(Originally Published August 23, 2019)

Don’t underestimate the importance of keeping your office fridge clean. Kitchener Clean takes extra care to ensure your office kitchens and bathrooms are as clean or cleaner than what you would want in your own home - contact us today to sign up for total office care!

1. Clean out items on a regular schedule

A weekly office fridge clean out is recommended to help keep your kitchen space clean and employee morale up. It’s unhygienic and dangerous to work in an environment where this isn’t taken care of regularly. If everyone in the office knows that this task will be completed on Friday afternoon, for example, it can be made easier by having items removed beforehand.

Here are the basic steps for a regular cleaning:

• Remove all food, drinks and condiments from the fridge.
• Wipe down the inside of the refrigerator with a paper towel.
• Remember to use food-safe cleaning products!
• Place an open container of baking soda or ground coffee in the back of the fridge to reduce food odours.
• Wipe down all condiments before putting them back into the refrigerator.
• Only items that are properly labelled and not expired should be added back into the fridge. Discard or leave out the rest to be claimed.

A consistent schedule will go a long way towards keeping your office fridge clean.

2. Use a memo template

A memo is a great way to get everyone in the office on the same page.

We recommend this excellent memo from eatright.org. It reminds everyone to do their part to keep the office fridge clean and safe.

This memo includes the temperature your fridge should stay at, how to remove odours, and how to practice safe cleaning.

You can find more office cleaning memos here.

Print off  this memo and post it on your office fridge or email it to all staff.

3. Create an organization system.

You want your business to run as efficiently as possible, and the break room is no exception.

Here are some helpful tips from Quill.com:

• Keep a roll of masking tape and a marker near the fridge door so employees can put their name on their items or label it as “fair game.”
• Purchase small plastic baskets and assign one to each person using the fridge with a name tag to eliminate confusion.
• Keep all communal items like coffee cream, butter, and condiments in an area labelled “communal.”

Labelling your items is extremely helpful.

4. Do frequent deep cleans

On top of the weekly office fridge clean outs mentioned above, it’s good practice to really get in there for a deep clean every few months.

Here are some extra steps you can add to regular cleaning for that extra sparkle, again with help from Quill.com.

• Fill the kitchen sink with soapy water, again using food safe dish soap.
• Remove shelves and drawers and place them in the soapy water to soak.
• Use a clean non-scratch kitchen sponge and wipe down the inside surfaces of the fridge.
• To remove any stubborn messes, use a mix of baking soda and water and gently scrub the area.
• Before putting anything back into the fridge, use a hand-vacuum to suck up crumbs and random debris.
• Use a regular vacuum to clean the coils (located on the floor in the front of the fridge or on the back) to help the fridge run more smoothly.
• 
  

If you need help, contact us.

A deep office fridge clean out is recommended.

5. Store food properly

Along the same lines as fridge organization, it’s important to store food in proper containers to avoid foul odours and even leakage.

For example, don’t put cardboard leftover boxes in the fridge. You can either use lockable glass containers, Tupperware, or transfer the food to airtight, spill-proof bags in order to save space, minimize smell, and keep food fresher for longer!

It may take a couple extra minutes, but it will save everyone in the office a lot of potential grief later that week!

You can also sign up for an office compost program to help cut down on unnecessary food waste.

Trust Kitchener Clean For All Your Office Cleaning Needs!

Kitchener Clean values customer service, honesty, and integrity.

These values are seen most clearly in the following distinguishing marks:

• Home cleaning quality: As mentioned above, Kitchener Clean is firmly committed to cleaning your office as thoroughly as we would our own home.
• Perfect bathrooms and kitchens: Careful attention to these two areas is needed to create a safe, germ-free work environment. We know these two areas often take more work, and we plan accordingly to ensure they get the attention and effort needed to make them spotless every time.
• Non-toxic cleaning products: We care about the environment and, therefore, use only EcoLogo or Green Seal certified products when possible in your office.
• Security: We take our work very seriously. All of our staff are bonded and have undergone police checks. They are highly reliable and responsible individuals, so you can be assured that your cleaning will always be done at the agreed upon time and to a consistently high standard.
• Clean guarantee: Our reputation is important to us, so we guarantee all of our services. If for any reason you are not completely satisfied, simply contact us and we will return within 24 hours to address your concern at no additional cost. If we haven’t responded to any client communication within 24 hours of receiving it, we will offer you a free week of Office Care!

Discover how inexpensively Kitchener Clean can make your office spotlessly clean - the non-toxic way! Get your free, no obligation quote today.

What Kitchener Clean customers are saying:

“We have recently hired Kitchener Clean to take care of the cleaning of our offices, kitchen and bathrooms. We are very happy with the attention to detail and their willingness to go to great lengths to make sure we are happy with the service they provide. They care about each new customer and it is obvious in their quick response time in all matters. I would recommend them if you are looking for a reliable, great

‍