Expectations around workplace cleanliness have permanently shifted in recent years. Understanding those changes helps businesses provide the standard that staff and visitors now expect — and deserve.
Raised hygiene expectations
The awareness of how germs spread through shared spaces has fundamentally changed what staff expect from their employer. Regular sanitisation of high-touch surfaces — door handles, light switches, shared equipment, keyboard areas — is now considered a basic duty of care, not an extra.
High-touch surface protocols
Modern commercial cleaning should include a regular programme of sanitising high-touch surfaces with anti-bacterial products. These include:
- Door handles and push plates
- Lift buttons
- Light switches and sockets
- Shared kitchen equipment
- Kettle handles, fridge doors, microwave buttons
- Toilet flush handles, taps, soap dispensers
Ventilation matters
It is now understood that poor ventilation contributes to the spread of airborne illness. While cleaning cannot directly address ventilation, a good commercial cleaning provider will flag concerns about ventilation or filtration systems during their visits.
Washroom standards
Washrooms are scrutinised far more closely than they once were. Regular cleaning, well-stocked soap dispensers, and reliable hand drying options are expected as a minimum. Regular sanitisation goes beyond cleaning to actively reduce bacterial loads.
The right frequency
Many businesses that were previously cleaned weekly have moved to more frequent cleaning, particularly of shared kitchen and washroom areas. If your current cleaning frequency was set several years ago, it may be worth reviewing whether it still meets the needs of your workplace and the expectations of your team.
Working with your cleaning provider
A good commercial cleaning company will work with you to review your current regime and recommend adjustments where needed. Do not assume that what worked before is still the right approach — the standards have moved on.