Keeping the Dirtiest Places in Your Office Clean

cleaning an office refrigerator with magic eraserStand up from your desk, take a step out the door of your office and take a look around.

If you had to guess, what surfaces would you name the dirtiest in your workplace?

According to Heath Central, it isn’t the bathroom that harbors the most germs; instead, it is the kitchen and break room.

And with the following places ranked as some of the dirtiest in the office, you are probably wondering what you can do to create a healthier, more positive workplace for your entire team.

  • Break Room Faucet Handles
  • Microwave Door Handles
  • Refrigerator Door Handles
  • Water Fountain Buttons
  • Vending Machine Buttons

Stock Up Your Supplies

For starters, we recommend stocking up on your core cleaning supplies.

Keep a cupboard or shelf stocked with everything you need to wipe down counters, faucets, handles and other surfaces to ensure that you have everything you need for quick and efficient daily cleanings.

cleaning a sink with a magic eraserMake a Cleaning Schedule

If your company does not employ a professional cleaning company to visit on a nightly basis, you may also want to make a cleaning schedule.

  • Take time out of your morning to wipe down the above surfaces every day or have the duties rotate between staff members.

The tactic is especially helpful for small businesses who are already handling all their own cleaning needs.

cleaning office iwth eraser sponge

Replace Your Sponges Frequently

As you are cleaning your kitchen and break room, don’t forget that the sponge in your hand can’t be used forever.

  • After a few uses your traditional kitchen sponges can be coated in bacteria.

Eatright.org has an array of tips you should follow to maintain a healthy kitchen, reminding you to throw out a sponge after two or three uses.

For high quality Eraser Sponges that are tough on dirt, grit and grime without compromising the surfaces around your office kitchen, shop with SpongeOutlet online.

Kitchen Cleaning Advice for Your Office

office cafeteria

The office kitchen can be a frightening place.

From the moldy sandwich in the back of the refrigerator to the microwave covered in other people’s food splatter, there are a few unpleasant sights you are bound to see.

But luckily, with a few quick tips and the right cleaning supplies, you can ensure everyone in your building has a clean place to enjoy their lunch breaks.

Label Your Food

While no one wants to think that their coworkers will take food that isn’t theirs, accidents do happen.

Make sure that no one mistakes your sandwich or Tupperware for their own by labeling all the items you put in the office refrigerator.

  • You can also invest in a reusable lunch box or bag to keep all of your food in one labeled place.

Invest in a Microwave Cover

Keep splatters at bay with a cover for food that needs reheating in the microwave.

  • There are reusable plastic covers available that can be left on top of the microwave for all to use, and paper towels work just as well in a pinch.

Place a sign next to your office microwave to remind everyone to cover their food to prevent splatters, and encourage them to clean up the inside after use by keep Eraser Sponges in a nearby cabinet.

cleaning office kitchens with magic erasersFollow a Weekly Cleaning Schedule

Stick to a weekly cleaning schedule to keep your office kitchen sparkling clean and germ free at all times.

  • Hold a refrigerator clean out at the end of the week (we recommend Friday afternoon) to make sure there are never moldy leftovers in the back.
  • Wipe down the inside of the refrigerator at this time, also giving the microwave, counters and sink a good scrubbing before everyone heads home for the weekend.

If you do not have janitorial staff to handle your kitchen cleaning needs, you can always create a plan where each employee takes a turn cleaning.

This way, the space will be in great shape Monday morning, helping everyone to start the new workweek on a positive note.

Keep the Rules Posted

Remind your employees of the kitchen rules by keeping them posted on a bulletin board or on the front of the refrigerator.

It is everyone’s job to keep this area of the office clean, so lead with a good example, labeling your food, cleaning out the microwave after use and taking your turn performing weekly cleaning duties.

magic erasers used in office kitchens

To keep this area of your office free from germs and food messes, use an Eraser Sponge to cut through tough dirt and grime. Purchase yours online

 

Get Motivated to Clean Your Home

cleaning home

When it comes to cleaning your home, one of the hardest parts of the process is getting started.

It can seem like a daunting task to clean your entire space, so start by making a plan and get yourself motivated with the quick tips listed below:

Start with a Cleaning Plan

Instead of letting yourself get overwhelmed by the idea of cleaning your entire home, map out a room-by-room plan to make the chores easier to complete.

