There are some places and rooms that immediately give off a positive energy. Try as we may to understand, the reasons for a good, welcoming vibe cannot always be easily appreciated. The same applies to places characterised by an uneasy or uncomfortable energy. Feng Shui principles explain why different feelings are experienced in different environments and, together with other practices – such as quality office cleaning, it can guide you in creating an inviting and effective work environment.

What is Feng Shui?

Feng Shui (pronounced ‘fung schway’) is an ancient Chinese art of placement and design that can influence and enhance the balance and flow of energy. Feng Shui has been a revered practice of many Chinese people for more than 3000 years and has been applied to help ensure that wealth and love are present in plentiful quantities.

Experts in Feng Shui testify that when harmony and balance is created in physical spaces, good fortune and prosperity are attracted in all areas of a person’s life.

It’s all about ch’i

The flow of ch’i, the essential energy or life force that unites people and environments, is pivotal to the practice of Feng Shui. Ch’i provides the medium that brings energy to an environment and, according to the principles of Feng Shui, “…ch’i gives way to physical manifestations when it flows freely or hinders physical manifestations when it is blocked.”

Feng Shui practitioners read and rebalance the energy that moves through a home or office in order to maximise health, harmony and abundance.

What does all this mean for desk placement?

By using some fundamental principles of Feng Shui, productivity, success, innovation and progression can improve – and this improvement can apply to both individuals and businesses. In particular, Feng Shui in relation to desk placement offers some sensible and straightforward possibilities for unblocking energy and enhancing practice and productivity.

Ways to arrange your desk:

• Place your desk diagonally across from the doorway so a clear line of vision is enabled.
• Sitting with your back facing a wall or corner enables a sense of security. If sitting with your back to the door is essential, a mirror should be hung in front of you or angled so you can see people walking into the room. When your back is to the door, it is common to feel on edge, distracted or to feel as though you are being ‘stabbed in the back’.
• A desk should face into the room rather than facing a wall. If your desk has to be placed against a wall, the window should be to your left if you are right handed, but to your right if you are left handed.
• Avoid placing a desk so that your back faces windows. When your desk is positioned this way, you may feel that there is a lack of stability backing you up.
• Your desk should not be located in the centre of a room as this can result in a loss of power and authority.
• Place your desk so that it either faces or puts the door to your side. If you are in a direct line to the door, feelings of confusion or agitation are likely because you will be subject to the complete force of the energy that enters the room.
• Do not situate your desk so that it is flush against a window with you looking directly out. Desks should only be arranged in this way when it is impossible for someone to look in and you face due north (a prosperous direction) when looking out.
• Avoid placing a desk where you feel cramped, claustrophobic or have a restricted view. Desks should not be positioned where a passageway is behind them.

Placement on your desk:

Objects should be placed in particular areas of the desk to enhance positive energy flow. Advisable object placement includes:

• Eliminating clutter. Consider commercial cleaning for your office space to eliminate unnecessary clutter and thereby create the space for new and desirable possibilities to enter.
• A crystal bowl or healthy plant being placed in the top left hand corner (the wealth quadrant) of a desk) as this will serve to enhance this area of business.
• A red object in the upper left corner of an office or desk can facilitate financial success. If placed in the back, centre section of an office or desk, a red object can bring about fame. Conversely, nothing blue should be placed in this back, central section as this will inhibit fame.

Positioning your desk through Feng Shui can bring benefits on personal and professional levels.

Positioning Your Desk Through Feng Shui is a post from: Cleaning Tips & Articles

There’s nothing worse than coming back from holidays to a dishevelled office that’s infested with goodness knows what! To ensure you and your team don’t have to battle it out with nasties on your return to work after the Christmas break; you may want to take note of some of these useful tips. From having your commercial cleaning service do a thorough clean of the premises after every one’s left for the year – to cleaning out the office kitchen – we’re sure that if you follow these tips you won’t have any problems with pests on your return:

Clean Out the Office Kitchen

One thing people forget to do in the rush to get out the door before Christmas is clean out the office kitchen. This means packets of mouldy biscuits, rotten bananas and sandwiches that smell out the entire fridge. To stop rodents and other pests coming into your kitchen area, you need to keep it clean and tidy. Giving the kitchen a good once over before you leave for your holidays will help minimise the risk of coming back to cockroaches in the cupboards! If there’s nothing left in the cupboards or on the bench tops, they’ll be nothing to attract them there in the first place.

