Office Kitchen Etiquette: 5 Tips to Act Like a Pro On & Off the Clock

Be your best in the office kitchen

The break room is an important part of any office. It’s a place to relax, recharge and socialize with your coworkers. Taking time to replenish yourself both physically and mentally is an important part of staying productive, but that’s hard—if not impossible—to do when you’re surrounded by a mess.

Keeping a tidy kitchen isn’t hard so long as you follow a few simple rules of basic etiquette. Following these tips won’t just help you maintain a clean space, it’ll also show that you respect your colleagues both in and out of the kitchen. A little kindness goes a long way!

What to know when it comes to office kitchen etiquette

1. Always clean up when you’re done

The number one rule of office kitchen etiquette is perhaps the simplest: clean up after yourself when you’re done. 

Leaving behind a mess means someone will have to clean up after you before they can enjoy the space themselves. One leftover dirty napkin may not seem like a big deal, but it sets a bad example for anyone who follows you. When you’re done with your break or meal, take a moment to look around, make sure you’ve cleared everything you used and put it in its proper place. Your coworkers will appreciate the effort.  

2. If you use the last of something, replace it

Many office kitchens share supplies, including utensils, cups and napkins. It’s great to have access to tableware in case you forget a spoon for your soup, but it’s also important to be considerate of your coworkers.

If you use the last plastic fork or knife, open up a new box so that others won’t have to go hunting for them. If you’ve run out, let your office manager know that it’s time to order more. (Or, even better, suggest they set up automatic deliveries through Walmart Business+!)

Another great example of this is the office kitchen’s coffee maker, such as a Keurig machine. If you pour yourself the last cup from the drip maker, brew a new pot. If the Keurig is low on water after you serve yourself, add more. 

3. Don’t leave food in the office fridge indefinitely

You and your coworkers are going to share a fridge in the kitchen to store food, so it’s important to practice office fridge etiquette. Don’t leave food there indefinitely. Not only does this take up space that others could be using, but food could spoil if left in there long enough, which is just plain gross.

A good rule of thumb is to only keep items in the fridge for up to 48 hours. This avoids any potential spoilage and makes room for other items too. After two days, either take it home or throw it away.

Want to learn more about increasing office morale via food? Read Does Offering Food in the Office Really Improve Morale?

4. Wipe up spills, especially in the microwave

Kitchen spills are going to happen, but that’s okay—as long as you wipe them up. It’s especially important to clean up floor spills right away to make sure nobody slips and hurts themselves. 

One overlooked aspect of spillage is in the microwave. Many foods, especially frozen ones, can spill, bubble over or otherwise splat when they’re heated up. Over time, this leads to a highly unsanitary cooking space. A quick wipe down when you’re done heating your food goes a long way toward office cleanliness and harmony. Make life even easier for yourself by covering your food with a lid or paper towel while you’re heating it up.

5. Don’t leave dirty dishes in the sink

Nobody wants to deal with a sink full of dirty dishes. The solution is simple: wash any mugs, glasses, dishes or silverware as soon as you’re done with them. If your office is lucky enough to have a dishwasher, rinse your dishes first, then load them into the dishwasher. When it’s full, run it. 

Hand-washing dishes in the sink can sometimes lead to blocked drains. Having drainage gel on hand can help deal with such problems swiftly.

For inspiration on how to make your break room more enjoyable, check out these 5 Office Kitchen Ideas to Improve Your Breakroom.

Make Walmart Business your partner for kitchen etiquette

It’s easy to follow office kitchen etiquette when you have the right supplies. Walmart Business makes it easy to stay stocked on things like paper towels, tableware and dishwasher tabs. Using these items makes sure that the office kitchen stays clean and is a productive place for coworkers to gather.

Walmart Business can help with your logistical and supply needs with its selection of workplace must-haves. If you already have an account, a Walmart Business+ membership can unlock additional savings. Sign up today for access to free shipping,¹ free delivery from store on orders over $35² and 2% rewards for purchases over $250.³ It all adds up to over $500 in savings a year!⁴ Learn more here.

¹Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

²Restrictions apply. 

³Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply.

⁴Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).