily high ceilings. This is because the subject matter varies wildly day-to-day. On one day, the studio might be shooting a shoe for an ad; the next day, a car or a van – and the day after, an elephant.
The sheer size of these places, and accessing their highest points, makes cleaning studio spaces extra challenging.
Cleaning without disrupting the creative process
Creatives work to tight deadlines, with long hours and unpredictable project timelines. All-nighters are a common occurrence, too.
Your commercial cleaners should understand this, and make every effort to clean during off-hours or quieter periods. This is one of the most effective ways to prevent disruption to creative flow.
Using phased, zone-based cleaning can be a game-changer, too. This basically means dividing the office into sections and cleaning one area at a time. Cleaners can focus on one zone, leaving others undisturbed, allowing creative teams to continue working.
Read more: Challenges of Cleaning an Office that’s Open (& Staffed) 24/7
All this comes down to good, open communication between your office cleaners and your team.
Give your cleaners clear instructions about which areas should not be disturbed. Advise them on delicate equipment, and whether it needs cleaning or moving at all. And lean on your cleaners’ expertise and experience for timings, because they’ve worked in all sorts of places, overcoming all kinds of challenges!
The Abbey Cleaning Service has worked with clients in creative sectors, and we know how demanding your workday can be. By partnering with a cleaning company experienced in serving creative industries, you get a higher level of care and attention to detail – and the peace of mind that brings.
Professional Office Cleaning for Creative Spaces
Get professional office cleaning for creatives, from The Abbey Cleaning Service. Call 029 2067 9323 today, and find out how we’ll help get your creative workspaces clean – without disrupting your work day.