De-clutter and Clean Out the Office

• It’s not just food that attracts rodents and other pests.
• Piles of paper and clutter also make the perfect Christmas holiday destination for mice and cockroaches.
• Ensure that everything is cleared out and if there is anything that can be thrown away, it is.
• Start the New Year with a clean desk and office area by throwing out ruthlessly anything that doesn’t need to be kept.

Make Each Staff Member Responsible for Their Own Area

It’s unfair to expect one person in the office to do all the cleaning and tidying. Make sure that everyone knows they need to take care of their own space, and they are responsible for how it looks. Making sure that everyone is held responsible for their own area will not only mean that everything will look good, but it will also get done within a short period of time.

Have Your Office Cleaning Service Come in During the Break

Even if you will just be working with skeleton staff during the Christmas break, it’s a good idea to still have your office cleaning services company come in to ensure everything stays clean, dusted, and bins are taken out. Also have them come in and give the office a good once over before the majority of staff comes back to work. This makes everything look sparkling and tidy and ready for the New Year.

The last thing you want to be thinking about when you go away for your Christmas holidays is what nasties are going to set you shop while you’re gone. As long as you take note of the above steps you’ll be able to finish off the year and take your Christmas break knowing that you’ll be coming back to a clean, fresh, pest free office in the New Year.

Ensuring Your Office Stays Pest Free Over the Holidays is a post from: Cleaning Tips & Articles

Christmas time is filled with parties, events and getting together with good friends and family. It’s also a time of year when most workplaces use it as an opportunity to get together to celebrate the achievements of the year, and give everyone a chance to let their hair down. But what do you do if there’s no budget for the party this year? From organising an office event to remember and having your commercial cleaning service help you get things back to business the next day, we’ve got some great ideas that don’t require a massive budget:

Why not have an office party at your place of business?

Really, it’s just a matter of getting creative with how you set things up and allocating who brings what. Literally any office or boardroom can be turned into a great space for a Christmas event. You just need to make sure that you have afterhours access so that staff can get out later than usual when the party finishes.

How do you ask everyone to contribute?

Many workplaces ask their staff members to contribute if they want to have a Christmas party. This isn’t a bad idea and will mean that no one has to worry about bringing in a plate for the party. If you are going to have everything catered for, think about how much you will be spending on drinks and little things like a cake or dessert. Then work out the cost per head. You’ll realise that for a small to medium-sized cocktail function, it won’t cost much at all.

What else do you need to consider?

• Decorations: They don’t need to be too flash, but you might want to get some tinsel, and other things to put around the room.
• Music: Music is a very important element to any party. Without it, work functions can get a little awkward, so make sure that you have the sound system set up and aren’t relying on playing a CD from a nearby computer. The speakers simply won’t cut it. Create a play list of music or have someone who’s very much into music create a play list for you.
• Catering: Make sure that every one’s dietary requirements are noted, especially if people are paying their way. There should be a range of vegetarian, gluten free and other options available if requested.
• Drinks: Once again, there should be an array of beverages including both alcoholic and non-alcoholic varieties. Although be sure to check any OH&S regulations if you are planning to have a party on site.

Who is Your Secret Santa?

Many companies have a Secret Santa or Kris Kringle. That is where you draw one person’s name out of the hat and buy a gift for them which you give to them at the Christmas party. Only after the gift giving do you reveal who you had.

Christmas is a time of fun; and, if there isn’t a large budget (or one at all) for the Christmas party, it doesn’t mean you don’t get to have one. If everyone contributes just a little you’ll be able to have a great party regardless of the budget. Your office cleaning company can even help you get your office looking in tip top shape after so clients won’t even know the boardroom they are sitting in now was used for an office party the night before!

