Quick Summary
Discover the 6 dirtiest areas in your workplace — from keyboards and lift buttons to HVAC systems and breakroom furniture. Learn why they matter and how to clean them properly to improve health and productivity.
Is your workplace truly clean? While many businesses conduct routine cleaning, workplace bacteria can still lurk – and thrive – in often overlooked areas, posing a detrimental effect to your employee’s health, productivity, and wellbeing. Even businesses that employ professional cleaning services find that certain areas can be forgotten, making it vital for you to become aware of these hotspots and ensure a healthy and sanitary workplace for your teams.
In this article, we are exploring the biggest bacterial hotspots where germs are often left to fester. Whether you work in an office, healthcare facility, manufacturing plant, food production site, or educational setting, maintaining a high standard of workplace hygiene is essential and, with this guide, we can help you to achieve a healthier, safer environment.
Top 6 Germ Hotspots in the Workplace (You’re Probably Overlooking)
1. Desks & Keyboards – Why They’re Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat
Desks and keyboards are often rife with workplace bacteria, particularly within office environments where your people spend much of their day. The typical office desk can contain as much as 400 times more bacteria than a toilet seat, as it is often overlooked in office hygiene routines, with cleaning teams and office staff prioritising tasks like vacuuming or wider surface wiping over disinfecting this specific high-touch area.
The Solution:
Regular disinfection and deep cleans are crucial to keeping keyboards, computer mice, and desk areas sanitary. At Samsic, we ensure that these critical touchpoints are included in our standard operating procedures, with our teams trained to enforce comprehensive office cleaning services. Additionally, we use our chemical-free Toucan Eco Active disinfectant, which not only acts as a powerful disinfectant but also protects employees from the harsh effects of strong chemicals—being completely chemical and risk-free. Read here for our comprehensive guide on how to sanitise shared desks.
2. Coffee Machines & Communal Kitchens
Coffee machines, unless regularly sanitised, can harbour high levels of workplace bacteria with mould and limescale accumulating in their internal water reservoirs. High-touch points like the buttons on the coffee machine can also be a source of concern, as they can facilitate cross-contamination in food preparation and eating areas.
While workplace hygiene routines often include cleaning communal kitchens, it’s crucial to ensure no areas are overlooked. Microwaves, fridges—including handles—and taps all require thorough disinfection to maintain office hygiene and prevent bacteria from spreading among employees.
The Solution:
Implementing bespoke cleaning checklists for kitchen and refreshment areas can significantly improve sanitation, ensuring all surfaces and appliances are cleaned both inside and out on a regular basis. For a safer, eco-friendly approach, we recommend using chemical-free disinfectants like Toucan Eco Active as part of your professional cleaning services, eliminating bacteria without exposing food preparation areas to harsh chemicals.
3. Lift Buttons & Door Handles
Lift buttons and door handles are some of the most frequently touched surfaces in any workplace, used consistently each day by employees and visitors alike, making them another high-risk hotspot for workplace bacteria. With a high-level of use and footfall, these surfaces can contribute to the rapid spread of germs and viruses such as E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, posing a serious workplace hygiene risk.
The Solution:
Frequent sanitisation by a dedicated professional cleaning services provider is essential to help maintain consistent cleanliness and a direct approach to sanitising touchpoints, allowing your employees to perform their designated duties without interruption.
In addition, antimicrobial surface treatments can offer high-performance protection to support busy areas. Samsic UK’s Nordic Chem treatment, for example, is a high-performance surface treatment that protects surfaces 24/7 for up to 90 days. The solution can be applied to all surfaces including lift buttons and door handles, preventing contaminants from accumulating while restoring surfaces to a ‘like-new’ standard. Proven effective against viruses, including COVID-19, Nordic Chem enhances office hygiene and helps prevent the spread of illness in the workplace.
4. Office Phones & Conference Room Equipment
Much like office desks, equipment such as shared headsets, remote controls, and landlines can all accumulate significant amounts of workplace bacteria that are often missed during regular workplace cleaning. Offices with hot-desking policies face an increased risk, with multiple people using the same desk and cross-contaminating surfaces. Shared working areas, where employees are possibly eating, drinking, or even sneezing, are essential for daily sanitisation to maintain office hygiene.
The Solution:
A well-structured workplace hygiene program for your teams not only supports personal hygiene but also ensures deeper, more thorough professional cleaning services. Implementing workplace policies, such as a clean desk policy or mandatory cleaning after having used shared facilities, can help to significantly reduce bacterial spread and improve overall office hygiene.
Advancements in office cleaning services such as AI sensor technology can also support cleanliness by alerting cleaning teams when facilities have been used to prompt demand-based action. Our own sensor technology has been proven to enhance workplace productivity, with 48% of our AI sensor clients reporting that their productivity had been positively impacted by the enhancement to their workplace hygiene.
