Importance Of Disinfecting Door Knobs In Commercial Buildings
Here we will explain the importance of disinfecting door knobs in commercial buildings. Read on to learn important information! When businesses think about commercial cleaning, attention often goes to floors, restrooms, carpets, desks, and visible surfaces. However, some of the most frequently touched areas in a commercial building are much smaller and easier to overlook.
Door knobs and door handles are touched repeatedly throughout the day by employees, customers, visitors, delivery personnel, and vendors. Because so many people come into contact with them, they are considered high-touch surfaces and should be included in a consistent commercial cleaning routine.
The CDC specifically identifies door handles and doorknobs as high-touch surfaces that should be cleaned regularly. High-traffic areas may also need more frequent cleaning or additional disinfection depending on how the space is used.
For businesses in Poughkeepsie and throughout the Hudson Valley, paying attention to frequently touched surfaces such as door knobs can be an important part of maintaining a cleaner, healthier, and more professional workplace.
Why Are Door Knobs Considered High-Touch Surfaces?
Think about how many doors an employee may open during a typical workday.
They may touch:
- The main building entrance
- Office doors
- Conference room doors
- Restroom doors
- Breakroom doors
- Supply closets
- Stairwell doors
- Interior hallway doors
- Storage areas
- Employee entrances
Now multiply those interactions by dozens or even hundreds of employees and visitors.
Because door knobs and handles are used so frequently, they can quickly collect dirt, oils, and germs from people’s hands.
The CDC recommends regularly cleaning frequently touched surfaces, including door handles, handrails, elevator buttons, desks, counters, and similar shared areas.
This makes door hardware an important part of any commercial cleaning checklist.
Cleaning and Disinfecting Are Different
Cleaning and disinfecting are related, but they are not exactly the same.
Cleaning removes dirt, debris, and many germs from surfaces using soap, detergent, or another appropriate cleaning product.
Disinfecting uses a chemical product designed to kill germs that remain on the surface after cleaning.
According to the CDC, surfaces should generally be cleaned before they are disinfected because dirt and other impurities can make disinfectants less effective.
For commercial buildings, routine commercial cleaning may be sufficient in many everyday situations. Additional disinfection may be appropriate during periods of increased illness, when someone has been sick in the building, or when a facility has areas with particularly high levels of traffic.
Door Knobs Can Be Easy to Overlook
One challenge with commercial cleaning is that the most visible areas often receive the most attention.
A dirty floor is noticeable.
An overflowing trash can is noticeable.
A stained restroom sink is noticeable.
A contaminated door handle usually is not.
Door knobs can look perfectly clean while still requiring routine cleaning as part of a facility’s overall hygiene program.
That is why professional janitorial cleaning should follow a consistent checklist rather than relying only on what appears visibly dirty.
High-touch surfaces need intentional attention.
Which Door Handles Should Be Prioritized?
Not every door in a commercial building receives the same amount of traffic.
The most frequently used doors should generally receive the greatest attention.
Main Entrances
The main entrance may be touched by almost everyone who enters the building.
Employees, clients, vendors, delivery drivers, and visitors may all use the same door handle throughout the day.
Businesses with high foot traffic may benefit from cleaning entrance door handles more frequently.
Restroom Doors
Restroom door knobs and handles are another important area.
Even with good handwashing practices, many people touch restroom doors throughout the day.
Cleaning restroom doors should therefore include more than cleaning the floor, sink, toilet, and mirror. Door handles, locks, dispensers, and other frequently touched fixtures should also be addressed.
Conference Rooms
Conference room doors may be used repeatedly throughout the day as employees enter and exit meetings.
Shared conference rooms may also be used by clients, vendors, or visitors.
Including door handles in routine conference room cleaning helps maintain a more complete cleaning program.
Breakrooms
Breakroom door handles should not be forgotten either.
Breakrooms already contain numerous high-touch surfaces such as refrigerator handles, coffee machines, microwaves, faucets, and cabinet pulls.
The door leading into the room should be included in the same cleaning routine.
Stairwell and Hallway Doors
Commercial buildings with multiple floors or large interior layouts may have numerous stairwell and corridor doors.
These areas may receive substantial traffic but are sometimes overlooked because they are outside individual office spaces.
A comprehensive janitorial program should identify these shared touchpoints.
How Often Should Commercial Door Knobs Be Cleaned?
There is no single cleaning schedule that works for every commercial building.
Cleaning frequency should depend on factors such as:
- Number of employees
- Number of visitors
- Building size
- Daily foot traffic
- Type of business
- Time of year
- Whether illness is circulating
- How often specific doors are used
The CDC recommends cleaning high-touch surfaces regularly and notes that high-traffic spaces may warrant more frequent cleaning or additional disinfection.
For a small professional office, cleaning once as part of a scheduled janitorial visit may be appropriate.
A large commercial building, medical office, retail environment, or heavily trafficked facility may require attention several times throughout the day.
This is one reason customized commercial cleaning programs can be valuable.
Using Disinfectants Properly
Disinfecting a door knob requires more than quickly spraying a product and wiping it away.
Disinfectants need to be used according to their label instructions.
Many products require a surface to remain visibly wet for a specific amount of time, often referred to as the contact time or dwell time.
Failing to follow those directions can reduce the effectiveness of the product.
Cleaning staff should also make sure the disinfectant is appropriate for the surface being treated.
Some door hardware may be made from stainless steel, brass, coated metal, painted surfaces, plastic, or other materials that require different care.
Professional cleaners should follow manufacturer recommendations and product instructions to avoid damaging finishes.
Door Knobs Are Only One Part of High-Touch Cleaning
Door handles are important, but they should be part of a broader strategy.
Other frequently touched surfaces in commercial buildings may include:
- Light switches
- Elevator buttons
- Stair railings
- Reception counters
- Phones
- Keyboards
- Touchscreens
- Copy machines
- Faucet handles
- Restroom fixtures
- Appliance handles
- Shared desks
- Conference room tables
A cleaning program that only addresses floors and visible dirt can miss many of the areas employees interact with most.
The CDC recommends routine attention to frequently touched surfaces as part of good hygiene practices for organizations.
A Cleaner Building Can Improve the Workplace Experience
Professional cleaning does more than improve appearance.
Employees and visitors notice when a commercial property feels well maintained.
Clean entrances, restrooms, breakrooms, floors, and common areas help create a more professional environment.
Consistently cleaning high-touch areas such as door knobs can also demonstrate that a business is paying attention to the smaller details of facility maintenance.
That can be particularly important for businesses that regularly welcome clients, patients, customers, tenants, or other members of the public.
Professional Commercial Cleaning in Poughkeepsie, NY
Maintaining a commercial property requires attention to both the obvious areas and the easy-to-miss details.
Door knobs, handles, switches, railings, and other frequently touched surfaces should be incorporated into a consistent commercial cleaning program rather than treated as an occasional task.
CCS Facility Maintenance provides professional commercial cleaning and janitorial services for businesses throughout Poughkeepsie and the Hudson Valley.
Located at 201 South Ave, Suite 102, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603, CCS Facility Maintenance can develop a customized cleaning program based on the size, traffic level, and specific needs of your facility.
From recurring office cleaning and restroom maintenance to floor care and high-touch surface cleaning, a professional janitorial team can help keep your building cleaner, better maintained, and ready for employees and visitors.
Contact CCS Facility Maintenance to learn more about commercial cleaning and janitorial services in Poughkeepsie and throughout the Hudson Valley.
