High-Touch Surface Cleaning Protocols in Workplaces
When we think about workplace cleanliness, we tend to focus on what's visible — floors, desks, and bins. But the surfaces that pose the greatest risk to employee health are often the ones we touch dozens of times a day without thinking about them.
High-touch surfaces are exactly what they sound like: any surface that multiple people contact repeatedly throughout the day. Without a proper cleaning protocol in place, these surfaces become the primary route through which bacteria and viruses spread through your workplace.
Here's what Newfoundland businesses need to know.
What counts as a high-touch surface?
Any surface that multiple people touch regularly qualifies. In a typical commercial office, this includes:
- Door handles and push plates
- Light switches
- Elevator buttons
- Shared keyboards, mice, and phones
- Photocopier and printer buttons
- Reception desk counters
- Kitchen appliances — kettles, microwaves, coffee machines
- Fridge handles and cupboard doors
- Bathroom taps, flush handles, and soap dispensers
- Stair railings and handrails
- Meeting room chairs and table edges
In higher-risk environments like medical clinics, schools, or childcare facilities, the list extends further and the cleaning frequency needs to increase accordingly.
Why high-touch surfaces matter more than floors
Floors are cleaned visibly and regularly. High-touch surfaces often aren't — and yet they transfer pathogens directly from hand to hand throughout the day. Research consistently shows that a single contaminated surface can spread a virus to the majority of an office within hours simply through normal workplace contact.
This is why a cleaning protocol that focuses only on appearance will always fall short of one that prioritises hygiene.
The difference between cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting
These three terms are often used interchangeably but they mean different things — and the distinction matters for high-touch surfaces.
Cleaning removes visible dirt and debris from a surface. It reduces the number of germs but doesn't eliminate them.
Sanitizing reduces the number of germs on a surface to a safe level as defined by public health standards. It's appropriate for food-contact surfaces and general office use.
Disinfecting kills nearly all germs on a surface using stronger chemical agents. It's required in healthcare settings and recommended after known illness exposure in any workplace.
For most commercial offices, sanitizing high-touch surfaces daily is the standard. Disinfecting should be added during cold and flu season or following any confirmed illness.
A practical high-touch surface cleaning protocol
Here's what an effective protocol looks like for a standard commercial office:
Daily — every working day
- Wipe all door handles, light switches, and push plates with a sanitizing solution
- Clean shared equipment — keyboards, phones, photocopiers — with appropriate sanitizing wipes
- Sanitize kitchen appliance handles and surfaces
- Clean bathroom taps, flush handles, and soap dispensers
- Wipe reception and front desk counters
Weekly
- Deep clean shared kitchen equipment including inside the microwave and fridge handles
- Sanitize meeting room chairs, table edges, and AV equipment controls
- Clean elevator buttons and stair railings thoroughly
As needed
- Disinfect any surface contacted by a visibly unwell employee
- Increase frequency during local illness outbreaks or cold and flu season
- Immediate response cleaning after any confirmed illness in the workplace
Choosing the right products
Not all cleaning products are appropriate for all surfaces. Key considerations:
- Use alcohol-based sanitizers (at least 70% alcohol) or EPA-approved disinfectants for hard surfaces
- Avoid abrasive cleaners on screens, keypads, and coated surfaces
- Eco-friendly sanitizing products are now available that meet the same efficacy standards as conventional chemicals — without the harsh fumes or residue
- Always allow products the correct dwell time — the amount of time a product needs to stay wet on a surface to be effective. Most require at least 30 seconds to 2 minutes
Training matters as much as products
The best cleaning protocol in the world only works if the people implementing it follow it consistently. Professional commercial cleaners are trained to know which surfaces need attention, which products to use on which materials, and how long products need to dwell to be effective.
This is one of the key advantages of outsourcing your cleaning to a professional team rather than relying on staff to handle it informally.
Spurview Cleaners — professional workplace cleaning across Newfoundland
At Spurview Cleaners, high-touch surface cleaning is a standard part of every commercial cleaning service we provide. Our team is trained in proper sanitization protocols and uses eco-friendly, non-toxic products that are effective without being harsh on your staff or environment.
Whether you need daily office maintenance or a full workplace sanitization, we serve businesses of all sizes across Newfoundland.