Reoccurring tasks

See also: Volunteering, ToDo, Cleaning the hackspace, and Waste and Recycling Initiative

This page lists Reoccurring tasks that need to be done to keep the space functioning. All Hackspace members are expected to contribute in some way to the running of the space!

This is also a handy list to use during Hack the Space Days.

History

During the discussion prompted by James H's "It's my time" thread on the mailing list, it appears some members would like to have a list of stuff they can/are expected to help out with. Here's an incomplete list to get people going, although members are invited to consider that just because something isn't on the list, doesn't mean they shouldn't do it - none of this is rocket surgery - use your initiative to make the space a nicer place to be.

By area or category

In no particular order, but perhaps with a slight emphasis on areas people neglect...

Comfy Area

It's especially important to keep the Comfy Area tidy as it's the first thing people see when walking into the space, and helps set expectations / creates first impressions for new / potential members. Things have a tendency to migrate to the comfy area:

1. People sometimes leave food wrappings and such here - throw this stuff in the trash (and if you saw someone do this, yell at them)
2. Used mugs and glasses etc. into the dish washer
3. Toys and such into storage boxes (those round table things can be opened to put things inside)
4. Musical instruments back on racks / wall hooks / stowed in storage units
5. Magazines / periodicals on shelf under table
6. Books and stuff back on the shelves in the proper sections
7. Neaten cushions & fold blankets and drape over the backs of sofas or into barge footstool storage
8. Vacuum using studio area Henry (there should be a Titan in the studio near the Screen Printing Area) and put back afterwards!
9. Wipe down surfaces using kitchen spray (under sink in kitchen)
10. Water the plants

Bathroom

The Toilets are cleaned by the cleaner once a week, but you should feel free to help out. There are cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink.

1. Make sure all cubicles have a toilet roll on the holder, and a spare. There should be stock in the accessible toilet cubicle. If we're running low there, with the Team:Snackspace a shout.
2. Towels can be taken home to be washed
3. Wash the sink area

Clean the kitchen

This is really important - the Kitchen sees heavy use and needs constant cleaning to keep it from getting nasty. Clear away cooking things promptly. NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING IN THE SINK.

1. Clear and wipe down surfaces and table - cleaning spray and other bits are under the sink
2. If the dishwasher is full of dirties, set it running (detergent under sink); flip the sign on the front of the dish washer to "empty me"
3. If the dishwasher has has run but it still full of clean things, put them away in the cupboards / drawers; flip the sign on the front of the dish washer to "fill me"
4. Tidy / wipe down tea / coffee / toaster after - move jars and toaster and wipe up crumbs and such
5. Put things from draining board into cupboards / drawers
6. Wipe down and bleach the sink and draining boards
7. Clean the inside of the microwave
8. Wipe down the front of the dishwasher, oven and fridges
9. Clean out the fridge - 'ruthlessly throw things away that don't have a DNH stickers on, or are out of date. Don't leave the bin full of rotting food - take it to the dumpsters!
10. Clean the oven
11. Tidy the storage shelves - remove out of date foodstuffs!
12. Tidy the corner table and wipe it down with detergent
13. Tidy / organise the cupboards
14. Put good sharp knives onto the magnetic holder on the wall, less good knives can go in the drawer

Studio & Craft Room

1. Clear the Studio desks and wipe them down.
2. Tidy chairs and move desks to their proper positions

Workshop / Dusty Area

The Workshop & Dusty Area are amongst the highest traffic areas of the hackspace. Please make sure you clean up as you go when using them. If you have some spare time, here are some tasks that always need doing:

1. Put Cordless Drills back on charging station
   1. Remove bits and put back in bit storage on side bench
   2. Batteries should be put in chargers, drills into the charge station (chuck down in holes on top shelf)
2. Sawdust should be vacuumed / put in bins
3. Vacuum floors (use workshop vacuums only NOT the Henry from the studio!)
4. Hand tools should be tidied away. Many go on the shadow board on the side wall, some go on drawers and under the side bench. If you don't know where something goes, ask someone.
5. Vacuum / sweep bench tops
6. Tidy / sort the drill bits
7. Arrange the parts boxes on the racks. They coded with strips of colours tape!
8. Empty full bins and take them to the dumpsters. Put new bin bags in the bins (new ones can be found in the kitchen, under the sink). Never leave bins with no bags in as people still still use them and then they're a nightmare to deal with.