How to Cope with No Christmas Party Budget is a post from: Cleaning Tips & Articles

If you are working in an open plan office space, it’s important to be mindful of those around you. And while the commercial cleaning service might be in charge of keeping the office in sparkling clean condition, you still need to ensure your area is tidy and the space around you is clear. This is just one example of being courteous to your fellow workers in this type of working environment. Check out our full list below:

Be Mindful of People On the Phone

One important thing to remember, especially if you are working for a company that is always in touch with their customers via telephone, is to stay mindful of those who are on the phone. You may be finished for the day but the person next to you isn’t. Rather than yelling across the room to your friend about Friday drinks, walk over, and speak in a quiet voice so as not to disturb those around you who are still working and talking to customers.

Don’t Play Your Music Too Loud

If you are able to play music at work, that’s great and if it helps you work and makes the day better, fantastic. Just make sure that it’s at a level that everyone around you is OK with. If you aren’t sure, it’s better to ask. That way, if someone does have a problem, it’s their prerogative if they keep it to themselves. At least you’ve done the right thing in asking.

Keep Your Office Space Tidy

This is not only so that things stay looking pleasant, it’s also an occupational, health and safety issue. You wouldn’t want someone to trip and sprain their ankle because your folder was left on the floor by your chair. Also consider if you were away sick or on leave and someone had to use your desk area to work. You wouldn’t want to think that they had an unpleasant day because your desk was covered in papers and folders they had to work around.

Don’t Spray Deodorant Or Perfume

If you feel the need to spray perfume because you are going out after work, or if you need to re-spray deodorant, do these activities in the bathroom. Some people can have allergies to certain smells and you don’t want someone having a sneezing fit while they are on the phone to an important customer because you’ve just sprayed your deodorant nearby.

Keep the Language Clean

Even though you might have a few drinks with your colleagues at a local bar and the language can, shall we say, get a little colourful, leave that conversation where it belongs, outside work. You don’t know who could be offended by the way you speak, and a client or customer might hear you if someone is on the phone. Keep your language clean and professional, when you’re at work.

Open plan office etiquette is all about being considerate of others. As mentioned earlier, while your office cleaning service may be in charge of keeping your office sparkling, it’s up to you on a day by day basis to keep your space tidy and presentable. If you keep this in mind and take note of our tips above, you should have no problems whatsoever and even enjoy working in such an open area, in close vicinity with your work mates and other colleagues.

Open Plan Office Etiquette is a post from: Cleaning Tips & Articles

If your commercial cleaning service is likely to throw out your Christmas decorations because they’re in serious need of replacing, and look, well, a little rubbish, then you may want to check out some of our decorating ideas that will transform your office Christmas decorating efforts from drab to fab!

Choose a Theme

Sometimes what can really look great, and be a lot of fun too, is to choose a theme to go with Christmas. The theme you choose will obviously be influenced by your colleague’s and the industry you’re in. Here are some ideas:

• A Disney Christmas
• A Vegas Christmas
• A Winter Wonderland
• Santa’s Workshop

If you choose something everyone is excited about, everyone will get involved and the office will not only look great, but there will be a wonderful atmosphere at work, for the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Quality Over Quantity

Tinsel is cheap, but it’s also very messy. Rather than using the budget to buy as much as you can with what you have, opt  to go for a minimal look, that incorporates some Christmas decorative elements whilst still maintaining a professional edge. For instance, use Holly in vases and Christmas bush to decorate the reception area and meeting rooms. Ditch the automated dancing Santa’s for gold or silver painted mini Christmas trees and glass baubles.

Stick to One Colour Scheme

Whatever you decide you want, make sure that you stick to one colour scheme. For instance, red, white and gold decorations. Or pink, green and blue. If you have a very contemporary office space, you might want to consider having everything in silver.

