The Hidden Germ Hotspots in Your Office During Cold & Flu Season

When cold & flu season kicks in, it’s easy to focus on obvious things like sanitizing shared coffee pots or asking employees to stay home when sick. But in a typical office environment, there are many lesser-known germ hot spots that can silently spread illness—impacting productivity, absenteeism, and employee wellbeing. At Advanced Cleaning, we specialize in disinfection services that target those overlooked areas—so you can keep your workplace healthier, cleaner, and more productive.

 

Why Hidden Hotspots Matter

According to workplace health studies, viruses and bacteria tend to thrive on surfaces that:

• Are touched frequently by multiple people

• Tend to be cleaned infrequently or inconsistently

• Are shared or mobile (e.g., keyboards, phones)
  When one of these surfaces becomes contaminated, it becomes a launch pad for spreading infection throughout the office. That means one sick employee can indirectly affect many more. By identifying and treating these hidden locations proactively, you reduce the risk of outbreaks, protect staff health, and keep business running smoothly.

 

5 Common Hidden Germ Hotspots in Your Office

Below are five often-overlooked areas where germs accumulate—and what you can do about them.

1. Keyboards & Mice

Every employee uses them. Fingers tap, mouse clicks—many without washing hands in between. Studies show that office keyboards and mice often harbor high levels of bacteria.
What to do:

• Encourage regular hand-washing before and after heavy computer use.

• Include keyboards/mice in your routine disinfection protocol. At Advanced Cleaning, our disinfection services cover high-touch tech surfaces with EPA-approved disinfectants.

2. Shared Office Equipment (Copiers, Printers, Scanners)

These are touched by many people throughout the day—often without any cleaning between users. Document jams, collated printouts, shared trays: all prime spots for micro-organisms.
What to do:

• Place disinfectant wipes next to shared equipment stations.

• Schedule regular professional cleanings focused on shared device surfaces—this is part of our specialty at Advanced Cleaning.

3. Door Handles & Push Pads

Entry doors, conference room doors, and restroom doors: each of these sees constant contact. Cleaning them daily is good—but during cold & flu season, every few hours is better.
What to do:

• Remind cleaning staff to wipe down handles and push pads multiple times a day.

• Advanced Cleaning offers disinfection service packages designed to target these high-traffic fixtures in offices.

4. Breakroom Touchpoints

Microwave buttons, refrigerator handles, coffee station knobs, communal sink faucets—these are often cleaned less frequently than you might think. Add the factor of food-borne germs + viral germs, and you have a hotspot compound.
What to do:

• Make sure breakrooms get special attention during your disinfection schedule.

• With our team at Advanced Cleaning, we can integrate thorough breakroom sanitizing into your regular janitorial plan.

5. Restroom Fixtures & High-Touch Areas

While restrooms are cleaned, some hand touches (stall door locks, towel dispensers, flush handles) are frequently missed. These spots can contribute significantly to germ spread in the office.
What to do:

• Use checklists for cleaning staff that emphasize these “often missed” fixtures.

• Our disinfection service includes restroom high-touch surfaces as standard—so you’re covering the full risk landscape.

 

How Advanced Cleaning Can Help

At Advanced Cleaning, we understand that cleaning isn’t just about appearance—it’s about health, safety, and operational continuity. Our features include:

• Trained and experienced crews who follow proven disinfection protocols for commercial offices.

• Use of EPA-recommended products that kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria (as described on our services page).

• Flexible scheduling (daily, weekly, bi-weekly) to fit your office’s size and usage pattern.

• A focus on high-traffic and hidden high-touch areas, not just the surfaces you see.

• Local presence (Rockford and surrounding area), so you get timely service and personal attention.

 

4 Tips for Office Managers During Cold & Flu Season

1. Promote employee hygiene – Hand-washing signage, sanitizing stations, and encouraging staying home when sick.

2. Map your touchpoints – Walk the office and list every surface touched by multiple people; be sure your cleaning/disinfection schedule includes them.

3. Increase frequency during outbreaks – If you hear of a flu outbreak, upgrade your schedule temporarily (e.g., add mid-week disinfection).

4. Partner with a professional service – Having a qualified commercial cleaning/disinfection partner like Advanced Cleaning means fewer gaps and better protection.

 

Final Word

Hidden germ hotspots don’t have to remain hidden. By proactively identifying and treating surfaces that often go overlooked—especially during cold & flu season—you can dramatically reduce sick days, improve employee morale, and maintain a healthier work environment.

If you’d like to discuss how Advanced Cleaning can tailor a disinfection plan for your office, call us today at (815) 261-0701. Protect your team, protect your business—and breathe easier this season.