Sanitisation is essential to the overall health of your employees. Whether you manage an office, food establishment, or school, sanitisation protects people, lowering risks of cross contamination and illness. Cleaning removes visible dirt and dust, but sanitisation is what reduces pathogens to safe thresholds, aligning with health and safety standards.
The science behind workplace sanitisation is taken from chemistry, microbiology, and occupational health with research showing that sanitisation programmes can reduce illness transmission, boosting employee confidence, while helping your business align with regulatory compliance.
Cleaning is important as it reduces dirt and grime, sanitisation reduces microbes to safe levels, while disinfecting removes them completely. Workplaces focus on sanitisation as it offers a balance, effectively reducing microbials without the impact of repeat disinfection.
Workplace sanitisation uses thermal, mechanical, and chemicals to reduce viruses, bacteria, and fungi.
Workplace environments have high employee numbers and regular shared spaces, along with high touch surfaces, such as lift buttons, light switches, door handles, break room appliances, along with shared desks, all of which create opportunities for illness to spread. The flu, along with other illnesses can last for hours, even days, on some surfaces.
Some pathogens form biofilms, which are microbial clusters, adhering to surfaces and resisting sanitisation. If biofilms are allowed to develop, they require a more rigorous cleaner to remove them, as a result, proactively sanitising the workplace is essential to your employees well being.
Sanitisers are effective in reducing germs, bacteria, and viruses through:
Each of these offer benefits, such as alcohols, that evaporate quickly, but require reapplication or hydrogen peroxide that is safe, but unstable in storage. Working with a professional commercial cleaning company ensures your workplace is sanitised effectively, using the best industry-grade sanitisers to achieve the best results.
Sanitisers are only effective when they are applied correctly, following the manufacturers instructions. When your sanitisers over over-diluted, wiped dry too soon, or rushed during application, it can reduce their protective power.
For example, alcohol products often need a minute of visible dampness, while hydrogen peroxide may need several minutes. Professional commercial cleaning teams have effective training, ensuring that sanitation is carried out correctly and effectively.
Alcohol-based products may need 30–60 seconds of visible wetness, while peroxide or chlorine-based sanitizers often require several minutes. Proper training and monitoring ensure these scientific principles translate into everyday practice.
While you know that under-sanitisation poses health risks to employees and visitors, did you know that over-sanitisation creates problems? If you use too much sanitisers, it can irritate skin, harm the environment, and elevate respiratory issues. In order to ensure the best results, we recommend checking concentrations and choosing eco-friendly sanitisers.
The Sloane Cleaning Team recommend the following 4 sanitisation steps for workplaces:
The science behind workplace sanitisation is clear, when done properly, it is highly effective in reducing pathogens, protecting employees, and improving employee morale and trust. In order to ensure sanitisation is effective in your workplace, you want to follow the manufacturers instructions, such as contact time. Sanitisation is more than a cleaning tasks, it's a strategy that ensures a safe workplace for employees and visitors alike. Contact Sloane Cleaning Services today to find out more.