5. HVAC Systems & Air Vents
Poorly maintained air filters and HVAC systems accumulate large quantities of dust, mould, and bacteria, becoming a hidden source of workplace bacteria. This is especially an issue following the winter months, when an underused system can create sickness within the workplace when the system is turned on again in the warmer months. An unclean system can put your team out of action with respiratory and cold symptoms and cause a real danger to those with asthma.
The Solution:
Regular air duct cleaning and filter replacements are critical to maintaining workplace hygiene and protecting the wellbeing of your teams. Scheduling a deep clean service with a professional cleaning services provider ensures that HVAC systems are thoroughly cleaned, filters are replaced, and air quality is improved. We recommend arranging additional HVAC maintenance in early spring to prepare for increased system usage during the summer months.
Alternatively, an air purifier system, such as Samsic Pure AIR, can kill up to 99.99% of mould, bacteria, and even viruses along with removing indoor odours.
6. Breakroom Furniture & Soft Furnishings
Upholstered chairs, fabric partitions, and carpets can trap allergens, dust, and workplace bacteria, and are an overlooked but essential part of workplace and office hygiene. Reception areas, often close to building entrances and with heavy footfall, are particularly vulnerable to outside dirt and dust that can accumulate on upholstery. If not properly maintained, this can diminish the appearance and lifespan of furniture and carpets while impacting overall workplace hygiene.
The Solution:
Regular deep cleaning using steam-clean machinery should be regularly scheduled to restore and maintain the cleanliness of upholstery without damaging it with any tough chemicals. In addition, antimicrobial treatments such as Nordic Chem can be applied to any surface, including fabrics, protecting fabrics whilst offering up to 20% labour savings with your professional cleaning services provider as the coating’s anti-stain and contaminate-resistant properties make cleaning more efficient and effective.
Why Professional Cleaning Matters
Regardless of the size of your workplace, it is advisable to seek a professional cleaning service provider to maintain your workplace hygiene. A clean and sanitary environment allows your teams to focus on their roles, driving business growth and productivity while reducing employee absences and ensuring a healthier workspace.
Here’s why professional cleaning matters:
- Hygiene Standards Are Maintained
With professional cleaning services, no corners are cut. Cleaning tasks are planned, organised, and executed by a professional service with the expertise to ensure the highest-quality results for your investment. High-touch areas, for example, often overlooked in daily routines, are cleaned thoroughly to uphold the highest standards of office hygiene. - Deeper Cleans and Maintenance Activities
Aside from daily cleaning, professional teams can perform additional specialised tasks such as steam-cleaning, ceiling and high-level cleans, outdoor maintenance, and internal and external window cleaning. These deeper cleaning services contribute to long-term workplace hygiene to help protect both employees and visitors. - Time Efficiency
By outsourcing office cleaning services, your staff can focus on their designated responsibilities rather than handling cleaning duties, increasing overall productivity and efficiency as well as morale. - A Stronger Brand
A cleaner workplace enhances the perception of your business among visitors, clients, and stakeholders, and internal employees and team members, reinforcing a strong professional image and brand reputation.
Prioritising Workplace Hygiene
At Samsic, we partner with businesses across manufacturing, healthcare, education, food production, office environments, and the public sector to deliver tailored professional cleaning services. Our bespoke approach ensures that every site is thoroughly assessed, with a structured mobilisation plan in place. Cleaning processes, technology, and performance are all continuously assessed to uphold the highest standards of workplace hygiene.
We take workplace hygiene seriously. Therefore, to ensure your business is effectively managing your workplace hygiene and bacterial hotspots, we offer a free consultation to identify areas for improvement and recommend tailored solutions.
Want to Eliminate Germ Hotspots in Your Office?
Get a free hygiene consultation with Samsic UK’s cleaning experts.
Request a Consultation today with one of our experts or explore our professional office cleaning services.
This article was written by Samsic UK’s hygiene specialists with 30+ years’ experience in facilities and commercial cleaning across healthcare, education and corporate offices.
Summary: Workplace Bacteria Hotspots
- High-touch surfaces – Desks, keyboards, lift buttons, and phones accumulate bacteria but are often overlooked.
- Breakroom risks – Coffee machines, microwaves, and fridge handles can spread germs without regular cleaning.
- HVAC contamination – Poorly maintained air vents and filters spread dust, mould, and bacteria.
- Advanced cleaning helps – Chemical-free disinfectants and antimicrobial treatments improve hygiene.
- Professional cleaning matters – Expert services ensure deeper cleaning, better health, and higher productivity.
Frequently Asked Questions (About Workplace Bacteria)
Q: What are the dirtiest places in the office?
A: Desks, phones, door handles, communal kitchens, and HVAC systems often harbour the most germs in workplaces.
Q: How can I reduce bacteria in the workplace?
A: Implement a professional cleaning routine, disinfect high-touch areas daily, and maintain good air quality through HVAC servicing.