Utilise Wall Space

You don’t want your clients having to maneuver around bulky Christmas trees when they come in for an important meeting. If you have a relatively small office space, or just want to go for something a little more modern this year, why not have a large wall decor of a Christmas tree, complete with decorations? It doesn’t have to be bought either, these can be made easily with cardboard.

You can even use this as a fun activity for staff looking to the year ahead, having everyone write an important goal they have for the new year, and paste it around the tree.

Family Fun

If you have a very family orientated vibe in your office space, why not give your staff members a colouring in drawing of Santa or something in the Christmas theme, and have their children colour it in for a prize. These are great for decorating the office with. Another great idea is to ask people to bring in photographs of their kids and even their pets getting into the Christmas spirit.

Keep It Clean and Tidy

Before starting any decorating, have your office cleaning service come in and make the office sparkle before you begin. Also ensure everyone does a good clean out of their cubicle/office space. Decorating can look like more mess, if your workplace is a little chaotic to begin with.

Christmas is such a fun time of year. If your office decorations are in desperate need of a revamp, then you might want to take on a few of our ideas listed above to ensure your office could rival any other, in the Christmas decorating department.

6 Office Christmas Decorating Ideas is a post from: Cleaning Tips & Articles

Getting a professional commercial cleaning service in to meet all of your office cleaning requirements really is the only way to go. Not only will it save you time and money, but it will also mean having an office that’s always in mint condition. Still not convinced? Read on.

Time is money

You don’t want to be scrubbing the toilets and washing the dishes as well as greeting important clients and neither does your receptionist. In fact, the cost of outsourcing to a cleaning company when compared to having your staff do the job doesn’t make sense because in the long run it would work out more expensive to have your employees dedicate their time to cleaning the office, as apposed to doing their job. Let your employees focus on their job and growing your business and leave the cleaning to the professionals.

A cleaner, more hygienic office

Professional cleaners know what to use to get rid of the hidden germs and nasties that can cause people to fall ill and require sick leave. For a truly clean office and desk top you could eat off, you want people who know what they’re doing, to get the job done.

A sparkling office

Professional cleaning service providers know what products to use on what surfaces in order to get them looking their best. You don’t have to worry about staff members doing the job only half way because they are annoyed about being allocated the task. Professional cleaners know how to make things sparkle from top to bottom, every time.

A cleaner office, a professional image

Your important clients have come in for a meeting. And while the office appears to be nice and clean, as they walk over to the bathroom you remember that you’ve forgotten to clean the basin and the toilet. Not a good look. By having a professional office cleaning company working for you, you can rest easy knowing that everything will always be in great condition, from the kitchen to the bathroom.

So convenient

What’s fantastic about hiring an office cleaning service is that you don’t even have to think about things being cleaned while there’s a meeting on, or people are trying to work and someones using the vacuum. You can have your cleaners come in and makeover your office after working hours so every thing’s clean, looking great and there are absolutely no interruptions to your employees daily routine.

There are so many different reasons why outsourcing your office cleaning really is the only way to go. Not only is it more efficient, more thorough and will leave your office smelling fresh as a daisy every time, but it will also ensure that you and your team can focus on the important things you need to do to grow and nurture your business.

Why Outsourcing Your Office Cleaning is the Only Way to go is a post from: Cleaning Tips & Articles

Some bathroom etiquette tips are almost like unspoken laws, so it can be hard to understand. Other things, however, are basically about treating the bathroom in your workplace as if you would your bathroom at home. From bathroom office cleaning tips to some of the subtleties of washroom etiquette, we cover everything no staff member sharing a bathroom with others, should miss:

The bathroom hog

We all know the type. They take ages in the toilet, who knows, they could have been texting, while you were politely trying to hold it as best you could. Once they finish up and get off the phone from mum they then take their time running the water in the basin at full throttle, before moving on to the hand dryer, ensuring that not one drop of water is left before leaving, making everyone else who is waiting to use the dryer give up and wipe their hands on their trousers. Not cool.

