Keeping Your Workplace Clean and Safe: How to Disinfect High-Touch Surfaces

As a business owner, it is essential to keep your workplace clean and safe for employees, customers, and visitors. Regular disinfection of high-touch areas can help reduce the spread of germs and protect everyone from illness. But how often should you be disinfecting? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces regularly in order to reduce the spread of germs. High-touch surfaces include doorknobs, countertops, light switches, keyboards, phones, and other frequently touched objects. It is also important to clean and disinfect any surfaces that may have been contaminated with bodily fluids such as blood or vomit. The frequency of cleaning and disinfecting depends on the type of business you run and the amount of traffic it receives. For example, if you run a restaurant or retail store, it is likely that you will need to disinfect high-touch surfaces multiple times a day as these businesses typically have more visitors coming in and out. On the other hand, if you run an office with fewer visitors, you may only need to disinfect once a day or even less frequently. When cleaning a surface, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions for using any cleaning product. Start by removing dirt and debris with soap and water. After the surface is dry, apply a household disinfectant according to the instructions on the label. Make sure to allow enough contact time for the disinfectant to work effectively. In addition to regular cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces, there are other steps you can take to help prevent the spread of germs in your business. For instance, make sure that shared spaces such as bathrooms are cleaned regularly with soap and water. Encourage frequent handwashing among employees and provide hand sanitizer for customers. Remind everyone to cover their coughs and sneezes with their elbow or a tissue. It is also important to use personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling hazardous materials or bodily fluids such as blood or vomit. This includes gloves, face masks, safety goggles, gowns, aprons or coveralls depending on the type of work being done. Properly disposing of used PPE after each use can help reduce the risk of contamination. Disinfecting high-touch areas in your business is an important part of keeping your workplace safe and healthy. Clean these surfaces regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions and follow additional steps such as encouraging frequent handwashing and using PPE when necessary. Doing so can help reduce the spread of germs and protect everyone from illness. Finally, it is important to stay up-to-date on best practices for cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces in your workplace. The CDC provides detailed guidance on how often to clean different types of surfaces depending on their usage level. Additionally, many organizations have developed guidelines on how to properly clean and disinfect workplaces during COVID-19 outbreaks. Following these guidelines can help ensure that your business is doing its part in preventing the spread of germs and protecting everyone from illness.