Dust is common in office spaces, typically gathering in corners, sticking to walls, and any other place imaginable. Thus, every commercial cleaning service routine will always include a thorough dusting that targets certain hot spots like office electronics. From computers to printers, it seems that all hardware used for business productivity attracts dust build-up more than anything else in the office space.
If you wonder why this is the case, read on to learn the scientific reason why office electronics are such dust magnets, and some tips on preventing it.
Why do electronics attract so much dust?
There are primarily two reasons why office electronics get bogged up with dust so quickly. The first is due to static electricity. As dust particles flit around the office due to various forces, such as being trampled by foot traffic and flying into the air in the next moment, they gain either a slightly negative or positive charge.
Over time, the flow of electricity within all office electronics tends to generate the same electrical charge. And when it comes to these charges, opposites attract. Thus, any dust particles that have an opposite charge relative to your devices will naturally be attracted to and stick to them.
The second reason is the device’s cooling solutions. PC desktops generate heat the moment they turn on, and it only increases as they handle more tasks throughout a working day. As such, they require a cooling solution, typically fans installed in their cases, to bring in fresh air and cool the internal components. However, this also brings in more dust particles.
Is dust detrimental to electronics?
Dust can result in functioning issues for any type of electrical office equipment, especially for the computers stored in server rooms. With enough dust build-up, the cooling efficacy of your electronics can be reduced significantly, leading to higher temperatures and lowering the lifespan of critical internal parts such as the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of desktop computers.
Apart from hardware failure, overheating can also cause other instant consequences like reduced performance, which could affect your worker’s productivity.
How to keep office electronics dust-free for longer
Unfortunately, there is not much that can be done to fully dust-proof any office electronics. However, there are ways to diminish their tendency to attract dust.
1. Put computers and other electronics higher up on desks
Simply placing computers higher up on desks will help them get out of an airflow blackspot. Moreover, more accessible access will now prompt regular wipedowns, further reducing dust build-up.
2. Keep carpeting away from electronics
It is essential to remove carpets from server rooms and other places where critical electronics are located. This is because solid flooring is easier to maintain dust-free, and any dust build-up can be more clearly seen － prompting more regular cleaning.
3. Leave gaps between walls and devices
It is common to see printers and other electronics shoved into corner spots in the office, a typical hotspot for dust to accumulate. Apart from relocating them elsewhere, take note to leave gaps around larger electronic devices for better airflow and easier cleaning access.
4. Maintain humidity with HVAC
A bit of humidity is good for employees and the machines they use for work. If the HVAC system comes with humidity control, it is best to add some moisture in the air to lower the number of suspended particles in the office space. However, do take care not to overdo it － condensation mixing with dust will lead to dangerous short circuits.
Conclusion
Dust is not only harmful to your employees, but also the electronics everyone relies on to do work. By neglecting dust build-up for too long, businesses may experience both employee sickness and computer failures, resulting in a loss of time and money.
Given how office cleanliness directly affects productivity, it is recommended to look for a cleaning services company that knows its way around removing every speck of dust in your business establishment.
At Abba, our top-quality yet affordable office cleaning service in Singapore effectively eliminates dust in any office environment, including those on and around electronics. Our team of experienced and seasoned cleaners come with the training to get the job done quickly and efficiently, with no stone left unturned. In addition, we also provide other relevant cleaning services such as disinfection, pest control, and aircon maintenance in Singapore.
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