Best Practices for Disinfecting High-Touch Areas in Commercial Spaces

Best Practices for Disinfecting High-Touch Areas in Commercial Spaces. Maintaining a clean and safe environment in commercial spaces has never been more important.

With the increase in awareness about infectious diseases, especially after the global pandemic, ensuring that high-touch areas in commercial spaces are properly disinfected is critical.

High-touch surfaces, such as door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, and communal equipment, can be breeding grounds for bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.

Regular and effective disinfection can help prevent the spread of germs, protect employees, customers, and visitors, and create a healthier workplace environment.

This article will explore best practices for disinfecting high-touch areas in commercial spaces, offering step-by-step guidance, recommended tools, and techniques to ensure effective sanitation.

What Are High-Touch Areas?

Before diving into the disinfection process, it’s important to understand what constitutes a high-touch area.

These are surfaces or objects that are frequently touched by multiple people throughout the day, making them more susceptible to contamination by harmful pathogens.

In commercial spaces, high-touch areas can vary based on the nature of the business, but common examples include:

• Door handles and push plates
• Elevator buttons
• Handrails
• Light switches
• Restroom fixtures (faucets, toilet handles, soap dispensers)
• Desks and office equipment (keyboards, phones, printers)
• Countertops and tables
• Shared kitchen appliances (coffee machines, microwaves, refrigerators)
• Payment terminals and point-of-sale systems

Because these areas are touched by many people, they pose a higher risk of transmitting germs and viruses, making frequent disinfection essential.

Why Is Disinfection Important for High-Touch Areas?

Disinfecting high-touch areas is crucial for preventing the spread of illnesses.

Many pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, can survive on surfaces for hours or even days, waiting to be transferred to someone’s hands and then potentially entering the body through touching the face, mouth, or eyes. Without regular disinfection, high-touch surfaces can quickly become sources of cross-contamination and disease transmission.

In commercial spaces, where large numbers of people interact daily, maintaining a hygienic environment is not only a health imperative but also a legal and ethical responsibility.

Cleanliness and safety are vital to maintaining customer trust and ensuring employee well-being. Regular disinfection minimizes the risk of outbreaks and promotes a sense of safety within the workplace.

Best Practices for Disinfecting High-Touch Areas

To effectively disinfect high-touch areas in commercial spaces, it’s essential to follow a strategic approach. Here are the best practices for disinfecting these critical surfaces.

1. Develop a Cleaning and Disinfection Plan

The first step in maintaining a hygienic commercial space is developing a comprehensive cleaning and disinfection plan.

This plan should identify all high-touch areas that require frequent attention, as well as the frequency of disinfection, the tools and disinfectants to be used, and the personnel responsible for carrying out the tasks.

Key Components of a Cleaning and Disinfection Plan:

• Identification of high-touch surfaces: Make a list of all frequently touched areas in the space. This can vary depending on the type of business, but it should cover doors, communal equipment, restrooms, and shared areas.
  
• Frequency of cleaning and disinfection: Depending on foot traffic and the nature of the commercial space, high-touch areas may need to be disinfected multiple times per day. For instance, a busy retail store or healthcare facility may require more frequent disinfection than a small office.
  
• Assign roles and responsibilities: Ensure that cleaning staff or designated employees are aware of their responsibilities for cleaning and disinfection. Provide clear instructions on how and when to clean each area.
  
• Tools and supplies: Make sure appropriate disinfectants and cleaning tools are readily available and meet regulatory standards.

2. Use EPA-Approved Disinfectants

Not all cleaning products are created equal, and it’s important to choose disinfectants that are both effective and safe.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides a list of disinfectants that are proven to kill a broad spectrum of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Look for disinfectants that are labeled as effective against specific pathogens, such as the flu virus, norovirus, and coronaviruses like COVID-19.

Key Considerations for Choosing Disinfectants:

• Effectiveness: Ensure the disinfectant is EPA-approved and effective against the microorganisms you are targeting.
  
• Safety: Choose non-toxic products that are safe for use in commercial spaces, especially in environments where food is handled or prepared.
  
• Contact time: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how long the disinfectant should remain on the surface to effectively kill pathogens. Some disinfectants need a few minutes of wet contact to be fully effective.

3. Prioritize High-Touch Areas

While regular cleaning is important for all areas, focus your disinfection efforts on high-touch surfaces that are used frequently by multiple people.

These areas are the most likely to harbor harmful germs, so they should be disinfected more frequently than other parts of the building.

Common High-Touch Areas to Prioritize:

• Doorknobs and handles: Disinfect door handles multiple times a day, especially in high-traffic areas such as entrances and exits.
  
