Mom was right when she said you need to wash your hands. Simple workplace hygiene paired with a diligent and professional commercial cleaning partner can help you keep your employees and customers healthy during this nasty flu season.
The fact is thorough and frequent handwashing with soap and water can reduce the spread of colds, flu and more. A recent survey shows that two-thirds of Americans believe their hands are cleaner when they use soap vs. hand sanitizer, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says soap and water are better than hand sanitizers at combatting germs such as norovirus.
So, other than hanging “Please Wash Your Hands” signs in the restrooms, what can you do to keep your team healthy and productive? Start by having adequate supplies and hiring a professional cleaning company to manage commercial disinfection in your office or facility.
Handwashing Matters
Getting your colleagues to wash their hands is a great first step. The Bradley Corp.’s Healthy Handwashing Survey™ has been conducted every year since 2009. The 2025 survey found:
- 77% noticed people leaving restrooms without washing their hands. That’s up from 68% last year.
- 79% said they washed their hands more often and more thoroughly because of seasonal outbreaks.
- The No. 1 reason people didn’t wash their hands after visiting a public restroom was a lack of soap or paper towels.
That’s where having a great commercial cleaning partner comes in. A commercial cleaning company such as Office Pride can replenish your restrooms with hand soap and paper towels so you don’t have to worry about running out.
Commercial cleaners also can ensure that conference rooms and other common areas have a ready supply of tissues, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes so that people can clean up after themselves throughout the workday.
Leave Disinfection to the Pros
Although everyone in your office can help keep others healthy by washing their hands and staying home when they’re sick, leave the most serious workplace germ control to professional cleaners. A professional cleaning company can recommend and implement a cleaning program that could include regular sanitization and disinfection.
Sanitization removes most harmful bacteria on nonporous surfaces and is most often done using traditional cleaning methods, like wiping down a surface with a cleaning solution.
Commercial disinfection uses chemicals, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that can kill nearly all harmful germs and bacteria on a surface. Disinfectants may be applied to high-touch areas such as doorknobs, light switches and sinks using a cleaning rag, or they may be applied using electrostatic sprayers, which are well-suited for common areas, personal spaces such as desks, and hard-to-reach corners and crevices. Electrostatic sprayers are safe to use around electronic equipment such as computers.
The use of disinfectants should be reserved only for professionals who are trained in the proper use of chemicals and personal protective equipment, and who follow the recommendations of the EPA, CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Finding the right commercial cleaning partner can help you keep your team healthy by ensuring your soap and paper towel dispensers are fully stocked and that your sanitization and disinfection program is appropriate for your workplace. To find a professional commercial cleaning partner near you, visit OfficePride.com.
