Spurview Cleaners blog

High-Touch Surface Cleaning Protocols in Workplaces

Dotun Abosede — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 16:03:16 GMT

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.

Get a free quote today →

5 Signs Your Office Needs a Deep Clean

Dotun Abosede — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:00:42 GMT

Regular office cleaning keeps your workplace tidy day to day — but every commercial space eventually needs something more thorough. A deep clean goes beyond the surface, targeting the buildup, grime, and bacteria that routine cleaning misses.

The tricky part is knowing when you've reached that point. Here are five tell-tale signs your Newfoundland office is overdue for a professional deep clean.

1. There's a persistent smell you can't locate

If your office has a lingering odour that doesn't go away after regular cleaning, it's almost always a sign of deeper buildup. Common culprits include:

Bacteria trapped in carpet fibres
Grease and food residue in kitchen and break room surfaces
Mould or mildew in bathroom grout or behind fixtures
Dust accumulated in air vents

A deep clean addresses all of these at the source rather than masking the smell with surface sprays.

2. Your floors have lost their finish

Hard floors that once looked polished and professional gradually dull over time as foot traffic, salt, and moisture strip away their surface. If mopping isn't restoring the shine anymore, your floors need stripping and resealing — a job that's part of a proper deep clean.

This is particularly common in Newfoundland offices during and after winter, when salt and slush are tracked in daily from November through April.

3. Dust is visible on surfaces shortly after cleaning

If dust reappears on desks, shelves, or equipment within a day or two of routine cleaning, it means dust has built up in places that regular cleaning doesn't reach — vents, ceiling corners, behind monitors, underneath furniture. A deep clean clears out these reservoirs so your routine cleaning actually stays effective for longer.

4. Your restrooms never quite feel clean

Restrooms are the area where deep cleaning makes the most visible difference. If yours always feel slightly grimy despite regular maintenance, it's likely due to limescale on fixtures, bacteria in grout lines, or buildup behind and underneath units that routine cleaning skips over.

For client-facing businesses especially, restroom condition directly affects how professional your office feels to visitors.

5. It's been more than three months since your last deep clean

Even if your office looks fine on the surface, most commercial spaces should have a full deep clean every one to three months. Bacteria, allergens, and grime accumulate invisibly over time — and waiting until it's obvious usually means the buildup has already started affecting air quality and staff health.

If you can't remember the last time your office had a proper deep clean, that's your answer.

What does a professional deep clean include?

A thorough commercial deep clean typically covers:

Carpet extraction and hard floor stripping and resealing
Cleaning behind, underneath, and on top of all furniture
Full restroom descaling and grout cleaning
Kitchen and break room deep sanitization
Air vent and fixture cleaning
Window and glass cleaning

Spurview Cleaners — deep cleaning services across Newfoundland

At Spurview Cleaners, we offer professional deep cleaning services for offices, medical facilities, retail spaces, schools, and more across Newfoundland. We use eco-friendly, non-toxic products on every job — so your workplace is not just visibly clean, but genuinely healthier.

If your office is showing any of these signs, we'd love to help.

Book a free deep clean assessment today →

How Often Should a Commercial Office Be Cleaned?

Dotun Abosede — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:47:15 GMT

It's one of the most common questions we hear from business owners and office managers across Newfoundland: how often does our office actually need to be cleaned?

The honest answer is — it depends on your space. But there are clear guidelines that most commercial cleaning professionals follow, and understanding them can help you build a cleaning schedule that keeps your workplace healthy without overspending.

Daily cleaning — who needs it?

Some spaces simply can't go a day without attention. If your office falls into any of these categories, daily cleaning is strongly recommended:

High foot traffic offices — receptions, open-plan workspaces, call centers.
Healthcare and medical facilities — clinics, dental offices, physiotherapy centers.
Food service areas — staff kitchens, cafeterias, food courts.
Childcare and education facilities — daycares, classrooms, learning centers.

For these spaces, daily cleaning typically covers vacuuming, surface wiping, restroom sanitization, waste removal, and kitchen or break room maintenance.

Two to three times per week — the middle ground

Smaller offices with moderate foot traffic — think a law firm, accounting office, or small business centre — often find that cleaning two to three times per week strikes the right balance. Common tasks at this frequency include:

Vacuuming and mopping floors
Wiping down desks, phones, and shared surfaces
Restroom cleaning and restocking
Emptying bins and recycling

Weekly cleaning — when is it enough?