To give a subtle hint that it’s time to go, simply move over to the dryer and politely say, ‘excuse me’ and with your hands near theirs share the dryer with them. They are likely to get the hint and leave the bathroom, concluding their 20 minute toilet break.

Bathroom signage

If there are some unknowing culprits in the office who are leaving a complete mess in the washroom, then some signage might be the best way to go:

• For those who don’t wipe the seat after making a bit of a mess you could put something like this on the inside of the bathroom doors: ‘Please wipe the seat after your finish if necessary.’ For something a little more fun this ones doing the rounds, ‘if you sprinkle when you tinkle, be sweet and wipe the seat.’
• For those who don’t spray some air freshener when there’s urgent need for some you could have a sign saying, ‘Please spray the bathroom with freshener if required. Thank you!’
• If mobile phone usage is really an issue in your workplace bathroom a quirky sign might be just the thing. A simple mobile phone image with a cross through it should do the trick.

Often times, people leave the bathroom in a chaotic state not because they don’t have good bathroom etiquette, but they are thinking about things they need to do and are distracted. Signage is a great way to give staff members a subtle reminder about bathroom courtesy when required.

Keeping it clean

Firstly, let’s make it clear that we aren’t referring to cleaning the toilets and polishing the taps and basins, leave that to your expert commercial cleaning service. What we are referring to is doing a basic tidy up before leaving the bathroom. If you’ve left behind a reminder on the toilet seat that you were there, take the time to clean it. Make sure that you don’t leave soap all over the taps and ensure the taps are completely turned off before leaving. If you finish the toilet paper, replace it.

Ultimately bathroom etiquette is basically about treating your workplace washroom as you would your own bathroom at home. I hope our list of tips has given you some useful advice for giving some much needed bathroom etiquette guidance to some unidentified staff members in your workplace.

Bathroom Etiquette is a post from: Cleaning Tips & Articles

Ever get the feeling at the end of the day that you’ve been run off your feet but without really achieving anything? Without good time management skills we can be left feeling stressed and unproductive. Here, we’ve listed some of the most important time management tips everyone should implement. From outsourcing things like office cleaning to prioritizing your tasks, we’ve got some great suggestions to help you get on top of things:

• Plan your day- Write a list of everything you want to get done at the beginning of the day. Then plan out your day, allocating time to each task.
• Prioritizing- Prioritize each task as you plan out your day, listing the most important tasks to be done before anything else.
• Learn to say ‘no’- Many people who struggle with time management feel this way because they find it hard to say no when someone requests something of them. If your schedule is tight and someone is asking you to do something on top of what you already have planned for the day, politely decline. It’s ok to say no.
• Break it up- Have a huge project due and not sure where to start so you keep putting it off? The best thing to do with these tasks is to break them up and work on them little by little each day. By doing this you’ll find you’ll get the work done, without the long drawn out feeling of working on it full time.
• Stay healthy and get sufficient sleep- You won’t be able to focus on the tasks at hand if you are tired and feeling lethargic. Exercise regularly, get a decent amount of sleep each night and eat a balanced diet.
• Outsource what you can- There are bound to be plenty of things that you do at work that could be outsourced. Employing a commercial cleaning service to keep your office in check is just one idea for cutting down on wasting time doing things that others can help you with.
• Delegate tasks- There is no shame in getting help from your staff members. Delegate where possible to help lessen the load if you are feeling swamped with work.
• Evaluate how you are using your time- A great way to see where you could be using your time more effectively is to keep a diary for a few days documenting what you do each day. Reflect on what you have written to find time slots where your time could be used more efficiently.
• Take a break- Take a break when necessary. Go for a walk, make a hot drink or take a day to rest and rejuvenate.

Time management is easy once you put the processes in place and get into the swing of staying organised and on top of things. By following our list of tips you’ll find that not only will you get more done each day, but you’ll feel less stressed, knowing that everything will eventually get done.

9 Time Management Tips is a post from: Cleaning Tips & Articles

Whether it’s your home or office, moving is generally a stressful affair. But there are some things you can do to make the whole process a little less stressful. Here, we talk about the all important tips for ensuring your office move runs smoothly. From booking in an office cleaning service to ensure your bond is returned in a timely manner to appointing a team of staff members to execute the office shift, we’ve got some great ideas for making your move as stress free as possible.

