Flu Season Prep: Disinfecting High-Touch Surfaces in the Workplace

Flu season can quickly turn a healthy workplace into a cycle of sickness, absence and disrupted productivity. High-touch surfaces such as door handles, light switches, keyboards, desks and shared equipment can be touched repeatedly throughout the working day, making regular cleaning and disinfection an important part of workplace hygiene.

Preparing before illness spreads is easier than trying to catch up once multiple employees are already off sick. A consistent cleaning routine, combined with appropriate disinfection of frequently touched areas, can help create a cleaner workplace throughout flu season.

What Are High-Touch Surfaces?

High-touch surfaces are areas that many people regularly handle throughout the day.

Common examples include:

• Door handles and push plates

• Light switches

• Lift buttons

• Stair handrails

• Reception desks

• Shared desks and workstations

• Computer keyboards and mice

• Phones and headsets

• Printer and photocopier controls

• Shared kitchen appliances

• Fridge and microwave handles

• Tap handles

• Toilet flush handles

• Cabinet and cupboard handles

• Meeting room equipment

These areas can easily be overlooked during routine cleaning, particularly when employees are using them repeatedly throughout the day.

Why Workplace Disinfection Matters During Flu Season

A workplace may look clean while frequently touched surfaces still require attention.

Employees can touch shared surfaces before touching their face, eating lunch or handling personal items. Regular cleaning removes dirt and contaminants, while disinfection uses appropriate products to reduce microorganisms on surfaces.

This is particularly important in busy workplaces where many people share the same facilities and equipment.

However, disinfection should not replace normal cleaning. Surfaces should be cleaned appropriately, and disinfectants should always be used according to the manufacturer's instructions.

1. Identify Your Workplace's High-Touch Areas

Start by walking through the workplace and identifying the surfaces employees interact with most frequently.

Think beyond desks and floors.

For example, an office cleaning checklist could include:

Entrance:
Door handles, access points, reception surfaces and visitor areas.

Workstations:
Desks, phones, keyboards, mice and shared equipment.

Meeting rooms:
Table surfaces, chair arms, remote controls and presentation equipment.

Kitchen:
Fridge handles, microwave buttons, cupboard handles, taps and other shared surfaces.

Bathrooms:
Door handles, taps, flush handles and other frequently touched fixtures.

Creating a specific high-touch cleaning checklist makes it easier for cleaning teams to maintain consistency.

2. Increase Cleaning Frequency Where Needed

Not every surface needs to be disinfected constantly.

Instead, focus additional attention on areas that experience frequent contact or heavy use, particularly shared facilities.

For example, door handles in a busy office may require more frequent attention than a surface that employees rarely touch.

Cleaning schedules should reflect:

• Number of employees

• Workplace size

• Number of visitors

• Shared facilities

• Employee traffic

• Type of business

• Existing hygiene requirements

A professional cleaning company can help businesses create a practical cleaning schedule based on how the workplace is actually used.

3. Don't Forget Shared Office Equipment

Shared equipment is easy to overlook.

Printers, photocopiers, telephones, keyboards and meeting room controls can be handled by multiple employees throughout the day.

Where appropriate, include these items within your workplace cleaning routine.

Important: Electronics should never be sprayed directly with cleaning or disinfecting products. Cleaning staff should follow the equipment manufacturer's guidance and use products and methods suitable for the specific surface.

4. Pay Attention to Break Rooms and Kitchens

Workplace kitchens can become busy areas during breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks.

High-touch areas can include:

• Refrigerator handles

• Microwave controls

• Kettle handles

• Cupboard handles

• Taps

• Worktops

• Appliance buttons

• Shared tables and chairs

Regular cleaning of these areas can help maintain better workplace hygiene.

Employees should also be encouraged to wash their hands appropriately and keep personal food and drink areas tidy.

5. Use Cleaning Products Correctly

Using more disinfectant does not necessarily mean better results.

Cleaning products should always be used according to the manufacturer's instructions, including:

• Correct dilution, where applicable

• Required contact time

• Suitable surfaces

• Storage instructions

• Safety precautions

Never mix cleaning chemicals. Combining products can create dangerous fumes or chemical reactions.

