How to Plan an Office Clean-Out

Office clutter can feel stressful and chaotic. You might even notice that your productivity begins to dip every time you try to work in a cluttered environment.

Decluttering your space will allow you to focus better on tasks and reduce the stress that comes from an unkempt office. It’ll give you the reset you need to start fresh, create a better organizational system, and develop better habits.

Why You Should Declutter Your Office?

Cleaning out your office and keeping it organized will have massive benefits. Here are some reasons why you should declutter your workspace.

Increased Productivity

Messy offices are an eyesore to look at. You’ll notice piles of papers, office supplies lying around, and miscellaneous objects all around. When you’re not surrounded by a disheveled desk, it’s easier to stay focused on the task at hand since you don’t have the visual distraction.

Also, you’ll spend less time finding specific documents and supplies, giving you more time to focus on your work.

Improved Health

Decluttering your office isn’t just about productivity. A clean workspace will keep you healthy, so you can take fewer sick days.

One study found that the average desktop has 400 times more bacteria than an average toilet seat! That’s because bacteria in keyboards and computers often go unnoticed, especially if multiple people share the same desk.

Regularly vacuuming and wiping down surfaces can reduce allergy symptoms. Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces will also lower the spread of germs and viruses. We also recommend keeping good ventilation and air circulation for better indoor air quality.

A cluttered office just poses more surfaces for dust, dirt, and allergens to accumulate in your office.

Reduced Stress

Clutter creates visual chaos in your environment, which can be mentally draining. When you declutter your office junk, you create a clean and organized space that’s visually calming.

If you have trouble finding important items, or your desk has many useless objects, there’s a good chance you have a messy office. When you remove the physical clutter, you’ll find that your mind feels less stressed, leading to a sense of calm. That allows you to put your mental energy into more impactful activities, such as your work.

Leaving your workspace in chaos can trigger stress, which can cause all sorts of negative health effects.

How to Declutter an Office in 6 Easy Steps

The idea of completely overhauling your office may sound daunting, but don’t worry! While it can take some effort upfront, the rewards are well worth it.

Follow our simple steps to properly perform your next office cleanout.

Step 1: Plan Your Workspace Layout

Before you start, knowing what you’re looking to achieve is crucial. Set aside time to envision what you want your office to look like. Consider using Pinterest boards or researching visual examples of what your space will include.

Think about the furniture, organizational items, and decor needed to support your work tasks and the flow of your workspace.

We recommend dividing your office into different zones based on your activities. Common zones include a workstation, meeting area, relaxation space, and storage area.

Step 2: Clear Out Your Office

For a truly clutter-free and clean space, it’s best to start from scratch. It’ll give you a complete reset – almost like you’ll get a brand-new office. That will help to dispel many of the limiting beliefs and anxiety you’ve had around your work.

For example, if you always see yourself as a “messy” person, a clean space will give you the confidence you need to view yourself as someone who’s organized and prepared.

We recommend moving everything to another room, where you can sort and categorize everything properly. In this step, you may want to wipe down all surfaces and floors while your space is cleared out.

Step 3: Sort and Categorize

Ultimately, you’ll need to decide what to keep and discard. Start by tossing all the obvious trash, such as:

• Old mail
• Snack wrappers
• Empty bags and boxes
• Old Post-it notes and notebooks
• Pens that don’t work anymore
• Mystery cables and cords

Next, you want to categorize your items by the type of item, such as personal items, office supplies, and important documents. Make sure to keep only the essential things that you’ll actually use.

Step 4: Remove Unwanted Furniture

Old office furniture can hold you back from your dream space. It takes up valuable space that you could use for better purposes, and an office cleanout is an ideal time to analyze what furniture you really want. Perhaps throwing in a few plants, shelves, or even a better desk would enhance the productivity and aesthetics of your office.

Not only does old furniture hurt the aesthetics, but it can also be dangerous to keep around.

Imagine a broken office chair or desk with a faulty leg or wheel. These can lead to a workplace accident, or poor posture, causing aches and pains.

The problem is properly disposing of office furniture is difficult. Furniture such as filing cabinets and office cubicles are bulky, making them hard to disassemble and transport. And you still need to figure out how to recycle or dispose of them safely, ethically, and legally.

That’s why, if you’re in the Bay Area, we recommend calling in the experts like us at Nixxit. We do all the heavy lifting, so all you have to do is book an appointment, and we’ll take care of the rest.

We prioritize responsible disposable methods, meaning we donate or recycle where possible. As a result, you’ll have peace of mind that your items will be disposed of responsibly.

Step 5: Get Better Storage Options

Without the proper storage options for all those paper files and supplies, your office decor will be wrecked by clutter.

There are plenty of options for neatly tucking everything away to keep your space looking tidy. Find storage solutions that can easily store and hide miscellaneous items such as pens, calculators, scissors, and other tools. Label things where necessary, so you know where to locate items later.

When buying new furniture, consider built-in storage options as well. For example, desks with storage units are great ways to hide clutter.

Step 6: Get Rid of Clutter and Reorganize

Once you have storage options, you’re ready to get rid of all the useless items that no longer serve you. That could be books you no longer read, knick-knacks that have reached the end of their lifespan, or anything else you don’t use.

Remember, it’s better to take a minimalistic approach. When organizing your items, group similar types of items together. Use your layout to guide how you’ll reorganize your new furniture and other items.

And that’s about it. You now know how to quickly declutter your office, turning your workspace from a mess to a productive haven.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Main Cause of Office Clutter?

The main cause of office clutter stems from a lack of an organizational system. Without a system for storage and retrieval, items will pile up haphazardly – but it goes well beyond simply buying storage bins and boxes. You should have a clear plan of where everything needs to go.

What Are Some Reasons To Cleanout An Office?

You may clean out your office for a variety of reasons. You may be simply downsizing or decluttering. You may also be closing a business or moving office locations. Whatever your reason, Nixxit can help with your Bay Area office cleanout.

Need Office Clean-Out Services in the Bay Area? Contact Us.

No matter how big or small your office is, it’s worth the effort for a clean, organized space. A full-scale office cleanout is what you need to help reclaim your mental sanity and feel inspired about your work. It can dramatically improve your productivity and mental health.

If you need help with getting rid of the bulky office furniture that’s been sitting around and collecting dust, contact Nixxit Junk Removal. We offer office cleanout services to remove all types of items, such as desks, cubicles, filing cabinets, chairs, fixtures, and much more.

Just give us a call or schedule an appointment online to book our services. Let us help you transform your office into an inspired and productive space that supports your best work!