  • Decide which rooms will require the most attention, what order you would like to tackle them in and what areas can be overlooked for now.
  • We recommend beginning with the main living areas, like the living room, dining room and kitchen, then working your way to the bathrooms and finally the bedrooms.

The spaces that you and your family spend the most time in usually need to be cleaned more frequently than bedrooms, offices and laundry rooms.

Create a Cleaning Playlist

If you are really dreading the cleaning you need to do, make the experience more positive by creating an upbeat playlist.

Listening to your favorite music will boost your mood and help to make the time fly by.

Remove Clutter from Around the House

Although you may want to jump right into the cleaning process, de-cluttering your space first will make cleaning much easier.

Instead of working around toys, television remotes, books and other items, put items back into their official home before you pull out the duster and vacuum cleaner.

  • You can also grab an empty laundry basket and fill it with all the decorative items that usually get in your way while you work.

Once your space is sparkling clean, you can put decorative pieces back on the shelves and have your kids put away the toys you found as you made your way from room to room.

Work from the Top to the Bottom

spring cleaningWhen you do start cleaning, the best way to tackle each room is by working from top to bottom, starting in the area furthest from the door.

Focus on higher shelves, tables and furniture before cleaning the floors, cleaning yourself out of the room as your last task.

  • This method will ensure that all the dust and grime that may have fallen to the floor while you work will be swept up at the end of the project.

All you have to do is walk out of your perfectly cleaned space and continue on to the next area.

 

Now that you are ready to start cleaning, grab your dusting wand, eraser sponge and melamine floor pads – then get to work.

SpongeOutlet offers high quality cleaning products up to 80 percent off of retail prices, helping to ensure you get the best clean possible at the lowest price. Shop with us online or place your order by phone at 877-776-6430.

Did You Know Cleaning is Good for Your Health?

Although there are very few people who actually enjoy cleaning, it is a task that all of us have to do on a regular basis.

And as much as you may dislike having to do the dishes every night and a load of laundry every morning, maintaining a clean and organized home can have some incredible benefits, both for your physical and mental health.

Increase Your Productivity

If you are looking to become more efficient at the office, the first thing to do is reorganize and de-clutter your desk.

Staring at piles of paperwork all day can interfere with your visual cortex, making it difficult for you to concentrate, but a clean, well-organized desk will make it much easier for you to get your work accomplished.

Maintain a Healthy Diet

According to a study performed by Carlson School of Management and the University of Minnesota, an organized space can contribute to healthy choices, and working in a neat space for just ten minutes made test subjects twice as likely to choose an apple over a chocolate bar.

Creating a clean, organized environment for yourself can help to make you more mindful dietary choices, improving your health and aiding in weight loss.

Reduce Stress

Think about how you feel when you come home from work to a sink full of dishes and a messy living room.

  • No one enjoys living in an unorganized home, and studies have shown that women who consider their home cluttered are more likely to feel stressed out and fatigued.

To keep yourself stress-free (at least when it comes to cleaning) take a few minutes to clean up around the house every evening, to ensure you start your next morning on the right foot – and can come home to a clutter-free home.

Improve Your Relationship

On top of improving your health and personal happiness, a clean home can also help your relationship.

A disorganized living space can cause a lot of conflict between partners and can keep you from inviting friends and family members over to socialize, so don’t forget to take some time each week to clean your space.

  • Whether you split the chores down the middle, each doing a bit of cleaning in your free time, or spend Saturday afternoon sprucing up your home together, your relationship will really benefit.

Now that you know some of the most important reasons to keep your living area clean, it’s time to pick up some Eraser Sponges from SpongeOutlet and get to work. To learn more about our cleaning products, visit us online or give us a call at 877-776-6430 today.

Are You Ready to Start Your Spring Cleaning?

The first day of spring is less than a week away, which means that it’s just about time to open your windows to let some fresh air in as you start your spring cleaning routine.

After a long, cold winter indoors, there is nothing better than the thought of wiping away all the germs, brushing the dirt outside and starting anew.

While you’re busy washing the windows, wiping down the counters and scrubbing the bathroom tile, you might begin to wonder when and why spring cleaning came about?

The tradition actually began hundreds of years ago and was performed in cultures across the globe.

Why?

