Did you know that the typical office worker’s hands come in contact with 10 million bacteria daily? Germs can spread through your workplace rapidly, especially in areas that some commercial cleaners often miss.
Continue reading to discover which areas need extra attention and how you can cultivate a healthy workspace.
Areas Commercial Cleaners Often Miss
Knowing how and where to combat germs in your office goes a long way toward creating a healthy workspace. Below are a few germ hotspots that some commercial cleaners tend to miss.
Printers and Photocopiers
Printers and copiers are one of the most often overlooked areas. However, it’s crucial to ensure they’re sanitized as these devices have buttons which are touched by numerous employees throughout the day. As a general rule of thumb, your display boards, buttons, and handles should be wiped down daily.
Coffee Makers
If your office is anything like ours, it’s most likely full of java-lovers. Unfortunately, this also means the handle of the coffee maker sees a lot of contact throughout the day. Like your printers, kitchen appliances need to be wiped down multiple times throughout the day to help reduce the transfer of germs from one employee to another.
Water Coolers
After you’ve disinfected the coffee maker, you’ll want to swing by the water cooler and clean that as well. Most employees use the water cooler at least once per day, touching buttons and cup dispensers. Because water coolers are often situated in hallways or corners, they can be forgotten by commercial cleaners during their nightly routine.
Kitchen Refrigerators
Your employees use kitchen appliances every day, and your refrigerator is one of the highest-touch areas. Because people are constantly storing food there, it attracts a lot of hands during the day. Be sure to clean the handles to help mitigate germ transmission.
When you think of germs on door handles, the door handle in the bathroom is probably the first thing that comes to mind. However, all door handles are high-touch areas, especially those with keypads or fingerprint scanners. Additionally, some door handles receive contact from visitors and delivery people, leaving even more germs on them. To effectively reduce the spread of germs, be sure to clean all the handles in your facility.
Follow this checklist to ensure all your high-touch handles get sanitized:
- Cupboard handles
- Entryway door handles
- Bathroom door handles
- Keypads/fingerprint scanners
- Stairwell door handles
- Elevator buttons
Shared Furniture
Most office spaces have places like break rooms or waiting areas with furniture. Because numerous people use this furniture throughout the day, the upholstery quickly begins to harbor germs and odors. Your commercial cleaners should place special attention to cleaning and sanitizing these areas. A few times a year, conduct the following procedures on your shared furniture:
- Clean
- Vacuum
- Condition
- Rinse
- Steam
Paying attention to these areas helps create a clean and comfortable office space.
Conference Rooms
When identifying what spaces need extra attention, focus on areas that see a lot of people flow in and out. One of the most commonly used areas in your office is conference rooms. Chairs, tables, equipment, and even the remote control for presentations are hot spots for germs. To create a healthy environment for employees and visitors alike, be sure to sanitize these items.
Windowsills and Blinds
Commercial cleaners often overlook your window sills and blinds during your nightly cleaning. While the germ transmission isn’t as large of a threat compared to high-touch areas, they still accumulate dust. Keep these areas tidy as they significantly contribute to workspace cleanliness.
Stairways and Hallways
Your hallways and stairwells see a lot of traffic from employees, visitors, and delivery people. Throughout the whole day, the handrails and door handles are frequently touched. Because they’re out of sight, some commercial cleaners keep them out of mind. Be sure to make sure you disinfect these areas and clear them of any accumulated debris.
Employee Workstations
Your employees’ desks, chairs, keyboards, and computer mice are safe havens for germs. They spend upwards of eight hours a day there, and your commercial cleaners should do their part to reduce the spread of germs. Emphasize sanitizing all frequently touched areas, and wipe down any phones or headsets.
This may sound like a lot to cover, but a trusted, professional cleaning service can help you get the job done.
How To Properly Disinfect Your Workspace
The cleanliness of your office directly influences the way visitors perceive your company. Outsourcing janitorial services helps keep your workplace safe and presentable.
If you’re looking to properly disinfect your workspace, invest in a professional commercial cleaner, as they deliver the following benefits:
Skill-Heavy Cleaning Procedures
In-house janitors who regularly visit your office space only clean dirt and grime on a superficial level. Another benefit of hiring a commercial cleaning service is their deep cleaning procedures, which deliver a level of cleanliness that janitors can’t provide overnight. Deep cleaning services include detailed and demanding tasks that most in-house cleaners can’t handle, such as:
- High dusting areas
- Thorough restroom cleaning
- Heavy-duty carpet cleaning
- Commercial floor cleaning services
Professional cleaning providers have loads of experience in delivering high-quality janitorial procedures that keep your workspace healthy and clean.
A Healthier Office Space
A substantial benefit to hiring a commercial cleaning service is the impact a clean office space has on employee health. According to findings from the Healthy Workplace Project, maintaining a clean office space reduces the odds of catching a cold or flu by 80%.
By disinfecting areas prone to germ transmission, professional office cleaning services help reduce the spread of viruses and keep your employees healthy.
Looking For High Quality Janitorial Services? You’re In the right Spot.
Since 2007, Pro Squared Janitorial has developed a reputation for delivering high-quality commercial cleaning services.
We care about the work we do. On every job, our technicians bring attention to detail, guaranteeing to clean high-touch areas that other services might overlook.
Ready to discover the Pro Squared difference? Reach out to our experts with your next project details—we’re happy to help.