Professional janitorial services keep Edmonton workplaces clean, safe, and presentable — but high-touch surfaces do not wait for the next scheduled visit. Door handles, elevator buttons, shared keyboards, and break room counters see constant use throughout the day. Between your regular commercial cleaning visits, a few focused habits help facility managers and office teams reduce germ spread, protect indoor air quality, and extend the value of professional office cleaning.
Whether you oversee a downtown office tower, a medical clinic, or a warehouse with a small admin area, understanding which surfaces matter most — and how to maintain them properly — makes a measurable difference in employee wellness and client confidence.
What counts as a high-touch surface?
High-touch surfaces are any areas that multiple people contact repeatedly within a short period. In most Edmonton commercial buildings, the list is longer than many teams expect:
- Door handles, push plates, and entry keypads
- Elevator buttons and handrails
- Light switches and thermostat controls
- Reception counters and shared desks
- Phones, keyboards, mice, and touchscreens
- Copiers, printers, and shared office equipment
- Break room faucets, appliance handles, and microwave buttons
- Restroom flush handles, stall latches, and soap dispensers
These surfaces collect oils, skin cells, and microbes quickly. Daily janitorial service addresses them on a set schedule, but heavy traffic — especially during flu season or after large meetings — can leave gaps between visits.
Use the right products and techniques
Not every wipe is equal. Facility managers should stock EPA-registered or Health Canada-approved disinfectants labelled for use on hard, non-porous surfaces. Always follow the product's contact time (often called "dwell time") — spraying and immediately wiping dry may not kill germs effectively.
Best practices between professional cleanings:
- Read the label first. Some disinfectants damage screens, finished wood, or certain plastics. When in doubt, use a manufacturer-approved cleaner for electronics.
- Clean before you disinfect. Remove visible soil with a detergent or all-purpose cleaner, then apply disinfectant. Disinfectants work best on pre-cleaned surfaces.
- Use disposable or colour-coded cloths. Microfiber cloths are excellent for office cleaning when laundered properly; for quick spot disinfection, disposable wipes reduce cross-contamination between rooms.
- Never mix chemicals. Combining bleach with ammonia or acidic cleaners creates hazardous fumes — a serious risk in enclosed office spaces.
- Focus on sequence, not speed. Wipe in one direction and cover the full surface, including edges and undersides of handles where hands naturally grip.
Professional commercial cleaning crews follow these protocols during every visit. Applying the same discipline between visits keeps standards consistent.
Build a simple daily checklist for your team
You do not need to disinfect every surface every hour. A practical approach assigns responsibility and frequency based on traffic patterns.
Morning: Wipe reception desks, entrance push plates, and shared kitchen counters.
Midday: Refresh restroom touch points and shared printer panels after heavy use.
End of day: Disinfect shared keyboards and phones; wipe break room tables.
Post the checklist near supply closets so day porters or office managers can complete it in under fifteen minutes. Consistency matters more than perfection.
Stock the right supplies in accessible locations
Out of sight often means out of mind. Place labelled caddies or wall-mounted dispensers in break rooms, near reception, and outside large meeting rooms. Stock disinfectant wipes, hand sanitizer at entries, and a laminated quick-reference sheet showing contact times. Partner with your janitorial provider to align products where possible. When in-house spot cleaning uses the same formulations your commercial cleaning team applies during nightly service, you avoid residue buildup, surface damage, or conflicting chemistry.
When to call for extra professional support
Some situations warrant more than a wipe-down between regular visits:
- Confirmed illness clusters in a department or floor
- Flu season peaks when absenteeism rises across Edmonton workplaces
- Post-event cleanups after all-hands meetings, open houses, or client tours
- Renovation dust settling on surfaces that employees touch constantly
Bluebird Janitorial offers customized cleaning plans that can add midday touch-point rounds, electrostatic disinfection for large open areas, or temporary frequency increases during high-risk periods. Quality assurance inspections help verify that high-touch protocols are followed consistently — not just on paper.
The bottom line for facility managers
Maintaining high-touch surfaces between professional cleanings is not about replacing janitorial services. It is about closing the gap between scheduled visits so your building stays healthier, looks sharper, and supports the people who work there every day. Clear protocols, the right products, and a realistic daily checklist give your team practical tools without adding hours of labour.
At Bluebird Janitorial Services, we have delivered high-quality janitorial services to Edmonton businesses for more than 40 years. From nightly office cleaning and restroom sanitation to carpet care and disinfection programs, we build customized cleaning plans that match your facility's traffic, industry requirements, and budget.
Need help strengthening your high-touch cleaning program? Contact Bluebird Janitorial today for a free quote on commercial cleaning services. Call 780-458-7825 or request a quote online — we will help you protect your workplace between visits and beyond.
