Is Your Business Clean? Common Germ Hotspots in Workplaces

Is your office clean? Sure, the trashcan is empty, the floor doesn’t have any obvious dirt on it, and you can see out of the windows, but is it actually clean? There are other areas that require extra attention, and some of it can only be provided by a commercial cleaning company like Clean Works. It can take a lot of your precious time and considerable effort to address all of the cleaning that some workplaces may require.

Hotspots for germs and dirt are the result of high traffic and inconsistent cleaning. Often, the hotspots are high traffic and high touch areas. If you need help remembering what a high touch spot is, the CDC advises “High-touch surfaces are surfaces that are handled frequently throughout the day by numerous people.” These hotspots need to be cleaned regularly to avoid issues such as excessive wear and tear, staff illness, and pests. But how can you tell without any fancy equipment where a hotspot is in your office? We’re going to help you figure it out with the five places that can become problem areas for cleaning in an office.

Door Handles & Light Switches

When it comes to high touch, high traffic areas, door handles and light switches are often the biggest hotspots. People often carry thousands of germs and use their hands to handle various equipment, sometimes after sneezing or coughing into their hands. Bacteria from a cold or flu may live on hard surfaces for many weeks and can increase the risk of infection and illness. Light switches can also show signs of dirt on their surface or surrounding walls, which can make the area appear unclean.

Cleaning these high touch areas should be a priority at least 2x a week. Spraying a disinfectant seems like an easy solution but you also need to clean it free of debris and dirt first. Be sure that the disinfectant is allowed to dry before giving the surface a wipe down with a clean cloth. Or ask your cleaning company to prioritize these areas. You should notice a consistent clean appearance when you use a cleaning company.

Desk Phones

Next to door handles and light switches, desk phones often are the most common spots for dirt and bacteria. Phone users may pick up the phone without realizing that just a minute before they had been sneezing into their hand. Saliva can also spray onto the phone due to talking or coughing. It makes phones breeding grounds for bacteria and is a potential hazard for phone users.

In addition to bacteria and germs, dirt and dust are also major problems for phones. Dirt and dust can lower the lifespan of phone appliances and when breathed in can cause respiratory issues.

Much like cleaning door handles, removing the dirt and debris before disinfecting helps remove excess dirt and germs. Depending on the number of phones in your office, this process may be quick but it could take a while. In that case, hiring a cleaning company may be your best option. Besides, your team consists of people with many talents, but probably not a great talent for cleaning and disinfecting. 

Restroom Facilities

This may not be a surprise but of course restrooms are on our list. What may surprise you is that restrooms often have a big impact on the daily operation of a business, from customers to employees. A dirty restroom leaves a very poor impression, and it can affect employee morale. This could mean toilet paper running out, dirty sinks, and waste on the floors, but it can also mean unclean surfaces such as toilets, sinks, and dispensers.

Cleaning a restroom should occur daily for mid-size businesses. If you have higher traffic volume, you may need to increase that amount to 2x a day. Thorough cleaning means not only sweeping, mopping, and emptying trash, but also disinfecting. This can be time intensive and is why many businesses hire commercial cleaners.

Shared Workstations

When it comes to running an effective office, you may have invested in shared workstations. With several employees using one space, it is likely there will be more opportunities for unclean hotspots that carry a variety of bacteria. Remember that in a workstation you can have high touch hotspots like phones, keyboards, lamps, desk accessories, and desktops. But in the case of a shared workstation, you have multiple employees leaving germs behind and it will increase the traffic of bacteria and viruses to and from a desk.

Having a list of cleaning tasks per workstation can help designate tasks per person who shares the area. It can also help ensure that tasks are being done on time. However, it can create an environment where one person is doing all of the work, and this can lead to tension. Handing over the responsibility to a commercial cleaning company is a great option and provides you with the peace of mind of knowing that a professional has properly cleaned and disinfected your space.

Reception Areas

Customer-facing areas will have different challenges for businesses.  A customer won’t only notice an unclean restroom, especially if they see signs of a business not keeping itself clean and tidy.  Customers will notice quickly if an area is dirty and messy, and it can leave a lasting impression. You may lose customers or get reviews online that can push prospective customers away. Whether you are managing a shopping mall or a more private business with walk-ins, customer satisfaction is important to your downline.

Reception areas often have the same high touch risks as other areas in office buildings. With the variety of foot traffic and exposure, germs and bacteria pose a large health risk. Thoroughly cleaning these areas, using Health Canada registered cleaning products, and disinfecting consistently can all help keep the reception area safe and ready.

Fighting Germ Hotspots can be hard work

Staying on top of cleaning germ and bacteria hotspots is a never-ending battle. With the trust and health of your employees and customers on the line, it is important to always try to improve the cleanliness of your office building. 

Developing a routine that works for you and having the right tools are as important as scheduling the time to clean. This may mean that you should consult with a cleaning product company and learn the best products to use for your particular needs. Investing in the tools and products you need helps prevent further problems down the road. It also means that you need to have a schedule and stick to it, so that cleaning duties aren’t ignored. You may choose to clean once or twice a week or need to do spot-cleaning every day. It will depend on your situation and how much you must invest in cleaning.

If you need help and want someone else to handle cleaning and disinfecting your office, give Clean Works a call. We can assess your needs and make informed suggestions before quoting you a rate tailored to your business.