National Clean Your Desk Day

If you see some co-workers cleaning on this coming Monday, January 14, 2013, it may be because of 'National Clean Your Desk Day.'  This got us thinking...how often does the typical office-worker clean his/her desk?  From the looks of the desks around our office, not much.

If your desk is cluttered- first go through the stacks of papers.  If it is a lot of mail, sort it and throw away what isn't needed.  Stackable trays can help you sort papers by what is important, what needs filed and what you still need to look over.  If you have a lot of small office supplies cluttering your desk, get some drawer organizers to keep them in their place.

If you take a lot of notes on paper or have post-its all over, digitize them!  Included in Microsoft Office 2003 and newer versions is the wonderful Microsoft OneNote.  It is a very efficient program you can use to take notes, organize projects and conduct research.  Find out the Top 10 Benefits of of OneNote.

Once the clutter is gone, take a minute to think about what is on your desk/keyboard/mouse/phone that  you can't see...  A few years ago, a study was done by the University of Arizona that found an office desktop had 400 times more bacteria than the average office toilet seat!  All that bacteria can put you at risk for becoming sick, especially if you eat at your desk.

Your keyboard is probably filled with food crumbs, hair, dead skin cells, etc.  That is an easy fix- shut down your computer, turn your keyboard upside down, and shake it out.  A can of compressed air works great, too.  Then, you can wipe the keyboard down with antibacterial wipes or isopropyl alcohol.  A cotton swab works well for between keys.  Then, make sure to wipe down your phone, mouse (get in the grooves), all the buttons and knobs on the computer/monitor/speakers, and your actual desk and drawer handles.  It may be a good idea to wipe down your writing utensils, staplers and scissors too.

Now, run to your office closet and get out the antibacterial wipes and sprays.  It is time for a deep cleaning!