Spring Clean Your Office Desk

It is common knowledge that a clean and organized environment promotes serenity and productivity. This attitude of relaxed emotions and increased vitality is never more important than in the office. Whether the space is used for job related functions or to keep the home finances on track, a hygienic and well ordered desk is the key to increasing your level of productivity with a more positive attitude. Here are some tips on how to give your office desk a through makeover while performing your annual Spring cleaning chores.

Strip the Desk Down. Begin your endeavor by removing every last item from the desk. Unplug the phone and the computer and set these items in a safe place. Stack papers and office supplies nearby. Corral personal items in a container to be sorted through later. You need to begin your cleaning process with a completely bare and naked desk.

Use the Correct Cleaning Products. A microfiber cloth will effectively remove all particles of dust. Go over every surface with a firm hand and work the cloth into all the nooks and crannies. Don't forget the legs of the desk and the inside of the drawers. Shake out the cloth as necessary and replace for a fresh one if needed. Use a compressed air product to blow the dust out of the keyboard of your computer and very tight corners of your desk structure.
A light spray of high quality furniture polish and a soft cloth will bring the top surface of the desk to a high shine when the dusting is completed. An all purpose cleaner can be used on surfaces that are not real wood. A mixture of one part rubbing alcohol to one part water will bring the chrome and glass surfaces back to life. A hand held vacuum will remove all those little bits of paper and other pieces of debris from the drawers. Don't forget that office chair. Use a product that won't harm real leather if appropriate, or generic cleaning wipes if you are working with vinyl. Shake out the dust from the pillow and run it through the dryer to fluff it back up. Purchase a new one if necessary.

Wipe Down Desk Accessories. Bins, cups and trays used to keep office supplies at easy reach are notorious dust collectors. Empty all the containers and thoroughly wipe them down. If your desk looks like it could use a seasonal makeover, replace all these items with pastel colored cans and small boxes that you have around the house. Use paint or wrapping paper to dress up these items and give their appearance a bit of unity. Be creative when replacing your desk accessories, using storage containers you already own. This will save you money and reduce clutter in other areas of your home.

Limit Number of Personal Items at Your Desk. Once your area is thoroughly cleaned and you are ready to begin putting items back where they belong, take stock of your personal decorations and mementos. A framed picture of your family and a single bud vase is enough to bring some personality and color to your space. However, a row of pictures, several coffee mugs and a stuffed animal is a bit excessive. Not only are these items prone to attracting dust and dirt, the lack of free space at your desk may increase anxiety levels and hinder productivity. Replace only one or two of your personal effects and relocate the rest to a different location.

Make a Dent in Your To-Do List as You Replace Items. When putting folders and papers back in their respective places, take some time to knock off those tasks you have been avoiding. Pay the outstanding bills, make calls you have been putting off and shred those financial statements. This will greatly reduce the number of items you need to put back on your desk . Not only will you feel a great sense of accomplishment, you will be motivated to maintain this level of cleanliness and organization.

Stock the Drawers. Now that your desk is bright and shiny, you will certainly want to keep it that way. Stash a supply of cleaning cloths and wipes in a drawer. Add a miniature dust bin and brush to be able to sweep up crumbs before they get stuck in hard to clean places. Keeping these tools close at hand will enable you to quick clean your desk often and keep it looking just as terrific as it does right now.