5 Strategies to Clean and Maintain High-Traffic Areas of Your Building
High-traffic areas have the potential to be hotbeds for spreading germs and viruses, but they also see a lot of wear and tear. Keeping high-traffic areas tidy can seem daunting, and presents some unique challenges due to constant traffic. However, with the right tools and approach, you can not only make those areas look clean, but also keep them healthy and protect your spaces for more longevity.
In this article, we’ll be breaking down some effective cleaning and maintenance strategies for your high-traffic areas that will keep those spaces clean and help you deal with rapid wear and tear.
What is a High Traffic Area?
Not all areas of a building experience the same level of foot traffic. For example, the back rooms and offices of a retail space are only going to see traffic from employees while the entrance to a shop is going to see all visitor traffic.
Identifying your “hot zones” will help you focus your efforts where they are needed most. So what makes an area high traffic? Here are some of the areas that generally see the most traffic:
- Entrances and Exits: especially the main entrances; here you’ll see a need for more frequent floor care and door/handle care.
- Hallways and Corridors: hallways linking different areas also have heavy foot traffic, and you’ll see an increased need for floor care and emptying of waste receptacles.
- Lobbies and Reception Areas: main waiting areas and lobbies, including elevator banks, will need additional attention, including more frequent sanitizing of counters, window cleaning, and trash removal.
- Restrooms: not only are these high-traffic areas, but they can harbor plenty of germs and require proper cleaning practices to maintain a hygienic environment.
The Unique Challenges of Keeping High-Traffic Areas Clean and Healthy
When particular spaces see a high volume of people moving through daily, it creates some unique cleaning challenges. Some of the key challenges we see include:
- Rapid buildup of dirt, debris, and germs
- Faster wear and tear on flooring and surfaces
- Higher volume of trash
- Increased risk of slip and fall accidents
- More frequent need for cleaning of touchpoints and restrooms
Many businesses, schools, hospitals, and other public spaces find it difficult to just get in and clean touchpoints or floors while dealing with a constant flux of people moving through. And we get that it can be frustrating to watch the constant flow of people not paying attention to the signs indicating a freshly mopped floor.
So let’s talk about some strategies to clean and maintain your high-traffic areas.
Strategies for Maintaining and Cleaning Your High-Traffic Zones
1 | Schedule Cleaning at the Right Time
Finding the right time to clean your spaces can be challenging, especially if your spaces are open 24/7, like in a hospital. Finding less busy times, such as at the beginning or the end of a day, can help facilitate more effective deep cleaning of these areas.
2 | Be Aware of Seasonal Needs
Every climate is different, but if you have a rainy or snowy season, or windy autumns, it’s important to plan ahead for these times when you may need additional floor care during the day to keep dirt and debris cleaned up and to take care of slippery floors from snow or rain. Make sure to have extra door mats and a mop at the ready for those wet days.
3 | Focus on High-Touch Areas
Even in high-traffic areas, there are surfaces that get touched more than others. These surfaces are hotspots for germ transmission. These surfaces include:
- Door knobs/handles
- Elevator buttons
- Handrails
- Countertops
- Restroom sinks, toilets, and stall doors
It’s important to remember that there is a difference between cleaning (such as dusting and vacuuming) and sanitizing (removing viruses and bacteria). Getting rid of contaminants requires the right cleaning solutions and practices, as well as incorporating frequent cleaning during peak traffic times to ensure you are maintaining a hygienic environment.
4 | Schedule Certain Tasks Multiple Times Throughout the Day
Besides frequently wiping down counters and sanitizing your restrooms throughout the day, you’ll also want to schedule other tasks throughout the day in your high-traffic zones. This includes trash removal, vacuuming of carpets, mopping of hard floors, cleaning fingerprints off glass doors, wiping down chairs, and using an upholstery attachment for vacuuming debris off soft fabric seating. Routine, high-quality cleaning of your floors, doors, seating, and other frequently used furniture can actually help increase the longevity of these surfaces that see a lot of wear and tear. So while cleaning all of these areas throughout the day may seem like a lot to pay for, just think of how expensive it would be to replace your flooring every couple of years!
5 | Invest in the Right Solutions
Finally, investing in the right solutions is crucial, and we don’t just mean cleaning sprays; we are talking about services too! At AK Building Services, we know what it takes to help businesses, schools, hospitals, government buildings, and other spaces shine! Our family owned and operated business has over 25 years of experience and believes in building enduring relationships with our clients based on trust, reliability, and accountability. Plus, we train our cleaning teams to use the proper cleaning protocols and arm them with the proper tools!
Contact us Today!
Learn more about what sets AK Building Services apart from other commercial cleaning services by visiting our website or by scheduling a free consultation!
