Preventing Flu In The Office: Cleaning & Disinfecting Tips
Flu season can create major challenges for businesses. When influenza begins spreading through an office, employee absences can increase quickly, productivity may decline, and shared workspaces can become a source of concern for staff and visitors.
Although no commercial cleaning program can completely eliminate the risk of influenza, maintaining a clean workplace is an important part of a broader flu-prevention strategy. The CDC recommends routinely cleaning frequently touched objects and surfaces in workplaces, while also encouraging good hand hygiene and having adequate supplies such as tissues, soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, and disposable wipes available.
For businesses in Poughkeepsie and throughout the Hudson Valley, a consistent commercial office cleaning and regular cleaning services can help maintain a healthier, more comfortable workplace throughout flu season.
Why Office Cleaning Matters During Flu Season
Influenza is primarily a respiratory illness, but contaminated hands and frequently touched surfaces can still contribute to the spread of germs throughout a workplace.
Think about how many people touch the same surfaces during an average workday. Employees may use the same conference room doors, kitchen appliances, elevator buttons, printers, restroom fixtures, and shared equipment.
When offices are busy, these high-touch areas can accumulate germs quickly.
Regular cleaning helps remove dirt, debris, and germs from surfaces. The CDC notes that cleaning with soap or detergent reduces the number of germs on surfaces, while disinfecting can kill germs that remain after cleaning.
That distinction is important when developing an effective office cleaning routine.
What Is the Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting?
Cleaning and disinfecting are often discussed together, but they serve different purposes.
Cleaning physically removes dirt, dust, debris, and many germs from surfaces using soap, detergent, and water or another appropriate cleaning product.
Disinfecting uses products designed to kill germs remaining on a surface.
In most everyday situations, routine cleaning plays an important role in reducing germs. However, additional disinfection may be appropriate when someone has been sick, during periods of increased illness, or in heavily used areas.
For proper disinfection, surfaces generally should be cleaned first. Dirt and other contaminants can interfere with the effectiveness of disinfectants.
Focus on High-Touch Surfaces
One of the most effective ways to improve office cleaning during flu season is to identify the surfaces employees touch most frequently.
High-touch surfaces in an office may include:
- Door handles and doorknobs
- Light switches
- Elevator buttons
- Stair railings
- Reception counters
- Desks
- Conference room tables
- Phones
- Computer keyboards and mice
- Copier and printer controls
- Breakroom appliance handles
- Refrigerator doors
- Microwave controls
- Coffee machines
- Faucets
- Restroom fixtures
The CDC recommends regularly cleaning frequently touched surfaces such as doorknobs, keyboards, phones, countertops, handrails, and similar shared surfaces.
The appropriate cleaning frequency will depend on how heavily the office is used. A busy reception area or shared breakroom may require more frequent attention than a private office occupied by one person.
Pay Special Attention to Office Breakrooms
Breakrooms can be one of the busiest shared spaces in an office.
Employees repeatedly touch refrigerator handles, cabinet pulls, coffee machines, microwaves, countertops, tables, faucets, and vending machines.
Food crumbs and spills can also create additional sanitation issues.
During flu season, a commercial cleaning routine should include regular cleaning of these shared surfaces. Tables and countertops should be cleaned thoroughly, appliance handles should receive additional attention, and trash should be removed regularly.
Employees should also be encouraged to clean up after themselves rather than leaving spills or food behind for others.
Don’t Forget Shared Office Equipment
Printers, copiers, phones, keyboards, tablets, touchscreens, and other electronics are easy to overlook during routine office cleaning.
Unfortunately, many of these devices are touched by multiple employees every day.
Cleaning electronics requires extra care because excessive moisture or inappropriate chemicals can damage equipment. The CDC recommends following manufacturers’ instructions for cleaning electronic devices and notes that wipeable covers may make cleaning and disinfecting certain electronics easier.
A professional commercial cleaning company can incorporate commonly touched office equipment into a customized cleaning checklist.
Keep Restrooms Properly Cleaned
Office restrooms require consistent cleaning throughout the year, but they deserve additional attention during cold and flu season.
