How Often Should High-Traffic Areas Be Cleaned in Offices?
- NBartkiv
- Dec 4, 2025
- 3 min read
High-traffic areas are the busiest and most used spaces in any workplace. Think about the reception you walk through every morning, the kitchen where everyone queues for coffee, or the toilets that get constant use throughout the day. Because these spaces are touched and walked through so often, they get dirty quickly, and keeping them clean is key to maintaining a healthy and professional office.
Below is a simple, human-friendly guide to how often each high-traffic area should be cleaned and why it matters for your team’s wellbeing and productivity.
Why High-Traffic Areas Need More Frequent Cleaning
High-traffic areas attract more germs, dirt and wear-and-tear than anywhere else. They’re also the spaces your staff rely on most and the first areas visitors see. When these areas aren’t cleaned often enough, it shows, and it impacts everything from hygiene to morale.
In offices across Cambridgeshire, including Cambridge, Ely, Peterborough, Huntingdon and St Ives, businesses are now prioritising more frequent cleaning to keep teams healthy, reduce sick days and maintain a positive working environment.
1. Toilets and Washrooms – Daily Cleaning + Extra Touchpoint Care
Toilets are the highest-risk area in any office and require the most attention.
Recommended:
Full cleaning every day
Touchpoints (handles, taps, flush buttons) sanitised 2–3 times a day
Monthly deep clean
Because these areas get so much use, a quick check halfway through the day helps maintain freshness and hygiene.
2. Kitchen and Breakout Areas – Daily Cleaning + Midday Wipe-Down
Office kitchens can become messy quickly. Crumbs, coffee spills, microwave splatters, you see it all.
Recommended:
Full clean at the end of each day
Quick lunchtime surface wipe
Weekly cleaning of appliances (microwave, fridge door handles, kettles)
Monthly fridge deep clean
A clean kitchen encourages better hygiene and helps prevent unpleasant smells.
3. Reception Areas, Daily Cleaning + Quick Touch-Ups
Your reception area is your company’s first impression, and it’s also where most dirt is brought in from outside.
Recommended:
Daily clean of floors, desk surfaces and glass
Touch points cleaned 1- 2 times a day
Entrance mats vacuumed daily
Even small touch-ups , like wiping fingerprints from glass , make a big difference.
4. Desks and Workstations –
Daily Wipe + Weekly Sanitising
With hybrid working and shared desks, workstation hygiene matters more than ever.
Recommended:
Daily surface wipe-down
Weekly sanitising of keyboards, phones and mice
Shared desks cleaned after each use
Clean desks help staff feel more comfortable and reduce the spread of germs in shared spaces.
5. Meeting Rooms – Daily Cleaning + After Busy Meetings
Meeting rooms host teams, clients and visitors, making them high-touch areas.
Recommended:
Daily clean of tables, chairs and presentation equipment
Clean after large or back-to-back meetings
Monthly deep clean
This keeps your meeting rooms fresh, tidy and ready to welcome guests at any time.
6. Hallways, Stairwells and Lifts, Daily Cleaning
These areas get used constantly but are often overlooked.
Recommended:
Daily vacuuming or mopping
Handrails cleaned twice a day
Lift buttons sanitised 2–3 times a day
These small actions significantly reduce the spread of bacteria throughout the building.
7. High-Touch Areas, 2 - 3 Times Daily
High touch points include:
Door handles
Light switches
Printer buttons
Kitchen appliances
Lift buttons
Tap handles
These surfaces collect germs quickly and should be cleaned multiple times a day in any busy office.
Signs Your Office Needs More Frequent Cleaning
You may need to increase your cleaning schedule if you notice:
Fingerprints and smudges by midday
Overflowing bins
Smells in the kitchen or toilets
Dusty or cluttered reception areas
An increase in staff sickness
These are simple clues that your current routine isn’t quite enough.
The Benefits of Cleaning High-Traffic Areas Properly
Regular cleaning improves so much more than appearance. It leads to:
Fewer sick days
A healthier, safer work environment
Better first impressions
Increased productivity
Longer-lasting furniture and flooring
A clean office is an investment in your staff and your brand.
How Often Should Each Area Be Cleaned? (Quick Summary)
Toilets: Daily + touch points 2- 3× daily
Kitchens: Daily + lunchtime wipe
Reception: Daily + touch points 1- 2× daily
Desks: Daily + weekly sanitising
Meeting Rooms: Daily + after major meetings
Hallways & Stairs: Daily
High-Touch Areas: 2 - 3× daily
Need a Cleaning Plan That Fits Your Office?
Every office is different. The proper cleaning routine depends on your team size, layout, visitor numbers and working habits.
We work with businesses across Cambridgeshire, including Cambridge, Peterborough, Ely, St Ives and Huntingdon, to create cleaning schedules that keep high-traffic areas fresh, hygienic and welcoming every single day.
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