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Originally Posted On: https://prestigejanitorial.com/disinfecting-high-touch-areas-vital-to-commercial-cleaning/
Disinfecting High-Touch Areas: Vital to Commercial Cleaning
Maintaining a healthy and safe workspace is essential for any business. While regular cleaning is a vital part of this process, disinfecting key locations is often overlooked. High-touch areas in an office or commercial space can be hotspots for germs, bacteria, and viruses, making your employees more vulnerable to illnesses.
Over the course of this blog, Prestige Janitorial Services will explore the importance of disinfecting these high-touch areas, how it contributes to a healthier environment, and what businesses can do to ensure their spaces remain safe for all.
What Are High-Touch Areas?
High-touch areas are surfaces that multiple people come into contact with frequently throughout the day. These surfaces are prone to collecting germs, and without proper disinfection, they can become breeding grounds for bacteria and viruses.
Some common high-touch areas include:
- Door handles and knobs
- Light switches
- Phones and tablets
- Keyboards and computer mice
- Office desks and workstations
- Elevator buttons
- Coffee machines, microwaves, and other kitchen appliances
- Bathroom faucets and toilet handles
Since these areas are touched by many individuals, they need more than routine cleaning. Effective disinfection practices can significantly reduce the spread of infections.
The Risks of Not Disinfecting High-Touch Surfaces
Neglecting to disinfect high-touch areas can have far-reaching consequences. Neglect can affect employee well-being and even negatively impact business operations.
High-touch surfaces, such as door handles, keyboards, and phones, are hubs for germ transmission. Without proper care, these seemingly minor spots can cause major problems. Let’s take a closer look at the key risks associated with failing to disinfect high-touch surfaces regularly.
Spread of Illnesses
Without regular disinfection, viruses and bacteria can easily thrive on high-touch surfaces. Pathogens like the flu, common cold, or even COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for extended periods, ranging from hours to days, depending on the material.
Employees unknowingly touch these surfaces and subsequently touch their faces, increasing the likelihood of infection. As illnesses spread within the office, more employees will call in sick, leading to a significant decrease in productivity. Outbreaks can have a snowball effect, especially in open-concept offices where employees share workstations and equipment.
The spread of contagious diseases can result in:
- Employee health and happiness issues
- Large-scale absenteeism
- Disrupted workflows
- Delayed projects
- Increasing operational costs
Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination occurs when germs from one surface are transferred to another, often by employees moving from one area to another without sanitizing their hands or workspace. This is especially common in shared spaces, such as office kitchens, break rooms, or restrooms, where multiple employees handle the same equipment, utensils, or appliances.
Cross-contamination is not limited to viruses. Bacteria, fungi, and allergens can also accumulate in high-traffic areas, exacerbating health issues such as skin infections, respiratory problems, or allergies among staff. Regularly disinfecting these surfaces helps break the contamination cycle, safeguarding your team’s health.
Employee Well-Being.
The well-being of your employees has a direct connection to your company’s retention rates. A company that prioritizes a healthy workspace is more likely to maintain a loyal, motivated workforce.
On the other hand, consistent neglect of health standards can result in higher turnover, which incurs significant costs related to hiring and training new staff.
Legal and Health Code Violations
In certain industries, maintaining a clean and disinfected workspace isn’t just a recommendation—it’s a legal requirement. Healthcare facilities, food service establishments, and other industries that handle sensitive materials are required to follow strict disinfection protocols as part of public health and safety regulations. Failure to comply with these guidelines can result in serious repercussions, including legal action, fines, or even forced closures.
Even in industries that do not have such stringent disinfection requirements, failing to maintain clean surfaces could still expose your business to liability. It’s always possible that an employee or a visitor who contracts something due to unsanitary conditions could seek legal recourse, claiming negligence on the part of the business. Disinfection protects you from these legal consequences.
Why Disinfection Should Be a Priority in Any Workspace
Cleaning and disinfecting are two different processes. Cleaning removes dirt, dust, and some germs from surfaces, but disinfecting kills the pathogens that can cause illness. With more businesses reopening post-pandemic, maintaining a clean and germ-free environment is more critical than ever.
You can gain these benefits once you seek out a cleaning company:
- Reduction in the spread of pathogens
- Boost in workplace productivity
- A more positive work environment
- …and more
Best Practices for Disinfecting High-Touch Areas: EPA-Approved Is the Way
If your business is handling disinfection internally, adopting the right practices is essential for maintaining a germ-free environment.
When choosing cleaning products for disinfecting high-touch surfaces, the best commercial cleaners opt for EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)-approved disinfectants. EPA approval means that a disinfectant has been thoroughly evaluated and proven effective at eliminating bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
EPA-approved products undergo rigorous testing to meet safety standards and are often included on the EPA’s List N, which identifies disinfectants effective against viruses like SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. These disinfectants are specially formulated to kill germs without harming users when used as directed.
Do EPA-Approved Cleaning Leave Behind a Residue?
Choosing the best cleaning products for high-touch areas involves more than just picking powerful disinfectants. The ideal products are those that effectively kill germs without leaving residue behind, which can accumulate dirt and cause surfaces to feel sticky over time. Residue-free disinfectants also prevent surfaces from becoming dull or damaged, ensuring they remain visually appealing and functional.
For high-touch surfaces, janitors opt for products that offer quick drying and streak-free formulas. Disinfecting wipes with alcohol-based solutions are great for quick, convenient cleaning and don’t leave residue behind. Similarly, hydrogen peroxide-based cleaners are effective and tend to break down into water and oxygen, making them safe for most surfaces without leaving any unwanted film.
Learn More About High-Touch Area Disinfection Services Now
Whether through professional cleaning services or in-house efforts, prioritizing disinfection is a step that every business should take to ensure the health and safety of its team. If you need a helping hand, feel free to contact Prestige Janitorial Services to request our cleaning services. We’re available at (972) 372-9071.
