6 All-Natural Ways To Quickly Clean Your Office Space

Since spring is here, many of us are probably spring cleaning —everything from our homes to our cars. But what about our workspaces?

And I’m not talking about just straightening out messy piles of paper, but about actually cleaning the space you’re in—like your computer keyboard or communal microwave. But if you’re like me and don’t like using chemicals, what should you do?

Usually, I use white vinegar or lemon juice to clean everything—at home and at work. When I did some research to back up my theory, I found that a lot of people do the same thing. But, I also found some other au naturel methods people use to spruce up their surroundings, and you can, too.

1. Windows

office window photo
Photo by imo.un

My grandma believes vinegar can clean anything, and I think she’s right. If you’re lucky enough to have a window in your office, you might as well make sure you can see out of it, right? Enter vinegar.

However, the Mother Nature Network suggests lemon juice to clean windows, so you can see which you like best—vinegar or lemon juice. Business 2 Community also suggests using vinegar to brighten up metal office supplies, like scissors. Easy, right?

2. Computer Keyboard

computer keyboard photo
Photo by john_a_ward

The other day, I saw a co-worker using a Lysol wipe to clean his keyboard. I’ve done it, too, but what about when you just want to dust it off without liquid?

After all, I sometimes get paranoid that the liquid will somehow destroy my hard drive! I decided to get a blush brush from the local dollar store and used that.

Plus, it’s easy to store in my desk drawer, as well as bring along when I travel with my laptop. How-To Geek suggests using alcohol and a cotton swab or Q-tip to get rid of keyboard grime and germs. They recommend isopropyl alcohol (not ethyl) that’s about 60 percent alcohol or more.

You can also use a pencil eraser to clean dirty computer keys, How-To Geek says, as long as the eraser shavings don’t get under the keys. (I tried this and it was tricky, so I’d opt for the Q-tip method first!)

3. Microwave

 

microwave photo
Photo by cote

I don’t use microwaves, but I recently saw a friend using chemical-laden wipes to clean his out and I thought, ewww. Then he is going to heat things up in it and eat those things?! No thank you!

I told him there must be a better, non-chemical way, and I found one. The Mother Nature Network suggests adding a couple tablespoons of lemon juice to a cup of water (about ¾ full), then heating it to boiling.

They say to leave it in the microwave for about 10 minutes. When you open it, it’ll be steamy and smell nice and lemony and then all you need to do is use a cloth to wipe it clean.

This option sounds WAY better, safer, and more pleasant-smelling! I watched my friend do it and the entire room smelled wonderful.

4. Counters

countertop photo
Photo by NancyHugoCKD.com

Here at Simplemost, we’ve talked about the pros of lemon juice, lemon water, and lemons before. Obviously, we’re BIG fans. If you want clean counters at work without inhaling chemical fumes, look no further than a spray bottle full of water—and add some lemon juice, says my mom.

The DIY Network says you can even cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice on the counter, particularly onto stains. You can let it set in, have the acid work its magic, then rinse with water. If you don’t have a lemon handy, bottled lemon juice will do the trick, too.

5. Garbage Disposal

garbage disposal photo
Photo by Dean Hochman

Is there an unusual scent in your office kitchen? It may be coming from the garbage disposal. After using a lemon in your water (which is super healthy, as we’ve written about), put the peels in the disposal and your kitchen should smell way better in no time! My friend taught me this trick and it works wonderfully.

6. Air Fresheners

oranges photo
Photo by eblaser

If you want an all-natural air freshener, put some lemon or orange peels in a bowl on your desk, states Mrs. Clean.

Or, like my mom prefers, put some cloves into an orange and watch every desk passerby love the smell and ask what it is. Organic.org also has a great way to make Pomander Balls, with oranges, cloves, and a variety of spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg. Yum.

Photo by Vitamin C9000

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About the Author
Natalia Lusinski
In addition to Simplemost, Natalia is an ongoing writer for Bustle (sex, dating, relationships, and money), HelloGiggles (pop culture and news), The Delite (feel-good stories), and Don’t Waste Your Money (yep, money issues!). You can also find her writing in the L.A. Times, the Chicago Tribune's RedEye, xoJane, Elite Daily, Scary Mommy, Elephant Journal, and Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies, among other publications. She has a Ph.D. in couch-surfing, having spent four years sleeping on over 200 L.A.-area love seats and sectionals, all in an effort to whittle down her student loan debt. She still loves couch-surfing in other cities, too (hint, hint).

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