7 Hygiene Sensitive Workspace Areas You Might Be Neglecting
Have you ever questioned yourself about the workplace, whether it is really clean or it is merely tidy? When our job is to wipe desks and remove the trash, how many of us clean the elevator buttons or disinfect the microwave handle? Even the most thorough among us tend to ignore sneaky, high-touch surfaces that quietly accumulate dirt and grime day after day. Although these surfaces might be considered trivial, they can significantly facilitate the spread of infections in a workplace. When managing a fast-paced work environment, attention to these surfaces is often lost, and that is precisely why this blog becomes relevant.
Let’s take a look at seven high-touch office areas that are routinely ignored but require proper maintenance. You will probably be astonished to find out how profound changes in employee hygiene routines can improve cleanliness and wellness in the workplace.
1. Disinfecting Door Handles and Light Switches
All of us have at one point in time or the other used light switches and door handles. In a working environment, office doors, restrooms and even the break room all have surfaces that light switches and doors are being touched to germ-infested surfaces, according to professionals like Bond Clean Brisbane. Regular cleaning does not include disinfecting light switches either.
Solution: Utilising disinfectant wipes and sprays to wipe these surfaces is a great beginning step, particularly in flu season. These surfaces should be regularly checked and cleaned daily. Assigning responsibilities either to a singular person or incorporating it into a daily maintenance checklist will work well.
2. Stair Railings and Elevator Buttons
There are a lot of public places where using elevators and stairs cannot be avoided, which means there is an influx of people entering each day. Most of these people would have use public transport or sneezed prior to entering the building. Elevator buttons, stair railings and all such surfaces need to be disinfected regularly, but are often forgotten to be cleaned for a long time.
Solution: Floors should be disinfected daily, especially at peak hours. Placing sanitising hand wash dispensers will also be beneficial.
3. Handles of Microwave, Refrigerator, and Coffee Machine
The kitchenette serves as a focal point in the office and, therefore, contains the highest concentration of pathogens. The microwave handles, the refrigerator doors, and even the start button of the coffee machine are all touch surfaces which are hygienically neglected.
Solution: These kitchen appliances should be cleaned at least once every 24 hours. Better, still encourage employees to clean the appliances after use. It is suggested, by the way, to have sanitizing wipes or sprays within reaching distance.
4. Shared Workspace Equipment
Frequently used pieces of office equipment, such as photocopiers, printers, fax machines, and laminators, are rarely cleaned. Have you considered the sheer number of participants contributing to the copy machine’s button-pressing population?
Solution: Make the maintenance of jointly used equipment a part of the routine daily cleaning tasks. Put up simple, yet effective, notices requesting users to cleanse these items after use.
5. Technology and Furniture in Conference Rooms
Meeting participants tend to share items like remote controls, touchscreens, HDMI connectors, and speaker systems. As a result, these items are commonly passed from one attendee to another. While the conference room may appear tidy, these tech and furniture items are often hidden sources of infection.
Solution: Cleaning of such surfaces should be done after each meeting. In the process of enlisting the services of a professional cleaning service then make sure that the following tasks are on their checklist. Encourage employees to use sanitisers, before and after meetings.
6. Chair Arms and Reception Area Furniture
Clients and visitors frequent these areas and they are, therefore high-traffic areas that need additional maintenance. Waiting chairs, coffee tables, and even the arms of office chairs are furniture that are regularly touched throughout the day. They are, however, often missed during regular clean up ,thus germs and bacteria build up on these surfaces with time
Solution: These surfaces could be cleaned on a daily basis. You could also consider using antimicrobial fabrics or materials when replacing furniture. Routine disinfection is more critical in high-traffic environments.
7. Personal Items on Desks
Most people would argue that nobody else should be responsible for the cleaning of their desk. While this statement holds some truth, even in the most organised of environments, keypads and computer mouses, telephones and even personal water bottles and stationery items are often forgotten but grossly filthy.
Solution: Ask your workers to clean their workstations daily. Giving out antibacterial wipes to employees and reminding them through team meetings, as well as internal bulletin,s can encourage these practices. Daily cleaning ensures there is significantly less potential for gradual buildup of germs.
Final Thoughts: Clean is the New Professional
In the contemporary workspace, cleanliness translates to reputation management, operational efficiency, and overall health. Neglecting touch point cleaning can spawn illness, increased absenteeism, and a less professional workplace culture in general. Following the pandemic, both employees and clients expect, and deserve, cleaner and safer environments.
Awareness of these seven areas helps you go beyond just cleaning—they empower you to foster a sense of safety and esteem that commands respect. That commitment toward maintaining a sanitary environment ensures dignity and respect.
Need help managing hygiene in the office? Professional cleaners do not miss any areas. A trained professional knows clean spots, including desk buttons and door handles, where germs lurk and how to disinfect effectively.