For very small offices with minimal daily traffic, weekly cleaning can be sufficient. However, even weekly clients should consider daily or twice-weekly restroom maintenance, as this is the area most likely to affect staff health and client impressions regardless of office size.

Monthly and periodic deep cleaning — every office needs this

Regardless of how often your office is cleaned on a routine basis, every commercial space benefits from a periodic deep clean. This typically covers:

Carpet extraction and floor waxing
Cleaning behind and underneath furniture
Sanitizing air vents and light fixtures
Window cleaning
Detailed restroom descaling

Most businesses schedule a deep clean every one to three months, depending on usage.

Factors that affect your cleaning frequency

Beyond the type of space, a few other factors are worth considering:

Seasonal changes. Newfoundland winters mean more salt, mud, and moisture tracked into your building. You may need to increase cleaning frequency between November and March to protect your floors and maintain a professional appearance.

Post-illness outbreaks. If a flu or virus moves through your team, a one-off deep sanitization is worth scheduling immediately to prevent further spread.

Client-facing spaces. If clients or the public regularly visit your office, cleanliness directly affects their impression of your business. Err on the side of more frequent cleaning for any area clients see.

Not sure what your office needs?

The easiest way to figure out the right cleaning schedule for your specific space is to have a professional assess it. At Spurview Cleaners, we visit your premises, understand your usage patterns, and recommend a tailored cleaning plan — whether that's daily, weekly, or somewhere in between.

We serve commercial offices, healthcare facilities, retail spaces, schools, and more across Newfoundland.

Get a free, no-obligation quote today →

The Benefits of Eco-Friendly Cleaning for Newfoundland Businesses

Dotun Abosede — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 16:56:48 GMT

If you manage a commercial space in Newfoundland, you've probably noticed more businesses making the switch to eco-friendly office cleaning. It's not just a trend — there are real, practical reasons why green cleaning is becoming the standard for professional workplaces.

Here's what it means for your business.

Better air quality for your employees

Traditional cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that linger in the air long after the cleaning is done. For staff who spend eight hours a day in that environment, this can contribute to headaches, allergies, and respiratory irritation.

Eco-friendly cleaning products use non-toxic, biodegradable ingredients that don't leave harmful residues or fumes. The result is noticeably fresher air and a more comfortable workspace — which matters especially in Newfoundland's colder months when windows stay closed.

Safer for clients and visitors

If your office welcomes clients, patients, or members of the public, the products used to clean your space reflect directly on your brand. Non-toxic green cleaning solutions mean no harsh smells, no chemical residue on surfaces, and no risk of skin irritation — a simple but meaningful way to show you care about the people who walk through your door.

A healthier workplace means fewer sick days

Research consistently shows that a cleaner, healthier workplace reduces employee sick days. Eco-friendly cleaning products are just as effective at eliminating bacteria and viruses as conventional products — without the trade-off of introducing new irritants into the environment. Fewer sick days means more productivity and lower costs for your business.

It's better for Newfoundland's environment

Conventional cleaning chemicals eventually make their way into the water supply and local ecosystem. For a province as naturally beautiful as Newfoundland, that matters. Choosing a commercial cleaning company that uses environmentally responsible products is a small but meaningful contribution to protecting the land and coastlines we all value.

It signals the right values to your team

Employees increasingly want to work for companies that take environmental responsibility seriously. Choosing eco-friendly office cleaning is a visible, everyday signal that your business walks the talk — and that can positively influence your workplace culture and even your ability to attract talent.

What to look for in an eco-friendly cleaning company

Not all companies that claim to be "green" actually are. When evaluating a commercial cleaning provider in Newfoundland, ask:

Do they use certified non-toxic or biodegradable products?
Are their products safe for use around food, children, and people with allergies?
Can they show you a list of the products they use?

A trustworthy provider will answer these questions confidently and transparently.

Spurview Cleaners — eco-friendly commercial cleaning in Newfoundland

At Spurview Cleaners, every job we do uses environmentally responsible, non-toxic cleaning products — without any compromise on cleanliness or results. We work with corporate offices, medical clinics, retail spaces, schools, and more across Newfoundland.

If you're ready to make the switch to greener, healthier office cleaning, we'd love to help.

Get a free quote today →