• Restrooms: Disinfect restroom fixtures (faucets, toilet handles, soap dispensers) after peak usage times and several times throughout the day.
  
• Office equipment: Shared equipment such as keyboards, printers, and phones should be disinfected after each use if multiple employees share the devices.
  
• Light switches: Since light switches are touched throughout the day, they should be included in the routine disinfection process.
  
• Countertops and desks: Disinfect shared desks, reception areas, and checkout counters regularly, especially after high volumes of interaction with customers.

4. Train Employees on Proper Disinfection Procedures

Even with a solid cleaning plan in place, it is essential that employees understand the importance of proper cleaning and disinfection. Staff should be trained on how to properly clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces to ensure that they are effectively killing pathogens.

Employee Training Should Include:

• Proper use of disinfectants: Employees should be trained on how to use disinfectants correctly, including how long to leave the product on surfaces and how much product to apply.
  
• Hand hygiene: Employees should wash their hands before and after disinfecting surfaces to prevent cross-contamination.
  
• Use of personal protective equipment (PPE): If necessary, employees should wear gloves or other PPE when cleaning and disinfecting to protect themselves from exposure to harmful chemicals and germs.

5. Use Microfiber Cloths for Cleaning

When it comes to cleaning high-touch surfaces, microfiber cloths are superior to traditional rags or paper towels.

Microfiber cloths are highly effective at trapping dirt, dust, and bacteria, making them an excellent tool for cleaning before applying disinfectant.

Benefits of Microfiber Cloths:

• Efficient at trapping particles: Microfiber cloths are designed to trap and hold dust, dirt, and bacteria, preventing them from being spread across surfaces.
  
• Reusable: Microfiber cloths can be washed and reused multiple times, making them an environmentally friendly and cost-effective option.
  
• Non-abrasive: Microfiber is gentle on surfaces and won’t scratch delicate areas like computer screens or glass.

6. Follow Proper Disinfection Techniques

Effective disinfection requires more than just spraying a product and wiping it off immediately. To ensure surfaces are thoroughly disinfected, follow these best practices:

Proper Disinfection Technique:

1. Clean the surface first: Before disinfecting, remove any visible dirt, grime, or debris from the surface using soap and water or a general cleaner. Disinfectants work best on clean surfaces.
   
2. Apply disinfectant: Use the EPA-approved disinfectant according to the product instructions. Make sure to spray or apply a sufficient amount of the product to cover the entire surface.
   
3. Allow adequate contact time: Follow the disinfectant’s recommended contact time (often between 1 to 10 minutes) to allow the product to effectively kill pathogens. This is a critical step that is often overlooked.
   
4. Wipe or air dry: After the appropriate contact time has passed, you can wipe down the surface or allow it to air dry, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions.

7. Implement No-Touch Solutions

To reduce the need for frequent disinfection, consider implementing no-touch solutions wherever possible. These solutions minimize the number of surfaces people need to touch, thereby reducing the risk of contamination.

Examples of No-Touch Solutions:

• Automatic doors: Install automatic doors at entrances and exits to eliminate the need for touching door handles.
  
• Hands-free soap and sanitizer dispensers: Use touchless dispensers in restrooms and communal areas to promote hygiene without the need for physical contact.
  
• No-touch trash cans: Use foot-pedal-operated trash cans to avoid touching lids.

8. Monitor and Adjust Cleaning Protocols

Disinfection needs can change over time depending on various factors, such as the season (flu season, for example) or current public health situations.

Regularly assess and adjust your disinfection protocols to ensure they remain effective. If there is an outbreak of illness in the area, increase the frequency of disinfection for high-touch areas.

Key Considerations for Monitoring:

• Foot traffic: Adjust cleaning schedules based on the number of people entering and using the space daily.
  
• Public health guidelines: Stay informed about recommendations from local health authorities and organizations like the CDC and WHO, especially during outbreaks or pandemics.

Best Practices for Disinfecting High-Touch Areas in Commercial Spaces – Conclusion

Disinfecting high-touch areas in commercial spaces is crucial for maintaining a safe and healthy environment.

By developing a comprehensive cleaning and disinfection plan, using EPA-approved disinfectants, prioritizing high-touch areas, and training employees on proper techniques, businesses can significantly reduce the spread of germs and viruses.

Implementing best practices like the use of microfiber cloths and no-touch solutions further enhances hygiene efforts.

Regular disinfection not only protects employees and customers but also helps maintain trust and safety in commercial settings!

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