Because homes were heated by fireplace and it wasn’t until the weather warmed up that families could open all the doors and windows to sweep out all the soot and grime that had accumulated during the frigid winter months.

Lucky for us, spring cleaning isn’t quite such a big chore nowadays, and can easily be spread out and completed over the course of a few days or weeks.

As the spring season draws nearer, we recommend writing down a list of the big chores you would like to tackle, then deciding when you will perform each one.

Not sure where to start with your big cleaning project?

Here are some of the chores that SpongeOutlet recommends doing about once a year:

  • Clean Beneath and Behind Appliances
  • Clean Inside Oven
  • Wash Windows
  • Clean Curtains

Along with these big tasks, spring cleaning is also a great opportunity to wipe down your baseboards, cabinets, counters and other surfaces as well as wash and vacuum the floors.

Now that you’ve decided what you will be cleaning this spring, it’s time to order the supplies you will need to get the job done.

From Eraser Sponges to Melamine Floor Pads, SpongeOutlet has everything you need to make cleaning a breeze this year!

Create a Cleaning Schedule to Complete All Your Household Chores

cleaning the house

Tired of experiencing those overwhelming cleaning days when you mother-in-law announces she is stopping over for dinner or your relatives from out of town announce they will be visiting this week?

The best way to prevent those big cleaning days is to create a daily or weekly cleaning schedule and stick to it.

Daily Cleaning Schedules

While some might be dissuaded by the idea of cleaning every single day, choosing this cleaning plan means you only have to spend 15 or 20 minutes cleaning, instead of the multiple hours required when you clean less frequently.

  • We recommend starting your new cleaning routine by creating a chart of all the chores you have to get done on a regular basis.
  • Think vacuuming, dusting, wiping down counter-tops and taking out the garbage.
  • Choose one area to tackle each day, leaving the biggest projects for the weekends.

Whether you spend a few minutes cleaning each morning or every day after work, you will feel great knowing that your house is always well kept and sparkling clean.

Schedule Weekly Cleaning

If you prefer to tackle your cleaning in one swoop, a great idea is to devote one day to the task.

There will always chores that have to be done each week (like laundry and changing sheets), but there are others that can be rotated between.

Put tasks like cleaning the baseboards, sorting through paperwork and cleaning the oven on a separate schedule, choosing one of these big tasks to do each week as you rotate through this longer list.

Getting into a cleaning schedule can be tricky, but once you have it down it will become like second nature to you.

For all your cleaning needs, SpongeOutlet is here to help! With Eraser Sponges, Melamine Floor Pads and more, we have everything you need to keep the surfaces of your home sparkling clean.

Choosing the Right Paint for Your Walls

Whether you have recently moved into a new home or are looking to update your current abode, a fresh coat of paint is one of the best ways to re-envision your house’s appearance.

A clean slate that allows you to change up your throw pillows and decorative pieces, a new paint color can do wonders for updating the feel of your home.

But for families with young children and pets, keeping your walls clean can seem like an impossible task.

And with so many colors and finishes to choose from, how do you know what will hold up best to daily wear and the occasional crayon mural?

Look for a Light Color

Many families make the mistake of choosing neutral wall colors like beige and grey, just because they are good at hiding dirty handprints.

There are plenty of other options you can look at, as long as you stick to pale hues and midtones.

Colors like dark reds, purples and blues will show wear much more quickly than their lighter counterparts, burnishing in spots where your pets and children rub up against them.

Choose the Right Finish

With so many options to consider, choosing a paint finish can be overwhelming. If you are looking to get away from the shiny appearance of semi-gloss and hi-gloss enamel paint, eggshell is a durable and less reflective finish that is easy to clean.

With a flat surface and barely and sheen, eggshell holds up well against all the dirt and grime your children may coat it with.

Clean with the Eraser Sponge

Although we hope that your newly painted walls stay fresh for a long time, accidents do happen.

Whether it’s play dough stains, marker or beverage stains on the wall, the Eraser Sponge is tough enough to get the job done, but gentle enough not to damage your paint’s finish. Click here to learn more about cleaning your walls with the Eraser Sponge, then visit SpongeOutlet online to place your order.

Cleaning and Organizing Your Home in the New Year

If you made a New Year’s resolution to get your home more organized as January begins, now is the perfect opportunity to make changes throughout your home, rearranging furniture, cleaning out cupboards and donating items you no longer use.

