Cold and flu season is here in Southeastern Wisconsin, and the fastest way germs move through an office is by hand: door handles, light switches, coffee makers and shared phones. Daily disinfection of those high-touch points, built into a recurring five-day-a-week janitorial program, helps reduce the spread of germs and keeps more of your team healthy and at work. Here is what that looks like and why daily matters.
Quick answer: During cold and flu season, high-touch surfaces in an office get handled again and again all day. The CDC notes that high-touch surfaces are more likely to spread germs and advises cleaning them regularly, and cleaning more often in high-traffic areas. A recurring five-day janitorial service cleans and disinfects those points every workday, so your team starts each morning with fresh surfaces.
Why High-Touch Points Matter Most in Winter
From November through March, Wisconsin offices run with windows shut and people working closer together. Everyone touches the same entry doors, the same elevator buttons and the same break-room fridge handle within the first hour of the day.
According to the CDC, “Generally, high touch surfaces are more likely to spread germs,” and “If the space is a high traffic area, you may choose to clean more frequently or disinfect in addition to cleaning” (CDC, When and How to Clean and Disinfect a Facility). The CDC’s respiratory virus guidance also lists cleaning frequently touched surfaces as a core step organizations can take, alongside handwashing and stocked soap and paper towels (CDC, Hygiene and Respiratory Viruses Prevention).
Good surface care works best as one layer of a bigger plan. Encourage sick employees to stay home, keep hand sanitizer near entrances and shared equipment, and keep restrooms stocked.
What Daily Disinfection Looks Like in a Recurring Program
With recurring janitorial services, disinfection happens on every visit as part of the scope of work. Your crew cleans surfaces first, then applies an EPA-registered disinfectant to high-touch points and leaves it on for the full contact time listed on the label. That order matters, because the CDC notes that dirt on a surface makes it harder for disinfectants to work.
A good program also uses color-coded cloths so restroom cloths never touch break-room counters, and it follows a set route so no high-touch point gets skipped on a busy night.
Your Daily High-Touch Disinfection Checklist
Use this list to check your current scope of work, or to compare cleaning providers:
- Entry door handles, push plates and panic bars
- Light switches and thermostat controls
- Elevator call buttons, interior panels and stair handrails
- Break-room appliance handles: refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and water dispenser
- Break-room tables, counters, chair backs and sink faucets
- Restroom faucets, flush handles, stall locks, dispensers and door handles
- Shared desks, hoteling stations and desk phones
- Conference room tables, chair arms and AV remotes
- Copier and printer touch panels
- Reception counters, sign-in tablets and visitor pens
For more on matching visit frequency to your headcount, see our guide on how often an office should be cleaned.
Why Five Days a Week Beats Once or Twice a Week
Germs and grime build up every workday. With a weekly or twice-weekly visit, high-touch points can go several days between disinfections, right during the weeks when coughs and colds are moving through the office.
A five-day schedule resets every surface every night. Monday’s handles are fresh on Tuesday, and Tuesday’s are fresh on Wednesday. Trash goes out daily, restrooms are restocked daily and break rooms are wiped down daily, so small problems never pile up.
Daily service also means the same trained crew sees your space every night. They learn which conference room gets the most use, which doors take the most traffic and which kitchenette needs extra attention after Friday lunch.
A Healthier Office Helps Your Team and Your Business
When fewer germs are passed around, more of your people can stay healthy and on the job. A visibly clean office also tells employees and visitors that you take their health seriously, which matters to office managers, HR teams and owners alike.
For multi-tenant buildings, daily care of lobbies, elevators and shared restrooms keeps tenants comfortable and supports renewals. Learn more about our property management cleaning programs.
Need extra coverage during the day? A day porter can wipe down high-touch points between visitor waves, and our commercial disinfection services can add a deeper treatment when you need one.
Managing the Process Is What Keeps It Consistent
Every cleaning program looks good on paper. What our clients compliment most is how we manage the process: one local point of contact, regular quality inspections and fast answers when something needs attention. If a high-touch point gets missed or your needs change mid-season, you call, we respond and we fix it.
Local Office Cleaning Across Southeastern Wisconsin
System4 Milwaukee provides recurring office cleaning for offices in downtown Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Brookfield, Waukesha County and communities across Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine and Kenosha counties. Schedules are set around your hours, usually evenings after your team heads home.
System4 Milwaukee Can Help
Every program starts with a free walkthrough and quality audit. We review your current cleaning and disinfecting routine, then build a written scope of work and a clear quote for five-day service. Flexible service agreements, with no long-term contract required.
Ready to get your office set for cold and flu season? Request a free quote and we’ll walk your space this week.
Here’s what one local client told us about working with our team:
“They did a great job at our library, they came on schedule and cleaned well. I would recommend this company to anyone. Easy to work with and communication was great!”
Kaushalya I., Google Review
Call (414) 600-1240 · Email [email protected] · Visit https://www.System4Milwaukee.com