Frequently touched restroom surfaces include:
- Faucet handles
- Toilet handles
- Stall locks
- Door handles
- Soap dispensers
- Countertops
- Paper towel dispensers
Restrooms should also remain stocked with soap and adequate hand-drying supplies.
Handwashing continues to be an important part of infection prevention. Providing employees with easy access to soap, water, paper towels or hand dryers, and hand sanitizer can support better workplace hygiene.
Provide Hand Sanitizer in Convenient Locations
Even in a professionally cleaned office, employees will continually touch shared objects throughout the workday.
Strategically placed hand sanitizer stations can make hand hygiene easier.
The CDC recommends organizations consider placing hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol near frequently touched surfaces and areas where soap and water are not readily available, including building entrances, elevators, and shared equipment.
Good locations may include:
- Reception areas
- Conference rooms
- Breakrooms
- Copier stations
- Entrances and exits
- Shared work areas
Making hygiene supplies convenient increases the likelihood that employees will use them regularly.
Use Disinfectants Correctly
Simply spraying disinfectant onto a surface and immediately wiping it away may not provide proper disinfection.
Different products require different amounts of time to work.
The CDC advises users to follow product-label directions and keep surfaces wet for the specified contact or dwell time.
Commercial cleaners should also use products appropriate for the surface being treated.
Cleaning chemicals should never be mixed unless the product instructions specifically state that doing so is safe. Proper ventilation and any required personal protective equipment should also be considered when disinfectants are used.
Increase Cleaning Frequency During Flu Season
The same cleaning schedule may not be appropriate year-round.
During flu season, businesses may benefit from increasing attention to heavily used areas.
For example, an office that normally receives professional cleaning three times per week may need more frequent service during periods of increased illness or employee traffic.
Even when full office cleaning does not occur every day, high-touch surfaces can be prioritized between regular cleaning visits.
A customized janitorial program allows businesses to adjust cleaning frequency based on the number of employees, building size, occupancy patterns, and specific workplace needs.
Encourage Sick Employees to Stay Home
Cleaning is only one part of preventing flu from spreading throughout an office.
Employees who are sick should follow appropriate health guidance rather than continuing to work closely with coworkers. The CDC advises employees who begin feeling sick while at work to go home as soon as possible.
Businesses can also help by maintaining adequate supplies of tissues, soap, hand sanitizer, disposable wipes, and paper towels.
Combining workplace policies with consistent cleaning and good hygiene provides a more comprehensive approach to flu-season preparedness.
Create a Consistent Office Cleaning Plan
One of the biggest mistakes businesses make is waiting until employees become sick before increasing cleaning.
A preventative cleaning program is generally more effective than reacting after an office already has multiple illnesses circulating.
A professional janitorial program can include:
- Routine office cleaning
- High-touch surface cleaning
- Restroom cleaning
- Breakroom cleaning
- Trash removal
- Floor cleaning
- Carpet maintenance
- Hard floor maintenance
- Periodic disinfecting
- Customized cleaning schedules
Different offices have different needs, so commercial cleaning should be based on the size and use of the facility rather than following the same checklist for every property.
Commercial Office Cleaning in Poughkeepsie, NY
Maintaining a cleaner workplace during flu season takes consistency. Frequently touched surfaces, shared equipment, restrooms, breakrooms, and common areas all require regular attention.
CCS Facility Maintenance provides professional commercial cleaning and janitorial services for businesses throughout Poughkeepsie and the surrounding Hudson Valley area.
Located at 201 South Ave, Suite 102, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603, CCS Facility Maintenance works with businesses to develop customized cleaning programs based on their facility, schedule, and maintenance needs.
Whether your business needs recurring office cleaning, janitorial services, floor maintenance, restroom cleaning, or a more comprehensive facility maintenance program, having a professional cleaning team can help you maintain a cleaner and more professional work environment throughout flu season and the rest of the year.
Contact CCS Facility Maintenance to learn more about commercial office cleaning services in Poughkeepsie and throughout the Hudson Valley.