Cleaning staff should also have appropriate training and access to the necessary personal protective equipment where required.

6. Combine Workplace Cleaning With Good Hygiene Practices

Cleaning is only one part of flu-season preparation.

Businesses can also encourage employees to:

• Wash their hands regularly

• Cover coughs and sneezes appropriately

• Avoid sharing personal items

• Keep workstations reasonably tidy

• Stay home when they are unwell, in line with workplace policies

• Report areas requiring additional cleaning

Clear communication can help employees understand that workplace hygiene is everyone's responsibility.

How Often Should High-Touch Surfaces Be Disinfected?

There is no single schedule that works for every workplace.

A small office with a few employees will have different cleaning requirements from a busy retail premises, healthcare environment or large commercial building.

As a starting point, businesses should assess:

How often is the surface touched?
Frequently handled surfaces should receive more attention.

How many people use it?
Shared surfaces generally require greater consideration than individual-use items.

How busy is the workplace?
Higher footfall can increase cleaning requirements.

What type of workplace is it?
Some environments require more stringent hygiene procedures than a standard office.

A professional cleaning provider can help establish a cleaning routine that fits your premises and operating hours.

Don't Wait Until Your Workplace Has a Flu Problem

If employees are already becoming unwell, increasing attention to high-touch surfaces should be part of a broader workplace hygiene response.

Don't wait until sickness is disrupting your business.

A professional commercial cleaning service can help maintain high-touch areas, shared facilities and common spaces as part of a structured cleaning programme.

At Your World Solutions, we can arrange professional cleaning support to help businesses maintain cleaner and more hygienic working environments.

Whether you need regular office cleaning, commercial cleaning or additional support during busy periods, having a clear cleaning plan can make workplace hygiene easier to manage.

Flu Season Workplace Cleaning Checklist

Use this quick checklist when reviewing your workplace:

☐ Door handles cleaned regularly
☐ Light switches included in the cleaning routine
☐ Stair rails and lift buttons checked
☐ Shared desks and workstations cleaned
☐ Phones, keyboards and mice addressed appropriately
☐ Printer and photocopier controls cleaned
☐ Meeting room surfaces cleaned
☐ Kitchen handles and appliances cleaned
☐ Bathroom touchpoints cleaned
☐ Appropriate disinfectants used according to instructions
☐ Cleaning chemicals stored safely
☐ Staff reminded about good hand hygiene
☐ Cleaning schedule reviewed during periods of increased illness

FAQs

1. What are the most important surfaces to disinfect in an office?

Focus on surfaces touched frequently by multiple people, such as door handles, lift buttons, handrails, shared equipment, kitchen handles, taps and meeting room surfaces.

2. Does cleaning a surface also disinfect it?

Not necessarily. Cleaning and disinfection are different processes. Cleaning removes dirt and contaminants, while an appropriate disinfectant is used to reduce microorganisms on suitable surfaces.

3. How often should workplace high-touch surfaces be disinfected?

The appropriate frequency depends on the workplace, number of users, foot traffic and type of surface. Frequently touched shared surfaces generally need more regular attention.

4. Can I spray disinfectant directly onto a keyboard or computer?

Generally, do not spray liquid directly onto electronic equipment. Follow the manufacturer's cleaning instructions and use a suitable method and product for the equipment.

5. Should businesses disinfect everything during flu season?

Not necessarily. A risk-based approach is more practical. Businesses should prioritise frequently touched and shared surfaces while maintaining their normal cleaning programme.

6. Can professional cleaners help with workplace flu-season preparation?

Yes. Professional cleaners can help businesses establish cleaning routines covering offices, communal areas, kitchens, bathrooms and other high-touch surfaces.

Keep Your Workplace Ready for Flu Season

Don't wait for sickness to spread before reviewing your cleaning routine.

Regular professional cleaning can help you maintain a cleaner, more hygienic workplace and give employees a better environment to work in.

Need workplace cleaning support? Contact Your World Solutions today to discuss your commercial or office cleaning requirements.