[junipergreen]

The results of that study do not surprise me at all. At my company, there are no rules about clutter, but the cleaners wipe down everyone's desk every day as best they can. I'm a clutter-free type of person: my desk has nothing but my monitor/keyboard, phone, lamp, a notepad, and a small potted plant. When I come in and everything's been moved a few inches (like the plant all the way to the edge of the desk or phone right up against the monitor) it drives me insane. And then I feel bad, because someone cleans my fucking desk everyday and I just get annoyed about it.

[stronglikedan]

Maybe Velcro everything that you don't want moved, or put little tape outlines or stick paper shapes under them, so they know where to move it back to when they're done.

[kosma]

I'm an embedded engineer, and we have those "do not clean" stickers we put on our desks. I'd rather wipe my own desk on my own schedule than have a cleaner accidentally disturb some RF equipment or spill SMD components.

[chmars]

I'm curious: What makes daily cleaning necessary?

We've weekly cleaning and it seems to be sufficient.

[davidbanham]

Daily cleaning is often mandated by the building owner in a lease agreement.

It doesn't cost them anything since the tenant foots the bill. It provides them peace of mind their asset is in good condition.

[chmars]

Interesting, thank you!

[junipergreen]

I'm personally glad the kitchen gets cleaned daily, having worked places where employees were responsible for keeping it clean. That was a disaster.

I feel like wiping the desks down weekly would be enough. Maybe there's a reason behind it. Keeping cold from spreading around? Who knows.

[mschuster91]

Probably it's just to provide a clean-feeling workspace. It's nice to start a day and the coffee machine is clean and the trash bins are empty - especially the latter is important, given that food waste etc. can quickly develop a nasty smell.

[chmars]

I agree but couldn't the employees themselves take care of such stuff?

We share such minor duties in the office (and food waste goes to the bio waste bin if suitable or gets packed in small bags). Maybe we're simply not spoiled enough! ;)

[mahyarm]

It's also a density/numbers thing. More people means more generated mess in shared spaces.