How to Disinfect Your Office Ahead of the Cold and Flu Season

It’s inevitable. Every fall and winter, the cold and flu season comes and threatens to spread through the workplace. But with thorough office disinfection, you can prevent the spread and keep your office germ-free.

Explore the steps you can take to keep your office clean during the chillier months and learn why investing in commercial cleaning services is the best course of action for maintaining everyone’s health and safety.

The Risks of Failing to Disinfect Your Office

Germs can quickly spread through an office environment, leading to increased sick days and decreased productivity. Studies show that when an employee comes into work sick, around half of the commonly touched surfaces in the office will become infected by lunchtime. If germs can easily spread under normal standards, this number is only multiplied during influenza season.

Important Steps for Maintaining Office Cleaning Standards

Your office is probably being cleaned twice a day, but to truly fight against the harmful viruses and bacteria from seasonal illnesses, you should be more proactive. Take additional steps to protect your office environment with the following methods:

1. Disinfecting and Sanitizing High-Touch Surfaces

Frequently disinfecting surfaces is one of the most important measures anyone can take to prevent illnesses from spreading in the office. Make sure that all commonly touched surfaces like door knobs, light switches, keyboards, and desk phones are regularly cleaned with an approved disinfectant. Additionally, periodically sanitize shared items like pens, staplers, and clipboards.

If you and your employees don’t have access to an approved disinfectant, use a soft cloth dampened with water. You can also supply disinfecting wipes for employees to keep at their office desks so they can always have a cleansing agent available when they need it.

2. Vacuuming Rugs and Carpets

Your carpets and rugs should be vacuumed at least once per week during cold and flu season. Carpet is a prime source for harboring allergens, dust mites, and dirt particles—all of which can contribute to poor air quality.

Additionally, the fall and winter months can be a prime time for mud, salt, and other debris to get tracked into your office space. You should invest in large carpet cleaning throughout the colder months to maintain a healthier work environment and reduce foul odors.

3. Encouraging Basic Hygiene

A large part of protecting your office during flu season is encouraging basic hygiene practices among employees. Everyone knows washing hands is one of the most foolproof ways to prevent the spread of illness in any context, but there are other hygienic practices to encourage, like:

Covering coughs and sneezes
Requesting employees stay home if they feel sick
Regularly using the hand sanitizer that’s provided in multiple locations
Reading up on hygiene education materials during cold and flu season
Decluttering and disinfecting their personal workspace throughout the day

Many companies have had to refocus their cleaning habits to better accommodate their employees. See what we have to say about it.

How to Create A Comfortable Work Environment for Your Employees

Why Signing Up for Office Disinfection Services Is Ideal

Taking personal measures to maintain a clean office space is great, but ultimately, investing in a commercial cleaning company is the most efficient way to ensure your office is as clean as possible.

Unlike the average janitorial service, commercial cleaning companies set themselves apart from the rest of the cleaning industry for various reasons:

Cleaning contractors are trained specialists who can treat various floors, surfaces, and fixtures with specific care.
Outsourced cleaners have advanced cleaning products, like electrostatic sprayers, to quickly and thoroughly remove dirt and grime.
These companies often offer specialized cleaning services, like day porters who can come and clean commercial businesses throughout the day.
Because they’re so experienced, cleaning contractors have worked in dozens of industries and can clean according to regulated industry standards.

Deep Cleaning and Disinfection Services a Commercial Cleaning Company Can Offer

Many professional cleaning services offer specialized services that can effectively target areas the average person either tends to forget or doesn’t have the resources to address, like:

Steam Cleaning Seats and Upholstery
Wiping Windows
Dusting Blinds, Light Fixtures, and Bookshelves
Waxing, Buffing, and Scrubbing Hard Floors
High-Traffic Area Rug Cleaning
Restroom Sanitation
Waste Removal
Wall Cleaning

Brenner Facility Services Can Help Disinfect and Sanitize Your Office

When you enlist the help of a reputable commercial cleaning company like Brenner Facility Services, you’re signing your business up for the highest quality cleaning services. We understand the importance of keeping your office in pristine condition during cold and flu season—that’s why we offer services that prioritize frequent deep cleaning with industry-leading technology.

Our cleaning specialists have extensive experience in sanitizing offices and other commercial properties across the following industries:

Institutions
Fitness Centers
Government/Municipality Buildings
Medical Offices
Industrial and Manufacturing Facilities
Banks

Additionally, we follow cleaning standards set by the CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), so you can rest assured that your space is thoroughly cleaned.