There is no better feeling than coming home to a clean, well-organized house and with these simple tips your place will look its best in no time.

Create a Landing Area

One of the biggest problems when it comes to organizing your home is dealing with the array of objects

  • Coats
  • Shoes
  • Purses
  • Backpacks
  • Mail
  • Keys

that come in the door when your family gets home in the evening.

Instead of allowing these items to be placed on the kitchen counter and piled on the backs of chairs, we recommend creating a landing area near the door.

Hang some hooks for your coats, lay down mats for shoes and boots, and add a hall table to your décor. The perfect place for keys, purses and mail to be placed, this new addition will also make getting out of the door easier every morning.

All you have to do is grab your pile of stuff and run.

Work Room by Room

The idea of cleaning your entire home is a big commitment and one that can scare off even the most determined individuals. Instead of looking at your New Year’s cleaning undertaking as one enormous project, break it down into a bunch of small assignments.

Focus on a different room of your home every week or month, creating a more organized and functional space as you go.

With a little time and elbow grease, your home will be sparkling clean by the time you are finished removing clutter and reorganizing each room.

As you are making these organizational changes to your home, do some cleaning along the way to create a fresh and glowing home for the new year.

Whether you are scrubbing the floors, cleaning the cabinets or wiping down the counters, SpongeOutlet has the cleaning products you need to get the job done.

Our Eraser Sponges and Melamine Floor Pads are tough on dirt and grime without compromising the surfaces of your home – just spot test an area before getting started. To place your order today, visit us online or give us a call at 877-776-6430.

Getting Christmas Tree Sap Off Your Floors and Vehicle

remove tree sap from your vehicle

The smell of pine in the air, the dusting of snow on the ground and the joy in your children’s voices as you choose a Christmas tree.

These are some of the best parts of the holiday season.

While there are few things more beautiful than a live Christmas tree decorated and displayed in your front window during December, there is nothing more frustrating than getting tree sap on your vehicle and floors.

Although it seems easy enough to wipe away when wet, tree sap leaves a sticky reside and hardens quickly into a gooey and difficult-to-remove mess.

Not only can tree sap be a pain to get off your hardwood floors, it can also cause damage the paint on your vehicle.

There are many families that no longer get a live Christmas tree just for this reason. Instead of opting for an artificial tree and lighting pine scented candles around your home around your home, enjoy the fragrant scent and unique beauty of a live tree without worrying about the sticky sap.

SpongeOutlet has everything you need to keep your home and car sap-free throughout the holiday season.

Our Eraser Sponge is perfect for spot cleaning, and our Melamine Floor Pads are great for scrubbing the whole floor after you take down your tree in January.

Tough on dirt without damaging walls, floors or the surface of your vehicle, SpongeOutlet’s products are perfect for the post-holiday cleanups. Just remember to spot test a small area before getting to work.

Removing Tough Winter Salt Stains

removing salt stains from vehicle exterior

There is no doubt about it, the cold, snowy winter months can wreak havoc on your home.

Some of the biggest problems that we have to face throughout the winter are the salt stains that coat our cars and boots.

Whether you are out shoveling your driveway or on your way to work, it is inevitable that you will get snow – and salt – on your footwear and vehicle on a daily basis during the winter season.

Luckily, SpongeOutlet has a few cleaning tricks to help keep them looking fresh and new until the weather warms up!

Cleaning Vehicles of Salt

The salt stains that coat your vehicle aren’t just an unattractive nuisance; they can actually do a lot of damage to your paint job.

This half and half cleaning solution is gentle on your vehicle’s paint but tough on salt and the microfiber towel will keep any scratches from occurring as you wipe the car down.

Removing Salt from Footwear

While waterproofing your boots will keep them from getting wet throughout the winter months, it is hard to keep them salt free.

There are a few different techniques for de-salting footwear, but the Eraser Sponge is the easiest one.

These sponges are tough on dirt without leaving behind residue that will harm your shoes. They can be used on nearly any surface as well, making them perfect for cleaning up the salt stains that end up on your floors after the kids track snow in!

To keep your home, vehicle and winter gear clean all season long, visit SpongeOutlet to purchase your cleaning supplies.

Have a question?

Give us a call at 877-776-6430.