Metalworking Area

The Metalworking Area contains lots of equipment that can be prematurely worn out or damaged by a messy environment.

1. Clear the benches and welding table:
   1. Grinders, vice grips etc go in the cabinet
   2. Files, punches etc. go in the drawers next to the Donkey Saw (they're labelled!)
   3. Needle files, taps dies, etc go in the little wooden drawers to the left of the welders
   4. Hammers, saws and other tools go on the racking above the bench
   5. Drill bits go in the small drawers.
   6. Lathe / mill tools go in the racks attached to those tools (and shouldn't be on the benches anyway!)
2. Chip management! There is a bin specifically for swarf. General trash should not be in here - pick it out - carefully!
3. Vacuum dust and other detritus from around tools!

Electronics Area

It seems like the Electronics Area gets messy a lot. Spend a few minutes helping to keep it nice:

1. Components left out on benches should be tidied away
2. Tidy away tools and components - make sure each bay has tools put back in racks (pliers / strippers / tweezers etc)
3. Put multi-meters back in holders
4. Tidy away wire / solder etc
5. Put extra hand tools in tubs
6. Component / tool tubs replaced on shelves and arranged (lids are colour coded!)
7. Vacuum up / throw away wire clippings / stripped insulation

Tidy up after yourself

Before you leave the space, do a walk-around any areas you used to double check you didn't leave any mess - tools or materials out and so on. Any area you used should look clean and tidy, whether or not any mess there was made by you.

1. Tools should go back in the right place. If you don't know where it should go, ask someone. If there's no-one about, try HARD to find the right place. If you still can't find the right place, leave a tool in a prominent place AND post in Discord saying you did this, and asking where it should go
2. Tidy away your materials / half finished projects into your box or onto the large project storage shelves
3. Take complete projects out of the space
4. Don't leave opened / half eaten food out because "someone might be able to use it". They won't. It will go nasty and someone else will have to clean it up. Don't do it.
5. Put your dishes in the dishwasher - run / empty it if it's full
6. NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING IN THE SINK
7. If you see other people leaving the space without properly tidying up after themselves, challenge them about it. It's NOT OK.

Turn off unused lights

See also: Access to the space#Leaving the space

If you're in the space at night and there are many lights on, turn them off in unused areas. If you're the last one out, turn out the lights!

Upstairs

1. The workshop has two switches next to the workshop/studio doors - "near" and "far" - if there is no-one in the back of the workshop, turn off the "far" one. If there is no-one in the rest of the workshop, turn off the "near" one
2. The main Studio light switch is near the door to the workshop
3. The Toilets and Kitchen switches are on the studio side of the doors to those rooms
4. The Craft Room switches are about the ironing board, right next to the door as you enter
5. Comfy Area lights:

• Paper globe lamp shade light switch is on the post between the sofas
• Rope lights / EL wire along bookcases are plugged into wall socket to the left of the screen
• Remember not to leave the projector running when you're not using it - there should be a remote control on the table, or you can use the buttons on the projector itself

Downstairs

1. Lights downstairs are controlled using the space's Network using the address [queen:8181], allowing control of individual lights. There are also physical style switches:

• In the entrance corridor on the right hand side as you enter.
• In the Blue Room near the exit.

Note: Turn me off.

Bins & Recycling

See also: Waste and Recycling Initiative

There is often too much stuff for one person to take in a single trip. If there's someone there who hasn't done it before, ask them to join you so they know where to go in future!

When emptying bins, never leave bins with no bags in as people still still use them and then they're a pain to deal with. Bin liners can be found in the kitchen, under the sink. If you find a bin with no liner, fix it!

Dumpsters can be found as follows:

1. Take your entry card with you in case you get shut out
2. Leave the space by the rear fire exit (next to upstairs Metalworking)
3. Take the first right and then through the door, you will find the lift
4. Take the lift down to the ground floor and turn left when you come out
5. Go through the door onto the street, turn left and then left again
6. The door has a keycode lock and is next to some large shutters (which the bin folk use to empty the bins). You can get the code from HMS.
7. More detail is here

Anything Else That Needs Doing

Think: "Is this a mess? Would it be better if someone tidied that up / scrubbed it / organised it? Wait! I'm a someone! I'll do it!".

Then stop thinking about it and do it.

Do the hell out of it.