A recent study conducted by Furniture at Work UK, and highlighted in Cleaning Maintenance Management looked at some of the dirtiest places around the typical office --- and surprisingly, the toilet seat isn't one of them. To test the surfaces, they used something called a Hygiena ATP Monitor, a device used in hospitals that provides quick insight into cleaning efficiency. The results shed light onto what areas we should pay extra attention to in commercial cleaning routines.
So what are they?
- Main door handle
- Break-room sink
- Microwave door
- Staff cell phones
- Break-room kettle
- Restroom sink
- Office chair
- Break-room fridge
- Desk phone
- Keyboard
One major takeaway; regular and proper cleaning has a major impact on surface bacteria levels --- and we can take control of our offices.
How to fight back
Make handwashing a priority. When the door handle is the number one offender, you can see why handwashing procedures are so important to slow the spread of bacteria and viruses.
Use high quality cleaning products designed for the task at hand. Select a strong disinfectant proven to kill bacteria rather than simply using soap and water.
Make sure your cleaning procedure covers all the bases. It can be easy to neglect certain areas when cleaning becomes so routine, so pay extra attention to hitting these problem areas. Clean regularly and diligently.
Focus on sustainability in cleaning
While you're at it, handle your commercial cleaning in a sustainable way.
According to an August, 2021 article in The Wall Street Journal, in the next few years, every public company could be required to report on climate/environmental impact. And oftentimes, supply chains represent multiple times the environmental consequences as a company's other operations.
One major way to improve your supply chain in cleaning products is to buy dissolving pacs instead of pre-mixed cleaners. The savings add up quickly in terms of space savings, but also plastic waste and gasoline spent to transport the cargo.
Sustainability goals are a top concern for many companies. And examining your cleaning product supply chain, given how important it is, is a great place to start.
Dissolving ChemPacs work just as well as traditional cleaners --- and they might just redefine how you think about buying and using cleaning products.