Have a team of staff working on all things move related

Appoint a team of staff members to be in charge of everything related to the move. This can be everything from scoping out some potential premises to getting quotes from removalists and coordinating everyone during the moving process.

Give your staff plenty of time

As soon as you see the move coming, start planning and letting your team know. The slower you can make the process, the easier it will be on everyone. It will also mean that you won’t have to rush the process of finding a new office.

Keep everyone informed

One of the most important things to do is keep everyone informed about where the company is at with the move. If you send out a regular internal e-mail update, add a section in for updating everyone on the move. Include things like; what do staff need to do to prepare and where you’ve been looking at premises.

Labeling everything

There’s nothing worse than not being able to find a box of important documents. Provide everyone with labels and make sure that there is a set procedure in place for the way that you want everything labelled so it is easy to find when you arrive at your new office.

Have everyone move their own personal items

Photographs, plants and other personal items should be moved by each individual staff member and not taken by the removalists.

The timing of the move

Rather than having everyone move during office hours, it is preferable to move during the evening or weekend, especially if you’re moving into a busy building.

Organising a professional cleaning service

Have your commercial cleaning service do a final clean of the office you are vacating. Make sure that it’s in good condition and have the carpets cleaned if necessary. Then have them clean your new premises before you move in to ensure it’s nice and clean and you can start operating with a fresh, clean slate.

Whether you are moving your office down the street or interstate, the whole process can be stressful if you’re in a rush to make it happen. The key to a smooth move is giving both you and your team lots of time to get organised and prepare for the moving date. If you follow our list of moving tips you’ll definitely find the whole moving process a much more pleasant experience than you’ve ever encountered previously.

7 Tips for Moving Office is a post from: Cleaning Tips & Articles

Choosing a new office premises isn’t easy and it can be hard to please everyone with the move. Here, we’ve listed some of the important tips you should know before you make a decision. From having your office cleaning service inspect the property to help you decide on the maintenance and care required on a regular basis, to ensuring your choose the right location, we’ve got the all important tips you don’t want to miss:

Location

The first thing to do is decide on the location. Don’t be tempted to look at other premises that are far away just because a real estate agent makes it sound appealing. Stick to where you want to be located. This should generally take into account the locality of your clients and keeping central to where the majority of where your staff live.

Office usage

The second thing you need to do is make a list of all of the things the office will be used for. Do you need a boardroom suitable for client meetings? Does any of the staff require private office spaces? What sort of parking and accessibility is required for staff? From this, write a checklist of all of the things you want it to have, right down to the type of bathroom facilities that are available (private or per floor).

Set your budget

It’s easy to get carried away when you are viewing a number of office premises. But the trouble is, you don’t want to make the mistake of over-extending yourself on rent simply because you love the look of an office. Work out how much your business can afford in rent and stick to that budget. You’ll be glad you’ve made the effort to do this in the long run.

Maintenance issues

You will want to find out about the reliability of the lift, how often it’s been fixed and any other problems the building may have. You don’t want to move in to an office where the floor above is about to be guttered and re-built over a 6 month period.

Create a staff survey

It’s a good idea to find out what your staff like about the current business premises and what they’d like changed in the new one. It matters what they think about the new office too and including them in this process will ensure you make the right choice so that everyone is happy with the new location.

When inspecting the different office premises, ask yourself these questions:

• Is there lots of natural light?
• Is the entrance inviting for clients and employees?
• Does it have all of the facilities we need?
• Is it close to public transport?
• Is it in a central location for our clients and staff?

Once you have found the office that you think is the one, have your commercial cleaning service professionals come out to give you an idea of what they could do to refresh the place before you move in. If it ticks all of the above boxes then you know you’ve found the right place for your business’s new office space.

Tips for Choosing your New Office Premises is a post from: Cleaning Tips & Articles